No bars and restaurants can now be cool if not designed with sustainability in mind. Using waste materials, relying on green energy and opting for sustainable furnishings are just some of the solutions that state-of-the-art luxurious venues have found.
Here is a small tour around the world to discover them.
THE CUBE (Brussels, Belgium)
This project, created by the Park Associati studio in Milan for Electrolux, is meant as a traveling bar that can adjust to be placed anywhere – historic buildings, Norwegian fjords, or straight on water. An ambitious project where sustainability needs to have a role: the building is made from environment-compatible materials, and the energy powering all systems (from the kitchen to sound diffusion) comes from renewable sources.
WIND AND WATER BAR (Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam)
Designed by architect Vo Trong Nghia, this café is located in the middle of Southeast Asia, and was built to be “easily dismantled” in case of floods or tropical storms, quite frequent in Vietnam during the rainy season. No air conditioning systems needed: the load-bearing structure is made from woven bamboo, and uses water, wind and an opening in the roof to ensure optimal ventilation.
GREENHOUSE BY JOOST (Sydney, Australia)
Creative Joost Bakker has created the first restaurant that is 100% recyclable and recycled. Wondering how? Organic waste is composted, and glass bottles are turned into beer steins. Waste cooking oil powers a generator, while straw bales and the vertical strawberry field covering one of the outer walls provide thermal insulation. Rainwater is harvested for use in the restrooms and to water the rooftop vegetable garden. All obviously topped with lots of design.
