Sustainable development and climate issues are at the heart of urban change all over the world. Three examples of innovative architectural projects.

 Wooden buildings in Bordeaux

The market for timber-frame houses is booming. In Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, the city is going one step further by building two residential towers of 57 and 50 metres exclusively in wood, to be completed in 2019 and 2020, right in the heart of the city. For this project, designed by the Jean-Paul Viguier firm, a specific material must be used: cross-laminated timber, or CLT, which is biosourced and entirely recyclable. As for the flats, they will all have large balconies and hanging gardens.

The floating houses of Rotterdam

As urban territories are not extensible, the city is now taming the waterways to install housing. This is the case, for example, in the Netherlands, where floating houses have been built along the canals. Designed by the London agency Baca Architects, they offer a spacious interior and full-height windows for an unobstructed view of the canal and the city. Another advantage is that these houses could be a response to climate change and rising water levels.

A garden bridge between towers

Plants reign supreme, even in the highest towers. In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a new type of concept is being developed: the creation of towers linked by a garden bridge, on which you can walk or cycle, and at the end of which there is a transparent swimming pool for bathing with a view of the city. Of course, such spaces are not recommended for people who are afraid of heights! Several international firms have already adopted the concept imagined by the Vietnamese agency Vo Trong Nghia.