13 May Best Practices in Smart Building Development: Most Innovative Structures around the world
In a world facing the dual crises of climate change and rapid urbanization, the need for intelligent, eco-conscious, and inclusive housing has never been greater. Smart building development is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a necessary standard that combines sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity through technology and thoughtful design. Across the globe, cutting-edge developments are pushing boundaries, proving that buildings can be high-performing ecosystems that serve people and the planet alike.
Sustainable buildings are crucial in addressing climate change, reducing resource depletion, and promoting healthier living environments. Traditional buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of global energy consumption and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). These structures often rely heavily on fossil fuels for heating, cooling, and electricity, and use non-renewable, high-emission materials like concrete and steel. In contrast, sustainable buildings utilize energy-efficient designs, renewable energy sources (such as solar panels), and eco-friendly materials, significantly lowering carbon footprints. By reducing environmental impact, enhancing occupant health, and supporting long-term cost savings, sustainable buildings contribute to a cleaner, more resilient, and equitable world.
Let’s explore the core best practices that define successful smart buildings and take a closer look at five of the most innovative structures around the world leading the charge.
- The Edge – Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Edge is widely recognized as one of the greenest and smartest office buildings in the world. It is equipped with 28,000 sensors that monitor lighting, temperature, and movement. It generates more energy than it consumes, thanks to rooftop solar panels and aquifer thermal energy storage. It also harvests rainwater and reuses greywater for toilets and irrigation. These features, combined with super-efficient solar panels on the south side, contribute to The Edge consuming 70% less electricity than typical office buildings. It scored 98.36% on the BREEAM sustainability scale, one of the highest ever.
- Bosco Verticale – Milan, Italy
This is a vertical forest that merges architecture and environmentalism in a revolutionary way. Milan’s Vertical Forest consists of two towers of 80 and 112 meters, hosting 480 large and medium trees, 300 small trees, 11,000 perennial and covering plants, and 5,000 shrubs. There are around 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies. The vegetation naturally regulates humidity and temperature, reducing energy consumption by up to 30%. It supports over 20 species of birds and insects. Plants act as sound and air pollution filters and provide a microclimate for the residents.
- Singapore’s Punggol Digital District (PDD)
Punggol Digital District (PDD) is a 50ha business park that is targeted at key growth industries of the digital economy, such as cybersecurity, machine learning, IoT, and smart city solutions. It is a futuristic smart district designed to be an integrated digital and green ecosystem. It has a centralized cooling system and AI-powered energy optimization. It emphasizes walkability and autonomous electric vehicles. It is built to capture and reuse rainwater and includes an advanced stormwater management system. It combines residential, educational, and commercial zones, encouraging diverse and accessible living.
- One Central Park – Sydney, Australia
One Central Park is a mixed-use dual high-rise building located in the Sydney suburb of Chippendale in New South Wales, Australia. This mixed-use residential building is a model of sustainable urban living where there are over 250 species of Australian plants and flowers in the building, on its exterior walls, and is equipped with heliostats and rooftop photovoltaic panels that power common areas. It has a centralized water recycling plant, reducing potable water consumption. Central Park’s recycled water network houses the world’s biggest membrane bioreactor recycled water facility in the basement of the residential building. It is designed to serve approximately 4,000 residents and more than 15,000 visitors and workers daily.
- BedZED – London, United Kingdom
Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is an environmentally friendly housing development in Hackbridge, London, England. It uses biomass, solar energy, and passive heating. It has been designed to produce as much energy as it consumes annually and is built from reclaimed or low-impact materials to promote shared spaces, carpooling, and sustainable transport. A performance monitoring showed that the electrical power used, at 3 kilowatt hours per person per day, was 25% less than the UK average; 11% of this was produced by solar panels. Similarly, mains-water consumption was reduced by 50%, or 67% compared to a power-shower household, and the residents’ car mileage was 65% less.
These buildings show us that resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure is more than achievable; it’s already here. What unites them is a common thread of innovation, environmental stewardship, and people-first design.
As we look toward the future, these best practices should form the blueprint for new developments. Cities must adopt scalable smart technologies, integrate nature with design, and build not just for today’s population, but for generations to come.
Blog by Shreya Ghimire,
Research Analyst, Frost & Sullivan Institute
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