Green architecture: 12 designs of the future

The recently completed Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, California makes beautiful use of glass, fly ash concrete, and certified wood, but is most notable for its stunning use of natural light Photograph: Inhabitat.com

Cellophane House is a five-story, prefabricated dwelling. Thin photovoltaic panels integrated into the walls of the house can produce enough electricity to run the building entirely off the grid Photograph: <a href="Inhabitat.com">Inhabitat.com<a/>

Dubai’s construction boom continues amid the world financial crisis. The Jumeira Gardens development is intended to establish it as a global city of the future. Although the controversial project will cost approximately $95bn (£55bn), the designers have emphasised its sustainable credentials Photograph: <a href="Inhabitat.com">Inhabitat.com<a/>

Le Project Triangle, designed by Herzog and de Meuron, will rise 200 metres from the Porte de Versailles in Paris. The skyscraper's orientation will be optimised to take advantage of both solar and wind power Photograph: Inhabitat.com

Lifepods are constructed using the most advanced 21st-century technologies. Inspired by roaming mammals, the futuristic prefabs are designed as "quadrupedal fuselages" with footings that can adjust to the contours of their environs, rather than disfiguring the landscape to fit to the house Photograph: <a href="Inhabitat.com">Inhabitat.com<a/>

The Generali tower, due for completion in 2012, will incorporate an unprecedented level of environmental systems and features, representing the culmination of a modernisation campaign to make Paris's La Defénse district one of the most ecological business centres in Europe Photograph: Inhabitat.com

Jeremey Edmiston of System Architects and Douglas Gauthier of Gauthier Architect have developed a prefab construction of over a 1,000 pieces, laser cut in such a way as to minimise wasted material, then flat-packed and shipped to the site Photograph: Inhabitat.com

The Redondo beach house is constructed with a combination of prefabricated shipping containers and traditional buildings materials. The prefabricated nature of the containers allows 70% of construction to occur off site, greatly reducing construction waste Photograph: Inhabitat.com

Currently due for construction in Singapore, the EDITT Tower, sponsored by the National University of Singapore, will boast photovoltaic panels, natural ventilation, and a biogas generation plant all wrapped within an insulating living wall that covers half of its surface area Photograph: Inhabitat.com

Solaleya’s dome homes feature a 90% wood construction and are insulated with cork. The roofs feature sky-facing windows which suffuse interior spaces with light. An optional feature is a small mechanical structure in the base that allows the domes to rotate Photograph: Inhabitat.com