Eco design compliments green sustainability to the skylines

Cities around the world are running into the same problems with their infrastructure: how can we create true eco-friendly living where cars, concrete and metal dominate? Its not simple. Problems of old infrastructure and traditional city planning curb significant efforts to recreate a city’s environment. New urban developments, like Blue Springs’ downtown revitalization, are much easier to reimagine with green living; the upper west side of Manhattan is another thing entirely.

What is the answer? Instead of trying to take the cities back into the natural environment, architects, designers and eco-friendly entrepreneurs are attempting to bring the natural environment back into the cities, right underneath their noses.  These eco-towers and sustainable skyscrapers could become a part of your skyline in the coming decades.  What do you think?  Green, or not?  Inspiring or silly?  Check out this description of one proposal in Vancouver:

New York's Dragonfly Urban Farm (image via: Vincent Callebaut)

“Romses Architects envisioned the ‘Harvest Green Tower’ for Vancouver, winning a competition held by the city of Vancouver ‘the 2030 challenge’ to find new methods of green building that can help address climate change issues. The Harvest Green Tower produces food – including boutique goat and sheep dairy – and generates its own energy through wind and solar power. Incorporated within the tower are also residences, transit, offices, retail space and research facilities.”

Here’s a few more photos from the story of these amazingly creative futuristic proposals:

Dubai's Almeisan Tower (image via:GizMag)

New York's Dragonfly Urban Farm (image via: Vincent Callebaut)

Modular Skyscraper Additions Add Garden and Power Producing Space(image via: Ecoble)