As climate pressures intensify, the built environment is being challenged to respond faster and more creatively than ever before. In the lead-up to COP26, the Build Better Now virtual exhibition, led by the UK Green Building Council (UKGBC) and supported by over 100 built-environment partners , showcased some of the world’s most forward-thinking sustainable developments.
Selected by an international panel of sustainability experts, these projects highlight practical solutions for reducing carbon emissions, restoring ecosystems, and rethinking how we design cities and communities.
Below are some of the most innovative eco projects in Europe featured in the exhibition.
Milan Innovation District (MIND) — Milan, Italy
Built on the former 2015 World Expo site, MIND is one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, delivering over one million square metres of mixed-use space.
Designed as a zero-carbon precinct, it will run entirely on renewable energy, supported by a private smart grid and a high-efficiency district heating and cooling network. Solar power and other renewables will drive operations, while the site will host a major university campus and a 500-bed hospital — blending sustainability with research, health, and innovation.
Natural Capital Laboratory — Scottish Highlands, UK
Located near Loch Ness, this rewilding initiative is restoring 100 acres of forest while reintroducing lost species.
What makes it unique is its use of advanced technology — including AI, drones, robotic rovers, GIS mapping, and thermal imaging — to monitor biodiversity and environmental change in real time. The goal is to better understand and quantify the climate and ecological value of rewilding.
Bridges of Laminated Timber (BoLT) — Amsterdam, Netherlands
BoLT is a next-generation bridge design that replaces traditional concrete superstructures with laminated timber.
This approach means around 75% of the bridge’s weight comes from renewable materials. Developed through a Dutch infrastructure innovation call, the concept supports circular construction and significantly reduces embodied carbon.
Powerhouse Brattørkaia — Trondheim, Norway
This office building is one of Norway’s largest energy-positive structures.
It generates more energy over its lifetime than was used to build, operate, and eventually dismantle it. Through solar power and ultra-low energy consumption, it sets a benchmark for climate-positive commercial buildings.
For more examples and information, follow link to the original article below: