#1 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Cerdanyola del Vallès in Catalonia, Spain

Recently completed in October in 2014, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona features a new building with a bioclimatic 'outer skin'.

This outer layer can control the building's internal temperature, reducing energy consumption levels up to 62% and water consumption up to 90% in comparison to other conventional buildings.

This bioclimatic layer is comprised of a series of automatic openings and closings that will work to maintain an internal temperature between 16 and 30 degrees Celsius. This reflects the same system as a greenhouse, as it will open or close, modifying the solar radiation and ventilation, through detecting the temperature, humidity, wind or sunlight.

The automatic opening and closing temperature regulation system

In addition to this, inside the building are plants to help moderate the temperature of each room, tailoring certain plants to each area to maintain comfort in the working spaces.

The building with host the new main offices of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology and the Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, this building is distinctive in Catalonia due to abiding by its sustainability criteria.

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona has managed to tap into a completely natural way of regulating their building's temperatures, saving energy, improving the inside temperature and controlling humidity levels.