California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco

Renzo Piano's California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (2008) has a 1-acre living roof of native plants that insulates the building, absorbs rainwater, and supports local bird and insect life. The roof's undulating topography echoes the surrounding hills, and the building uses 30% to 35% less energy than a conventional building of comparable size through passive ventilation, natural light, and geothermal heating.