Sustainable, environmentally friendly building is now going mainstream whether domestic or commercial, rural or urban. Leaving its hippy, alternative roots behind, the relationship of a building and inhabitants to its environment is now a critical issue for all new build projects. This clean green attitude regards a piece of architecture as a living organism that has the need to breathe, feed and dispose of waste in a responsible, non harmful way. Ultra high technology and 'smart' systems are being utilised to deliver effective eco solutions as seen in new projects such as the Hearst Tower in New York City.

Innovative design and architecture practices are pursuing concepts such as vertical landscaping, sky gardens and integrated community facilities as part of many new office and domestic projects. Green energy and global citizenship are driving issues that will inform much of this debate. Aesthetic ambience and sustainable systems will ensure buildings create both a quality of life experience and a strong sense of community as opposed to the 'islands in the sky' so familiar to us now - where little attention is paid either to the lives of the residents within these structures or the impact of the building itself on the ecosystem.

The elements of air, water and earth are also being regarded as an inherent component of any new building both in terms of its environmental impact but also because of our improved understanding of the human need to inter-react with the natural world in a way that brings self fulfilment and an integrated lifestyle. The palette reflects this new challenging approach to the built environment and the natural world. Soft natural colours such as straw, olive, willow and aqua are enlivened and offset by techno greens, marine blues and deeper architectural tones - a community of colours for the basic bio bodies of the future.