New Energy Efficient, Sand Dune-Shaped Building by Zaha Hadid

World-renowned architect Zaha Hadid has just unveiled plans for a futuristic, sand dune-shaped building. The white, gently sloping edifice will serve as the new headquarters for Bee'ah, a United Arab Emirates-based environmental firm. Along with company offices, the two main dunes will house public event spaces, including an auditorium and a gallery, to further the company's environmental education initiative. At the merging point of these two banks is a serene shielded courtyard where employees can relax and take in magnificent sweeping views of the surrounding desert.

Boasting over 75,000 square feet of space, the LEED Platinum Certified facility is powered entirely by renewable energy and kept to minimal energy requirements through an efficient interior layout, conceived with the help of London's Atelier Ten design group. The outside walls, fluidly contoured to appear as though they were shaped by the region's prevailing wind patterns, are reinforced with a special sun-reflecting surface, while the interior walls are constructed from locally sourced recycled material. This meticulous attention to design detail produces a structure effortlessly combining committed environmental consciousness with sleek, organically inspired beauty.