Unique building that 'eats' carbon

A unique building is being built in Taiwan that aims to absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year.

Carbon-eating building by architect Vincent Callebaut - Photo: CNN/Vincent Callebaut.

According to CNN on January 5, this is the brainchild of French architect Vincent Callebaut with an ambitious goal: to create an energy-saving and carbon-absorbing building to combat global warming.

"I want to bring hope for a better tomorrow," he said.

The building, named Tao Zhu Yin Yuan, located in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan (China), has a spiral shape like a DNA strand. It is 21 stories high, an apartment complex designed to help residents reduce energy consumption.

Most apartments use natural light and ventilation. Rainwater is recycled and rooftop solar panels help homeowners use less electricity.

The building is scheduled to be completed in September this year and will be covered with 23,000 trees and shrubs. Callebaut said that if all goes according to plan, the trees will absorb 130 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) per year.

Callebaut admits the amount of CO₂The amount absorbed by the building is modest, but it is "a giant leap forward in the fight against global warming".

Callebaut has been behind a number of notable ecological ideas over the years, from a floating garden designed to clean up European rivers to underwater skyscrapers made from ocean waste...

He is planning a 132-story urban farm for New York City and an ambitious project to transform Paris from the City of Light into a smart, green city by 2050.

The building is under construction - Photo: CNN/Vincent Callebaut

It is expected to be completed in September this year with the capacity to absorb 130 tons of carbon/year - Photo: CNN/Vincent Callebaut

According to TTO