Wine Country Ecotopias

When most people think of the Rioja region of Spain, they think of wine; the £388 million Logroño Montecorvo Eco City aims to add the word 'sustainable' to that connotation. The 56-hectare site (about 138 acres) will contain 3,000 carbon-neutral houses, retail outlets, sports facilities, garden landscapes, and a museum. All buildings will follow the natural curves of the surrounding hills so as to minimize building materials needed. And a greywater circuit and water purification measures will help recycle the Logroño Montecorvo's water, according to the design team of MVRDV and GRAS.

The crown jewel of Spain's eco-friendly Logroño Montecorvo, however, is the giant park that will be dotted with wind turbines and photovoltaic cells. These eco-friendly energy features should fulfill all of the Logroño Montecorvo's energy requirements.