YouTube Free Film Festival 2020

World's Biggest Film Festivals Will Stream Movies for Free on YouTube as Theatres Remain Shut

With COVID-19 shuttering film fests worldwide, YouTube has stepped in to launch a 10-day digital film festival this spring with 20 partners — streaming free to cinema fans everywhere.

We Are One: A Global Film Festival is being produced and organized by New York’s Tribeca Enterprises. The YouTube-hosted event will feature programming from 20 top film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and Venice Film Festival.

The online festival is set to run from May 29-June 7, 2020, and will be available at youtube.com/weareone. The free-to-watch programming, which will not include any ads, is to include feature films, shorts, documentaries, music, comedy and panel discussions.

For now, organizers aren’t identifying specific films expected to be screened in the We Are One fest. They said a full schedule will be available in the coming weeks.

Viewers will be asked to make donations for COVID-19 relief, which YouTube and Tribeca said will benefit the World Health Organization and local orgs in regions globally.

The individual film festivals will curate their own programming tracks. The 20 fests currently partnered with We Are One are: Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, International Film Festival & Awards Macao (IFFAM), Jerusalem Film Festival, Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI), Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival.

One notable festival that isn’t part of the We Are One event is SXSW — which already pacted with Amazon to stream 39 films, shorts and series originally set for the 2020 festival in Austin last month. That virtual event, which is also free, kicks off this week.

“We Are One: A Global Film Festival unites curators, artists and storytellers to entertain and provide relief to audiences worldwide,” Jane Rosenthal, head of Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Film Festival, said in a prepared statement. “In working with our extraordinary festival partners and YouTube we hope that everyone gets a taste of what makes each festival so unique and appreciates the art and power of film.”

To be clear, the special 10-day streaming event on Google’s YouTube is not meant as a replacement for the standalone festivals. Amid the coronavirus chaos, organizers are hoping to salvage what they can of the 2020 film festival circuit. For example, Venice Film Festival organizers said they still plan to hold some kind of in-person event slated for Sept. 2-12. Meanwhile, TIFF, which is also traditionally held in September, is gearing up for the possibility of a hybrid physical-digital program if necessary.

France’s Cannes remains up in the air after two postponements. Festival director Thierry Frémaux told Variety earlier this month that holding a virtual event “wouldn’t work.”

In a joint statement Monday, Cannes Film Festival president Pierre Lescure and Frémaux said, “We are proud to join with our partner festivals to spotlight truly extraordinary films and talent, allowing audiences to experience both the nuances of storytelling from around the world and the artistic personalities of each festival.”

Robert Kyncl, YouTube’s chief business officer, boasted that the 10-day digital film festival is “an event that’s never been done before and we’re proud to be the home for this fantastic content that is free to fans around the world.”

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Fasting Safely During CoronaVirus Crisis In The Ramadan

Millions of people around the world will be observing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan under lock-down this year.

Each year, many practicing Muslims fast from dawn to sunset for the whole of the lunar month - either 29 or 30 days - as part of the ritual of dedicating oneself to contemplation and prayer.

Fasting is obligatory for all adult followers of the faith who are able to safely go without food and drink.

But there are some considerations when it comes to fasting during a pandemic.

Fighting infection takes a lot of energy, University of Sussex immunologist Dr Jenna Macciochi says.

And prolonged periods of not eating or drinking can weaken the immune system.

So it is important to make sure you get enough calories during the hours you are permitted to eat, including enough:

MacroNutrients - carbohydrates, proteins and FatsMicroNutrients, such as vitamin C and iron And it is a good idea to eat a variety of food, including lots of different colored vegetables, fruits, pulses and legumes.

Both under- and over-eating can affect the immune system, so you can help yourself by staying in "energy balance", according to Dr Macciochi.

There is also some risk in becoming dehydrated, as it can affect the mucus that lines your airways and acts as a protective barrier.

But looking after other aspects of your health by trying to get enough sleep and exercise and de-stressing where possible can help keep your immune system functioning as it should.

More simply though, the best way to protect your health is preventing exposure to the virus.

Much of the risk can be avoided by hand-washing and, for those who can, staying at home.

What About People With Health Conditions?

People who are ill, including those with Covid-19, are exempt from fasting.

And it is not recommended for people with certain long-term conditions such as diabetes with complications.

Diabetes UK head of care Daniel Howarth said the decision was "absolutely a personal reflection" but there were some precautions people with well managed conditions who wanted to fast could take, including eating slower-release carbohydrates, such as wholegrain bread and rice, and testing your blood sugar more often.

What About Healthcare Workers?

The Muslim Council of Britain has published guidance, saying "healthcare staff required to provide care to Covid-19 patients, at real risk of dehydration and making clinical errors due to wearing PPE [personal protective equipment] and long shifts" are exempt from fasting.

Can Fasting Be Good For Your Health?

Although not consuming enough calories in a day can lower your immune response, the effect of fasting on the immune system is not straightforward.

The immune system is not one thing with an on/off switch.

It is a complicated series of mechanisms that have to be kept in balance.

Fasting releases the stress hormone cortisol, which can suppress some immune responses.

But there is also good evidence from studies in mice that intermittent fasting of the kind practiced during Ramadan can speed up the body's process of regeneration, causing old cells to die and be replaced with new ones.

However, it is difficult to translate this evidence to humans.

And it is not clear how long you would have to fast to replicate the effect.

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The Rules On Self-isolation And Exercise

Coronavirus: What Are Social Distancing And Self-Isolation Rules?

The UK's coronavirus restrictions will last for "at least" another three weeks from 16 April, according to the government.

The measures in place say people should go out as little as possible and only leave home if they have a "reasonable excuse". This includes:

Exercise - alone, or with members of your household Shopping for basic necessities Any medical need, or providing care for a vulnerable person Travel to or from work, but only when you cannot work from home

Police also have wide-ranging powers to help fight coronavirus by enforcing the social distancing measures.

What Is A 'Reasonable Excuse'?

Police officers have been issued guidance about what might be "reasonable" and "unreasonable" excuses for people leaving their homes.

For instance, buying tools to repair a recently damaged fence panel would be reasonable, but buying paint and brushes simply to redecorate a kitchen would not be allowed.

What Are The Rules On Exercise?

If you have to go outside you should stay more than 2m (6ft) apart from anyone other than members of your own household. This is what's known as social distancing.

Government guidance urges people to "stay local", use open spaces near their home and avoid unnecessary travel. 

However, National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) guidelines for England say driving to the countryside to walk is likely to be considered a reasonable excuse (so long as far more time is spent walking than driving).People should only exercise once a day, although in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland there is no legal ban on exercising more than that. In Wales, which sets its own health regulations, exercising more than once a day is now illegal - and potentially a criminal offence. You can exercise alone or with members of your own household. Dogs can be walked as part of a person's daily exercise

No mention is given to how long you can exercise for. But Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has suggested a walk of up to an hour, a run of 30 minutes or a cycle ride of between the two might be appropriate for most people.

Can I Go To The Park?

Some public parks in London were temporarily closed following lockdown. But the government has now told councils that parks should remain open. Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said, "For the health of the nation, people should be able to enjoy fresh air and green space."

Gatherings of more than two in parks and public spaces have been banned (ruling out most team sports)A person is allowed to stop for a break in exercise, according to NPCC guidelines. However short periods of exercise followed by long periods of inactivity are not permitted (so sunbathing would not be allowed)It also says, for example, people should not be "home-working" in parks, or sitting on a public bench for long periods of time.

Why Is Social Distancing Necessary?

Social distancing is important because coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets - packed with the virus - into the air.

These can be breathed in, or can cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on, and then touch your face with unwashed hands.

What Is Self-Isolation?

If you show symptoms of coronavirus - such as a dry cough and high temperature - you must take extra precautions.

• You should stay at home and not leave it for any reason. .
• This is known as self-isolation.
• You should not go out even to buy food or medicine, and should order them online or ask someone to drop them off at your home for you.
• You can use your garden, if you have one, and any exercise should be taken at home.

Who Should Self-Isolate?

Everyone who shows coronavirus symptoms - a fever of above 37.8C, a persistent cough or breathing problems - and everyone who lives in the same house or flat as someone with symptoms.

If you live alone, you must stay at home for seven days from the day symptoms start. If you still have a high temperature after seven days, you must continue to self-isolate until your temperature returns to normal

However, you do not need to continue to self-isolate if you only have a cough after seven days (that's because a cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone)If you, or someone you live with, develop symptoms, the entire household needs to isolate for 14 days to monitor for signs of Covid-19If someone else does become ill during that period, their seven-day isolation starts that day. For example, it might run from day three to day 10 - when that person's isolation would then end. It would not restart if another member of the household fell ill But anyone who fell ill on day 13 would have to start a separate seven-day isolation from that day (meaning they would spend a total of 20 days at home)If you have previously tested positive for Covid-19, you and your household do not need to self-isolate if your symptoms remerge. That's because, according to the government, anyone who has previously tested positive for Covid-19 will probably have immunity to the disease

The person with the symptoms should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window that can be opened, and keep away from other people in the home.

People are being advised not to ring NHS 111 or their GP to report their symptoms unless they are worried.

Who Shouldn't Go Out At All?

About 1.5 million people with very serious health conditions are being contacted by the NHS and urged not to go out at all for at least 12 weeks.

This is what's known as shielding.

The most vulnerable group includes:

Certain types of cancer patients. Organ transplant patients. People with certain genetic diseases. People with serious respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and severe chronic bronchitis. People receiving certain drug treatments which suppress the immune system. Pregnant women with heart disease

The government says it will work with local authorities, supermarkets and the armed forces to ensure they get supplies of essential food and medicines.

Others in the same household, and carers, can go out as long they observe proper social distancing.

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How Do I Protect Myself In The CoronaVirus?

Coronavirus Symptoms: What Are They And How Do I Protect Myself?

Coronavirus has claimed more than 156,000 lives and infected nearly 2.3 million people around the world.

What Are The Coronavirus Symptoms?

Coronavirus infects the lungs. The two main symptoms are a fever or a dry cough, which can sometimes lead to breathing problems.

The cough to look out for is a new, continuous cough. This means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or having three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. If you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual.

You have a fever if your temperature is above 37.8C. This can make you feel warm, cold or shivery.

A sore throat, headache and diarrhoea have also been reported and a loss of smell and taste may also be a symptom.

It takes five days on average to start showing the symptoms, but some people will get them much later. The World Health Organization (WHO) says the incubation period lasts up to 14 days.

When Do People Need to Go to Hospital?

The majority of people with coronavirus will recover after rest and pain relief (such as paracetamol).

The main reason people need hospital treatment is difficulty breathing.

Doctors may scan the lungs to see how badly they are affected and give support, such as oxygen or ventilation, if needed.

However, people should not go to A&E if they are concerned. In the UK, the NHS 111 website will guide you through what to do.

If you are so breathless that you are unable to speak more than a few words you will be told to call 999, as this is a medical emergency.

If you become so ill that you've stopped doing all of your usual daily activities then it will advise speaking to a nurse by dialling NHS 111.

What Happens in Intensive Care?

Intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist wards for people who are very ill.

Coronavirus patients will get oxygen support, which can involve using a facemask, or a tube in the nose.

The most invasive way - for the most seriously ill patients - is ventilation where air, with increased levels of oxygen, is pushed into the lungs via a tube in the mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat.

What Should I do if I Have Mild Symptoms?

Patients with mild symptoms should self-isolate at home for at least seven days.

People are advised not to ring NHS 111 to report their symptoms unless they are worried. They should also not go to their GP, or A&E.

Details for Scotland are to check NHS inform, then ring your GP in office hours, or 111 out-of-hours. In Wales call NHS 111, and in Northern Ireland, call your GP.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate.

The World Health Organization has also issued advice for the public.

How Deadly is Coronavirus?

The proportion dying from the disease appears low (between 1% and 2%) - but the figures are unreliable.

Coronavirus death rate: What are the chances of dying?

Thousands are being treated but may go on to die - so the death rate could be higher. But it may also be lower if lots of mild cases are unreported.

A World Health Organization (WHO) examination of data from 56,000 patients suggests:

6% become critically ill - lung failure, septic shock, organ failure and risk of death 14% develop severe symptoms - difficulty breathing and shortness of breath 80% develop mild symptoms - fever and cough and some may have pneumonia

Older people, and those with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure), are more likely to become severely ill. Men are at slightly higher risk of dying from the virus than women.

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Hopes Dashed as CoronaVirus Drug Remdesivir 'Fails First Trial'

There had been widespread hope that remdesivir could treat Covid-19.

But a Chinese trial showed that the drug had not been successful, according to draft documents accidentally published by the World Health Organization.

The drug did not improve patients' condition or reduce the pathogen's presence in the bloodstream, it said.

The US firm behind the drug, Gilead Sciences, said the document had mischaracterised the study.

What do we Know About the Study?

News of the failed trial spread after the WHO posted details on its clinical trials database, before it was removed. The WHO has since confirmed the draft report was mistakenly uploaded.

It showed that researchers studied 237 patients, administering the drug to 158 and comparing their progress with the remaining 79, who received a placebo.

After a month, 13.9% of the patients taking the drug had died compared to 12.8% of those receiving the placebo. The trial was stopped early because of side-effects.

"Remdesivir was not associated with clinical or virological benefits," the summary states.

All three main US stock indexes fell back from gains of over 1% after the news broke over the trial.

What Has The Company Said?

Gilead has disputed the WHO post.

"We believe the post included inappropriate characterisations of the study," a spokesman for Gilead said, adding that it was terminated early due to low enrolment and was therefore not statistically meaningful.

"As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease," he said.

This does not spell the end of the road for the drug, however, and several continuing trials will soon provide a clearer picture on the drug's use.

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Live Longer if You Brew Coffee Like This

The healthiest way to brew your coffee -- and possibly lengthen your life!

For many of us, the day doesn't start off right until we have that cuppa joe.

Just the aroma of that dark, rich brew can get our senses stirring, ready for the mood boost we know is coming.

And it turns out that coffee's not just fine for your health, it may even lengthen your life -- but only if you prepare it with a filter, according to a new long-term study published Wednesday in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.

"Unfiltered coffee contains substances which increase blood cholesterol. Using a filter removes these and makes heart attacks and premature death less likely," said study author Dag Thelle, a senior professor in the public health and community medicine department of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

"Our study provides strong and convincing evidence of a link between coffee brewing methods, heart attacks and longevity," Thelle said.

That's bad news for lovers of coffee made with the French press, or cafetière, that is so popular today, or those fond of strong Greek and Turkish brewing methods. Boiling coffee or using a coffee press can actually increase your risk of heart disease.

"Unfiltered coffee, like Greek and Turkish coffee, which is boiled, or coffee made in a French press contain higher amounts of cafestol and kahweol -- chemicals found in oil droplets floating in the coffee and also in the sediment," said registered dietitian Lisa Drayer, a CNN health and nutrition contributor.

"Studies have shown that these substances can raise triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol levels," Drayer said. "So stick with filtered coffee, such as a paper filter that you would use in a drip-brewed coffee, which can help to trap these chemicals."

Drinking Filtered Coffee Better for Health

The new study followed over half a million healthy Norwegian men and women between the ages of 20 and 79 over a 20-year period.

Results showed drinking boiled or pressed unfiltered coffee raised the risk of death in men aged 60 and above, due to elevated cardiovascular mortality.

But drinking filtered coffee -- that through a paper filter, for example, was found to be healthier than drinking no coffee at all.

Filtered coffee was linked to a 15% reduced risk of death from any cause, a 12% decreased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in men and a 20% lowered risk of death from heart disease in women when compared to drinking no coffee.

In fact, the study found those who drank one to four cups of filtered coffee per day had the lowest mortality rate.

"The finding that those drinking the filtered beverage did a little better than those not drinking coffee at all could not be explained by any other variable such as age, gender or lifestyle habits. So we think this observation is true," Thelle said.

Evidence-based Recommendations

The findings echo other research highlighting coffee's health benefits. According to the American Heart Association, filtered coffee can sharpen your mental focus, boost mood and improve performance during exercise.

The British Medical Journal published a huge umbrella study in 2017 that looked at over 200 meta-analyses of the health benefits of coffee and that found drinking three to fours cups of black coffee a day provides the most health benefits overall.

Those included lowering the risk of heart disease; numerous types of cancer; and neurological, metabolic and liver disorders; as well as overall mortality. Other studies have found coffee reduces the risk for melanoma, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, prostate cancer, Alzheimer's, computer-related back pain and more.

Of course, nothing is perfect. There are some reasons you may want to limit or avoid coffee.

Watch your sleep. "If you have trouble falling asleep, it's best to avoid coffee and all sources of caffeine in the evening or close to bedtime," Drayer suggested.

Careful if you're at risk for fractures. The British Medical Journal analysis found high levels of coffee consumption (over four cups a day) was associated with a higher risk of fractures in women who already had a greater likelihood, but not in men.

Pregnant women should also be wary. Higher levels of coffee consumption were found to increase risk for preterm births and stillbirths, as well as low birth weight in babies. This is possibly due to the fact that the half-life of caffeine is known to double during pregnancy, raising the dose of caffeine per cup, according to the study.

Not for those with Parkinson's. A study published in September 2017 reversed opinion on the benefits for Parkinson's disease, which was long thought to be helped by caffeine. Researchers who first found that coffee reduced tremors in those with Parkinson's went back and studied a larger sample of patients for a longer time. This time, they found no difference between those taking caffeine tablets and those taking a placebo. After the initial data came back negative, the study was stopped.

But for the vast majority of us, coffee is just fine, experts said.

"For people who know they have high cholesterol levels and want to do something about it, stay away from unfiltered brew, including coffee made with a cafetière," Thelle said. "For everyone else, drink your coffee with a clear conscience and go for filtered."

To keep your coffee consumption even more healthy, Drayer suggested the following tips:

Add low-fat milk and skip the cream. "Cream contributes about 50 calories and 3 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon," Drayer said, adding that low-fat milk has fewer calories and will help to offset calcium losses (a tablespoon has only 6 calories, but 19 milligrams of calcium).

Avoid sugar in your coffee. "A teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories. It may not sound like much, but if you add two teaspoons to your brew and drink a few cups per day, the calories add up," she said.

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Sustainable Architecture Around The World

18 Examples of Sustainable Architecture Design Around the World!

There are a lot of ways to size up buildings, whether by measuring their height, comparing styles of architecture or dissecting their histories. But in the era of climate change, more and more emphasis is being placed on a building's "green" credentials, as environmental impact leads decisions around design, construction and operations.

Pixel Building (Melbourne, Australia)

The Pixel Building shows how "green" can be a multicolored affair. Credit: Roger Wong/Moment Editorial/Flickr Vision/Getty Images

Opened: 2010 | Use: Offices | Design: Decibel Architecture

When it opened a decade ago, the Pixel Building was Australia's first carbon-neutral office building, generating all its own power and water on site.

Among its energy-saving features are colorful, eye-catching panels that provide shade and maximize daylight as needed, supports that help process wastewater, a roof that captures rainwater, and a series of vertical wind turbines.

One Central Park (Sydney, Australia)

One Central Park features vertical gardens on the facade. It consists of two interconnected towers -- the shorter one is in the forefront. Credit: Kok Kai Ng/Moment Editorial/Flickr Vision/Getty Images

Opened: 2014 | Use: Residential | Design: Ateliers Jean Nouvel with PTW Architects

The innovative city that brought you the Sydney Opera House also thinks green -- take One Central Park for example.

A park at the foot of the building literally continues up the structure, as vegetation of 250 species of Australian plants and flowers cover One Central Park, according to archdaily.com. They look pretty, shade the building and send an undeniable statement.

Its hovering cantilever, which holds the taller tower's most luxurious penthouses, is a design marvel. Skyscraper.com says it has 25% less energy consumption compared with a conventional building of its size.

Bahrain World Trade Center 1 and 2 (Bahrain)

The twin towers of the World Trade Center in Manama, capital city of Bahrain, use the wind to full advantage. Credit: Andia/UIG/Getty Images

Opened: 2008 | Use: Offices | Design: Atkins

Reaching an incredible 787 feet, the futuristic towers of Bahrain's World Trade Center complex are optimally positioned to take advantage of the island nation's desert winds, with three turbines mounted on sky bridges between the towers to generate electricity.

The towers' shapes, reminiscent of the Arab dhow sailing ships, help funnel wind to the turbines, which supply about 15% of the buildings' electricity. Reflective pools at the towers' base help with cooling via evaporation.

Museum of Tomorrow (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

The Museum of Tomorrow's shapes were inspired by bromeliads of Rio's Botanical Garden. Credit: Luiz Souza/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Opened: 2015 | Use: Science museum | Design: Santiago Calatrava

With its distinct cantilevered roof, reflective pools and skeletal structure (a signature of architect Santiago Calatrava) Rio's Museum of Tomorrow is a testament to future possibilities.

Vancouver Convention Centre West (Vancouver, Canada)

Vancouver Convention Centre West is an urban oasis in bustling Vancouver. Credit: LMN Architects

Opened: 2009 | Use: Trade shows, conventions, events | Design: LMN Architects

Great things are happening on the roof of the Vancouver Convention Centre West, the first building of its kind to get a double LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum designation.

So what's creating the buzz? For starters, four hives of European honey bees have been installed to pollinate the roof's plants and grasses, which in turn help reduce heat build-up in summer and retain it in winter. On top of that, the roof's sloping shape also assists with water drainage and the distribution of seeds.

But not all the action is on the roof. Some of the project is built over the water on piles (columns) that help support a marine ecosystem that includes native crabs, salmon and shellfish.

Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China)

Shanghai Tower's graceful spiral is a site to behold -- and its relatively low energy bill is another. Credit: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images

Opened: 2015 | Use: Offices, hotel and retail | Design: Gensler

The world's second tallest building at 2,073 feet, Shanghai Tower is an architectural wonder as well as a sustainable one.

A transparent second skin wrapped around the building creates a buffer of captured air that serves as natural ventilation, reducing energy costs, and 270 wind turbines incorporated into the facade power its exterior lights.

Thanks to measures like these, the tower uses significantly less power than other skyscrapers and has a platinum LEED certification.

CopenHill (Copenhagen, Denmark)

The waste-to-energy plant CopenHill has an unexpected bonus: It's also a place Credit: Niels Christian Vilmann/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images

Opened: 2017 | Use: Power plant, sports facility | Design: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)

CopenHill, also called Amager Bakke, might be the ultimate mixed-use project.

It's both a power plant that burns waste to generate electricity, and a sports facility where you can take on one of the world's tallest climbing towers. But it's most spectacular offering is an artificial ski and snowboard slope.

Beneath the wintertime fun, 440,000 tons of waste is yearly converted by furnaces, steam and turbines into clean electricity and heating for 150,000 nearby homes, according to Architect Magazine.

Marco Polo Tower (Hamburg, Germany)

Set on the banks of the Elbe River, Marco Polo Tower is one of Hamburg's most striking buildings. Credit: Franziska Krug/German Select/Getty Images

Opened: 2010 | Use: Residential | Design: Behnisch Architekten

Like its trailblazing namesake, Marco Polo Tower in Hamburg ventured where few buildings had gone before.

Each floor of the apartment building is turned a few degrees away from the one below, around an axis. This allows for recessed facades that protect residents from direct sun and negates the need for electrical air conditioning.

Other green features, according to Behnisch, include a heat exchanger on the roof that turns warm air into a cooling system, and natural ventilation that means residents can sleep soundly without being disrupted by outside noise.

Bosco Verticale (Milan, Italy)

Bosco Verticale translates to Vertical Forest. It's one of the most intensively green facades you'll find anywhere in the world. Credit: Mairo Cinquetti/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Opened: 2014 | Use: Residential | Design: Boeri Studio

Architect Stefano Boeri designed these deluxe apartments in the sky with plenty of spaces to accommodate large, full-grown trees, and a variety of ground cover plants and shrubs. The effect is "one of the most intensive living green facades ever realized," according to Skyscrapercenter.com.

All this greenery helps improve air quality in Bosco Verticale and the city more broadly.

Suzlon One Earth (Pune, India)

Suzlon One Earth was built using only recycled and nontoxic materials. The design lets in fresh air and natural light to all parts of the campus. Credit: Suzlon

Opened: 2009 | Use: Offices | Design: Christopher Benninger

It should come as no surprise that wind turbine supplier Suzlon has a top-tier green headquarters.

According to MGS Architecture of India, the Suzlon One Earth campus has a platinum LEED certification, generating some of its electrical needs on site -- 80% of this power comes from wind and 20% from solar. The rest of its electricity comes from its off-site windmill farms, making it a net zero energy building.

ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall (Fukuoka, Japan)

With ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall, the public didn't lose a park -- it just gained a building! ACROS is an acronym for Asian Crossroads Over the Sea. Credit: Shutterstock

Opened: 1995 | Use: Mixed used, including concert hall | Design: Emilio Ambasz and Associates

The city of Fukuoka in southern Japan got into the green architecture movement early with ACROS.

One side looks like a regular commercial building, but the other is something straight out of your Hanging Gardens of Babylon fantasies. It has a series of 15 garden terraces that reach up to about 197 feet, according to Metaefficient.com.

The odd beauty of Japan's lonely vending machinesThe project was born of limited options and ingenuity. Fukuoka residents were livid about losing their last public green space in the center of town, so architect 

Emilio Ambasz conjured up a compromise by bringing the public green space upward.

The terraces not only look gorgeous, but also moderate the building's temperature and support insects and birds.

Torre Reforma (Mexico City)

Torre Reforma (or Reforma Tower in English) is Mexico City's tallest building and it helps lead the way in sustainability there. Credit: Shutterstock

Opened: 2016 | Use: Offices | Design: LBR&A Arquitectos

Torre Reforma rises to 807 feet -- higher than any other building in the Mexican capital -- and stands tall on energy-saving measures, too.

Arup, the engineering firm on the project, says the tower's slimness maximises the amount of natural light let in, which in turn cuts down on the need for electric lights; and when the weather permits, controls can automatically open windows before dawn to let in cool air as a form of natural ventilation.

The tower, which has LEED platinum certification, comes with another important bonus: It's built to withstand a major earthquake, a vital consideration in the quake-prone city.

The Edge (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

The Edge, headquarters of Deloitte, is one of the greenest and smartest office buildings in the world. Credit: Shutterstock

Opened: 2014 | Use: Offices | Design: PLP Architecture

The Edge, a light, bright and app-controlled building with a large atrium as its nucleus, is as green as it is worker-friendly -- a key directive by PLP Architects when designing the building.

Eschewing traditional electric lights and wiring, LEDs are powered by a "digital ceiling" with computer cables connected to sensors, anticipating lighitng needs rather than running at a steady rate. The architects estimate an 80% savings over traditional lighting.

The skin of the building is made of solar panels. Temperatures are regulated by pumping warmer and cooler water from different levels in an aquifer. Workers can even adjust their window blinds with the app. The Edge got an enviable sustainability score of 98.3% from the British rating agency BREEAM.

PARKROYAL Collection Pickering (Singapore)

PARKROYAL Collection Pickering incorporates the tropical climate of Singapore into the building. Credit: iStock Editorial/Getty Images

Opened: 2013 | Use: Hotel | Design: WOHA Architects

PARKROYAL Collection Pickering takes obvious inspiration from Singapore's tropical environment. The design is inspired by terraformed rice paddies, and numerous sky gardens have been inserted along the building's facade.

They deliver luxuriant greenery, including palm trees, to public areas and guest room balconies. These also provide a natural cooling effect.

WOHA also incorporated crevasses, waterfalls and gullies into the design. These features are designed to be self-sustaining, taking advantage of Singapore's abundant rainfall to irrigate all those plants through a drip system.

Robinson Tower (Singapore)

An open-air garden sits atop the retail portion of Robinson Tower. Credit: Tim Griffith

Opened: 2019 | Use: Offices and retail | Design: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

Officially known as 18 Robinson, this tower is a new jewel in Singapore's architectural crown.

The design meets the stringent standards set by Singapore's Landscape Replacement Policy, which require that new projects include public green spaces equal to any greenery removed to construct the building.

Loaded with podiums and tracks for trees and other plants, the design also maximizes the amount of available natural light coming in, which reduces artificial lighting costs.

The public can visit an enclosed garden on the roof and an open-air garden on the top of the retail spaces in the building.

The result is a very creative design loaded with podiums and tracks for trees and other plants. The design also maximizes the amount of available natural light coming in, which reduces artificial lighting costs.

The public can visit an enclosed garden on the roof and an open-air garden on the top of retail part of the building.

One Angel Square (Manchester, United Kingdom)

One Angel Square is lighting the way to a greener future in Manchester. Credit: Alamy

Opened: 2013 | Use: Offices | Design: 3DReid

Manchester helped lead the way during the Industrial Revolution, so it seems fitting one of its 21st century buildings is helping lead the way to a greener future.

3DReid designed One Angel Square with flexibility in mind -- and brought sustainability bonuses with it.

The building's structure and systems allow new tenants to easily rearrange and reorganize space to fit their needs. This saves on refit costs and the energy bills that go with them.

The building also has a double-skinned facade to help reduce heating and cooling costs, underground concrete tubes that bring in cool air through a heat exchanger, and stylish furniture made from recycled waste pallets.

It received a BREEAM score of 95.16%.

Bullitt Center (Seattle, Washington, USA)

The Bullitt Center in Seattle takes green to the ultimate level. Credit: Nic Lehoux for the Bullitt Center

Opened: 2013 | Use: Offices | Design: Miller Hull

It's just six stories, but the Bullitt Center has made a big splash in American sustainability circles since it opened on Earth Day 2013.

Its claim to fame? The building gets 100% of its energy on-site from renewable resources (it has a Living Building Certificate). The 575 solar panels create more energy than it consumes in a year.

Eastgate Centre (Harare, Zimbabwe)

The innovative Eastgate Centre takes a lesson from one of Africa's most successful engineering groups -- termites. Credit: Alamy

Opened: 1996 | Use: Shopping center and office | Design: Mick Pearce

Termites -- those notorious chewers of wood and destroyers of homes -- are the design inspiration for one of Africa's most remarkable green buildings.

Thanks to the biomimicry talents of architect Mick Pearce, Eastgate Centre has no air conditioning or heating systems in the conventional sense.

Instead, Pearce combined traditional Zimbabwean masonry with design techniques that termites use to keep their mounds at a constant temperature. The result? Natural comfort all year long and lower costs for tenants.

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