Nissan'shybridFUGAcaris already using the 'ForestAC' airconditioningsystemwhich is designedto recreate 'the refreshingbreezes, temperature, humidityandaromaofnaturalforests'.
Designers claim that plants not only provide a beautiful alternative to other materials used in construction, they also offer additional benefits, including noise reduction, natural cooling, air conditioning and a psychological boost to those who use the buildings.
In his brilliant 1991 design for Frankfurt's Commerzbank, the tallest office building in Europe, he brought off the seemingly impossible feat of building a supertower that could use natural ventilation (as against fuel-gobbling air conditioning) during 60% of the year.