Architect Matteo Thun has created an eco-luxury mountain hideaway where awareness co-exists with aesthetics, and everything revolves around nature and landscape. The water that flows throughout the hotel – whether for drinking or swimming – is fed from a natural spring. vigilius mountain resort has received several awards for its green architecture and was Italy’s first hotel to be classified “Climate House, category A”.

The Nordic Light Hotel in Stockholm proves that it is possible to be an urban design hotel and an eco-labelled one at the same time. It was created with the guiding principle that thoughtful design can minimise the ecological footprint on the environment and even contribute towards improving it. In 2007, the hotel was awarded the official Nordic Ecolabel, otherwise known as “The Swan”. To receive this label, a hotel must meet numerous requirements – such as reducing the hotel’s energy consumption and using renewable energy sources.

Created by award-winning Singaporean architects WOHA, it is the first resort in Bali built from the ground up to achieve the “Green Globe Building, Planning and Design” certification, which stands for the highest levels of environmentally sustainable design. Energy conservation is encouraged by rerouting heat generated by air-conditioning units to heat water in the resort. There is also a recyclable grey water system that directs used water from washing machines and showers to irrigate the property’s gardens.

Alila Villas Hadahaa is the first property in the Maldives to achieve the prestigious Green Globe “Building, Planning and Design” benchmark and was designed to best adapt to the tropical climate and natural environment of the island. This includes rainwater harvesting, waste treatment, high roofed areas and open ceilings. To confirm their local social responsibility, the resort has just launched a “Gift-to-Share” programme. Guests can also participate by donating to support any of the three community programmes that the resort has initiated.