La Girotte dam

Valve room at the foot of the penstock, La Bâthie power plant

Roseland dam, Méraillet buttresses

High mountain pastures, Saint-Guérin dam

High mountain pastures, Saint-Guérin dam

Engine room, La Bâthie power plant

La Girotte, vaulting maintenance

Nino Manfiotto, who worked at La Girotte in the 1940s

Hydraulic machine, Queige power plant

Partially sunken into the landscape to reduce its impact on the landscape, the expansive Cercal House can comfortably accommodate 10 people.

"This is the Gas chair, that had a huge impact when it launched in 2000. It's a light and recognizable design."

Another move that reduces the house's environmental impact is the inclusion of photovoltaic panels on the roof. The panels generate enough energy to offset 95% of the house’s consumption.

The bivouac is designed for minimal environmental impact. It's set on non-permanent foundations and anchored to the rock in a non-invasive way, and it can be removed without leaving a trace.

Set on a four-acre, moderately sloped, rocky site by the lake, the Kawagama Boathouse minimizes its site impact with small-diameter pier foundations and a natural material palette that blends the building into the surrounding forest.

Site placement was a lengthy process as the architects searched to optimize seclusion and spectacular views. Specialists, including ecologist Mark Wapstra, were brought on board to survey the site and ensure minimal landscape impact.

A raised oxidized-steel-grate walkway provides a low-impact, richly textured alternative to the traditional stone walkway.

Low Impact Development: a Design Manual for Urban Areas". Designed by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center. Winner of the 2011 Institute Honor Award for Regional and Urban Design. Project description: "The 230-page publication, 'Low Impact Development: a Design Manual for Urban Areas' is designed for use by those involved in urban development, from homeowners, to institutions, developers, designers, cities, and regional authorities. Low Impact Development (LID) is an ecologically-based stormwater management approach favoring soft engineering to manage rainfall on site through a vegetated treatment network. The objective is to sustain a site’s pre-development hydrological regime by using techniques that infiltrate, filter, store, and evaporate stormwater runoff close to its source."

"All our products are conceived for a 'zero impact dwelling,'" says Torino, Italy-based Leap Company. "[The mountains] make the best setting to test our products and to find winning solutions to build and live in every place."

It looks dramatic, but the building has very little physical impact on the landscape. “It’s anti-monumental,” Judd says. “There’s no reason why you couldn’t pick it up and move it elsewhere.”

Choosing a kitchen or bathroom countertop can be nerve-wracking, and we understand why—they can be one of the most expensive aspects of a renovation, with the added responsibility of impacting the aesthetics of a space. Read on as we work our way through the pros and cons of seven of the most common countertop materials.

One of the most important aspects of the renovation was to achieve the same high quality of crafted finish that had defined the original building—and much of the budget was allocated to skilled craftsmen, bricklayers, and carpenters. “Obviously, this has a huge impact on a renovation project like this,” explains Thomas.

Though the ceiling looks spectacular, it’s really crafted from standard 2’x2’ boards from Home Depot. LED light strips enhance the impact. “When you explain the method to someone, they’re like, ‘that’s it?!’” Laughs Losada-Amor.

The home is elevated on pier foundations for reduced site impact.

Hytte's prefab construction allows for faster setup with lower site impact.

The clever, low-impact build is nested amid hillside flora.

The modules “float” above the landscape to minimize site impact.

The highly insulated home is incredibly efficient, designed with low environmental impact in mind.

Affordable, adorable, and in many cases, transportable, these tiny homes made a big impact on our readers this year.

This result is an energy-efficient, eco-friendly building that has a minimal impact on the environment.

Set between massive oak trees, the home was sensitively placed to minimize site impact.

The hovered volume places minimal impact on the site, respecting the topography and natural conditions.

To take in views of Victoria’s coastline from all directions, Austin Maynard Architects crafted a bach-inspired beach house using a circular, corridor-free design and full-height glazing. Exposed trusses and a simple material palette keep focus on the outdoors, while rooftop solar panels and a rainwater harvesting system help the dwelling reduce site impact.

The prefab cabin is elevated atop six metal pillars to minimize site impact.

Built of steel, the LumiPod structure can be set on screw piles for minimal site impact.

The bothy was designed as low-impact architecture, meant to enhance the experience of spending time in nature.

The home is divided into four different blocks, arranged to avoid impacting on the trees on site.