Nature creates many wondrous things, but it never wastes anything. Fallen leaves end up fertilising the soil. Water is recycled in the atmosphere and falls back to Earth as rain or snow.
Local 'cybertect' (cyber architect) James Law has learned from nature. His designs are all environmentally friendly.
In many cities, Law notes, the infrastructure is like an ageing machine which is overloaded by demands from a growing population and consumes too much of limited resources.
'The world will soon reach a tipping point and collapse upon itself because it is unsustainable,' Law says. 'As architects and engineers, we can lead the way to change by creating greener, smarter 'cybertecture'.'
Case in point: his 40-storey futuristic dome, Technosphere, in Dubai. To be completed in 2015, the sphere integrates offices, apartments, entertainment venues and green spaces. It will be like a self-contained mini-planet fit for 40,000 people.
Technosphere can partially sustain itself by recycling water through a man-made river. It will have solar energy generators and waste incinerators. Oxygen will come from its artificial rainforest.
The building will also be naturally ventilated without the need for air-conditioning.