For most building developers and architects, air conditioning is more of a design hindrance than a blessing. Thousands of air conditioning units can mark the sides of a building, turning potentially beautiful condominium towers and office buildings into Lego brick constructions, all featuring boring beige boxes on every floor and balcony.
However, for some designers, air conditioning has become a powerful, unique, and visually appealing design element – providing an effective and also aesthetic air conditioning service. These two examples of innovative air conditioning design prove that there is design value in an air conditioning unit, no matter how beige, boxy, and uninspiring it is.
1. The Lloyds Building, London 
The Lloyds Building is an interesting piece of London’s architectural history, and one that’s drawn a lot of praise (and a lot of criticism) across its life. What makes the Lloyds Building so unique is its use of air conditioning ducts, stairs, and other building utilities. Once reserved for the inside of a building, the Lloyds Building uses them as a design element on the outside.
Interesting or just plain ugly? Most architectural critics are fans, citing the building’s innovative use of air conditioning as a major feature of London’s city skyline.
2. The HSBC Headquarters, Hong Kong
Hong Kong is the skyscraper capital of the world, and the giant HSBC Building certainly keeps up with its image. Constructed, like the Lloyds Building, with the air conditioning ducts on the outside, this innovative high-tech structure uses air conditioning as a major design feature. Love it or hate it, this cool construction method has drawn praise from architects and energy efficiency experts alike.