Boats to Bags, Beds & Buildings: 17 Repurposed Vessels
November 11, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design & Home & Garden & Tricks & Hacks. ]
Boats can’t hold water forever, and once they’re brought on land, most never return to usefulness. But a little imagination can turn ships, rowboats, canoes and other floating vessels – and all of their respective parts and accessories – into beautiful nautical-themed furniture, decor, bicycles – even shops and homes.
Fishing Boat Buildings
(images via: recyclart, david white)
Fishing vessels no longer fit for the sea make stunning rustic roofs for storage sheds in the UK. Already water-tight, the vessels are flipped upside down and sliced on one side to allow installation of a door.
Floating Gardens
(images via: marine insight, alg24, recyclart)
In summer 2011, Chicago’s Lincoln Park got a beautiful and highly unusual temporary garden exhibit: an explosion of colorful flowers and foliage in a floating lifeguard boat. Similar ideas are often employed on land, with old boats and canoes filled with dirt and used as planters with tons of character.
Sails to Bags, Beds and Chairs
(images via: uncommon goods, inhabitat, gessato)
You can take the wind out of these sails, but that doesn’t mean they’re no longer useful. Sailcloth has dozens of applications long after its time at sea. It’s often sewn into bags of all kinds, and can even be seen as beanbag-type beds and upholstery for comfy modern chairs.
Oars to Shelves & a Headboard
(images via: diy network, saganaga)
A collection of old oars can lend a hint of nautical flair to interior decor when used as creatively as this. Nail oars together into a distressed headboard as in this photo, or get inspired by the custom-built shelf made of oars and vintage wooden water skis by the DIY Network.
Cute Seaside Shop
(image via: derbyshire harrier)
The end of a small upturned fishing boat make a picturesque hut called the Half-Sovereign Cottage in Hastings, UK. Set beside two of Hastings’ landmark net houses, this cute little recycled structure is a frequently-photographed tourist attraction.
Sea Nymph: From Boat to Bike
(images via: megulon5)
This amazing amphibious vehicle is a bike – and a boat. Made of a reclaimed canoe as well as bike parts and two propellers, the ‘Sea Nymph’ by Megulon Five appears to float along the street as it’s pedaled, and from the looks of it, the rider can go straight from land to sea.
Boat Wood Furniture
(images via: custom design ball)
Reclaimed wood from boats is bound to be ultra-smooth and beautifully weathered. This wood often makes for eco-friendly wooden furniture that’s brimming with character, as evidenced by these examples built by Custom Design Bali.
Custom Poolside Seating
(image via: hgtv)
A boat-loving homeowner made a big design statement in his backyard by adapting an old unwanted boat into bench seating beside his pool.
Boats and Ships as Homes on Land
(images via: pictures of england, tofino photography)
Sure, boats can be floating houses, but what about the old, aging boats that are no longer seaworthy? Just haul them up on land, make a few adjustments and call them reclaimed boat houses. Such homes can be seen in many areas of the world including the Southsea Marina in Hampshire, UK (top image). On Strawberry Island in Tofino, British Columbia, homeowner Rod Palm has turned an old wooden ship into a fun hand-built abode (bottom image).
Fishing Boat Spa
(images via: wallpaper magazine)
A 1950s fishing boat was rebuilt and restored to become a luxurious floating spa complete with a Turkish Hammam, a Zen lounge with a wood-burning fireplace and a sauna. Sami Rintala’s Spa Boat is moored in the Arctic city of Tromsø, Norway.
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Drink it In: 14 Buildings Made from Plastic Bottles
These 14 incredible structures, from simple greenhouses to stunning schools, are built almost entirely out of a pervasive waste material: plastic bottles.
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Dark Towers to Beach Bunkers: Architecture of Hugon Kowalski
September 9, 2011 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design. ]
Rising from natural surroundings, the towers of ‘Instant House’ are harsh and spare, a far cry from the often lush biologically-inspired visuals of eco-friendly architecture. Just from this one example, it’s clear that Hugon Kowalski of Polish firm H3AR Architecture and Design has a uniquely urban and utilitarian approach to sustainable structures that inevitably stands out from the crowd.
Kowalski’s proposals, including the aforementioned Instant House, temporary residential units made of styrofoam concrete cylinders, stand like visions for a post-apocalyptic future. Although they are often described as bleak and reminiscent of the harsh clumsiness of now-abandoned Soviet structures, Kowalski’s projects are, above all, practical, meeting the challenges of the future head-on.
Instant House is designed to be constructed quickly and easily; in 2014, Kowalski says, it will be possible to produce concrete from rice husks, reducing carbon dioxide emissions during the manufacturing process. Another project, House on the Beach, above, is inspired by the design of the four-legged concrete tetrapod, which is meant to prevent beach erosion – essentially giving beach houses a function. Rather than being little more than inevitable casualties during a tsunami or other disaster, they serve as the front line in a battle against the ravaging forces of nature, breaking up the waves.
Kowalski imagines, for the stark deserts of Sudan, watertower skyscrapers that can access water in an existing underground lake beneath Darfur – the tenth largest in the world – and pump it to the surface. Inside these structures are not only the pumps but also a water treatment plant, a hospital, a school and a food storage center. Constructed using compressed dry clay bricks made on site from local materials, the towers would use some of the circulated water to heat or cool the buildings.
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These 13 homes blur the boundaries between outdoors and in using large sliding panels, garage doors or perforated screens to open the home to the cooling breeze.
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Belly of the Beast: Serpentine Residential Eco-Building
March 9, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
When faced with a difficult parcel of land on which to build, owners and architects are often moved to develop innovative solutions. But few are as strange, as eye-catching and as wonderfully in tune with the land as this one, known as Quetzalcoatl’s Nest. This may look like one of those dazzling-but-impossible architectural renders which will never be constructed – but this is an actual housing estate in Naucalpan, Mexico.
The owners of this plot of land had an exceptionally difficult series of problems to work around: the land was .5 hectares (about 1.2 acres), covered in slopes and pitted with collapsed caves left over from previous mining on the property. The very small flat, treeless portion of the land had to be used for parking. But maybe most challenging of all was that the existing plant life had to be left untouched. In the end, about 97% of the land was unsuitable for building on.
That is where architect Javier Senosiain stepped in. Presented with these restrictions, most architects would have simply thrown up their hands and walked away from the project, but Senosiain is known around the world as a master of organic architecture. He works with the shape of the land to create distinctly natural forms in buildings which would normally look like out-of-place boxes plopped in a natural setting.
As he took into account all of the requirements for the project, Senosiain began to think of the way a snake’s body curves and undulates. It was in this way that the impressive Quetzalcoatl’s Nest took shape. Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god considered to be the mediator between heaven and earth, embodied the compromises and partnerships taking place in this unique building project.
The main building is Quetzalcoatl’s body; it contains all of the condominiums of the development. Domed windows look out over the lush grounds. The homes are accessed via the walkway that runs along the serpent’s back. At one end of the Great Serpent’s body is its rattle, a three-story structure that houses the water deposit, guard’s post and machine room. The interior of each condo reflects the soft, curving, organic shapes of the exterior.
The head of Quetzalcoatl emerges near the parking area through the one preserved cave on the property, providing a platform on which one can stand and take in the breathtaking view of the surrounding canyon. One of the collapsed caves has formed a crater on the land, which the architect turned into a small pool which collects rainwater and is part of the self-contained sewage treatment system for the property. Stone walls also in the shapes of serpents wind through the land.
(all images via: Urbarama)
This astonishing property is unlike anything else in the world and it is truly a work of art. Coming home to an apartment that is in the belly of a mythical snake must be like stepping into a different world at the end of the day. The fact that the architect used natural, eco-friendly building techniques and relied on the natural contours of the land makes an already-beautiful project all the more impressive.
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Great Crates: 3 Cool Cases of Shipping Container Reuse
March 4, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
Ultra-portable and long-lasting, shipping containers are ideal building blocks for prefabricated eco-friendly architecture. From emergency shelters in disaster areas to massive urban projects, these steel crates represent endless possibilities and are present in huge quantities in port cities all over the world. The following three recent examples of shipping container reuse show just how versatile they are, including a traveling pop-up restaurant and a boy scout camp.
Greenhouse by Joost is a traveling eco-exhibit and restaurant conceived by artist Joost Bakker, and it aims to be as environmentally friendly as possible, made from shipping containers and straw bales and even growing some of its own food on the rooftop. There’s no trash – everything is recycled or composted – and used cooking oil powers the generator. Currently in Sydney, the restaurant will be heading to Milan this month for the International Furniture Fair before moving on to other cities.
Airy, modern and colorful, this San Antonio shipping container house by Poteet Architects was constructed for use as a summer house, entertainment and guest quarters in an artist community. The owner selected this container specifically for its stunning blue color. Mounted on recycled telephone poles and lined with bamboo, the tiny guest house also features a cantilevered porch platform and a green roof full of flowers.
Heavily critiqued by Treehugger, this forward-thinking new concept for Boy Scout cabins is nonetheless an interesting shift from the old wooden-platform-and-tent of yore. Architect Richard Hammond from Gensler in Los Angeles constructed the prototype for the sustainable renovation of a camp on Catalina Island from a reclaimed shipping container with a fabric top for insulation and that all-important connection to the outdoors. The camp’s director wanted to go in a new green direction for eco-educational purposes, connecting ecologically sound accommodations that protect the wilderness to the scouts’ “leave no trace” philosophy.
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Eco Expectations: 14 Green Buildings of Tomorrow
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14 Smart Silo Conversions from High-Rises to Hidden Homes
January 24, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
Once, they held grain, missiles or even sewage. But these 14 silos were transformed into incredibly creative adaptive reuse projects, transcending their utilitarian identities to present us with modern high-rise apartment buildings, eco-friendly homes, unusual restaurants and irresistible bed-and-breakfasts.
MVRDV Gemini Residence, Copenhagen
(images via: arcspace)
Leave it to architecture firm MVRDV to turn two eyesores on Copenhagen’s waterfront into stunning residential towers that are even cooler looking once you step inside. The two silos were left intact as ‘twin cores’, with the actual apartments basically acting as a facade. Inside each ‘core’ is staircases, elevators and common space for residents including terraces.
Silo Eco-Home, Greensburg, Kansas
(image via: natural home magazine)
Greensburg, Kansas is so named because it aims to become one of the first green towns in the United States. If it keeps building homes like this one, which has a reclaimed silo as its main component, the town will certainly be off to a great start. The roof of the Silo Eco-Home will be planted with vegetables and herbs, serving as “a model for small-scale sustainable food production.”
Gruene Homestead Inn, Texas
(images via: gruenhomesteadinn.com)
As the Gruene Homestead Inn demonstrates, all you need to do to make an old silo look like a cute place to vacation is add a front porch. Oh, sure, there’s more to it than that – things like drywall and plumbing – but in this application, the silo retains its charm and character. The interior has been artfully arranged to fit plenty of function inside including a kitchen, curving stairway, loft bedroom and a full-sized bathroom.
Monte Silo House, Woodland, Utah
(images via: archicentral)
On the more modern end of the spectrum is the Monte-Silo House in Woodland, Utah, a conversion project proving that silos can be stylish. The house is in fact made up of two corrugated steel silos, connected by a hallway, and the layout of the home takes full advantage of the round shape, even building capsule-like guest beds for kids into the walls. The smaller silo houses the bathroom.
Silo Student Dorms, Norway
(image via: marcus ramberg)
Once a grain silo in the middle of an industrial area, the Grünerløkka student housing complex is now an eye-catching structure with 226 residential units on 16 floors, sitting on national park land. The architects wanted to keep the original structure intact in both form and material as much as possible, contrasting the concrete of the silos with brightly colored glass.
Cold War Missile Silo Home, New York
(images via: silohome.com)
Nestled into the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York is ‘Silohome’, which the owners call “the finest retrofit of a missile site accomplished to date.” Perhaps they’re a bit biased, but the home is definitely a sight to behold with an ordinary-looking house topping two finished and furnished underground levels. Amazingly, while the home itself takes up 2,300 square feet, there’s still 20,000 square feet untouched, and it goes down… and down.. and down.
Wheat Silo Apartments, Bunbury, Australia
(image via: wikimedia commons)
Built in 1937 and used for decades to store wheat, the silos that were long an icon of Bunbury, Australia got a new life in 1994 as a luxury high-rise apartment complex packed with a swimming pool, heated spa and lounge area.
Coal Silo Restaurant, New York
(image via: moreofme24)
Silo Restaurant in Lewiston, New York is a converted coal silo perched on the edge of the Niagara River. The massive concrete silo gained this prime location – with a beautiful view that was once wasted – because the coal that it held was used to power the Great Gorge Railway. In the early 20th century, the Lewiston waterfront was bustling with tourists, but by the ’30s a superhighway diverted traffic and pollution in the river damaged tourism. The silo was rescued in 1997 and transformed into a restaurant where patrons can sit on the circular deck and gaze out at the water.
From a Silo to a High Rise in Denmark
(images via: inhabitat)
Most converted silo projects are obvious, considering the tell-tale cylindrical shape that is usually retained by the finished buildings. But for this rural ‘high-rise’ in Denmark, the origin of the structure is disguised within a blocky facade. The silo acts as a ‘service core’ for the apartments – it includes an elevator in the center, and supports a roof terrace.
Subterra Castle in Kansas
(images via: subterracastle.com)
Subterra Castle in Kansas was made from a silo of a different sort – a missile silo, to be exact. A small cabin marks the entrance to the underground home, and castle turrets sticking up out of the grass are actually escape hatches. Owner Ed Peden equates his home to the medieval castles of Europe, where much of the most-used spaces are beneath the surface.
Rustic DIY Eco Retreat, Missouri
(image via: dancing rabbit)
Interested in building your own DIY silo house? This ‘grain bin house’ at the Dancing Rabbit eco commune in Missouri was constructed with a lot of hard work but very little cash. The owners lined the inside of the bins with plastered straw bales for insulation and created a second floor, turning the silo into two one-room apartments.
Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast, Oregon
(images via: abbeyroadfarm.com)
Three silos make up the bulk of one of the most unique sustainable structures in Oregon. The Abbey Road Farm Bed and Breakfast, located on an 82-acre working farm and winery, lets guests sleep in these ‘Silo Suites’, which look out onto the fields. “The most intriguing people end up here,” says owner John Stuart. “You’ve got to be a little courageous to want to sleep in a grain silo.”
Silo Converted to a Castle, Canada
(image via: panaramio)
Castles aren’t exactly a common sight in Canada, but even less common are castles made from old silos. Not much is known about this structure, found in the countryside of Ontario, but the image is intriguing, giving the impression of a centuries-old homestead.
NL Architects Silo Sports Complex Concept, Amsterdam
(images via: archicentral)
We’ve seen grain silos, missile silos and coal silos – but what about sewage treatment silos? Yes, those, too are being converted for new uses. Two such towers in the Zeeburg district of Amsterdam were the subject of a contest in 2009 to give the structures a new, more positive identity. NL Architects came up with this concept, turning the silos into a recreational complex for sports and culture.
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Truly Eco-Friendly, Or Corporate Greenwashing?
January 13, 2011 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Marc in Nature & Ecosystems, Technology & Gadgets. ]
Greenwashing is the deceptive use of green marketing and public relations pushes to imply that a company’s products are more eco friendly than they really are. Sometimes there’s a fine line between greenwashing and truly environmentally conscious initiatives, and sometimes the distinction is quite easy to make.
(Images via freshgreenads, yogadork, thoughtsonglobalwarming, greendiary, paprikalab)
Simply making an ad out of plants can be seen as greenwashing, but whether one is annoyed by giant corporations pretending to be more eco conscious than they actually are, it would be hard to argue that plant ads are a step up from the typical billboard.
(Images via environmentteam, plus6dua, techieblogger)
Greenpeace and Unicef create shocking ad campaigns that are far from greenwashing, but are controversial in their own right. Showing decapitated people to argue against deforestation, or show a dead seal in the shape of a shoe, is an intense way to grab people’s attention.
(Images via treehugger, thegreenwashingblog, adpulp, greenbydesign)
Some ads are bedecked with foliage and deeply imply a strong environmental legacy, but on closer look, many of these ads promote products that are difficult to argue as environmentally friendly. From “green chemicals” to fields of cotton, there is little actual environmentalism involved in these products.
(Images via thegreenwashingblog, dailygumboot, inhabitat, ethicalshopper, lighterfootsep, sinostand)
Declaring gas guzzling vehicles as eco friendly, or touting a cut-back on plastic as an environmental outlook are definitely deceptive. Scaling back the damage one does to the environment is admirable, but it doesn’t mean the initial destruction is at all ecologically friendly. It is definitely important for one to keep an eye out when purchasing one product over another simply because it mentions its environmentalism, as companies are more than willing to stretch the truth to get their product in the shopping cart.
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From Ancient Air Conditioners to Contemporary Passive Homes
July 23, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, History & Trivia, Home & Garden. ]
We might tend to think of passive home design and environmentally-friendly cooling methods as qualities of modern “green” construction. But natural cooling techniques have been used for as long as humans have been building homes; after all, the modern air conditioner is a relatively recent invention. These homes were all built to take advantage of simple, natural cooling methods – no air conditioner required.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Ancient desert-dwellers knew better than anyone that the best way to keep a home cool was to keep it from getting hot in the first place. This is why many hot-climate homes were built close together and finished with light-colored exteriors: both of these methods helped keep the heat out. But even more amazing is the windcatcher, a passive cooling device that has been used in Asia and the Middle East for many centuries.
(image via: Wikipedia)
The windcatcher is essentially a tower that “catches” the prevailing wind in its open side, then directs it down into the building to keep the air flowing and thus keeping the home cool. This Persian invention can be seen in many locations around the Middle East and surrounding areas, where daytime temperatures are typically very hot.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Windcatchers are sometimes used in conjunction with underground water canals to cool buildings. Hot air is drawn into the underground canal, where the water is kept cool because it is so far beneath the surface. The air is cooled by passing over the water, then it is directed up into the building. A similar method used in windless environments is the solar chimney, which forces hot air out through the top of the windcatcher and traps the cooler night-time air inside, keeping the home at a comfortable temperature.
(image via: James Ray Polk)
The same type of natural air conditioning can be seen in Western architecture as well. Transoms, or tiny windows above doorways, were used to keep interiors cool and ventilated before air conditioning became commonplace. Trees and shrubs are used for shade to keep the sun from creating too much heat inside homes, and exterior porches are used to keep windows protected from the harshest of the summer rays.
(image via: Inhabitat)
These passive cooling methods and others are used in the most innovative and forward-thinking eco-friendly home designs of today, but they are all based on design elements that were developed long ago. Contemporary passive home designs are using these ancient passive methods in thoroughly modern homes to keep residents cool in the most classical, Earth-friendly way.
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Let the Sun Shine: Solar Decathlon Europe 2010 Winners
June 30, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, History & Trivia, News & Politics. ]
Every other year, some of the best and brightest college and university students come together to built amazing solar-powered home designs. Designs are judged based on their efficiency, their comfort, and their architectural structure, among other factors. The 2010 Solar Decathlon took place in Madrid, Spain, marking the first time that the competition was held in Europe. One of the main focal points of the contest is to highlight the fact that eco-friendly dwellings can be exceptionally modern and attractive, contrary to many assumptions. The designs that came out of this year’s competition were some of the most forward-thinking and creative solar homes that the world has ever seen; these five were the judges’ top picks.
Lumenhaus
(image via: afagen)
Lumenhaus, the winning 2010 design from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University team, is a fantastically open home that emphasizes a “whole building” design. The shape and overall look of the home were influenced by the all-glass Farnsworth House designed by Mies van der Rohe. The two glass exterior walls of the Lumenhaus, along with its open floor plan, bathe the entire house in natural sunlight. A distinctive mixture of high-tech features and low-tech features are what make this design a winner: a solar roof, radiant in-floor heating, an energy-efficient central computer system, grey water recycling, and the use of passive energy. Moreover, the modular design is extremely portable and units can be added with very little effort, making the Lumenhaus the perfect expandable Earth-friendly home for the family of tomorrow.
Ikaros
A very close second place went to the team from the University of Applied Sciences, Rosenheim for their Ikaros design. The Ikaros house features a visually striking exterior design, but that’s far from being its only impressive side. The house produces four times more solar energy than it uses, meaning that future residents could sell their “extra” electricity to the power company and make some extra money every month. That distinctive exterior design serves to shade the home so that it will require less energy to cool in the summer months, and excess energy from the home’s systems is used to keep the home warm in the winter.
home+
The team from Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences walked away with third place for their home+ design. The glittering home is covered in lovely photovoltaic cells that lend a very distinctive look to the exterior while producing far more energy than the home’s residents would need. The idea behind the home was to produce a prototype that uses the least amount of traditional grid power possible but that was comfortable and pleasant to look at. The home+ design includes a wind tower (for passive cooling), phase changing-materials for moving heated or cooled air to where it’s most needed, and a modular design that lets users configure the four-part dwelling in whatever way works best for them.
Armadillo Box
Despite its funny name, the Armadillo Box from the Ecole National Superieure darchitecture de Grenoble team is serious about solar design. Like the desert-dwelling creature that shares its name, the Armadillo Box is great at conserving energy and withstanding brutal heat. The home features a nucleus that houses all of its technical equipment, keeping it safe while acting as the “heart” of the sustainable, flexible home meant for two people. Large windows help to provide natural sunlight, while overhangs reduce the amount of heat that seeps in through those windows. And of course, a massive photovoltaic array is prominently featured on the exterior of the house.
Luukku
Team Finland rounded out the top five with its simply beautiful Luukku design. The team drew inspiration from traditional Finnish summer houses which use slightly elevated foundations and natural materials to make beautiful and functional buildings. The overall feel of this design is one of simplicity: sustainable wood, water heated by solar collectors, high-efficiency insulation and windows, and – naturally – a large and effective photovoltaic system. What’s best about the Finnish design is that it’s meant for cold climates that don’t get much sun – so even in Finland the home can produce at least as much power as it needs for the family living inside.
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12 New Extra-Large Sustainable Building Designs
April 19, 2010 by admin · View Comments
[ By Steph in Uncategorized. ]
As the need for cooperative sustainability becomes ever clearer, can we learn from the mistakes of our past and fundamentally change the way we live? Adapting to the new needs of our world requires much more than a sprinkling of eco homes and businesses. These 12 gigantic green building products take on the challenge in a much bigger way – with concepts for new cities, new societies and buildings that solve the world’s most pressing problems, like access to fresh water.
Spain’s Bubble-Shaped Freshwater Factory
(images via: inhabitat)
They look like nothing so much as a cluster of biospheres stacked on top of each other – or perhaps just soapy bubbles. But the glass domes of this strange tower serve a vital purpose: filtering seawater into freshwater through mangrove trees, which draw in saltwater and perspire freshwater. Once the mangroves release this precious substance, it evaporates and condenses into dew which collects in freshwater tanks.
One & Ortakoy, Istanbul
(images via: gad architecture)
Just like the beautiful hills they’re set in, the buildings that will make up the “One & Ortakoy” mixed-use complex in Istanbul have curving, organic forms and rolling roofs covered in greenery and flowers. Under construction in the neighborhood of Ortakoy, the project will consist of two buildings with natural stone facades – one a residential complex, the other commercial.
Green-Roofed High School, France
(images via: world architecture news)
Situated next to a public park, the Marcel Sembat high school in Sotteville-les-Rouen, France will almost disappear into the trees and grass of its surroundings. Additions to the existing structure – which will include a restaurant, student housing, staff housing and workshops – will be topped with a wavy green roof that will offer natural insulation.
Watertower Skyscraper Brings Freshwater to Sudan
(images via: h3ar)
In the vast desert landscape of Sudan, freshwater can be incredibly difficult to come by – yet deep under the surface is the largest underground lake in the world, which would change residents’ lives dramatically if it were tapped. Polish architecture firm H3AR imagines a solution: buildings inspired by both water towers and the native baobab tree, which would access the water through underground pumps. These towers would contain a water treatment plant, a hospital, a school and a food storage center.
Massive Rain-Catching Skyscraper
(images via: h3ar)
How could a building capture as much rain as possible? Through a web of gutters covering the entire exterior, which would then direct the water to a processing plant for use in toilets, washing machines, cleaning and plant watering. H3AR combines this ‘skin’ with a huge, bowl-shaped rainwater collector on the roof for maximum rainwater catchment capabilities.
Mixed-Use EcoDistrict in Dijon
(images via: exp architects)
Imagine living in a diverse neighborhood packed with green features galore, from vertical gardens and green roofs to bicycle paths and eco-friendly playgrounds – all adjacent to the city center. Such ‘ecodistricts’ are in planning around the world, including this concept for Dijon, France by EXP Architects in cooperation with Studiomustard Architecture, Sempervirens Landscape Designers and Even Conseil. The design will serve as a model for similar future developments in the same city.
De-Centralized Sustainable Society
(images via: ctrlz architectures)
It’s not just a building, or even just a city – but rather, a re-imagining of an entire society. That’s what CTRLZ architectures are doing with their new concept, stating ““We believe that architecture is not anymore about form and/or/…function, but that it is about relations. The development of network systems shows us that the power resides in links and connections.” Commerce, food production, ornamental gardens, housing, social public spaces and energy collection come together in a way that emphasizes cooperation between inhabitants.
Subterranean Greenbelt Hotel
(images via: reardon smith)
The subterranean design of Hersham Golf Club in Surrey by ReardonSmith Architects contains five-star lodging as well as a spa and golf facilities, while still meeting urban growth restrictions – the site is contained within London’s green belt, a ring of countryside that aims to prevent urban sprawl. The design also addresses lowering the impact of traffic flow and positions above-ground buildings in existing woodland so that nearby local residents maintain an unobstructed view of untouched landscape.
Beijing’s ‘Creative Zone’ Greenbelt
(images via: arch daily)
If there’s any city in the world that desperately needs a greenbelt to provide residents with natural space and prevents further sprawl, it’s likely Beijing. This rapidly growing city – plagued by air pollution problems – could get a greenbelt of its own that would allow interaction with nature while maintaining proximity to local conveniences like shops, restaurants and public transportation. UNStudio won a competition to create this “creative zone”, which would become a showcase of experimental architecture.
Masdar Sustainable City
(images via: lava)
Could Masdar City be a vision of the future, a modern metropolis where sustainability is built into every sidewalk, store and streetlamp? Designed by LAVA and located in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is a planned community built to be zero-waste and zero-carbon. With housing, commerce and recreation all situated around a vast plaza, this concept aims to be a model of sustainability for the rest of the world.
Dubai’s Solar-Powered Vertical Village
(images via: graft lab)
What does Dubai have in abundance, aside from sand and mind-boggling creativity? Sun, of course -–and Graft Lab’s Vertical Village takes advantage of that plentiful resource with a surface that is angled specifically with solar energy collection in mind. The cluster of mixed-use buildings includes solar collectors on the south end that automatically pivot for maximum exposure.
Giant Energy-Generating Waterfall for Rio Olympics
(images via: inhabitat)
It looks unreal: an enormous, towering waterfall seemingly originating from the sky. But the Solar City Tower, designed by RAFAA Architecture & Design for the 2016 Rio Olympics, is actually a building that uses solar energy to generate power during the day, and a pumped water storage system to create power after the sun goes down. The tower could provide plenty of electricity for the Olympic Games and for the city, with the waterfall – “a symbol for the forces of nature” - appearing only for special occasions.
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Clever Concealment: Wood Facade Makes Modern Log Cabin
March 21, 2010 by thegreenchildrenfoundation · View Comments
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Home & Garden. ]
When one builds a home (or any other structure) in the woods, it’s difficult to make the man-made building appear to belong there. This amazing “log cabin” uses somewhat tongue-in-cheek modern design to almost blend in to the surrounding landscape. It looks more like a pile of firewood than a building, but it is indeed a man-made musician’s getaway.
Designed and implemented by Dutch firm Thomas Mayer, the log shack was requested by musician Hans Liberg. Liberg wanted a small building on his property where he could go to write and record music. Thomas Mayer had the perfect solution: a pre-fabricated shack disguised to look like nothing more than a pile of wood in the owner’s field.
The pre-fab plastic and steel frame is covered in a wood facade that gives it the appearance of a stack of logs. The really spectacular part of the design is the sliding windows and special shutters, which when closed complete the illusion of a box of logs.
No one would be fooled into thinking that this structure was an actual stack of wood, but it seems to exist in harmony with its surroundings in a way that a vinyl-sided shack never could. Even though the natural materials are just an illusion, they let the shack blend in peacefully with the surrounding trees and plants in the field where it sits. The fake wood facade gives a fantastically modern natural feel to a building that could have easily become a plastic eyesore in the otherwise-lovely landscape.
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