MVRDV unveils a three-dimensional city skyscraper for Shenzhen

MVRDV is shaking up skyscraper design in their competition-winning proposal for Chinese real estate developer Vanke’s new headquarters building in Shenzhen. Envisioned as a “three-dimensional city,” the striking 250-meter-tall Vanke Headquarter Tower—dubbed the Vanke 3D City by MVRDV—will consist of eight mixed-use blocks stacked together in a sculptural arrangement optimized for views. Accessible green roofs top the staggered volumes to create a lush, park-like environment integrated with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-unveils-a-three-dimensional-city-skyscraper-for-shenzhen
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Climate-responsive H House celebrates the heritage of Kosovo

Recycled materials, energy-saving systems, and references to Kosovan culture have been woven throughout the H House, a handsome and contemporary residence in Čaglavica, a village near the Kosovo capital of Pristina. Designed by architectural designers 4M Group, the home serves as a beacon of optimism and energy-efficiency for the self-declared independent state, which has been defined by a long and troubled history. Sustainability is paramount to the dwelling and is expressed through the adoption...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-responsive-h-house-celebrates-the-heritage-of-kosovo
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COBEs Red Cross Volunteer House is an urban living room in Copenhagen

Copenhagen-based architecture firm COBE has unveiled images of the Red Cross Volunteer House, a new building in Copenhagen that not only celebrates the efforts of Red Cross volunteers, but also the power of great public space. Completed November 2017 as an extension of the national headquarters of the Red Cross, the Red Cross Volunteer House is a triangular building with an 850-square-meter roof that doubles as a large staircase and new meeting place for 34,000 Red Cross volunteers. Open to the public,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cobes-red-cross-volunteer-house-is-an-urban-living-room-in-copenhagen
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6 positive advancements against climate change to lead us into 2019

Global carbon emissions may be on the rise and poised to reach an all-time high this year, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t positive climate news to talk about. If you are looking for some uplifting stories about the environment as we close out 2018 and head into the new year, here are nine reasons to be hopeful as we face climate change. Plant-Based Meat The carbon dioxide produced from burning fossil fuels is still the main greenhouse gas, but methane and nitrous oxide are more potent, and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-positive-advancements-against-climate-change-to-lead-us-into-2019
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Solar-powered smart home puts a modern spin on rural Italian architecture

Montebelluna-based architecture firm Reisarchitettura has put a contemporary twist on the traditional countryside vernacular of Southern Italy with the BS House, a modern energy-efficient dwelling in the rural outskirts of Otsuni. Defined by large stone walls and muted natural material palette, the seemingly rustic home boasts a modern interior and energy-efficient systems including home automation technology that allows the homeowners to remotely control the home with their smartphones. To maximize...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-smart-home-puts-a-modern-spin-on-rural-italian-architecture
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University of Waterloo has created a CO2 powder which could help fight climate change

Scientists at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, have created a new powder that can capture carbon dioxide, and it could be a new tool in the fight against climate change. The powder can filter and remove CO2 at power plants and factories powered by fossil fuels before it is released into the atmosphere, and it is more efficient than conventional methods. Chemical engineering professor Zhongwei Chen created the powder in his lab as a new way to manipulate the size and concentration...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/university-of-waterloo-has-created-a-co2-powder-which-could-help-fight-climate-change
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How environmental policies changed in 2018 under Trump

There is no doubt that President Trump has significantly changed environmental policy since taking office. The current administration has done everything from rolling back policies enacted by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to cutting funding for different environmental and scientific programs. With so much to keep up with, here is a rundown of the Trump Administration’s environmental action in 2018 and how it has impacted the planet. EPA Loosens Toxic Air Pollution Regulations A...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/environmental-policies-of-2018
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Valser is using carbon capture technology to carbonate its beverages

Valser - a Coca-Cola-owned brand of sparkling water based in Switzerland - is embracing new climate capture technology. Coca-Cola HBC Switzerland (the bottling plant that makes Valser) has partnered with Climeworks, a pioneering company that captures carbon dioxide, to use the new technology to carbonate their water. Climeworks has already partnered with a greenhouse that uses CO2 to help plants grow faster, and since the beverage industry is one of the only existing markets that uses carbon dioxide,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/valser-is-using-carbon-capture-technology-to-carbonate-their-beverages
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Harbor town in Germany unveils urban-chic hostel made out of repurposed shipping containers

Related: + Kinzo Via Kinzo, Upcycling-Hostel

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/harbor-town-in-germany-unveils-urban-chic-hostel-made-out-of-repurposed-shipping-containers
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Nine more states join seismic blasting lawsuit against the Trump administration

Several conservation groups and South Carolina coastal communities sued the Trump Administration earlier this month for allowing companies to conduct seismic blasting surveys in the Atlantic Ocean as a precursor to offshore drilling for oil and gas. And now, a coalition of nine states has joined the lawsuit and added their clout to the claim. Last week, a coalition of attorneys general from Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nine-more-states-join-seismic-blasting-lawsuit-against-the-trump-administration
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Solar screen brings beauty and heat relief to a Vietnam home

When a client approached Vietnamese architecture firm Duc Vien LE for the design of their house in Da Nang, Vietnam, the architects knew early on that the region’s intense summers would prove a major challenge. Rather than rely on energy-intensive air conditioning, the architects mitigated the region’s extreme solar radiation with the addition of a west-facing solar screen that not only brings in cooling breezes, but also adds visual interest to the front of the house. Named the Filtered Wall...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-screen-brings-beauty-and-heat-relief-to-a-vietnam-home
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12 delicious and crowd-pleasing vegan brunch ideas

Believe it or not, you don’t need eggs or bacon to put together an amazing brunch. If you are vegan and looking for some delicious brunch entrees for a weekend late-morning get together, there are plenty of vegan brunch ideas that you can easily make and customize to your tastes. Pancakes Yes, you can make pancakes from scratch without milk and eggs, just ask Alex at Delish Knowledge. Her recipe for Vegan Chia Pancakes with peanut syrup capitalizes on the amazing taste combination of peanut butter...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/12-delicious-and-crowd-pleasing-vegan-brunch-ideas
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Modscape installs a prefab school building that stays comfortable year-round

Cheap trailers and portable classrooms can be a quick fix for schools strapped for space, but the trade off often comes at the expense of student comfort. Aware of the “crazy hot in summer and freezing cold in winter” conditions of these temporary trailers, Australian custom home builder Modscape wanted to create a more pleasant solution to the Keilor Primary School’s need for additional space without compromising on speed and efficiency. The result is a new permanent modular building that...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/modscape-installs-a-prefab-school-building-that-stays-comfortable-year-round
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Housing pods made of recycled plastic offer an alternative to festival tent waste

Outdoor festivals and events have been popular across the world since the days of Roman gladiators, and for good reason. They are a great way to enjoy music, art and other entertainment while being surrounded by nature. Unfortunately, festivals are also associated with a lot of waste. <!--more--> One company, Above All C6(n), is leading efforts to find a solution for the temporary tent accommodations that often get left behind at these events. With the knowledge that thousands of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/housing-pods-made-of-recycled-plastic-offer-an-alternative-to-festival-tent-waste
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Stacked shipping containers transform into a thriving arts space in Venezuela

Venezuela-based architecture practice Pico Colectivo has stacked recycled shipping containers together to transform a vandalized property into the new Cultural Production Zone in the city of Guacara in Carabobo State, Venezuela. Built atop an existing building, the colorful cargotecture addition offers a creative gathering space for the community with mixed programming that ranges from a skate plaza to a recording studio and music room. The Cultural Production Zone is located on a site where...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stacked-shipping-containers-transform-into-a-thriving-arts-space-in-venezuela
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Henning Larsen completes award-winning Wave apartments in Denmark

Copenhagen-based Henning Larsen Architects have completed The Wave, a striking wave-shaped apartment complex that has made splashes internationally even before the project was finished. Located in Vejle, Denmark, the award-winning building was designed as an extension of its surroundings, from the waterfront location to the rolling, forested hills that rise from Vejle Fjord. The Wave’s sculptural silhouette comprises five rounded towers that create a new visual landmark for the town and are visible...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/henning-larsen-completes-award-winning-wave-apartments-in-denmark
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Triangular windows bring light and drama to a stunning Bogota bakery

The site of a former house in Bogota has been reborn into a gorgeous bakery and cafe that respects the surrounding residential context. Designed by New York City-based Studio Cadena, the sculptural building draws the eye with oversized triangular windows, monolithic concrete envelope, and contemporary interiors featuring playful terrazzo floors, timber furnishings and pops of greenery. With an area of 7,500 square feet, the restaurant marks Studio Cadena’s second and largest commission...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/triangular-windows-bring-light-and-drama-to-a-stunning-bogota-bakery
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Sasaki to transform Shanghais Hongkou Stadium with a High Line-esque park

International disciplinary planning and design firm Sasaki has unveiled designs to transform China’s first professional soccer stadium into a sustainably minded mixed-use hub focused on health and wellness. Designed to stitch the Shanghai Hongkou Stadium back into the urban fabric, the proposal will reactivate the stadium as a destination even on non-game days while improving the expanded building’s energy efficiency. Key to the design intervention will be the addition of the Midline, an elevated...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sasaki-to-transform-shanghais-hongkou-stadium-with-a-high-line-esque-park
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The best eco-friendly resolutions for 2019

With the new year looming, resolutions are on everybody’s mind. That’s because the new year is all about new beginnings. Whether that means changing your diet, incorporating more exercise or focusing on continuing education, 2019 can be an amazing year of growth and discovery. While you formulate your list of new year’s resolutions, be sure to include a few goals focused on sustainability. We all share one planet, which means each person needs to do their part to make it last. Making small...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-best-eco-friendly-resolutions-for-2019
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Off-grid tiny home with beautiful undulating roof was almost entirely built with reclaimed materials

Related: + Rocky Mountain Tiny Houses Via Tiny House Talk

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/off-grid-tiny-home-with-beautiful-undulating-roof-was-almost-entirely-built-with-reclaimed-materials
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Aleph Farms has created the first lab-grown steak

The demand for meat alternatives continues to grow as millions switch to vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets for health, ethical, and environmental reasons, and food companies around the world are starting to focus their efforts on plant-based and lab-grown products that can take the place of animal-sourced meats. Aleph Farms recently reached an important milestone in cellular meat production by serving up the first lab-grown steak, made from isolated cow cells and grown into a 3D structure....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/aleph-farms-has-created-the-first-lab-grown-steak
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Simple tips to reduce single-use plastic

In recent years, it has become more and more clear that single-use plastics are having a devastating impact on the environment - especially on the oceans. And, if we don’t start making some changes now, it won’t be long before there is more plastic in the ocean than fish. The solution to this growing problem is relatively simple - reduce the use of single-use plastics. But, the execution of this simple idea can be a bit more challenging. If you want to make 2019 the year that you quit using...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/simple-tips-to-reduce-single-use-plastic
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Samson Ogbole is a Nigerian farmer who wants to bring aeroponics to the world

Samson Ogbole is a Nigerian farmer who is trying to solve the problem of land shortages in his native country. Nigeria’s population has now reached 190 million, but there isn’t enough land in the country to grow the food needed for the ever-growing population. So, Ogbole has found a solution - a farming method known as aeroponics. This unconventional method is the process of growing plants in the air without using soil. Ogbole first got involved with soilless farming in 2014. And, just two...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/samson-ogbole-is-a-nigerian-farmer-who-wants-to-bring-aeroponics-to-the-world
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Stunning micro home features reclaimed materials and large garage door for entertaining

Related: + Wind River Tiny Homes Via Dwell Wind River Tiny Homes

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stunning-micro-home-design-features-reclaimed-materials-and-large-garage-door-for-entertaining
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Danish home champions wood over concrete for lower carbon emissions

Danish architecture firm Tegnestuen LOKAL recently completed TK-33, a modern and energy-efficient home that promotes building materials considered more sustainable than those typically used in Danish residential construction. To reduce the carbon footprint of the project, the architects designed the home with a timber structure rather than the more commonly used load-bearing concrete walls. Triple-glazed windows, ample glazing, and a flexible floor plan also add to the home’s environmentally friendly...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/danish-home-champions-wood-over-concrete-for-lower-carbon-emissions
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Nature-inspired art gallery is built from bamboo and reused bricks

Belgium and Brazil-based design practice CRU! architects channeled their passion for bamboo architecture and natural building materials into an art gallery in Catuçaba, a rural community about three hours east of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Spanning an area of 1,184 square feet, the project was commissioned by the owner of Fazenda Catuçaba, an idyllic farmhouse-style hotel that includes an operational organic farm. Building on Fazenda Catuçaba’s environmentally friendly practices, the art gallery was...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nature-inspired-art-gallery-is-built-from-bamboo-and-reused-bricks
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Is a flexitarianism diet right for you?

Going vegan or vegetarian might be a good choice for your health - as well as the environment - but not everyone wants to take the extreme measure of cutting meat and other animal products completely out of their diet. So, over the past five years, many who want to live a healthy life and/or do their part in the fight against climate change have opted for the flexitarian diet. What is Flexitarianism? Flexitarianism doesn’t go as far as veganism or vegetarianism, but it does include some of the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/is-a-flexitarianism-diet-right-for-you
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Olson Kundig breathes new life into former RV campground with low-impact huts on wheels

Related: + Olson Kundig Via Dwell Olson Kundig, Rolling Huts

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/olson-kundig-breathes-new-life-into-former-rv-campground-with-low-impact-huts-on-wheels
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8 cabins that are perfect for a dreamy winter getaway

Are you ready for a winter getaway to a cabin in the woods? If you are looking for the perfect place to go for a little rest and relaxation, here are some amazing cabins that offer a little taste of paradise. Blacktail Cabin Located on the shore of Flathead Lake in Montana, Blacktail Cabin is a beautiful, spacious vacation home that looks like a ski lodge and is filled with amenities. It is surrounded by nature, and during the winter, the Blacktail Mountain Ski Area is nearby so you can enjoy some...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/8-cabins-that-are-perfect-for-a-dreamy-winter-getaway
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One-room tiny cabin is a minimalist refuge deep in the Brazilian forest

Related: + Silvia Acar Arquitetura Via Archdaily Silvia Acar Arquitetura, Chalet L

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/one-room-tiny-cabin-is-a-minimalist-refuge-deep-in-the-brazilian-forest
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New Jersey first state to ban wild animals in circuses

Last week, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill banning the use of elephants, tigers, and other wild and exotic animals in circus acts that travel through the state, making New Jersey the first state in the country to pass such a law. Known as “Nosey’s Law,” the bill is designed to protect animals in traveling circus acts from being exploited and abused. Nosey, the law’s namesake, is a 36-year-old African elephant that was forced to travel around the country with a circus even...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-jersey-first-state-to-ban-wild-animals-in-circuses
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Indonesia unveils first zero-waste restaurant built with sustainably sourced materials

Related: “World’s most environmental” restaurant opens in San Francisco + Ijen Restaurant Via Treehugger Ijen Restaurant,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/indonesia-unveils-first-zero-waste-restaurant-built-with-sustainably-sourced-materials
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Ecovillage in Copenhagen strives to meet all 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Danish architecture firm Lendager Group has won an international competition for their design of the UN17 Village, a sustainable residential development that will introduce 400 new homes to Copenhagen, Denmark. Selected over shortlisted proposals from prominent firms such as BIG and Henning Larsen, Lendager Group’s winning design aims to create “the first building project in the world that translates all 17 of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into tangible action.”...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/ecovillage-in-copenhagen-strives-to-meet-all-17-sustainable-development-goals
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Can vegan pet food be good for the planet and your pet?

Does your pup hover at your feet when the smell of bacon or steak wafts in his direction? It’s no surprise considering the ingredients they are used to receiving and the evolution of the species. Every bag of food at the pet store promotes meat as its main ingredient. From chicken to lamb to bison, meat reigns supreme in the pet food world. <!--more→ But now it is coming to light that maybe it would benefit the planet and our pets if we moved to vegan food to fulfill their dietary...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/can-vegan-pet-food-be-good-for-the-planet-and-your-pet
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A stone barn is transformed into a modern, energy-conscious home in Verona

Milan-based architecture practice Studio Wok has revamped a historic stone barn into a contemporary country home using environmentally friendly materials and design choices. Located in the small parish of Chievo in the west of Verona, Italy, the adaptive reuse project carefully respects the architectural heritage of the site while tastefully bringing the residence up to modern living standards. The result is a charming dwelling filled with natural light, warm timber surfaces and framed views of the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-stone-barn-is-transformed-into-a-modern-energy-conscious-home-in-verona
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LEED-targeted Monroe Blocks breaks ground in the heart of Detroit

Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects has just broken ground on its first U.S. project, Monroe Blocks, a masterplan that the international architecture firm has described as “downtown Detroit’s most significant mixed-use development in decades.” Located in the heart of Detroit’s Central Business District, the project will span two city blocks and feature a striking high-rise office tower that will not only be the first of its kind to be built in the downtown area in more than 25 years, but is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/leed-targeted-monroe-blocks-breaks-ground-in-the-heart-of-detroit
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Glass building in China is filled with soaring timber pillars in the shape of trees

Related: + LUO Studio Via Dezeen LUO Studio, Longfu Life Experience Centre

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/glass-building-in-china-is-filled-with-soaring-timber-pillars-in-the-shape-of-trees
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Nh Nhm Homestay is built from upcycled waste in Vietnam

Born from waste materials, the stylish Nhà Nhím Homestay is giving upcycling a good name with its smart eco-friendly design. Designed by Ho Chi Minh City-based architectural practice A+ Architects, the hotel comprises a series of contemporary structures built of locally sourced materials and positioned for optimal views over the landscape. Completed last year, the project is located in Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong province in southern Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The long and skinny...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nha-nhim-homestay-is-built-from-upcycled-waste-in-vietnam
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for your friends

Are you searching for the perfect gift for your best friend? Or maybe you’re looking for something for all the friends on your gift list. Either way, here are some of our favorite gifts this season that are beautiful, thoughtful and sustainable. Natural, handmade soaps While the masses swarm big name stores for lotions and bath soaps, find an eco-friendly option that is actually easier on the eyes and the wallet. It’s pretty easy to find local soap makers in your area, but you can also...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-your-friends
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3D-printed vegan steak could aid world hunger relief efforts

3D-printed food has arrived. With options coming to the marketplace from a variety of companies, those high-capacity printers from a few years ago that took eight hours to produce a small basic shape have evolved into a viable, mass-produced food option. <!--more→ Giuseppe Scionti, Italian bioengineer with a PhD in biomedicine, has further advanced printed technology with the invention of a plant-based meat substitute. With this innovation in hand, he created Novameat, a company intent...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/3d-printed-vegan-steak-could-aid-world-hunger-relief-efforts
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Affordable low-maintenance home embraces the Brazilian landscape in style

Simple and low-cost materials combine in the Itaipu House, a contemporary family home that doesn’t compromise on looks despite its relatively modest construction budget. Architect Samuel Lamas of the Brasilia-based architecture firm Equipe Lamas designed the four-bedroom home within a condominium complex near Lago Sul, Brazil. Completed this year for a construction cost of approximately $189,000, the modern dwelling minimizes its energy bills through solar water heaters and passive solar design. Spanning...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/affordable-low-maintenance-home-embraces-the-brazilian-landscape-in-style
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These stylish, work-appropriate loafers are made with recycled tires

When you think of tires, images of a car maneuvering through standing water or gripping gravel might come to mind. And for good reason. That’s what tires are for. From an earth-friendly vantage point, though, rubber tires are an environmental hazard. Because many of them are mixed with steel reinforcement, they are not recyclable by traditional means. Sending them to the landfill is expensive, therefore many of them end up dumped on the side of the road. They can, however, be repurposed and that...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/these-stylish-work-appropriate-loafers-are-made-with-recycled-tires
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This museum is carved into the seaside sand dunes of China's Gold Coast

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-museum-is-carved-into-the-seaside-sand-dunes-of-chinas-gold-coast
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for your significant other

Oftentimes, choosing a gift for a significant other is the most difficult task of the holiday season. But finding a gift that is good for the planet? That’s a no-brainer. Shower the person you love with gifts (and experiences) that are good for the planet, and they are bound to be impressed. Plus, gifting for your lover is a prime opportunity to find a present you both can enjoy together! LUSH skincare From a lack of packaging to natural, sustainable ingredients, there’s nothing hotter...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-your-significant-other
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Invasive longhorned tick could spread disease across the U.S.

The Asian longhorned tick used to be a species only found in China, Japan, Korea, and southeastern Russia - plus parts of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. But last year, an established population was found in New Jersey, and since then there have been detections in eight other states. Because the tick is parthenogenetic - which means the females can reproduce without needing male DNA - it is possible that it will soon occupy a large part of the Pacific Northwest, as well as the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/invasive-longhorned-tick-could-spread-disease-across-the-u-s
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This tiny home with a rooftop deck is made from two shipping containers

Related: + Cargo Home Via Tiny Home Talk

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-tiny-home-with-a-rooftop-deck-is-made-from-two-shipping-containers
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Large scale 3D Printer capable of printing a motorcycle

Just a few years ago, 3D printing capability was relatively new technology. A home 3D printer could perhaps create a single printed letter or figure if left to work overnight. Advancements in the industry have been fast and furious with new technology offering recognizably sci-fi-like options. While companies have made news with efforts to print homes for a solution to housing shortages or printed skin in the name of medical advancement, one company has created a prototype that proves transportation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/large-scale-3d-printer-capable-of-printing-a-motorcycle
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Pinecone-shaped treehouse provides stunning 360-degree views of dense Redwood forest

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/pinecone-shaped-treehouse-provides-stunning-360-degree-views-of-dense-redwood-forest
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A historic hotel is sustainably revamped into a charming alpine village getaway

Bolzano and Berlin-based design practice NOA (network of architecture) recently renovated and expanded the Zallinger Refuge, a holiday guesthouse in the Dolomites that prides itself on its eco-friendly features. Located in Seiser Alm at 2,200 meters with breathtaking mountain views, the updated hotel comprises a cluster of structures that reference the site’s history and South Tyrolean architecture. The project has been certified under Climahotel, a certification program by the Climate House Agency...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-historic-hotel-is-sustainably-revamped-into-a-charming-alpine-village-getaway
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Your guide to natural holiday decorations

The holidays offer the perfect opportunity to gather with family and friends, enjoy good food and create lasting memories. Hosting the party can mean anything from sending a casual invite for game night to creating a 10-course dinner. Whether your season is filled with cozy nights at home watching seasonal movies or nightly entertaining to catch up with friends throughout the season, a welcoming environment makes you and your guests feel right at home. <!--more--> Fortunately, creating...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/your-guide-to-natural-holiday-decorations
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The prefab Plugin House turns ruins into livable dwellings in just one day

Beijing-based design studio People’s Architecture Office has proved yet again their knack for innovation and socially conscious design with their recent project the Shangwei Village Plugin House. Made with a modular building system of prefabricated panels, these customizable homes can slot into existing structures to make formerly uninhabitable spaces livable and attractive for far less than the cost of a typical renovation. The experimental dwellings were installed in the Chinese village of Shanghai...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-prefab-plugin-house-turns-ruins-into-livable-dwellings-in-just-one-day
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Climate change is killing reindeer in the Arctic

A new Arctic Report Card from the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has revealed that the wild reindeer - or caribou - population has plummeted by more than half during the last two decades. According to the report, the impact of climate change in the Arctic has resulted in the reindeer population falling from 5 million to 2.1 million. The report found that the weather patterns and vegetation changes in the Arctic tundra have had a major negative impact on the reindeer,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/climate-change-is-killing-reindeer-in-the-arctic
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8,000 barrels of oil spill in the Peruvian Amazon

Approximately 8,000 barrels of crude oil have spilled into the Amazon, and the Peru State oil company Petroperu says its because some local indigenous people severed the pipeline. According to a company statement, members of the Mayuriaga community in the Loreto region first damaged the pipeline and then interfered with the technicians trying to repair it. “The townspeople prevented us from securing the pipe to stop petroleum from spilling from the pipe,” said Beatriz Alva Hart, a Petroperu...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/oil-spill-in-the-peruvian-amazon
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MAD Architects curvaceous Himalayas Center nears completion in Nanjing

Beijing-based architecture firm MAD Architects is nearing completion on yet another of their massive mountain-inspired projects: the Nanjing Zendai Himalayas Center. Inspired by the Chinese traditional painting style of ‘shan shui’ (‘mountain water’), the mixed-use development was designed as the “spiritual and poetic retreat in the middle of the city” and features curvaceous forms that mimic Nanjing’s surrounding mountains and waterways. In addition to its impressive mountain-like...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mad-architects-curvaceous-himalayas-center-nears-completion-in-nanjing
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Mecanoo unveils stunning glass lake house that harmonizes with nature

Related: + Mecanoo Via Archdaily Mecanoo, Villa on the Lake,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mecanoo-unveils-stunning-glass-lake-house-that-harmonizes-with-nature
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for children

While it’s obvious that we want the children in our lives to have only the most natural, clean, organic clothes and toys, it’s also important to our planet that we introduce sustainable goods from the start. As children grow up with eco-friendly items at their side, they will naturally grow up to respect the Earth, seeking out these types of green products for the rest of their lives. To get them started on the right foot, here are some of our favorite sustainable gifts for kids and babies. Veggie...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-children
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Major utility company Xcel Energy commits to go carbon-free by 2050

A major utility company is making history. Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility, has pledged to go completely carbon-free by 2050. The company serves eight states, and their new ambitious carbon reduction goal far exceeds their current target of a sixty percent reduction in Colorado by 2026. “Our biggest energy source in a few short years is going to be renewable energy. We’re going to absolutely integrate as much of that as we can into the grid,” said Xcel CEO Ben Fowke. The company...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/major-utility-company-xcel-energy-commits-to-go-carbon-free-by-2050
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Green-roofed eco resort on Easter Island designed to blend into the landscape

Related: + Hangaroa eco village & spa Hangaroa eco village & spa,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-eco-resort-on-easter-island-designed-to-blend-into-the-landscape
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In China, a billion cockroaches are leading the fight against food waste

Warning - This story could make your skin crawl. China’s cities continue to grow at a rapid pace, and it is causing problems with their food waste. The Chinese population is producing so much food waste that the landfills can’t keep up, and this has led to some out-of-the-box thinking - using a billion cockroaches. According to a new Reuters report, a plant outside of the city of Jinan - the capital of the eastern Shandong province - is disposing of the 55 tons of kitchen waste it receives...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/in-china-a-billion-cockroaches-are-leading-the-fight-against-food-waste
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Stunning eco-resort in Colombia built out of compressed-earth blocks and bamboo

Related: + Hotel Cannúa

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stunning-eco-resort-in-colombia-built-out-of-compressed-earth-blocks-and-bamboo
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Zero-waste kit ensures reusable essentials are always nearby

The zero-waste movement has consistently gained momentum over the past ten years with many millennials focusing on minimalistic lifestyles and conservation of natural resources. More than any generation in nearly a century, attitudes towards lower consumption, conscientious purchasing, and limited waste are a big part of societal discussion and awareness. One advocate who has practiced a zero-waste lifestyle for several years has taken the next step in helping others do the same. <!--more--> Marina...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/zero-waste-kit-ensures-reusable-essentials-are-always-nearby
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for pets

Our pets are our best friends … our family. That’s why it is important to spoil your animals with eco-friendly gifts that will make them and the planet happy. From chew toys made from sustainable hemp and wool to collars made of recycled plastic, here our some of our favorite holiday gifts for pets. Chew toys Whether your dog likes to snuggle with its chew toys or is a tough chewer who rips everything to shreds, these toys will make Fido the happiest pup on the planet. Each option is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-pets
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California approves rule to require solar panels on new houses

The California Building Standards Commission has given their final approval to a new housing rule that is the first of its kind in the United States. Starting in 2020, the commission is requiring that all new homes built in the state have solar panels. "These provisions really are historic and will be a beacon of light for the rest of the country," said commissioner Kent Sasaki. "[It's] the beginning of substantial improvement in how we produce energy and reduce the consumption of fossil fuels." In...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/california-approves-rule-to-require-solar-panels-on-new-houses
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Minimalist TRIPTYCH house pulls the Quebec outdoors in

Nestled in the Laurentian Mountains about a hundred kilometers from Montreal is TRIPTYCH, a crisp and contemporary home that blurs the boundaries of indoor and outdoor living. Designed by Montreal-based architecture firm yh2, the residence was built in the image of three interconnected pavilions fitted out in a natural material palette as well as full-height glazing to pull the forested landscape indoors. Envisioned as a “theatrical stage for the surrounding nature,” the sculptural abode was...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/minimalist-triptych-house-pulls-the-quebec-outdoors-in
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Solar-powered modular retreat design in Melbourne inspired by the local landscape

Related: Australia’s first carbon-positive prefab house produces more energy than it consumes + Archiblox Via Dwell Archiblox, Fish Creek, prefab architecture, prefabricated homes, prefab design, steel prefab by Archiblox

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-modular-retreat-design-in-melbourne-inspired-by-the-local-landscape
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Low-budget, bioclimatic home boasts a minimal energy footprint in Costa Rica

When clients Luis and Marce approached design collective YUSO proyectos for their new home in Costa Rica, they already had a very clear idea of what they wanted. First and foremost, the clients wanted the concept of “honesty” to define not only the design and construction process, but also the final appearance and function of the bioclimatic home. As a result, the site-specific project—dubbed the Esparza House—is primarily built from natural materials with minimal and natural finishes. Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/low-budget-bioclimatic-home-boasts-a-minimal-energy-footprint-in-costa-rica
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Couple transform old army truck into 72-square-foot off-grid home on wheels

Related: + The Lorry Life Via Tiny House Talk

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/couple-transform-old-army-truck-into-72-square-foot-off-grid-home-on-wheels
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Study finds microplastics in sea turtles around the world

The microplastics problem in the oceans has made its way to sea turtles in a big way. A new study from researchers at the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory - along with Greenpeace Research Laboratories - has found that microplastics were in the guts of every single turtle they tested. The researchers tested more than 100 sea turtles from all seven species and three different oceans, and they were looking for synthetic particles less than 5 mm in length. The most common thing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/study-finds-microplastics-in-sea-turtles-around-the-world
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Canadas largest net-zero energy college building opens in Ontario

The Canadian port city of Hamilton in Ontario has recently welcomed its first net-zero energy institutional building: the new Joyce Centre for Partnership and Innovation at Mohawk College’s Fennel Campus. Architecture and engineering firm mcCallumSather collaborated with B+H Architects to design the striking solar-powered building, which has also been billed as the largest net-zero energy institutional building in Canada. Conceived as a living lab on sustainability, the Joyce Centre for Partnership...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/canadas-largest-net-zero-energy-college-building-opens-in-ontario
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Bamboo community center empowers the local Brazilian community

The beautiful beach town of Camburi, Brazil, has gained a new community center that not only serves as a communal gathering space, but is also an inspiring social development project that was built for and by the local low-income community. Belgium and Brazil-based design practice CRU! architects provided the design as well as technical assistance and financial support, however, it was the community that decided all of the programming. Started in 2004, the project’s first completed building is...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bamboo-community-center-empowers-the-local-brazilian-community
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Solar-powered cabin is designed for ultimate flexibility and mobility

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-cabin-is-designed-for-ultimate-flexibility-and-mobility
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This calculator tracks the carbon emissions of your travels

The global community has gotten increasingly smaller in recent decades thanks to affordable travel. But, just because distance is no longer a major barrier, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a negative side of traveling - the environmental impact. Now, thanks to the new website missionemission.co, there is a new “emission-free travel calculator” that can calculate the emissions a vehicle will produce when commuting to specific destinations, and it also suggests alternative ways to travel. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-calculator-tracks-the-carbon-emissions-of-your-travels
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for family

When it comes to family, we want to offer the best of the best. The smartest way to gift high-quality gifts to your loved ones is by shopping sustainably. Eco-friendly products (and experiences) are made with love and care for people and the planet. Here are some of our top picks for everyone in your family. For mom: Eco-friendly yoga mats Mom deserves some ‘me’ time. Whether she is an avid yogi or is just getting started, this plant-based yoga mat is made with cork. It’s also free...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-family
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Luxembourg will be the first country to offer all public transportation for free

Luxembourg - a small, landlocked European country that borders Belgium, Germany, and France - is going to be the first country on Earth to have free public transportation. After prioritizing the environment in his recent campaign for prime minister, the newly re-elected Xavier Bettel, and a coalition government of the Democratic party, the left-wing Socialist Workers’ party, and the Greens will lift the fares on all of the public trains, trams, and buses. In addition to the free public transportation,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/luxembourg-will-be-the-first-country-to-offer-all-public-transportation-for-free
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Shipping container food halls slated to revitalize Southern California neighborhoods

Related: A sustainable campus is built from 22 recycled shipping containers + Studio 111 Studio 111, Shipping container food halls, shipping container architecture, building with shipping containers, california shipping container buildings, diy shipping container homes, shipping container design, food trucks shipping containers

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/shipping-container-food-halls-slated-to-revitalize-southern-california-neighborhoods
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MVRDV completes massive, mountain-like vertical village for 5,000 residents in India

A mountain-like residential development has risen in Pune—India’s eighth largest city and one of the fastest-growing cities in the country—and brought with it 1,068 apartments to house approximately 5,000 people in a single building. Completed as MVRDV’s first project in India, the Future Towers bucks the local standard for cookie-cutter freestanding buildings in favor of a singular mountainous structure with peaks and valleys. The mixture of unit types is meant to encourage interaction among...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mvrdv-completes-massive-mountain-like-vertical-village-for-5000-residents-in-india
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Energy-producing pavilion proposal for Expo 2020 mimics Brazil's biomes

Architect Gabriel Kozlowski has proposed a stunning energy-producing structure for the Brazilian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Created in collaboration with Gringo Cardia, Bárbara Graeff, and Tripper Arquitetura, the conceptual design showcases a variety of sustainable systems, from construction materials like rammed earth to passive solar design strategies. Although the competition entry was not ultimately chosen for the Expo, the design does offer an inspiring look at the integration of Brazilian...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/energy-producing-pavilion-proposal-for-expo-2020-mimics-brazils-biomes
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for travelers

For those who will be traveling far and wide in the new year, make sure their journeys are eco-friendly with a wide array of green gifts that will take them to the beaches, the forests or the mountaintops. Here are some of our favorite picks for those that enjoy living a nomadic lifestyle.   Transit tickets to a nearby destination   It’s no secret that air travel has a massive carbon footprint. To scratch the travel bug itch, gift loved ones with tickets for more sustainable forms...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-travelers
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Anderson Architecture revamps a dim heritage home into a modern sun-soaked abode

When Sydney-based design studio Anderson Architecture was asked to improve the livability of an old heritage home in the inner western Sydney suburb of Lewisham, the house suffered from a cold and dark indoor environment. Drawing on their experience on sustainable design, the architects rearranged the home in accordance to passive solar design in a light-filled transformation that earned the project its name, Suntrap. The contemporary renovation has even doubled the thermal efficiency of the living...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/anderson-architecture-revamps-a-dim-heritage-home-into-a-modern-sun-soaked-abode
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Get away from it all in this off-grid concrete cabin just steps away from the Appalachian Trail

Related: + GreenSpur Via Dwell GreenSpur, Lost Whiskey Cabin

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-away-from-it-all-in-this-off-grid-concrete-cabin-just-steps-away-from-the-appalachian-trail
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Simple DIY upcycled holiday decor

Traditional decorating for Christmas can quickly get expensive and extremely wasteful. But you can change that in your home this Christmas season by turning everyday household items into holiday decor. All you have to do is take a shopping trip through your house and upcycle old stuff into Christmas decorations. With just a little time and creativity, you can create these decorations for just pennies, and keep your holiday waste to a minimum. Pasta Christmas Tree All you need for this project...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/simple-diy-upcycled-holiday-decor
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This couch made from recycled water bottles is built to last a lifetime

In recent years, companies have begun to repurpose the massive amounts of used-once-then-trashed plastic in new and exciting ways. For example, REPREVE, a sustainable fiber created from 100% food-quality and BPA-free plastic, is being used in a variety of products from clothing to couches. <!--more--> Lovesac is the first such company to use the recycled fabric to cover sofa cushions. While the eco-friendly material is a huge component of their design, it’s just a sample of a furniture...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-couch-made-from-recycled-water-bottles-is-built-to-last-a-lifetime
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Futuristic eco-city powered with renewable energy is unveiled for the Maldives

Beijing and New York-based design studio CAA Architects has placed first in the “Maldives Airport, Economic Zone Development” competition with their design of a futuristic, energy-producing eco-city on the east coast of the reclaimed island Hulhumalé, Maldives. Named Ocean’s Heaven after its nature-inspired design connecting the ocean with the city, the project features striking, sinuous buildings covered in green roofs and solar panels and will be capable of producing almost all of its own...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/futuristic-eco-city-powered-with-renewable-energy-is-unveiled-for-the-maldives
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A guide to the best eco-friendly holiday gifts for foodies

Food is an important aspect of our daily lives, but many of the treats we love are wrapped in single-use plastics or come from pesticide-ridden conventional farms. This year, show the foodies in your life how much you care with sustainable gifts that improve their cooking skills and make the planet a better place to live. Stainless steel straws After reviewing several types of reusable straws, we fell in love with the stainless steel variety. As the war on plastic straws wages on, give...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-eco-friendly-holiday-gifts-for-foodies
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A glowing river of books creates a traffic-free haven in Ann Arbor

In their latest installment of Literature vs Traffic, Spanish design collective luzinterruptus transformed a major street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, into a glowing river of 11,000 books. Carried out to bring attention to the importance of pedestrian-friendly spaces, the large-scale installation turned an area typically marred by the sounds and pollution of cars into a quiet haven. At the end of the night, all the books were quickly “recycled” and taken home by visitors as a keepsake of the temporary...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-glowing-river-of-books-creates-a-traffic-free-haven-in-ann-arbor
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Corona announces pilot program for 100% plastic-free 6-pack rings in 2019

Corona has announced that it will be launching a pilot program in 2019 for 100 percent plastic-free six-pack rings, making it the first global beer brand to attempt such eco-friendly packaging. The company says that they will introduce the new rings in select markets at the beginning of the new year as part of their commitment with Parley for the Oceans to lead the multi-billion dollar beer industry in doing their part to protect the world’s oceans from marine plastic pollution. Corona beer...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/corona-announces-pilot-program-for-100-plastic-free-6-pack-rings-in-2019
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10 ideas for zero-waste gift wrapping

Wrapping beautiful presents for the holidays can create a lot of trash, thanks to all of the paper, bags, bows, and ribbons. They may look amazing sitting under your tree for a few days, but within seconds of being opened, the garbage bags quickly fill up. Gift wrapping is one of the most wasteful parts of the holiday season, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can actually wrap beautiful presents without creating a ton of trash; you just have to use the right materials. If you look around...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-ideas-for-zero-waste-gift-wrapping
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Community hub built of recycled materials spotlights exploitation of nature in Vietnam

In their latest eco-friendly project, Vietnamese design studio H&P Architects completed an inspiring community hub built mainly from recycled waste materials. Located near a large and polluted industrial park in Dong Van town in Ha Nam province, the project aims to draw attention to the exploitation of natural resources in Vietnam—specifically illegal rock mining—while celebrating the beauty of the nation’s landscapes. Built with thick recycled stone walls, scaffolding and bamboo, the structure...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/community-hub-built-of-recycled-materials-spotlights-exploitation-of-nature-in-vietnam
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Zaha Hadid Architects completes highly complex Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre

Zaha Hadid Architects has completed the Nanjing International Youth Cultural Centre, a striking mixed-use facility that blends the firm’s iconic sinuous architecture with elements from traditional Chinese culture. Billed as China’s first completely top-down/ bottom-up tower construction, the entire center was constructed in just 34 months and is the largest glass-reinforced concrete development in the country. Sustainability is woven into the highly complex design from the optimization of natural...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/zaha-hadid-architects-completes-highly-complex-nanjing-international-youth-cultural-centre
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New innovations in geoengineering are needed to save the coral reefs

The coral reef crisis continues thanks to threats like climate change and pollution. With that in mind, the National Academy of Sciences released a major report last week detailing the high-tech interventions that may be necessary to stop the damage and save the coral. According to Earther, none of the solutions in the report are close to being ready, but the fact that a leading scientific research institution is talking about the coral problem shows the urgency of the situation. “We’re...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/new-innovations-in-geoengineering-are-needed-to-save-the-coral-reefs
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Biomega unveils an affordable, lightweight electric car inspired by minimalism

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/biomega-unveils-an-affordable-lightweight-electric-car-inspired-by-minimalism
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Dutch designer creates leather alternative from palm leaves

The leather industry has taken a beating from conscientious consumers for decades, and for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the chemicals used in leather processing are toxic to humans and the environment. Animal advocates are also vocal about protecting the animals used to produce leather. So opponents of leather are always seeking alternatives. <big>+ ‘Primary Source Name’</big> One Dutch designer, Tjeerd Veenhoven, is doing his part by developing leather look-alike rugs...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/dutch-designer-creates-leather-alternative-from-palm-leaves
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Geotectura Studio completes an ecological building on a former brownfield in Israel

A former brownfield has been transformed into the remediated site for ECO-TUBES, the Azriel Faculty of Design’s Workshop Building that boasts sustainable construction materials and energy-efficient systems. Designed by architect Joseph Cory of the Israeli architecture studio Geotectura Studio, the recently completed building was developed as part of the planned renovation of Shenkar College’s campus in Ramat Gan, Israel and features recycled and local materials along with non-toxic finishes....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/geotectura-studio-completes-an-ecological-building-on-a-former-brownfield-in-israel
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A guide to the best holiday gifts for an eco-friendly home

As adults, receiving gifts to adorn a home or apartment is one of the greatest joys in life. Whether you’re searching for a unique furniture piece for your parents, adorable trinkets for a friend or something extra special for yourself, these gifts top our list of favorite presents for a green home this year. Natural Escape Mattress This holiday season, give the best gift of all: the gift of a good night’s sleep. Free from the toxic VOCs and chemical flame retardants that lurk in most...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-guide-to-the-best-holiday-gifts-for-an-eco-friendly-home
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Patagonia donates its $10 million in tax cuts to save the planet

Last year, President Trump said that his tax bill would be an incredible Christmas gift for millions of hard-working Americans, but it also resulted in billions of dollars of tax savings for businesses - especially the oil and gas industry. But, one outdoor retailer has opted to donate their tax savings to the planet instead of putting it back into their business. Patagonia announced last week that they would be giving away the $10 million the company made as a result of the Republican tax cut. "Based...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/patagonia-donates-its-10-million-in-tax-cuts-to-save-the-planet
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Striking home in Greece uses bioclimatic features to be energy-efficient year-round

Related: A modern, energy-efficient home is built around a beloved madrone tree + Sergey Fedotov Via Archdaily Sergey Fedotov, TRIF House

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/striking-home-in-greece-uses-bioclimatic-features-to-be-energy-efficient-year-round
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This carbon-neutral festival promotes sustainable fun in Thailand

The fields are alive with art, architecture, food, wellness, talks and workshops, family activities and music at the 5th annual Wonderfruit festival in Pattaya, Thailand this December. Wonderfruit is a 5-day event that inspires curiosity and encourages exploration of the unknown while promoting sustainable practices. Technically, Wonderfruit is a three-part festival with phase one in September, phase two in November, and phase three taking place in December. [gallery} <!--more--> Individuals...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-carbon-neutral-festival-promotes-sustainable-fun-in-thailand
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Experimental prefab home eschews fossil fuels in Geneva

In the centrally located town of Lancy in Geneva, Switzerland, a compact and experimental timber home bucks the local archetype for concrete-based housing in favor of a more eco-friendly alternative. Swiss architect Leopold Banchini collaborated with engineer Marc Walgenwitz to design the light-filled abode—dubbed the Casa CCFF—using a prefabrication system that minimizes construction costs as well as waste. The small urban home was built for energy efficiency and assembled in just a few days...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/experimental-prefab-home-eschews-fossil-fuels-in-geneva
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Robotically fabricated Wander Wood Pavilion pops up in just over three days

Traditional materials and futuristic technologies have come together in the Wander Wood Pavilion, a large-scale robotically fabricated structure completed by students at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Installed as a temporary addition to the campus grounds, the experimental pavilion was fabricated and assembled in just over three days using a state-of-the-art eight-axis industrial robot at the UBC Center for Advanced Wood Processing. Constructed with built-in seating, the sculptural...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/robotically-fabricated-wander-wood-pavilion-pops-up-in-just-over-three-days
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Harvard unveils Snhetta-designed HouseZero for sustainable, plus-energy living

The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities (CGBC) at the Harvard Graduate School of Design has just completed HouseZero, an energy-positive living lab for sustainable architecture. Designed by renowned architecture firm Snøhetta along with Skanska Teknikk Norway, the groundbreaking building aims to produce more energy over its lifetime than it consumes. Hundreds of sensors are embedded inside of HouseZero to continually monitor energy performance and advance data-driven research to help produce...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/harvard-unveils-snohetta-designed-housezero-for-sustainable-plus-energy-living
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Guide to sustainable winter activities

Just because the temperature plummets and the daylight runs short doesn’t mean your bustling days need to end. Instead of hibernating like a bear, wearing pajamas and watching Netflix day after day, put some fun on the schedule and look forward to a winter full of activities. Of course, consumption and waste are always a consideration here at Inhabitat so here’s our top choices for the best eco-friendly, sustainable activities for your winter calendar. <!--more--> Snow play Those...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/guide-to-sustainable-winter-activities
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Veteran carpenter builds gorgeous tiny home that boasts impressive wood working and screened-in porch

Related: + Evergreen Tiny Homes Evergreen Tiny Homes

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/veteran-carpenter-builds-gorgeous-tiny-home-that-boasts-impressive-wood-working-and-screened-in-porch
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James Whitaker unveils modular prefab home system that can be 'daisy-chained together'

From Starburst shipping container homes to funky cargotecture office spaces, James Whitaker's prefabricated modular systems are taking the design world by storm. Related: Starburst shipping container home to rise in the California desert + James Whitaker Via Dezeen James Whitaker's prefabricated modular system,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/james-whitaker-unveils-modular-prefab-home-system-that-can-be-daisy-chained-together
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Outdoor giant Merrell presents its most sustainable shoe to date

Outdoor apparel leader Merrell has unveiled their most sustainable shoe yet--and not just a single style, but a lineup of both men’s and women’s options. The Gridway collection emphasizes fashion as well as sustainability and targets the less-than-vogue goal in the fast fashion industry of making shoes that last. <!--more--> The Gridway collection offers three styles for both men and women; the Gridway Moc is a slide on option, while the Gridway is a sneaker style and the Gridway...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/outdoor-giant-merrell-presents-its-most-sustainable-shoe-to-date
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Group of friends build a DIY cabin retreat, complete with suspended tree decks

California's Santa Cruz Mountains. Related: The adorable Acorn tiny cabin is made of wood salvaged from an old mansion + Jeff Waldman Jeffrey Waldman, santa monica cabin, diy cabin, diy outhouse, cabin design, cabin in the woods, how to build a tiny cabin, tiny cabin with cube outhouse, reclaimed wood, wooden cabins, off grid cabins,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/group-of-friends-build-awesome-diy-cabin-retreat-complete-with-suspended-tree-decks-out-of-reclaimed-wood
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RIBA crowns Children Village in Brazil as the worlds best new building

On the edge of a rainforest in northern Brazil, a recently built school complex by Brazilian architecture firms Aleph Zero and Rosenbaum has been awarded the RIBA International Prize 2018 for the ‘world’s best new building.’ Dubbed Children Village, the contemporary project earned praise not only for its beautiful and low-impact design, but also for its social impact as boarding accommodation to 540 children aged 13 to 18 attending the Canuanã School. The winning entry was selected by a grand...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/riba-crowns-children-village-in-brazil-as-the-worlds-best-new-building
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Cheap drainage nets keep water pollution at bay in Australia

Water pollution is a growing crisis around the world, but one city in Australia is doing its part to tackle the huge surges of waste that come from storm drains. By using a somewhat obvious, simple and cost-effective system of nets or “trash traps,” the City of Kwinana is moving to prevent waste from entering its waters. In Spring 2018, the City of Kwinana collaborated with supplier Ecosol to install two drainage nets in the Henley Reserve. The netting was simply attached to concrete drain...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/cheap-drainage-nets-keep-water-pollution-at-bay-in-australia
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Modern rammed earth home embraces the desert landscape

Named after the way light bounces off of its angled walls and ceilings, Dancing Light is an award-winning dwelling nestled in the desert town of Paradise Valley, Arizona. Local architecture practice Kendle Design Collaborative crafted the custom residence, giving it a sense of drama with pointy pavilion-like rooflines, yet grounded the design through indigenous materials and a desert-inspired color palette. Full-height walls of glass also embrace the landscape and the home is also set up to optimize...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/modern-rammed-earth-home-embraces-the-desert-landscape
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Magical rainbow swamp goes viral

Earlier this week, Brent Rossen posted a pic on Reddit that his girlfriend took of a rainbow swamp, and within 24 hours the photo received more than 120,000 upvotes. The couple was enjoying a walk at First Landing State Park in Virginia when they came upon the unusual phenomenon. "Me and my girlfriend were walking in the woods the other week and saw a rainbow pool for the first time," Rossen wrote in his post. So how does this happen? Jeff Ripple, a former Florida swamp walk leader, told the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/magical-rainbow-swamp-goes-viral
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Henning Larsens energy-efficient Kiruna Town Hall opens to the public

The northern Swedish town of Kiruna that’s famously uprooting itself has just inaugurated its new town hall—dubbed The Crystal—in the relocated city center three kilometers to the east. Designed by Danish architecture firm Henning Larsen, The Crystal is an energy-efficient homage to Kiruna’s existing town hall that was designed by the Swedish architect Arthur von Schamlensee. Conceived as the town’s “living room,” the circular building was built with recycled materials from the original...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/henning-larsens-energy-efficient-kiruna-town-hall-opens-to-the-public
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Guide to sustainable winter activities

Just because the temperature plummets and the daylight runs short doesn’t mean your bustling days need to end. Instead of hibernating like a bear, wearing pajamas and watching Netflix day after day, put some fun on the schedule and look forward to a winter full of activities. Of course, consumption and waste are always a consideration here at Inhabitat so here’s our top choices for the best eco-friendly, sustainable activities for your winter calendar. <!--more--> Snow play Those...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/guide-to-sustainable-winter-activities
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Amazon's Christmas trees are hurting the environment

Earlier this year, Amazon announced that they would be selling and shipping fresh, full-size Christmas trees this holiday season. But, there is an environmental issue with the e-behemoth’s new plan. Back in September, Amazon said that they would be shipping 7-foot tall live Douglas firs, Fraser Firs, and Norfolk Island pines to customers’ front doorsteps, and that process is extremely eco-unfriendly. Char Miller, professor of environmental analysis and history at Pomona College says that...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/amazons-christmas-trees-are-hurting-the-environment
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The best eco-friendly floor options for your home

Indoor pollutant levels can be up to five times higher than they are outside according to the EPA, and all you have to do to find the source of many of those pollutants is to look down at your floor. When you install traditional carpet or flooring it can fill the air in your home with hundreds of volatile compounds, including possible carcinogens, and it can take years for those compounds to disappear. To make matters worse, we often treat our carpets with toxic chemicals, and they are notorious...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/the-best-eco-friendly-floor-options-for-your-home
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REPREVE: sustainable multi-use fiber made from recycled water bottles

Single-use water bottles have a become a target for environmentals concerned about the amount of petroleum required for each bottle and the massive amounts of waste generated from their short lives. But in recent years, companies have begun to use that tossed-aside plastic in new and exciting ways. REPREVE, a sustainable fiber created from 100% food-quality and BPA-free post consumer plastic, has opened up the door to give companies new options when sourcing eco-friendly materials. <!--more--> While...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/repreve-sustainable-multi-use-fiber-made-from-recycled-water-bottles
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Foster + Partners designs solar-powered Tulip observation tower for London

London’s iconic Gherkin landmark could be getting a striking and futuristic new neighbor—if plans for Foster + Partners’ The Tulip are approved. Proposed for a site next to The Gherkin—the Stirling Prize-winning 30 St Mary Axe building also designed by Foster + Partners—the conceptual observation tower would serve as a new cultural attraction and educational facility with unparalleled 360-degree views of London. The nature-inspired building would target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/foster-partners-designs-solar-powered-tulip-observation-tower-for-london
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Introducing ReTuna, the world's first secondhand shopping mall

The reusing and upcycling trend continues to gain steam all over the globe. And, now there is a shopping mall that is full of secondhand stores. ReTuna, a two-story complex in Eskilstuna, Sweden, is located about 70 miles west of Stockholm. And, sales at the mall have quadrupled in the first three years. “I think it’s fun to find something that people have used, and we can use further. If you look at the things they’re selling here, they’re almost new. So actually, why bother buying new...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/introducing-retuna-the-worlds-first-secondhand-shopping-mall
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This off-grid home on a Greek island provides 'cinematic frames' of the sea

Related: + En Route Architects Via Archdaily En Route Architects, Parallel House

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-off-grid-home-on-a-greek-island-provides-cinematic-frames-of-the-sea
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Here's your opportunity to join the Inhabitat team as a writer!

Inhabitat, a leading website in green design and sustainable living, is seeking remote writers to contribute two or more articles per week with a focus on breaking environmental news, green design/architecture and/or sustainable lifestyle features. An ideal candidate is an avid environmentalist and excellent writer with the ability to meet deadlines and communicate professionally with editors and sources. Learn more below. Requirements: Ability to meet strict deadlines Understanding...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/heres-your-opportunity-to-join-the-inhabitat-team-as-a-writer
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Twenty aims to dramatically reduce the waste of household products

Dubai Design Week - an annual event celebrating and promoting design and creativity - took place earlier this month, with young design minds from all over the world competing for the coveted Progress Prize at the Global Grad Show. Considered to be the largest creative festival in the Middle East, Dubai Design Week takes place at venues throughout the city, with the central hub of the festival being in the Dubai Design District. And, the Progress Prize celebrates the next generation of design talent...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/twenty-aims-to-dramatically-reduce-the-waste-of-household-products
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Own a funky, biophilic home by an acclaimed upcycling artist for $1.2M

A truly one-of-a-kind home has surfaced on the Florida market that offers luxury living in a lush, jungle-like environment as well as a wealth of upcycled art. Located just north of Fort Lauderdale in the town of Wilton Manors, the home is a sculptural oasis designed by owner Michael Jude Russo, an internationally renowned multimedia artist. Filled with light and views of the outdoors, the unique two-bedroom, two-bath dwelling is now being sold for $1,200,000, an asking price that includes all of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/own-a-funky-biophilic-home-by-an-acclaimed-upcycling-artist-for-1-2m
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Vessel Works is changing the to-go beverage game with their reusable mug

A new company called Vessel Works is attempting to change the game in the beverage industry. The idea is to get rid of the waste from single-use cups for hot and cold beverages by providing a reusable to-go cup in participating cafes. Here’s how it works. The Vessel Works to-go cup is an insulated stainless-steel mug that will keep your beverage hot or cold. When you visit a participating location, you can check out one of the free, reusable mugs via an app and then later drop it off at a kiosk. It...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/vessel-works-is-changing-the-to-go-beverage-game-with-their-reusable-mug
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Norwegian expedition cruise line Hurtigruten aiming to convert six of its 17 ships to use biogas

The Norwegian expedition cruise line Hurtigruten is going to do their part to help the environment. The 125-year-old company is aiming to convert six of its 17 ships to use biogas, liquified natural gas, and large battery packs by 2021. The biogas will be generated with waste fish parts - leftovers of fish processed for food - and mixed with other organic waste to use green energy to power their polluting cruise liners. Biogas is the result of speeding up the natural decomposition process and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/norwegian-expedition-cruise-line-hurtigruten-aiming-to-convert-six-of-its-17-ships-to-use-biogas
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Stunning carbon-neutral home uses traditional materials to create a synergy with its natural setting

Related: + Foster Lomas Via Wallpaper Foster Lomas, Sartfell Retreat

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/stunning-carbon-neutral-home-uses-traditional-materials-to-create-a-synergy-with-its-natural-setting
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Crude oil spill off Newfoundland coast deemed impossible to clean up

The SeaRose FPSO - a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel in the White Rose oil and gas field near the Newfoundland coast - spilled an estimated 66,000 gallons (250,000 liters) of crude earlier this month, making it the largest oil spill in Newfoundland maritime history. The operator responsible for the incident is Husky Energy, and the spill happened when the vessel “experienced a loss of pressure” in an oil flowline. Husky had halted production the day before due to bad weather,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/crude-oil-spill-off-newfoundland-coast-deemed-impossible-to-clean-up
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Time to put the flame out scented candles can cause disease and poor air quality

Scented candles are nice to look at and even nicer to breath in, but your favorite candle can cause more damage than you imagine. Candle season is in full effect as winter days quickly approach. They’re a great accent to incorporate into decorations, dinners and to photograph as the little flickering flames in the jar illuminate dark evenings at home. In the age of social media influencers and luxury brands promoting their one-of-a-kind scents, it’s no wonder why candle sales are soaring,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/time-to-put-the-flame-out-scented-candles-can-cause-disease-and-poor-air-quality
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This home gently wraps around towering 80-year-old coconut trees

Related: + Abraham John Architects Via Archdaily Abraham John Architects

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-home-gently-wraps-around-towering-80-year-old-coconut-trees
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LOT-EK upcycles 140 shipping containers into an apartment complex in South Africa

A massive modular residential building has risen in Johannesburg, South Africa with aims of revitalizing Maboneng Precinct, an area that’s recently undergone a dramatic transformation from a site of urban decay to a thriving enclave for creatives. Having had extensive experience in cargotecture, New York and Naples-based architectural design studio LOT-EK was tapped to design the mixed-use building, which was completed last year. Dubbed Drivelines Studio, the building comprises a total of 140 shipping...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/lot-ek-upcycles-140-shipping-containers-into-an-apartment-complex-in-south-africa
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Floating prefab architecture addresses climate change on Chengdus Jincheng Lake

Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi of the firm NLÉ Architects recently unveiled his third iteration on the award-winning Makoko Floating School, a prefabricated building system aimed at addressing “the challenges and opportunities of urbanization and climate change” through sustainable and alternative building typologies. Dubbed the MFS IIIx3, the thought-provoking collection of structures has been set afloat on a lake in Chengdu, the capital of southwestern China’s Sichuan province. The project...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/floating-prefab-architecture-addresses-climate-change-on-chengdus-jincheng-lake
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Old barn and granary gains a new life as an inspiring community hub

Cambridge-based design practice MCW Architects has completed the transformation of a heritage barn and granary into an uplifting community center and home of local charity ACE Foundation. Purchased by the charity in 2009 on the outskirts of Cambridge, the Victorian farm was renovated in a two-part process, the second phase of which MCW architects were commissioned to design and implement. In addition to refurbishing the existing structure and improving energy efficiency, the £1,500,000 second-phase...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/old-barn-and-granary-gains-a-new-life-as-an-inspiring-community-hub
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How to provide a backyard habitat to protect animals in the winter

We live in an ecosystem, which means plants and animals depend upon one another for survival. During the cold winter months, the animals in your area may struggle to find adequate food, shelter, and water. However, you can make a difference in their struggle. Here are a few simple actions you can take in the name of wildlife conservation in your own yard. <!--more--> Hold off on deadheading Birds eat seeds and make nests from grasses. Critters store nuts and seeds from plants. Although...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-provide-a-backyard-habitat-to-protect-animals-in-the-winter
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Invasive soft rush weed turned into sustainable packaging materials

Soft rush is a plant. It is also furniture and packaging materials. Born from the idea that fibers could be cultivated from the weed, Don Kwaning has designed a line of products using varying parts of the grass-like plant. <!--more--> Throughout the Netherlands, the plant is invasive enough that thousands of pounds are pulled from ditches, wetlands, and marshes every year and turned into biogas. Although it is also used to improve overly-sandy soil, soft rush is widely recognized...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/invasive-soft-rush-weed-turned-into-sustainable-packaging-materials
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Avoid the crowds with these 10 alternatives to Black Friday shopping

The unofficial kick-off to the Christmas season is virtually stamped on the calendar the day after Thanksgiving. Titled Black Friday with the idea that it is the time of year retailers leave the red column and enter the profit, or black, column, the commercialization of the third Friday in November is somewhat of a pop phenomenon with a cult-like following. Merchants hype up and advertise specials, deals and savings weeks in advance while people prepare to rise at 4 a.m. hours after completing their...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/avoid-the-crowds-with-these-10-alternatives-to-black-friday-shopping
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Gorgeous, low-maintenance home comprised of dual farmhouse-style buildings

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-low-maintenance-home-comprised-of-dual-farmhouse-style-buildings
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6 environmental topics to spark discussion at the Thanksgiving dinner table

Nothing sparks political discussion and debate more than a family dinner during the holidays. And, in this explosive political climate, chances are the conversation will run wild during Thanksgiving even more than it has in the past. To give you some ideas for the upcoming holiday season, here are some environmental topics to help spur your political discussion while you enjoy your turkey dinner. Elections Obviously, with a major midterm election happening just a few days ago, this will be a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/6-environmental-topics-to-spark-discussion-at-the-thanksgiving-dinner-table
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Throw out your romaine lettuce, CDC declares E.coli outbreak

Romaine lettuce is unsafe to eat … again. The CDC is advising people to throw out and avoid eating all romaine lettuce following an E.coli outbreak that has left 32 people sick and 13 people hospitalized so far across 11 states in the U.S. The CDC along with public health officials across the U.S. and Canada are investigating another outbreak of E.coli connected to romaine lettuce. The center said that consumers should not eat any romaine lettuce, and restaurants and retailers should not...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/throw-out-your-romaine-lettuce-cdc-declares-e-coli-outbreak
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Architects want to transform an old Dutch bridge into zero-energy apartments

In a bid to save rather than tear down a historically significant bridge in the Netherlands, Delft-based cezeped architects unveiled an adaptive reuse scheme for turning the defunct bridge into a base for energy-neutral dwellings and a conference center. Created in collaboration with Expericon, Hollandia Infra, Mammoet and the IV-Group, this innovative proposal was the result of a consortium that sought to sustainably redevelop the structure, which spans the river Lek near Vianen. Although the plan...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/architects-want-to-transform-an-old-dutch-bridge-into-zero-energy-apartments
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Victorian home's painted facade is stripped to restore its original red brick glory

Related: + Merrylees Architecture Via Archdaily

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/victorian-homes-painted-facade-is-stripped-to-restore-its-original-red-brick-glory
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A traditional log cabin in Colorado is the perfect winter wonderland retreat

Related: Live in Harmony with Nature in These Super Sexy Tree House Cabins + Vacasa Rentals Images via Vacasa Rentals

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-traditional-log-cabin-in-colorado-is-the-perfect-winter-wonderland-retreat
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10 tasty and easy vegan dinner ideas

Choosing to live a healthy, vegan lifestyle can be an easy choice to make, but when it comes to actually following through and cooking those meals every day, it can seem like a complicated, time-consuming task. Cooking plant-based meals doesn’t have to be difficult. With a little planning and a smart grocery shopping strategy, you can make quick and easy vegan dinners every day of the week. Here are ten ideas to help keep your diet healthy and full of nutrients but won’t require you to spend...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-tasty-and-easy-vegan-dinner-ideas
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10 ways to use up mushy, overripe bananas

Bananas linger around many kitchens throughout the world since they are a perfect snack and a healthy addition to things like yogurt, peanut butter, and cereal. But, it doesn’t take long for them to move past peak ripeness and start getting covered in brown spots before turning black. Just because they are past their prime, it doesn’t mean that overripe bananas need to be tossed in the trash. To reduce your food waste, try some of these creative and delicious ideas for overripe bananas instead...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/10-ways-to-use-up-mushy-overripe-bananas
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This tiny home on wheels has been turned into the ultimate Hogwarts experience

Related: + Via Tiny House Talk

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/this-tiny-home-on-wheels-has-been-turned-into-the-ultimate-hogwarts-experience
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A modern, solar-powered home breathes new life into the Dutch countryside

In the Twente countryside of Rijssen, the Netherlands, Dutch practice Reitsema & partners architects and landscape architecture firm Eelerwoude recently completed a new solar-powered dwelling that—despite its contemporary design—looks surprisingly at home with its bucolic surroundings. Taking inspiration from the rural vernacular, the designers styled the three-building project after farmhouse architecture with a modern twist. Dubbed Erve BE and powered by solar energy, the energy-efficient...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-modern-solar-powered-home-breathes-new-life-into-the-dutch-countryside
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nat-2 creates a completely vegan sneaker made from coffee

Vegan sneakers? You bet! Most people know that the fashion industry is notorious for contributing to global waste in manufacturing, water consumption, and high electrical usage. The shoe industry is no exception with the traditional petroleum-based synthetic soles and heavy chemical usage. <!--more--> One company has taken a stand against this rampant pollution with their new nat-2TM coffee sneakers. The unisex design incorporates natural materials from the top to the bottom and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/nat-2-creates-a-completely-vegan-sneaker-made-from-coffee
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Long Lodge is an elegant and sustainable mass timber retreat proposal in the woods

Mass timber construction is growing more popular thanks to efforts like the 2018 Maine Mass Timber Competition, which has prompted elegant and sustainable wood-based designs such as “Long Lodge”, a design concept that won a 2018 Honor Award. Proposed for a specific north-facing property along the Appalachian Trail, the building consists of two wings—one for living and the other for sleeping—joined by a central void that frames views of the “Caribou Pond Trail” that connects to the main...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/long-lodge-is-an-elegant-and-sustainable-mass-timber-retreat-proposal-in-the-woods
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Gorgeous prefab cabin is embedded into the mountainous Norwegian landscape

Related: Contemporary ski chalet boasts gorgeous panoramic views and a low-energy footprint + Helen & Hard Architects Via Archdaily Helen & Hard architects, Gubrandslie Cabin,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-prefab-cabin-is-embedded-into-the-mountainous-norwegian-landscape
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How to host a zero-waste Thanksgiving dinner

Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for friends and family can be an overwhelming task. And when you are providing a meal for a group of people, it is tempting to opt for things like pre-cut fruits and veggies, snack portions of cheese, store-bought pie, and other modern conveniences to make it easier to get through the day. However, using these items can come at a price. When you buy things that are packaged in single-use plastic, it wreaks havoc on the environment. So this year, instead of focusing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-host-a-zero-waste-thanksgiving-dinner
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1960s home remodeled with energy-efficient and non-toxic hempcrete

Related: Gorgeous Northcote Hemp House Receives an 8-Star Energy Rating in Australia + Hempitecture

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/1960s-home-remodeled-with-energy-efficient-and-non-toxic-hempcrete
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Minimalist cabin in the Netherlands allows glampers to relax in style

Related: + Via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/minimalist-cabin-in-the-netherlands-allows-glampers-to-relax-in-style
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How to decode confusing labels on common household cleaners

Have you ever aimed some cleaning spray at your kitchen countertops and wondered what is actually inside the bottle? With all of the confusing chemicals and terms listed on product labels, it can be hard to know what is inside the cleaning products we bring into our homes. “People are surprised to find that dozens of toxic chemicals are in the [conventional] household products we use every day and go almost totally unmonitored and unregulated by our government,” says Alan Greene, MD, clinical...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/how-to-decode-confusing-labels-on-common-household-cleaners
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An old warehouse is remade into a stylish hotel with a copper chevron crown

An 80-year-old warehouse has been elegantly remade into the chic Paramount House Hotel, a boutique property that champions sustainable practices in more ways than one. Designed by Melbourne-based Breathe Architecture, the adaptive reuse project in Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia houses 29 rooms, each unique, as well as a sun-soaked lobby that weaves original architectural features together with contemporary elements. In addition to the sensitive renovation of the historic building, the architects...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/an-old-warehouse-is-remade-into-a-stylish-hotel-with-a-copper-chevron-crown
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5 tips for beautiful, sustainable Thanksgiving decor

November marks the season of Thanksgiving. With Halloween decor packed up and Christmas trimmings still in totes, it’s time to focus on unveiling the essence of Thanksgiving in your home. Aisles of decor line the store shelves, but many of those options contribute to environmental issues. By making some conscientious decisions you can reduce transport emissions, eliminate plastic consumption and give used items new life while giving your home the holiday flair you invision. While pulling together...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/5-tips-for-beautiful-sustainable-thanksgiving-decor
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