Ireland set to ban fracking after both houses of Parliament pass bill

Ireland is just one signature away from banning fracking. After the country's House of Representatives, the Dáil Éireann, passed a fracking ban the end of May, Ireland's Senate, the Seanad Éireann, followed suit the end of June. Now the bill just needs Irish President Michael Higgins' signature before Ireland bids farewell to the controversial practice once and for all. Related: Ireland votes to be world's first country to fully divest from fossil fuels Via Images via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/ireland-set-to-ban-fracking-after-both-houses-of-parliament-pass-bill
via Inhabitat

Old warehouse transformed into a vibrant urban market in Mexico City

The Milán 44 urban regeneration project in Mexico City transforms an old four-story warehouse that was originally home to an auto-parts store. With his redesign, Francisco Pardo Arquitecto gave new life to the old structure and created an urban market that reinvigorates a neighborhood. The main challenge for the architects was to adapt the original structure to the new dynamics of the area. They decided to integrate a regular grid of exposed concrete beams, columns and slabs into the venue's...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/old-warehouse-transformed-into-a-vibrant-urban-market-in-mexico-city
via Inhabitat

Nanoleaf's Terra light wall paints Arctic landscapes with 1,200 color-changing LEDs

Nanoleaf, creators of the first ever-modular smart light made for custom design, created a large installation that exposes visitors of the Anchorage Museum in Alaska to remote Arctic landscapes. The Nanoleaf Aurora uses over 16 million colors to paint beautiful moving imagery of sunsets and polar bears, and create a variety of ambiances. The Nanoleaf App controls this installation made up of small triangular panels that can be freely connected together like LEGOs. Named Terra, this installation...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nanoleafs-terra-light-wall-paints-arctic-landscapes-with-1200-color-changing-leds
via Inhabitat

Water-purifying tower could heal landscapes scarred by acid mine drainage in South Africa

Johannesburg, South Africa was built on mining - the gold mining industry began there in the late 1800's. But the city today is feeling the impacts of acid mining drainage scarring the landscape. Architecture For a Change has designed a solution: the Re-mining Johannesburg project that incorporates dams and treatment plants. The infrastructure could help heal the landscape - and offer housing. Related: + Architecture For a Change Images courtesy of Architecture For a Change

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/water-purifying-tower-could-heal-landscapes-scarred-by-acid-mine-drainage-in-south-africa
via Inhabitat

Global population buys one million plastic bottles every single minute

We're drowning in plastic bottles. You know use of plastic water bottles - and their disposal or lack thereof - is a worldwide dilemma, but new statistics released by The Guardian reveal just how staggering the issue is. Every minute humans purchase one million plastic water bottles, consuming nearly 500 billion of the bottles a year. And while it's true many of these bottles can be recycled, it's becoming hard for us to keep up with the sheer amount of bottles that need to be recycled - or could...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/global-population-buys-one-million-plastic-bottles-every-single-minute
via Inhabitat

Artist recycles old typewriters into beautiful guns

The Art of War takes on new meaning in Canadian artist Eric Nado’s evocative typewriter-guns. Inspired by the old adage “the pen is mightier than the sword,” these beautiful and futuristic Typewriter Guns are fully recycled from colorful vintage typewriters. These powerful pieces explore the impact of words, over arms, in shaping history. Nado's reconstructive artworks are crafted with all original parts of vintage typewriters, including brands such as Underwood and Royal. Though...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/artist-recycles-old-typewriters-into-beautiful-guns
via Inhabitat

Tiny cave-like cabin pops up in the Welsh Hills

If adventure with comfort is your cup of tea, you'll love off-grid glamping at Arthur's Cave. Inspired by the legendary cave where King Arthur and his traveling knights took refuge, this cavernous cabin offers a bit of mystique with all the comforts of home. Miller Kendrick Architects designed this contemporary cave-like cabin that was one of eight winning entries for the Epic Retreats' pop-up hotels in Wales. The competition-winning Arthur's Cave was constructed in four weeks early June....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green BuildingInhabitat – Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/tiny-cave-like-cabin-pops-up-in-the-welsh-hills
via Inhabitat