Mud and recycled materials make up this sustainable Kerala home

When Ramanujan Basha decided to build a modern, eco-friendly home in Kerala, he turned to Wallmakers, a local design practice with a decade’s worth of experience designing sustainable architecture. Unlike its more conventional neighbors, the house, dubbed Chirath, is built primarily of mud, recycled elements, and natural materials. Passive solar principles were also applied to the design to let in natural light and much-needed natural ventilation for relief from Kerala’s tropical climate. In...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/mud-and-recycled-materials-make-up-this-sustainable-kerala-home
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Get serious about climate change with this board game

Worried environmentalists have been warning international leaders to stop playing around and get serious about climate change, but California’s Marin County has introduced a new board game that introduces players to the complexities of climate adaptation in a fun and engaging way. Marin County is located within the San Francisco Bay Area and although it is one of the country’s wealthiest counties, the threats of sea level rise and climate change are still insurmountable. CityLabs reported...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-serious-about-climate-change-with-this-board-game
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A mountain refuge in Spain is brought back to life with brickwork

In the mountains of the southeastern Spanish town of Jumilla sits “La Casa del Ángel”, a small shelter where outdoor enthusiasts have long sought shelter. To bring more people to the shelter, the local government commissioned Murcia-based firm Martin Lejarraga Oficina de Arquitectura to refurbish the small building, which had been worn down by use and the outdoor elements. In renovating the space, the architects reinforced the structural strength and clad the facade in a variety of brickwork...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/a-mountain-refuge-in-spain-is-brought-back-to-life-with-brickwork
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Get outdoors with this guide to sustainable spring activities

Spring is that amazing time of year that celebrates new life everywhere around us. Animals deliver babies, trees regain their leaves, and flowers spring into full color. That means it’s the perfect time for you to enjoy the splendor of the season too. If you’re eager to hit the trails and clean up the yard, remember to keep the environment in mind when planning your activities. Here are some ways you can enjoy natural activities while promoting earth-friendly practices. <!--more→ Gardening It...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/get-outdoors-with-this-guide-to-sustainable-spring-activities
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Bee + Hive to help explorers book green hotels and sustainable tourism experiences

Conscientious travelers often worry about the impact of their dollars and whether or not tourism improves lives in the local communities they visit. Now Bee + Hive, a not-for-profit association made up of hotels and other travel industry partners is launching a booking engine to help travelers choose sustainable tourism experience. Starting in June, Bee + Hive plans to take the guesswork out of planning global sustainable travel, and ease the worries of travelers who suspect that travel is the newest...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bee-hive-to-help-explorers-book-green-hotels-and-sustainable-tourism-experiences
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Sparkman Wharf cargotecture restaurants revitalize Tampa's Water Street neighborhood

Any successful restaurant requires communication among workers. But when you’re turning out quality food in a 30 by 8 foot space, even more cries of “below,” “behind” and “heard” are necessary to keep staff from trampling each other. “There’s not enough room to open the oven door and the beer cooler at the same time,” says Tampa restaurateur Ty Rodriguez, co-owner of Gallito. Rodriguez’ newest restaurant opened last November and occupies a former shipping container in Sparkman...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/sparkman-wharf-cargotecture-restaurants-revitalize-tampas-water-street-neighborhood
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Bioclimatic home curves for optimal daylighting and views in Chile

In an effort to beat the intense Chilean heat without compromising views of Santiago, local architectural firm Biourban Arquitectos has designed a bioclimatic home in La Reina that combines passive solar principles with high energy performance materials. Dubbed the H.D. House, the site-specific dwelling features two floors, each built of different materials with contrasting textures and colors, and optimized for thermal resistance. The H.D. House’s rectilinear lower floor is built with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building https://inhabitat.com/bioclimatic-home-curves-for-optimal-daylighting-and-views-in-chile
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