LED Streetlights – A Sustainable and Cheaper Alternative
Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs are becoming more prevalent in our homes, so it was only a matter of time until the LED discussion extended to street lights. Determined to see this discussion head in a positive direction, a Queensland research team led by QUT scientists conducted a 12-month LED street lighting trial in Brisbane,...
Playgrounds Set To Increase Green Space
With 202020 Vision enhancing the awareness and the importance of increasing green space, and new research and technology now allowing green life in fall zones, playgrounds are about to become a greener solution. Until recently fall zones in playgrounds were not allowed to utilise live plants and turf. Now new testing has shown that certain...
Grass Pavers – A Sustainable Alternative
Ever since the first asphalt streets were laid in Sydney in the early 1930s, the use of concrete has become the default choice for high pedestrian and vehicular traffic spaces throughout Australia’s urban landscape. Now with an increased focus on sustainability throughout design and the wider community, an attitude shift has occurred with people now...
Sustainability Lighting The Way
More cities are making the switch to smarter lighting solutions for their streets. Solar powered lighting, internet connected LED lighting and remote monitoring/controlling are just some of the latest features that can go into street lighting. But cities are not upgrading because of the novelty factor, these technologies have an important number of benefits that...
It’s Not All Just Child’s Play
Playgrounds provide vital opportunities for children to play. There is considerable research that shows the link between play and brain development, motor and social skills. All learning – emotional, social, cognitive and motor – is engaged by the pleasure of play. Playgrounds that promote different types of play are important for a child’s development. Specific...
Is Li-Fi the Future in Lighting?
How will our buildings change when your mobile device can receive huge amounts of data flowing from the luminaires above you? Not only has LED brought us a highly efficient light source, but a promising instrument for visible light communication (VLC) as well. Therefore light will not only be a medium to support vision, but it will...
Forget Floating Farms or Farm Skyscrapers…
The dilemma caused by the combination of a growing population and the need to feed it from limited farming land has caused alternative agricultural growing methods to become an area of exploration for scientific and agricultural communities. The US city of Louisville, Kentucky, is set to become home to a major vertical farm from company FarmedHere, who...
Cycle Solar Power
It’s been one year since an innovative solar-paneled bike path was laid in Krommenie, Netherlands, and the results have even surprised the designers. Over the past year the path has generated 70 kilowatt-hours per square meter – enough to power about three houses. The people behind SolaRoad – a pioneering innovation in the field of...
Urban Spaces for All Ages
It’s no secret that people in inner urban areas of Australia’s cities are getting very comfortable with the idea of dense vertical living. Visiting Brisbane with my young family last month, I was blown away by the diversity of open space in the inner city, and the new night-time economy that had taken over areas...
Are Floating Farms the Answer?
Available arable land and agricultural space is on the decrease, while demand for food is higher than ever before. With worldwide populations expected to soar to 9.6 billion by 2050, food production will have to increase by 70% worldwide and by 100% in developing countries to keep up. The question is how can we solve this...
Dementia Village Offers New Aged-Care Model
The dementia village concept is designed as a community, to be domestic and feel familiar to patients. Patients can shop, get their hair done or see a movie – safely. As our ageing population brings increasing challenges to the global healthcare system, this model could serve as example for a range of senior support facilities particularly those...
Crowdfunding Revolutionising Public-Space Project Funding
Crowdfunding now represents a ‘huge opportunity’ for architects looking to get public projects off the ground. “A lot of people see the potential of crowdfunding to get the public involved in a project the public will use,” said Sophie Paton, part of the team behind the Thames Deckway project. “It’s a trend that will keep on...
