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...
The First Living Building in Texas?
The Betty and Clint Josey Pavilion, one of Texas’ most eco-friendly structures, is nestled in an unassuming native prairie landscape near Decatur. The self-sufficient 502m2 open-air pavilion is 100 percent powered by solar, uses zero air conditioning, harvests rainwater and treats all wastewater on-site. San Antonio-based firm Lake|Flato Architects designed the award-winning pavilion to meet the standards of...
Innovative Parks to Add to Your Bucket List
Innovative park design and public space reclamation have combined to become one of the latest green trends to emerge in contrast against the urban concrete jungle. These green trends have enjoyed such massive success in the public eye that developers around the world are scrambling to innovate and replicate, with projects ranging from public rooftop...
Collective Farming in China
Value Farm is an amazing urban agriculture project in Shenzhen, China that encourages locals to participate in a collective farming effort. Thomas Chung, together with Tris Kee and Chi Fai Fung, transformed an open area within Ole Bouman’s Value Factory from an abandoned industrial facility into an expansive farm that flourishes with a smorgasbord of edible plants. Projects...
Picnic Table with Power
There’s a big green roof on top of the Williamsburg offices of Vice in NYC. There is what looks like a picnic table with a solar panel sunshade nestled in the planting which designer Matt Kovaleski describes as “a space for urbanites to relax in the shade while charging whatever they need off clean energy.” This humble...
Italy Reaches New Heights
Architecture firm Snøhetta has designed a pair of ring-shaped platforms linked by a cable car, which will offer expansive views of the Alps to residents and visitors in Bolzano, Italy. Bolzano, which has approximately 100,000 residents and has been ranked as one of the best Italian cities for quality of life, is the provincial capital of the South Tyrol...
Solar Sphere Man Cave
When it comes to personal DIY projects most people might be happy with building a deck or a shed – not Jono Williams, a Plastics Engineer and Graphic Designer from New Zealand. After shooting the breeze with a mate one night, this Kiwi inventor committed to building the ultimate app-controlled treehouse. After working on the...
Solar ‘Idea Trees’
Resting firmly on the cutting edge of photovoltaic technology, the OPV (organic photovoltaic) array on display at the German pavilion for Expo Milano 2015 embodies the pinnacle of german ingenuity and cross-sectoral collaboration. The ‘idea trees’, conceived by Schmidhuber architects, symbolise how the seed of an idea can grow into a reality. During the day one can see the future...
Blue is the New Green
The green roof is becoming a more common occurrence in Australian development. But is there a better option? In simple terms, a green roof is partially or fully covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproof membrane. They provide a number of benefits, including thermal and sound insulation, amenity space, biodiversity, reduced water runoff...
Do you know your planting success rate?
This is an important question that we, as business owners or managers, need to know the answer to. For small and medium landscaping companies it is relatively easy to keep records and to monitor statistics and understand the reason for any failure. For big landscaping companies the large amount of plants used may hide the...
Let Your Personality Shine Through Your Backyard
The backyard is much more than just an extension of the home; it’s a reflection of your lifestyle and personality which is why it’s important to consider every element and choose a style for your backyard that compliments your own. The preferred style does not have to be defined by the area you live in;...
More Bikes than People
The Netherlands, a country which famously has more bicycles than residents, is running out of places to park their bikes. A proposal has been put forward by NL Architects for a dual use building at Hague Central Station that would offer 6000 more bicycle parking spots, as well as retail outlets. The Hague main terminal...
