bamboo as building material

This sounds a bit 'behind the times', but at least CNN is reporting about bamboo and its sustainability.



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greenest museum: academy of science

Wonderful green architecture at the California Academy of Science--but I thought that the exhibits left a whole lot to be desired. The flow of the building when it is crowded is awful--especially going upstairs to the upper levels. I thought that the De Young Museum across the park had fantastic exhibitions. Read More..

greenhouse house: hiroshi iguchi

Love this greenhouse I saw on Eco Friend by designer Hiroshi Iguchi. This house within a greenhouse has been designed as a part of the Fifth World project, which aims to promote ecofriendly and sustainable architecture.

Made from natural materials that include wood for floors and traditional Japanese panels for compartments, it integrates humans and plants together -- leaving open spaces in between the ceiling to let trees thrive in the open. Read More..

tres birds: 21+ prefab structure

Tres Birds workshop has designed and engineered a building for you. The 21+ is a modular structure that is available for purchase through tres birds workshop design/build.
-the intention of this structure is to provide an inexpensive dwelling/work space for North Americans.
-the structure’s materiality and energy engineering result in a space that makes more energy then it consumes.
-the unique structural engineering of the building allows for varied placement conditions; it may be settled onto cleared land, atop an existing building, connected to an abandoned foundation, intergrated into urban voids.
-the structure is modular in both construction and deconstruction, allowing this building to become a temporary dwelling in a location to be developed in the future.
-all building materials are American made.
materials:
-beetle kill lodge pole pine wood (main frames,interior)
-structurally integrated panels (exterior structural wall system)
-galv-alum t-panels (exterior cladding, roof)
-low-e insulated glazing
energy engineering:
-each proposed site will be analyzed for sun / weather conditions and the 21+ window apertures will be adjusted for peak annual heating and cooling loads for that particular region.
-roof mounted photovoltaic panel array will provide 120% of annual electric energy consumption of the 21+. excess energy can then be used for electric car recharge, carbon offset credit, or cash back from regional energy provider..
-thermal infiltration is limited by the 10inch foam exterior walls and the siting/architecture.
-heating is provided by in floor radiant panels.
-cooling is provided through evaporative cooling system.
costs:
$140k with no future energy bills
create CHANGE while investing in America: order your 21+ today Read More..

haute green build japanese teahouse

I am in smitten with this lovely eco teahouse found here. The design is by Naomi Darling an Architect who recently graduated from Yale. It incorporates bamboo harvested from the site, recycled metal roof, and stone from local quarry. Time for tea!
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reclaimed wood wall: haute design idea

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recycled materials: eco greenhouse construction

This greenhouse looks like an easy enough build. Check your local recycled architectural materials yard.
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puma city: mobile storage unit buildings

Puma City by Lot-EK is an 11,000 sq ft traveling pavillion for Puma's entry into the world's toughest sailing race, the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-2009. Puma City contains a full Puma retail store, offices a bar/lounge and an outdoor terrace area. Puma City was built from 24 storage containers a fabulous modular build out, so all other marketing companies better step up.
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natural capital center: portland oregon

After a century of service as a warehouse for the goods of the industrial economy, the Jean Vollum Natural Capital Center has been revitalized by Eco Trust as a marketplace that fosters the ideas, goods, and services of a conservation economy.

Accessible by Portland Streetcar (NW 10th and Johnson stop), by bicycle (generous outdoor parking spaces), by bus, on foot and with limited car parking, the Center is located in Portland's Pearl District on Northwest 10th and Irving streets. A former industrial area, the Pearl District is a fast-growing mixed-used neighborhood of converted warehouses, shops, galleries and new housing.

The Center has been acclaimed by civic leaders and has already gained recognition as an important contribution to the city's landscape, a unique blend of environmental innovation and historic restoration.
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recycled home: eco materials: tomas small

Tomas Small and his wife, Joanna Brody, should be one of the greenest couples on this planet. The couple resides in a prefab that is made using everything from recycled steel bars to crushed sunflower husks and shredded blue jeans.Mr. Small wanted one of the greenest houses ever designed by Sander Architects, and the only problem he was facing is the lack of funds. The architects were up to the task but only found themselves using materials that they would have never imagined could be used in house building. Besides using recycled steel and Styrofoam, they also made use of sunflower husks for wall panels and old jeans for insulation.
The house also boasts cross-ventilation for cooling and passive solar energy for heating. Gardening in this house is done using grey water. Three sides of this amazingly green house are made from folded steel panels, and the fourth side is assembled using concrete, acrylic and glass. Additional strength to the upper floors with wire mesh and rebar wrapped around Styrofoam and sprayed with concrete. For insulation of the entire house, the ceiling and walls were all lined with two layers of shredded blue jeans. The 16 feet high, screw-on panels and the bookshelves of this house were made from crushed sunflower husks. With all this onboard, the cost of the house was $528,000, that’s only a third of the actual cost for an architect-designed house of this monster size in the Los Angeles area.
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solaleya: solar rotating houses

Solaleya dome houses rotate to follow the sun for maximum solar exposure.
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west coast green: sept. 25-27th

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shipping container houses: logical homes

Shipping container houses by Logical Homes.
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west coast green: sept. 25-27th

West Coast Green will happen September 25-27th 2008 in Silicon Valley at the San Jose Convention Center, California. Al Gore will be one of the keynote speakers at the green innovation conference.
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eco-dome - trailer - full film available at calearth.org

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house out of ship: haute reuse

At South Bass Island in Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay, Ohio, sits the former Great Lakes Shipping Boat, The Benson Ford. The boat was built by Henry Ford and named after his grandson many years ago.

After fifty years of service on the Great Lakes, the Benson Ford was scheduled in 1986 to be scrapped at the Port of Cleveland, Ohio. On the top front section of the boat were the walnut paneled state rooms, dining room, galley, and passenger lounge designed by Henry Ford for his own pleasure while traversing the Great Lakes on business.

An Ohio husband and wife stepped in realizing that these elegant quarters could be a great residence, if they could only be removed from the rest of the ship and brought to land. After many days with torches and cranes, the quarters were removed from the ship and floated by barge some sixty miles west to the tranquil island of South Bass Island.

Additional cranes were needed to lift the quarters off the barge at the Island up a steep eighteen foot promontory to its final site on solid bedrock on a single family home lot. The quarters became The Ship Residence, a private home on South Bass Island.
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solar umbrella house: pugh + scarpa architects

Solar Umbrella House is 100% powered by solar energy.

Owners and the principals of Pugh + Scarpa Architects, Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa, created this home to be economical and solar-powered. Photovoltaic solar panels convert 100 per cent of the home’s power. The home is also equipped with solar hydronic heating panels, a storm-water recycling system, eco construction materials & heat-retaining concrete. Radiant floor heating is powered by one of three solar hot-water panels.

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method homes: haute eco modular construction

Method Homes modular construction near Seattle, Washington has both a commitment to sustainable materials as well as a customizable design. The home by Balance Associates Architects can be easily scaled from a studio to a three bedroom home with LEED standards. Energy efficiency and utilization of eco materials were highlighted by using: FSC-certified lumber, radiant heating, low-flow fixtures, excellent insulation, energy star appliances, optional solar arrays, recycled tiles, bamboo flooring/cabinets and zero-VOC finishes.

Method homes are factory constructed, cutting waste to less than 10% of materials used. Homes take approx. 3 months to build after permits are approved-costs are estimated around $150 and $250 per square foot. For more info, see their blog.

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james hubbell: environmental architecture

James Hubbell is a very talented craftsman and architect who built the Sea Ranch Chapel in Northern California. Hubbell has been using earth-friendly design techniques since the 1950s- his architecture combines stained glass, metal, mosaics and a variety of materials in interesting new ways so that his buildings are at harmony with their natural surroundings. His firm Hubbell & Hubbell Architecture is now a practice in partnership with his son.



The Sea Ranch Chapel shown below, was dedicated December 8, 1985 with cedar roof, copper spire, teak doors, native redwood, local stone, etc. The entire chapel was designed and crafted by Hubbell including the windows, inlaid door, metal chandelier, ornate prayer desk and kneeling cushion tapestry.



Hubbell is creating an amazing legacy as well with his Ilan Lael Foundation, watch the video below to learn about his future art and education center and workplace. He is an incredibly wonderful man, a giving man, a man with a vision.

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100% recycled glass tiles: susan jablon mosaics

Susan Jablon Mosaics offers a certified, sustainable product ORGANIKS, 100% Recycled Glass Mosaic Tile. Available in nearly 100 color choices-solids or patterns, ORGANiKS is made from damaged car windshields- pulverized into glass powder.
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