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The long and varied history of waste and its removal in New York from the 18th century onwards is the subject of Elizabeth Royte’s 2005 book Garbage Land and of the Urban Omnibus City of Systems video she narrates. In the video, Royte describes how her research into where exactly her trash was going after she threw it out has led her to become a more ecological citizen, with “a systems view” of our interconnected processes of manufacturing, transportation, disposal and re-use. — Urban Omnibus
In a new exhibition, Michael Pawlyn lays out his vision for architecture inspired by the natural world – including biorock buildings grown entirely underwater and whole office blocks being lit by learning from the blind sea star. [...]
“All my work is driven by a frustration with the word ‘sustainable’,” he says. “It suggests something that is just about good enough, but we need to be looking at truly restorative solutions.
— theguardian.com
Canadian company Dirtt provides reusable building components and 3D design software, but is still convincing architects it's more sustainable than other options - and worth the price — The Guardian
My friend Bill wrote this article in the Guardian about a Canadian company called DIRTT, which claims to be reducing construction-related waste with its 3D modeling software and "made-to-order building materials that snap into place". It's being used by companies such as Google and... View full entry
Yesterday, DS+R announced in their proposal for MoMA's redesign that the American Folk Art Museum would have to be demolished. Backlash from the #folkMoMA community quickly arose: architects and critics called the choice callous and unsustainable, outraged not only by the Folk Art Museum's... View full entry
Using digital fabrication and some clever tricks we're able to manufacture beautiful, low cost structures which easily bolt together. You design for it like it's a big imaginary 3D printer then you and your friends get together and bolt your house together! [...]
It works like a techno version of a barn raising.
— Arcology Now
Architecture start-up Arcology Now wants to provide an alternative to 3D printing building technologies, focusing on reliable materials and elbow grease. The Phoenix, Arizona group has developed a digital fabrication software that generates a framework for any 3D surface out of steel tubes and... View full entry
The ultramodern Villa Kogelhof in Kamperland, the Netherlands has just been awarded one of the prestigious Dutch ARC13 Architecture Prize. The building's designers, Amsterdam-based Paul de Ruiter Architects, were honored with the prize — alongside three other award winners — at a festive award ceremony in Rotterdam. — bustler.net
Photography by Jeroen Musch. View full entry
Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Make It Right honored the winners of their Innovation Challenge on Nov. 15 at the Innovation Celebration in New York City. The challenge was established in 2012 as a chance for innovators to reinvent and respond to the issues on how building products are designed, manufactured, and consumed. — bustler.net
Starting from 144 applicants to 10 finalists, the jury chose four winners:1st place: bioMASON biobrick2nd place: Ecovative Mushroom Insulation3rd place tie: ECOR Universal Construction Panels and ROMA Domus Mineral PaintsEcovative is also the winner of the 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge. View full entry
"Prime Cut" by Swiss firm Rutz Architekten won a Merit Award in the 2013 Architecture at Zero competition we just featured. Student and professional entrants were required to design a zero-net energy, mixed use, affordable residential building for the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco, CA. — bustler.net
Previously: Architecture at Zero 2013 winners announced View full entry
The winners have been revealed for the Architecture at Zero 2013 competition. Architecture, engineering, and planning students and professionals worldwide were invited to submit their designs of a zero-net energy, mixed-use, and affordable residential building for the Tenderloin neighborhood in San Francisco, CA. — bustler.net
See also: “Prime Cut” by Rutz Architekten - winning entry for Architecture at Zero 2013 View full entry
The winners of the 2013 World Habitat Awards were officially announced by the Building and Social Housing Foundation (BSHF) on Oct. 7 during World Habitat Day in Medellín, Colombia. Out of 200 entries from around the world, the winning projects were selected based on which ones presented the most innovative and sustainable housing solutions to support economic and community restoration and provide for homeless individuals. — bustler.net
Brought to you by IE School of Architecture & Design: By the Academic Director of the IE Master in Architectural Management and Design, Juan Lago Novás. I’m sure most of us have seen the inspiring talk by Bjarke Ingels at TED about “Hedonistic sustainability”, but I... View full entry
In the past few weeks, the Buckminster Fuller Institute has been introducing numerous finalist entries for the sixth annual Buckminster Fuller Challenge [...].
Today now, the BFI announced the overall challenge winner: Ecovative, a Green Island, NY-based materials science company that has developed a new class of home-compostable bio-plastics based on living organisms, mushroom mycelia — a high-performing, environmentally responsible alternative to traditional plastic materials.
— bustler.net
The 'mushroom material' inventors, Eben Bayer, Gavin McIntyre, and the Ecovative Team, will be awarded the $100,000 cash prize at a ceremony at Cooper Union in New York City on November 18, 2013. Previously: Announcing the 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Finalists View full entry
The Buckminster Fuller Institute announced the finalists for the 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge today. Out of 19 semi-finalists--who we previously covered back in August--the distinguished Jury selected the top five after a day of deliberation on Oct. 7. — bustler.net
Previously: 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge Semi-finalists announced UPDATE: ‘Mushroom Plastics’ initiative Ecovative wins 2013 Buckminster Fuller Challenge View full entry
The ecosystem will consist of several different microbes, each of which plays a role in nutrient recycling and population control. The result is a closed ecosystem that will sustain itself with the addition of just light [...]
The result will be a stable, closed, microbial ecosystem that glows in the dark.
— RocketHub
Undergraduate researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, are developing a sustainable bacterial ecosystem that will be able to produce light. The "Biobulb" will use a lab-neutered version of the E. Coli bacteria (totally harmless) that has been encoded with the gene for... View full entry
On Aug. 11, the Illawarra Flame House of Team UOW Australia (University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra Institute) won the 2013 Solar Decathlon China. Co-hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Energy Administration China, the competition challenged university teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, energy-efficient, and stylish. Participants included 22 teams from 35 universities, with students of over 35 nationalities in 13 countries. — bustler.net
