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2014 AIA COTE Top Ten Green Project Winners Announced
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) have just announced this week their selection of the 2014 Top Ten Green Projects, examples of sustainable architecture and ecological American design projects that protect and enhance the environment. The projects include new and adaptive re-use buildings, ranging from government offices to…
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Build It Green’s Healthy Homes Conference
The What: Join leading experts at Build It Green’s upcoming Healthy Homes Conference to learn about new building science, products, and practices to maximize safety and air quality in the home. Presentations will explore: cost-effective ways to maintain indoor air quality during construction and remodeling to protect homeowners and work crews; updated combustion safety standards…
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Fire Safety Without Harmful Chemicals Webinar
The What: The Sustainable Furnishings Council will be offering a free webinar on the topic of Fire Safety Without Harmful Chemicals. Flame retardant chemicals can be found in upholstered furniture as well as building materials such as insulation (expanded and extruded polystyrene (EPS and XPS) and polyurethane and polyisocyanurate). Learn from expert Dr. Arlene Blum…
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Toyo Ito Continues to Inspire
Last fall, I had the chance to meet Mr. Toyo Ito up close and personal soon after I toured the Taiwan National Stadium he designed. It was during a press conference held in Taipei New Horizon, his most recent project completed in Taiwan. He was invited by the Fubon Art Foundation to meet the press in the afternoon and give…
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Buildings That Follow the Sun
Can building floor plates rotate in response to sun movement? Sir Richard Branson seems to believe it’s possible. He recently introduced Virgin Buildings, a new generation of ultra-green skyscrapers aimed to positively change the landscape for the environment, architecture, and cities around the world. Sir Branson envisions Virgin Buildings to provide their own food, water,…
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dFab Connects the Digital Fabrication Community
A few years ago at a Green Building Summit convened by Greentech Media and SRI International, I met an interesting fellow named Greg Howes. He talked at a fast pace and was full of ideas. He introduced me to the world of robotic manufacturing and made a strong case for how technology could help us…
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No Border School Project Empowered by Traditional Construction
Editor’s Foreward: Portuguese architects João Guimarães and Miguel Magalhães of Aware Collective have designed No Border School, a 208 square meter modular and sustainable school for Burmese refugee children in Mae Sot, Thailand. The project is awaiting funding and I hope they will be able to realize such a thoughtful project which could have a…
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The Ideal Home Show Tree House
Back in October 2013, Blue Forest, a UK-based tree house design and construction company, was approached by Quiet Mark to design and build an ambitious and extraordinary next-generation tree house as the central feature for London’s Ideal Home Show 2014. After a few months of design and planning, The Quiet Tree House by Quiet Mark…
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Women In Green is Still a Hot Topic
Editor’s Foreword: This article reports on the Book Circle’s February meeting hosted by the Organization of Women Architects and Design Professionals (OWADP) based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The book featured and discussed was Women In Green, Voices of Sustainable Design. It’s not often that one has the chance to read a book, and…
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11th Annual Water Conservation Showcase in San Francisco
The What: The 11th Annual Water Conservation Showcase brings together designers, building professionals, decision makers, and community members to discuss the latest in water conservation strategies, technologies, policies, and resources. There will be in-depth presentations including several of them focusing on drought issues. There will be more than thirty representatives from the manufacturing sector Aquacell and…
