Inhabitat


December 31, 2005

BEST OF 2005 - Contributor Picks

by Jill Fehrenbacher

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In contrast to our most trafficked posts of 2005, here are our personal favorites from 2005:

1. Floating Homes (Jill)
2. Greenroofs (Sarah)
3. Loveshack (Nicki & Kyle)
4. Skyscraper Farming (Gretchen)
5. Lovetann Modular House (Evelyn)
6. PARANS Sunlight Transportation Device (Jill)
7. Sunlight Table (Sarah)
8. Expanding Table (Evelyn)
9. All of the HOW-TOs (Jill)
10. Scrapile Interview (Sarah)

READ MORE >

December 30, 2005

BEST OF 2005 - Most Popular Inhabitat Posts

by Jill Fehrenbacher

Based on reader traffic and comments, here are the most popular (or the most controversial?) Inhabitat posts of 2005:

1. Tetris Shelving - 66 comments
2. Hansa Canyon Colored LED Faucets - 55 comments
3. HOW TO: Brew Your Own Biodiesel - 26 comments
4. Ingo Maurer LED Glass Table - 22 comments
5. Grancrete - 17 comments
6. HOW TO: Make your own terrarium - 16 comments
7. Cargotecture - 15 comments
8. RE:Form Energy Curtain - 8 comments
9. Green Roofs - 4 comments
10. Floating Homes - 4 comments

This mirrors our reader picks to some extent. So far we’ve got some votes for Grancrete and the Terrarium How-To, which are both in the top ten. We also got some nominations for the Lumen, Push Button House, the Tiny Tumbleweed House, and the Microdwellings.

December 30, 2005

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Kids

by Jill Fehrenbacher

For Kids

Kids love the holidays- for the cheer, the joy, the abundance of cookies, but mostly, for the gifts. This year, why not give green gifts that are healthy, educational, and eco-friendly. The little ones will love them, and you’ll feel great about giving them. Warning: excessive cuteness ahead…

Dwelling Baby Elephant Toy, Handmade by rural artists in Kenya, Branch Home, cutey mccutes

BABY ELEPHANT - $22
Does it get any cuter than this? Handmade by artisans in rural Kenya, the adorable little elephant is is made from natural wool yarn, natural vegetable-based dyes, and is sure charm anyone; big or small.

$22 from Branch Home

Kidsonroof Playhouses

KIDSONROOF PLAYHOUSES- 20-40 EURO
Every kid loves a playhouse. And now with the simple cardboard House and MobileHome from Kidsonroof, you can feel good about buying one for the kid in your life. Kidsonroof donates 5% of its profits to Unicef projects, and you end up with a great gift for your child or younger sibling- a hideaway, fortress, dollhouse, or secret place to hide from monsters. Choose from the larger-sized House, which arrives as a blank slate of white cardboard, just asking to be painted, drawn on, and covered in stickers, or the more portable MobileHome, a perfectly-sized cottage for your child’s family of teddy bears.

+ 20-40 EURO from Kidsonroof

This Into That DIY Books Tiffany Tomato

THIS INTO THAT DIY PROJECT BOOKS- $12 in Target stores
Tiffany Threadgould (aka Tiffany Tomato Designs) knows how to turn trash into treasure. And now with her brand new book series of This Into That DIY Recycling projects, your kids can follow in her footsteps. From turning cereal boxes into table soccer, t-shirts into belts, and soda bottles into jewelry holders, these books are chock-full of great projects that encourage recycling and repurposing everyday materials. Series includes Fabric Fashions, Garbage Games, and Plastic Pizzazz.

+ $12 in Target stores

Oeuf Hug Me Sweater

OEUF HUG-ME SWEATER- $88
Oeuf is a line of sustainable products for babies and small children. The company tagline is “good design for all ages”, and some of their precious essential knits are designed around the concept of knitting people together through clothing. The ‘hug me’ sweater and ’squeeze me’ mittens, which feature child-size mitten pockets sewn into the garment, are the perfect designs for connecting parent and child. Oeuf’s knitwear is made from azo-free dyed alpaca wool, hand knit in a fair trade relationship between the NYC based company and a group of knitters in Bolivia.

+ $88 from Oeuf NYC

Sector 9 Bamboo Skateboards

SECTOR 9 BAMBOO SKATEBOARDS- $119-$179
While you may not love the idea of your child tearing down the street on his brand new skateboard, you’ll feel great knowing that it’s made from super-sustainable bamboo. These kid-sized boards from Sector 9 come in short and long-board versions and prove that bamboo isn’t just for housewares and flooring anymore!

+ $119-$179 from Sector 9

Owl backpack

OWL BACKPACK- $54
Handmade by artisans in rural Kenya, the perfectly-sized and super-fuzzy owl backpack will have your child toting in eco-friendly style. The pack is made from natural wool yarn, natural vegetable-based dyes, and is the perfect size for all your child’s sleepover goodies- toothbrush, books, and pajamas.

+ $54 from Branch Home

Speesees clothes for kids

SPEESEES CLOTHING- $16 AND UP
Speesees clothing line for babies and small children isn’t just ridiculously cute, it’s clothing with a conscience. The company’s mission is to be “fun, fair and organic,” both in the products they make and the way they do business. All their clothes are manufactured under Fair Trade Practices and made from organically grown, handpicked cotton. What’s more, 1% of all online retail orders go towards educational supplies and resources for the children who attend Zari Pada, the local elementary school in the village where Speesees is manufactured. And if that weren’t enough, the clothes are just so darn cute. We love the witty “human” t-shirt and the super-stylish flap skirts.

+ $16 and up from Speesees

Dubble Chocolate Fair Trade

DUBBLE FAIR-TRADE CHOCOLATE- £0.50
While the idea of your children on a chocolate-induced sugar high Christmas morning may make you crazy, knowing that Dubble chocolate benefits over 45,000 cocoa farmers of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana should put you at ease. Farmers are guaranteed a fair and stable price, and the chocolate is so delicious you may just have to eat it yourself. To save the kids from cavities, of course.

+ £0.50 a bar from A Lot Of Chocolate

Have Fries Will Travel Biodiesel book for kids

HAVE FRIES WILL TRAVEL- $11
They say that the books you read as a child are the most important and influential. Get your kids thinking green from the start, with the endearing story of Rock, an eco-rap singer, who buys Tiny, a smelly diesel car, at a used car lot. Rock converts Tiny to run on biodiesel, and the two embark on an exciting roadtrip visiting senators, soybean farmers, and encouraging others to use biodiesel all along the way. With an introduction by Daryl Hannah and Grassolean Solutions founder Charris Ford, the book is a great story with an important lesson for the little ones.

+ $11 from Amazon

SIGG bottles


SIGG BOTTLES- $17

Get rid of those old-school “sippy” cups and upgrade to these colorful and durable SIGG bottles. Recommended for ages 2 and up, these reusable bottles are made from a solvent-free, eco-friendly powder base coating and a completely inert inner lining that will never leach harmful chemicals. Plus, we love the colorful graphics and super-functional flip-top.

+ $17 from Reusable Bags

Make Your Own Chewing Gum Kit

MAKE-YOUR-OWN CHEWING GUM KIT- $13.50
The kids will love making their own bubble gum from scratch, and you’ll love them learning about rainforest preservation while doing it. The kit is both fun and educational, and comes with everything you need to be blowing bubbles in no time: pelletized Chicle (natural tree gum), peppermint and tutti fruiti flavoring, confectionery sugar, and corn syrup.

+ $13.50 from 3R Living

Animal Puzzle

ANIMAL PUZZLE- $98
Designed by Aoi Huber Kono and manufactured in Switzerland, this adorable animal puzzle uses sustainably-harvested maple wood and non-toxic plants to provide hours of entertainment. Six puzzles in one, the puzzle’s six sides include an elephant, monkey, lion, owl, rabbit, and bear. Or get creative with your own animal hybrids like a “monk-owl” or “elephabbit.”

+ $98 from Branch Home

ImagiPlay

RUBBERWOOD TOY KITS- $24 and up
These adorable little figurines from ImagiPlay come in themed kits and are made from eco-friendly rubberwood and non-toxic lacquers. Grown primarily for their sap, rubber trees are cut down in their prime, and their wood often ends up unused and wasted. From the collection of woodland animals to the arctic and rainforest collections, the figurines give the rubber trees one more chance to be put to good use.

+ $24 and up from Worldwide Child

Miyim peaceful dreams collection

MIYIM STUFFED ANIMALS- $35
What better way for your kids to enjoy the holidays than to snuggle up next to the fire with their favorite cuddly stuffed animal? MiYim plush toys are one part adorable, one part pure and organic, made from only the best organic cotton, grown free of chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides. What’s more, the soft colors are acheived through the company’s PureWaterWash process, which brightens the natural cotton using entirely plant-derived dyes (the pale yellow hues come from gardenias). We love the Peaceful Dreams collection of sleeping bears, dogs, and lambs that will make great naptime companions for your little ones.

+ $35 from 3R Living

December 30, 2005

GREEN GADGET GIFT GUIDE

by Jill Fehrenbacher

Inhabitat Green Gadget Gift Guide, Inhabitat Green Holiday Gift Guide, Green Gift Guide

Let’s face it: we live in a gadget culture. And around this time of year, gadget consumption peaks as people head to Best Buy and Sharper Image to pick up shiny new gifts for their friends and families. Since we can’t fight this trend, we thought we’d suggest some cool eco-friendly electronics for your favorite gadget geeks this year.

Guido Oooms, Oooms Twig USB Drive, USB Sticks, wooden USB thumbnail drives, Oooms

TWIG THUMBAIL USB DRIVE - 79 Euro
No gadget freak will be able to resist the Oooms Twig USB stick! Available in Europe from one of our favorite clever Dutch designers Guido Oooms, these engaging yet functional gadgets are available in storage capacities ranging from 128MB to 1GB.

79 EUR - 190 EUR from Oooms

cozy, iPod cozy, pro'tech'd iPod case, pro'tech'd iPod cozy
IPOD COZY BY PRO’TECH’D- $8-$14
A cute and cozy way to protect your iPod is the iPod Cozy from sustainable design company Pro’tech’d. Handmade from 100% certified organic cotton from Peru, the Cozies feature handmade buttons and are so adorable we wish they made them for humans! Available for iPods, Nanos, and Shuffles.

$8-$14 from Pro’tech’d

Wind-up Radio, Freeplay radio, Freeplay digital radio, wind up radio, wind up digital radio
WIND-UP DIGITAL RADIO- £89.50
Who knew listening to music could be entertaining, energy efficient, and a good workout all at the same time? With Freeplay’s Devo wind-up digital radio, you can enjoy all the benefits of high-quality digital radio and portability. A great gift for your music-loving, on-the-go friend, the Devo is powered by your own muscle and provides an hour of digital music, or 36 hours of FM radio at normal volume.

£89.50 from John Lewis

Solar power LED light, mini LED solar powered light, micro solar flashlight, micro solar LED light, compact-impact

MINI SOLAR FLASHLIGHT- $21
For just $21 you can own the world’s smallest self-powered LED flashlight. This is a great way to introduce family and friends to solar power while keeping an eye out for their safety as well. This little gadget requires no batteries and will last longer than you do, so you never need to worry about it running out of juice.

$21 from Compact-Impact

Jimi Nano Case, iPod case, recycled plastic iPod case, Jimi, Nano case, recycled Nano case


RECYCLED PLASTIC NANO CASE- $19

For your iPod-addicted friend, the Jimi recycled plastic Nano case provides both protection and eco-friendly style. Made from 100% recycled translucent polycarbonate (closely related to bullet-proof glass), the case features a belt/armband clip and swappable faceplates.

$19 from Branch Home

.

green mouse, sustainable mouse, bamboo gadget, bamboo gadgets, Bamboo Mouse

BAMBOO COMPUTER MOUSE- £17.99
Your computer-savvy yet eco-friendly friend will love this bamboo mouse that combines modern technology with sustainability. The mouse works like any other, but the case is made from bamboo instead of plastic. Also available are matching bamboo keyboards and monitors!

£17.99 from Nigel’s EcoStore

Voltaic Solar Bags, Voltaic Systems, Voltaic Backpacks, Voltaic Solar powered backpacks and messenger bags, photovoltaic bags

VOLTAIC SOLAR POWERED BAGS - $199 - $250
These solar bags never cease to amaze us, and make a great gift for that nomadic tech-geek in your life. The Voltaic messenger bags and backpacks are mobile power generators, designed to charge all your little gadgets with the energy of the sun. With no power outlets they charge cell phones, cameras, PDA’s, and MP3 player, making them ideal for that gadget-lover-on-the-go.

$199 - $250 from Voltaic

Solio Solar Charger, Solio Universal Hybrid Charger, solar charger, solar power charger, solio charger

SOLIO UNIVERSAL SOLAR CHARGER - $100
Like a smaller, sleeker version of the Voltaic backpack, this chic little device will charge your electronic gadgets cordlessly - using the suns energy. Perfect for today’s mobile lifestyles, the Solio Universal charger makes a great useful gift that won’t break the bank.

$100 from Solio

DIY Kyoto Wattson, Stylish interactive energy meter, energy meter, Kyoto Wattson

DIY KYOTO WATTSON - £350
If you’ve got a little money to spend and are concerned about energy consumption, the DIY Kyoto Wattson makes a great holiday gift. The cute little device is essentially a stylish, souped-up energy meter that provides a simple means of understanding how much energy your home consumes. The gadget takes measurements of overall domestic energy consumption, then displays the reading both numerically and “non-verbally,” with an ambient red light that dims according to how much power your electronics are sucking through the outlets. Although its made in the UK, you can order from anywhere in the world by emailing the DIY Kyoto people directly.

£350 from DIY Kyoto

Suck.co.uk, Suck's Glow Brick, Glow-in-the-dark, Phosphorescent, phosphorescent lightbulb, acrylic

GLOW IN THE DARK GLOW BRICK -£20
We’re not sure if this counts as a gadget, but we love it. The Glow Brick is a clever little cordless light made from a phosphorescent lightbulb (yes, a REAL lightbulb) embedded in a block of acrylic. It requires no electricity and can glow for up to three hours, “powered” only by light it soaks up from the sun or other artificial light sources, making it as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as it is engaging. (Warning: this is more of a nightlight than a “lamp” - i.e. it is not very bright).

£20.00 from Suck-UK

ECOPOD HOME RECYCLING, ecopod, home recycling, recycling unit
ECOPOD HOME RECYCLING CENTER- $328
This compact and efficient home recycling center is the ideal gift for the environmentally-conscious yet high-tech homemaker. Designed by BMW Designworks, the EcoPod collects and compresses all your recyclable material, from aluminum cans to plastic. The space-saving, uber-functional unit also stores your recyclable glass and paper in the removeable bins in the top lid.

$328 from EcoPod

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: for her

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: for her

Today we continue our Green Gift Guide with clever suggestions for the woman in your life: green versions of a girl’s favorite gifts including chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, and jewelry. Indulge your girlfriend, mother, sister, or best friend this holiday season….

PULL-TAB PURSE BY ESCAMA- $93
This versatile, glitzy yet practical handbag is made from over 700 aluminum pull-tabs from soda cans. The Socorro purse by Escama is a great example of turning everyday objects into clever design. …

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CHEAP GREEN GIFTS UNDER $30

CHEAP GREEN GIFTS UNDER $30

It’s that time of year again, and today marks the start of our Holiday Gift Guide here at Inhabitat. Our first installment is Cheap Gifts Under $30- wallet-friendly green gifts that are great for co-workers, stocking stuffers, or the yearly white elephant party. Read on for the best cheap gift suggestions, and stay tuned in the next few days for more gift ideas for her, him, pets, and more!…

READ MORE >

MICRO DWELLINGS by N55

MICRO DWELLINGS by N55

Micro Dwellings is a moveable, modular system which can be configured in an infinite number of ways due to its geometry. They can be built onto existing construction, submerged, or mounted on wheels to create the basis for personalized social settings. The system allows for changes that might occur in lifestyle, such as having children, separation, or family stays. The system is capable of growing, shrinking, and dividing, mimicking a natural cellular organism.

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BEST OF 2005 - POLL

BEST OF 2005 - POLL

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, and in the spirit of New Year’s reflection, we’re going to be looking back at some of the year’s highlights. We’d love to hear from you guys, and learn what you thought made the most interesting, striking or inspiring articles on Inhabitat this year.

READ MORE >

CHEAP GREEN GIFTS - under $50

CHEAP GREEN GIFTS - under $50

LUMEN BY ADAM FRANK- $48
The holidays are often called the “season of light,” and Adam Frank’s Lumen oil lamp is just the thing to light up the dark holiday nights. Lumen comes in five different nature-inspired designs that project a shadowy image on the wall when lit.

+ $48 from Adam Frank

IN VITRO ORCHID - $30
Anyone can send a …

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HOUSING EVERY LAST PERSON

HOUSING EVERY LAST PERSON

Monday marked the one year anniversary of the South Asian Tsunami, which killed nearly 300,000 people and left many others homeless. In August, we (here in the U.S.) saw first hand how catastrophic events could change our lives and our landscape forever. Compelled to help persons like those who were rendered homeless by Hurricane Katrina, architect Carib Daniel Martin and builder Rob Bragan developed a prototype dwelling to provide disaster-relief housing.
Called
HELP, which stands for “Housing Every Last Person,” their prototype will house three people (or six, if it is a double unit.)

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FUTABA CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE

FUTABA CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE

In Japanese, the word “Futaba” means two leaves sprouting from one seed. That sounds like a less violent version of the expression “killing two birds with one stone.” I love the way that just one word in Japanese sums up the whole thought of multi-functionalism in a much more elegant, refined way than the horrible English bird-killing idiom. Futaba is the perfect word to describe Akemi Tanaka’s beautiful, ecofriendly, convertible furniture.

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NANIMARQUINA

NANIMARQUINA

A rug can pull disparate parts of a room into one cohesive space. The Barcelona-based rug company, Nanimarquina knows this, and they make a rug for almost every kind of interior. Each of their two dozen or so styles is hand-tufted, hand-loomed and hand-knotted. And while such delicate and exacting work is often done in grueling conditions, Nanimarquina is fully committed to fair and just labor practices for the manufacturing of all of their rugs.

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RECYCLED STEEL PIPE MENORAH

RECYCLED STEEL PIPE MENORAH

The third piece in today’s tryptic from Grand Idea Studio is the seasonally-appropriate Recycled Steel Pipe Menorah (or Candelabra if you want to be secular about it). Made from recycled galvanized steel pipes, the menorah has a raw, industrial appearance.

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PACMAN DINING TABLE

PACMAN DINING TABLE

As a kid growing up in suburban California, I was obsessed with the Pacman table in our local Chinese restaurant. I could care less about the myriad stand-up video games in the nearby arcade, but I couldn’t get enough of the table Pacman - where instead of playing by yourself you squared off directly against your opponent (in this case, my sister). Technology company Grand Idea Studios clearly harbors a similar nostalgia for vintage table arcade games, and has created this Pacman Dining Table, by recycling an old machine into a new use.

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HARD DRIVE COFFEE TABLE

HARD DRIVE COFFEE TABLE

We love efficient, multi-tasking furniture here at Inhabitat, so we were excited to discover Grand Idea Studio’s Hard Drive Coffee Table. The design recycles an original hard drive from an early storage device into a circular, industrial-looking coffee table. The center hub of the hard drive platter and the custom-created pedestal are both solid aluminum, covered with standard 1/4″ table glass.

Although the Hard Drive Coffee Table is not for sale (yet), we found the creative reuse of old technology inspiring. We hope this clever idea motivates DIYers, recyclers, and other fans of technology and space-saving furniture to begin thinking about ways to combine home computing with home decor.

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SUSTAINABLE STYLE GIFT-GUIDE: Eco-friendly bags

SUSTAINABLE STYLE GIFT-GUIDE: Eco-friendly bags

UM FELT BAGS- $38-$114
We love these UM felt clutches, totes, and wallets from Branch Home. The 100% industrial felt accessories are handmade in Oakland, California, and are perfect for your style-savvy and environmentally conscious girl friend.

+ $38-$114 from Branch Home

RECYCLED SAIL BAGS - $25-$150
The totes from Red Flag Designs are great for Mom or Dad, or for anyone who will be ringing …

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SUSTAINABLE STYLE WARM UP: The best knit gifts

SUSTAINABLE STYLE WARM UP: The best knit gifts

Its hard to buy gifts for certain people in your life, but you can never go wrong with knit accessories like gloves, hats and scarves. Everyone likes to keep their appendages warm in the winter: men, women, young and old - and you’ll be hard pressed to find something that will be more appreciated than a cozy scarf on chilly winter days. Happily there are a lot of stylish and sustainable options out …

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ANDREA ZITTEL

ANDREA ZITTEL


If you’ve ever dreamt of retrofitting your tiny apartment with an all-in-one space-saving life-changing furniture solution, you have a friend in
Andrea Zittel. Currently based in Joshua Tree, CA, Zittel is an artist who has been blurring the line between fine art and design for over a decade.
Well before prefab and customization became the hot topic of today’s design circles, Zittel was creating compact living structures and all-in-one home furnishings that combine modular parts and mixed used components. Her work investigates notions of individualism, urbanity, and the home, while also bearing an obvious and compelling resonance with many contemporary design trends. It’s no surprise, then, that she has received increased critical acclaim recently.

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A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS TREE

A DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS TREE

Well it’s December 25 already, so you’re either opening presents or ordering Chinese. For those of you partaking in the Christmas revelry, you’ve already got your tree decked to the nines. But for next year, here are a few thoughts about new ways to do the old tree that might be just a little friendlier on the environment, the landfills, and the health of your loved ones - or at the very least, might add a little novelty to a long-honored tradition.

According to the National Christmas Tree Association:

-Approximately 25 million-30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the nation every year.

-An acre of Christmas Trees produces the daily oxygen for 18 people.

-Eighty percent of artificial trees are manufactured in China, and most are made with PVC and other plastics, which do not biodegrade and which contain enough lead to legally require a warning label.

Don’t let this depress you on Christmas! Instead, may we suggest a Rent-a-Tree? Or perhaps you would like to grow your own

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ECOHOUSE BRAZIL

ECOHOUSE BRAZIL

In the Urca neighborhood near the base of Sugarloaf mountain and the shores of Rio de Janeiro, architect Alexandra Lichtenberg tackled a remodeling project that demonstrates that being green isn’t the exclusive domain of high-cost, luxury residences and backwoods off-grid dwellings. A good green remodel is within reach of the average well-intentioned homeowner in the average urban neighborhood anywhere in the world, and the EcoHouse proves it.

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MEALBOX

MEALBOX

If you think design for take-out is just about plastic forks and chinese paper cartons - think again. The Mealbox by Igland Design is furniture design for take out. It allows you to bring your table and chairs anywhere, along with your take-out food, for a complete dining experience on the go. Primarily
composed of Birch Plywood that has been reinforced with carbon fiber, the Mealbox is easier to assemble and disasemble than a 15 piece puzzle (it’s only made-up of 14 pieces).

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eHABITAT

eHABITAT

What is with Australia and prefab? With the recent Modabode, the Deck House, and now eHabitat, its beginning to seem like the locus of Prefab has moved down under. Whats going on?

Whatever the case, we love the new prefab “eHabitat” - and not just because the name goes so well with ours. This latest Australian prefab is beautiful, simple, inexpensive and distinctly eco-friendly, incorporating passive solar principles and energy efficient materials into its design. The modular, customizable eHabitat allows limitless individual configurations, enabling the owner to design a unique layout, which can be easily expanded at any time. Additional features include built in storage, climatic control devices and built in furniture options. The minimalist, almost Japanese aesthetic is modern without being stark, and the superlative local materials (such as Tasmanian kiln dried hardwood) make for a high quality, well-insulated structure.

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TURBO WALL ART

TURBO WALL ART

If you ever made model airplanes or cars when you were a kid (and you are over 30 now) - then you might remember Revell kits, the quintessential 50’s-era modeling kits where the pieces all came attached in a plastic frame, and you had to break each little piece out by hand.

Jellio Design took inspiration from those classic toys to create TURBO, a one-of-a-kind wall sculpture designed to evoke fond memories from a model-making childhood. Apparently, they are only making ten of these awesome sculptures; so if you want one, better act fast.

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2005 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Her

2005 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Her

FOR HER

BAMBU KITCHENWARE - $3 - $30
(Jill)

Bambu makes a line of beautiful kitchenware from environmentally friendly, 100% organically-grown bamboo. In addition to being organic, non-toxic and foodsafe, the company highlights its fair labor policies and socially-conscious manufacturing process. We especially like these Bambu salad bowls.

$18 - $25 from Branch
.
.
.

ZELLE JEWELRY - $15-$65
(Sarah)

Looking at …

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AIA PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY

AIA PROMOTES SUSTAINABILITY

Buildings account for:

+65.2% of the total US electricity consumption
+30% of the total US greenhouse gas emissions

and

+136 million tons of construction and demolition waste in the U.S., roughly 2.8 lbs per person, per day.

In an effort to raise awareness and combat the waste and toxins emitted by today?s buildings, the American Institute of Architects has issued several position statements supporting sustainable building and resource conservation. Partnering with national and international organizations, as well as the scientific research and public health community, the AIA hopes to reduce the current consumption of fossil fuels used to construct and operate buildings in half by 2010.

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Him

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Him

UNDER $50

TOM DIXON ECOWARE - ?14.95 ? ?69.99
(Sarah)

Everyone needs dishes, and while the floral frippery of classic china may not appeal to the most masculine types, dishware can’t be written off as girly. Maverick design star Tom Dixon, has been experimenting with biodegradable plastics made from compressed natural materials such as byproducts of coconut, rice and bamboo processing. He has created a line of biodegradable plates, bowls and cups dubbed Eco Ware. This line of …

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HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Kids

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE: For Kids


EGGLING - $8.95
(Jill)

Want to turn your little one into a green thumb? The adorable ceramic Eggling looks like Japanese lovechild of a Kinder Egg and Garden In a Bag. Crack one open, add water, and within no time, a little plant will pop up. Each comes with a terra cotta tray and seed pack. Growing is simple ? plants thrive for months in their shell and can be replanted in soil. Fun for kids and adults …

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RECYCLED LACE HANDBAG

RECYCLED LACE HANDBAG

If you are still at a loss for holiday gifts, have a look at the MoMA Store. It’s a great place to find one-of-a-kind items sure to please any design lovers. Here’s a little gem I discovered on the MoMA Store website.

Seizing upon the wasted remnants of fabric generated by Milan’s textile industry, Italian designer Luisa Cevese developed a technique that sandwiches lace scraps between layers of translucent plastic. The random nature of the available scraps results in unique “fabrics” …

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FULL/FILL VASES

FULL/FILL VASES

Here’s a great gift for the holidays (hint hint family and friends). I love this clever re-appropriation of the ubiquitous plastic water bottle. The Full/Fill series, designed by Luis Royal and Damaso, celebrates the industrial aesthetic of plastic packaging by recycling a familiar shape into a striking glass vase. It’s perfect as a vase for flowers, or a carafe for water or other beverages. Best thing? The vases are very reasonably priced, running in the $30 range.

$25-35 from …

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ESBY SARAH CLOCK

ESBY SARAH CLOCK

As the chill of winter settles in, some of us can?t help but look forward to spring, when flowers burst into bloom and the air holds a certain hopeful anticipation of warm days to come. The blossoming of certain flowers indicates not only the time of year, but the time of day. Morning glories, for example, open and close like clockwork. It?s this poetic relationship between plants and time that inspired the Esby Sarah Clock. The Sarah Clock is a labor of love from conception through production. DesignerJim Doan named both his company and his signature clock after his wife, Sarah, because he believes they both embody natural beauty. This romantic idea is lovingly manifested in the delicate design of his flower-like Sarah Clock.

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DECK_HOUSE

DECK_HOUSE

Australia bring us another good example of how beautiful both small and prefab can be. The deck_house, by noek_design, was officially launched at “Sydney in Bloom 05″ as an outdoor experience environment. Not only does it make a great outdoor room, but this little shed would also be perfect for a guest room, office, or even a personal habitat, should you be so inclined. Measuring at 5.4 meters square, its tiny footprint is designed to contain little more than a double bed; however, an outdoor shower or kitchen can be accommodated into your plan. Additionally, the layout can be modularly expanded to fit your needs.

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BODYFORM CHAIR - Danko Persing Collection

BODYFORM CHAIR - Danko Persing Collection

Bent plywood has made a huge impact on contemporary furniture. From the original Eames chair which introduced us to the concept of using molding plywood, designers have since been inventing new ways to exploit the economics of the material.

While it seems like every modern furniture company has released their version of the bent plywood chair, we tend to lean towards those which are simpler in form. The Bodyform Chair by Danko Persing is one such rendition, formed of one single piece of material. It is an extremely efficient use of wood, as the process requires less raw material than would traditional solid wood construction. Additionally, the plies for this (as with many of Persing’s pieces) are adhered with non-toxic, water based adhesives.

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ELEEK - SUSTAINABLE METAL WORK

ELEEK - SUSTAINABLE METAL WORK

Eleek Inc. brings an environmentally friendly approach to hand crafted, high quality metal work. With a diverse portfolio from large scale architectural lighting to intricately detailed hardware, founder Eric Kaster imparts an elegant and artistic touch to all of his pieces. The Portland Oregon company boldly states: “Our aluminum and iron products are 100% recycled. Our bronze products are at least 90% recycled.” While a custom sconce may admittedly be out of our budget, Eleek’s product line also includes many reasonably priced, custom-cast hand-patina drawer pulls, switch plates and other irresistible items.

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NUSTA SPA

NUSTA SPA

Contemporary sophistication and environmentally-friendly design have made Nusta Spa the first spa to achieve LEED Gold Certification for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI). Located in downtown Washington, D.C., Nusta Spa has found an edge in spa design by integrating sustainability not only into their products and services (which has been done for ages), but into their overall building and site design. In doing so, they can offer truly comprehensive health and wellness to their employees and clients.

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HOW TO: Eat your lawn

HOW TO: Eat your lawn

Who knew lawns would go from epitomizing the American dream to embodying all manner of evil? Blaming both human and natural failings, many homeowners have embraced the idea of lawn-eradication. Last week, it was the lawn-pavers; this week, it’s the lawn-eaters.

Edible Estates is the brainchild of Fritz Haeg, who has made it his mission to replace the water-guzzling, pesticide-drenched grasslands of American front yards with functional, fruitful plots filled with all things edible.

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