Imagine having this sweet public market pop up in your town? Well the lucky residents of Rotterdam are actually getting one! This week, the mayor of the city announced the commencement of construction on the huge tunnel-shaped market hall which will flash images of gigantic fresh fruits and vegetables via LCD screens on the inside and be lined with balconied apartments offering killer views on the outside. This true mixed-use development combining residences, shopping, restaurants and a public market will be a central hub of activity for citizens and tourists. The project is being developed by Provast and was designed by MVRDV.

Read the rest of Construction Begins on Amazing Tunnel-Shaped Rotterdam Market Hall

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Post tags: Market Hall, mixed-use development, MVRDV, Provast, public market, rotterdam

While not totally prefabricated, the Manifesto House by Infiniski utilizes pre-made materials like shipping containers and wooden pallets to create a totally rad modern house. Infiniski’s mission is to build homes cheaply and quickly using sustainable materials while incorporating renewable energy systems. They have many designs already available, which can be interchanged and easily modified.

Read the rest of Modern Manifesto House Made From Wood Pallets and Shipping Containers

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Post tags: Chile, Infiniski, James&Mau, Manifesto House, Prefab, Prefab friday, prefab house, Recycled Materials, shipping container, shipping container architecture

LivingHomes had the honor of building the first LEED Platinum certified home in the US, and now they’re on schedule to deliver the first LEED Platinum certified home in Orange County. The new KieranTimberlake LivingHome 1.5 (KTLH1.5) was erected earlier this month in a single day. Located in the city of Newport Beach, we carry no doubts that the home will be LEED Platinum certified given LivingHomes‘ track record.

Read the rest of LivingHomes Delivers KieranTimberlake Prefab in Orange County

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Green Building, green design, kieran timberlake prefab, KieranTimberlake, KieranTimberlake Associates, LEED Home, LEED platinum, living homes, livinghomes

All U.S. Presidents get a center named after them upon completion of their term in the White House, and George W. is no exception. Plans for his presidential center were just revealed, and considering how energy efficient his ranch in Crawford is, it really should come as no surprise that the new center is chock full of green design elements. To be located on the edge of the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas, Texas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center will serve as a commemoration of all of his accomplishments [insert joke here].

Read the rest of Plans for the Green George W. Bush Presidential Center Released

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Post tags: "leed", A.M. Stern, Bush, Bush Presidential Center, Dallas, George W. Bush, green roof, GW Bush, LEED platinum, Robert A.M. Stern, SMU, Solar Power, texas

The recently unveiled Langley Academy in the Berkshires, UK, is yet another exemplary model of sustainable education facilities. Designed by Inhabitat favorite Foster + Partners, the gorgeous wood clad academy focuses its curriculum around sciences and the environment. With dedicated science laboratories, a unique floorplan, and a design focused on green building, these 1,100 students have an amazing and inspirational place to learn. Now if only all of our buildings had this much thought put into them.

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Post tags: academy, eco school, foster, Foster + Partners, Langley Academy, solar hot water, sustainable school, UK, water conservation

Just last week Treehugger joined thousands of designers, builders and architects in Arizona to check out all the latest advances in sustainable building at Greenbuild 2009. By the time we got to Phoenix, we were 28,000 strong, all standing up and cheering for Al Gore’s speech, a new and different one directed at the Greenbuild audience. A conference like this shouldn’t be necessary; every building should be green. But there were stirring speeches, great educational sessions and hundreds of new green products to see.

Read the rest of TreeHugger Reports From Greenbuild 2009

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Post tags: Arizona, building materials, Green BUilding conference, greenbuild 2009, phoenix, sustainable design, treehugger

Sanjay Puri Architect’s new Chrome Hotel features a fresh façade punctuated with holes that allow natural light to stream in while keeping air-conditioning costs to a minimum. The opaque windows were purposefully set throughout the swiss cheese façade to allow ambient natural light to enter, and they also create an incredibly cool effect at night when backlit by LED lights.

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Post tags: Chrome Hotel, Green Building, green design, green hotel, LED lighting, Sanjay Puri Architects, sustainable design, Sustainable Hotel

We’ve seen some pretty energy efficient homes here at Inhabitat, but houses that actually give back to the grid seemed to be a thing of the future — until now. Swedish designers are currently constructing Villa Akarp, a residence that aims to combine energy conservation, energy recovery and energy generation technologies. If all goes as planned, the home will actually produce more energy than it uses and provide the excess to the grid.

Read the rest of Energy Positive House to Supply Power to Grid in Sweden

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Post tags: E.ON, Green Building, Karin Adalberth, Lund Institute of Technology, Malmo, positive net energy home, sustainable design, Villa Akarp

A recent competition to design a creative zone in Beijing yielded this fascinating proposal to incorporate open space and an economic zone on the edge of the Beijing River. The winner of the competition was UNstudio, whose approach to the challenge was to compress the two distinct zones together in an accordion-like fashion, weaving both nature and the urban fabric together. Stores, shops and craftsmen will all take residence in the creative zone allowing tourists and Beijing residents to be able to enjoy the peace of the greenbelt as well as shop in local stores.

Read the rest of UNstudio Wins Challenge to Revitalize Beijing with Their Creative Zone

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Post tags: arup, Beijing, beijing creative zone, creative zone, economic zone, greenbelt, mixed-use development, open space, park, UNStudio

Recently the Elleray Preparatory School in the UK unveiled an incredible set of tree-top classrooms. Situated in the Lake District National Park, the three green-built class pods stand on stilts connected by a center platform made from recycled materials. Built to have a low impact on the environment while accommodating the school’s expanding student body, the Treehouse School is sure to inspire all the children the walk through its doors.

Read the rest of Solar Powered Treehouse Classrooms Unveiled in the UK

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Post tags: classrooms, eco school, eco-classroom, green classroom, kita design company, pod, robert gaukroger, school, solar panels, UK

We first announced Pugh + Scarpa’s Cherokee Lofts in Los Angeles two years ago, and we’re excited to say that the renovated recording studio debuted last month with a Rock N’Platinum grand opening. Anticipating its LEED Platinum certification, the opening literally rocked thanks to the music of Ben Lee and BlueSkyReality, plus three showcase lofts were stylized to pay tribute to Alice Cooper, 30 Seconds to Mars, and David Bowie. A fitting gala granted the number of gold and platinum records recorded at the location, which housed Cherry Studios prior to its conversion into sleek residential units.

In case you missed the opening, fear not – you can check it out this weekend on Saturday and Sunday from noon-5pm!

+ Cherokee Lofts

+ Pugh + Scarpa

Photos © Tara Wujcik

Read the rest of Cherokee Lofts: Renovated Recording Studio Seeks LEED Platinum

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", Cherokee Lofts, Cherry Studios, Green Building, green design, LEED platinum, Mutli-Family Residential Units, ReThink Development, Sustainable Building

The newest building concept to spring from the mind of eco-designer and artist Michael Jantzen is a testament to the power of renewable energy. His monumental Wind Farm Celebration Center is designed to serve as a visitor center and is very appropriately powered by an awe-inspiring 1.5 MW wind turbine that sprouts up from the structure like a blooming flower.

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Post tags: "wind power", building concept, celebration center, concept, michael jantzen, wind farm celebration center

Hive Modular recently unveiled a brand new pre-fabulous house chock full of eco-friendly materials and lots of high-tech home system controls. Situated in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, the new X-Line 003 is a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home that boasts clean lines and a sleek interior. There are a lot of prefab companies out there serving up brilliant concepts, but not all of them have actually built a house. Hive Modular has — quite a few actually — and they’ve got the project gallery to show for it.

Read the rest of PREFAB FRIDAY: Hive Modular Unveils New X-Line 003 Home

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Post tags: Architecture, Green Building, green design, hive modular, Prefab, prefab home, prefab residence, sustainable design, x-line 003

War and conflict often bring about the destruction of architecture, however these forces can also result in new constructions that define a cultural identity and place. Stressed by China’s growing population, the Hakka people have been confronted with armed warfare for local resources since the 17th century. To remedy their situation the Hakka began building massive structures that could not only stave off intruders, but would also form amazing self-sustaining micro-communities complete with food storage, space for livestock, living quarters, temples, armories and more.

Read the rest of Circular Hakka Houses Create Self-Sustaining Communities

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Post tags: china, green design, hakka houses, rammed earth walls, self-sufficient communities, sustainable design, tulou communities, world heritage site

This week the International Living Building Institute released its new green building standard to the public at Greenbuild 2009. Version 2.0 expands on its already impressive focus to now cover social issues – any Certified Living Building must be net-zero energy, net-zero water, non-toxic, provide for habitat restoration on sister sites, and urban agriculture is mandated. The 20 imperatives, all of which must be addressed, go well beyond the simple efficiency standards that our industry seems content to comply with before calling a project ’sustainable’. Seriously, read this thing!

Read the rest of Beyond LEED: Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification Unveiled

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Post tags: "leed", Architecture, Certification, International Living Building Institute, Jason McLennan, Living Building Challenge, Social Justice, Sustainable buildings