Imagine: a hurricane is barreling towards your house, but instead of hiding in the basement, you can stay safely and comfortably in your living room, all thanks to your X-Flex Blast Protection System wallpaper. It’s not a fantasy; the wallpaper, invented by Berry Plastics in a partnership with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, actually exists — and a single sheet is strong enough to stop a wrecking ball.
Global warming has dramatically increased the unpredictability of weather patterns, but what if we could more accurately pinpoint the future location and intensity of floods and droughts? That might be possible if all goes as planned with the Soil Moisture and Salinity (SMOS) probe, launched today by the European Space Agency. The $460 million probe, launched on a Russian rocket launcher from the Plesestk cosmodrome, will measure soil moisture, plant growth, and ocean salt levels across the globe.
Today is the first day of West Coast Green, and this year’s showhouse is a stunner! Designed by San Francisco-based Green Horizon, the self-sustaining prefab home is an immediately deployable emergency shelter that can be configured to adapt to a remarkable range of situations. By focusing upon simple sturdy construction, prefabricated modular parts, and a bevy of green building strategies, Green Horizon has created a home that can sustain a family of four with a week’s worth of food, electricity, and water without external support. I met with CEO James Pope to take a tour of the modular wonder before the show – read on for the full scoop!
Portable buBbLe House Pops Up in a Snap
by Diane Pham, 09/22/09
The real estate bubble may have burst, but we’ve found a better, more sustainable bubble to get into: The buBbLe Prototype! This inventive housing alternative is the result of a design collaboration between the office of MMAS and architect-artist Cipriano Chas. The design team aimed to develop a prototype of a non-permanent house simple enough to be transported by any means, while at the same time providing its inhabitants with basic contemporary comforts in any context.
THE AGE OF STUPID is coming to NYC – Sept 21st!
IF YOU SEE ONE MOVIE THIS FALL – THIS IS THE ONE TO SEE!
Everyone knows that hindsight is 20/20, but will we regret our lack of action on climate change in the year 2020? That’s what The Age of Stupid, the groundbreaking film epic from McLibel director Franny Armstrong, wants to sink into the minds of everyone in the world. This brilliant movie, which will kick off UN Climate Week, is opening nationwide on Monday, September 21 at 450+ cinemas simultaneously — and we urge all Inhabitat readers to go see it as soon as you can!
NOAH: Mammoth Pyramidal Arcology Designed for New Orleans
All renderings courtesy of Tangram3DS
Arcology may sound like a made up word – probably because it is. A hybrid of architecture and ecology, it is essentially a mega city which packs a ginormous population into one hyperstructure – think Death Star, Zion in The Matrix or the Anthill of Antz fame. Now, a real-life group of ambitious designers has taken their looming pyramidal arcology and placed it smack dab on the Mississippi River as a proposal for the rebuild of New Orleans which is currently in progress. This 30 million square foot beast-building with an array of green features is aptly named NOAH (Get it? Noah and the Arcology?), and is meant to house 40,000 mostly human residents.
Earthquake-Proof Wood House Survives 7.5 Magnitude Quake
If you’re in search of a home that can withstand even the most powerful natural disasters, the solution might reside in the nearest tree. A team of researchers from five universities are currently working on ways to make wood earthquake-proof. If they succeed, the world may soon see cheap, sustainable wooden homes that can hold up even when earthquakes shake them to their cores.
Invisibility Cloaks May Shield Buildings From Earthquakes
We all know that invisibility cloaks can protect Harry Potter from Filch and his cat Mrs. Norris, but now physicists in France and the UK say they may be used to hide buildings from the devastating effects of earthquakes as well. Sound like fiction? It’s not! Stefan Enoch and his team at the Fresnel Institute in Marseilles, France have been studying other applications for the physics behind invisibility cloaks. The result of their research is an “earthquake cloak” that could render objects “invisible” to shocks, storm waves or tsunamis. And they aren’t even Level 8 mages!
Green Roofed Cooper Point House Blends Into Big Sur
Fading right into the Big Sur landscape, this three-bedroom house is nearly invisible when viewed from certain angles. And that’s just how Mickey Muennig, the mastermind behind the project, wanted it. The 74-year old architect kept the environment in mind when he designed the sod roof and seeded it with native grasses and wildflowers. The roof is part of a garden that starts at Cooper Point, Big Sur, and stretches out to the Pacific Ocean.
PREFAB FRIDAY: Tiny Portable Paco Unit Home
Generally speaking a home needs to have a place to sleep, eat and groom. Beyond that, everything else is just extraneous. That’s why Japanese designers Jo Nagasaka and Schemata Architecture Office teamed up to design and build this prototype Paco Unit. Their vision was to produce a new portable, compact, and independent unit that contained only the things that a person needed to live, maybe not comfortably, but practically.
PLAY PUMP: Merry-Go-Round Water Pump!
We all know kids have boundless amounts of energy and a need to play – so why not channel some of that energy into much needed rural infrastructure? That was the brilliant idea behind the PlayPump: a humanitarian design project that consists of a water pump hooked up to a small village merry-go-round. Access to …
12-Year-Old Whiz Kid Makes Homeless Shelter from Trash
We’re big fans of Buckminster Fuller’s legacy of uber-efficient domes here at Inhabitat, so imagine our excitement when we heard that 12-year old whiz kid Max Wallack recently developed a sturdy geodesic shelter made entirely from recycled materials. Composed from discarded plastic, wire, and packing peanuts, the easy-to-assemble homeless shelter is lightweight, insulating, and recently took first place in PBS Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure competition.
READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >
Make It Right Goes LEED Platinum
Having lost over 14,000 occupants to the floods of Katrina, the lower ninth ward is now tasked not only with rebuilding homes, but rebuilding community. Recently the Make It Right campaign gave an incredible panel at this year’s Net Impact Conference that explored their efforts in rebuilding a growing new community starting with those who were hit hardest by the disaster. We were excited to hear that the foundation has finished construction on 6 homes that are set to receive LEED platinum certification, and that the ninth ward is being steadily shaped into an exemplary role model for a sustainable community!
PREFAB FRIDAY: Reaction Housing Emergency Shelters
Emergency shelters have rightly become a fad in the design world. In the aftermath of the hurricanes and other natural disasters in the last few years, it became clear we had a ways to go in providing safe and sturdy emergency shelters for victims. We’ve covered Paul Villinski’s Emergency Response Studio– a traveling artist studio that became a model for emergency shelters. And now, Michael Daniel, a Senior Designer at Frog Design’s Austin Studio, has designed, Reaction Housing, a line of dependable shelters that can be quickly and easily deployed and built– ready in time for the emergency.
Protecting Storm Swept Coastlines With Oyster Shell Seawalls
Photo by Sean Powers, University of South Alabama
Coastal erosion is one of the most daunting problems that a seaside city or county can face. The loss of shorelines and coastal areas due to storm activity can be a devastating event, with damages ranging in the millions of dollars. There are a number of methods used to try and contain such erosion, but a new technique is seeking to establish a thriving underwater ecosystem in process. Marine scientists in Alabama are utilizing tons of oyster shells to create a barrier reef that will serve as a habitat for sea life, filter the water, and protect the coast.
Solar Powered Mobile Emergency Response Studio
After Hurricane Katrina, Paul Villinski, a well-known New York-based artist, wanted to transport his studio to Louisiana to see the aftermath first-hand and create artwork in response. At the time he didn’t have a way do it, but since then has picked up a 30′ trailer, gutted it, and rebuilt it to be green, non-toxic and off-grid. The Emergency Response Studio is now a totally self-sufficient traveling artist studio outfitted with solar panels, a wind turbine, non-toxic furnishings, and plenty of space to create.
Solaleya Domes: Rotating UFO-Homes Land in America
One of our favorite finds at this year’s West Coast Green were these other-wordly and eco-friendly dome homes from Solaleya. Imagine a circular loft with plenty of skylights and a solar array on top, gently rotating to orient itself towards the sun, and you have the basic idea. It’s like an eco-friendly update to the Chemosphere in LA. The durable domes are constructed using only FSC-certified wood and have been proven to withstand category 5 hurricanes and earthquakes up to magnitude 8 on the MSK scale.
The Solar Stik Portable Power Generator
The Solar Stik™ is a small-scale energy generator that is capable of providing clean, green energy wherever it is needed most. The versatile system takes advantage of both solar and wind turbine technology and is quick to set up, making it perfect for applications ranging from boating and recreation to providing emergency relief and humanitarian aid.
Brad Pitt Breaks Ground in Louisiana with ‘Make It Right’
The ground is breaking in New Orleans, and it’s giving the Lower 9th Ward a reason to celebrate. Thanks to the effort and celebrity backing of a familiar face on Inhabitat, Brad Pitt’s Make it Right (MIR) initiative recently began construction on several homes! Contributing to the rebuilding effort following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Make it Right campaign set a goal of constructing 150 new residences designed by 13 different local, national and international architectural firms. While each design is unique, all the homes are employing sustainable building strategies while taking into consideration the ease of fabrication through replication. Each home is designed to be built within a budget of $150,000, which has been collected primarily by donations pledged through their website.
Sharp’s Earthquake Detecting Solar Streetlights
Although not as aesthetically pleasing as those bio-mimicking Leaf lamps, these solar streetlights not only provide ample nighttime lighting, but also offer assistance in the event of a major earthquake. Sharp’s streetlamps charge during the day and light up the night with their powerful and energy-efficient high-intensity LED spotlights. In the event of an earthquake measuring 5.0 or greater, these streetlights will turn on full brightness all night long to light streets and sidewalks, aiding in emergency relief efforts.
DESIGN FOR DISASTER: The Accordion reCover Shelter
With two million residents recently forced to evacuate the Gulf Coast, the need for emergency housing has never been more evident. There’s nothing flimsy about the intricate folds of the reCover Shelter, which can sustain a family of four following a disaster for up to a month. As you may suspect, the oversized origami structure can be entirely collapsed into not one, but two different shapes (either horse-shoe or flat) depending on which is easier to transport. Plus, it’s composed of polypropylene, meaning no harmful gases go into the production of the shelter and it is 100% recyclable after use. Set-up takes minutes and only requires one person on deck.
New Orleans Rebuild Efforts Going for LEED Platinum
The opportunity to rebuild New Orleans as an international example of sustainability comes in the aftermath of what is increasingly being recognized as the tipping point for global awareness of climate change and its devastating impacts. Global Green is committed to helping New Orleans rebuild and to use the national and international attention on the city as a wake-up call to push urgently for solutions to global warming. Global Green is accomplishing this through many initiatives including The Holy Cross Project which is going for the USGBC’s highest LEED certification.
PREFAB 4th of July: Housing Beyond Borders
Happy 4th of July! With today being American Independence Day, we thought it a good time to reflect on how the U.S. is adapting to (and resisting) migration, particularly along the border of Mexico, where new types of urbanism are evolving in order to accommodate escalating populations arriving from the south. Today, Bryan Finoki of Subtopia and Archinect offers us a provocative article on innovations in migrant housing design.
With so much focus on the US Government militarizing the US/Mexico border right now, it can be easy to miss the new types of migrant urbanism cropping up in the borderlands. For architects and designers, it’s a process that presents important questions, and great potential for innovation.
HIGH TECH OIL SPILL SOLUTION: oil busting robots
The OSP robot is an ingenious solution to something that has devastling effects on wildlife and the environment: oil spills. The faster a spill can be dealt with – the better the outcome. With this in mind, product designer Ji-hoon Kim has come up with a set of modular oil-cleaning robots that can be quickly transported to the scene of an oil spill by helicopter or boat. Once deployed, the little oil-busting robots connect and contain the spill with an inflatable barrier, after which point cleanup teams can come in and manage a less severe disaster.
LILYPAD: Floating City for Climate Change Refugees
There are very few urban design solutions that address housing the inevitable tide of displaced people that could arise as oceans swell under global warming. Certainly none are as spectacular as this one. The Lilypad, by Vincent Callebaut, is a concept for a completely self-sufficient floating city intended to provide shelter for future climate change refugees. The intent of the concept itself is laudable, but it is Callebaut’s phenomenal design that has captured our imagination.
Floating New Orleans to weather the storm
It’s been almost three years since New Orleans weathered Katrina’s wrath, and debate still rages over plans to reconstruct the sunken city. Myriad options have surfaced ranging from rebuilding the levees to designing storm resistant structures to not rebuilding at all. Here’s an approach that endeavors to ride the river rather than stem it’s course. Harvard Graduate School of Design students Kiduck Kim and Christian Stayner have conceived of a Floating City that will “rise safely in an Archimedean liquid landscape.”
LIFESAVER: World’s First Ultra Filtration Water Bottle
Over the years, Milan has evolved from merely hosting a furniture fair every spring to having almost every street taken over by all types of innovative design every April. This year, sustainable design joined in the fray more than ever, with many exciting exhibits highlighting socially conscious design, including the Well-Tech Awards. At this inspirational show we discovered the Lifesaver bottle – a beautifully simple concept for portable water filtration, and one that could make a real difference to a world increasingly threatened by shortages of clean, drinkable water.
HELP AFH HELP MYANMAR CYCLONE VICTIMS
Always quick to act, Architecture For Humanity is quickly pulling together efforts to offer design services to the survivors left in Cyclone Nargis’ wake this past Saturday. With more than two million people now displaced in Myanmar, even small donations will be a big help in AFH’s effort to rebuild. More than 85% of the donations go directly toward innovative design and construction solutions.
At the time of writing, $13,500 have been raised (and 25% matched) by more than 240 donors who believe in the power of design to rebuild communities. If you would like to contribute to the cause or volunteer follow the link below:
Svalbard Global Seed Vault Opens in Norway
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is now officially open as of last week, after nearly thirty years of planning. The facility is not only a storage space for seeds from all over the world, it’s a gorgeous structure to boot, built in the permafrost of a mountain on Spitsbergen Island in the Arctic Island Svalbard, that is part of Norway. The Global Seed Vault has been designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections from around the globe and from nearly every variety of food crop on the planet, such as wheat, rice or maize. So in the event of global catastrophe, we’ll be agriculturally prepared!
‘WHAT IF NYC?’ Competition Winners Announced
“What if….” The two-word phrase can imply both fear and anxiety as well as big ideas and hopeful possibility. And that was the idea behind the What if New York City? international Design Competition for Post-Disaster Provisional Housing. Sponsored by New York City Office of Emergency Management’s Ready New York, the call went out to the design community to envision solutions to one of the biggest challenges facing densely settled urban areas: how to keep residents safe and sheltered after a natural disaster. More than 400 design teams from 52 countries responded and the results have yielded incredible ideas filled with creativity and thoughtful innovation.
Zero-Emission Research Station in Antarctica
If there is one place on our planet that can be said to be relatively free from human impact, that would probably be the Antarctic continent. With this in mind, the government of Belgium commissioned the International Polar Foundation to design and operate a new research station, the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica. The goal? To make it the first zero-emission station in the world.
CLEANING UP AN OIL SPILL WITH HAIR AND MUSHROOMS?
The recent Cosco Busan oil spill in the San Francisco Bay may have just met its match in an eco-cleaning solution that uses human hair and mushrooms! A group of intrepid volunteers has embarked on a project to clean up oil at San Francisco’s beaches using an unusual, yet totally organic, method of waste removal: hair mats and mushrooms. Using mats made of hair, the volunteers are able to absorb slicks of oil on the shore that have washed up since the Cosco Busan cargo ship sideswiped the base of the Bay Bridge last week, spilling 58,000 gallons of oil.
AFH SoCal Fires Fundraiser Tomorrow in San Francisco!
In response to the recent Southern California wildfires, Architecture For Humanity’s San Francisco Chapter is co-hosting a fundraiser for the rebuilding efforts TOMORROW NIGHT in San Francisco with Open Productions and In Deep. If you’re in the Bay Area, come on down for the DJs, drinks, and do-good party action to support our friends at AFH:
Location: Shine, 1337 Mission St.@ 9th, San Francisco, CA 94103
Time: Saturday, November 10th, 9pm-2am
Cost: $5 donation goes to AFH San Francisco and Southern California chapters
Or in the meantime, donate to AFH’s rebuilding efforts in Southern California here>>>
Help Support AFH California Wild Fire Response!
As the fires in California continue to rage, Architecture for Humanity is already on the move, with architects planning reconstruction, and the local Los Angeles and San Diego chapters helping families and businesses in their times of crisis. The San Diego Chapter, Rebuild, responded earlier this week by volunteering in the evacuation center at Qualcomm Stadium. Architecture for Humanity Los Angeles is also partnering with Rebuild San Diego to mount a regional-wide response including sharing information regarding local municipalities’ relief efforts. In the meantime, AFH needs your support- financial and volunteer aid. Donate directly here, or if you’re in the area, go volunteer!
DESIGN FOR THE OTHER 90%: Lifestraw Water Purifier
With over 1.1 million people in the world who don’t have access to clean drinking water, water-borne pathogens are a huge problem for the environment and for human health. Fortunately a clever little design has come to the rescue in the form of the Lifestraw The cigar-sized plastic tool is both a feat of engineering and an inexpensive way to deliver potable water to those who need it. Lifestraw delivers the most basic needs and purifies water from potential pathogens like typhoid, cholera, dysentery and diarrhea, becoming one of the icons of humanitarian product design- by the time the water hits your lips, it’s completely safe and potable. The Lifestraw is one of the highlights of the Cooper Hewitt’s Design for the Other 90% exhibition, which highlights products, architecture, and technology that benefits under-privileged demographics across the globe.
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
