If you're planning a green home makeover, you've probably looked into the neat, but often pricey, options out there for eco-conscious furniture and decor. But what are those of us on shoestring (or even half a shoestring) budgets to do? Well, if you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend you check out Build It Green, a warehouse in Astoria that's like a Home Depot for environmentalists. BIG is chock full of very reasonably priced lumber, lamps, chairs, toilets, tchotchkes, doors, and pretty much anything else you might need to spruce up your pad and the awesome thing is that they're all reclaimed from places around New York. I was lucky enough to pick up 2 huge panels of frosted plexiglass from an Oscar de la Renta showroom for only $35 each, and next week I'm heading back to try to pick up some carpeted platforms scrapped from the Conan O'Brien Show! Click through the slideshow to see more sweet stuff I encountered on my tour through this trove of
If you're planning a green home makeover, you've probably looked into the neat, but often pricey, options out there for eco-conscious furniture and decor. But what are those of us on shoestring (or even half a shoestring) budgets to do? Well, if you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend you check out Build It Green, a warehouse in Astoria that's like a Home Depot for environmentalists. BIG is chock full of very reasonably priced lumber, lamps, chairs, toilets, tchotchkes, doors, and pretty much anything else you might need to spruce up your pad and the awesome thing is that they're all reclaimed from places around New York. I was lucky enough to pick up 2 huge panels of frosted plexiglass from an Oscar de la Renta showroom for only $35 each, and next week I'm heading back to try to pick up some carpeted platforms scrapped from the Conan O'Brien Show! Click through the slideshow to see more sweet stuff I encountered on my tour through this trove of
Recycled Plastic Wrap Art!
by Yuka Yoneda, 02/06/10
If you’ve ever lamented having to throw away a piece of saran wrap, this might cheer you up. This rather striking piece of outdoor eco-art is made out of 10,000 feet of recycled plastic-wrap salvaged from a warehouse! Reader amputectecture says:
“This piece invited people to leave the prescribed paths and enter the chained-off grass. The plan was comprised of four triangles, radiating from one tree in varying heights to create a temporary exhibition space.”
Very cool. Thanks for the tip amputecture!
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The Local Paper Makes Gorgeous Eco Gift Wrap
by Piper Kujac, 02/02/10
Here’s a source for gift wrap paper that is as beautiful as it is eco-conscious. Known as The Local Paper, these couture coverings are based on unique themes that are inspired by the designers’ travel, nature, and life. Each elegant wrap comes in 24×36 inch sheets that are Forestry Stewardship Council certified, made with papers that are 30% recycled post-consumer fiber. Additionally, all of the packaging used is recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable. You can purchase The Local Paper at the Contemporary Arts Museum Shop in Houston, TX or online.
Recycled windshields are busting out of the woodwork, from French country gardens to swank sub/urban surfaces. The protective pupa shown here (“la serre” is French for “greenhouse”) transforms more motive motives into regenerative ones, à la auto glass gone wild, nailed to firewood beams and each other and slated for a greenhouse roof. “I like the idea of recovery,” says maker Sebastien Ramirez, who created this warm cocoon without a budget.
Via CyberArchi
Photos by Sebastien Ramirez
Rapid Re(f)use: New York City Rebuilt From Its Own Trash
New York City, much like any big city, disposes of a lot of trash — but what if that trash could be used in a constructive manner? NYC-based architects Terreform have proposed a new form of construction for the City that uses industrial sized robots to create buildings and islands from waste instead of sending it to landfills like Fresh Kills. They’re calling the project Rapid Re(f)use, and the first design is a reverse of the Statue of Liberty that would be built out in the harbor.
PREFAB FRIDAY: Site-Specific’s Minimalist Modern Recycled Prefab
Thailand-based modular home designer Site-Specific has announced that they are expanding their line and have even formed a new company specifically devoted to prefab homes for the Thai Market. The first home in their new line is the MDL 5.5×6, a home inspired by the shipping container but modified to make it more practical and livable. Made from recycled materials, the one bedroom prefab home is modern, simple, and totally affordable.
Stunning Shipping Container City Springs up in Mexico
This hip, colorfully painted shipping container city recently sprung up just outside of Mexico city. Created by a small community of businesses, the project features restaurants, gallery space, bars, funky stores and even living spaces constructed completely out of recycled shipping containers.
Brooklyn Bowl is the World’s Only LEED Certified Bowling Alley
Are you in the New York City area and looking to liven up your weekly routine with an evening out of the ordinary? Well, button up your favorite flannel shirt, pull on your skinny jeans, and head out to Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg for local brews, food by Blue Ribbon, live bands and games of tenpin at the only LEED certified bowling alley in the world!
London’s Olympic Stadium to Be Made Out of Recycled Guns and Knives!
As the world eagerly awaits the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, London is ramping up their own construction plans for the 2012 Olympics. And we just learned this exciting little tidbit about the super sustainable Olympic Stadium currently being built there that makes us even more anxious to see it – it’s going to be made out of recycled guns and knives! That’s right, confiscated weapons from the Metropolitan Police Department are being melted down into scrap metal and used to help build the stadium. That’s an anti-weapons and recycling program all rolled into one!
California Adopts the First Statewide Green Building Code
A round of applause for California! In an effort to trim statewide emissions by 1/3 by 2020, the state of California recently adopted CALGREEN, the first mandatory state-wide green building code in the country. The code was unanimously passed by the California Building Standards Commission and will take effect on January 1st, 2011. The building codes cover everything from construction waste recycling to indoor air quality standards.
Makedo Connector System Turns Trash into Treasures
Are you in need of some cool new décor for your barren apartment? For us more fiscally challenged individuals it seems like the easiest and cheapest thing to do is to tack up a poster of our favorite movie or painting. Boring! But don’t let the 2D world get you down, because the clever Aussies at Makedo have created an ingenious new way to breathe some life into our drab living spaces. Their simple DIY connector system lets you get your creativity going while turning your old piles of junk and trash into some funky treasures!
Vespa Scooter Transformed into a Revved Up Rocking Horse!
This ain’t your grandpa’s rocking horse! Well, okay, it actually is – sorta. This beautiful baby blue Vespa was recycled by one loving grandfather into a totally revved up “rocking horse” for his grandson. This DIY gift is so rad that we would love it even if it wasn’t green, but it is, which makes it twice as nice!
READ MORE AT INHABITOTS …
CES 2010: Greener Gadgets Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show!
The 2010 edition of CES is in full effect in Las Vegas and with it all of the latest gadgets, gizmos and technologies ranging from automotive to internet and wireless. Walking the floor it was clear that green tech is definitely making its way into the mainstream consumer companies more and more. There is an entire pavilion here at CES dedicated to sustainable technologies and products, but peppered throughout the wireless world and innovation areas of the show greener products and services were being demonstrated. Read on for some of the cool green tech that caught my eye on this first day of the show!
Blue Volcano is a Solar Cloud-Topped Eco-Stadium for Zagreb, Croatia
With a lightweight skin, recycled materials, solar power, and a somewhat crazy-lookin’ volcano-esque shape, this “cloud-covered” stadium in Zagreb has tons of eco-promise. Designed by Croatia-based njiric+ arhitekti, the Za(breg) Stadium is set to be a new landmark for the city center. Nicknamed the “Blue Volcano” by both the public and the press, the new stadium rises up from the city floor in a smooth arc to encapsulate the arena within.
What to Do With All That Stuff After Christmas
Want to get a P.H.D. in what to do with your P.H.W.? That’s short for post holiday waste in case you didn’t know. While you may not have heard of the term (we kind of just made it up), we’re pretty sure you know what we’re talking about. The crumpled wads of giftwrap, the withering tree, that sweater from Aunt Mabel that was so fugly that it made a baby cry… if you’ve experienced any of these symptoms, we’re sorry but we’re officially diagnosing you with P.H.W. Don’t worry though – it’s not contagious, and there’s an over-the-counter cure – our 5 easy tips for what to do with all that stuff after Christmas. Read on to check it out!
Christmas Tree Made from 1,000 Beer Bottles
At the start of every Christmas season, environmentalists inevitably spark the real-versus-artificial tree debate. But this year, Chinese designers decided to take an entirely different approach to celebrate the holiday, crafting a huge tree from 1,000 Heineken bottles. The massive sculpture is currently providing some festive flair to Nanjing Road in Shanghai, China.
Stacked Shipping Container Pavilion Rises at COP15
As COP15 delegations continue in Copenhagen, Danish architects MAPT have erected a striking pavilion composed of a set of old shipping containers stacked up like building blocks. The recycled pavilion will host an interactive exhibit focusing on urban sustainability, and the interior of the structure is constructed entirely of materials salvaged from the wood and wind turbine industries.
100% Recycled Cardboard Interior is Totally Tubular
The British menswear label Smithfield recently teamed up with furniture designer Peter Masters to create an eclectic and 100% recycled interior for their new Manchester shop. The dynamic space uses mailing tubes and shipping boxes as elements of digital-age styling, recycling them into incredible wall coverings, light fixtures, hanging sculptures, and clothing displays.
Project Bottlestop: A Solar-Powered, Bottle-Adorned Bus Shelter
We’ve seen plenty of innovative bus shelters before, but Project Bottlestop might just be the most beautiful. Designed by UK College of Design student Aaron Scales, the shelter uses recycled glass Ale-8-One soft drink bottles illuminated by LED lights to create a unique piece of street art. The whole thing is enclosed in safety glass and is completely self-sustaining, with solar panels providing energy for the shelter’s lighting.
New UK Library Fits Within a Phone Booth
London is calling! Actually, it’s Westbury-sub-Mendip’s new 24-hour phone booth library! After witnessing their weekly mobile library disappear, this wee town in the south of England town wasn’t going to let their iconic phone booth be taken away as well. Conceived by a local resident as a way to save a bit of history while satiating the curious minds of the township, the classic phone booth was recycled into what has now become one of the country’s smallest libraries.
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
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