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

Design and engineering innovations over the last two decades have had a dramatic impact on our ability to create beautiful, environmentally sensitive structures that help contribute to a more sustainable future. A dramatic example of the confluence of design, technology and environmental sustainability can be seen in the proliferation of innovative bridge designs around the world. We’ve put together a list of five of our favorites. Check them out and let us know what you think!

Read the rest of Top 5 Most Innovative Green Bridges on the Planet

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", "wind power", Green Building, green design, renewable energy, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable design

High Density green living is on the rise in Elwood, Australia with Crosby Architect’s new Elwood Green project. Living up to its name, the high-density apartment building will house 25 units that are expected to receive an average 6-star rating – the highest honor currently available from the Green Building Council of Australia. What comes as a bit of surprise is the lack of active systems assisting in the green rating, which just goes to show that old ingenuity and smart design can create buildings every bit as sustainable as the most high-tech structures.

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Post tags: 6 star Rating, Crosby Architects, Elwood Green, Green Building, Green Building Council of Australia, Sustainable Building

Like an non evil, sustainable version of the Deathstar, the Technosphere by James Law Cybertecture replicates the Earth as a structural concept. Inside the eco-sphere is an entire world which serves as a vehicle to explore the issues of self-sustaining life on a smaller level. Although not nearly as self-sufficient as the Biosphere 2, the Technosphere is meant to reflect the state of our planet in current and future times. Proposed as an iconic building for the Technopark of Dubai, the eco-sphere would be a carbon neutral tourist attraction as well as a place in which to live and work.

Read the rest of James Law’s Technosphere is an Eco Deathstar for Dubai

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Post tags: biosphere, dubai, eco sphere, james law cybertecture, self-sufficient, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, sustainable cybertecture, technosphere

As the winter winds begin to blow, we’d thought we say one last goodbye to the things of summer by featuring Icelandic architectural firm Glama-Kim Architects’ modern, modular, eco-friendly summerhouses situated in the Western part of Iceland, in the town of Stykkishólmur. Project architect Olafur Mathiesen led the design, which boasts spectacular views of the surrounding landscape, as well as the use of readily available materials combined with the ease of construction and simplicity of design.

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Post tags: Glama-Kim Architects, Iceland, Prefab, Summerhouses, Sustainable Building, sustainable design, Sustainable Materials

There are reportedly over 750,000 abandoned concrete bunkers scattered throughout Albania, remnants of Communist dictator Enver Hoxha and his policies of paranoid xenophobia. Now graduate students Gyler Mydyti & Elian Stefa have developed a plan called Concrete Mushrooms that would ‘invert the meaning’ of these structures by turning them into a network of habitable eco-hostels, cafés, gift shops and more.

Read the rest of Concrete Mushrooms: Transforming Abandoned Bunkers Into Eco Hostels

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", concrete mushrooms, Green Building, green design, Recycled Materials, Sustainable Building, sustainable design

It’s finally the week of the Solar Decathlon competition! From Thursday, October 8 to Friday, October 16, 20 multi-disciplinary students teams made up of architects, engineers, and designers will participate in 10 contests to determine the winner. You can take a peek at each team’s standing here. Taking place at the National Mall, all the homes will be open for public viewing from October 9 to October 13 and October 15 to October 18. Inhabitat has been on the scene of the competition, so take a look at our up-to-date reporting today — and check back next week for more coverage.

We’ve also been scouting to see what the interwebs have been buzzing about the Decathlon:

Treehugger snaps some photos of the students re-building their homes on the National Mall.

CNET News takes us on a tour of the houses that feels like a tour around the country.

CNET News also reports that Energy Secretary Steven Chu plugged solar and building efficiency, announcing $87 million of funding for DOE for solar energy.

We also stumbled upon US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon flickr feed.

And to get some in-depth perspective on the event check out our coverage of competitions past, take a peek at our photos of the Solar Decathlon this year taken by Jill and Rebecca who visited the National Mall this week and read our on-the-scene coverage of Rice University’s ZEROW House.

And remember — Check back for more next week!

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", "solar energy", energy-efficient homes, reneweable energy, solar decathlon 2009, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The Solar Decathlon, the super solar architecture competition held in Washington D.C. bi-annually, officially kicked off today, and Rice University’s awesomely affordable ZEROW House is already making waves. The first round of evaluations took place yesterday, and this low-budget underdog placed 4th among the twenty competitors after being recognized in the categories Comfort Zone and Appliances. What is most impressive about this team is that the average budget of the 20 solar decathlon houses at the mall is $490,000, while the ZEROW home was built for only $140,000!!! Even more impressive, the ZEROW House was designed specifically for Houston’s Third Ward Neighborhood as part of Project Row House – an organization that seeks to develop housing for low-to moderate-income families.

Read the rest of SOLAR DECATHLON 2009: Rice University’s $140,000 ZEROW House Keeps Up With the High Rollers

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Post tags: "green wall", Green Building, rice university, Solar Decathlon, Solar Power, Sustainable Building, Washington DC, zerow home, zerow house

Mesa Community College recently completed work on a stunning physical science building that exceeded LEED expectations when it was awarded LEED-NC Gold. Designed by the award-winning architecture firm, The Smith Group, the building is the first major LEED project to be completed within the Maricopa Country Community College District. The brand new 64,480-square-foot facility houses curriculum for the physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology and engineering departments including classrooms, laboratories, facility offices, an advising center and a 53 seat planetarium. Topping off the new space is an astronomy observation platform.

Read the rest of Mesa Community College’s Physical Science Buiding Gets LEED Gold

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Post tags: "leed", Green Building, green design, LEED gold, Mesa Community College, Smith Group, Sustainable Building, usgbc

A team of students from Penn State recently unveiled their Natural Fusion residence, which has been selected as one of 20 ultra-efficient homes set to make an appearance at this year’s Solar Decathlon. The elegant structure is wrapped in living walls and utilizes a host of energy-efficient features including a green roof lined with photovoltaic panels and large windows that bathe the interiors in daylight.

Read the rest of Natural Fusion: Penn State’s Solar Decathlon House

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Post tags: Green Building, Natural Fusion, Penn State, Solar Decathlon, Sustainable Building

StrawJet, of Ashland, Oregon, has developed a unique process for the creation of structural building components from a variety of waste agricultural stalks. Essentially, they have created a machine that takes waste stalks and creates a tightly wrapped beam which can then be applied to many different facets of construction. The cables are made and wrapped without glues, resins or chemicals and are made completely from waste material. As long as we are growing food there will be straw, so why not use it creatively?

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Post tags: CASBA, Green Building, Malawi, natural building, reuse, SOAIA, Straw Building, StrawJet, Sustainable Building, Waste Straw

The city of Rotterdam recently released a bevy of gorgeous green designs for a new mixed-use city hall building that will become “the most sustainable in The Netherlands”. The city challenged designers to create something spectacular, something that will be super energy efficient, use sustainable materials, be useful for various people and events, generate its own energy, recycle and take out its own trash. Well, ok maybe not take out its own trash, but you get the drift. Read on for a look at the five stunning finalists – Claus en Kaan Architecten, Mecanoo Architecten, Meyer en van Schooten Architecten, OMA and SeARCH, all whom were chosen to display their designs at NAI until September 13th to receive public feedback.

Read the rest of Rotterdam Plans Most Sustainable Building in the Netherlands

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Post tags: Architecture, City Hall, city-hall extension, Competition, designs, entry, rotterdam, Sustainable Building, the netherlands

NASA has planted its flag on planet Earth (for a change) with the groundbreaking of their “Sustainability Base” this week. The new endeavor is located on their Ames campus in Moffett Field, CA just outside of Silicon Valley and has specs that are pushing green building to new limits. In order to deliver in true sustainable style, NASA recruited Inhabitat favorite, William McDonough + Partners, to take on the 50,000-square foot collaborative support facility.

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Post tags: Green Building, nasa, Sustainability Base, Sustainable Building, William McDonough Partners, WM+P

Sitting atop thin steel stilts, the Froschköenig Treehouse conjures up ideas of a space pod just landed among a canopy of trees. Designed by well-known treehouse designer and manufacturer, Baumraum, the prefabricated treehouse features a futuristic, curved zinc roof enveloping a more rustic-feeling tatajuba wood foundation to create a whimsical hideaway for kids and adults.

READ MORE AT INHABITOTS >

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Post tags: eco treehouse, prefab architecture, Sustainable Building, treehouse

We’re getting excited about this year’s Solar Decathlon and love Virginia Tech’s zero-energy, smart house. Lumenhaus — which is a combination of Lumen, meaning power of light, and Haus, which is a reference to the Bauhaus architectural movement — is a high-tech home that will be sure to garner a lot of attention at the upcoming competition. In fact it’s only one of two US teams to be accepted into the Solar Decathlon Europe, where it will compete against teams from around the world.

Read the rest of Lumenhaus – Virginia Tech’s Smart Solar House

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Post tags: geothermal heat pump, lumenhaus, smart house, solar decathalon, solar decathalon 2009, Solar Power, student design, Sustainable Building, virginia tech, Zero energy