Tag Archives: Community

Masdar City Sets The Bar For Sustainable Urban Development

Masdar City, near Abu Dhabi, has set its sights on being the most sustainable city on the planet, and it is well on the way to meeting that goal. Development started in 2008 and is expected to continue for at least the next five years, with 40,000 people expected to live within its boundaries, and…

Chicago Tiny House Design Competition Winners

Winner of the tiny house competition

The winners of the Chicago AIA’s tiny house design competition were announced recently. Launched in November 2015, the competition solicited entries to address young adult homelessness in Chicago as part of the Tiny Homes Summit. The winning entry, “A House for Living In,” is composed of 11 336-square-foot units and one interior community space gathered around…

Study Shows LEED-ND Fails To Provide Affordable Housing

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Planning Association (JAPA) by Nicola Szibbo, PhD, a planner with the City and County of Honolulu, found that only 40 percent of LEED-ND certified projects included affordable housing. With very little incentive in the credit structure, many developers choose not to include affordable housing, and there…

‘Steelhenge’ Takes Shipping Containers To Another Level

Steelhenge, made of shipping containers

Swiss architecture firm Bureau A recreated the iconic Stonehenge with shipping containers for the first edition of the biennale for independent art spaces in Geneva, BIG. Using 50 containers, the firm was commissioned to create an open air venue that would function as a space for attendees to congregate. “We like to work with references, displacement…

Greenest Cities in the US in 2015

  WalletHub analysts recently released their list of the greenest cities in the US, based on their study of 100 cities across the nation. Cities were measured on thirteen key metrics across four dimensions: 1) Environmental Quality, 2) “Greenness” of Transportation, 3) “Greenness” of Energy Sources and 4) Green Lifestyle & Local Policies. Here are the…

Have You Ever Seen an Amish Barn-Raising? (Video)

amish barn raising

Ohio’s Amish population is known for shunning many modern conveniences, which may lead some people to think that they’re not very much in tune with “trends” like environmentalism — but they’d be wrong. The Amish are Faithful stewards of their land, and work together to make the most of their resources and their community, and…

The Garden Tower Project Start-Up Business

Social media is helping many start-up companies gain followers, earn profit and take off. One company that was featured on Kick Starter and on startup-USA.com is The Green Tower Project. The Green Tower Project is a self-contained vertical garden/composting system. “It’s a Garden, it’s a composter – It’s the Garden Tower!  The unique self-contained vertical…

Fitting In, Architecturally Speaking

One of the fundamental qualities of good architecturally designed buildings is that they fit into their own unique site. Two examples that couldn’t be more different but that are both beautifully designed buildings for their spaces are the Transustainable House and the Sempachersee Golf Course Club House. The Transustainable House is a residential home designed…

Affordable Housing Goes Green in Georgia

NWGHA recently worked with Lord, Aeck & Sargent (LAS) Architecture creating 10 public-housing, energy-efficient, green apartments called Village Green in Rome, Georgia.

Straw Bale Homes Offer Energy-Efficient and Cost-Effective Remedy for the UK Government

We all know the story of the three little pigs. The first pig who made his house made with straws got eaten by the big bad wolf. However, for homeowners and builders, homes built with straw bales may have redeeming qualities of being energy-efficient and cost-effective. It has become such an attractive green building material that even the UK government believe it has the potential to bale out the economic crisis felt even abroad.

“A typical straw bale wall is roughly three times as efficient as conventional framing,” says Andrew Morrison, owner of Straw Bale Innovations. “Over the life of a typical thirty year mortgage, this superior insulation can reduce energy costs by up to 75%, saving money and vital natural resources.”

Propeller Island City Lodge; A Hotel Like No Other

The hotel is Propeller Island City Lodge in Berlin, Germany. All of the 31 rooms, reception area, Gallery, meeting room, decor and objects in these areas were designed by German artist, Lars Stroschen.

Crestone, Colorado: A Green Place to Be

In a small town remotely located on the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley large eco-friendly ideas are taking root. The place is a close-knit community of approximately 130 people, called Crestone, Colorado and the concept is a better living and built environment for everyone.

Many different elements are part of the everyday life there. They are internationally known for alternative buildings and have approximately 100 sustainable homes is the area.

A Trash Bash’s Goal of Zero Waste, Soon to be Reached?

The events that make the biggest impact on the attendants do not have to leave an impact on the earth. Executive Director, Jan Hamilton with the CARTM Recycling Center in Manzanita, Oregon, developed an event which produces almost entirely no waste.

They started it in 1998 and on Friday, May 20, 2011 it will be their 13th annual Trash Bash. This is a community party with dancing, art and a fashion “Trashion” show all dedicated to recycling, re-using, and the non-wasting of materials.

Fairy Doors Provides a Whimsical and Uncommon Miniature Architectural Detail

Architects are trained to look at the smallest details and those details in turn make the buildings unique and beautiful. If one looks close enough, the small elements can be the most surprising. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, those small elements seem to have taken on a life of their own. Throughout the city miniature doors can be found.

Mr. Peanut Opens Urban Park In New Orleans

The iconic Mr. Peanut arrives in his new biodiesel Planters Nutmobile and opens the first Planters Grove, a peanut-shaped eco-urban park in New Orleans’ historic Central City. The public green space is designed to provide a natural, inspirational place for the community to enjoy with many sustainable design elements.

First LEED Certified Bowling Alley: Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY, it is the first LEED Certified bowling alley in the world. While you are Consider its staggering construction statistics of 16 lanes, 600-person venue, two bars and its offering of live rock-n-roll music performances seven nights a week, not to mention the LEED certification. This equation of parts gives you the reason Brooklyn Bowl truly is an original.

Iowa City’s New Green Recycling Center

Iowa City's new East Side Recycling Center will be a green building to behold. The new building, scheduled to open later this year, is being built with sustainable and energy- efficient designs that will make it a one-stop green hub for the city.