Sustainable Design | Inhabitat New York City

NYC Beaches Open Today After Post-Hurricane Sandy Restoration and Improvements

NYC Beaches Open Today After Post-Hurricane Sandy Restoration and Improvements

Yesterday morning, Mayor Bloomberg and New York City Parks Commissioner Veronica M. White visited Coney Island to announce the opening of all New York City beaches for the 2013 season. The kick-off was even more special than in past years because it also included

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School of Visual Arts Offering Co-Working Desks to Work from This Summer

School of Visual Arts Offering Co-Working Desks to Work from This Summer

If you're in need of temporary NYC office space for the summer, look no further than The School of Visual Arts! SVA is offering up co-working space in their Products of Design studio in Chelsea, which is conveniently located near several subway stops. Intended for designers, architects, consultants and freelancers, the SVA Co-Working space is a light-filled, architect-designed office with all the amenities you need to accomplish some real work during the warmer months.

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ARTLANTIC Transforms Disused Atlantic City Lots Into Public Art and Green Space

ARTLANTIC Transforms Disused Atlantic City Lots Into Public Art and Green Space

Atlantic City is known primarily for being the gambling capital of the East Coast, but now thanks to a new redevelopment project, it may become a cultural center. The ARTLANTIC project began last November, and has already reclaimed an empty space sandwiched between casinos, transforming it into a lush public sculpture park to be enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. Headed by curator Lance Fung, the initiative will continue to rehabilitate disused areas around Atlantic City, infusing public art from leading artists like Kiki Smith and Peter Hutchinson, as well as green space, into the beachfront city.

Clever 425 sq. ft. Manhattan Micro-Loft Stacks Upwards for More Space

Clever 425 sq. ft. Manhattan Micro-Loft Stacks Upwards for More Space

When it first started off, this unusually tiny NYC apartment had high ceilings but only 425 sq. ft. of space. Specht Harpman Architects came in and saw the potential to turn the awkward Upper West Side pad into a spacious, light-filled micro loft by taking advantage of the 25-foot ceilings and rooftop deck access. By installing four "living platforms", Specht Harpman turned what was essentially dead space into a really cool multi-level home that hides plenty of great storage. Read on for a tour!

Souda’s Luminous Bubble Chandelier is Made From Bottles Collected by NYC’s Homeless

Souda’s Luminous Bubble Chandelier is Made From Bottles Collected by NYC’s Homeless

Inhabitat was really excited to see Brooklyn’s own Souda in person at this year’s ICFF. The young collective’s gorgeous Bubble Chandelier is not only made from recycled soda bottles, but also provides jobs to New York City’s homeless population. Souda works with non-profit SURE WE CAN’s homeless-friendly bottle redemption center to source the bottles, giving a portion back to the homeless population that collects them.

Staten Island’s Historic Snug Harbor Botanical Garden is an Idyllic Escape from NYC

Staten Island’s Historic Snug Harbor Botanical Garden is an Idyllic Escape from NYC

For a beautiful escape from the thick of the concrete jungle, there’s no need to leave the five boroughs. The idyllic Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is only a short bus ride away from the Staten Island Ferry, and it offers a day of galavanting through gardens, checking out museums and art galleries, sampling from an on-site organic farm, or taking in a performance at the century-old auditorium. The 28 building campus was once a home for retired sailors, but it has been transformed into a day-trip destination for New Yorkers and tourists alike.

Help NYC Artist Jim Power Fix His Legendary Light Pole Mosaics That Tell the History of the East Village

Help NYC Artist Jim Power Fix His Legendary Light Pole Mosaics That Tell the History of the East Village

If you’ve spent any time in the East Village, you may have noticed the colorful, mosaic-covered light poles that line the streets. Unofficially dubbed the “Legendary Mosaic Trail,” the poles have been a pet project of artist Jim Power for 25 years now. Made from glass, mirror and other recycled materials found on the streets, the poles each immortalize an East Village place, event or person, creating an outdoor history museum in mosaic form. Power has now launched an Indiegogo campaign to help preserve his East Village legacy for future generations to enjoy. Read on to see how you can help!

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Hear Author Bridgette Meinhold Speak at the Academy of Natural Sciences This Week in Philly

Hear Author Bridgette Meinhold Speak at the Academy of Natural Sciences This Week in Philly

This Thursday, May 23rd, Inhabitat’s Architecture Editor Bridgette Meinhold will be speaking at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University about sustainable housing and environmental challenges. Bridgette Meinhold is the author of Urgent Architecture:

PHOTOS: MoMA’s “Rain Room” Lets You Walk Through the Rain Without Getting Wet

PHOTOS: MoMA’s “Rain Room” Lets You Walk Through the Rain Without Getting Wet

How cool would it be to dance in the rain without having to towel off after? That's exactly the experience that the Museum of Modern Art and Random International are offering with their "Rain Room", which invites guests to frolic through 1,076 square feet of pouring rain while staying completely dry. Using 3D-tracking cameras, injection-moulded tiles and a water recycling system, the installation follows guests as they pass toward a stark floodlight, turning off each sprinkler as they pass under it, and giving the feeling of being in the center of a rainstorm without getting the least bit wet.

Philippe Starck and Hansgrohe Launch Axor Starck Organic Line of Sensual Water-Saving Faucets

Philippe Starck and Hansgrohe Launch Axor Starck Organic Line of Sensual Water-Saving Faucets

Can a faucet be sensual? We had our doubts but were forced to eat them this morning (along with a tasty organic lunch) at the New York premiere of the Axor Starck Organic bathroom collection. World-renowned designer Philippe Starck joined Philippe Grohe, the head of Axor, to unveil the new line of curvaceous fixtures at the brand's Meatpacking District showroom. Both gentlemen had some fascinating things to say about the faucet's water-saving technology, advanced ergonomics and almost anatomical design, which Starck said was inspired by human, animal and vegetable life as well as "sexual energy". Read on to learn more.

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PHOTOS: Bower Debuts Fun & Flexible Magnetic Polaris Light at BKLYN Designs

PHOTOS: Bower Debuts Fun & Flexible Magnetic Polaris Light at BKLYN Designs

Bower's magnetic Polaris lamp is one of the BKLYN Designs product unveils we've really been looking forward to, and yesterday we finally got the chance to try out the light's sticking power at the show. The Polaris is made up of pieces of scrap wood that have been cut and fit to form its multi-faceted shape. Each lamp has been embedded with small but powerful magnets, allowing it to be adhered to any magnetic surface at many different angles depending on task and mood. We spoke to Danny Giannella and Tammer Hijazi, the two man team behind Bower, about the Polaris and some of the other cool wares showcased at their site - read on to see what we found out!

Learn How to 3D Print at ICFF with DesignX!

Learn How to 3D Print at ICFF with DesignX!

We’re looking forward to all that this weekend’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair will bring, and we just learned that the latest in home furnishings won’t be the only thing visitors can expect at the event. Showgoers who are interested in 3D printing

Ideas City Festival Livens Up the Bowery With Green Installations and Sustainable Fun

Ideas City Festival Livens Up the Bowery With Green Installations and Sustainable Fun

Last weekend, the New Museum's Ideas City Festival brought an action packed array of sustainable events and exhibitions to the Bowery. Visitors marveled as treetops and skyscrapers were brought within arm’s reach by Davidson Rafailidis’ Mirror Mirror installation, while others hung out inside Raumlabor’s inflatable bubble pavilion. Inhabitat joined the hundreds of New Yorkers who enjoyed the sustainable art installations, forums, and creative recycling initiatives - click through our gallery to see what we saw!

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Lamacek Shows Off Fun Phelt Wall Clusters at BKLYN Designs 2013

Lamacek Shows Off Fun Phelt Wall Clusters at BKLYN Designs 2013

We’ve been wanting to see Lamacek’s new Phelt “clusters” in person ever since we found out about them, and we finally got our chance this weekend at BKLYN Designs. The fun series takes eco-felt made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and turns it into spirally

Analog Modern Draws Upon Traditional Craft to Create Their Contemporary Furniture Collection

Analog Modern Draws Upon Traditional Craft to Create Their Contemporary Furniture Collection

Analog Modern was on board at BKLYN Designs this past weekend to share their latest collection of sustainable furnishings. The team draws on traditional craft to create modern, geometrical designs constructed mostly from wood, steel and found objects. This year's collection is inspired by the butterfly. We caught up with founder Peter Buley to learn more about the materials, inspiration and philosophy that drive his work.

Garrison Architects’ Flood-Proof, Modular Beach Buildings Are Coming to NYC This Summer

Garrison Architects’ Flood-Proof, Modular Beach Buildings Are Coming to NYC This Summer

This summer, some of the NYC beaches hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy will get a new start with the opening of 37 flood-proof, prefab lifeguard stations, comfort stations and offices designed by Garrison Architects. After the superstorm, Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, Midland Beach, Wolfe's Pond Park and Cedar Grove were left with just the tattered shambles of what used to be their restrooms and other beach structures. The city knew that it had to rebuild in order to open these popular beaches back to their communities for summer 2013, but fast-tracking the design and construction of these buildings to a matter of months proved to be a challenge. Architect Jim Garrison and his firm were called in to tackle the task, and we're happy to say that they're making impressive progress towards their Memorial Day deadline. We stopped by the Garrison booth yesterday at BKLYN Designs and got to see some 3D models of the modular beach buildings in person. Click through our gallery to see the photos we snapped as well as renderings of the final designs.

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Adam Frank’s LUMEN LED is a Delightful Little Nightlight with Big Energy Savings

Adam Frank’s LUMEN LED is a Delightful Little Nightlight with Big Energy Savings

We’ve been in love with Adam Frank’s LUMEN nightlights for all the years that this veteran designer has been bringing them to BKLYN Designs, but we are absolutely thrilled with his new LED version. Frank’s delicate little Lumen lamps are made of stainless

Pickett Furniture Uses Sustainable Wood and Vintage Textiles to Create Playful Handcrafted Pieces

Pickett Furniture Uses Sustainable Wood and Vintage Textiles to Create Playful Handcrafted Pieces

Pickett Furniture was at the BKLYN Designs furniture show this past weekend showcasing unique handcrafted furnishings and accessories made from responsibly sourced wood and vintage textiles. Blending natural, modern and international influences, the eclectic collection of designs includes bamboo lamps, vintage marimekko fabric pillows, a handcrafted vinyl playing music console, and kids' toys! A set of adorable magnetic Bataljon Robots is the latest to join Pickett's collection, bringing a playful touch to this unique line.

PHOTOS: Bien Hecho Shows Off Their Reclaimed and Well Made Home Furnishings

PHOTOS: Bien Hecho Shows Off Their Reclaimed and Well Made Home Furnishings

BKLYN Designs came and went far too quickly, but it was fantastic to catch up with Brooklyn’s best and greenest designers – including Bien Hecho. Translated to mean “well made” in Spanish, this local studio offers a playful range of interior furnishings that

Announcing the Winners of Inhabitat’s Green Design Awards at BKLYN Designs!

Announcing the Winners of Inhabitat’s Green Design Awards at BKLYN Designs!

We came, we saw, and we wrote all about our favorite green designers at BKLYN Designs 2013, and after 3 days of voting and deliberating, we finally have our winners! This year's crop of locally grown but internationally known furniture, home and environmental designs were some of the most impressive yet, and more than half of the designers showed a commitment to using reclaimed or sustainable materials and processes in their work. It wasn't easy, but we've finally chosen one of these auspicious designs as the winner of our Inhabitat Green Design Editor's Choice Award, and you, the readers, have voiced your choice for the #1 popular vote pick - so read on to find out which two Brooklyn-based designers took home the top prizes!

Annnnnd the winners are...

Awesome Locally-Made Green Designs from BKLYN Designs 2013!

Awesome Locally-Made Green Designs from BKLYN Designs 2013!

BKLYN Designs really wowed us this weekend with over 30 Brooklyn-based designers showcasing their latest work at St. Ann's Warehouse in DUMBO. Inhabitat made the rounds and we were excited to see so many sustainable options. From rustic tables made from recycled aluminium to chairs made from reclaimed wood to adjustable, magnetic lights, we're highlighting some of our favorites from this year's show. Check them all out ahead!

Adam Frank Unveils Mesmerizing 3D LED LUCID Mirror at BKLYN Designs 2013

Adam Frank Unveils Mesmerizing 3D LED LUCID Mirror at BKLYN Designs 2013

We just caught up with Adam Frank at BKLYN Designs, and we’re very excited to share his newest and arguably coolest design yet – the LUCID Mirror. This awesome mirror functions just like any reflective sheet of glass, except it also has a 3D image of illuminated

Vote for Your Favorite Green Home Furnishings in the Inhabitat BKLYN Designs Awards!

Vote for Your Favorite Green Home Furnishings in the Inhabitat BKLYN Designs Awards!

Hello Brooklyn! We’re reporting live today from BKLYN Designs, a celebration and showcase of home furnishings designed and made in the Kingsborough. We’ve only been here for an hour or so but it’s already plain to see that the show is a feast for the eyes,

New York City Council to Give Green Light to Cornell’s Tech Campus

New York City Council to Give Green Light to Cornell’s Tech Campus

Back in March the NYC Planning Commission approved plans for Cornell’s new tech campus located on Roosevelt Island – and now it looks like the university is about to jump its final hurdle. The City Council just announced that it will vote to approve the 2-million-square-foot

Adam Yauch Park Opens in Brooklyn Heights, Honoring Late Beastie Boys Member

Adam Yauch Park Opens in Brooklyn Heights, Honoring Late Beastie Boys Member

You might have known him as MCA of the Beastie Boys, but before he was a rapper Adam Yauch was just a happy Brooklyn kid playing at his favorite park. The late musician was honored last week when Palmetto Playground in Brooklyn Heights was renamed Adam Yauch

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