“natural materials”
Spiders Spin Silk into Violin Strings Able to Create Superior Symphonic Sounds
Japanese scientist and music lover, Shigeyoshi Osaki, has discovered that spider silk can be spun into much more the pesky cobwebs. After studying the eight-legged creepers and their silky habits for over
WHIM Architecture’s Villa Al is a Green Living Complex In Tune With Nature
Villa Al is WHIM Architecture's design for a green villa in Almere, the Netherlands. The concept was created for an open design a competition, and is a reaction to the growing desire to build as
Dome-Shaped Eco-Tourism Center in France is a Living Room in the Woods
Inca Architectes designed this dome-shaped eco-tourism center that feels like a cozy living room in the woods. Commissioned by the Department Tourism Committee of Seine et Marne to protect the Gorges de
The Una Cebu Car’s Swirling Exterior is Crafted from Coconut Flower Stalks and Other Local Materials
When Clayton Tugonon set about creating his classy Una Cebu Car from locally sourced natural and recycled materials, he wanted to demonstrate to other Filipino designers the potential beauty and utility
Formafantasma Crafty Vessels are made from Flour, Agricultural Waste and Limestone
Using sustainable design as a bridge between craftwork and the industry, this collection of earthy vessels combines low-impact materials and old world techniques to create durable, functional objects.
Beautiful Green-Roofed Barn Extension in France is Barely Visible From Afar
This barn extension in the Pyrénées Mountains has a gorgeous green roof that minimizes its impact on an incredible site overlooking the Adour de Lesponne river valley in France. When the client
Inner Forest Pavilion Made From Thousands of Pine Cones Springs Up in Norway
Iván Juárez, founder and principal of Mexican firm x.studio was part of the 2011 A-I-R program at Centre Dalsåsen. The art center is located on the west coast of Norway where a range of landscapes
Industrial Chic Dining Pods Pop up at Fabbrica Restaurant in The Netherlands
Fabbrica Rotterdam has a similar layout but the difference between that restaurant and the new one in Bergen lies in the materials. Whereas Rotterdam is shiny and glittery with massive chandeliers hanging
Baumraum Breaks Ground on Its Awesome Schrems Treehouse Resort in Lower Austria
The best way to enjoy a site that still reflects nature's instinctive proclivity for abundance is to stay in low-impact buildings that exist in total harmony with their surroundings. That's a Baumraum
Ultra Minimalist Dogma House Has a Sloping Roof Ramp That Leads to a Lake
The ultra minimalist Dogma House features an amazing sloping roof ramp, and it was designed by Alex van de Beld and Haiko Meijer in accordance with the Dogma Rules conceived by a group of Danish movie
Ábaton’s Converted Extremadura Stable is an Enviable Solar and Hydro-Powered Country Estate in Spain
The 1,056 square foot home really is the rustic home of anyone's dreams. Situated in a cozy corner of a 5 hectare plot, it is clad in original stone and finished off with other natural materials such as
Mercado Palhano: A Beautiful Brazilian Eco-Market Adorned with Sexy Sliding Louvers
Making sure that the project met the most stringent sustainability requirements was high on the designers' agenda, so they commissioned a local environmental consultancy - Master Ambiental - to lead the
Happy Cloud Coasters Made From Super Sustainable Cork Cost Less Than $20
If you're looking for a gift that will make the nature-lover in your life really really happy, look no further than Barefoot Dynasty's amazing cloud coasters made out of Portuguese cork. First of all,
Guilhem Eustache’s Bewitching Fobe House Captures Morocco’s Enduring Mystique
Originally, the Fobe House was going to be a lot larger than it is, but sustainability became a central concern so it was scaled right down. The vast acreage threatened to swallow up the minimalist
Beautiful Green-Roofed Brazilian Home is Made From Recycled Bricks
Bricks salvaged from a demolition project were used as the main building material for this project. Adding to its sustainability, the designers chose Cumaru hardwoods to give the house a natural,
MDW Architecture Revamps Belgium Le Lorraine Apartment Complex with Green Roofs and Natural Lighting
Previously, walls blocked most of the light that would have otherwise penetrated the buildings, so MDW raised the complex's elevation so that it is now illuminated during the day without artificial
0 to 1′s Gorgeous Geometric Artist Studio Concept
0 to 1 designed this modern live-work space concept for an artist in Fiskars, Finland. The form was inspired by the local climate, Finnish culture, and a set of functions and guidelines provided by the
Fairy Tale Strawbale Cottage is a Charming Waldorf Preschool in Cuernavaca, Mexico
This charming straw bale classroom in Cuernavaca, Mexico is actually a Waldforf preschool that was designed and built with the help of the local community over an 8 week period. Laboratorio Arquitectura
Arkus’ Green-Walled Eco Office is a Flexible Workspace that Blends Into its Surroundings
Arkus were approached to design a flexible office space that can easily be reconfigured, so they developed an floor plan of 4 expandable blocks divided by “green” entrance service cores. A
Extraordinary Off-Grid Hobbit Home in Wales Only Cost £3,000 to Build
We've noticed a surge in hobbit homes as more people throughout the world seek alternatives to the bigger is better model of living. For example, in Switzerland, one family buried their home but opted for
Sydney Home Topped With Twin Lilypads is Steeped in Nature
The two lilypad portals are freestanding structures placed on either end of the home. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, they also provide support to the remainder of the decidedly minimalist
Cork-Clad Treehouse Grows Roots & Intermingles with the Branches
To design the treehouse and minimize the impact on the tree, Urbanarbolismo utilized photogrammetry to make an accurate 3D model of the tree. With this model, the team could fine tune their design to fit
Off-Grid Hill Plain House Showcases Raw Material in a Sophisticated Way
As good green home design goes, everything starts with the site. The house is tucked behind a small rise on the property, which protects it from winter winds. The project's orientation maximizes exposure
Restored Barrel Vaults and Local Stone Give this Italian Home a Rustic Facelift
In order to bring light into an otherwise dark space, Zanaroli gave the exterior a couple of small perforations and topped off the dining area's dome with a skylight. These interventions allow a gentle
Curvy Tellus Nursery School is Wrapped in a Canary-Colored Pine Facade
Parents and children are enveloped in a semi-enclosed courtyard when they first enter the school building, which is wrapped in a tall pine facade that is painted a bright canary yellow. Cut in 50 x 50mm
Rio Roca Ranch Chapel is an Ethereal Wooden Church Filled with Air and Light
Completed in 2010, the 1,080 sq ft chapel is a private facility and can be used for cultural, artistic and spiritual enrichment for up to 50 people. The organic structure is built from limestone, steel
Fernanda Marques’ Greenery Topped Brazilian Loft is a Paragon of Luxury Eco-Design
At 2,228 square feet, the home is fairly large, but Marques has done a fantastic job of making sure that this footprint is not destructive to the natural environment. Both the exterior paneling and
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