Sustainability.

Via (designweneed)

Simon Dale is a family man in Wales, the western part of Great Britain. His interest in self-sustainability and an ecological awareness led him to dig out and build his own home—one of the loveliest, warmest, most inviting dwellings you could ever imagine. And it cost him only £3,000, about $4,700 American dollars!

Simon gives two reasons for building the home. The first elegant one, from his website, is:

“It’s fun. Living your own life, in your own way is rewarding. Following our dreams keeps our souls alive.”

His second reason is a plea for sustainability, in which he states that “our supplies are dwindling and our planet is in ecological catastrophe”.

The home is constructed from wood, stone, straw, and has a sod roof. It’s heated with a wood fireplace and has a solar panel for power. Most materials were scavenged and refurbished appliances. The effect, though, isn’t of a run-down get-by-with-second-best . It’s creative, artistic, elegant, and cozy. It is, in fact, magical.

 Design doesn’t just impact lives, or enrich lives. It can save them. That is the message the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is trying to emphasize in a newinteractive graphical chart that shows the ways in which the choices architects make can affect our lives.

Amsterdam is widely considered to be one of the very best cities for cyclists in the world. That didn’t happen by accident, and seeing images from a few decades ago when the city was choked with cars really brings the point home. The locals took some very specific steps to get to where they are today, something that many other cities around the world could learn from.

Bicycle Anecdotes from Amsterdam from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

Via Treehugger and Street Films

A bit old in the news, but I thought this was a really interesting piece of art that is still in the developmental phase.

From CNN:

For architecture buffs numbed by the ongoing global battle to crank out record-breaking tall buildings, here’s something innovative to spark the imagination.

The South Korean government has granted approval to begin construction on the world’s first “invisible” tower.

Designed by U.S.-based GDS Architects, the glass-encased Tower Infinity will top out at 450 meters (1,476 feet) and have the third highest observation deck in the world.

The project is backed by Korea Land & Housing Corporation, a state-owned land and public housing developer.

The invisibility illusion will be achieved with a high-tech LED facade system that uses a series of cameras that will send real-time images onto the building’s reflective surface.

It will be built just outside of Seoul near the Incheon International Airport.

Image via News Participation

If you want to have fresh eggs but have never raised chickens, www.RentTheChicken.com, might be a great place to start.

This is what their website says about their service:

Rent The Chicken is based out of Pennsylvania and they operate during the warmer months, May until November. You can still try it this season.