Tag: Architecture

A lightbulb moment. Transparent wood was first introduced as an alternative to glass or plastic in 2016. To create the see-through material, lignin - the component in wood that absorbs most light - is removed. The resulting pores need to be filled to reinforce the wood again. Until recently that was achieved with synthetic polymers from non-renewable raw materials....

Surrounded by nature, a deep breath can feel like a refreshing drink post exercise. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could experience something similar on a busy road? Particularly for children, who are often perilously close to exhaust pipes. Placing CO2 absorbing plants by the roadside is one possibility. In London and the southeast, air pollution levels can already...

Joint braces, prosthetic legs for dogs, or stents to help us breathe. Additive manufacturing is used for making products in small numbers or for specific purposes. Now, a charitable organization has joined forces with an architect’s office in Madagascar to build something truly spectacular using this technique: a new building that will offer 30 children space to learn. The...

Sometimes less is more. It’s a maxim that minimalists live their life by. And for a Latvian start-up it was the inspiration for a business idea. Think of it as a Tiny House project but with increased versatility. Thanks to special hinges, the company’s pint-sized wood houses can be folded and reinstalled up to 100 times. They are suitable...

High shelves create space. And architects in big cities find themselves gazing towards the skies. For evidence, look no further than the 98m hybrid high-rise planned for Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. Its concrete core is made more sustainable by the presence of columns, floor slabs and other elements fashioned from wood. Encompassing 29 floors, the development will for the most...

Creative people and hobbyists are known for giving everyday items a second life. And industry needs creative ideas too. What, for example, can be done with a used 20 meter long wind turbine blade, which despite its ability to generate energy, would otherwise spend the autumn of its life luxuriating at the dump? Irish engineers are working on a...

Green living – it’s an attractive proposition for many. All the more so if it helps to reduce CO2 emissions. A sustainably run hotel on a small Danish island is making its mark by building a special climate-positive extension. Built entirely from wood, its interior will include upcycled furnishings from scrap building material. Its energy footprint, meanwhile, will be...

As it grows colder and darker things can quickly become uncomfortable, particularly in older houses. Crumbling plaster means saying ‘goodbye’ to cozy. To date producing materials for renovation and renovation work itself has proved costly and too often harmful for the environment. Now a research team from Bavaria has developed a recyclable insulating material that is not only oil-free,...