Design
World’s most sustainable office space opens in London
The new European headquarters of Bloomberg isis being lauded as the greenest office space in the world. For starters, the office building utilizes traditional sustainability solutions, such as a grey water collection system on the roof and vacuum-drainage toilets—just like the ones found on Read More...
Designing suburbs to cut car use closes gaps in health and wealth
Large health inequalities exist in Australia. Car ownership and its costs add to the health inequalities between low-income and high-income households. The physical characteristics of neighborhoods influence our transport use and, in turn, make health inequalities better or Read More...
Octopus-inspired robots: Silicone skin can change texture for "3-D camouflage"
In a flash, an octopus can make like ragged-edged seaweed or coral by changing the color and texture of its skin, thus becoming nearly invisible in its environment. And in the future, robots may be able to pull off this seemingly magical camouflage trick as Read More...
The European cities leading the way in car-free living
The Mayor of London has come under increased pressure in recent weeks to bolster his plans to slash pollution after data revealed all Londoners are exposed to dangerous levels of toxic air. Sadiq Khan has outlined plans to introduce an Ultra-Low Emissions Zone in parts of the city, Read More...
Swedish energy innovation can make any building net zero
Constructing a net zero building from scratch is one thing. Turning existing buildings into net zero structures is a different challenge. A Swedish innovation is using active elements systems, heat pumps, chillers, and solar panels to bring existing buildings to net zero energy consumption. The Read More...
Eco-friendly concrete that protects old buildings from earthquakes
On its own, the cement industry produces close to seven percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s why researchers have created a type of material that replaces much of the cement with an industrial byproduct called fly ash. By replacing nearly 70 percent of cement with this material, the Read More...
Old prison complex to be transformed into a buzzing eco-forward neighborhood
OMA is in the business of turning trash into treasure by redeveloping an old prison complex and turning it into an eco-city neighborhood. OMA will be redeveloping the Bijlmerbajes prison in Amsterdam into a neighborhood called the Bajes Kwartier in Read More...
Italy’s high-rise forests take root around the world
Cities currently produce about three quarters of CO2 present in the atmosphere. To fight such pollution, more and more cities around the world are taking of note of the Bosco Verticales (Vertical Forests) in Milan, two apartment towers adorned with more than 20,000 trees and planets. Not only does Read More...
How Helsinki is weaning drivers from their cars
Countries from the U.K. to China are rolling out extraordinary plans to eliminate fossil-fuel-guzzling automobiles. But one Nordic capital city is mixing tech and urban planning to make sure citizens do not need a car at all. Finland's capital Helsinki is growing quickly as it attracts labor from Read More...
How one city plans to steer residents away from driving
Countries from the UK to China are rolling out extraordinary plans to eliminate fossil-fuel-guzzling automobiles. But one Nordic capital city is mixing tech and urban planning to make sure citizens do not need a car at Read More...