Underground Dwellings Get closer to nature by living in an underground home built from sustainable materials I’ve always wanted to live in an underground dwelling because it’s the closest I’ll ever get to living like a Hobbit, and it seems like the perfect place to go in case zombies attack. Most importantly, underground homes are very eco-friendly and are built directly into the earth, which means they take up less construction material and produce less waste. Here are 4 underground homes that get my “thumbs up” for being truly green and innovative: 1. This earthen home designed by KWK Promes has a grass roof that absorbs water and helps to regulate temperature inside the home. 2. Designed by Dutch architecture firm SeaRCH and Christian Müller Architects, this beautiful underground home located in a Swiss village has rooms that wrap around an interior courtyard, and they all get flooded with natural light. 3. This low impact woodland home was built in Wales by Simon Dale. 4.
Milan’s Vertical Forest Wednesday, 12 October 2011 GreenMuze Staff Milan’s Vertical Forest from Stefan Boeri Architects. The Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) will be the greenest building in Milan when completed, which is one of Europe’s most polluted cities. Designed by Stefan Boeri Architects, as part of their BioMilano vision to incorporate 60 abandoned farms into a greenbelt surrounding the city. Each apartment balcony will have trees (900 plantings are planned for the two buildings) that will provide shade in the summer and drop their leaves in winter to allow in winter sunlight. Visit: Via Inhabitat
Living-cum-Dining Inspiration Most city dwellers live in modest size apartments which don’t have enough room for an independent dining room. For those of you looking to accommodate these two rooms in a constrained space, this post should serve some inspiration. These visuals by conceptual designer Orlando Toro show excellent examples of spaces that integrate living with dining. Orange is the predominant accent color for the walls in this living /dining space. This graphic accent wall is funky but not overpowering. This orange sofa makes it known where the boss sits in the room. The living room furniture is monochromatic like the kitchen/dining area, but they are both complimentary. This open plan has an overall gray color scheme which ties everything in seamlessly. This checkered area rug defines the living space in this small open apartment. You can’t go wrong with monochromatic cream colored furniture to please the eye from one space to another.
Architecture Spectacular scenery – and sheep – are the first things that come to mind for most of us when we think of New Zealand. For an architect, spectacular scenery is always both a challenge and an opportunity. This was very much the situation for David Ponting, founder of Ponting Fitzgerald (in 1998) of Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand, when he saw the site for what his affluent client hoped would be a “sanctuary.” The site was breathtaking with unbelievable views of Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand, and the mountains beyond. Rocky, powerful terrain. Ponting and his client settled on a simple, yet very demanding, brief: Let the land speak. Rather than coming to the site with a preconceived set of shoulds and musts and limiting ideas, the architects kept walking the site. They realised that there were two separate locations on the site, each with its own distinct natural forms, each ‘asking for a building.’ If there ever was a project where the brief has actually become reality, this is it.
How to make a baby pod! Hey Everyone! If you've got a special baby in your life that needs a little something to keep warm in the winter months, we'll I've got an answer for you! Make them a baby pod! Also, check out the entire video below! 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8, When you're done, take out a zipper, flip over the pod half and place the zipper right side facing down below the openings in the casing and right on top of the slit. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Tagged : baby, pod, baby, jumpsuit, jumpsuit, jumper, baby, sweatsuit, baby, clothing, how, to, threadbanger, DIY
Infinity Pools The Top Luxury Swimming / Infinity Pools from around the world There`s no huge idea behind swimming pools, they are pretty simple and basically just big basins of water. However on a hot summers day when your on your holiday, or if you have one in your garden, then they are the essential go to place to relax and cool off. Need some swimming pool inspiration? Well we`ve complied some images of the best infinity and swimming pools from around the globe. About Richard Barker Love Interior Design & Exotic Travel? August 8, 2011 | Travel | View comments Scandinavian design detailing at Santa Monica Residence Argentine architect, Jendretzki, has designed the Santa Monica Residence project. A luxury $20m London penthouse by N.DESIGNERS International architectural practice, N.DESIGNERS, have completed the London VIP Penthouse project.
A Kitchen Remodel With Vintage Flair With a lot of love and a little elbow grease, this outdated kitchen gets a well-deserved facelift! Photographer Derek Henderson wanted a kitchen that matched the rest of his eclectic style: a blend of Mid-Century and Contemporary, with just the slightest touch of Country. While his original kitchen was not lacking in charm, it was definitely out-of-date and out-of-line with Henderson's aesthetic. Derek tackled the renovation himself, opting to keep the original cabinets, but updating the rest of the space: wood floors, butcher block countertops, a farmhouse sink, glass tile, and a very, very cool aqua-colored fridge! You can check out the complete set of before, after, and in-process photos on Derek's Flickr stream. Tagged : Makeover-Mondays, renovations, remodel, Kitchen, mid-century modern, contemporary, Inspiration, before and after, DIY
50 Strangest Buildings The world is full of beautiful strange and fantastic buildings that are the examples of amazing architecture. Architecture Photography brings this beauty to the world, and for this reason, architectural photography is as thrilling as it is heartwarming. In this roundup, we have compiled an amazing collection of some bizarre yet interesting buildings that are reflected through architectural photography. Enjoy! The UFO house in Sanjhih The Device to Root Out Evil Krzywy Dom Dom postawiony na glowie Anomaly Stata Center Container City 2, Leamouth, London Strong Children’s Museum The Ufo House Dancing House Blur Building Frank O. Un museo del futuro Stone house Library Parking Garage United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel Wonderworks – Pigeon Forge, TN Dan and the house View of the Luxor from The Strip Updside Down Building: City Hall, Tempe AZ Solar Furnace at Odeillo Font-Romeu, France Cube Houses Erwin Wurm: House attack Chapel-in-the-Rock Atomium Expo Zaragoza 2008, Pabellón de Aragón Eden Le Futuroscope
A Modern Dining Room Makeover - On the Cheap! This lilac-hued dining room was lacking personality and a defined style, but with a few key furniture swaps and a bucket of paint, it's now a perfect reflection of the homeowner's modern taste! The homeowner, a twenty-something PR rep, blogger, and design junky named Robin, desperately wanted a dining room that would reflect her eclectic-modern style but still fall within her limited budget. Utilizing sites like Etsy and 20x200 for affordable art left room for more expensive pieces, like the Strut Table from Blu Dot. Knock-off Panton chairs brought in additional style for a fraction of the price and IKEA saved the day with affordable, modern fixtures. I really love how everything came together, don't you? To see more of Robin's dining room transformation, check out her blog Twentysomething Test Dummies. Tagged : before and after, Makeover-Mondays, Inspiration, Dining room, modern, contemporary, budget, decorating