A Desk That's A Little Cubby Hole For Productivity Cubes are a bummer, but there is something nice, and strangely comforting, about having a niche of one’s own. Koloro, a desk and stool set by Japanese studio TORAFU ARCHITECTS, is like the tiniest little office on earth; small windows are revealed when the dedicated panels are swiveled around, becoming mini shelves for keeping knick-knacks handy. Clever cubbyholes are nothing new for TORAFU. Back in 2004, the team designed three unique guest rooms for Claska, a renovated hotel in Meguro, Tokyo, each featuring a series of wall insets that perfectly housed items like a hairdryer, television, and single jacket. Now, the two companies are teaming up again, this time for a solo exhibition of Koloro at Do, Claska’s shop and gallery. Catch Koloro at Claska through September 9th.
Fairy & Flower This image is copyright free and in the public domain anywhere that extends copyrights 70 years after death or at least 120 years after publication when the original illustrator is unknown. A pink fairy climbs into a white lily looking perhaps for a place to hide. This cover art was the back cover from a children's book. Artist: published by O.M. Image Appears In: Fairy's Album With Rhymes of Fairyland Date Image Published: 1884 Check out ourAbout Us page for more information on Copyright Durations. Another copyright free and public domain image brought to you by ReusableArt.com and our valued sponsors. <map name="admap61582" id="admap61582"><area href="
Open Culture Permaculture With its system of applied education, research and citizen- led design permaculture has grown a popular web of global networks and developed into a global social movement[citation needed]. The term permaculture was developed and coined by David Holmgren, then a graduate student at the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education's Department of Environmental Design, and Bill Mollison, senior lecturer in Environmental Psychology at University of Tasmania, in 1978. [1] The word permaculture originally referred to "permanent agriculture",[3] but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture", as it was understood that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system as inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka’s natural farming philosophy. It has many branches that include, but are not limited to, ecological design, ecological engineering, regenerative design, environmental design, and construction. History[edit] Several individuals revolutionized the branch of permaculture. In Australian P.A.
Xeriscaping Xeriscaping (less commonly known as xeroscape) is landscaping and gardening that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.[1] It is promoted in regions that do not have easily accessible, plentiful, or reliable supplies of fresh water, and is gaining acceptance in other areas as water becomes more limiting. Xeriscaping may be an alternative to various types of traditional gardening.[2] In 1981, a Denver water employee coined the term xeriscape, which is a portmanteau of xeros ξήρος (Greek for "dry") and landscaping, and xeriscape is used for this style of garden. Xeriscape is a registered trademark of the water department of Denver, Colorado.[3] In some areas, terms such as water-conserving landscapes, drought-tolerant landscaping, and smart scaping are used instead. Advantages[edit] Cacti are one of the low-water-consuming plants used in Xeriscaping. Disadvantages[edit] X-ratings[edit] Denver Water summary[edit] 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. See also[edit] References[edit]
Green roof Green roof of City Hall in Chicago, Illinois. A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Container gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots, are not generally considered to be true green roofs, although this is debated. Rooftop ponds are another form of green roofs which are used to treat greywater. The term green roof may also be used to indicate roofs that use some form of green technology, such as a cool roof, a roof with solar thermal collectors or photovoltaic panels. Environmental benefits[edit] A modern green roof (California Academy of Sciences). Green roofs are used to: Reduce heating (by adding mass and thermal resistance value) Green roofs also provide habitats for plants, insects, and animals that otherwise have limited natural space in cities.
Earth sheltering Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Earth sheltering has become relatively more popular in modern times, especially among environmentalists and advocates of passive solar and sustainable architecture. However, the practice has been around for nearly as long as humans have been constructing their own shelters. Definition[edit] The expression earth-sheltering is a generic term, with the general meaning: building design in which soil plays an integral part. A building can be described as earth-sheltered if its external envelope is in contact with a thermally significant volume of soil or substrate (where “thermally significant” means making a functional contribution to the thermal effectiveness of the building in question.) There may be said to be three forms of earth-sheltered building: earth-coveredearth-bundedsubterranean Background[edit]
Alternative natural materials History[edit] Alternative natural materials have existed for quite some time but often in very basic forms or only as ingredients to a particular material in the past. For example, earth used as a building material for walls of houses has existed for thousands of years. Much more recently, in the 1920s, the United States government promoted rammed earth as a fireproof construction method for building farmhouses.[1] Another more common example is adobe. Adobe homes are prominent in the southwestern U.S. and several Spanish-speaking countries.[2] Straw bale construction is a more modern concept, but there even exists evidence that straw was used to make homes in African prairies as far back as the Paleolithic times.[2] Alternative natural materials, specifically their applications, have only recently made their way into more common use. Materials[edit] Rock[edit] Rock is a great way to get away from traditional materials that are harmful to the environment. Straw[edit] Bamboo[edit] Adobe[edit]
Baubiologie Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. La baubiologie /baʊbjɔlɔʒi/ (de l'allemand bau, construction, et du grec bios et logos) est un néologisme désignant une discipline universitaire d'origine allemande. Il s'agit d'un enseignement global pour la conception et la réalisation de bâtiments et d'aménagements écologiques et biologiques en mettant en œuvre les connaissances et techniques adéquates. Il s'agit d'un prédécesseur de l'écoconstruction. Origine du terme[modifier | modifier le code] Baubiologie est un terme d'origine allemande, inventé en 1969 en Allemagne par le professeur Anton Schneider, fondateur de l'Institut de Baubiologie et d'Écologie de Neubeuern (en allemand : Institut für Baubiologie + Ökologie) ou IBN[1]. Objectif[modifier | modifier le code] La baubiologie vise à « bâtir et habiter sain ». Les règles de base de la baubiologie trouvent une application concrète dans la construction d'habitations, d'écoles, d'hôpitaux et de crèches.
Architecture écologique Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. La maison passive standard combine une variété de techniques et de technologies pour arriver à un usage très peu gourmand en énergie. L'architecture écologique (ou architecture durable) est un mode de conception et de réalisation ayant pour préoccupation de concevoir une architecture respectueuse de l'environnement et de l'écologie. Il existe de multiples facettes de l'architecture écologique, certaines s'intéressant surtout à la technologie, la gestion, ou d'autres privilégient la santé de l'homme, ou encore d'autres, plaçant le respect de la nature au centre de leurs préoccupations. On peut distinguer plusieurs « lignes directrices » : le choix des matériaux, naturels et respectueux de la santé de l'homme ;le choix de la disposition des pièces (par exemple) pour favoriser les économies d'énergie en réduisant les besoins énergétiques ;le choix des méthodes d'apports énergétiques ;le choix du cadre de vie offert ensuite à l'homme (jardin…).
Architecture bioclimatique Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. L'architecture bioclimatique est une discipline de l'architecture, l'art et le savoir-faire de tirer le meilleur parti des conditions d'un site et de son environnement, pour une architecture naturellement la plus confortable pour ses utilisateurs. Dans la conception d'une architecture dite bioclimatique, les conditions du site et de l'environnement (le climat et le microclimat, la géographie et la morphologie) ont une place prépondérante dans l'étude et la réalisation du projet d'architecture qui y est prévus. Une étude approfondie du site et de son environnement permet d'adapter l'architecture (le projet d'architecture) aux caractéristiques et particularités propres au lieu d'implantation, et permet d'en tirer le bénéfice des avantages et se prémunir des désavantages et contraintes. La conception bioclimatique d'un bâtiment est parfois appelée plus simplement "bioclimatisme". "solaire" orienté vers le captage de l'énergie solaire."
Mur Trombe Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. Le mur Trombe ou mur Trombe-Michel, qui a été conçu par le professeur Félix Trombe et l’architecte Jacques Michel, est un mur capteur. Il est composé d’un bloc de matière à forte inertie (béton, pierre, etc.) qui accumule le rayonnement solaire du jour et le restitue pendant la nuit. Devant cette paroi, on place une vitre pour créer un effet de serre pour chauffer l’air. On peut améliorer ce mur capteur, en augmentant l’absorption du mur stockeur (par exemple en le peignant en noir). À partir du concept de base, on peut utiliser des techniques de pointe comme des doubles vitrages à faible émission thermique pour augmenter le rendement du mur. Edward Morse breveta le concept en 1881 (US Patent 246626), mais il fut ignoré jusqu’en 1964. La casa solar de Mendoza en Argentine Exemple d’applications[modifier | modifier le code] Mur Trombe Il s'agit d'un mur sombre, appelé mur capteur, orienté le plus souvent en sud, derrière une vitre.
Energy tower (downdraft) Sharav Sluice Energy Tower An energy tower (also known as a downdraft energy tower because the air flows down the tower) is a tall (1,000 meters) wide (400 meters) hollow cylinder with a water spray system at the top. Pumps lift the water to the top of the tower and then spray the water inside the tower. Evaporation of water cools the hot, dry air hovering at the top. The cooled air, now denser than the outside warmer air, falls through the cylinder, spinning a turbine at the bottom. The turbine drives a generator which produces the electricity. The greater the temperature difference between the air and water, the greater the energy efficiency. A related approach is the solar updraft tower, which heats air in glass enclosures at ground level and sends the heated air up a tower driving turbines at the base. Large industrial consumers often locate near cheap sources of electricity.
Tour solaire (cheminée) Un article de Wikipédia, l'encyclopédie libre. Une tour solaire est une centrale à énergie renouvelable, construite de manière à canaliser l'air chauffé par le soleil afin d'actionner des turbines pour produire de l'électricité. L'ingénieur français Edgard Nazare (1914-1998) l'a conçue dans les années 1950 sous le terme « centrale aérothermique » ou « tour à vortex », et sous la forme d'une tour métallique (brevet de 1956 et 1964) confinant un cyclone artificiel par différence thermique dont la puissance était captée par des éoliennes encastrées en périphérie de la tour[1]. La première centrale a été construite par l'ingénieur allemand Jörg Schlaich en 1981. Schéma de principe De l'air est chauffé par effet de serre dans un vaste collecteur situé au niveau d'une plaine, et conduit par une cheminée qui débouche en altitude, permettant ainsi de tirer profit de la différence de température et de l'énergie potentielle de convection disponible. Un conduit à flanc de montagne