The BlobWall is an interesting alternative to traditionaly building materials. Each "blob" is made of lightweight recyclable plastic and can be mass produced.

Densely urban environments have the runoff problems due to non-porous pavement--but there is a solution with something called pervious pavement, which actually allows the water to pass through at a very fast rate. If you are laying a new driveway or sidewalks on your property, this could be a good solution.

[posted by kris]

Not only can using cellulose insulation instead of the old pink stuff be better for your health and the environment, but it can actually be better for your wallet as well.

[posted by kris]

Audrey over at the Dwell Blog wrote a short article about green roofs that's worth a look. Installation is not as simple as I'm sure we'd all like to believe, but when done right, green roofs can have important economic benefits that add up into one smart investment.

When looking through some of the companies offering green roof systems, there was some impressive photos of Green Wall Panels by G-SKY that had me imagining my second floor patio walls completely covered in greenery. Might be just the thing for those of us who can't quite commit (or afford) to redo our roofs yet, but still want to scratch that itch of 'green-ing' our home a little bit more. Pricing depends on plant selections, wall type, and overall size.

There's also ELT Living Walls (not shown), which are a bit more accessible (and affordable, starting at $189.00).

(photo on upper left [via Dwell Blog]

[posted by katie]

If you haven't heard of planetreuse.com, it's worth checking out.

"Planet Reuse is the world's first website that connects buyers and seller of reused and reclaimed construction materials and equipment from around the world and allows them to purchase products online."

[posted by katie]

I don't know anything about this home other than it's super modern and simple. Especially interesting to see the assembly/building photos...and take a look at the staircase- it's one whole unit (you can see it in the pre-paint stage in the assembly photos).

[via notcot]

f [posted by katie]

I recently added some glass mosaic tiles to my kitchen back splash, and the slight reflection of the small squares add such a nice touch. Something to keep in mind if you're itching to update your own kitchen or bath...

Shown on right: Diamond Tech Glass Tiles - Stained Glass 2" Glass Tiles in Bright Green Luminous Non-Mesh Mounted Sheets
"These Glass tiles give a luminescent quality to any bathroom or kitchen installation. These tiles are great for walls, backsplashes and pools."

- Sheet backing: Clear Plastic Front mount
- Sheet size: 12" x 12"
- Tile size: 2" x 2"

[photo on left via dominomag.com]

[posted by katei]

While this cotton insulation costs twice as much as regular fiberglass insulation, there's something to be said for being able to install it with your bare hands (there's been more than enough times where just being in the proximity of fiberglass insulation will make me itch, so I'd be willing to pay a little more for comfort), not to mention all the environmental benefits/credentials.

"Made from cotton fibers recovered from blue jean and other textile manufacturers, UltraTouch insulation offers excellent thermal and acoustical performance. Because it doesn't contain fiberglass, it won’t cause itching or skin irritation during installation. It's formaldehyde- and VOC-free, so offgassing isn't an issue. The re-used cotton fibers are treated with an EPA-registered fungal inhibitor that offers excellent protection from mold, mildew, fungus and pests, as well as providing outstanding fire-resistance properties."

Size, R-13: 16x94, $94.41

[posted by katie]

Of course the fascination with smaller homes and get-aways continues, mostly due to architects creating cabins just like this. The first sentence quoted below leaves me terribly excited about the future.

"It is a one-room (190 square feet in size), self-contained box that was built by furniture craftsmen in four weeks in a Toronto parking lot and installed on site in 10 days. Three of the exterior walls are floor-to-ceiling glass and of those, two are encased in horizontal cedar-screens for privacy, shade and light effects inside. One of the cedar screens has a large opening providing a direct view of the sunset from the built-in bed. The rest of the screen has random smaller gaps to allow various vignettes of the surrounding nature and to create fantastic light patterns inside. The slats are positioned so that there is no direct view in from the outside, but at the same time, it the inside feels almost wall-less."

[image and quoted text via thecoolhunter]

[posted by katie]

Looking through Dezeen I came across the Sayama Flats by Schemata Architecture Office. Seeing these photos prompt the discussion of what's actually necessary to renovate. With the influx of new products, we're all probably guilty in some way or another of consumerism, itching to rip out the old-but-perfectly-functional sink so that the shiny new one can take its place.

I'll be the first to admit I constantly want to remake my own home, but there's something about these photos that pull charm from some decidedly not-cool kitchen units, and I suppose it's more about a space in flux and the possibilities that exist...whatever it is, it works for me. The super shiny polished floors don't hurt either. (And, what the heck is up that light fixture over the bed? I want to know who makes it and how much it is.)

"The architects, headed by Jo Nagasaka, partially stripped the flats back to their concrete shell, altering selected elements such as windows, doorways and partitions while leaving some parts such as the kitchen units untouched." -Dezeen

“In general, Japanese renovation projects are started from removing every old interior and then redesigned it. However, in this project we started to choose what is necessary and what is not from an existing interior space. Because of remaining some of the elements of the interior, we achieved to design a neutral space that motivates young people to create their own life-style.”-Nagasaka (via Dezeen)

[posted by katie]