Today is Earth Day where you are bombarded with messages and products that are "sustainable." Instead of phoning it in one day a year, try to make even a little difference every day. If everyone tried even a little bit harder to "Live More with Less" we'd all reap the benefits.
Image via earthday.org
Interested in a wearing a stylish wood watch that also happens to replenish forests? Then check out the WeWood timepiece which will have a tree planted for each sold as part of a partnership between organizations, American Forests and Trees for the Future. More here.
Image via we-wood.us
Chicago architect Jeanne Gang was recently featured in an article on Bloomberg.com in which she contrasts her design philosophy vs. America's architectural icon, Frank Lloyd Wright. Read it here.
Image credit: Floto+Warner/Bloomberg Markets
Bloomberg Businessweek recently featured Chicago's own Jeanne Gang and the groundbreaking work being done by her Studio Gang in the city. Read it here.
Image via Bloomberg Businessweek
PrairieMod reader, Karlitos E., recently stumbled upon the work of Indian-born architect, Narendra Patel, and thought other PMod readers would enjoy learning more. Check out this link and this link to see and read more about this intriguing architect.
Image via soulscode.com
If you're still searching for the that perfect gift for the architecture lover on your list, then one I would highly suggest is the new book, Frank Lloyd Wright: Natural Design, Organic Architecture: Lessons for Building Green from an American Original written by Alan Hess and with photography by Alan Weintraub (published by Rizzoli). More after the jump...
Looking for a great Mod gift for the plant lover on your holiday list? Then be sure to check out these sweet Felt Pod planters from Flip and Tumble.
Made from 100% recycled material, packaged with a plastic liner to retain water, and just $14 each—these Mod Pods will make a truly unique gift. Get yours here.
Image via flipandtumble.com
The December 2012 issue of National Geographic magazine had an interesting item about plans by Canadian architect Michael Green's proposed 30 story wooden skyscraper for Vancouver.
Green plans on using giant panels of laminated wood (known as "mass timber") to help fire resistance. The advantage of wood over steel and concrete? The traditional building materials emit high levels of carbon, while wood stores carbon otherwise released through decay or burning.
It turns the notion of what a tall building can be made of on its head and could lead to some fairly unique examples of Organic Architecture. Pick up an issue at the newsstands or cruise over to Green's website to learn more.
Image via PrairieMod
Bill S. sends a link to the Library of American Landscape History announcement of the online premiere of the first film in the series North America by Design, created in association with Hott Productions of Florentine Films.
Designing in the Prairie Spirit features internationally renowned landscape architect Darrel Morrison, who reflects on his childhood in Iowa and the impact of Jens Jensen, Aldo Leopold, and others on his career. Watch it here.
Image via florentinefilms.org
Sandie Petrzilka, from the Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, IL, sent word of an upcoming lecture by Tom Bassett-Dilley where he will talk about
passive concepts in new construction and older home retrofits. Get details here.
Image via olmstedsociety.org
Here's a link to a story about the "greening" of the Barry Byrne-designed 1934 International Style home he originally created for client Oscar Levant in Westport, CT.
While I'm all for being ecologically conscious and the house that sat vacant for 3 years was saved, it seems a shame the end result looks like it lost most of the original historical character of the Byrne design.
It's technically a win, but I don't feel much like celebrating. Read more here.
Top photo via architizer.com/bottom photo via 06880danwoog.com
Taliesin-trained architect, Phillipe Horvath, will be watching the London Olympics closely. Not necessarily who medals, but how TCORE—his solar powered, recycled aluminum, 238-foot modular living unit on display in the Olympic Village pavilion occupied by France’s national utility—is received by the public and potential developers. Maybe he'll win gold with that aluminum! Read more here.
Image via phillipehorvath.wordpress.com
Thisweeknews.com reports on the first privately-funded LEED certified home, designed by architect Brian Seitz for his family, in the architecturally-significant neighborhood of Rush Creek in Ohio. Read more about it here.
Image via thisweeknews.com
The 141-year-old French Paper company has been cutting edge for a longtime (they were one of the first to sell stock online and they are 100% hydro powered). Now they've launched a brand-new website that showcases all of their beautiful and original American-made paper stock. Check it out here.
Image via French Paper
Looking for something cool to do during the heat of summer? Then check out Unity Temple Restoration Foundation's Break The Box programs—including a tour of Chicago's first self-sustaining vertical farm and a tour of Conservation of Sculpture & Objects Studio. Details here.
Image via UTRF
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation began an initiative last fall with Big Green Zero, a team of energy engineers and planners, called Energizing Taliesin West™. This launch is an unprecedented effort to increase the energy efficiency of Taliesin West while maintaining the architectural integrity of the campus. More after the jump...
We recently reported on the stunning William Drummond-designed River Forest Women's Club hitting the market. Well, here's a link to a post on chicagomag.com that showcases the "green" features and great interior photos for this home, as well as shots of the made-over Wright-designed Mary Adams House in Highland Park, in IL. See them here.
Image via chicagomag.com
There's plenty of buzz around the Energizing Taliesin West™ program that brings solar power and energy conservation programs to the 75-year-old architectural icon. Studio Lux has joined the program, serving in a multifaceted role. As stated in a recent PR release "We will introduce lighting technology that advances the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation's goals, improves the quality of light in areas of the facility, and most importantly embraces the original design intent while using efficient, sustainable technology." Read the entire statement here.
An extra bonus to this Energizing Taliesin West™ story came from PrairieMod reader, John Clouse, who sends a few photos from a recent trip to T-West of the construction site where the solar arrays will be installed. Thanks John!
Image copyright John Clouse
We received word that the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation’s sustainable energy project, Energizing Taliesin West, officially launched with First Solar’s ground-breaking construction of a 250 kW (AC) solar photovoltaic (PV) system at the Taliesin West campus in Scottsdale, Ariz. Read more after the jump...
Spring is just around the corner! To get all you gardners ready, here's a link to Treehugger.com on some cool DIY greenhouse projects that would make the perfect place to get your seedlings ready. See more here.
Image via treehugger.com
Over the weekend, we reported on the efforts to "green" Frank Lloyd Wright's Arizona home, Taliesin West, by adding thousands of solar panels, upgrading light bulbs and assessing the energy efficiency of the windows and roofs. We received more information about the initiative from Sean Malone, President & CEO, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation that he wanted to share with PrairieMod readers. More after the jump...
The Washington Post reports that Taliesin West in Scottsdale, AZ is taking some major steps to reduce their staggering $200,000 annual energy bill.Next month will see the addition of 4,000 solar panels, 5,000 new "greener" light bulbs and efforts to make the roof and windows of the iconic building more energy efficient. Read more here.
Image via franklloydwright.org/Judith Bromley
Here's a link to an article from the New York TImes website about the transitional period facing Arcosanti, the experimental eco-city in the Arizona desert designed and built by Paolo Soleri. Read more here.
Image via the NYT
According to a recent post on the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy's Wright Chat discussion board, the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Boulter House (1956) in Cincinnati, OH is seeking LEED Certification and will be hosting two events associated with that endeavor. Learn more here.
Boulter House illustration and 3D-model by Brayden McLaughlin and Greg Algie
Karlitos E. sent a link to a fascinating house design by David Hertz Architects, Inc. that is constructed with components and pieces of a Boeing 747-200 aircraft. Dubbed the "Wing House", it not only looks sleek but it's a cutting edge example of sustainable architecture. Read and see more here.
Image via studioea.com
With the tough time honeybees have faced lately, it seems that the busy city might be the future for the busy bee. Read the buzz at Treehugger.com about the urban future that might just save our important insect friend.
Image via treehugger.com
Green Builder Media, North America’s leading media company focused on sustainable living, recently announced the winners of its 4th Annual Green Builder Home of the Year Awards. With entries from across the nation, the judges chose ten outstanding projects displaying the best and most cutting-edge green residential building.
This year’s winning entries include designs that range from small and simple to super-efficient luxury proving that building sustainably can be done on any budget. Image Design, LLC was proud to be one of the winners of this years award for their "River Escape" project. This is the second time in the award's four year history that they have won the award (2009 GreenBuilder Home of the Year Award was for the "Vineyard" Project). Find out more here.
Image via Green Builder Media
Fastcodesign.com features a brief article about the newly-opened Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit at the Phoenix Art Museum, and how Wright's merger of architecture and its site was "green" before it was trendy. Read it here.
Image via fastcodesign.com
I came across Whether Bags a few weekends ago at Chicago's Randolph Street Antique Market and thought they looked simple, Mod and well-crafted. Turns out that what's especially great about the bags is that they are constructed from sustainable materials and each one is crafted locally in Chicago, IL (with all of the materials sourced and purchased within the USA). Check out more info here and shop online here.
Image via whetherbags.myshopify.com
Scott T. finds and shares this unique Usonian-esque home for sale in Long Eddy, NY that sports a beautiful "meadow" roof. See more images and photos here.
Image via realtor.com
A big event coming to Chicago the weekend of Oct. 15 & 16. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is hosting the inaugural openhousechicago 2011, a free public event that takes guests behind the scenes of over 100 of the city’s greatest spaces and places and illuminates areas that are normally open only “by invitation.”
Among the 100+ sites, OHC2011 will offer a special “green trail” that will feature various innovative green sites throughout the city. Highlights include Uncommon Ground, a restaurant and music venue that serves produce grown in its own organic rooftop farm, and Christy Webber Landscape Designs, known for their impressive plantings in Millennium Park. Both sites are LEED Platinum buildings. Get all the details for this exciting event here.
Image via caf.architecture.org
World Water Week, which highlights the issues surrounding our most precious natural global resource, is happening in Stockholm, Sweden August 21-27, 2011. In order to help raise awareness, there was recently a "Water is Life" poster competition that called students and young artists to action through artistic interpretation. The posters are now part of a traveling exhibition currently stopped at Duravit's own headquarters in the Black Forest of Germany, where it will remain until September 10th. See and learn more about the posters after the jump...
Unity Temple Restoration Foundation is planning a special in-depth & behind-the-scenes tour of the tunnels beneath Unity Temple and how the proposed geothremal HVAC system will work. More info after the jump...
With all the challenges facing this country, stirring the pot over energy efficient standards for light bulbs seems pretty low on the list. However, the phasing out of traditional incandescent bulbs controversy has been a heated topic recently. Luckily, Gregory Karp of the Chicago Tribune sheds some light on some of the complaints and mis-information dimming the issue. Read it here.
Image via sustainableken.com
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation is working with Big Green Zero, a team of energy engineers and planners, to launch Energizing Taliesin West™, a pioneering integration of sustainable energy and sustainable architecture. The Energizing Taliesin West™ program will both transform Taliesin West into a sustainable energy laboratory and advance the Frank Lloyd Wright legacy of sustainable architecture as the property celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2012. Read more after the jump...
Mark Hertzberg sends a link to an article discussing the recent awarding of Gold LEED certification to SC Johnson's Fortaleza Hall, designed by Foster + Partners. Read more here.
Iamge via worldarchitecturenews.com
The next time you send something via snail mail (and admit it, in this technologically wonderous age, it's a treat to occasionally get hand-written communication), consider using the new Go Green stamps for postage. The US Postal Service recently issued the series "to raise awareness of simple actions each of us can take to conserve natural resources and promote the health of our environment." We couldn't agree more with their message!
Image copyright US Postal Service
Past meets future as the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago unveils its 2011 Smart Home: Green + Wired on Earth Day, April 22, 2011 and runs through Jan. 8, 2012. This year’s exhibit has a completely new look with the help of two new partners—Chicago interior furnishing store Scout and technology blog Gizmodo. Catch all the details here.
Image via MSIChicago website
Today is Earth Day, a time to reflect on our home planet and how to be better stewards of it. In an effort not to be gloom and doom about environmentalism, here's a link to a recent NOVA special called "Power Surge" which discusses the ways our own creativity and technology could help save us from ourselves. See it here.
Image via PBS.org
Here's a link to an article about restoration architect, John Eifler's amazing work saving the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Ross House in Glencoe, IL. The house had extensive damage due to burst pipes and it was a potential tear down. John not only saved it, he designed energy and water-saving aspects into the restoration to make the house 'better than new." Read it here.
Image by Allison Williams
Two of the nation's top 10 green buildings are in Wisconsin. One is close to a Wright building (the OS House in Racine) and the other is connected to a Wright building (the new addition to Wright's First Unitarian Society Meeting House in Madison). Read more about it here.
Image via jsonline.com
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