Originally designed in the UK, these prefabricated Norwegian Spruce-clad structures come in four different models that fit anywhere from five to 14 people. These fully customizable mini-buildings can be connected to solar-power systems, and Mars Lab is set to sell them in the United States for the first time.
G-PODS are sleek prefabricated structures that can be placed just about anywhere, including rooftops and gardens. They are rain-resistant and the interiors are covered in the same materials used in yachts. Two of the four models produced by Farmers Cottage Lamps are self-rotating (so there shouldn’t be any kind of seasickness), one of the models can be turned into a bedroom for the minimalists among our readers, while the medium-sized pod can be assembled by two people in just five hours.
Mars Lab is now the official distributor of G-PODS in the United States. Interior cushions, flooring, seats and other details are customizable, and for those who are uncertain about installing their own pod, the company will send a trained installer to do the job. Most states won’t require a permit and people who move can easily disassemble their G-POD and take it with them, making this the ultimate low-footprint structure for modern nomads.
Recently-Discovered ‘Magic Mushrooms’ Can Eat Plastic
Students Jonathan Russell and Pria Anand have written in the journal ‘Applied and Environmental Microbiology’, that the enzyme the fungus uses to decompose plastic has been isolated.
Scientists hope to use the extracted chemical to solve the plastic trash and help bioremediation projects.
Amazing Turquoise Beach House Architecture in Mexico
Many beach houses built in various types of beach sense in its interior and exterior. It is suited with the atmosphere surrounded the house. This amazing turquoise beach house architecture which is located in Mexico, applied the thick round house architecture to warm the house from the windy beach environment. White sand, tropical grass, and coconut trees around the house are adding the perfect exterior of this amazing turquoise beach house architecture.
Open only a few days ago, Pirwi is a new store in Mexico City that features work by a group of 12 Mexican designers led by Emiliano Godoy (long-time feature at TreeHugger) and Alejandro Castro.
Both creators have been working together in a very interesting approach to sustainable design that’s not only about recycling, but about a well-thought analysis of industrial processes and clever pieces of good furniture that you’ll love. Take a walk in the store inside.
As A-Seis puts it, at Pirwi Godoy and Castro have developed a system of production in which workers are safe because pieces are cut by computers and furniture are finished with citrus fruits-based substances instead of toxic ones.
In it, products have low impact, are assembled with manual processes and easily to disassemble, and are prepared to be recycled or biodegradable at the end of their life —which sure will be long since they’re sleek and not too inclined to passing trends.
Looking for unconventional materials to build a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing home? Designed by studio James & Mau Arquitectura and built by Infiniski, the unusual looking Casa El Tiamblo was developed using four 40-feet shipping containers. But as you will certainly observe from the photos below, the residence has a highly intriguing appearance, ranking high in originality. The blue containers give the home a playful exterior and a dynamic one as well. The interiors are surprising to say the least. Subtle rustic decorative elements and wood accents are mixed with modern furniture units. The result?- an elegant home, filled with warmth and inspiring decors, one that does not betray the fact that it was constructed using shipping containers.
Acclaimed British artists Heather Ackroyd & Dan Harvey recently transformed a landmark church in South East London by completely covering its interior in a layer of living grass! Known as Dilston Grove, the church-cum-art-gallery in Southwark Park, now features a lush green interior that will continue to grow as time goes on.
Dilston Grove — formerly known as Clare College Mission Church — is an Italian-style Grade II Listed Building that dates back to 1900. In the 1960s it was converted into a series of artist studios, and now it’s one of South East London’s hidden art world gems. The gallery’s melancholic atmosphere has now been lifted up by Ackroyd & Harvey’s sprouting grass interiors.
The grassy wallpaper is the result of covering the ex-church’s interiors with seeds mixed in clay. The duo plastered the walls, balconies and ceilings with the mixture, and nature finished the work with the help of natural light and fresh water from a hose. The piece is perplexingly beautiful, creating a delicate contrast between growth and decay.
Sailing 60,000 kilometers—more than 37,000 miles—is an impressive feat even aboard modern luxury yachts. It’s downright astounding to do it without using a single drop of oil.
At 102-feet long and 49-feet wide, the €12.5 million MS Tûranor PlanetSolar is the largest solar-powered ship to sail the seven seas. It just became the first watercraft to circle the planet using nothing but the Sun’s energy.
Built by German boat-building firm, Knierim Yachtbau, the MS Tûranor PlanetSolar cost €12.5 million. Its deck is covered in 5,780 square feet of solar panels—38,000 individual photovoltaic cells—producing up to 120kW of electricity. That’s fed to six massive Li-Ion battery blocks which, in turn, power four electric engines.
These engines drive a pair of six-foot-wide, semi-submerged, counter-rotating carbon propellers—eliminating the need for a rudder and propelling the MS Tûranor at a respectable 14 knots. Granted, it can’t keep up with massive cargo ships like the Emma Maersk, but it also doesn’t burn 13 ounces of diesel fuel per revolution.
Auckland based firm Pacific Environment Architects is the creator of this impressive treehouse located near Warkworth in New Zealand. The Redwoods Treehouse is a striking pod-shaped structure built ten meters (33 feet) high in the tree tops. Originally commissioned as part of a marketing campaign for the Yellow Pages phone directory, the treehouse is now a permanent attraction for treetop diners.
The pod itself accommodates 30 guests, and access is provided by a 60-meter (197-ft) elevated tree-top walkway, built using redwood that was milled on site. The architectural component embodies a simple pod-like form that appears to be “organically” wrapped around the tree trunk. Anchor points at the top and the bottom structurally tie the pod in position, and the circular plan opens on the axis to accommodate the entrance and playful tree-top walkway.
Secluded among the peaceful New Zealand landscape, the Redwoods Treehouse offers a unique location for dinner parties and private functions. The treetop restaurant is available for daily hire, with a range of catering options to choose from.
