The Green M-velope

American architect and designer Michael Jantzen has created an intriguing art structure that transforms into a number of configurations dependent upon the needs, moods and inspiration of the visitors.

The Green M-velope is based on the aesthetics of the world famous M-house, which was exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and which was sold to an art collector for use on his estate.

“The M-velope is a small functional art structure designed to be a special place in which to escape from the normal reality of a predictable conventional space,” explains Jantzen. The architect hopes that the space will provide inspiration for people to think more creatively about their own passions in life.

Created from sustainably grown western red cedar wood, it is easy to transport as an 8ft (2.44m) cube, and has been painted a sage green color to help it blend and flow into the surrounding environmental landscape.

“The M-velope can be shipped to nearly any site or in multiple pre-fabricated pieces,” he explains. “It is then leveled, secured to the ground, and folded open into different potential configurations.

The slotted panels are hinged to the main frame and can be moved into many different positions, which in turn changes the shape of the M-velope. Several of the panels support benches that can accommodate up to fourteen people. If the M-velope is located in a remote area, a small solar panel can be added to the structure to power lights and small appliances.

When not in use, the structure can again be folded back into a fixed cube configuration in for safekeeping.

Sloan’s Innovative AQUS Grey Water Toilet System Recycles Your Sink Water

One of the oddest quirks in our homes is that we flush toilets with water good enough for drinking — and toilets consume on average 40% of a household’s water use. To address this issue Sloan Valve Company has been hard at work perfecting the AQUS water reclamation system, which takes your bathroom’s sink water and recycles it for flushing in your toilet. As a do-it-yourself project the kit takes about 1 hour to install and promises to save up to 6,000 gallons each year. Other than perhaps saving water in a bucket, the Aqus provides the simplest and most effective solution to reducing our water footprint — and it has garnered a lot of attention for its innovative design.

Grey water has been a colorful topic in sustainable building because of the significant impact our water use has on the environment. Now that clean water supplies are at more risk than once assumed, we need to make every drop count. It also takes a significant amount of energy to distribute and process drinking water and waste water through an aging system.

Sloan’s AQUS system is built around a box that rests inside the vanity and holds up to 5.5 gallons of reclaimed sink water. A small pump, activated by a water level sensor in the toilet tank, transfers the grey water to the toilet and fills the reservoir alongside the toilet’s water supply, off-setting 65% of the potable water needed per flush. If the Aqus is out of water, the toilet’s regular water supply fills the tank, and if the Aqus is full, excessive water goes through the normal drain. The system also requires maintenance only once a year, reducing the complexity and improving the safety of using grey water.

Origami-Like Glass Building, Spain

The striking glass exterior of this Health Department building in Bilbao, Spain isn’t just a pretty facade. Coll-Barreau Arquitectos conceptualized the folded facade in response to the city’s restrictive building code that requires stepped setbacks for all multistory buildings along its main streets. The result was this eye-catching hybrid that boosts the structure’s energy efficiency in addition to making it stand out on the boulevard. Its increased energy efficiency is afforded by the building’s double skin. There are two major benefits to the design: noise from the busy boulevard is noticeably reduced and solar heat gain is decreased via radiation reduction and a breathable wall system.

To further preserve energy, the building holds meetings in a daylit, two story atrium that opens to a roof deck.

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12 creative eco-friendly architectural designs (Part 2)

The sustainable development has already become one of the main themes all around the world. More and more people have started to change their lifestyles for us and even for our sons. To meet the requirements of sustainable development, we should construct more eco-friendly buildings and encourage eco-industry.

Following 12 giant environment-friendly architectural designs may inspire you.

       De-Centralized Sustainable Society

This architectural design is not only for creating a building or a city, but also a total redefinition of the whole society. The designers from CTRLZ architectures state that “We believe that architecture is not anymore about form and…function, but that it is about relations. The development of network systems shows us that the power resides in links and connections.”

Commerce, food production, ornamental gardens, housing, social public spaces and energy collection are all combined with a way of emphasizing the cooperation of residents.

      Subterranean Greenbelt Hotel

The subterranean design of Hersham Golf Club in Surrey by ReardonSmith Architects contains five-star lodging as well as a spa and golf facilities. To avoiding unnecessary exploitation of the Earth, the UK has established a green belt. This subterranean design meets the requirements of urban development.

Besides, this kind of design also can reduce the influence on traffic flow.

The hotel positions above-ground buildings in existing woodland so that nearby local residents maintain an unobstructed view of untouched landscape.

            Beijing’s "Creative Zone" Greenbelt

As a fast-developing metropolis, Beijing is suffering from the threat of air pollution, which calls for the creative green belt to alleviate this dilemma, in order to provide natural space for residents and prevent excessive exploitation.

UNStudio Architects won a competition to create this “creative zone”, which would become a showcase of experimental architecture.

This green belt provides locals opportunities to connect with nature while maintaining proximity to local conveniences like shops, restaurants and public transportation.

       Masdar Sustainable City

Could Masdar City is a concept of future modern metropolis. Every street, every shop, even every street lamp are sustainable. Designed by LAVA and located in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is a planned community built to be zero-waste and zero-carbon. This design could be a vision of the future.

With housing, commerce and recreation all situated around a vast plaza, this concept aims to be a model of sustainability for the rest of the world.

      Giant Energy-Generating Waterfall for Rio Olympics

Solar City Tower, designed by RAFAA Architecture & Design for the 2016 Rio Olympics, can utilize solar power to generate electricity in the day time and a pumped water storage system to create power after the sun goes down.

Its most remarkable point is the huge waterfall, which seems to come from the sky, just as “a symbol for the forces of nature”.

The tower could provide plenty of electricity for the Olympic Games and for the city. The magnificent waterfall only appears on special occasions.

             Mixed-Use EcoDistrict in Dijon

Imagine living in a diverse neighborhood packed with green features galore, from vertical gardens and green roofs to bicycle paths and eco-friendly playgrounds – all adjacent to the city center.

Such “ecodistricts” are in planning around the world, including this concept for Dijon, France by EXP Architects in cooperation with Studiomustard Architecture, Sempervirens Landscape Designers and Even Conseil. The design will serve as a model for similar future developments in the same city.

12 creative eco-friendly architectural designs (Part 1)

The sustainable development has already become one of the main themes all around the world. More and more people have started to change their lifestyles for us and even for our sons. To meet the requirements of sustainable development, we should construct more eco-friendly buildings and encourage eco-industry.

Following 12 giant environment-friendly architectural designs may inspire you.

1. Dubai's solar-powered vertical village

Amazing land Dubai has already constructed a series of architectural miracles, such as the latest Burj Dubai. Except for sand and oil, what kind of other resources does Dubai own? The answer is enough solar energy.

Graft Lab's Vertical Village makes full use of this plentiful resource with a surface that is angled specifically with solar energy collection.

The cluster of mixed-use buildings includes solar collectors on the south end that automatically pivot for maximum exposure.

2. Spain's bubble-shaped freshwater factory

Spain's bubble-shaped freshwater factory (Photo Source: CRIOnline.com)

This freshwater factory is comprised of a series of biospheres stacked on top of each other. From outside, it looks like soap bubbles. The glass domes of this eccentric tower play a vital role: filtering seawater into freshwater through mangrove trees, which draw in saltwater and perspire freshwater.

Once the mangroves release this precious substance, it evaporates and condenses into dew which collects in freshwater tanks.

3. One &Ortakoy, Istanbul

This multifunctional architectural complex, named "One &Ortakoy", is located in Istanbul of Turkey. Its curving, organic forms and rolling roofs are covered in greenery and flowers. The under-constructed complex consists of two buildings with natural stone facades. One is complex, the other is commercial.

4. Green-roofed high school, France

The Marcel Sembat high school in Sotteville-les-Rouen of France is situated next to a park and almost disappears into the trees and grass of its surroundings.

The extension projects include a restaurant, students' dormitories, staff housing and workshops. Their green, waved roof will provide natural heal insulation.

5. Water tower skyscraper brings freshwater to Sudan

Water tower skyscraper brings freshwater to Sudan (Photo Source: CRIOnline.com)

In the vast Sudanese desert, freshwater become one of the most precious resources. Ironically, deep under the dry, hot surface is the largest underground lake in the world, which would change residents' lives dramatically if it were tapped.

Polish architecture firm H3AR imagines a solution: Buildings are inspired by both water towers and the native baobab tree, which would access the water through underground pumps. These towers would contain a water treatment plant, a hospital, a school and a food storage center.

6. Massive rain-catching skyscraper

How could a building capture as much rain as possible? Polish architecture firm H3AR may offer an answer: Through a web of gutters covering the entire exterior, which would then direct the water to a processing plant for use in toilets, washing machines, cleaning and plant watering.

This huge "skin" is combined with a bowl-shaped rainwater collector on the roof for maximum rainwater catchment capabilities.

Top 15 Eco-Friendly Building Trends

Copper Roofs. Copper roofs and their alloys can last 100+ years and are recyclable.

Timber Framing. Timber framing, which generally includes the use of SIPS (superior insulating panels), uses less lumber and generates less waste.

Low-E Windows. Low-emittance windows block UV rays from entering a house, which heat its interior and fades its decorative contents.

Rainwater Holding Tanks. Rainwater runoff, captured in holding tanks via roofs and gutters, can feed a sprinkler system or may be filtered for indoor plumbing use.

LED Lighting. Light emitting diodes provide chemical free lighting and use 80% less energy than a standard incandescent bulb.

Green Toilets. Good for the environment and your budget, water-conserving toilets use 20 % less water per flush and can save 30 to 50% on your annual water bill.

Solar Orientation. Orientating new construction in the proper direction can curtail the amount of heat and cold that enters a home, thus reducing heating and cooling costs and energy consumption.

Induction Cook Tops. Coils of an induction cook top emit heat directly into the bottom of cookware, which results in less energy wasted in the cooking process.

Geothermal Heating and Cooling. Using the earth as a heat exchanger can cost twice as much as a traditional heating and cooling system in initial installation, but can also pay for itself in as little as five years.

Attic Heat Blocker. High-tech heat blockers made of aluminum foil that has been laminated onto oriented strand board, can reduce an attic’s temperature by 30 degrees, which translates into reduced energy consumption and costs.

Reclaimed Wood Counter Tops. Fast-growing plants such as bamboo as well as reclaimed wood are gaining popularity and new life as chic counter tops.

Nontoxic Paint. Shunning VOC’s (Volatile Organic Components), a turn to nontoxic paint keeps indoor air clean and keeps pollutants out of landfills.

Formaldehyde-free Insulation. Many building products, such as insulation, release chemicals with which they are made thus effecting indoor air quality.

Smart Irrigation Systems. Smart sprinkler systems are controlled via satellite that sends current weather conditions to the system’s ‘brain’, eliminating needless watering.

Green Furniture. Salvaged wood from structures slated for tear down is spared a trip to a landfill and is becoming material for furniture, extending its life and usefulness.