ONIGIRI HOUSE made entirely from cedar

This beautiful Onigiri House was created by NKS Architects in Oita, Japan. Constructed entirely out of locally-sourced cedar, the wood-paneled wonder features a gorgeous light-laden interior that celebrates clean, simple lines and an elegant, uncluttered floor plan. Modeled after the triangular shape of one of japan’s favorite delicacies, the project is the latest in NKS’ line of architecture that take its cues from the purity and precision of traditional Japanese food.

Created for an old couple, the Onigiri House was designed to maximize volume and limit cost while seamlessly integrating into its environs. It’s name stems from its structural reference to Onigiri, a Japanese snack made by forming rice into a triangular or oval shape and then wrapping it in nori.

The triangular tube is constructed entirely of cedar that was sustainably harvested from local sources. NKS Architects chose a type of cider wood that made the region famous for its application in shipbuilding, cutting down on the home’s carbon footprint by negating material transportation costs. The interior spaces are suffused with light and well ventilated thanks to large windows located at each end, and an elevated platform protects the home from the region’s occasional flooding.

Amazing Pupa Pavilion Made From Recycled Shipping Pallets and Cardboard

Waste becomes an opportunity in this pavilion commissioned for the London offices of Bloomberg Philanthropy. The undulating structure made entirely of recovered cardboard and shipping pallets was pieced together by Liam Hopkins of Lazarium. Dubbed Pupa, the project is part of a larger art commission, “Waste Not Want It”, which called for the reuse of refuse to create inspired pieces. Pupa not only repurposed tons of cardboard and wood, but it created a valuable meeting space that takes advantage of the acoustic properties of cardboard.

The cardboard came in damp bales so it had to be pulped and re-fabricated locally. Nearly four thousand triangular components were assembled by folding strips to make triangular frames and inserting with fill pieces. The cells were glued together using a parametric computational map. The result is a cavern like space, intimate and sparse except the long cardboard table running the length of the installation. Chairs made from 180 wooden pallets and 252 leather cut offs complete the space. The acoustic properties of the cardboard skin add function to the meeting space as well, although the glare of lights seems to be a bit off mark.

The materiality of the cardboard and softness of the overall shape is an inviting non-pretentious alcove. The form and mass of the newly created space plays off well in the dull white interior. The project was developed to inspire employees to rethink what they take for granted – a common theme it seems this past year. It is also interesting how the cardboard, known for its strength and ubiquity, can also be used for space making and sound control, upping the stakes of the capacity of the brown stuff.

Naturally Daylit Guangzhou South Railway Station is a Critical Stop in China’s High Speed Network

China is diligently working on the development of its high speed rail network, and one of the four most important stations is the Guangzhou South Railway Station. This strategically located station provides connectivity for the whole of the Pearl River Delta, which has a population of 120 million people - trains link all other major cities in the area in less than 30 minutes. The TFP Farrells-designed station maximizes daylighting to reduce its energy needs, and it was built to accommodate an increased flow of passengers in the future.

Inspired by modern airport layouts, TFP Farrells adopted a vertical organization strategy in order to maximize space and provide a clearer passenger flow. The departures concourse is on the top level, while the platforms are below on the middle level. Below that, on the ground floor is the arrivals hall, which provides easy access to other forms of transport including the five metro lines housed in the basement levels. With an expected 300,000 passengers by 2030, the station has to quickly and easily be able to direct and move a lot of people through its halls. Clear signage, wide open spaces and lots of bright light will aid in that endeavor.

The design team also worked to reduce the station’s environmental impact and this is most apparent in their use of natural daylighting, which reduces the electric load and improves the interior environment for the passenger. A central skylight spine running parallel with the tracks floods the concourse area with natural light, while the roof is made with ETFE and can be adjusted according to weather conditions. Parallel with the tracks area, a series of barrel vaulted roofs reminiscent of banana leaves allow more natural daylighting in on the sides. Only the concourse area is enclosed, which minimizes the need for air conditioned spaces. The ends of the tracks are open allowing natural ventilation to freely flow through the space and a system of photovoltaics generates power for the station.

The train station’s layout was also decided upon based on the fact that it is actually located in a sensitive wetlands area. Apparently, they couldn’t place the station anywhere else, but they attempted to minimize their impact by building vertically to reduce the footprint. Additionally, the ground floor serves as a pedestrian transit corridor to cross the tracks and connect both halves of the city. TFP Farrells collaborated with the Fourth Railway Survey and Design Institute and the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD) and completed the station in 2010.The local government expects that the station will vastly increase the use of public transport to a point where 80% of the journeys in the area will be made via public means, while only 20% will be via private car. And that perhaps is the greatest environmental strategy of them all.

Extraordinary 28 Storey Kowloon Office Tower in China Has a Bushy Greenery-Lined Carpark!

Kowloon Bay businesses are trying to leave behind their sullied manufacturing past with projects like this extraordinary 28 storey office tower on 18 Kowloon East. Designed by Aedas Architecture, the mixed-use development complete with office, retail, and parking space looks like any other shining tower except that its zigzagged carpark at the base of the building is covered in bushes!

We’re not 100% what other green features have been incorporated into this design, but give credence to Aedas for attempting to influence a greening trend in the Kowloon Bay area with this incredible project. The bushy carpark is not only aesthetically pleasing, but controls the air quality and absorbs carbon emissions. Ahh, we are already breathing easier seeing so much green. How about you?

CARDBOARD BRIDGE

You wouldn’t expect cardboard to be strong enough to build a bridge, but that’s exactly what ingenious architect Shigeru Ban decided to use to build a bridge across the Gardon River in his latest work of architectural innovation. You might be familiar with his previous work (his Curtain Wall House, Nomadic Museum, and Paper Church in particular), but the bridge, his latest work, proves that Shigeru Ban is truly a brilliant architectural mind in the world of green and context-sensitive design.

The bridge, located over the Gardon River in southern France, is made almost entirely out of cardboard tubes (281 to be exact), and is strong enough to carry 20 people at a time. The steps of the bridge are constructed from recycled paper and plastic. And how does it stand up, you may ask yourself? It turns out cardboard is surprisingly strong when engineered as precisely and creatively as Ban has designed it, but the foundations do get a little help from wooden boxes packed with sand.

The bridge also sits adjacent to an ancient Roman Bridge, creating an interesting juxtaposition. “It is a very interesting contrast, the Roman stone bridge and the paper bridge. Paper too can be permanent, can be strong and lasting. We need to get rid of these prejudices,” Ban said.

The Sliding House

The Sliding House, by dRMM Architecture, may look like a simple timber barn or shed, and you may not be impressed by it — until you discover that it contains a surprise within it. The design of this home is so unique that, well, there is no real actual architectural term to describe it. In fact, the best way to describe it is to say that the house slides!

You see, what appears to be house’s exterior walls and roof are actually a second skin that slides across a longitudinal axis to reveal a second facade. Sliding back and forth, the mobile exterior offers the house’s residents incredible flexibility with the look and behavior of the building. The lighting and mood of the interior spaces can be altered with the simple movement of the exterior. The building’s architectural trick also mean the heating and cooling loads of the house can be manipulated throughout the year.

The house was designed by London-based practice de Rijke Marsh Morgan for a client who desired a retirement home. The house is made up of three buildings arranged along a longitudinal axis, with a garage set perpendicularly, off to the side. A small patio was located in front.

Glass and red rubber work in unison with the timber of the roof/wall enclosure to create a pleasing and unassuming shape that resembles the barns and sheds of the rural countryside. The entire house sits on a concrete bed, which partially hides the surprising mechanism that allows the home to reveal a second facade.

How to Build an Eco-friendly House?

Eco-friendly house can save some money for the home owners and they do not have any negative impact on the environment.

How to build an eco-friendly house? 

There has been a considerable improvement in the construction of the buildings which has reduced the negative impact on the environment. The eco-friendly construction techniques have reduced energy usage by using sustainable building materials and employing alternative sources of the energy in the house. The innovative water management techniques have also led to conservation of water.

Energy-Efficient Design

Eco-friendly houses should be designed to minimise energy losses. The design of the house should consider environment and local climate conditions to make best possible use of solar energy. The house should be properly insulated to ensure energy efficiency and minimise energy loss. Painting the roof of the house white keep homes cool in summer by letting less heat in and warm in winter by not allowing more heat escape than other roofs. The efficient building design should also consider properly placed windows to allow ventilation in the house.

Sustainable Building Materials

Sustainable building material is the one which reduce the energy usage and fits harmoniously within the ecosystem. Recycled wood can be used for making tables, planter, studs and headboard. The recycled plastic can be used to make water tanks, pipes and pet bottles. Recycled denim can be used for the insulation of the walls. The eco-friendly building materials emit low level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), low embodied energy (the sum energy inputs used to make any product) and are easy to recycle.

Energy-Efficient Appliances

The home appliances used in the house such as air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators can save substantial amount of energy. The manufacturers had developed energy efficient appliances which use less electricity to help save some money for the consumers. The government agencies had certified these appliances to help consumer identify these products as energy savers such as Energy Star in America.

Alternative Source of Energy

The incorporation of alternative sources of energy can also contribute to the environment. Installing solar panels is very common these days. Using the sun to heat the water for domestic use and also for space heating and cooling can also reduce energy usage.

Water Management

Water management is often overlooked in an eco-friendly house project. The rain water should be collected in the rain barrels and water from the shower can be used in lawn. Low flow toilets should be installed and leaks should be fixed.

Benefits to Homeowners

Eco-friendly houses not only save money for the owners but also conserve energy and are environment friendly. As the materials are toxin free it leads to increased occupant health and also reduce maintenance costs.