“Kha-nam refers to the typology of small resting shelters found during the agricultural season in Thailand,” the firm explains. “They’re built using basic construction methods, with local and easily sourced materials.”

As in most vernacular architecture around the world, form follows function in Thai agricultural buildings. They often feature stilts to protect the interiors from floodwaters and large, steeply sloping roofs to provide shelter from the sun and shed rain efficiently. The long, continuous roof of the original pigsty features a traditional overlapped design wherein a secondary roof panel hovers above a vented opening in the lower roof panel. This gives the spaces directly below the vents natural light and air flow.

YangNar Studio arranged the living room, kitchen, and bedroom beneath the vents to take advantage of these features, while the north side of the building hosts a terrace corridor between a workshop and a plant nursery. The family that commissioned this unique adaptive reuse project wanted to create a self-sufficient estate where they could raise plants and train dogs, so the garden has a large area for both purposes.

When choosing materials for the home, the architects retained much of the concrete, steel, and wood from the original pigsty for inclusion in the design, rearranging it for new purposes. Beneath the old roof, the living spaces are elevated, gazing at each other through large windows across a shared outdoor space.

“The materials of this house [have a] way of arranging old into new use with respect to a trace of time,” say the architects. “We can see a lot of buildings’ traces of old material clearly, but architects keep that with an understanding of language to keep this blend in the transition of living. Some parts of the house such as the kitchen’s wall used authentic wooden craftsmanship like ‘Fha-Lai,’ a flexible sliding wall from the northern part of Thailand, to consider an alternative way of ventilation. This authentic construction method is hard to find nowadays.”

“This might look like a simple wooden house found [commonly] in this region, but for us, this house is an architecture that was not made for the aesthetic of living only but was designed from an understanding of the practitioner’s view in forming construction methods to blend old and new things to get a special architectural experience for the owner,” say the architects.

The result feels airy and full of character; particular to this area of the world and its customs and traditions. The texture of the old corrugated roof contrasts beautifully with the new glass and refinished wood, and the covered swimming pool terrace is a tropical dream. You’d certainly never call this recycled home a pigsty now, would you?

The post YangNar Studio Converted a Pigsty into a Beautiful Tropical Home in Thailand first appeared on Dornob.

In cases like this, it can be helpful to bring in the old “what would aliens think” trope, attempting to remove all of our preconceptions to set our imaginations free. But it’s also worth remembering that scarcity drives innovation, and people without a lot of access to resources can be some of the craftiest among us.

For a new series called “The Misused,” Taiwanese designers Liang-Jung Chen and Shue-Yuan Yang found inspiration within their own communities. They discovered elders in the countryside of Taiwan creatively improvising daily necessities using objects that could commonly be found laying around the house, transforming old tires into hanging planters, using funnels as shades for hanging lamps, and making drying racks out of hangers and wire baskets.

The designers say their collection “aims to re-fulfill the potentials of everyday metal hardwares by misusing them with a twist of humor.” With each creative “misuse,” you can see how everyday objects have a lot more potential than we typically see in them. They may seem specialized, but if you try, you can probably find all sorts of ways to employ them in your home, too. As we collectively work to move beyond our era of disposability and pollution, finding new ways to creatively reuse objects that already exist will only grow more and more important, so it’s a good skill to pick up now.

For Chen and Yang, the experiment proved that even “misusing” an object can produce something that really and truly works. Their fun creations include a table mirror made with a magnetic door holder, a marble jewel box made with a door hinge, glass wind chimes made with an S-hook and turn buckle, a notebook made with grill mesh, a rattan stool made with hose clamps, glass hydroponic vases made with floor drains, a magazine rack made with a braided hose, plywood bookends made with corner brackets, a cork side table made with steel cable ties, and more.

The pair adds: “As product designers, we always prioritize the logical user experience of a product. Somehow, in countryside Taiwan, we are often awed by how local grandpas and grandmas improvise homewares with existing objects creatively. The grass-roots humor originated from their earlier frugal life due to the lack of resources. They had motivated us to leave the stereotype of ubiquitous metal hardwares behind, and to re-imagine their functions according to their clever structure.”

“Each long-existing hardware has been refined by people all over the world [so many times] that they have become the universal modules for assembly. It is this collective anonymity that makes the hardware design so impeccable. Keeping the philosophy of misusing in mind, we paired 11 industrial metal hardwares with different crafted materials. The outcome is a series of homewares repurposing various kinds of metal hardwares, including a door holder, floor drain, door hinge, hose clamp, [and] S hook.”

The post Objects Made of Misused Hardware Celebrate Creative Improvisation first appeared on Dornob.

Passive solar design is a no-brainer — yet the conventional way to deal with building facades that will be subjected to the hot, unrelenting sun is still just to insulate them, add some blinds, and plan to use a lot of air conditioning. It’s high time more architects and builders consider the ways the sun’s energy will affect a structure, and integrate some simple features that will make its interiors far more comfortable all year long.

Often low-tech and low-cost, passive solar techniques reduce energy costs and maintenance by tailoring designs to the climates around them. Orientation of the roof, windows, and facade with the position of the sun in mind, proper ventilation and insulation, shading, and thermal mass all make a big difference in interior temperatures.

The latter comes into play in a big (and beautiful) way in a new home by Manoj Patel Design Studio. Located in Gujarat, western India, the modern home uses clay roof tiles in an unexpected fashion, displaying them along the east facade in a pleasing pattern. What’s more, 40 percent of the tiles are reclaimed from the waste of other construction projects.

Clay is known for its thermal properties, retaining much of the energy it absorbs to cut down on the need for mechanical heating and cooling. It’s also highly durable, non-toxic, long lasting, and recyclable. Clay tiles on a sunny facade can absorb a lot of heat during the day, releasing it after dark when it’s cooler.

This isn’t the first time Manoj Patel Design Studio has experimented with clay roof tiles. Previously, the designers cut v-shaped clay tiles to create a wavy pattern on the facade of a house in Vadodara, India.

The architects add: “Here the ratio of 40 percent of waste clay tiles at free cost and 60 percent of new clay tiles at 10 INR per piece were collected, cut into six to eight one-inch wide parts, fixed in with [a] chemical solution against the available perpendicular surface of wall at 45 degrees, and crafted into a customized series for obtaining an everlasting beauty… Furthermore, the layering of th[ese] horizontal and vertical clay tiles is [based on] sun’s movement from south to west throughout the day as per Indian context, which keeps the area shaded by reduction in temperature.”

“An illusionist display is casted on the uniform surface of the wall through these angular patterns, which transform the solid form into more organic mass. Thus, this dwelling carved out its own character through contrasting red-colored earthy textures and volumetric masses, becoming a distinguishing dwelling among the surrounding street.”

In 2017, Manoj Patel Design Studio won a first place RTF Sustainability Award for its modular plantable screens made of clay tiles, which can be added to surfaces outside homes in places that receive a lot of solar exposure. Not only can you establish a vertical garden within these tiles, but you can also tuck lights into them for a look that’s even cooler after sunset.

The post Clay Tiles Bring Passive Heating to New House in India first appeared on Dornob.

Interior designers come and go like fashion trends, often because they’re the proverbial “one-trick pony” that develops a particular style and never veers too far from it. Plus, people not only have vastly different tastes for the inside of their homes, but their aesthetic preferences can also vary from room to room. Amber Interiors embraces this diversity and incorporates it into every project.

People Perception

Instead of evaluating a space based solely on its existing architecture and floor plans, Amber Interiors focuses on the people who occupy it. The studio’s concentration is residential design, but they also help plan and decorate boutique-style commercial spaces. Naturally, talking with clients about their unique wants and needs is the first step. This ensures that everyone is on the same page before consulting with architects and builders.

Amber Lewis, the founder and CEO of Amber Interiors, said in an interview, “Although I like to look at my designs as my pieces of art, they are ultimately meant to be lived in and enjoyed by my clients.”

Amber Interiors mission statement promises a commitment “to designing spaces that are a true reflection of the clients living in them. We turn houses into homes, and our California-inspired eclectic approach to design is ever-evolving and always inspired.”

The Basic Approach

The Amber Interiors team drafts up multiple floor plans of every room in the house to ensure each client is getting the best possible use of their space. Once a floor plan is chosen, the designers work with the clients to choose the large pieces of furniture for the room, followed by the smaller pieces. When everything is arranged to the customer’s liking, the accessorizing begins.

The Importance of Evolution

Lewis believes that evolution is key to successful and gratifying home decor. Her approach of starting with a blank canvas (white walls) and building on that with her clients’ personal tastes has gained her a faithful and continually-expanding following throughout the country. She’s also a big proponent of using found objects to put finishing touches on rooms and give them personalities that are entirely their own. Lewis insists that every space her company creates “feels cozy, eclectic, and unique.”

A Touch of Whimsy

Instead of identifying each project with client surnames, Lewis incorporates little comments on her customers and what makes each one special when naming her projects.

Her list includes “Client Queen Of The Girl Bosses,” “Client Cool As A Cucumber,” “Client Freakin Fabulous,” “Client Holla At La Jolla,” “Dr. Clients Clients,” “Client Rad Trad,” “Client Double Thumbs Up,” “Client Of The Midcentury,” “Client Welcome To LA We Hope You Stay,” “Client For Reals The Nicest People On The Planet,” “Client Oh Hi Ojai,” “Client Black Houses Are The Best Houses,” “Client Greater Than Great,” “Client West Coast Is The Best Coast,” “Client Tupac Meets Biggie To Decorate The Diggies,” “Client What’s The Story Spanish Glory,” and “Client Canyon Cool.”

Words Of Wisdom

If you aren’t currently flush enough to hire Amber Interiors to redo your space, take this sage advice from Lewis herself: “I always like to start with a neutral canvas when picking the main pieces in each room. For example, you would just never see me put a bright red sectional in a room — that’s a big piece and something that you have to live with for years to come. Don’t go crazy at first, you can definitely add character with additional accessories such as ottomans, pillows, rugs…”

The post Amber Interiors Fascinate with Their Eclectic Style first appeared on Dornob.

Owners of classic cars must suffer terribly if their vehicle becomes simply too rusted, dusted and dilapidated to survive any longer. But like treasures from a sinking ship,the Weld House is making an art out of recycling trash: converting old car parts into beautiful new furniture designs.

In some cases the rust and weather patterns on the metal are enough to make for an incredibly unique piece of custom-built furniture, while in other instances there is already some form of art present on the vehicle which becomes memorialized in the resulting work.

When polished and finished, one might never guess the origins of these amazing recycled furniture pieces – primarily tables – and suspect they were the result of some kind of intentional process designed to create more visual interest and variety on the scrap metal surfaces.

Of course, the results come in as many colors and shades as cars do so each reclaimed furniture piece tends to be quite different from the next. While the Weld House primarily specializes in simple tables they have also experimented with storage units, bed frames and other designs.

So who is behind all of this? Here’s more info:

“We are a small company specializing in handmade steel furniture. Our passion is delivering functional works of art that have a rich American history. By combining the colorful, reclaimed sheetmetal of 20+ year old American automobiles with the attention to detail and heavy gauge tubing from The Weld House, you end up with an heirloom quality piece of furniture that is truly one-of-a-kind.”

“Weld House produces modern furniture from both new and recycled metals. With designs ranging from industrial to minimalist, each piece of furniture is meticulously fabricated on very tight-tolerance and calibrated machinery.  Our equipment allows us to deliver a level of accuracy beyond that of most commercial welding shops.  Whether you choose one of our designs or we collaborate on one of yours, you can rest assured your piece of furniture will be made with the best materials and incredible attention to detail, even in areas not ever seen. “

The post Recycled Metal Furniture from Scrap Cars first appeared on Dornob.

In rural states like Tennessee, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio, property owners say their barns are disappearing little by little, with thieves often taking a truck full of planks at a time to avoid getting caught. Kentucky has been particularly hard-hit, with cases of theft reported in at least 13 counties. Sheriffs say some barns are stripped down to nothing but their frames and roofs.

The wood is nearly impossible to track and identify, though local lumber buyers are on “high alert” for sellers hawking wood matching certain descriptions of quantity, color, and age. Some buyers are even asking sellers to supply W-9 tax forms in an effort to ensure the legitimacy of their products.

Justin Nagler, owner of Kentucky Wisewood in Louisville, told Fox 17 Nashville that five years ago, nobody could have predicted just how much hunger for barn wood would grow. As influential figures like HGTV’s Chip and Joanna Gaines help popularize “farmhouse chic” and other rustic styles, demand for reclaimed barn wood often outstrips supply, making it even more expensive than new lumber.

“At first, folks just wanted the barn down, and they weren’t even trying to sell it,” Nagler says. “I’ve seen it change from ‘Come grab it,’ to ‘How much will you pay me to take this barn?'”

The theft of private property isn’t the only thing that has barn owners and other residents in the affected areas upset. It’s also the loss of the physical remnants of a cultural heritage that’s rapidly disappearing. Trends reflecting a nostalgia for old-fashioned subsistence farming, like farm-to-table restaurants and urban chickens, highlight the fact that small-scale farming has become economically unsustainable for many people throughout the United States.

Of course, demand for reclaimed wood is generally well-intentioned. Concerns about climate change and deforestation have encouraged many people to find new ways to reuse and recycle existing materials. After all, it seems like quite a waste to allow a desirable material to rot away in a field when it could become something new instead. But there’s a clear difference between gaining permission from a property owner to dismantle an old barn and stealing it outright.

If you love the look of barn wood and hope to use it for your own projects, look for reputable sellers to make sure you’re not accidentally buying stolen goods. You can also use lower-grade lumber, which is generally considered less desirable due to splits and other imperfections, and give it a faux weathered finish.

The post People are Stealing Entire Barns to Satisfy the Demand for Rustic Chic first appeared on Dornob.

The heart, soul and architectural vernacular of Mumbai infuses a grand new modern residence in the form of reclaimed antique doors and windows, many bearing the remains of old paint in vivid greens and blues, mounted to the facade. Otherwise presenting itself to the street as a concrete box in a neighborhood of homes that have been cobbled together from found materials, as Mumbai residents have been doing for hundreds of years, the house creates a transition between the traditional and the contemporary.

Inspired by collage, SPS+ Architects gathered beautiful, decorative shutters and doors, arranging them in an asymmetric yet harmonic composition, emphasizing geometric lines and shapes. The glass within many of them is stained, streaming through to the living room in pastel hues. Industrial metal pipes add visual interest to a wall, and century-old columns support the ceiling.

This mix of old and new is carried through to the interior, where cozy, classic furniture  contrasts with concrete and glossy white surfaces or melds with walls of traditional tiles and rattan appliqués. Old textile blocks, flooring made of Burma teak rafters rescued from a demolition project, and fabric waste known as ‘chindi’ are among the other reclaimed elements.

Brass inlays zig-zag across a polished white marble floor next to a wall of old windows facing a lush courtyard. Indoor and outdoor spaces fade into one another, with swimming pools, water features and intricately woven screens livening up virtually every corner. The spacious home was designed to accommodate four generations of the same family, and the many meandering living spaces inside lead to a stunning glass lookout on the roof, where a bed looks out onto the lights of the city.

“A language emerges that is both new but strangely familiar at the same time and that makes us rethink notions of beauty that we take for granted around us,” say the architects. “To make this mélange more ‘acceptable,’ it is encased in a ‘garb of modernity’ (Nehru). This concrete frame – in a rough aggregate finish outside and in a smooth form finish inside – wraps and connects all the spaces from back to front and across all three levels.”

About the architects

“SPS+ Architects was established in 1960 by Wendell Rossman, a forward-thinking architect who set our firm’s precedent of innovation through design. Rossman’s experimental concrete forms of the ’60s, such as St. Maria Goretti Church and Arizona State University’s Manzanita Hall, are now local landmarks. Since that time, our firm has designed what continue to be the largest wood-frame structures in the world (including the NAU Skydome) and developed the Turntable Divisible Auditorium (featured in the Chandler Center for the Arts), a design solution which has become widespread internationally. Our firm was an early proponent of 21st-Century Learning Environments, featured most recently in Compadre Academy and West-Mec. We recently finished designing Bluestone, a revolutionary, sustainable 200-unit community on the Navajo Nation centered on traditional Diné cultural values.”

The post Old and New Collide When Antique Doors are Added to a Concrete Home first appeared on Dornob.

Crystals seeded onto discarded French chandeliers and candelabras literally bloom like flowers over time, growing as if they’re alive. For his ‘Overgrown’ collection, artist Mark Sturkenboom accumulated unwanted objects and utterly transformed them, taking ‘trash to treasure’ to a whole new level. The chunky, irregular crystals are reminiscent of ice or salt and have a wild, uncontrollable appearance, mimicking what much of the Earth might look like if humans disappeared and it were left to its own devices.

That’s the idea behind the series, says Sturkenboom, who envisions “relics from a desolate flooded world.” After poring through junk shops and curbside toss-aways for antique brass chandeliers in Paris, the designer plated them in 14 karat gold and coated them in a crystal growing fluid he brewed himself, creating “the perfect conditions to set a hyperevolution in motion.”

The pieces in the Overgrown collection are presented in their finished state, but it would have been cool to see the whole process as the crystals developed, changing the shape of each object over time. They definitely look like they could have been pulled from the frozen sea a few thousand years from now, as the artist intended. They’re available via Sturkenboom’s website, ranging from 850-1200 euros.

More from the artist

“Our world is cluttered with stuff, how would the world look like a few thousand years from now? Overgrown is a series of chandeliers and candelabra that appear to be relics from that desolate flooded world where the influence of time is key. A theme that’s intertwined with Sturkenboom’s oeuvre. Atelier Mark Sturkenboom designed a fluid, based on minerals, which allows objects to grow crystals over a period of time.”

“He reclaimed antique French chandeliers and candelabra and created the perfect conditions to set a hyper-evolution in motion where every object grows out to be a unique piece, a modern interpretation of a crystal chandelier. These pieces are part of Sturkenboom’s ongoing fascination of the influence that hyper-deterioration has on modern life, glimpsing in the future. It is also possible for us to transform museum pieces, inheritance pieces or special objects to your liking.”

The post Old French Chandeliers Become Living Lights When Seeded with Crystals first appeared on Dornob.

Posable, customizable and controllable via mobile device, this little robot lamp will watch over you as you work, either spotlighting a select area or acting as an ambient nightlight. Made from reclaimed tractor headlights, The Lampster was designed by an architect and engineer duo for personal use before demand from friends and the public led them to start a Kickstarter campaign that blew past its original goal of $30,000 to well over a million.

The Lampster desk lamp features two LED light sources, one ambient RGB bulb and a clear one controlled by touch. The color and intensity of the light are adjustable, and you can bend the neck for targeted illumination, or just to make its superhero stance that much more convincing. It’s made for both indoor and outdoor use, and the two light sources can be combined for extra power.

Choose from seven standard colors, army-style distressing, an artsy splatter effect, duotone, logo and symbol accents, or come up with your own design that the creators will hand-paint onto the aluminum. There’s just a little bit of time left to pre-order one on Kickstarter to get a special deal, including free accessories like a detachable pen holder and cable organizer.

“It all started from some old headlight we had around the workshop. We wanted to give them some use, and make something funny to have around the house; not some dull ugly lamp. So after many sketches we came up with the Lampster\ Lightster! The shape is one of power and confidence, and being with colors and like some kind of a robot; makes it really fun to have around the house.”

“Because the head was originally designed as an auto head-light it provides a wide light when it’s needed – think of it as the low beam perfect for home use or a long reach more focused light – the high beam. Use this feature just by changing the angle of Lampster’s head.”

The post Lampster: Reclaimed Headlights to Robot Creatures first appeared on Dornob.

Says the designer, “Most trash containers have an indentation on one end to allow the bod to be winched onto a flatbed truck. Instead of causing a design problem, the indentation presented an opportunity. By building a rectangular shelf over the indentation, the container provided swimmers with a place to conveniently lower themselves into the 5-foot-deep water, making a ladder unnecessary.”

About Stefan Beese

“Stefan Beese is a native German award winning creative consultant, designer and producer. He is the owner of beesign – Production Design , a production design company dedicated to the exploration of new innovations in design and production, specializing in the architecture of entertainment. Since 1995 Beese has done production design & creative direction for feature films, TV, commercials, exhibitions, and sets for stage, screen, and live events. In 1999, after completing studies in architecture at the University, Kiel and Production Design at the University of Design and Media in Hanover, Germany, Stefan moved to Los Angeles and founded beesign-production design. While in LA, Beese collaborated with the architecture firm Graft on numerous projects.”

The post Dumpster Diving: DIY Pool Made From a Reclaimed Waste Container first appeared on Dornob.

An old industrial building in Ghent with massive shed roofs has been transformed into a modern residence that opens completely to the fresh air in pleasant weather. The converted warehouse by NU architectuuratelier of Belgium takes advantage of an ideal location perched atop historic buildings for a space that feels comfortable and private, but retains the character of its former life.

Upon passing through the gate, visitors enter a workshop space covered with the original shed roof of the warehouse, functioning as a park and play area as well as a space to build and create. Three shipping containers are set up within this space; one is used for storage while the other two are stacked to create a ‘bed and breakfast’  for guests. These two containers don’t just add extra space, they also stabilize the fragile old structure’s front facade.

The house itself is a volume conceived as a ‘transparent filter’ between the workshop space and an additional garden that’s open to the sky. When it’s nice out, the owners can open all of the exterior walls of the home to join the interior spaces with the exterior. Translucent green plastic canopies shade the garden area from the southern sun and link the sleeping spaces directly to the garden.

More from the architects

“Renovation of a forge to single family home with guest room, studio and gardens. On a unique location in the city of Ghent a single-family is realized within the walls of an old industrial building. The old brick forge and carpentry became the scene for the house as scaled room. Some shed roofs are retained, others are removed. Similarly, pieces of the concrete flooring are retained or removed. The house, a wood and steel framing with rational structure and readable use of material, cuts the plot in half. The result is a south facing, bar shaped volume which absorbs the confrontation between two complementary outdoor spaces: the walled garden and the workshop. If one goes through the gate, one enters a first room, a workshop space covered with the original shed roof.”

“This open space is both a park and play area for the residents and a workplace. In that room three containers are strategically set up. Out of economic necessity, these compact prefabricated steel structures are used as storage and entry perpendicular to the house, and as ‘Bed&Breakfast’, stacked above the entrance porch. This ‘B&B’ is created by two containers internally linked to become a very vertical residence. At the same time they are used to stabilize the fragile old and by heritage institutions protected front facade.The second outdoor space is formed by an enclosed rear garden, bounded by a space under a maintained shed roof. This space looks back at the house. The feeling, of the room as a shed without a roof, is made permanent at any point of the plot.”

The post Converted Warehouse Home Opens to the Sky in Summer first appeared on Dornob.

A tiny slice of land on a busy Tokyo street corner has now become the setting for an office and gallery housed inside two matte black shipping containers. Tomokazu Hayawaka Architects split one 40-foot container in two and set the other on top to create an irregular composition that enables three separate spaces as well as a small courtyard filled with plants and seating.

Sliding glass and hatch doors flood the interiors of the gallery spaces with light, which are lined with wood inside due to Japanese building regulations. The third shipping container, on the second floor, is just large enough for a conference table.

Steel cable bracing gives the containers extra structural support to protect against earthquake damage. The stark black of the exterior contrasts with the bright white of the display space inside.

The new shipping container structure will become a hub for art and design in the neighborhood, which is the scene for a blossoming art culture.

“This site is located at Torigoe which is between Asakusa and Akihabara. Here is the old downtown area; there are many small factories for like leather product, paper craft and ornament. Client wants his small office and his wife is going to operate small gallery in this area.”

“We imagined the second-hand containers be put on this area, Thinking to worn-out container would be fitted to these small factories. 40ft (12m) marine container has one hatch on the gable side and normally picked up from outside. If be able to open the hatch from inside, inside activities will connect to downtown. We have proposed open building that information can be transmitted from inside.”

“We carefully planned the direction of hatches, cut two containers and stacked it. ISO (International Organization for Standardization) marine containers that circulate widely in the world are not allowed to be used as the main structure; because Japanese Building Standards Act requires the JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) materials for structure.”

The post Tokyo Stack: Two Shipping Containers Create Corner Office first appeared on Dornob.

A section of San Francisco’s disused, half-demolished Bay Bridge could be recycled into a multipurpose structure called the Bay Bridge House, functioning as both a museum and an apartment rentable through AirBNB. The bridge, which has one of the largest spans in the world, links the city to Oakland; earthquake damage and other safety concerns led to the replacement of the eastern span in 2013.

The original Bay Bridge opened in 1936 and is on the National Register of Historic Places, but most of the pieces taken down during the three-year disassembly process will go to China as scrap material. A number of artists, architects and designers are gunning for pieces of the bridge, including local entrepreneur David Grieshaber, who dreamed up this project.

Bay Bridge House would use the 504 section of the old bridge to create a modern, self-sustaining eco housing and co-working space. The former pavement of the bridge would be used as the foundation, with the steel portions as the frame. The house would be placed in Oakland to preserve a little piece of the city’s history and keep it with the people. Will it ever really get built? Who knows – so far, the city hasn’t revealed any plans to release the materials for anything other than a new park planned for the east end of the new bridge.

“A piece of our history will be gone forever,” states the Bay Bridge House website. “Some of the bridge should remain behind for future generations to enjoy. There are plans for pieces in Gateway Park, maybe a pier with a view where the bridge once was and even talks of pieces in a museum. We think that something more creative should be done with some of the scrap. Let’s use a few small sections and create the most modern self-sustaining housing and eco multi-use space in the world.”

The post AirBNB Bridge: San Francisco’s Old Bay Recycled into Home first appeared on Dornob.

Two shipping containers are the foundation for a single-family home made almost entirely of reclaimed post-consumer materials. Imaginative reuse of waste products like aluminum soda cans, champagne corks and recycled glass have helped lower the Upcycle House’s carbon emissions by 86% compared to the average home.

Lendager Arkitekter of Denmark teamed up with Realdania Byg, a foundation that promotes innovation and good practice in architecture, to build a house that uses as many post-consumer waste materials as possible.

Textural reclaimed materials contrast with white surfaces on the interior, including cork tile floors, bath tiles made of recycled glass and wall panels consisting of wood chips that are by-products of various processes and pressed together without glue. Facade panels made of pressed and heat-treated post-consumer  granulated papers cover the exterior walls, along with recycled tin.

The house is a showcase of sustainable building principles with passive solar energy, natural ventilation, smart use of daylight and thermal mass in the form of a greenhouse clad in recycled bricks.

The post Upcycle House Made of Textural Post-Consumer Materials first appeared on Dornob.

How many times can molded cardboard pulp be reused? A lot, as it turns out, stretching this seemingly fragile and short-lived material through several lifetimes. Designer Victor Vetterlein created a series of lamps called ‘Trash Me’ that are made from reclaimed cardboard egg cartons, which typically use recycled materials in the first place.

Though they’re biodegradable, cardboard egg cartons can’t be recycled at many facilities, so they usually just end up in the trash. Vetterlein mashed up the cartons and smoothed the resulting pulp over a mold by hand, allowing it to dry for several days.

The result is a series of surprisingly sturdy lamps and shades. The desk lamp is made from four egg cartons and has a bag of birdseed inside the base to weigh it down. The rest of the components, including the bulb, cord and metal fasteners, can be reused.

The intent was to create a product that could be made from trash, and returned to the trash in short order, but not before getting some more use out of it.

The post Reclaimed Egg Cartons Get a Second Life as Lamps first appeared on Dornob.

When executed well, container architecture speaks for itself – the constituent containers become the anchors for the design around which the rest of the materials and spaces flow. This is one such exemplary structure.

In the Savannah Project from Price Street Projects, two reclaimed shipping containers are slightly offset to create two primary rooms, separated by a central glass structure with a clerestory roof letting in lots of daylight.

Punching a few holes in the containers allows for basic movement between spaces, views out and light in, but also take advantage of these pre-constructed boxes by leaving them largely more intact. The ends can also open to create alternate entry points or let in fresh air.

The whole project is set up on a wood deck, trimmed and joined by wood and glass, leaving the aged metal of the containers and their existing paint jobs to provide visual contrast to these newer and cleaner materials. The offset of the pair of containers creates nice partial exterior enclosures for decks.

It also allows the finished home to feel more spacious, freed from the constraints that a narrow shipping container can put on a conversion project. Many shipping container homes feel dark and cramped, but as you can see from the interior photos, there’s more to this one than meets the eye when you’re viewing it from outside. Artist Julio Costello, a printmaker, designed and built the home for his own use as a one-bedroom residence and studio.

About the architect: “Price Street Projects combines functional design with creativity to create sustainable, economical and innovative living and work environments. Based in Miami and Brooklyn, PSP specializes in building structures made from shipping containers, each unique to its site and use, blending art and architecture to explore the boundaries of the traditional construction/building model. PSP was founded in Savannah, Georgia in 1991 by artist/architect/designer, Julio Garcia.”

The post Simple Dwelling of Dual Shipping Containers first appeared on Dornob.