RSS
 

Posts Tagged ‘Village’

So much for that idea: Swiss village lifts photography ban after story goes viral

03 Jun

A post shared by Bergün – Filisur (@berguen.filisur) on

Just days after ‘banning’ photography, the Swiss village of Bergüm has, not surprisingly, reversed course. In a bizarre video, the mayor of Bergüm states that ‘until the ban on photography is officially lifted, everyone with a camera will be given a friendly special permit.’

The video leaves little doubt that the whole thing was a PR stunt, with Mayor Peter Nicolay proclaiming ‘the beauty of our village has become world-famous thanks to our friendly photography ban.’ Judging by how quickly the story spread, the stunt worked exactly as planned.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
Comments Off on So much for that idea: Swiss village lifts photography ban after story goes viral

Posted in Uncategorized

 

Plastic Village: Tropical Housing Estate Built from 1MM Recycled Bottles

25 Oct

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

plastic-bottle-architecture

At a glance, it would be impossible to guess that the finished houses in Panama’s Plastic Bottle Village featured walls packed with recycled drinking containers. What started as a recycling initiative by a expat Canadian entrepreneur has become an architectural adventure that will ultimately reuse over a million plastic bottles.

plastic-bottle-finishing

Since 2012, tens of thousands of bottles have been brought to the growing town to make buildings. These are stacked in steel cages with stones to fill in gaps and provide rigidity. Cement plaster covers the structures inside and out, making them appear like solid concrete or finished stucco.

The bottles, meanwhile, provide insulation while allowing airflow, keeping interiors in the hot climate a full 17 degrees cooler than the ambient outdoors.

plastic-bottle-castle

Multiple bottle-based houses already constructed on nearly 100 acres of lush tropical jungle land purchased for the Plastic Bottle Village, which will eventually be home to over 100 such structures. Also in the works: a small public park, retail operation and yoga pavilion.

plastic-bottle-complete

The steel-framed structures provide a balance of strength and flexibility, helping them stand up and support roofs but also to resist earthquakes. The Plastic Bottle Village is about more than just one place, too: its founder is educating others about how to build with this cheap and ubiquitous material that many see simply as waste.

plastic-bottle-cage

caged-bottle-concrete

The project puts consumption in context: “Average humans can consume 15 or more drinks in plastic bottles a month. If you were born after 1978, and live until 80 years old, you will leave behind a minimum of 14,400 plastic bottles on this planet.”

“These bottles take hundreds of years to break down into tiny pieces of plastic, never to completely disappear. Most of the waste is consumed by fish and birds, which has shortened their lifespans greatly.”

plastic-bottle-wall

It also illustrates the potential offsets: “If you live in a two story plastic bottle house of 100 square meters or 1,000 square feet per floor, then your house will be built reusing 14,000 plastic bottles. These recycled bottles could neutralize the negative effect of your passage on this planet,  and move closer to leaving only your footprints.”

LEGO-Like Architecture: $ 5,000 Homes from Recycled Plastic Blocks

A company in Colombia is tackling plastic waste issues and affordable housing with a single ingenious solution: interlocking LEGO-like bricks that can be used to build houses for a few thousand …

5 Recycled Buildings Made from Bottles, Cans, Bales & Tires

(Check out our complete collection of 70 Works of Recycled Art and Design.)
Have you ever thought of recycling as a creative act? To recycle something doesn’t necessarily mean just hauling used …

Boxed Water is Better: Paper Packaging Beats Plastic Bottles

The brand tells you what it is in bold minimalist script: better, but more specifically, its packaging is better than the dominant plastic bottle alternative – a square peg for what product …

Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Plastic Village: Tropical Housing Estate Built from 1MM Recycled Bottles

Posted in Creativity

 

Hilltop Village: Mini Neighborhood Tops a Green-Walled Store

27 Jun

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

hilltop village 1

Fittingly enough for a city that’s all about sprawl, this hilltop village concept for Los Angeles combines residential and retail functions in a way that preserves the conventional house-and-yard format rather than stacking it all in a skyscraper. MAD Architects cover a retail building in vertical greenery to transform it into a hilly setting for a miniature neighborhood on its roof.

hilltop village 3

8600 Wilshire essentially distills the visual identity of Beverly Hills into a single development, clustering white living volumes with their own outdoor spaces atop high-end shops with exterior walls covered in succulents and vines. The complex includes three townhouses, five villas, two studios and eight condominiums, though from street level, you can only see the uppermost structures.

hilltop village 4

Made of white glass, the living volumes appear opaque from the street, but bear transparent facades facing an interior courtyard set on the roof of the single-story retail space. The green wall mimics both the city’s iconic hills and the tall privacy hedges seen around upscale houses, and replicating the established hierarchy found around the city: expense real estate above versus less-valuable property below. “In high-density cities, Modernist and Post-Modernist housing typically prioritizes functions and formats over human relationships to the environment,” say the architects. “For 8600 Wilshire, MAD considers the possibility of a new model for West Coast vernacular amid the sprawling density of Los Angeles. MAD purposes a harmonious architectural space of human experience by placing residents in the spiritual landscape of nature.”

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Lawless Metropolis: Life in Kowloon Walled City, Then & Now

The demolished Kowloon Walled City in Hong Kong was once a teeming, crime-ridden 6.5-acre metropolis packed with 50,000 people; now it’s a peaceful park.
Click Here to Read More »»


Gone Green: Vacant 50 Years, Chinese Village Conquered by Ivy

Nestled in the hills on a remote island at the mouth of the Yangtze River in China and full of rich foliage, one could imagine this small fishing hamlet to …
Click Here to Read More »»


Green-Roofed Shelter is Urban Curbside Lounge for Paris

This ‘rest station’ for a busy Paris street offers chairs with desks and electrical outlets, a touch-screen information center, free wi-fi and a green roof.
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Hilltop Village: Mini Neighborhood Tops a Green-Walled Store

Posted in Creativity

 

Gone Green: Vacant 50 Years, Chinese Village Conquered by Ivy

21 Jun

[ By WebUrbanist in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

green town

Nestled in the hills on a remote island at the mouth of the Yangtze River in China and full of rich foliage, one could imagine this small fishing hamlet to be an idyllic place, at least for nature if not for people – it has been abandoned by humans now for nearly half a century.

green town in mist

green platform balcony stairs

Ivy has become the dominant and defining feature of both the natural and built environments of this place, slowly but surely creeping over sidewalks and streets, up walls and roofs, and ultimately taking over the town.

green town deserted buildings

In some cases, collapsed portions of structures have made it all the more easy for the greenery to work its way over the sides of buildings and into their empty floors.

green overgrown alleyway path

Set on Gouqi Island, one of hundreds of small islands in the area, the Houtou Wan Village was a victim of changing times and circumstances, a combination of urbanization and depleted fish populations that drove its inhabitants to seek work elsewhere.

green window glass

Today, it is enjoyed only by visitors who seek it out explicitly, like photographer Jane Qing, chartering boats to travel to its shores and document the decay as well as the rebirth the place is now home to in its second life.

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Pirated Architecture: Chinese Copies of Famous Buildings

First it was a small town in Austria, copied in exacting detail and replicated in China. Now: a complex by a famous architect that may be done before the …
Click Here to Read More »»


Boneyard Studios: Vacant Lot Hosts New Micro-Home Village

In a bold bid to change urban landscapes, a series of tiny home builders and enthusiasts has come together to turn empty space into a microcosmic example of …
Click Here to Read More »»


Surreal Estate: China’s Village of Empty Villas

In the Year of the Dragon, white elephants abound as an eerie village of empty and abandoned villas epitomizes China’s ever-expanding real estate bubble.
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Gone Green: Vacant 50 Years, Chinese Village Conquered by Ivy

Posted in Creativity

 

Mobile Village: Seattle Teens Build Micro-Homes for Homeless

13 May

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

seattle shack designs

Serving a nomadic homeless shanty town known as Nickelsville, the Impossible City project involves a group of a teenagers who are creating not just tiny houses but also solar power stations, composting latrines and a community kitchen.

seattle homeless build

seattle homeless camp help

Nickelsville moves from place to place, going where land is available since its residents cannot afford to pay rents. Slowly but surely, thanks to this project, its rickety collection of tarps, tents and donated Home Depot shacks are being replaced by modest but functional shelters.

homes for homeless

seattle homeless home

The challenge is non-trivial – the structures need to be somewhat easy to disassemble and move while also meeting city code and basic safety standards. Backing the youth builders is Sawhorse Revolution, an area non-profit that teaches kids how to use tools and build structures.

seattle homeless project

seattle homeless shelter

While many institutions, organizations and governments take an all-or-nothing approach, trying and generally failing to get the homeless off the streets, this project attempts to take on the actual situation on the ground, bridging the gap between sleeping on the streets and having a permanent residence.

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Parasite Tent Pods: Vertical Urban Wall Homes for Homeless

In cities around the world, people are feeling the effects of a weak global economy and homeless populations continue to rise. Taking shelter in cardboard …
Click Here to Read More »»


Boneyard Studios: Vacant Lot Hosts New Micro-Home Village

In a bold bid to change urban landscapes, a series of tiny home builders and enthusiasts has come together to turn empty space into a microcosmic example of …
Click Here to Read More »»


Modular Retrofit: Bamboo Micro-Homes in Deserted Factories

A pragmatic twist on visionary plug-and-play architecture, this project combines a cheap and fast-growing material with existing (abandoned) infrastructure to …
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Mobile Village: Seattle Teens Build Micro-Homes for Homeless

Posted in Creativity

 

SCADpads: Parking Garage Turned Tiny House Village

22 Jul

[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

SCADpads tiny house village 1

Just how livable can a 135-square-foot micro-house really be? That’s what an interdisciplinary group of students, faculty and alumni at Savannah College of Art and Design set out to learn with ‘SCADpad,’ an experiment that has turned a parking garage into a village of tiny houses.

SCADpads tiny house village 2

SCADpads tiny house village 3

The larger question that the team wanted to answer was, how can design change the world? SCADpad is an example of transforming an uninhabitable space into sustainable and efficient housing using the millions of parking spaces in the United States that are typically vacant at any given time.

SCADpads tiny house village 4

SCADpads tiny house village 5

SCADpads tiny house village 6

Each of the three SCADpad units has its own theme and visual identity reflecting the college’s global footprint, with a common green space fostering a sense of community. It took 10 months to design and develop the project, from its architectural footprint down to the remote home controls.

SCADpads tiny house village 7

SCADpads tiny house village 8

Artists from SCAD helped design and decorate the interiors, including large-scale paintings, making these tiny houses visually dazzling, but it’s clear that they’re pretty practical, as well.

SCADpads tiny house village 9

SCADpads tiny house village 10

Students, faculty and special guests lived in the SCADpads from April through June of 2014, documenting the experience on Instagram.

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Baroque Parking Garage Challenges Blind Civic Historicism

Challenged with designing something to fit a historic city-center context in “baroque, classic, neo-classical, romantic and neo-romantic style” is …
Click Here to Read More »»


Can a Parking Garage be Sexy? Miami’s 1111 Lincoln Road

1111 Lincoln Road isn’t just a parking garage. It’s a destination in itself, serving as a desirable events space for weddings, photo shoots, concerts and more.
Click Here to Read More »»


Crowded House: 5 Silly Small Homes & Cheap Tiny Houses

As the population expands and more of us look for affordable and available housing, architects and designers are making the move toward cheaper, greener, …
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By Steph in Architecture & Cities & Urbanism. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on SCADpads: Parking Garage Turned Tiny House Village

Posted in Creativity

 

No Exit: Dementia Village Dwellers Live in Alternate Reality

19 Feb

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

dimentia second story view

It sounds like the dystopian plot of Dark City or The Truman Show, with free-seeming residents unaware they are actually inhabitants of a closed community they cannot leave and  in which they are under constant surveillance … but that is only one side of the story.

dimensia overall site planning

dimentia public outdoor space

A total of 150 Alzheimer’s sufferers live in Hogewey, this gated community unlike any other. Located in the Netherlands, it boasts open copious walking paths and green spaces, a grocery shop, hair salon and dozens of stores and clubs.

dimentia village resident grocery

The friendly grocers and stylists are, however, all employees of the facility (caregivers, doctors and nurses). If someone approaches the single exit to the outside world they are politely, gently but firmly told to perhaps try another door as this one is closed.

dimentia interior focused plan

dimentiaville ramps parks paths

If this sounds like a terrible situation, consider this: patients can roam much more freely than in many elder car facilities. Patients here require fewer medications, eat better and live longer. Still, it raises philosophical questions that are difficult to answer about the relative value of knowledge and happiness, for instance.

village exterior facade view

themed patient room interiors

Dormitory-style rooms are situated around the exterior of the campus, allowing views out, but building exits all face inward. Each residence structure has a “lifestyle theme” associated with it, designed to make people feel it home, surrounded by appropriate religious symbols for some, music and art for others.

dimentia city architecture model

CNN’s Dr. Gupta traveled to Weesp, the village in which the facility is set, and interviewed caregivers in this extensive twenty-three-minute segment on its purpose and workings. Some people question the ethics of the inherent deception, but if the residents feel at home, it is hard to say what a better alternative might be than this seemingly-ordinary everyday reality.

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Underwater Dwellers Dive to Reside in New York Aqueduct

It sounds a little like the premise of some B-caliber science-fiction film: there are residents living in tunnels below the city, with a twist …
Click Here to Read More »»


Shophouses: 6 Ultra-Small Urban Live-and-Work Spaces

These tiny, chaotic live/work spaces in Bangkok are filled to the brim with both the tools of the trade and the owners’ personal possessions.
Click Here to Read More »»


Wear You Live: T-Shirts and Totes Printed with City Maps

CityFabric creates t-shirts, totes and prints that are painstakingly hand-printed with maps of the city of your choice, including Raleigh, Brooklyn and Seattle.
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Public & Institutional. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on No Exit: Dementia Village Dwellers Live in Alternate Reality

Posted in Creativity

 

Boneyard Studios: Vacant Lot Hosts New Micro-Home Village

19 Nov

[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

boneyard studios night view

In a bold bid to change urban landscapes, a series of tiny home builders and enthusiasts has come together to turn empty space into a microcosmic example of what small-space living can mean for dense and high-cost cities like Washington D.C.

boneyard studios logo banner

boneyard corner lot approach

boneyard studios construction progress

Starting with a small, awkward and triangular alley lot the Boneyard Studios group proceeded to clear the debris build a series of four small homes. “The lot originally had overgrown grass, broken concrete, pooling water, garbage, illegal parking, and occasional criminal activity (e.g. a dumped stolen vehicle).” 

boneyard jay exterior front

boneyard jay projector view

boneyard daytime solar panels

Brian’s Minim House is clean, refined and modern featuring minimalist details, wood siding with black metal trim and a metal roof with solar panels. It also has interior features like in-seat storage and a pull-down screen for a space-saving projector television and video player.

boneyard elaine wood interior

boneyard elaine exterior view

Elaine’s Tumbleweed Lusby is framed and filled with warm wood, feeling as much like a cabin in the woods as it does a cottage in the city. It comes complete with a bamboo ladder leading up to a cozy lofted sleeping space.

Next Page – Click Below to Read More:
Boneyard Studios Vacant Lot Hosts New Micro Home Village

Want More? Click for Great Related Content on WebUrbanist:

Go Big or Home: Living Small in 11 Tiny Houses with Style

Tiny houses are growing in popularity because of increasing environmental consciousness and a desire to reject unnecessary material goods.
Click Here to Read More »»


Tinshed: Home Rebuilt from Shreds of Scrappy Shack

An ad hod affair, it was a rare leftover of what was once an industrial neighborhood, destined for demolition but instead rebuilt into a strange new home.
Click Here to Read More »»


Live Between Buildings: Narrow Micro-Homes Fill City Gaps

Playful yet thought-provoking, this project asks: what do we do with small leftover spaces in cities … particularly in urban areas where even a few …
Click Here to Read More »»


Share on Facebook



[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]

[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]


WebUrbanist

 
Comments Off on Boneyard Studios: Vacant Lot Hosts New Micro-Home Village

Posted in Creativity

 

Canon 60D Guam: The Chamorro Village

11 Jan

Entire footage using Canon 60D Date: February 16, 2011 Location: Agana Guam Chamorro Village Located next to the Hagatna Boat Basin and Paseo Stadium, the Chamorro Village offers visitors a glimpse into the island’s culture, lifestyle and cuisine. This little shopping “village” features a variety of local foods and handicrafts. Vendors sell everything from clothing to handicrafts, bananas to betel nuts. And the aroma of freshly cooked local foods emanates from small booths where cooks stir steaming pots of seafood, fried chicken, pancit, barbecued ribs, and other delicacies. The market is a popular lunch spot for the locals as well as visitors, with complete meals usually ranging from -. Many vendors also offer catering services. The Chamorro Village is popular on Wednesday night from 6pm-9pm when local entertainment is provided. Documentary Video and Filmed by James Davis Videographer: Rommel Bautista Assistant: Jess Ri Music video OneRepublic performing Secrets. (C) 2009 Mosley Music/Interscope Records www.jtdforeverstudios.com www.facebook.com/jtdstudios
Video Rating: 5 / 5

 
16 Comments

Posted in Nikon Videos

 

Sun Village Resort Goa, in 3D

02 Aug

Glimpses of Sun Village Resort – Arpora Goa in 3D. If you do not have 3d glasses (red-cyan) Choose “Right View Only” from the menu under the video, to view as normal. For Broadband users, Click HD button below video to see high resolution version
Video Rating: 3 / 5

 
4 Comments

Posted in 3D Videos

 
« Older Entries