A modern design for a sustainable, zero-waste kitchen

If you’ve been wondering how to maintain a kitchen that produces no waste whatsoever, take a look at this project. Designed by Austria -based furniture designer Ivana Steiner, this modern zero-waste kitchen incorporates unique features to be as environmentally conscious as any room of the home could ever hope to be. Steiner put in the work to develop this zero-waste kitchen concept. She conducted field research, put together a zero-waste focus group and spoke with local shopkeepers and customers in Vienna. Related: How to replace single-use and plastic items in the kitchen The design uses recycled materials such as stainless steel and glass and is built around a large table that can be used for cooking, food prep and eating. The kitchen itself has everything you need to create an environmentally friendly space. There’s a worm box, baskets for fruits and vegetables and glass containers to store all sorts of other foodstuffs.There are linen storage bags, and there’s a vertical herb garden that produces fresh herbs. The worm box can be used to keep the soil healthy and organic. The worm box also works as a compost container where kitchen and lawn scraps break down and become nutrient-rich, dark soil. A water jug collects excess water that is used when waiting for the faucet to heat up, for example. This can also be used to water the herb garden. This is a truly circular and self-sustaining design. Minimalism often goes hand-in-hand with the zero-waste lifestyle, so this kitchen doesn’t have wall cabinets. There’s also no dishwasher, but there is a double sink. This kitchen design isn’t made for a specific home; it’s made for any home. The design was created to work anywhere. There’s even an apartment version that’s more compact. Building a better tomorrow begins with better design. Rooms like this zero-waste kitchen are a great start. + Ivana Steiner Images via Ivana Steiner

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A modern design for a sustainable, zero-waste kitchen

* This article was originally published here

On Tuesday, enough ice melted in Greenland to cover Florida in two inches of water

On Tuesday, enough ice melted in Greenland to cover Florida in two inches of water
Data from Danish government shows vast ice sheet lost 8.5bn tons of surface mass in a single day

Read in The Guardian: https://apple.news/AD3woeegRSJ2C_s8d31Z7Kw

* This article was originally published here

Learn These 5 Ways to Get Rid of Skin Tags Naturally

Learn how to remove skin tags with these 5 strategies to help you get rid of them naturally. They’re not problematic but many want them gone.

Next to warts, one of the questions I get the most is how to remove skin tags. Skin tags are fleshy bumps that can be anywhere from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a pea. Technically called acrochordons or cutaneous papilloma, the benign growths of skin are more annoying than problematic. Let’s discuss how to remove skin tags naturally.

Skin Tags: What Where and Why

There really is no scientific consensus on why people get skin tags. Studies have shown a correlation between adult-onset diabetes and the development of benign growths, but the results are not conclusive.¹ Skin tags show up more often in people who are overweight. They tend to occur where the skin folds and there is friction, such as in the groin area, on the neck, in armpits, and on the thighs. They are also common on the eyelids. A lot of folks want to know how to remove skin tags because they’re visible.

Adult-onset diabetes tends to be related to obesity and when we are overweight we tend to have more areas of skin folds and friction. For this reason, I think it’s more likely that friction encourages the skin tags and it’s less likely related to the inability to process carbohydrates.

Studies have also confirmed a connection between skin tags and human papillomavirus (HPV).

This result corroborates the hypothesis that HPV plays a part in the etiology of benign lesions like cutaneous soft fibromas.[2]

Finally, it seems that you have a greater chance of developing skin tags if someone in your family has them. Whatever the reason, it’s good to know how to remove skin tags naturally.

I remember hearing a lecture once during which the speaker suggested we get skin tags when our lymphatic system becomes congested. I think this makes a lot of sense. If we are constantly applying friction to the top layer of our skin and there is a toxic soup below, it stands to reason that a wart-like growth could occur.

How to Remove Skin Tags

There really isn’t any reason to do anything unless the tag is in a place where it gets irritated or you just don’t like the look of it. Your doctor may freeze it or simply snip it off with a pair of scissors. Unfortunately, these methods often leave a scar behind. If you want to know how to remove skin tags naturally, you’re in luck. Because there are a number of well-known natural ways to remove these growths without leaving a scar.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apply twice a day with a cotton ball. It may sting a bit at first but this should decrease with time. It takes 2-4 weeks for the skin tag to fall off. (Matt and Betsy recommend this organic raw ACV.)

Castor Oil and Baking Soda

Make a paste with castor oil and baking soda and apply it over the skin tag. This can be covered with a bandage. Continue to apply until the skin is smooth. (Find organic castor oil here.)

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Another way to remove skin tags naturally is tea tree essential oil. Simply add two to three drops of tea tree oil to a cotton ball that has been moistened with water. Apply directly to the skin tag and cover with a bandage. The tag will darken and usually drop off in about a week and a half. (Find 100% pure, organic tea tree oil here.)

String

If you want to get rid of skin tags fast, this is your method, but it requires consistency and bravery. Tie a small string or dental floss around the tag as tightly as possible and leave it on. Keep an eye on the string and tighten it as the blood supply to the tag diminishes. In a few days, the growth will change colors and fall off.

Other Possible Skin Tag Treatments

Finally, if my hunch is right about the connection between skin tags and a congested lymphatic system, merely trying to get rid of skin tags will not be the end of it. You might want to get your body moving, begin a daily practice of dry brushing skin before bathing, and try a simple cup of calendula tea (Calendula officinalis) to head off any more problems.

Have you ever successfully removed a skin tag using a natural method? Tell us about it!

*******

Sources

1. Rasi A, Soltani-Arabshahi R, Shahbazi N. Skin tag as a cutaneous marker for impaired carbohydrate metabolism: a case-control study. Intl J Dermatol 2007; 46: 1155-1159
2. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. Human papillomavirus and skin tags: is there any association? May-June 2008.

Learn These 5 Ways to Get Rid of Skin Tags Naturally was written by Betsy Jabs.

* This article was originally published here

July 28 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Super-Outbreaks Of Fire Thunderstorms Could Change Earth’s Climate, Australian And US Experts Warn” • Fire thunderstorms, which occur in pyrocumulonimbus clouds, not only create their own weather system but may also be powerful enough to actually change the climate, according to scientists from Australia and the US. [ABC]

Pyrocumulus cloud, 2012 (JeremyaGreene, CC-BY-SA 4.0)

• “Appalachia Poised To Be Part Of Shift To Clean Energy” • As federal policymakers design policies to transition and invest in a clean energy economy, it is imperative that Appalachia can rebuild and grow a 21st century sustainable economy that builds shared prosperity. The people of Appalachia need to be at the table, and not on the menu. [CleanTechnica]
• “EV Transmissions Are Awesome!” • Upcoming full EV off-road vehicles are going to be awesome. The biggest advantage will be how controllable they are at low RPM. Instead of having to gas-brake-gas-brake over obstacles, you can just use the right amount of power to climb an obstacle smoothly. This advantage is greatly magnified by gear reduction. [CleanTechnica]
• “The German Storage Model: How It Is Helping Stabilize The Grid” • In Germany, 2020 was notable for the production of renewable energy: Wind, solar PV, and other renewable sources overtook fossil fuels in German power production. Maintaining grid stability is easier because over 300,000 German households have battery storage systems. [Down To Earth]
• “Minnesota Becomes A Clean Cars State” • Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan celebrated clean car standards taking effect in Minnesota. The new standards reduce carbon emissions, create good-paying jobs, boost Minnesota’s manufacturing industry, and increase the choices Minnesotans have in purchasing cars. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

EV Transmissions Are Awesome! - CleanTechnica

EV Transmissions Are Awesome!  CleanTechnica

* This article was originally published here

Grassfed Life: Controlling Flies on the Farm (Ask Darby)

Darby discusses ways to control flies on the farm.

 

Learn more with Grassfed Life Courses:

https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses

or 

https://www.grassfedlife.co

* This article was originally published here

Energy2green - Wind And Solar Power System - *#1 Home Energy Program

Energy2green - Wind And Solar Power System - *#1 Home Energy Program

Energy • October 17, 2008, 12:00 am

Italian thermal spa celebrates 101st anniversary with a sustainable renovation

First completed in 1919, Terme di Saturnia is a world-renowned resort and spa in Italy that is steeped in history. Now, the property has completed a sustainable renovation thanks to London-based studio THDP (The Hickson Design Partnership Ltd). The new design concept celebrates the natural conditions of the original thermal spring with preserved wooden furnishings, décor crafted by local artisans and green spaces. “The initial briefing strived to achieve a visible and perceived renewal, while retaining the original internal architectural structure and maintaining the high-quality furnishings as part of the former design project by the architect Lorenzo Bellini,” said Manuela Mannino of THDP. “We have employed terms such as reflection, corrosion, erosion, layering, ripples to convey the visual and emotional language of interior design .” The designers selected a color palette that matched the resort’s natural surroundings, including blue tones to mimic the property’s thermal waterfalls. Related: 1850s barn in Italy becomes a modern, sustainable family home For the reception area, they collaborated with local artisans , from the Ragnini workshops in Pitigliano, who crafted oxidized tables and bronzed handles. To maintain a dedication to the property’s historic ties, a number of the existing wooden furnishings were restored and preserved in private rooms and common spaces as well. The designers utilized high-quality Tuscan crafts, such as ND Dolfi vases and tiles, to decorate the bronze metal dividers created by workshop Officine Ragnini di Pitigliano; the craft workshop has been in the same family for seven generations. There is a green “living wall” incorporated into the interior décor to indicate the dining area as well as a central patio surrounding an internal garden and olive tree. The entrance is fixed with suspended lanterns and large light installations to replicate the feeling of water. Several finished metal plates designed with different oxidation effects help reflect the balance between the waterfalls and earth. All 124 guestrooms have also undergone a renovation with a focus on guest comfort.  + THDP Photography by Giorgio Baroni via THDP

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Italian thermal spa celebrates 101st anniversary with a sustainable renovation

* This article was originally published here

Top 10 Best Tasting Pres 2021 – Bestgamingpro - Best gaming pro

Top 10 Best Tasting Pres 2021 – Bestgamingpro  Best gaming pro

* This article was originally published here

Nintendo's latest idea is DIY for young gamers - Independent.ie

Nintendo's latest idea is DIY for young gamers  Independent.ie

* This article was originally published here

A beginner’s guide to gardening

Some form of gardening has been around since the first days of human existence. It’s an activity that not only helps sustain life but brings joy and satisfaction. However, as the saying goes, getting started is the hardest part. It can be intimidating to understand the verbiage around gardening and figure out what plants will grow well where you live. When you boil it down, gardening is a very basic act and, contrary to what you’ll see in gardening catalogs and online supply stores, it doesn’t require a lot of supplies or money to get started. It does, however, take some planning and knowledge. Luckily, even if you’re a beginner, you can get started on a successful garden with these tips. Garden terminology When shopping, you will notice that plants are labeled by their lifecycle. Annuals will grow for a single season, rarely to be seen again. Biennials will be around for two years. Perennials return for multiple growing seasons. Related: Companion plants to consider for your spring garden You’ll also want to decipher the phrasing around the types of plants you’re buying. While most people know what seeds are, you can also buy plants in bare root form, which have been removed from the ground while dormant and preserved for planting later on. You can also collect seedlings, which are plants that have just transformed out of their seed. Bulbs go into the ground during the off season and bloom a season or two later. Both the local garden center and online sources will list a description of plants that can take a bit of understanding too. A deciduous tree will lose its leaves each fall or winter, while evergreen shrubs will keep their leaves throughout the seasons. A groundcover is a low-growing, spreading plant that will never be taller than about a foot. Ornamental plants are grown primarily for visual appeal but are not for consumption or other use. Plants listed as a hybrid have been crossbred to encourage specific traits such as low water requirements or a sweeter taste. Know your soil Perhaps the single most important thing you can do for gardening success is to understand the composition of your soil (it’s more than dirt; it’s an ecosystem!). Don’t worry, you don’t need to take classes. Simply grab a soil sample kit from the gardening center or take a sample to your regional extension center. Once you know if you’re dealing with clay (thick and slow draining), loamy (rich and balanced with sand, silt and clay), sandy (lacking soil due to high sand content) or silty (somewhere between sand and clay), you’ll be able to plan ways to balance your soil. Different plants require different soil composition, which simply means how acidic or alkaline it is. Testing pH levels will give you a number, typically between 0-14. A pH of seven is neutral, above seven is alkaline and below seven is acidic. Most plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic with a pH of six to six-and-a-half. With this information, you can mix in materials that raise or lower that number. If your soil isn’t hospitable, you can buy or build raised beds that hold added soil aboveground for a healthy, plant-loving environment .  Native, non-native, heirloom and invasive plants Planning is a crucial step in gardening, although much of it will ultimately be learned through trial and error. When selecting plants, it’s important to know that native plants will naturally thrive in your yard because these are plants equipped for the climate and soil conditions and have grown in the area for hundreds of years. Non-native plants, on the other hand, have been introduced to the area. They may do well. They may not. The term heirloom means it has continuously been pollinated from the same host plants that have not changed in 50 years or more. This is often seen in food gardens, such as ‘heirloom tomatoes’. Finally, invasive plants are easy to stumble on both in your yard and through accidental planting. They can be pretty. They can thrive. But they will take over without precautions to restrain them. Invasive species can also cause ecosystem disruptions. Hardiness zones Another bit of critical information that will support your success in the garden is knowing your hardiness zone. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map makes it easy to identify your planting zone. From there, you can select plants that are most likely to thrive in your area. A lot of the information you’ll find in books and online will mention your hardiness zone — and for good reason. Everything from carrots to grass grows differently throughout the geographic regions. This will help you plan when to plant cool-weather versus warm-weather crops within your zone. Plan the light Spend some time in your yard before figuring out where to place your garden. The majority of vegetable plants grown during the primary gardening season require full sun. This means at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Some plants require partial sun and can tolerate more time in the shade. Watch the sun throughout a season to really understand where the light hits. In addition to the amount of sunlight a space receives, consider whether you can easily access a watering source and whether you’ll need fencing to ward off deer and other wildlife . Keep a journal An important tool for gardening success is a log of your activities. This can be as simple as a small notebook or as comprehensive as a computer spreadsheet. The goal is simply to keep track of what you’ve planted, when you planted it, where it’s planted, if it suffered from disease or pest issues and how long it took to reach maturity (when you can harvest).  Images via Adobe Stock

See more here:
A beginner’s guide to gardening

* This article was originally published here

This vineyard suite is tucked into a Tuscan UNESCO world heritage site

Recently unveiled in the Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in Val d’Orcia,  Italy , part of a UNESCO world heritage site, the first unit of a luxury vineyard suite project was recently unveiled to the public. Known as Casa Ojalá, the guest suite has a few whimsical features like retractable beds, hidden furnishings, a merry-go-round terrace, roof portholes and a series of pulleys, gears and ropes. With over $1 billion worth of development expected by 2025, the hotel will embrace the surrounding nature and ensure eco-friendly,  sustainable architecture  in its design. Some of the environmentally-focused features include sustainable wood selection, fabrics made from  recycled plastic  and the inclusion of handmade Italian ceramic pieces created by local artisans. Related: Latvian wellness resort honors traditional spa rituals The resort will also include a bio  garden  with over 180 plant species inside, and the entire property will be plastic-free. Future plans include using photovoltaic panels, a rainwater recovery system and a black water depuration advanced biological plant. “We are proud to launch, starting in Italy in synergy with Castiglion del Bosco, to offer its guests of exception an absolutely unique chance of enjoying and discovering the wonders of the resort,” said Italian architect Beatrice Bonzanigo, President of Casa Ojalá. “I consider the Luxury of the Casa that I invented, a form of happiness for the guests of the best Hotels around the world. A sort of revival of handcraft as the root of evolution. Beyond the automatism of travel and living of our times, based on virtuality and hyper technology.” Once completed, the resort will offer 42 suites, 11 villas, two restaurants, a spa and a cooking school. At 5,000 acres in total, the estate will also encompass the historic Brunello di Montalcino  organic  winery and a private member’s golf club. + Casa Ojalá Images courtesy of Casa Ojalá

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This vineyard suite is tucked into a Tuscan UNESCO world heritage site

* This article was originally published here

Salt Lake suicide: Hyd youth believed he was ‘evil power’ - Times of India

Salt Lake suicide: Hyd youth believed he was ‘evil power’  Times of India

* This article was originally published here

Natural Pet-Safe Rodent Poison With No-Kill Options

This recipe is for natural rat poison and mouse poison that’s safe for dogs and cats. You’ll be surprised when you find out how simple it is!

I keep chickens and goats and where you have livestock, you can get mice and rats. There were rats at our farm before we moved here and getting rid of them has been tough. I can’t use poison around the livestock since they may eat it, or the dead rodents. And traps only do so much so what can I do?

Luckily, I came across this natural rat and mouse poison recipe. And the good news is this rat poison is safe for dogs and cats, it works, and it involves zero chemicals!

Natural Rat Poison Secret Ingredient

The secret to this natural rat and mouse poison may amaze you. I know it did me. It’s salt! Yep, plain old table salt. It works in the rodents’ lower intestines, dehydrating them from the inside. Animals like chickens and goats digest their food differently so this won’t affect them, except to make them thirsty. And that has not been a concern. Besides salt, the recipe uses grains and peanut butter to entice the little critters to eat.

Natural Rat and Mouse Poison Bars

I used this to kill rats but you can also use them with mice. The bars are easy to make and store.

Ingredients

• 2 cups sweet feed, or birdseed, or anything else that mice and rats enjoy eating
• 1/3 cup salt (any kind will do, but finer grains blend easier)
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg

Instructions

1. Mix all the ingredients together. Peanut butter can vary from very stiff to loose and runny, so you may need more or less. Add just enough to get the dough to clump together.
2. Next, pat the dough out on a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. I make mine about 1/2 half-inch thick.
3. Now, cut into bar shapes or whichever shape you prefer and bake at 350°f for 30 minutes or so, just enough to set the dough.
4. Cool the natural rat poison bars and store them in a sealed container.

Notes

Be sure to mark what the bucket contains. Many times I’ve put something in a bucket, thinking that I’d remember later what it was, only to find that my memory has failed me!

Using Your Natural Rodent Poison

I take a few bars and place them in an old feed dish. Place the dish along a wall because mice and rats tend to run there for safety. I crumble them up a bit to make them easier to eat.

That’s all there is to it! You’ll need to replace the bars once in a while until you’ve eliminated most or all of the rodents. I have the best luck by using them for a few weeks, stopping for a while, then starting again.

The small amount of salt in this recipe may seem like it wouldn’t work as a natural rat poison, but it’s actually the optimum amount at a 2% ratio to the grain. This is just enough to kill the rodents without harming your livestock or wildlife. Also, you should not smell anything from the rodents that pass because the salt dehydrates them to the point at which no, or very little odor should be present.

Commercial Version

If you don’t want to make your own you can purchase MouseX and/or RatX. These commercial products are very similar to our recipe; they also use salt as the poison.

Alternative No-Kill Solution

Some people won’t kill pests even if they do cause problems with the animals or feed. For them, I’ve included this alternative solution.

If you don’t want to use the natural rat poison, you can use this trap approach.

Equipment

• 5-gallon bucket
• a metal rod like a shower curtain rod
• a drill,
• a drill bit large enough to make a hole the size of the metal rod and peanut butter.

Instructions

1. Make two holes opposite each other at the top of the bucket.
2. Thread your rod through, making sure that it can spin freely.
3. Apply a generous amount of peanut butter to the center of the rod. I leave a few swipes of peanut butter on the edge and even on the outside of the bucket. This will help draw them in.
4. Place the bucket where mice and rats can climb on top of the bucket. When they try to get to the peanut butter in the center of the rod, it will spin, dumping the rodent into the bucket.

Notes

The next day, take the bucket (I cover mine in case some try to jump out) to a field far away and let them go. I’ve done this numerous times and have had success with it. I never let them go where they can get into someone else’s home or barn, but rather a few miles away from people.

You can also purchase a commercial version of this trap.

Rodents are easy to control if you have this natural rat and mouse poison. And this rat poison is safe for dogs, cats, and livestock!

*******

Natural Pet-Safe Rodent Poison With No-Kill Options was written by Debra Maslowski.

* This article was originally published here

Security-Camera Tips to Keep Your Home Safe While You Are Away - The Wall Street Journal

Security-Camera Tips to Keep Your Home Safe While You Are Away  The Wall Street Journal

* This article was originally published here

July 17 Green Energy News

Headline News:

• “Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion Can Transform Marine Transport” • Answering the call for a greening of the shipping sector, a new generation of engineers and entrepreneurs is working on feasibility of several efficient wind-assisted ship propulsion devices and the full integration with vessel trading operation and financing models. [CleanTechnica]

Maersk Pelican, with wind-assisted ship propulsion (Wikipedia)

• “Record Rainfall Leaves Over 120 Dead In Western Europe, Devastating Parts Of Germany” • Catastrophic flooding has killed more than 120 people in western Europe, with hundreds more missing, authorities said. Large-scale rescue efforts continue amid rising water, landslides, and power outages. Entire villages are underwater in Germany and Belgium. [CNN]
• “Drought In The Southwest Could Be Making Monsoon Flooding Worse” • Monsoon rains brought extreme flash floods to the Southwest this week, with scenes of vehicles bobbing down neighborhood roads like rafts on class three rapids. Experts say the historic Western drought is to blame, making the soil less like a sponge and more like pavement. [CNN]
• “Volkswagen Plans To Up Its EV Game” • Volkswagen is upping its EV game again. This week, it revealed its New Auto strategy, which envisions half of all sales to be EVs by 2030. A company press release speaks of €1.2 trillion in expected sales by 2030. The plan includes a focus on “mechatronics,” whatever the heck that is! [CleanTechnica]
• “NYC Buying Seven Electric Garbage Trucks” • Garbage trucks, with straightforward and clear range requirements and a lot of stopping and starting as they operate, are almost perfect vehicles to have be EVs. The New York City Department of Sanitation is going to order seven electric garbage trucks from Mack Trucks, a Volvo Group subsidiary. [CleanTechnica]

For more news, please visit geoharvey – Daily News about Energy and Climate Change.

* This article was originally published here

DOE Intends to Issue a Funding Opportunity

Opportunity Accelerates the Renovation of Buildings with Energy-Efficient Innovations

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced its intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) on behalf of the Building Technologies Office (BTO) called “Advanced Building Construction (ABC) – 2021.” This FOA would fund research intended to accelerate the renovation and construction of affordable, appealing, and energy-efficient buildings, contributing to a carbon-neutral building economy in America by 2050.

This FOA, in support of BTO’s Advanced Building Construction Initiative, will seek to accomplish this by funding R&D projects that would benefit all Americans–including underserved communities. ABC seeks innovations that:

• result in high performance, low carbon buildings with lower energy bills, improved indoor air quality, improved comfort, and reduced maintenance;
• deliver faster building renovations with less disruption to building occupants; and,
• incorporate modernized construction and manufacturing techniques to drive down costs and scale production of both low carbon new buildings and retrofit components.

Read more about this Notice of Intent HERE.

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EERE LinkedIn

* This article was originally published here

It’s time to get excited!

SolarFest’21 — Sat. July 24th & Sun. July 25th

With pre-festival movie screenings it’s time for a SolarFest Watch Party

The full schedule is now posted — and all activities are free. Don’t miss out on the fun — you need to register to attend the free, online SolarFest…and plan to host a SolarFest Watch Party at your home — a great way to bring family and friends together!

Thanks to all of the presenters & sponsors who make SolarFest possible:

Keynote Sponsors: Farmer Mold & Machine Works, Regenerative Food Network, Soundview Arts

Workshop Sponsors: Eden Renewables, Global Meetinghouse, Grassroots Solar, Greenvest, High Peaks Solar, NY Solar Energy Society

Maintaining Sponsors: Climate Ride, CV Solar & Wind, Green Energy Times, NY Geothermal Energy Organization, Power Guru, VSECU Credit Union

Register Today for SolarFest’21; www.SolarFest.org

If you or your organization would like to support SolarFest with a donation: mail your tax deductible contribution to SolarFest, P.O. Box 900, North Bennington, VT 05257, or click this link to donate through PayPal.

* This article was originally published here

Casa CBC incorporates greenery at every level

While a home provides shelter, it can also highlight exciting architectural design and a marriage with the surrounding landscape . In the case of CBC House, it’s all that and more. “Casa CBC” is located in Lomas de Chapultepec, a residential and commercial neighborhood to the west of Mexico City. This thriving locale is upscale, luxurious and approachable, and the architecture takes inspiration from the surrounding Chapultepec forest. Related: Sustainable Tasmanian home boasts big views and a small footprint Designed by Mexican firm Estudio MMX, the CBC House development began with a desire for extensive gardens . In fact, the house is almost an afterthought compared to the expansive greenery that defines the property. In essence, the team designed gardens at every level, and then incorporated the house into the remaining space. As a result, the entire home feels like one continuous garden, blurring the lines between outdoors and indoors in every room. The connection to nature is obvious from any angle, from the front door to the upstairs rooms with large windows that frame the gardens on elevated platforms. “Our strategy was to imagine the garden as an interconnected system of open spaces that runs throughout the house,” said Diego Ricalde, one of four partners at Estudio MMX. The suspended gardens lovingly coddle the 708-square-meter house, which provides welcoming spaces throughout. Public areas open up to the wide-ranging views while intimate spaces are created through the use of narrowed hallways and stairways. The diverse experiences as one moves through the house are created by dynamic changes in heights and scales between rooms. The inclusion of vast glass walls further embraces natural light and a connection to the outdoor environment. Making the most of the limited available land, designers placed the L-shaped home in the corner of the lot. Because the main material throughout is a subtly tinted concrete, architects softened the firm geometric outline with greenery across the flat roof , on the upper terraces and in the courtyard. This allowed room for a large entertaining space in the main area of the property, equipped with an inviting seating and dining area beneath the open sky. + Estudio MMX Photography by Rafael Gamo via Estudio MMX

See the rest here: 
Casa CBC incorporates greenery at every level

* This article was originally published here

Time For My Life 365 Stepping Stones

Time For My Life 365 Stepping Stones

Energy • September 23, 2009, 12:00 am