Ramboll helps Lombok locals build earthquake-resistant bamboo housing

In 2018 when Lombok was struck by several earthquakes, some measuring up to magnitude 7, local communities around the seismic region were greatly affected. After the series of earthquakes settled, there were over 500 people dead, 445,000 people homeless and 129,000 homes damaged.

Concerned that the quality of the area’s buildings was partially to blame, Els Houttave, founder of the Lombok-based charity Grenzeloos Milieu, knew that something had to be done to ensure this type of devastation never happened again. She teamed up with Ramboll bridge engineer Xavier Echegaray and structural engineer Marcin Dawydzik to find a solution that was both sustainable and resilient.

When Dawydzik traveled to Lombok, he discovered the problem was in the building techniques and materials: “Villages were flattened with bricks and rubble scattered all around, in many cases the building foundations were all that remained. This was not an unusually powerful earthquake for the region, but lack of reinforcement in the buildings meant the damage, and consequential loss of life, was far greater than it should have been. What I found even more disturbing was that communities had already started rebuilding with the same absence of structural integrity that had existed in the destroyed buildings!”  

As it turns out, the building solution was closer than expected. The partially-destroyed villages were surrounded by bamboo forests, a time-honored building material that is lightweight, strong, affordable, sustainable and reaches full maturity in about five years.

Working hand-in-hand with the locals, Ramboll has now built three prototype earthquake-proof “template houses” made almost entirely out of locally-sourced bamboo. The homes are raised on cross-braced columns with a central staircase leading to the living area and space for two bedrooms. The walls are finished with bamboo woven sheets or canes and the roofing is made from recycled Tetra Pak carton packaging. 

Going even further, the project headed by Grenzeloos Milieu and University College London will provide locals with a free blueprint on how to construct affordable earthquake-proof homes without complicated construction knowledge necessary. Additionally, Grenzeloos Milieu is growing more bamboo forests and teaching communities how to harvest the trees for food and construction. Ramboll volunteers on the ground in Lombok will teach the process hands-on while ensuring safety and efficiency.

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Images via Ramboll

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Planet Beyond earbuds combine tech, sustainability and fashion

High-tech products don’t have to be sterile and uniform, but there haven’t been a lot of options for personalizing or styling even common gadgets, like earbuds, until now. That’s what inspired Planet Beyond, a company aimed at offering fashionable options alongside state-of-the-art technology and sustainability.

The earbuds, released in early December 2019, offer superior sound that is comparable to Bose or Apple. Even the basic model earbuds are embellished with a metal centerpiece, available in gold, gunmetal or silver tones, giving each pair a striking and unique look. The silicone earpieces not only deliver comfort but are designed for interchangeability of additional jewelry.

Related: Korvaa is the world’s first headphones “grown” from bio-based materials

Users can create ear art with a selection of add-on options. The jewelry components come in a variety of styles including leaves, shooting stars and sun rays. Each design is available in the same three base colors to match or contrast the center and are easily interchangeable whenever you want a different look.

While quality sound is at the heart of these earbuds, sold as product PB01 to represent Planet Beyond’s initial product release, the brand’s bigger goal aims to add something that no other company has brought to the earbud market — style. As a start-up focused on sustainability, Planet Beyond has also placed importance on practicing corporate responsibility. With that in mind, each product is created from recycled metal.

“Beyond being lightweight and durable, our Bluetooth earpieces are the synthesis of sustainability, fashion and technology,” the company said. “With a broad range of offerings at attainable prices, we believe everyone deserves to witness the new intersection of technology and art.”

Available now, the PB01 has a base price of $115. The optional accessories add an additional $55 each. With a team made up of a mathematician, an engineer, a computer programmer and an architect, we expect to see more wearable tech innovation from Planet Beyond in the future.

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Images via Planet Beyond

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The low-impact Bridge House hovers over a stream in Los Angeles

Architecture is often heavily influenced by the existing landscape surrounding a structure, but architect Dan Brunn didn’t let the weaving waterways on his Los Angeles property limit the options for his home. Dubbed the Bridge House, this 4,500-square-foot home straddles 65 feet of natural stream without harming the landscape.

The long, narrow home nestles into the forested background with limited street exposure. The focus on nature is evident with natural light streaming in from expansive windows throughout, a living wall in the living room and an outdoor terrace. In fact, the 210-foot-long home provides a wide expanse of northern exposure for more natural light and less energy consumption.

Related: The Garden House features greenery and bee-friendly landscapes

While the overall theme is sleek and minimalist, the pool area — complete with a full pool house, an outdoor shower, space for grilling and a Yamaha music room — aims to create an oasis for entertaining. But don’t let the luxuries and size fool you. In addition to the layout and physical situation of the home, each space was designed with low impact in mind. Starting with the foundation, the bridge design suspends a large portion of the structure, minimizing the impact on the landscape.

For the structure itself, a BONE steel modular system was incorporated to ease on-site construction with sustainable materials. Plus, the system’s precision leaves little to no cutoff waste, and the steel itself comes from up to 89% recycled material. Although there was waste from the removal of the previous home, all usable parts were donated to the local Habitat for Humanity for reuse.

The air quality inside the home is enhanced by the living wall of plants and superior insulation. A water filtration system eliminates the desire for bottled water, and solar power provides for much of the home’s energy needs.

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Photography by Brandon Shigeta via Dann Brunn Architecture

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A nearly century-old Copenhagen school gets an eco-friendly makeover

Danish architectural practice JJW Architects has used recycled bricks and Cradle-to-Cradle certified mortar to renovate Copenhagen’s Grøndalsvængets School. Originally built in 1929, the building had long been hidden away from the surrounding neighborhood; this comprehensive transformation, completed in 2019, has now integrated the structure into the urban fabric. The school has also been expanded to support modern principles of learning and a larger educational program. 

The Grøndalsvængets School renovation project targeted three main objectives: an improved connection with the neighborhood, new differentiated learning environments and sustainable building practices. To better integrate the school with its surroundings, the architects first took down the tall hedge that had visually separated the school from the city. The pair of two-story buildings that were added on the outer corners of the site are topped with gabled roofs in a nod to the pitched rooflines of the area.

Related: A massive pollution-fighting green wall engulfs this Dutch city hall

The two new buildings were built for teaching, sports and music and are part of a greater plan to cultivate a campus-like environment within the school. In addition to the renovation of the main building, the Grøndalsvængets School’s expansion focuses on creating a flexible and differentiated learning environment that can support the needs of its students. The two new buildings were built with recycled bricks from a nearby hospital and assembled with Cradle-to-Cradle certified mortar to ensure that those bricks can be reused again in the future as part of a long-term circular economy strategy.

“The old school building becomes new and the new school buildings carry on an old story from the beginning,” the architects explained in a project statement. “New and old meet each other in respect and create a school that is cohesive and interlinked with the surrounding neighborhood.”

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Photography by Torben Eskerod via JJW Architects

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This dynamic parking garage doubles as a public sculpture

In Denmark’s fourth-largest city of Aalborg, Copenhagen-based architecture firm Sangberg has designed a deceptively simple parking garage that offers much more than parking spaces. Dubbed the Parking House G2, the monolithic building features a dynamic and lightweight facade of extruded aluminum slats that “animates itself” in different ways depending on how and from where it’s viewed. The aluminum slats of the playful graphic facade were also engineered with reusability in mind and to encourage the growth of habitat for birds and insects. 

Located in a part of Aalborg that’s currently being transformed from an industrial harbor to a new multi-use neighborhood, the Parking House G2 references the industrial heritage of its surroundings with its monolithic aluminum construction, while injecting new life with its sculptural appearance. “Whether you’re driving by in a car or you’re passing by as a pedestrian, your experience will differ as the facade animates itself in accordance to the speed travelled,” the architects said on the Sangberg blog. “The expression also changes whether it is viewed nearby or far away, from straight on or from the side – and with the light conditions and seasons.”

The building’s facade gets its dynamic characteristics from the subtle variations in the profiles of the light gray aluminum slats that surround the concrete frame like a piece of cloth. In addition to creating a textural expression, the angled slats are spaced apart to let natural light and ventilation into the building. The facade also provides opportunities for greenery to take hold, a feature that was inspired by the master plan for the area that includes a green buffer zone along Nyhavnsgade, a major thoroughfare near the harbor.

Related: Denmark’s first timber parking garage will be enveloped in greenery

Completed over two years, the 15,200-square-meter building includes 590 parking spaces. The aluminum facade can be easily disassembled and recycled for use in other building projects. Its compact build, sustainable design, and its playful facade earned the project an Aalborg Municipality building award. 

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Images by Ramus Hjortshøj – COAST Studio

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Fun, eco-friendly things to do in Portland

Portland has boomed in the past 20 years, attracting musicians, writers, graphic designers and other creative people. Many entrepreneurial folks have started unusual businesses and events, which often surprise and delight visitors. If you’ve always wanted to visit a vegan strip club or watch an adult soapbox derby race, Portland is for you.

The city of about 650,000 residents has a well-deserved reputation for rain. If you like a dry vacation, summer is your best bet. Spring is the most beautiful season, when tulips, irises and daffodils push up through the soggy ground and rhododendrons seem to bloom in every yard. Autumn enthusiasts will enjoy Portland’s fall colors. But don’t curse the rain if you get wet — it’s what makes Portland so beautiful and green.

Portland outdoor adventures

Outdoor adventure awaits, both within city limits and a short drive or bus ride away. The Willamette River separates Portland’s east and west sides. Running, walking and hiking are popular pastimes. On the east side, Mount Tabor, a dormant volcano, offers hiking trails without leaving the city. Forest Park, on the west side, is even bigger, with about 70 miles of recreational trails. For a short but gorgeous Forest Park hike, take the Lower Macleay Trail along Balch Creek up to the Audubon Society, where you can check out the Wildlife Care Center which treats orphaned and injured native animals. If you happen to be in Portland on Thanksgiving, consider walking or running the annual Tofurky Trot 5K, which benefits animal sanctuaries.

Portland is well known as a bike-friendly city. You can rent a bike and explore, or join a guided tour. Pedal Bike Tours offers an intro to Portland tour, plus excursions focused on donuts or beer. Their Columbia River Gorge Tour takes you out to the must-see gorge by van, where you bike and hike to waterfalls.

Since Portland has access to both the Willamette and Columbia rivers, the water possibilities are vast. Join Portland Kayak for a guided full moon paddle on the Willamette. During summer, eNRG Kayaking offers SUP yoga classes. For a special Portland experience, learn about the Northwest’s favorite biped on a narrated Bigfoot Cruise. You’ll even get the chance to smell a simulated Bigfoot pheromone (only people with strong stomachs should take a whiff).

Those who like a little culture with their outdoors time will find plenty of art festivals, especially in summer. The upscale Pearl neighborhood has art openings every first Thursday of the month. From April to October, the Urban Art Network Street Gallery sets up an extremely accessible First Thursday show, with a chance to meet painters, jewelers, woodworkers and other skilled artists, and find art for all budgets.

Portland wellness

It might seem like every other person you meet in Portland is a yogateacher, and many neighborhoods have multiple yoga studios. Yoga Refuge occupies an attractive upstairs space in an older building, with plenty of light and plants to cheer up the grayest Portland days. Studio PDX even lets you bring your small dog to some of its classes.

Portland is a city where it’s easy to find gong healing. Portland Sound Sanctuary offers various sound healings, some including a cacaoceremony. Awakenings Wellness Center hosts intriguing events almost every day, such as ancestral lineage intensives, shamanic sound healing and a White Stag meditation.

Common Ground Wellness Center has a communal soaking pool and a dry cedar sauna. This clothing-optional hangout has times set aside for men, women, queer/trans and BIPOC people only, and a nightly silent hour from 10 to 11 pm. If you’re happier when everyone wears a swimsuit, Knot Springs is a newer facility with a delightful water circuit, sauna, eucalyptus-scented steam room and full foot rub menu. You can book massages at both Common Ground and Knot Springs. Zama Massage Therapeutic Spa is Portland’s only place for halo therapy in a saltcave.

The Grotto, a Catholic shrine to the Virgin Mary, is a peaceful place to visit, whether you’re religious or not. It features gardens, shrines, a labyrinth and a meditation chapel with floor-to-ceiling windows. On a clear day, you can meditate on a view of snow-capped Mount Hood.

Dining out in Portland

Portland has become a city known for food, especially vegan food. At the high end, Chef Aaron Adams of Farm Spirit creates exquisite tasting menus from the Cascadian bioregion, with all ingredients sourced within 105 miles of the restaurant. There’s also a chef’s table experience, where you can chat with the chefs and watch as they prepare your food.

The Sudra interprets Indian food with a dash of New Mexico. Inventive plates include ingredients like turmeric-roasted Brussels sprouts, kale-infused dosas and coconut yogurt. All of this is served with a side of New Mexico green chilis, if desired. Vegetarian Thai Restaurant KaTi Portland makes the standard dishes, plus Thai street food and specialty entrees, with nary a drop of fish sauce.

The all-vegan and gluten-free Back to Eden Dessert Shop on NE Alberta makes cookies, pies, chia puddings and has an impressive sundae menu. Sweet Pea Bakery is a real cake specialist. You can even get a tiered wedding cake or a six-layered rainbow cake. For vegan ice cream, Eb & Bean makes both dairy and non-dairy frozen yogurt in flavors like black sesame and salty pistachio. Salt & Straw, Portland’s most famous ice cream shop, always features at least a few vegan flavors. Don’t miss their lemon cheesecake crumble.

In nearby Milwaukie, Oregon, world-famous Bob’s Red Mill churns out oats, millet, sorghum, farro, and other grains. Visitors can take a tour, attend a cooking class, shop from a mind-blowing bulk section and eat lunch or breakfast. There’s also a separate veg menu.

Visit during October to catch the annual two-day Portland VegFest. The newer VegOut! Portland Vegan Beer & Food Festival happens in summer.

Public transit

It’s easy to get around Portland without driving yourself, through a combination of walking, biking, bus, light rail and rideshare. TriMet is the local public transit company. The MAX light rail serves the airport every day until almost midnight and is the cheapest way to get to downtown hotels. Amtrak, Bolt, Flixbus and Greyhound also serve Portland.

If you see folks cruising around on heavy orange bikes built like tanks, that’s the Biketown bike share program. They even have a limited number of adaptive bikes to get people with disabilities on the road.

Don’t want to pedal? You can also rent an electric scooter. Be advised that it’s illegal to ride scooters on the sidewalk, so stick to bike lanes and city streets. Also, be aware that these things pick up speed very fast when going downhill.

Where to stay

The Kimpton Riverplace puts a yoga mat in every room, has two charging stations for electric cars and is located right on the Willamette River waterfront path. Built in 1927, the Heathman is both historic and eco-conscious, with low-flow shower-heads, LED lighting, walls made from recycled materials and even a ghost or two.

For more eclectic lodging, check out one of Portland’s three tiny house hotels. Yes, three. Caravan: The Tiny House Hotel has five cramped but cute choices. Tiny Digs has eight themed units, including train car, “gypsy wagon,” barn and Victorian cottage. Slabtown Village bills itself as NW Portland’s luxury tiny home hotel. At Slabtown, you can also choose from three small Victorian houses if a tiny home proves too teeny.

Images by Teresa Bergen / Inhabitat

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