These floating islands will form a “parkipelago” in Copenhagen’s harbor
The Optimist Daily is always curious about the latest ideas in urban development and design. In 2021, we're expecting to see the completion of an exciting new project in the Danish capital in which a series of small artificial floating islands are being built and installed together within the Read More...
These portable speakers are powered by old e-bike batteries
Gomi is a sustainable UK-based design studio that makes chargers and other devices out of the waste that would otherwise be thrown into landfills. Its newest project is a line of portable Bluetooth speakers. The speakers are constructed out of 100 percent recycled plastic waste and are powered Read More...
Skyscraper design uses aquaponic terraced gardens to purify Shenzhen’s air
Sustainable architectural designs can go a long way in helping cities cope with some of the most pressing social and ecological challenges facing metropolitan areas today. The design of a pair of supertall skyscrapers in Shenzhen aims to showcase how integrating sustainability into our built Read More...
Madagascar will host the world’s first 3D printed school
3D printing started out largely as a hobby for creative tech users, but it has morphed into a new strategy for construction that allows for fast, affordable, and versatile building. One way it can be beneficial is that it allows structures to be built quickly without sacrificing structural Read More...
Hemp is the main ingredient in this truly sustainable alternative to wood
We have used wood to house us, furnish our lives, and further develop our civilizations for thousands of years. But now, as deforestation threatens the balance of nature, we are finding more sustainable materials to take the place of wood. The popularization of an alternate material will facilitate Read More...
These changes could drastically reduce noise pollution in marine habitats
Noise from shipping operations and other human activities can be disruptive to marine animals, especially species like whales which rely on calls through the water to communicate. The good news is there are a few simple solutions that would greatly reduce these auditory disruptions under the Read More...
Designer creates marble-like building blocks using salt from the Dead Sea
Finding sustainable alternative building materials is key to reducing the environmental footprint of the construction industry — one of the world’s largest contributors to climate change. According to Israeli designer Erez Nevi Pana, sea salt could be one of these materials. In an effort to Read More...
Triumph the koala can now run freely after dentist designs prosthetic foot
When a veterinarian nurse in New South Wales found a baby koala in 2017, the animal only had three feet, hampering it from walking and climbing freely. But recently, the male koala, named Triumph, has been climbing and running happily thanks to a prosthetic made by a neighborhood dentist. Marley Read More...
IKEA unveils disassembly instructions to help extend the life of your furniture
Last year, IKEA announced its ambitious vision of becoming fully circular by 2030. This means that over the next two decades the furniture giant will design each one of its products to be reused, repaired, resold, or recycled. And the company has been serious about its goal. It has already Read More...
These micromobility vehicles are accessible to people with disabilities
The rapid expansion of micromobility services in recent years has provided residents of many urban areas with a convenient means to get around. The problem, however, is that the vast majority of these micromobility service providers have so far failed to cater to people with disabilities. Now that Read More...