Design
This elegant home was made using waste cork from the wine industry
The wine industry produces more wasted corks than you could possibly imagine. Interestingly enough, cork can actually be an effective material to build with. Just look at this beautiful building in Berlin, which has a facade and roof clad with waste cork. The rectangular-shaped panels of cork Read More...
Smart fabric can change temperature according to the world around it
Imagine having an item of clothing that cools you in summer and warms you in winter. A sweater that, based on its surrounding environment, regulates its own temperature in response to your personal comfort. Soon that could become reality as scientists at the University of Maryland have created a Read More...
A stylish French shoe brand now offers sneakers that are entirely vegan
Veja, a chic French sneaker brand, has a reputation for its newfangled use of sustainable and organic materials in the production of its shoes. Wanting to take it a step further, the company has been working on developing a truly eco-friendly vegan shoe for the last five years, one that is fully Read More...
This teenager built himself a fully functional robotic arm using Legos
To be resourceful is to be able to use the tools and resources at hand to overcome difficult problems. David Aguilar, a 19 year-old bioengineering of Barcelona, is the embodiment of a resourceful person. Born without a right forearm due to a rare genetic condition, Aguilar built himself a fully Read More...
Norwegian studio designs chair using old fish nets from local fisheries
At the Optimist Daily, we’re all about repurposing waste into something entirely new. However, while it’s awesome to make a product out of materials that would otherwise end up in the trash, that isn’t a guarantee that the product will be entirely useful or aesthetically pleasing. That’s Read More...
Bacteria is helping create unconventional, yet sustainable building materials
If we want to start building more sustainably, we have to think beyond traditional building materials such as brick, wood, glass, and concrete. At least, that's the way two European designers are thinking after creating a self-supporting column out of knitted fibers. While a knitted structure would Read More...
This nonprofit is tackling homelessness by turning school busses into homes
Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness amongst children, with more than 22,000 students lacking a proper home. That shocking statistic inspired a nonprofit to start converting retired school busses into fully functioning, attractive tiny houses on wheels for homeless children and their Read More...
The case for constructing more buildings using 'living' elements
Integrating the combination of biology and technology into our living spaces could help us develop a more sustainable relationship with our natural environment. With more biomaterials emerging at the horizon, integrating them with smart gadgetry could reshape our living spaces into healthier and Read More...
The urban planning of global cities is looking more futuristic than ever
Integrating state-of-the art technology into urban development, countries like Qatar, India, and Malaysia are building futuristic cities which look like they’re out of a science fiction movie. Technologies that once seemed impossible, like driverless cars and drone taxis, are now popping up in Read More...
The Dutch engineer who wants to build cities that heal us, not hurt us
Why do the cities we build damage our health? This is the question posed by Daan Roosegaarde, a Dutch designer who is on a mission to intertwine our cities with human values such as clean air, clean water, and clean energy. Have a look here to see Roosegaarde is pushing to make humanity “future Read More...