Making Wood Fire-Resistant

It was just this Wednesday that we heard about a non-toxic flame-retardant solution created by scientists at Texas A and M University. Well, researchers at Switzerland’s Empa institute have also come up with one, which could be used to keep wood and wood-based building materials from burning. Developed in partnership with Swiss company Bruag Fire Protection, the colorless liquid is […]

Circular Garden

Living in a crowded inner city means that many residents don’t have a garden of their own, so are unable to grow their own fruit and veggies. We’ve seen a number of indoor growing innovations – including Windowfarms and the Grobo – but last year’s OGarden was a little different, growing plants in a rotating wheel with a light at […]

Building With Robots

Following an architecture competition, Turkey’s Melike Altinisik Architects (MAA) has been selected to create the new Robot Science Museum (RSM) in Seoul, South Korea. Interestingly, the firm says that the building will be part-constructed using 3D-printing machines, drones, and other robots. The RSM was conceived by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to increase public interest in, and promote the knowledge of, […]

“Breathing House”

Vo Trong Nghia Architects has covered the roof and facade of Breathing House in Ho Chi Minh City with a canopy of climbing plants to create private outdoor spaces. Breathing House occupies a narrow and deep lot within a densely populated neighbourhood that is accessible only via a narrow alleyway. Due to the restricted site, the only surfaces that could […]

Top Ten Breakthrough Tech of 2019

Robot dexterity Robots are teaching themselves to handle the physical world. For all the talk about machines taking jobs, industrial robots are still clumsy and inflexible. A robot can repeatedly pick up a component on an assembly line with amazing precision and without ever getting bored—but move the object half an inch, or replace it with something slightly different, and […]

Surfboard Bag As Inflatable Tent

Love the idea of cruising the coast in a two-story surf motorhome or small camper van but are looking to go lighter and cheaper … much lighter and cheaper? Australia’s Boardswag has just the thing, a surfboard bag that transforms into a one-person tent with a few blasts of air. So whether you’re getting a quick jump on dawn patrol […]

Autonomous Tram To Be Ready For Moscow Debut

A Russian urban electric vehicle manufacturer and developers of artificial intelligence for autonomous driving systems are working on a city tram that will trundle itself around the streets of Moscow in the near future. The fully autonomous tram is due to start closed facility testing shortly, ahead of street tests along Moscow’s tram routes. The aim of the joint project […]

Curved Aluminium Facade Raises The Game

Revery Architecture recently completed work on a performing arts center in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Cultural District. The Xiqu Centre features a striking facade made up of curved aluminum that envelops glazing. The firm likens the effect to a lantern shimmering behind a beaded stage curtain. Created in collaboration with Ronald Lu & Partners, the Xiqu Centre has been in the […]

How Down Payments Work

In most cases, you’ll run into the need for a down payment when you’re trying to get a loan for land, a home, car, boat or an airplane. Basically, any large purchase for which you will need financing to complete will typically require you pay a portion of up front to reduce the amount of the loan you’ll need to […]