The advent of heated jackets is a real game-changer when it comes to staying warm while outside during the winter. These coats combine some of the best materials and insulators from the outdoor industry, with integrated heating elements, and efficient battery packs to create a cozy option for those who simply can’t stand the cold. Wearing one is lot like […]

Could bamboo help solve Manila’s housing crisis? Earl Patrick Forlales believes it can. The 23-year-old Filipino architect recently won an international competition with his design for an affordable, eco-friendly housing project built on bamboo. CUBO, as Forlales calls the concept, was the winning entry to the Cities for the Future Challenge. The contest seeks innovative solutions to rapid urbanization, climate […]

A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria is blending art and design in an incredibly novel way, presenting the mind-bending work of legendary 20th century artist M.C. Escher within an immersive, custom-designed space created by innovative Japanese design studio nendo. The exhibition, entitled Escher X nendo: Between Two Worlds, was inspired by the influence Escher’s work has had […]

It’s not just big names in footwear like Adidas, Reebok and Puma that have been making strides to attract eco-conscious consumers of late, a new company launched last year to market shoes made from algae and a UK startup Rothy knitted its shoes from yarn made from recycled bottles. Germany’s eco-lux footwear brand nat-2 has been making sustainable footwear for […]

The City of London may soon receive an unusual new addition to its skyline courtesy of Foster + Partners‘ aptly-named Tulip observation tower. Assuming it goes ahead, the building will offer viewing points and glass slides, as well as pod rides on its exterior. On completion, the Tulip will be one of London’s tallest buildings and rise to a height […]

While we all appreciate the importance of limiting our exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, actually keeping track of the amount can be difficult. L’Oréal’s new My Skin Track UV is designed to help. It’s described as “the first battery-free wearable electronic to measure UV exposure.” Developed by L’Oréal’s skincare brand La Roche-Posay (in collaboration with Northwest University materials scientist […]

We’re big fans of beautifully designed urban beehives on Inhabitat, and Mexico-based design studio MaliArts’ new shelters for solitary bees are just as buzz-worthy. Dubbed ‘Refugio,’ the project currently consists of three distinct and sculptural beehives aimed at attracting different species of solitary bees. Built with natural materials, each shelter offers a resting place and access to food and water […]

Following three years of construction, Beijing’s Open Architecture has completed a new art museum that is integrated into sand dunes. The UCCA Dune Art Museum is almost totally covered by sand and has an interior made up of cave-like spaces. The building is located in Qinhuangdo, east of Beijing, and takes its place well among the rugged landscape. It consists […]

A new experimental office on the 12th floor of The Shard in London offers a breath of fresh air … literally. Wrapped in bamboo surfaces and punctuated by living plants, facilities management company Mitie’s headquarters in London was created by local practice DaeWha Kang Design. The biophilic project — dubbed the Living Lab at The Shard — mimics nature from […]

More than 1,000 flights depart out of Cochin International Airport each week. The travel hub is the seventh busiest airport in India, handling more than 10 million passengers every year. Located in the southwestern coastal state of Kerala, it hosts 27 airlines and some three dozen shops and restaurants — and the whole thing runs on solar energy. Cochin International […]