Skip to content

Guest Thinkers — October 3, 2009

Environment: Recycling & Creative Architecture

There's an architect in Texas who is known as the Dr. Seuss of architecture. Instead of suburbs with cookie cutter houses, creative architecture offers an opportunity for individuality.

Vicki Nikolaidis

Sometimes, admit it, traveling in the United States can become boring with so many places along the Interstate, suburbs and buildings looking the same.

In Huntsville, Texas – watch out! People with jobs that don’t pay enough for housing are learning to build their own homes. This is not trickle down home ownership, this is – do-it-yourself with objects that may have otherwise been thrown into the landfill.

Lacy-designed pickle serving plates become fancy windows, excess stock corks make flooring sturdy and sample picture frames line a ceiling. And that is just the beginning of the imaginative way building and design meet recycling.

The architect Dan Phillips is helping his neighbors learn to build their own homes. Each house is made from at least 85% ‘throw away’ materials.

Al Jazeera offers an interview of Dan Phillips and a peek into his home. Find the interview at this youtube link.

If you are interested in finding out more please check www.PhoenixCommotion.com. Perhaps you would like to join in the building revolution.

and Building Value:http://bit.ly/UIT73

Related

Collage of classical art suggesting a theme related to somatic markers.

How “somatic markers” can transform your decision-making

Ditch the old brain vs. heart assumptions, and instead think about a heart-led brain.

A black and white image of a bunch of spheres, symbolizing the multiverse concept discussed by scientists.

Starts With A Bang

How logic and reasoning can fail as scientific tools

In logic, 'reductio ad absurdum' shows how flawed arguments fall apart. Our absurd Universe, however, often defies our intuitive reasoning.

A wooden sign indicating "assisted migration rep 2" in a pine forest under a clear blue sky.

Life

Moving trees north to save the forests

As the world warms, trees in forests such as those in Minnesota will no longer be adapted to their local climates. That’s where assisted migration comes in.

Historical map illustration depicting a planned city layout with a circular central area and radiating streets.

Ohio’s Circleville ditched the grid system. Then it got squared.

A small Ohio town tried to escape America’s addiction to rectangular grids. It didn’t last long.

Bullet Cluster separation mass gravity x-ray lensing

Starts With A Bang

Flagship NASA space telescope faces a penny-pinching death

NASA's only flagship X-ray telescope ever, Chandra, still works and has no planned successor. So why does the President want to kill it?

Up Next

Culture & Religion

3D Project Room Installation.

I would like to cooperate all around the world for my social and interactive public art events..If I fell where is an positive artistic and humanistic energie I like to be there...For to create new 3D art works,ideas,diologs with Artists and Public peoples...I hope I can move my artistic visions with me where I will go...