The look of this building is incredible.  I’ve seen living walls and how the growth can devour structures, but I like the look here.  Asia is so moist, what with the rainy season in the summer, etc., that I’ve seen walls growing a sort of perma-algae.  So, I think the design here in Seoul, Korea works and I like how the windows break through the calm chaos of green. 

The Mass Studies-designed building houses an Ann Demeulemeester store on the first level and restaurant above.  The design relies on a trifecta of colors:  deep green, coffee brown, and minimalist white — all of which blend and dance nicely.  I’m not sure as to whether anything else is green (i.e., materials, systems, etc.), but nonetheless, I really like the manifestation of green. 

Read more »

Pardon the interruption, but as is the tradition in the blogosphere, I’m going to kick out some blogging New Year’s resolutions.  Last year I had several resolutions and thanks to the readers, we shattered all visitor goals.  I didn’t do so well on the commenting and didn’t get any articles in print, but I’m still focusing on the print article goal. 

Also, as an FYI to newer readers, Jetson Green isn’t about money or advertising, etc., it’s about participating in one of the coolest movements of my life.  During the tech boom of the late 90s, I was in Japan, completely unconnected to tech life.  Now, I’ve got all sorts of education and there’s nothing to stop me from influencing the country we live in.  As a career youngster, this is one of the ways I’m doing that.  The goals below push me to continue providing the most unique, up-to-date, and relevant news possible.  So, without further ado, here are my goals for Jetson Green in 2008:

Read more »

Enviro Board is not only a product but a technology.  As you can see from the video below, Enviro Board is able to process up to a ton of straw at one time and convert it into a panel product to be used in construction.  The process can convert many varieties of waste fibers, such as wheat, rice, rye, barley, oat straws, flax, cane, elephant grass, etc., into low-cost building panels.  The award-winning product is non-toxic; resistant to fire, termites, mold, and mildew; earthquake and hurricane stable; and qualifies for LEED points.  And it can be used in the construction of virtually any type of structure in various applications.

Read more »

You’ve probably heard of Treasure Island, the entirely man-made island that was formerly a Naval base.  It was decommissioned several years ago, but San Francisco wants to bring it back to life.  The city has held hundreds of meetings to determine the future of the 400-acre Superfund site, and they’ve got a plan: Treasure Island will become a testbed for the newest ideas in energy efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and low-impact living.

Read more »

XCR is a wonderful flooring product from the company Expanko.  It is made of a mixture of recycled rubber and cork including recycled tires and post-industrial waste.  XCR is a colorful, waterproof, durable flooring option.  It is also slip-resistant, fire-resistant, and quiet and comfortable to walk and stand on.  There are 27 standard colors to choose from including earthy neutrals, jewel tones, and brights and bolds.  XCR is available in 24"x24"x1/8" tiles and rolls that are 48" wide in a variety of lengths — a great option for a range of commercial and residential projects.  XCR can be expected to last more than 20 years, even in a commercial setting, and when removed, it can be recycled. 

Read more »