That said, I was recently offered a guest post from the bloggers over at the newer, but cool ChicTip.com. I like the blog, I like the bloggers, and I like when good new design blogs emerge, hence, a guest post from them. Also, I like their about page, which notes, “We feature stores, products, artists, reviews, sales, contests announcements, trends-in-the-make and more. Because this isn’t just a blog, it’s a community – for designers seeking inspiration, and for amateur design enthusiasts. This is a place where we can all come together, sharing our ideas, tips, and questions with like-minded people.” Which is totally my thinking about blogs – open, friendly, old-school community, and not snobby at all. Very nice.

Today I thought we’d look at ChicTip a little closer. They have some great posts so far and are worth a visit. Such as…

Foscarini – Modern Outdoor Lighting

Modern Menorahs – Our Top 5 List

They even make nice inspiration boards – which rocks. I like this one above: Back to The 50s – Inspiration Board

ChicTip has design tips, eco-design, furniture, materials, and even a few kid and green decor items I hadn’t heard of yet (impressive since I blog kid and green decor all over the darn web). I recommend you hit them up and see all their goodies.

[images via ChicTip.com]

Post from: Blisstree

New Design Blog Worth Visiting – ChicTip.com

According to the Leger Wanaselja Architecture website, the once open office space was divided into zones of sorts, to allow for a feeling of space division, but the plan looks really nice and open, welcoming, even split, I think. The room elements are made of salvaged, low toxic or resource efficient materials.

For the sign in area the architects actually designed both a desk and wall with Powerguard panels – photovoltaic roofing product. Very cool and innovative, right? The office is a showcase for the company’s product which is just clever beyond words.

Look at the cool conference room up close:

Lovely. I think I want this office.

To learn more about the design aspects and see more pictures of the Powerlight office space go right here. It’s a cool read. To see more great structure designs, visit Leger Wanaselja Architecture. They have many neat projects, but if I were you, I’d start with the elia/jones house – it’s a stunning home remodel.

[photos via Leger Wanaselja Architecture]

Post from: Blisstree

The Powerlight Office Space

I most absolutely do not walk around talking about poop. No matter the composting benefits; no matter the, “It’s just a part of life” deal. I don’t discuss it — too often. That’s likely why I don’t own a dog. Too much poop business. And before you go saying, “Oh, but you had a baby — they poop and you deal!” Guess what my little uses the toilet now where as a dog; not usually.

Speaking of the child; my son Cedar joyfully discusses poop every chance he gets so he might love this house idea. Myself; I don’t know whether to be appalled or blown away by the sheer eco-genius that is the poop house.

What do you think?

Here’s the actual house:

The wit behind this structure are the design talents at Andrew Maynard Architects; noted for being newer innovators in structure form. I really adore the various Andrew Maynard structures that I’ve seen up to this point – -they’re always sort of awe-inspiring and offbeat. I hadn’t checked the website in a good long while and look what they come up with — livable poop. That’ll learn me to keep up.

Their theory behind this structure; no building is honestly green. They aren’t wrong. I think you can come pretty close but you can’t avoid leaving a footprint and you can’t avoid using some sort of energy — that may be simply loads of man power but still; heck you could be out cleaning up the planet instead of building if you want to get technical. But I digress.

So, hence the Poop House. Let’s hear from the designer’s site because I’m not going to tackle explaining this one:

“We decided that a house should build itself through a lengthy period of assembling house hold waste… the Poop house is a water structure that, over time, takes all household bio-waste, including human excrement and food, and slowly constructs the walls and roof.”

What you see above is the basic gist of how this home is going to create it’s own hard-like frame; I guess you’d call it. More from the actual Poop House pdf:

“Solid waste is delivered directly to the outer layer where the water is filtered out of the solids. Here the solids form a dense structural layer over time. A closed system has been formed so that minimal water is lost during usage and the recycling process. No closed system is perfect though, therefore water is lost through evaporation, spillage, human activity etc. Hence over a long period of time (around 20 years) the majority of the water will be lost, however a thick thermally efficient structural wall will remain, constructed of solid household waste.”

Visit Andrew Maynard Architects to learn more about and see more photos of this strange piece of work.

Would you live in a poop house… tell the truth now.

Post from: Blisstree

The Poop House