Non-residential | This Big City

Feb

Four Pioneering Examples of Sustainable Refurbishment from Around the World

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Buildings, Components, Non-residential, Residential, UK, USA and Canada

Tags: Cambridge, cc, London, Melbourne, public space, retrofitting

by Forum for the Future

In most cases, refurbishing old buildings can create a more sustainable built environment without dramatic visual change. Here are four buildings from three cities that we think are among the best examples of sustainable refurbishment. Read more

Jan

How Modern Buildings can Complement a World Heritage Site

Categories: Buildings, Europe, Non-residential

Tags: cc, heritage, Spain

Comments: 2

by Elyana Javaheri

There's a lot to consider when building a modern building in a predominantly historic area, and many developments end up feeling totally out of place. However, one project in Toledo, Spain, managed to avoid this fate. Here's how. Read more

Jan

South Korea Uses Architecture to Reignite its Publishing Industry

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Buildings, Non-residential

Tags: archiculture, cc, print media, publishing, south korea

Comments: No

by Joe Peach

In 1989, construction began on a development near the South Korean capital of Seoul, aiming to create an urban region which specialised in print and publishing. The project has been a huge creative and economic success, but the same can't be said for the site's sustainability. Read more

Jan

Café vs Castle: How Contemporary Buildings can Impact Historic Urban Areas

Categories: Buildings, Europe, Non-residential

Tags: cc, heritage, silves

Comments: 1

by Elyana Javaheri

You only have to look at the queue for the latest iPhone to see that ‘new’ means a positive and desirable change for many people. But 'new' doesn't always bring positive change when modern buildings are developed in historic urban settings. Read more

Dec

Shipping Containers & Shopping: London’s ‘Retail Revolution’ Finally Opens

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, UK

Tags: cc, economics, London, retail, shipping containers, shopping

Comments: 1

by Joe Peach

Boxpark - London's first pop-up shopping mall - has finally opened. Made entirely from reused shipping containers, the development has been called a 'retail revolution' by its owners. I paid a visit last week to see if it lives up to this ambitious statement. Read more

Nov

Are Green Buildings Truly Sustainable?

Categories: Africa and the Middle East, Buildings, Non-residential

Tags: 17 sustainable ideas for COP17, cc

Comments: No

by Future Cape Town

Buildings account for anything between 25 and 50% of global carbon emissions. As COP17 attempts to address climate change, sustainable buildings seem like an obvious place to start. But is the trend for 'green' buildings resulting in truly sustainable alternatives? Read more

Oct

Japanese Architecture Takes Green Roofs to a Whole New Level – Literally

Categories: Asia and the Pacific, Buildings, Non-residential

Tags: green roof, urban asia

Comments: 2

by Forum for the Future

If you require a little inspiration of the green roof kind, stop ogling the neighbour’s sedum-topped shed and start Google Earthing the ACROS building in Fukuoka, Japan, instead. Read more

Oct

Transforming Historic Urban Space into a Vibrant Cultural District

Categories: Buildings, Non-residential, USA and Canada

Tags: art, car-free, cc, creative, creativity, development, history, pedestrianisation, renovation, restoration, retail, Toronto

Comments: 3

by Joe Peach

As the needs of cities change, older buildings can find themselves redundant. The challenge is to find a new purpose for these buildings, one which is historically respectful but meets the modern needs of a city. That is exactly what has happened in one development in Toronto. Read more

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