Universal Design Finally Gets Its Due
from Kitchen & Bath Design News
Looking over the changes in the kitchen and bath industry in the past 10 years, or even the past two years, one thing is clear: Design is fluid. Indeed, the creative nature of the field almost demands that today’s trends will be ever-changing and evolving, as consumers and design professionals continue to pursue “the next big thing.” So what is the “next big thing?” While it’s been widely debated, more and more people are betting on Universal Design as the “green” of the future. More

"Lifestyle" Replaces "Luxury" as Hotels Rebrand to Lure Travelers
from Hospitality Net
Now that luxury is a bad word, hotels everywhere are scrambling to find ways to reinvent themselves without spending a whack of money. The quick fix? Simply delete all references to “luxury” in marketing materials and replace them with “lifestyle”. Magically, the hotel’s image transforms from visions of champagne baths and gold-plated toilet seats to a holistic experience involving discovery, connecting and environmental responsibility. More

Demand Growing for Smaller, More Efficient Homes
from Custom Home Online
According to The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) first quarter 2009 "Home Design Trends Survey," demand for less living space and overall smaller-sized homes has increased in recent years. Homeowners also are showing a greater preference for lower ceilings and fewer two-story foyers than in past years. More

Wallpaper Making a Comeback in Home Design -- Bigger, Better, Bolder
from Memphis Commercial Appeal
To say that wallpaper is making a comeback is a definite understatement. In the space of a few years, it's gone from stodgy and weak to totally chic. Adorned with everything from glass beads to mirrored tiles to tiny Swarovski crystals, today's papers are artistic, innovative and fun. More

Omega Center for Sustainable Living Opens in Upstate New York
from Inhabitat
On track to become the first green building to achieve both LEED Platinum and Living Building Challenge Certification, the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OSCL) embodies the synthesis of wastewater recycling, clean energy, and eco-friendly architecture. The state-of-the art environmental education and water reclamation facility in Rhinebeck, New York serves as a teaching tool to educate visitors on Omega’s ongoing environmental initiatives, including innovative wastewater strategies More

BIM Adoption Rate Exceeds 80 Percent Among Nation’s Largest AEC Firms
from Building Design & COnstruction
The nation’s largest architecture, engineering, and construction companies are on the BIM bandwagon in a big way, according to Building Design+Construction’s first annual Top 170 BIM Adopters ranking. Of the 320 AEC firms that participated in Giants survey, 83% report having at least one BIM seat license in house. Design firms are the biggest adopters of BIM, representing 48 of the top 50. More

Sustainable Sofas Herald the Green Furniture Wave
from Earth Times
Sofas made of recyclable material, garden furniture crafted from local wood and wine glasses from old bottles - manufacturers are falling over each other to bring out products stamped "sustainable."Only a few months ago it was the preserve of upmarket designer labels to emphasize the ecological soundness of their products, but now it is the turn of the lower-priced makers to slot green products into their range. More

Rice Concrete Can Cut Greenhouse Emissions
from MSNBC
The world's penchant for consuming concrete is a huge problem for climate change. Worldwide, cement production accounts for about 5 percent of all CO2 emissions related to human activity. Now, a team of researchers have figured out a way to make nearly carbon-free rice husk ash. The team speculates that rice husk ash could enhance performance by replacing up to 20 percent of the cement typically mixed into concrete in the construction of skyscrapers, bridges and any structure built on or near water, while limiting carbon dioxide emissions. More

Oregon Office Building Earns Highest Green Globes Rating
from Interiors & Sources
Columbia Square, a 313,000-square-foot office building and flagship property in the Melvin Mark Companies real estate portfolio, has been awarded 4 Globes by the Green Building Initiative (GBI) for achievements in green design and sustainable operations. The building was rated under the Green Globes environmental design and assessment tool and the 4 Globes designation is the highest possible rating. More