Landscape: Vertical Gardens by Patrick Blanc

"The Vertical Garden as it is known in English, is something closer to a living painting than to a garden. Actually I named it le mur vegetal, meaning vegetal wall. I’m a scientist, [and] a botanist...humans should try to develop a way of living that wastes lesser natural resources."

--Patrick Blanc, on his designs and what we can learn from plants

The Vertical Gardens are intricate designs by Patrick Blanc that are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally beneficial. With installments worldwide, they are a design for the future with their unique, innovative and environmentally friendly ideology.

This is an example of a Vertical Garden in Madrid, Spain.

http://www.greenpacks.org/2008/03/17/green-vertical-garden-wall-in-madrid/

Indoor examples:

The Siam Paragon Shopping Center in Bangkok
http://envirostyle.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/vertical-gardens/

As wallpaper in a private residence.

http://pingmag.jp/2006/12/08/vertical-garden-the-art-of-organic-architecture/

Outdoor Example:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/5522

Upcoming Local Project: the Vertical Gardens in Santa Monica as part of The Green Blade by Jean Nouvel

http://www.verticalgardenpatrickblanc.com/

Transportation: Chevy Volt

"Charge the battery, Change the world."

A revolutionary car that uses a propulsion system that allows for zero gas and zero emission for a distance of less than 40 miles a day. The Volt uses a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline powered range-extending engine.

http://www.rpmdaily.com/images/volt-front2.jpg

Interior:

http://www.advocate.com/uploadedImages/advocate/editorial/exclusive_detail/200701/volt.jpg

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/

Home Design Options: Flooring and Solar Roof Tiles

Eco-Friendly flooring is a growing popular interior design aspect being used more and more today. With materials such as bamboo flooring to biodegradable carpet, there are many design conscious options that are still great for the environment.

New solar roof tiles blend into the architecture and style of buildings, rather than clashing like older, larger solar panels. They have a great eco-friendly design because they are helpful for the environment yet at the same time are visually pleasing. For example, installing a 2.5kW solar panel roof tile system would have the same carbon reducing effect as planting 500 trees!

Every Day Items: BioBag

"We can change the world, without changing the earth."

-- Dave Williams, President of BioBag

The first 100% bio-degradable and 100% compostable alternative to plastic bags, the BioBag is composed of cornstarch, vegetable oil, and other natural and renewable materials. The BioBag focuses on the ideology that the environment is shared and is no one’s to destroy. In comparison to plastic, the use of BioBags can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 49%.

The bags come in numerous styles and shapes; from disposing of compost to keeping food fresh, there is a BioBag for every use.

The vitality and health of our earth can be preserved and boosted through BioBags, which should be used today, tomorrow, and forever.

Furniture: Celle Chairs by Herman Miller

"Creating a better world is at the heart of Herman Miller and the real reason why many of us come to work every day."

--from Herman Miller's Corporate Values

Herman Miller Inc. designs modern, beneficial, and ecologically responsible products all around the globe. The Celle chair is not only comfortable and functional, but also eco-friendly.

Celle is composed of 33% recycled material and is 99% recyclable .

Hopefully, Herman Miller’s standard of designing their products, processes, and buildings for the environment will be adopted throughout all industries in the future. Recently, Herman Miller has launched an initiative, “Perfect Vision”, which sets high goals to reach monumental sustainability by the year 2020 including: zero landfill, zero hazardous waste generation, zero air emissions, zero process water use, and 100% green electrical energy use.

Architecture: Ford Rouge Dearborn Truck Plant

"Designers must become leaders, and leaders must become designers."

--William McDonough

William McDonough + Partners translated their eco-efficient design philosophy for Ford's 1.2 million square foot truck plant. This project redirects the ideals of a symbol of the Industrial Revolution, Ford, to align them with the ideals of sustainability through good design.

Just 5 days after the roof was put down, local killdeer birds arrived on the roof and settled into their nests.

Transforming an environmentally devastating industrial site into a fertile, habitable locale for wildlife and vegetation was no small design feat.

Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford declared that the restoration would "transform a 20th century industrial icon into a model of 21st century sustainable manufacturing."

www.mcdonoughpartners.com/index.htm

Fashion: Organic by John Patrick

"I envision a world in the near future where people won't ask 'Is it organic?' but say, 'Of course it's organic!'"

--John Patrick

John Patrick's clothing line Organic presents a revolutionary idea in a design area usually unconcerned with environmental implications: that was is good for fashion can also be good for the Earth.

From top to bottom: organic American wool jacket, recycled wool and Japanese organic cotton vest, organic jungle cotton henley, recycled wool pant, recycled from 8th avenue silk scarf; baby alpaca sweater, organic cotton collarless shirt, recycled wool pant; organic cotton classic shirt, recycled wool pant, organic American wool tie.


From top to bottom: organic American wool embroidered jacket, organic cotton turtleneck, New York state suede skirt; New York state suede jacket, recycled wool skirt, organic cotton turtleneck; organic Japanese cashmere coat, organic cotton turtleneck.


From top to bottom: recycled embroidered cotton blouse, organic cotton shrunken tee, Italian organic cotton trouser; John Patrick in some of the Peruvian cotton he uses; New York state suede jacket, organic cotton shrunken tee, organic cotton trouser, Mongolian cashmere scarf.




www.johnpatrickorganic.com