Look inside BIGs yin and yang-shaped Panda House in Copenhagen

With their cutest new inhabitants comfortably settled in, the Copenhagen Zoo and Bjarke Ingels Group have shared new pictures of the recently completed yin and yang-shaped Panda House, a new home for giant pandas Mao Sun and Xing Er. Designed to mimic the pandas’ natural habitat, the BIG-designed enclosure blurs the line between indoors and out so that visitors feel immersed in the habitat without encroaching on the pandas’ sense of safety. Created in collaboration with Schønherr Landscape Architects and consulting engineers from MOE, Panda House includes a variety of naturalistic landscapes informed by workshops with panda experts, zoologists and veterinarians. Introduced to Copenhagen Zoo from Chengdu, China earlier this spring, the pair of giant pandas can freely explore a state-of-the-art, 4,950-square-meter panda facility that includes both a dense, mist forest and a light, green bamboo forest. The designers have worked closely with Chinese specialists since 2010 to create the ideal conditions for mating, one of the major challenges for pandas in captivity. Per the solitary nature of giant pandas, the enclosure has been divided into two similar yet separate areas — organized in the shape of the yin and yang symbol — so that the pandas can stay apart outside of the mating season. Related: Sasaki designs Chengdu Panda Reserve to protect the giant panda To make the separation hardly noticeable by both pandas and guests, the architects elevated the enclosure and tucked the stables and other facilities partly underground to integrate them into the landscape. The lifted sections of earth at both ends of the yin and yang symbol give visitors direct views into the pandas’ habitat as they walk around the perimeter of the round enclosure. Visitors can also observe the pandas — and the elephants in the adjacent enclosure — from the ground-floor, French-Asian bistro PanPan, which is topped with an upper floor landscaped with native Nordic plants.  “We studied the social and behavioral needs of the giant pandas: apart from mating season, pandas are loners by nature — male and female pandas need to be separated from each other such that they can’t smell, hear or have physical contact,” said David Zahle, partner at BIG. “Taking the literal interpretation of the yin and yang symbol, we divided the circular site to create separate yet harmonious homes for the male and female pandas, which can be flexibly merged during dating season. Overall, the Panda House is designed to feel like humans are the visitors in the pandas’ home, rather than pandas being the exotic guests from faraway lands.” + BIG Photography by Rasmus Hjortshoj via BIG

Go here to see the original: 
Look inside BIGs yin and yang-shaped Panda House in Copenhagen

P&G’s circular economy strategy now includes water and (yes) diapers

Will the giant consumer packaged goods company place itself head and shoulders above the rest?

The rest is here:
P&G’s circular economy strategy now includes water and (yes) diapers

Walmart takes bold steps towards safer chemicals

EDF details the giant retailer’s new goal of reducing its chemical footprint by 10 percent by 2022.

Here is the original post:
Walmart takes bold steps towards safer chemicals

This giant wooden ball is a spherical lifeguard tower in Canada

Read the rest of This giant wooden ball is a spherical lifeguard tower in Canada

Read the original here: 
This giant wooden ball is a spherical lifeguard tower in Canada

PepsiCo.’s Manoj Fenelon on the value of questioning

The director of foresight and innovation at Pepsi spurs innovation at the giant beverage company by encouraging questions and informality.

Go here to read the rest:
PepsiCo.’s Manoj Fenelon on the value of questioning

Can D.C. help flush away misconceptions about biosolids?

In an effort to move beyond the ick factor, District of Columbia water officials are among those reconsidering their approach to solid waste.

More:
Can D.C. help flush away misconceptions about biosolids?

Tapping into Nature: Bioinspired innovation as economic engine

Millions of designs in nature that can be used for products will mean 2 million jobs and $425 billion by 2030, transforming construction and energy.

Read more:
Tapping into Nature: Bioinspired innovation as economic engine

Could this giant straw be the solution to the problems with wind turbines?

Could a bladeless wind turbine  answer the issues with clean energy and save a few bird lives in the process? It can if you believe that the same technology we use to get your milkshake to your mouth could also power a community. Vertical designs for wind generators are not popular, but designers continue to come up with new plans for the idea. This vertical straw is one of the latest inventions. Read the rest of Could this giant straw be the solution to the problems with wind turbines? Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “wind power” , alternative energy , bladeless wind generator , bladeless wind power , no turbine wind power , straw wind generator , Vortex wind generator

See more here: 
Could this giant straw be the solution to the problems with wind turbines?

Couple uses ladders to navigate their Tokyo ‘Ninja’ house

Read the rest of Couple uses ladders to navigate their Tokyo ‘Ninja’ house Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: eco design , green design , Hiroyuka Shnozaki Architects , home office , House T , Japan , Japanese design , Ninja House , space management , sustainable design , tiny homes , Tokyo

Go here to see the original:
Couple uses ladders to navigate their Tokyo ‘Ninja’ house

Mysterious Giant Hole in Siberia Could be Caused by Climate Change

If you’re looking for an abyss to gaze into, a new one just mysteriously appeared at the end of the world. A giant hole in the Earth about 262 feet in diameter was recently discovered in Russia’s far north, and scientists are baffled about the cause of the chasm. Located in Siberia on the Yamal Peninsula (a place whose name translates to ‘end of the world’), the hole appeared near a forest just 19 miles from the largest part of the Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project – the largest of its kind in Russia. Read the rest of Mysterious Giant Hole in Siberia Could be Caused by Climate Change Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: change , climate , giant , hole , lng , massive , meteor , mysterious , russia , siberia , yamal

View original post here: 
Mysterious Giant Hole in Siberia Could be Caused by Climate Change

Next Page »