Structural aspects

Creating Home Frame Components with Recycled Plastic

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Engineers at MIT are using recycled plastic to 3D-print construction-grade beams, trusses, and other structural components that could eventually provide lighter, modular, and more sustainable alternatives to conventional wood-based framing. They have printed four long trusses from recycled plastic, assembled them into a conventional plywood-topped floor frame, and evaluated the structure’s load-bearing capabilities. The printed … Read more

The Beach Temporary Theater

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An 18-day outdoor annual cultural event that combines film, music, folk traditions, and contemporary art takes place in Guangdong Province, China. For this event a temporary coastal space was created capable of accommodating multiple programs, including a theater, stage, exhibition area, and public garden. The design team utilized a long-standing local construction method based on … Read more

An 18,000 Year Old Dwelling Made From Mammoth Bones

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The archeological site of Mezhyrich, located in central Ukraine, is home to four remarkable mammoth bone structures. Ranging from 12 to 24 m2   (130 to 260 sf), they were intricately constructed using hundreds of mammoth bones and tusks. An analysis of small mammal remains recovered directly from the archaeological layers indicates that at least one … Read more

The Amazing Potential of Bamboo

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Most bamboo species reach full height in three to five years compared to at least a decade for traditional timber, making it incredibly renewable. The fastest-growing bamboo species can grow up to 35 inches, or 91 centimeters, in a day! During its rapid growth phase, bamboo absorbs a lot of carbon dioxide and releases lots … Read more