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Oct 17, 2008 5:32 pm US/Eastern
Green Scene: Pop-Up Neighborhood
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Prefabricated buildings have been set up as part of a pop-up neighborhood in New Kensington to demonstrate the sustainable architecture of the future, says CBS 3's Natasha Brown.
The miniHome is from Sustain Design Studio.
"This is the first one. He's sort of coined it as an RV," said Elizabeth Oliver of Minima. "The loft is up here, above your head. The stairs double as a bookcase. The bathroom is beautiful. This is run on solar, you can also add wind, you can add greywater."
There's also home called a "wee house!"
"There are forest grown certified bamboos. Countertops can be recycled paper," said Eugenie Perret of Minima.
And for its deck, an artist designed sustainable furniture.
"He basically uses renewable materials - weeds, basically, materials that are rampant, and he turns them into beautiful modern furniture," said Oliver.
And to get really green, check out a vertical farm.
"Everywhere there is surface area, you should be able to grow your own food," said Oliver.
And there's a bus stop with solar "ivy." If you're waiting for your bus you can power your laptop or your cell phone.
You can explore this pop-up neighborhood yourself.
"This is fabulous," said visitor Helene Gold. "And what a contrast between what you're doing here -- look at that building that's falling apart. That's been here for probably 100 years."
And get a glimpse of what the next 100 years might look like.
Related Links:
Pop-Up Neighborhood
http://www.acleanbreak.org/Design Philadelphia, part of National Design Week, October 16th through October 22nd
http://www.designphiladelphia.org/
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