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More people are living in cities than ever before, and the global urbanization movement is showing no signs of slowing down. By 2008, the number of people living in cities surpassed the amount of people living in rural areas for the first time in history. In terms of sustainability, the inexorable urbanization trend poses both challenges and opportunities for a more eco-friendly......read more
The always on-point team at Faith Is Torment reminded us about the work of Alex MacLean [previously], who has flown his own plane over much of the U.S. capturing aerial photos of man-modified landscapes, from agricultural patterns to city grids. Tapping into his background in architecture, MacLean's photo practice explores the relationship between the built and natural environments. For his......read more
In Santa Marta, a hillside favela in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, two artists from Holland are using a massive art intervention to transform the community. Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn originally came to Brazil in 2005 to shoot a documentary on the vibrant favela music scene. They never left. The two stayed in Rio to form Favela Painting, an organization dedicated to creating "striking......read more
In New York City, where land for parks is scarce, the biggest new green space is the High Line, a mile-long stretch of elevated railroad repurposed as park. Now, a group of innovative urbanists is proposing a subterranean version. As reported in this week’s issue of New York Magazine, the Delancey Underground (affectionately dubbed "The Low Line") would convert the......read more
In Luxembourg, Austrian architecture firm AllesWirdGut has re-envisioned the site of an obsolete steel mill as an elegantly designed urban park. Leaving the skeletal elements of the the old factory in place, the architects let the site's hidden qualities shine through the new design. From their description: Seating areas and new trees are concentrated into islands, which leave empty......read more
Six years ago, New Yorkers were introduced to the idea of converting a historic freight rail line into a public park. Since then, the High Line has become the city's most visited park. Now NYC parks officials and Friends of the High Line have revealed designs for the for the third and final section of the High Line, and we're pleased to say that it looks incredible. The final phase is being......read more
What to do with public eyesores in the inner city? It should come as no surprise that the Dutch have dreamed up a novel way of beautifying them. Designer Roeland Otten, best known for the amazing ABChairs he released in 2010, uses the power of camouflage to disguise ugly public buildings in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. If you're picturing drab green military canvas draped over buildings, think......read more
Ten years ago, when artist Greg Van de Hey felt the creative impulse, he'd make a painting. But now, with two young kids, there just isn't enough time to make art. That's where his garden comes in. Whether it's building a rain barrel, making a grapevine trellis, or making wine, the young dad can always find a garden project that satiates his creative drive. It all plays into......read more
Homesteading is broadly defined as a lifestyle of simple, agrarian self-sufficiency. The sustainable, back-to-the-land movement is gaining popularity in urban areas, where applicable rural homesteading elements are being applied to city living. In theory, most people are into the idea of producing everything needed for survival on one's own land. While this isn't realistic for most of......read more
For Justin Vernon, there's more to gardening than growing plants. His rooftop garden, one of the many cropping up on the Brooklyn skyline, is part of a broader shift in environmental consciousness. The moment he started thinking of the planet as a living entity, Justin couldn't wait to get some seeds and get down to business. Now, with the Gaia philosophy informing his approach, Justin raises......read more
