Here are some new HDR processed pictures with some 3D graphics elements of the underground Moscow tunnels by the photographer Alex Klochkov. It is necessary to notice, that these places are extremely dangerous, so don’t even try to go there by yourself.
And here are the old compilations:
Moscow Sewerage
Moscow Dungeons
via artdel.ru
Image: Green Roofs
Green roofs have been around for centuries in Northern Scandanavia, but they’ve really only become a popular trend in the last few decades. Recognized now for their ability to reduce the urban heat island effect while also reducing heat loss and energy consumption in winter months - among many other benefits - green roofs are really taking off, all around the world. And these aren’t just your average pieces of sod plopped on top of a building, either. These roofs are meant to be seen, designed by the artistically inclined in newfound attempts to express and flex their creativity.
Here’s a roundup of eight great green roofs for you to admire:
1. GENO Haus, Stuttgart, Germany
Image via Metropolis Magazine
The government sponsored the building of this roof in 1969; made of a Styrofoam base, this green roof remained functional until it was renovated with improvements in 1990. Germany was an early green roof adapter in the 1960s and continues to lead the way today, with an estimated 10% of all German roofs being “green”.
2. Nine Houses, Dietikon, Switzerland
Image via Metropolis Magazine
This set of nine houses built in 1993 by architect Peter Vetsch were made out of concrete and buried in earth and grass. They remind of modern hobbit houses.
3. The Solaire, New York, United States
Image via Metropolis Magazine
Built in 2003 with two green roofs by designer Rafael Pelli and landscape architect Diana Balmori, The Solaire was the first green residential building in North America. Residents live steps from the Financial District and Tribeca, and have the opportunity to experience a beautiful rooftop oasis when they come home each day.
4. Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall, Japan
Image: KnOizKi
Emilio Ambasz found a home for a 100,000-square-foot park in the form of 15 terraces atop a government building in Japan. This green roof features a whopping 35,000 plants representing 76 different species. A window office in this building will get you the best view the of the city, hands down.
5. Historial de la Vendée in Les-Lucs-sur-Boulogne, France
Image: Simon Garbutt
Nearly two acres of green space featuring native species was incorporated into the roof at Historial de la Vendée in France. The museum opened in June 2006.
6. Chicago City Hall, United States
Image: TonyTheTiger
One of the examples of green roofs built in the United States is the one that exists on top of Chicago City Hall. Although the roof is not normally accessible to the public, views from surrounding buildings reveal an organized sunburst pattern that is in keeping with the symmetry of the building’s architecture.
7. California Academy of Sciences, United States
Image: Adam Kuban
A visit to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park must now also include a tour of the outstanding 2.5 acre green roof of the California Academy of Sciences. The Academy claims that the building consumes an amazing 30-35% less energy than required by code.
8. School of Art and Design, Singapore
Image: Green Roofs
Wouldn’t you like to study here? A curving green roof protects a five-story glass building that allows for ample sunlight to shine in and pretty views to look out to. Simply inspiring.
For more pictures of amazing green roofs, check out Green Roofs Australia.
Labels: Extraordinary, Industry News, Top of The Top, Unique, World, World’s Biggest Things
Posted by Ome7 at 6:23 AM 0 comments
Image via Tiscali
Earth Day is not only a time to reflect on the many ways in which we could improve our environment but also a chance to appreciate the beauty of the world we live in. The following ten artistic renditions of our planet demonstrate that how we look at the Earth is up to our imagination.
1. Belgium artist Jan Fabre’s “Globe” (1997) made of bugs: 
Image via Kiwisphere
2. Brick artist Nathan Sawaya’s rendition of the Earth in Lego bricks:
Image via Brickartist
3. “Eartha,” the world’s largest revolving and rotating globe, weighing almost 3 tons, at DeLorme headquarters in Yarmouth, ME: 
Image via Stagestrucktours
4. A globe many would like to visit at least once in their lifetime: North Cape or Nordkapp, Europe’s most famous northernmost point: 
Image: Marc Jetzkowitz
5. This author’s all-time favourite hangout, the Unisphere in Flushing Meadow’s Corona Park, a beautiful remnant from New York City’s World Fair of 1964/65:
Image: Magnus Manske
Or how about a globe you can walk into? It is actually a 30-ft bridge covered with a stained-glass dome that has brought more than 10 million visitors to the middle of the earth since 1935. But don’t get confused, it also depicts the world as it was in 1935!
6. A walk-in Earth at the Mapparium in Boston’s Mary Baker Eddy Library: 
Image via Mary Baker Eddy Library
7. Here’s a globe many would love to dig into – the Earth made of chocolate. Created for a United Nations meeting in Switzerland in 2008, that’s one sweet reminder of global warming:
Image via Excellence Bakery
Hiroshi Matsui, professor at Japan’s Otemae Confectionary College, had the same idea. His students created a 3 m-diameter chocolate globe for a college festival in 2007, using 35,000 coloured chocolate truffles for decoration. Sweet!
Image via Tiscali
Landscape architects Tracy Taylor, Lisa Gregg, Jennifer Simokaitis, Jeaneane Quinn and Hoerr Schaudt used 2,000 colourful seed packets for their project, “Be Inspired,” in which the Earth grows out of a flower pot. Viewers might indeed feel inspired to get in touch with their inner gardener by growing fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers at home, thus reducing the number of packaged and shipped store-bought produce.
8. “Be Inspired,” the Earth made of seed packets at a U.S. Botanical Garden exhibition in Washington, DC:
Image: Kimberley Faye
And, in a similar vein, “Green Roofs Save Energy”” by Deborah Adams Doering at the same exhibition:
Image: Kimberly Faye
9. The Earth carved out of wood at an exhibition in Goettingen, Germany: 
Image via Nepalese Society
10. Here’s a lovely homemade globe crafted from a potato; after all, the tuber is called an “apple of the earth” in many languages: 
Image: Ilia Chentsoy
Staying with the do-it-yourself idea, here’s a historical paper globe from 1881 that one can make at home:
Image via Myweb
So what are you waiting for, get creative this Earth Day!
Labels: Creative Photo, People, Top of The Top, Unique, World’s Biggest Things
Posted by Ome7 at 6:15 AM 0 comments
