Cycling in China has been an essential mode of transport for the last century – both for goods and people. Despite the rise in popularity in scooters and electric bikes, the common pedal bicycle and rickshaws is still an overwhelming sight around China’s cities. I was recently introduced to the Treecycle, a bamboo trike, which has been developed by Shanghai based husband and wife team of Chris and Florian Trees aimed at making pedal travel more efficient, and environmentally friendly. Read more on Better City, Better Trike…
Filed under China EcoBuild, GIGA on EcoBuild by on May 12th, 2010. 1 Comment. 
GIGA blog recently spoke with Pius Leuba, head of a new one-year study program ‘Master of Advanced Studies in Sustainable Development in Architecture’ at the Life Quality Laboratory in Shenzhen. The Department of Architecture at the Bern University of Applied Sciences is the developer and administrator of the program. The criteria for incoming students are that they are Chinese mid-career architects or design professionals with several years of practice experience who seek to continue their education and become competent in the field of sustainable building. The first intake hails predominantly from the Guangdong region, with a few coming from cities further afield such as Hangzhou. Ages range between 35-50 and professional backgrounds vary from owners of local design firms, directors, partners, to project managers. Read more on Green Studies…
Filed under China EcoBuild, GIGA on EcoBuild by on Apr 14th, 2010. 1 Comment.
Last week I was particularly excited by the news that the British Pavilion was completed when David Miliband inserted the last acrylic hair into the “Dandelion”, as it has been nicknamed by Chinese people. Officially named “Seed Cathedral” it is a fuzzy cube formed from 60,000 slender transparent rods, extending from the structure. During the day, the 7.5-meter long rods will act like fibre optic filaments, drawing in daylight to illuminate the interior. At night, light sources at the interior end of each rod will allow the whole structure to glow.
The journey into the Seed Cathedral introduces the opportunity for change, growth and ideas embodied in seeds. Read more on The dandelion unveiled…
Filed under China EcoBuild, GIGA on EcoBuild by on Apr 6th, 2010. Comment.
As the Expo descends closer, this month noticeably marked by the completion of the Chinese pavilion, the GIGA blog will be featuring stories about the Expo. Incredibly the Expo is the third largest event in the world (economic and cultural impact) after the World Cup and Olympics. The Expo has been around for one and a half centuries with the first one held in The Crystal Palace in London in 1851. Titled “Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations” it exhibited manufactured products. Many of the subsequent Expos featured national pavilions created by the participating countries.
Filed under GIGA on EcoBuild by on Mar 1st, 2010. 1 Comment.
撰写: Ryan Dick, 循绿(GIGA) 项目主管
翻译: 周玲玲, 循绿(GIGA) 研究协助员
循绿(GIGA)的理论支柱
循绿(GIGA)始终致力于推动积极的影响——为改善我们的环境而努力(比如让空气、土壤和水体变得更干净)。对于我们而言，材料是产生影响的基本单元，因为它们是构成我们周边事物的元素——您的衣服、电脑、建筑、汽车，所有的一切。为材料赋予价值促进了它们得以逐步改善，并立即触发积极的行动。还想更清楚吗？ Read more on 循绿(GIGA)博客和论坛：一个环保社团…
Filed under China EcoBuild, GIGA on EcoBuild by on Feb 11th, 2010. Comment.
December saw Copenhagen thrust into the global spotlight. The world watched in suspense to see whether the 193-nation and 45,000 participant United Nations conference would yield a new global agreement on climate change. The outcome was disappointing to say the least – with delegates simply “taking note” of a climate deal that recognised the need to limit temperature rises to 2C.
Filed under China EcoBuild, EcoBuild News, GIGA on EcoBuild, Global Concerns by on Feb 11th, 2010. Comment.
