ENVIRONMENT As climate change ups the risk of extreme weather, a student-built house that can withstand storms wins this year’s Solar Decathlon. (Nat Geo News) Use our resources to learn more about solar architecture. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Watch this super-short video to see the winning design from New Jersey’s Stevens Institute of Technology. Discussion … Continue reading World’s Best Solar Homes
ARTS Architecture generally involves creating monuments from materials like steel, stone, and concrete. Yet this year, the discipline’s top award is going to a man who is best known for making temporary shelters out of paper tubes, largely for victims of natural hazards. (New York Times) Use our resources to learn more about architecture. Discussion Ideas Architect Shigeru Ban is well-known for using portable and … Continue reading ‘Cardboard’ Architect Wins Substantial Prize
UNITED STATES Chinatowns are at risk of disappearing due to accelerated gentrification, according to a new report. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) surveyed Chinatowns in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia and found that the Asian populations in all communities are decreasing while rent and median housing value are increasing. (China Daily) Use our resources to better understand neighborhoods and cultural diversity … Continue reading Chinatowns Threatened by Gentrification
