The Dirt

With the Call for Entries for ASLA’s 2008 Professional and Student awards released this week, are you in need of some inspiration? If so, then watch the 2007 ASLA Professional Awards videos, narrated by none other than Susan Stamberg of National Public Radio: •    General Design •    Residential Design •    Analysis & Planning •    Research [...]

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Eric Wieland, ASLA, is also known as Capt. Wieland of the National Guard, and serves as a company commander in the eastern sector of Kosovo with NATO’s 16,000 strong Kosovo Forces (KFOR). Newsweek recently interviewed Wieland and others engaged in peacekeeping in the uneasy Eastern European state. In “Kosovo: That Other NATO Mission” Wieland discusses [...]

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This week Slate.com’s architecture critic, Witold Rybczynski, Hon. ASLA, has an interesting piece on the history of naming architecture firms. The Dirt is glad that Witold mentions the most noticeable trend: the “+” replacing the ampersand “among the smart set.” If you’re just setting out with your own firm or just dreaming about it, give [...]

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a new feature to their website: “Ask EPA” is a weekly online forum where visitors can ask EPA staff questions on topics like recycling and various EPA campaigns. The forum began this month. This Thursday, Susan Bodine, Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response at EPA, [...]

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Last week the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched an online clearing house for information about drought conditions in the US. The site (officially named the National Integrated Drought Information System or NIDIS) provides a wealth of information about current drought conditions around the country, analyzes their impacts, and forecasts about future drought conditions. [...]

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It looks like the folks at NBC Universal (owners of eight television channels, Universal Pictures, and more) have gotten bitten by the green bug. This week is the beginning of NBC’s  “Green is Universal” campaign, with a seven days of green-themed programming “aimed at entertaining, informing and empowering Americans to lead greener lives.” All of [...]

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From Dwell magazine’s recently relaunched blog, here’s an idea for urban farming. An Israeli company Knafo Klimor Architects has created a plan for “agro-housing,” placing large greenhouses inside high-rise buildings. From the company’s website: “Advantages of this innovative building typology: Produces food for tenants and the surrounding community. Produces organic and healthy food that is [...]

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