Retrofitting Suburbia

Ellen Dunham-Jones, director of the architecture program at Georgia Tech, has done quite a bit of research on retrofitting suburbia. In her new book - Retrofitting Suburbia - written with co-author June Williamson, solutions for revitalizing "under-performing" sprawl spaces are explored and documented.

Click here to view a fascinating TED talk by Dunham-Jones on reclaiming the suburbs.

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Home Recycling

Now here's an example of recycling on a big scale.

Instead of razing the home and carting debris off to the landfill, this enterprising crew is hauling a little cottage off to begin a new life.

Adaptive re-use can happen in a number of ways. Move and re-site a home. Build loft apartments in old warehouses. Convert an empty big box store into a skating rink or a community center.

Curbside recycling indeed.