Italian innovators Andrea Sesta and Daniela Galvani have launched [im]possible living: a web community born to "map and give new life to abandoned buildings."
The site aims to draw attention to the availability of vacant structures regardless of ownership, offering an open database where buildings can be submitted for publicity, discussion, and possible "rescue" efforts. The developers envision the site as a link between the general public, members of the AEC and development community, and financial groups who might be interested in revitalization projects. Though housing was the initial impetus, additional project types are contemplated.
"[im]possible living wants to be an enabler, a catalyst," the creators say. Mapping abandoned buildings is the initial focus, with hundreds of European facilities already entered. About 20 U.S. sites are represented so far, including a windshield-wiper plant in Buffalo, the shapely Art Moderne building that once housed the Atlanta Constitution, and a 19th Century "insane asylum" in Rochester, N.Y.
The video below features an interview with Sesta and Galvani, discussing their dream for the web community.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSJz05d4jao
Related Stories
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Growing green building market supports 661,000 green jobs in the U.S.
Green jobs are already an important part of the construction labor workforce, and signs are that they will become industry standard.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Dow Corning features new silicone weather barrier sealant
Modular Design Architecture >Dow Corning 758 sealant used in GreenZone modular high-performance medical facility.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: NEXT Living EcoSuite showcased
Tridel teams up with Cisco and Control4 to unveil the future of green condo living in Canada.
| Oct 6, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Kingspan Insulated Panels spotlights first-of-its-kind Environmental Product Declaration
Updates to Path to NetZero.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Johnson Controls announces Panoptix, a new approach to building efficiency
Panoptix combines latest technology, new business model and industry-leading expertise to make building efficiency easier and more accessible to a broader market.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Software an architectural game changer
Interactive modeling software transforms the designbuild process.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Tile manufacturer attains third-party certification for waste recycling processes
Crossville has joined with TOTO to recycle that company’s pre-consumer fired sanitary ware.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Sustainable construction should stress durability as well as energy efficiency
There is now a call for making enhanced resilience of a building’s structure to natural and man-made disasters the first consideration of a green building.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Solar PV canopy system expanded for architectural market
Turnkey systems create an aesthetic architectural power plant.
| Oct 5, 2011
GREENBUILD 2011: Kohler builds sustainable booth at Greenbuild 2011
In a setting composed of reclaimed materials, biodegradable signage, energy-efficient lighting and more, exhibitor highlights its new products with ecological awareness.
