Unlocking Happiness with Nature and Building Science

It has a name: Biophilia. It means “love of life or living things,” and it was coined by social psychologist Erich Fromm in 1964.  But designers and architects have intuitively known that connecting our loving spaces to other living spaces is a recipe for happy humans. Writer Katie Scott recently penned a nice overview of […] The post Unlocking Happiness with Nature and Building Science appeared first on NELMA.

To the moon!

In 2018, NELMA’s popular Sustainable Versatility Design Awards announced a new challenge for architect and design students: Design a sustainable domicile on the moon made primarily of wood.  Well, it’s happening.  Soft of. In a recent article titled, “NASA and Japan to launch world’s first wooden satellite” the Times of India website described a collaboration […] The post To the moon! appeared first on NELMA.

Four wooden stilted structures host zero-emission resort’s suites amongst centuries-old trees

From our friends at DesignBoom: Terme Preistoriche Resort & Spa in Montegrotto Terme (PD) in Italy introduces the Preistoriche Green Lodge designed by Studio Apostoli, showcasing an eco-friendly approach to hospitality. Seven suites are integrated into four wooden stilted structures, interconnected through a raised system of ramps, walkways, and accessible terraces. The project preserves the roots of age-old trees using 160 […] The post Four wooden stilted structures host zero-emission resort’s suites amongst centuries-old trees appeared first on NELMA.

Of Wood and Glass

Picture this:  You’re sitting in your newly remodeled lakeside cabin.  Your architect talked a lot about being inspired by the surrounding nature and wanted to pay tribute to the land by showcasing wood inside as a central design element. But you can’t see out of the cabin because the architect didn’t also bring the outside […] The post Of Wood and Glass appeared first on NELMA.

Builder Summit Experiments with Construction Techniques to Revive an Abandoned Quarry in Hungary

It’s no secret that we are big fans of Hello Wood, a creative architecture firm focused on showcasing wood and other sustainable materials.  They recently re-birthed their Build Summit where students, architects, and young professionals from all across the world to join the 10-day builder camp to test their wooden construction abilities, learn to collaborate, […] The post Builder Summit Experiments with Construction Techniques to Revive an Abandoned Quarry in Hungary appeared first on NELMA.

The Modern Farmhouse Trend

Modern Farmhouse, Rustic Contemporary, Country Modern, Industrial Cozy, whatever you call it, the trend of combining the natural and aged materials as well as traditional wooden or stone furnishings is hot. These material choices are often used to create a homey and welcoming atmosphere that is somewhat reminiscent of a farmhouse style. Here are 4 […] The post The Modern Farmhouse Trend appeared first on NELMA.

Three Facts About Eastern White Pine.

1.  The tallest tree in New York is a white pine, standing at 174′ tall.   In 2021, the white pine known as Tree 103, which stood in a grove and was last measured at 160 ft., fell down. However, in June 2022, a new giant tree was discovered near Bolton, believed to be New York’s […] The post Three Facts About Eastern White Pine. appeared first on NELMA.

Upgrade your basement upside.

The basement renovation project is a hot one, often tackled by DIY homeowners. An often overlooked opportunity for these renovations is to look up.  The right ceiling can, er, elevate your DIY project to new levels.  Here are a few ideas from the pros at Bobbilla.com. 1.  Natural Wooden Planks Give your man of woman […] The post Upgrade your basement upside. appeared first on NELMA.

We’ve got you surrounded.

This is not the first time we have featured design firm Hello Wood on the NELMA blog (See Jet House here),  and this public project is another inspiring way that the design firm is engaging consumers (aka humans) by surrounding them with wood. Budapest-based design studio Hello Wood has completed a public installation that utilizes the interplay […] The post We’ve got you surrounded. appeared first on NELMA.

Sleek, Dark and Sexy

Were it not for the liberal use of wood (and plants), this black, red and grey modern interior could be very cold. It’s certainly edgy.  As visualized by Dasha K, this design showcases how bright red accents invigorate the space, while wood tones and indoor plants add warmth and visual interest.  While perhaps not everyone’s cup […] The post Sleek, Dark and Sexy appeared first on NELMA.