This design/build competition, sponsored by the Washington Architectural Foundation, features amazing structures made entirely of canned goods by local architecture and construction teams. Canstruction benefits the Capital Area Food Bank. See entries on display in the Great Hall from November 22–29 and watch De-Canstruction on November 30 as the teams disassemble their entries to donate the canned food used in their projects. Visit go.nbm.org/canstruction for more information.
In today’s world “going green” has become a top priority in our society, and sustainable buildings and design are at the forefront of this green revolution. While many designers are focusing on passive and active energy systems, the reuse of recycled materials is beginning to stand out as an innovative, highly effective, and artistic expression of sustainable design. Reusing materials from existing on site and nearby site elements such as trees, structures, and paving is becoming a trend in the built environment, however more unorthodox materials such as soda cans and tires are being discovered as recyclable building materials. Materials and projects featured after the break.