Of course, that means my son will be bringing home loads and loads of old school papers, most of which we really don’t need to keep.  Perhaps we should get this multifunctional paper shredder/coffee table?  Actually, with the way things are going for BP in the Gulf, they might want to invest in a bunch of them for all their executives soon.  Just sayin’.  (Design Sponge)

Sadly, I point you now to the final installment of the Cardboard Fort Architecture series.  This scholarly set of posts has been full of architectural achievement and analysis the likes of which you rarely see.  OK.  Actually, it’s just damn hilarious – and the kids are SO cute! (Build Blog)

So what do you think about the recent study claiming LEED certification does nothing to ensure the interior environment isn’t still toxic? (re-nest)

I was so happy to see my friends at L.A. Box Collective mentioned on Inhabitat!  If you are in SoCal, you should check out their new show. (Inhabitat)

The new issue of Lonny is here!  Now if I could only get an iPad to read it on, my life would be (almost) complete. (Table Tonic)

And speaking of iPads, if I ever do get one, this is what I’m going to put it in. (Inhabitat)

That’s it for now.  Wishing you a blissful weekend!

OK.  So I’m a little late to the party.  Just over a year tardy actually.  However, the new California Academy of Sciences museum was well worth the wait.

Awarded LEED Platinum certification in October of 2008, the Academy is considered the largest green museum in the world.   Using a simplified palette of concrete, steel and wood, the building itself could come across as rather bleak, if it weren’t for the amazingly rich greens and blues of the living systems housed within.

Containing its own planetarium, a 4 story rainforest, and an aquarium with over 38,000 different animals, this building took a considerable amount of planning.  According to the academy’s website, their sustainable achievements towards LEED certification included:

• 90% of all demolition materials were recycled
• 32,000 tons of sand from foundation excavation applied to dune restoration projects in San Francisco
• 95% of all steel from recycled sources
• 15% fly ash (a recycled coal by-product), 35% slag in concrete
• 50% of lumber harvested from sustainable-yield forests
• 68% of insulation comes from recycled blue jeans
• 90% of office space will have natural light and ventilation
• 60,000 photovoltaic cells; 213,000 kilowatt-hours
• 30% less energy consumption than federal code requirement

I was lucky in that we had a beautiful, sunny day in San Francisco to enjoy the play of light and shadow within the building.  The central open area acts as a light well for the rest of the building, and cleverly integrated sound baffling prevents you from feeling you are in a giant tin can.  Not always the easiest thing to achieve in a concrete, steel and glass building!

A band of photovoltaic cells along the edge of the building’s canopy provides up to 10% of the energy needs for the facility, as well as being a nice design element.

Of course, the star of the show to many architects and designers is the amazing green roof.  Here, I was lucky I had to wait a year to visit, for the plants are now well established and, even in November the humming of bees was everywhere.

With hills and dales reflecting the rise and fall of the interior ceiling, the rolling green softness of the roof creates a sense of optimism in me.  Here is something man created that gives back to the environment, rather than taking away.

Perhaps though, I’m just reminded of another place of simple, happy joys…