In an exclusive interview, Emanuel Mattutini, one of the first Foster & Partners’ Associate Partners to move to the UAE, talked to Green Prophet about Dubai’s next era of development and his new architectural firm. Dubai’s next era of development will be entirely more sane than the last, according to Italian architect Emanuele Mattutini. Formerly […]
The first Masdar city Market Street Fair and Organic Market was a huge hit among expats and Emiratis! Green Prophet was there. See exclusive pictures below. Hundreds of expatriates and Emiratis attended Masdar City’s first Market Street Fair and Organic Market this past Friday. A friendly family affair complete with cotton candy, clowns, and princess […]
Help save the world’s first green synagogue which is currently under threat of closing down due to financial difficulties Here at Green Prophet, nothing makes us happier than when faith embraces green ethics. From anti-consumerist Ramadans, eco Passovers and Purims to celebrating the Persian autumn festival, there really is something that everyone of faith can […]
Before we know it, the Middle Eastern sun will be hot enough to fry eggs on the sidewalk and kids will want to stay inside in front of televisions to escape the heat. But DI Berhard Gruber has designed a playground that is not only cool enough to play in, but also teaches kids about […]
Middle East city planners take note: These seven steps to creating more efficient cities could literally save the world. Cities account for 80% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), 30% of which are generated in Canada and the United States. Both countries have massive sprawling cities, where the super-highway model reigns supreme. But […]
This beautiful temple of light creates a subliminal healing effect for distraught visitors as soon as they enter its doors. Goodness knows we could use a little healing. Japanese residents are faced with a potential nuclear meltdown, the consequences of which are almost too horrible to imagine. Libyans are experiencing untold suffering as one man […]
After four years, the O-14 is finally complete, and is as righteous as it is “holey.” Dubai has been eclipsed recently by a host of exciting developments in Abu Dhabi and Qatar, the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup. In part, this is because the splashy Emirate was forced to adopt a […]
The Azouri brothers and architect Keren Yedvub leave no stone unturned. Their 20-storey “eco-tower” overturns the old n’ ugly world order with a building that is bold, beautiful, and deeply sustainable. The Azouri Brothers’ eco-tower is growing greener and greener by the day. Already featuring a whole host of attributes that make their 20 storey office building as livable […]
Moshe Safdie exports his pixelated design concept to Qinhuangdao, China Israeli-born architect Moshe Safdie is famous for his “Habitat 67” design created for that year’s Montreal World Fair. And though his “Safdie Plan” for Jerusalem was somewhat controversial, his talent has since gathered in strength and now features throughout the world. The most recent commission […]
Nabito Architects in Barcelona are negotiating with Abu Dhabi engineers to build these stunning sustainable skyscrapers. Dubai’s skyline is going to look increasingly dull compared to what is planned for Abu Dhabi. In addition to Masdar City and the Lunar Cubit energy-generating pyramids that won the Land Art Generator Initiative’s 2010 design competition, a new […]
From luxury architecture in Mecca to the blinged-out buildings of Dubai, it seems that Islamic architecture is all about opulence and grandeur. The bigger and the more lavish- the better but it hasn’t always been like this. In the past, Islamic architecture relied on natural materials and some of the most iconic Islamic buildings were […]
If you’re looking to rest your laurels somewhere warm and eco-friendly, why not consider Tunisia, the world’s most egalitarian Arab nation. Tunisia is the Arab world’s best secret. Not only does it boast high home ownership, high literacy, and good health care coverage, but it is so egalitarian that the First Lady boasts they don’t […]
The Princess worries that her ancestors would be horrified at our present waste of resources. Perhaps the new Dutch embassy in Amman would placate them? Jordan’s HRH Princess Samaya evoked traditional Arab values at the grand opening of the Dutch Embassy’s new Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) certified building in Amman yesterday. Pointing […]
The Al Fahidi Fort is just one historical building in the UAE that would be placed under federal protection if a new architectural law passes Details of past events – notable battles and people – may be recorded in books or passed down through oratory. But buildings such as this sextet of cave homes in […]
Architecturally excellent, the following five projects are also deemed by His Highness Aga Khan to be the most likely to improve quality of life for Muslims throughout the world. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture was established in 1977. Every three years since then, His Highness Aga Khan, the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili […]
Winner of Chicago-based contest, could this be the world’s greenest mosque? That nature and religion make good green fellows has recently been the source of much media emphasis. Since appealing to the public’s rational mind (the planet is burning up, shouldn’t we adjust our behavior accordingly?) has been wildly ineffective, then perhaps a more God-fearing […]
ECOWEEK is at it again, this time looking for green building solutions to Tantur, a theological school based in Beit Jala. ECOWEEK unites budding, newly-minted, and established architects from around the world to sketch modern solutions to enduring challenges. Earlier this year, ECOWEEK – founded by Elias Messinas, an Israeli-Greek green architect – arranged lectures […]
With too much brilliance to choose from, judges of last week’s 72 Hour Urban Action Competition in Israel awarded two first prizes. It is less cumbersome than we’d like to believe to give densely packed urban centers a sustainable facelift. This was demonstrated last week during the 72 Hour Urban Action Initiative that tasked 120 […]
Though the Burj won top project of the year, a little-known Sudanese project gets top kudos for its sustainability It may be tall, and it may be grand, but we don’t think the Burj Khalifa is worth boasting about. Even so, this towering blight on Dubai’s sustainable horizon took “project of the year” at the […]
“Cancer City”: Even if Masdar City does materialize against all odds, Nicolai Ouroussoff doubts its relevance to the rest of the sustainable world. The New York Times critic Nicolai Ouroussoff has diverted the Masdar City argument from a project that might not lift off – the laughing stock of the Middle East – to something […]
Israel-China deals, green synagogues, droughts and more headlines related to Israeli cleantech and the environment. Solaer, a Spanish renewable energy company, is expecting to claim 10% of the the Israeli PV solar market within five years. Progress is being made on the construction of Tel Aviv’s first green office tower, as well as on Ormat […]
From New York to Egypt, Arab architects and designers show that it’s possible to be cool and environmentally responsible. At Green Prophet, we are always happy to celebrate talented designers who care about the environment and nothing gets us more excited then when they are from the Middle East/North Africa region. So, I have put […]
Think of Israel and high tech, and the first word that pops into most minds is…Intel. Since setting up shop in the country in 1974, Intel Israel has been responsible for developing the Pentium and Centrino chips which power most PCs around the world. But in the future, if you put together Intel and Israel, […]
When the controversy subsides and construction begins, “Park 51,” otherwise known as the “Ground Zero Mosque,” will be LEED certified Green mosques are sprouting up all over the world. We brought news of the first eco-mosque in Cambridge, but now in the midst of the chaos and controversy surrounding the Ground Zero Mosque, organizers have […]
Check out Merav Feiglin’s Trashlights, mosaics, and other recycled material artwork between August 25th-27th. When Tel Aviv does something, sooner or later everyone else wants to do it too. For years Tel Aviv has devoted one weekend a year to celebrating its architecture, putting on a “Houses from Within” festival. (In recent years the festival […]