Proceed to GeoCommunity Home Page


SpatialNewsGIS Data DepotGeoImaging ChannelGIS and MappingSoftwareGIS JobsGeoBids-RFPsGeoCommunity MarketplaceGIS Event Listings
HomeLoginAccountsAboutContactAdvertiseSearchFAQsForumsCartFree Newsletter

Sponsored by:


TOPICS
Today's News

Submit News

Feature Articles

Product Reviews

Education

News Affiliates

Discussions

Newsletters

Email Lists

Polls

Editor's Corner


SpatialNews Daily Newswire!
Subscribe now!

Latest Industry Headlines
SuperGeo to hold Biodiversity and Tourism GIS Training Courses
Merrick Awarded IDIQ by Corps of Engineers, Mobile District
Nottinghamshire Stops Vehicle Thieves in Their Tracks Thanks to Masternaut
GGP's GIS Addresses Corporate Information Needs in South Northamptonshire
ESRI GIS Services Available on Apps.gov

Latest GeoBids-RFPs
Aerial Photography*UK
Map Making-PL
Soil Moistre Mapping-SD
ArcGIS Data
Wetland Inventories-OR

Recent Job Opportunities
Marketing Specialist - Eonfusion - Full Time
Account Manager - Eonfusion - Full Time
GIS Developer
Senior GIS Applications Programmer

Recent Discussions
clr file DEM USGS
information or refrence for books
Opening .mxd file created in ArcGIS 9.3 ver
New GIS web: Using GIS architecture to play
Problem downloading e00 files - please help!

SpatialNews.com Press Release

The House That Maps Built
Printer Friendly versionPrinter Friendly


London-based architects, Amenity Space, have received international praise for their unique recycled building blocks made entirely out of disused maps.

The Map Compression Block–which stacks Ordnance Survey maps on top of each other to create a heat efficient and strong building brick–was honoured at the San Francisco Urban Re:Vision Awards.

The award recognised the project’s innovative approach to producing an eco-friendly and sustainable building material.

Nicky Kirk, a Director at Amenity Space, comments: “We are truly delighted to win this award, especially given the quality of the other entries.

“The project began when we started talking to Ordnance Survey about a programme for recycling discarded maps; the building block idea really grew from there. The bricks we’ve created not only have greater density than a 250-mm thick concrete block but also have similar strength.”

The project works by drilling holes through the centre of each map, which is then placed over a series of steel rods fixed to a timber rail. The sides are then clad with a fire and waterproof layer and the maps compressed until they make up a solid panel.

Nicky continues. “At the moment, 12,000 maps are sitting in our offices and Ordnance Survey is able to offer us a reliable source. With people keen to look at environmentally friendly building processes, the map block could represent a sustainable solution.”

Gill Blake, from Ordnance Survey’s marketing department, comments: “Maps are incredibly versatile, but we never expected someone to turn them into building blocks! This is a great example of recycling in action, and I’d like to congratulate the Amenity Space team for having their work recognised with this award. “I look forward to one day visiting the first map-made building!”




Sponsored by:

For information
regarding
advertising rates
Click Here!

Copyright© 1995-2009 MindSites Group, LLC / Privacy Policy

GeoCommunity™, Wireless Developer Network™, GIS Data Depot®, and Spatial News™
including all logos and other service marks
are registered trademarks and trade communities of
MindSites Group, LLC