green :: a toast to the tree

Even though Christmas is officially over, I'm still in the Christmas Spirit, are you? And getting ready to celebrate the New Year at the end of the week, too! So what's more apropos then this clever Christmas Tree created by the Heineken Beer Company? This gargantuan green glass (and all these bottles are full too!) Christmas Tree stands at the front of the Nanjing road mall in Shanghai.

Heineken has always been clever with its beer bottles; Warren has written how in the sixties they considered redesigning them to work as bricks. Now in China, they are using them to build Christmas trees - right now these bottles are full - yet soon to be recycled (I wonder how this tree will be looking at midnight on New Years Eve?!)  How JUST COOL!

via Recylart and treehugger

architecture :: recycled pooch pad

Greypants Inc. is a "design firm" in Seattle that makes a difference through creative recycling. Take for instance this uncommon dog abode!

With old windows from behind the garage, basement scraps of wood,leftover cedar siding + one generous souvenir left by the road crew, they built a dog shelter and then auctioned  it off at an annual bark in the park to help aid mistreated animals. SWEET!

The people behind the company, Seth, Jon, and Jonathan are architects. Their mission:

We strive to come up with designs and ideas that are thoughtful and have an impact, whether it be furniture, lighting, architecture or graphics. each one of our projects has a unique story and we try to explore new ideas to redefine how design can have a greater impact. most importantly, we have fun doing it! we enjoy collaborating with all walks of life – that is where we find true inspiration. we want to let the beauty of what we love be what we do.

Greypants Inc - yup, it's JUST COOL!