December 2011

World.edu

http://world.edu/




World.edu describes itself as "an international source of information and opportunities - providing and promoting skills, jobs, technologies, products and ideas that have a positive impact on the environment, economy and quality of life." Though based in Australia, World.edu's coverage appears international - drawing from over 30 bloggers and 20 partner organisations, the site features original educational articles and blog posts across the five main categories of Business and Politics, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Social Change, and Sustainable Living. There is also plenty of coverage of jobs, courses, events and campaigns that are related to readers' interests. Visually, the site strikes just the right balance of advertising, content and white space, while clear and colour-coded menus ensure that getting around is easy. Overall, then, World.edu succeeds as a resource that is attractive, engaging and rich. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-051211-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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November 2011

ESI.info

http://www.esi.info/




ESI.info describes itself as "a leading online marketplace of products, services and suppliers working in architecture, construction and environmental engineering." The website is free to use and aims to provide designers, specifiers and buyers with an easy way to research, select and specify products and services across built environment projects. A colour-coded menu on the clean and attractive homepage provides access to sections covering External Works, Building Design, Building Services, Interior Design and Environmental Engineering; once inside, users can access over 11,000 illustrated product profiles, featuring specification information and company details. The function to compare and save lists of product selections for use in live or future projects is especially useful. It's easy for a site based around specification information to be dull and stodgy, but ESI.info's lively and well-illustrated pages ensure that the site is lovely to look at as well as an invaluable resource. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-051211-04
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Resources
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October 2011

MLT Architects

http://www.mltarchitects.co.uk/




MLT Architects describes itself as "a leading RIBA-chartered architects practice", offering full architect services, master planning and CDM coordination from its base in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. In addition to information on these services, the site also includes details and photgraphs of completed projects, organised by type. A short description is provided for each project, alongside plentiful - and stunning - images that expand to fill the full screen. Architects' sites have a habit of being overcomplicated, but MLT's is a simple and beautiful approach that lets the company's work do most of the talking. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-051211-03
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Services
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September 2011

The Ground Trades Xchange

http://www.groundtradesxchange.com/




Focused on the US, the Ground Trades Xchange is "a landscape community message board where people in the industry (arborists, hardscapers, softscapers, educators, landscape architects and designers) discuss various topics pertaining to the industry, including business operations, installation techniques, upcoming legislation or anything else that is on the minds of people in the industry". The numerous forums are certainly very well-used, while a 'Suggested Reading' section features books recommended by the site's readers. An impressive resource. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-130205-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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August 2011

New Urbanism

http://www.newurbanism.org/




According to the site, "New Urbanism is the most important planning movement this century... It is an international movement to reform the design of the built environment, and is about raising our quality of life and standard of living by creating better places to live. New Urbanism is the revival of our lost art of place-making, and is essentially a re-ordering of the built environment into the form of complete cities, towns, villages, and neighbourhoods - the way communities have been built for centuries around the world. New Urbanism involves fixing and infilling cities, as well as the creation of compact new towns and villages". The site is a content rich resource dedicated to this theme of "creating livable sustainable communities". Copiously illustrated and full of excellent content, sections of the site cover news, conferences and events, books, and professional services in the 'Marketplace' directory. Other sections address key issues relating to New Urbanism, including sprawl, sustainability, transport and 'pedestrian cities'. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Dec 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: urb-310803-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Urban Design » Resources
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July 2011

Wonderland

http://www.wonderland.cx/




Based in Vienna, Wonderland badges itself as a "platform for European architecture", and a "network for young Europe-oriented architecture practices aiming [for] experience, information and knowledge exchange." According to the site, "Wonderland continuously initiates collaboration projects with international teams to foster inter-European exchange, organises Project Spaces, Blind Dates and symposia, conducts research on current challenges and approaches in the field of architecture as well as urban planning, and shares results with members and the public by means of exhibitions and publications." Neatly designed and very easy to get around, the site includes details on all these projects as well as information about the Wonderland magazine - "a publication about the architectural profession - focusing on 'how' and not 'what'" - and the latest press releases and reports. Thirteen countries are currently represented in the network, but Wonderland is promising to "expand our network and strengthen our presence in Europe." In a nice touch, each page displays the name, photo and country of one of Wonderland's member architecture teams - helping to give a sense of how Wonderland is, indeed, bringing creative people together. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Jul 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-050711-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Austria
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Organisations
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June 2011

Allegretti Architects, Santa Fe, New Mexico

http://www.gregallegretti.com/




Allegretti Architects specialises in "fine designs appropriate to the unique environment and traditions of Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico." The site's homepage features architectural news and events of local interest, while the core of the site is an extensive illustrated project portfolio. Useful and attractively presented resource content - such as a short article about the influence of climate on the local regional architectural styles, and a piece on passive solar design - appears throughout, alongside links to other sites of contextual interest. Many architecture practice websites prioritise slickness over content, and it's refreshing to find one that instead emphasises substance over style. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Jul 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-050711-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Services
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May 2011

Eltis

http://www.eltis.org/




Eltis describes itself as "Europe's number one information web portal on urban transport and mobility", and "a source, and a place to exchange, information, knowledge and experience in clean urban transport across the whole of Europe." Funded by the European Commission DG-MOVE and aimed at people working in transport and related areas - such as urban and regional development, academia, health, energy and environmental sciences - Eltis's elegant homepage makes a positive first impression. Sections cover European transport news and events, while an excellent case studies area showcases examples of successful urban transport initiatives and strategies. The site also features a series of videos highlighting "outstanding examples of sustainable transport measures and approaches", and (under the 'Services' heading) a photo library with free-to-access images related to clean urban transport. Combining useful content with an attractive look throughout, Eltis is a great resource, and well worth a closer look. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 23 May 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: tra-230511-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Austria
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Transport » Resources
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April 2011

The Scottish Civic Trust

http://www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk/




The Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967 and is Scotland's only voluntary organisation working to raise the quality of the whole built environment. According to its site, the Trust seeks to "encourage excellence in the conservation of the past, in contemporary architecture and planning and in effective public education and participation in all these concerns". Redesigned and beefed up since our last review, the site includes the core information you would expect about the Trust and its work, covering topics such as Buildings at Risk, the annual Doors Open Days, MyPlaceAwards and the Civic Trust Network. The new Resources section is especially useful - it features a wide range of downloadable publications, guidance, links and information designed to help local groups and individuals enhance the built and historic environment, and really adds weight and value to what had previously been a slightly disappointing site. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 23 May 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: her-200805-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Heritage » Organisations
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March 2011

Diggers & Dreamers - The Guide to Communal Living in Britain

http://www.diggersanddreamers.org.uk/




Diggers & Dreamers describes itself as "the gateway for anyone interested in intentional communities in the UK". The site features communites of all shapes and sizes, including low-impact living, cohousing, Buddhists groups and permaculture collectives; a browsable database features over 100 such communities currently existing in Britain, while other sections highlight communities seeking volunteers or members. Resource features include a news page, noticebaords, an archive of relevant articles, details of books on communal living, and an excellent page of links. The site's slightly busy design would benefit from a refresh, but Diggers & Dreamers remains an interesting and engaging place to visit. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 28 Mar 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-110304-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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February 2011

GardenWorld

http://www.gardenworld.co.uk/




This attractively designed site has many useful features, including expert garden advice for each month of the year and an excellent links page. The handy Latin Converter allows users to enter the common name of a plant and find its botanical (Latin) name, or vice versa. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 28 Mar 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: lan-131101-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Landscape » Resources
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January 2011

Stuck in Studio

http://www.stuckinstudio.com/




With the tagline "A website for architecture students", the US-based Stuck in Studio site is based around the premise that "architecture students are always in studio. As an architecture student you are expected to pull all nighters and go days without sleep right before your final presentation." Against this backdrop, architecture graduate Pat McLoughlin has created Stuck in Studio "to give architecture students a way to connect with other architecture students, a way to find a job after graduation, and overall a way to take a break from that project you have been slaving over for the last 6 hours straight." Content is organised into several well signposted sections, including a 'Resources' page that provides articles, job search, competitions and external links, and a richly illustrated blog that aims to "give students a way to find inspiration" by providing posts that are specific to architecture students. In due course, the site promises that there will be a forum for students to share discussions about studio related topics as well as an "architecture student apparel" store. Nevertheless, though Stuck in Studio is a fledgling site - only launched in January 2011 - it is already shaping into an engaging and useful resource. I just wish that something similar had existed when I was an architecture student back in the early 90s... Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 11 Jan 2011].



ENTRY NUMBER: arc-110111-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United States
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Architecture » Resources
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