A Packable Olympic Stadium?

Have you ever considered London an eco-destination? As we collectively gear up for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, London is quietly and fervently preparing to host the 2012 games. Some of the first glances into their massive preparations are pretty remarkable. Namely, we’re super impressed with plans for the new Olympic Stadium, a prefab eco-marvel that could in theory be broken down and packed up for the next Olympic host. Wowzers! And we’re not done. Among a pool of other green features, there is one that ups its eco-cred to new levels. Inhabitat reported that the stadium will be constructed out of recycled guns and knives confiscated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The lot will be melted down into scrap metal and used to help build the stadium. Definitely a new take on recycling!

Featured Destination: A Living Wall

This hotel caught our eye. Sure its uber-lux accommodations are exquisite, don't get us wrong, but it was the blanket of native plants cloaking its exterior that really tickled our fancy. The Athenaeum Hotel recently got a face lift unique to the world of high end hotels, showcasing lush green space instead of stark concrete walls. The self-irrigating Living Wall (or vertical garden as it is called in design circles), is made up of some 260 plant species and mirrors London's neighboring Green Park. The man behind this living tapestry is actually the inventor of the Vertical Garden concept, French architectural botanist, Patrick Blanc. Blanc's quest to spread biodiversity to urban centers is evident in his famous Vertical Gardens all over the world from Bangkok to Paris, New York to Tokyo and London. Hmmm, next stop Firestone Vineyard - wouldn't that be cool?