Urban Design

A Right to Daylight, the Fight Continues

 |  The administration at the University of California Santa Barbara finally realized that the emperor had no clothes and cancelled the mostly windowless Munger Hall,1 but the fight for natural light and air continues. The monstrous dorm would have sentenced over 4,000 students to bedrooms with no windows, creating a potentially disastrous living experience. In location near […] — Read More

The Evolution of Agrihoods

 |  Agrihoods, neighborhoods that incorporate food production into their design, have been getting more attention in the residential development world. In many cases, these projects are conventional sprawl with a tiny community garden or orchard. Whereas, in their truest form, agrihoods weave food production into the design and experiential fabric of their communities in much more […] — Read More

Capitol Crossing EcoChimneys

 |  The eco-chimneys are part of the Capitol Crossing eco-district, a bold urban infill project that spans more than three blocks and captures the air rights above an existing stretch of interstate I-395 in downtown Washington, DC. Project developers the Property Group Partners (formerly Louis-Dreyfus Property Group) sought Terrapin’s unique perspective to provide the sustainability strategies […] — Read More

Greenbuild Biophilic Design Interactive: Additional Resources

 |  As we wrap up Greenbuild preparations, we’re faced with one question: What do we do with all of the gathered information that just didn’t make the cut? Well folks, here it is – additional resources exploring the many design and biophilic research applications emerging from advancements in consumer technologies. — Read More

Creating a Healthier World

 |  Terrapin works across a broad spectrum of areas—environmental strategy, biophilic design, ecological design, and bioinspired innovation—but all of our efforts aim to create a healthier world. Supporting human health has implications at all scales of the built environment and unites our work across these diverse fields. — Read More

Gowanus, Green Infrastructure, and Public Health

 |  This post explores the public health benefits of green infrastructure and uses the Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY as an example of how this type of infrastructure can be implemented to benefit communities. During a site visit to Gowanus, three sites were identified to examine the opportunities to develop green infrastructure where people live, work, and play. — Read More

Rebecca Macies Selected for Urban Green’s Membership Committee

 |  Terrapin’s Rebecca Macies was selected for Urban Green Council’s 2017 Membership Committee. The Membership Committee assists Urban Green Council in increasing membership and member participation in UGC events. Rebecca brings her unique background in environmental policy and economics, as well as her experience in community outreach and engagement, to the position. We look forward to another […] — Read More

Cities Lead the Charge Against Climate Change

 |  I spent the last week of November in Mexico City at the C40 Mayors Summit and I wish you had all attended. I was invigorated by the actions and goals of the participating cities. The current C40 chair and Rio mayor Eduardo Paes, former mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Mexico City mayor Miguel Angel Mancera were […] — Read More