Facebook claims Luleå is likely to be one of the most efficient and sustainable data centers in the world. All the equipment inside is powered by locally generated hydro-electric energy. It is 100% renewable and they have been able to reduce the number of backup generators required at the site by more than 70%.
In addition to harnessing the power of water, they are using the frosty Nordic air to cool the thousands of servers that store photos, videos, comments, and Likes. Any excess heat produced is used to keep the offices warm.
Nearly all the technology in the facility, from the servers to the power distribution systems, is based on Open Compute Project designs. The Facebook-founded initiative encourages the development of “vanity-free” hardware designs that are highly efficient and leave out unnecessary bits of metal and plastic. These designs are then shared with the broader community, so anyone can use or improve them.
In early tests, Facebook’s Luleå data centre is averaging a PUE (power usage efficiency) in the region of 1.07

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Master LEGO Builder Creates Epic 200,000 Piece Fantasy World

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SKYLINE SILHOUETTE AT SUNSET

Photograph by THOMAS HAWK

In this stunning sunset photo by Thomas Hawk, we see a silhouetted skyline of San Francisco as seen from Albany Beach.
Located on the east shore of San Francisco Bay, Albany Beach is part of the East Bay Regional Park District, a system of parklands and trails in the counties of Alameda and Contra Costa, just east of San Fran. The system comprises over 113,000 acres in 65 parks, including over 1,200 miles of trails.

While obviously edited (the water is black after all), I personally enjoy the artistic treatment Thomas has applied.

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For his final project, graduate architecture student Hank Butitta bought an old school bus on Craigslist for $3,000. 15 weeks and $6,000 of improvements later, Hank and his two friends were ready to embark on a 5,000 mile (8,046 km) journey across the United States.
The 225 sq. ft mobile home features reclaimed gym flooring and dimmable LED lighting. Using the 28 inch wide windows as a modular guide (the aisle is also 28 in. wide), the bus is divided into four primary zones: bathroom, kitchen, seating, and sleeping. The space can be configured in a variety of combinations, depending on need.
At 10 miles per gallon, the school bus is not the most efficient vehicle, but it’s an unforgettable way to travel and one that is sure to bring Hank and the team experiences for a lifetime. Below you will find images of the bus and additional information on the design.

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 DESIGN

Envisioned with a nod to the tiny house movement, the project was a way to show how building a small structure with simple detailing can be more valuable than drawing a complex project that is theoretical and poorly understood.

The primary goals during the design phase was to develop a living space in 225 sq ft that was as open and unrestricted as possible. To accomplish this, Hank set self-imposed guidelines that eliminated any furniture or structure above the bottom edge of the window. This allows the space to remain continuous, and maintains clear sight-lines from one end of the space to the other, even while seated.

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In order to help remove the inhabitant from the reminders and connotations of its former life as a school bus, entry into the space is reoriented to the rear. Upon entering the space, the occupant first encounters the
bathroom. In this zone, one side of the aisle is walled off to enclose the toilet.

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As kids, most of us have dreamed of having a tree house as a safe haven – a secret place where we could establish a top-secret club house away from our pesky parents. Some of us still do. Interestingly, people in some countries don’t see tree houses as exotic, but as every-day parts of their lives. In New Guinea, for example, the Korowai people live in tree houses permanently. The raised homes help protect their food and belongings from animals and floods by keeping everything above ground level.

Luckily, the tree house has become more than just a fairy tale-like hideout or an exotic living place in far-away lands. For those who seek to realize some of their greatest childhood dreams and are looking for a unique way to recharge and relax, architects and designers now offer some unbelievable tree houses and hotels for holidays. These have long outgrown the tradition wooden cabin concept, featuring multiple floors or even glass and mirror elements.

Would you choose to spend a holiday or have a retreat up in a tree house? Let us know which design is your favorite in the comments!

1- Ramshackle Treehouse

This treehouse looks maybe a little bit unsafe, but also like a cross between a Tim Burton creation and the Weasley family's abode. So basically awesome.

2- Treehouse in Muskoka (Ontario, Canada)

Designed by Lukasz Kos, 4Treehouse is constructed around four trees over Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada, and floats in the air like a big Japanese lantern on stilts.

 3-  Three Story Treehouse (British Columbia, Canada)

Why have a single-story tree house, if you can have three? This one is said to be the tallest tree house in British Columbia, Canada. You can find it somewhere near Revelstoke.

4- Treehouse by Takashi Kobayashi (Japan)

 Designed by Takashi Kobayashi, the Tree House People seek to “break down the feeling of separation that exists between humans and nature.”

5- Senior Center Turned Treehouse (Ghent, Belgium)

This sculptural tree house in Belgium was made for the art festival TRACK: A Contemporary City Conversion, and is a miniature version of the houses behind it. (Designed by: Benjamin Verdonck)

6- Plane Treehouse (Costa Rica)

While not entirely a treehouse, this vintage Boeing 727 was originally bought by Joanne Ussary for $2,000.00. It cost her $4,000.00 to move the plane and $24,000.00 to renovate an turn it into this Executive Suite 727 tree house. A jacuzzi in the cockpit is just one of the intriguing ideas she had for her new home!

7- The HemLoft Treehouse (Whistler, Canada)

After retiring at the age of 26, software developer Joel Allen became a carpenter and fulfilled his dream of “building something cool”. Kind of an understatement. He never thought this personal project would be featured in international design magazines!

8- UFO Treehouse (Sweden)

The Swedish Tree Hotel decided to go a totally different direction after building a Bird Nest tree house and built this UFO treehouse.

9- Free Spirit Sphere Treehouses (Canada)

Built with vision and engineering, these handcrafted spheres are suspended like pendants from a web of rope. They occupy a truly unique place in the world and provide a habitat for the un-tamed spirit that exists in us all.

10-  Hapuku Lodge Upper Branch Tree House

This New Zealand hotel offers the option of staying in treehouses. Wouldn't you rather sleep in a place like this? It's like an apartment, but better and above a Manuka grove.

Please share the post if you like it , and don't forget to like s on facebook.

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