Link About It: This Week’s Picks

A mathematical puzzle solved, an ocean floor around Earth's core, innovations in architecture and more

World’s First Bio-Material Toilet Discreet and elegant, the Block is the world’s first bio-material toilet—made from a mixture of wood chips and resin. Produced by Finnish interiors brand Woodio and designed by Pentagram, the toilet eschews porcelain (which carries a larger carbon footprint) for an innovative wood that’s highly durable and waterproof. The Block is expected to last 10 to 15 years with the possibility …

The World’s First “Upcycled” Skyscraper

In 2014, the AMP Centre—formerly the tallest building in Sydney, Australia—was slated for demolition. After realizing the environmental consequences and CO2 output this would cause, the owners opened an architectural competition to see how the building could be “upcycled” instead. This year, the renewed building, designed by 3XN, opened as an expanded 49-story skyscraper that has been named World Building of the Year 2022 by …

Grain’s “Clover” Collection Reveals the Playfulness and Sustainability of Cork

Accountability to the planet lies at the heart of this new range, on view at NYC's Colony

Comprising a series of floral-shaped side and coffee tables made from renewable and carbon positive cork, Clover is an elegant and playful execution of sustainable furniture—but it’s also much more. Crafted by Chelsea and James Minola’s Washington-based design practice, Grain, and debuting in NYC at Jean Lin’s design co-op, Colony (on display until 30 September), the collection weaves together innovative materials and technological research while paying tribute …