Design shop Mýrin next door to MAR shares the same aesthetic and specializes in modern Icelandic design, like these Not Knot pillows by Ragnheiður Ösp Sigurðardóttir. Photo by: Tiffany Orvet

Dlandstudio and ARO advocate a soft coastline filled with barrier islands and wetlands. Walkways would allow for additional green space for city-dwellers. Image provided by dlandstudio and ARO.

The house, originally built in the 1920s, received gradual additions over the years.

The Living Machine System operates partially underground and partially above ground. The visible parts of the system are planted with vegetation that not only aids the system, but creates an attractive garden.

This diagram shows the many agencies with jurisdiction over the proposed Sponge Park area. Image provided by dlandstudio.

Stormwater cycle throughout the Twin Lake site

Knot pendant lamp by KiBiSi. Designed in 2005. Limited Edition. Photo courtesy of KiBiSi

Marcel Wanders’s Knotted chair.

The trefoil knot is the symbol of sustainism.

The San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design's exhibition Hands Off: New Dutch Design at the Confluence of Technology & Craft highlighted Amsterdam-based Marcel Wanders’ Knotted chair, one of the first examples of an industrially produced object that goes beyond traditional handcrafting. Contemporary Dutch designs often embody the core ideas that went into this now-iconic piece.

Those costs were partially recouped by using knotted pine planks for the exterior.

One of a kind pillow made of reclaimed wool kilims, fabric and trims with removable cover and hidden zipper.

Copies signed by Vignelli, pictured here with Cifuentes and Waterhouse, are for sale for $1,200, as well as unsigned copies for $300.

Grey Matter pillow by Nathalie Du Pasquier for Wrong for HAY. Sebastian Wrong’s new collection for the Danish design giant includes textiles from the archives of one of the Memphis group’s founding members.

Tip seven: Getting Serious "If this is a man cave or a woman cave, there are further things you can do," Bush says. "One is to buy already fabricated fiberglass absorber panels in the cloth color of your choice. I would stick with four-inch-thick or thicker panels as the thin ones, like thin foam, just absorb highs and leave you with an overly mid-rangy room. If you are a craftsperson, you can make these types of panels by ordering Owens Corning #703 in four-inch thickness or in a two-inch and glue two layers together to get four inches. I use 3M spray 77 glue but others might work as well. This will need covering so I recommend a thin layer of polyester batting and your choice of upholstery fabric to cover. This can be inserted into frames or glued to a backer board to hang. Specially made diffusors work well, but tend to be very spendy. Let your budget be a guide here and remember that plain old bushy plants work well and spruce up a cave well." "I would tend to stay away from the acoustic foams available unless they are at least four inces thick," Bush says. "Thicker is better. A thin layer of acoustic foam used as a cosmetic treatment over a four-inch-thick Owens Corning #703 fiberglass panel is a nice finish and works very well. Spend some time listening and let your ears be your guide."

Pillow by Joel Karlsson and Krook&Tjäder for Karl Andersson & Söner $255 each Acoustic wall tiles, made of recycled fabric and PET bottles and covered in wool, are available in eight different colors, with or without a button.

The Virtue Pillow by Mary features positive messages in Icelandic. Sayings include: patience, honesty, faith, positivity, integrity, and friendship. According to the designer, the virtues are a reminder of the intangible things that matter in life. Available in three colors, the pillows are made from undyed Icelandic wool.

The spring 2015 ollection also includes six new Fauna pillows, which feature animals inspired by 19th-century illustrations. Head to areaware.com for more information on how to shop the new releases.

Knot Seating Object by Yvonne Ip “Made of flexible, fiber material, it’s literally a knot of industrial felt, sliced into strips and wrestled into a knot. It usually takes several attempt to tie it. Kids love it; they run halfway across the store just to leap on it.” -- Julie Nicholson

LAYOUT The ADA states the minimum clearance for wheelchair accessibility is 32 inches wide. To improve flow, Soheil Nakhshab of Nakhshab Development & Design prefers a distance of 48 inches between the kitchen cabinets and the island (1). LIGHTING LED lights are long-lasting and easy on the eyes. In addition to task lighting above work stations, install lights in storage spaces to spotlight hard-to-see areas. STORAGE “You want daily-use items at waist-height,” says architect Karen Braitmayer, who recommends rolling cabinets (2) and pull-down shelves (3). Rotating lazy susan trays (4) and full-extension slide shelving also give easier access to deeper storage spaces. Child-safety locks on cabinets keep contents secure (5). DRAWERS Lever-style door handles and wide drawer pulls (6) are easier to grasp. Nakhshab also suggests a touch system “where you push the door and it pops open.” COOKTOP Induction cooktops (7), which conduct heat only when in contact with a magnetic cooking vessel, are safer for homes with children, as well as for adults who may forget to shut off the burners. Braitmayer likes burners set side-by-side with controls at the front. APPLIANCES Drawer-style appliances and side-opening doors can be game changers. “Imagine if you have a bad back,” says architect Robert Kahn. “The side-opening oven (8) is an ADA design that benefits the general population.” Light signals, which can be clearly seen from a distance, can also complement or replace audible alerts like buzzers. SINK Wheelchair users require clearance below the sink (9). Covering exposed pipes with insulating wrap can prevent burns or abrasions, says Braitmayer. Lever-style fixtures (10) are easier to grip than twist knobs, and motion-sensor technology gives users hands-free control. WORK SURFACES Countertops installed at varying levels (11) offer easy-to-use work spaces, regardless of the user’s height. Rails installed along the perimeter (12) offer extra support. FLOOR Surfaces like cork and rubber are comfortable, provide extra traction, and are smooth for wheelchairs plus, they hide nicks and scuffs.

The new studio was erected inside the existing brick walls of the barn, while the aluminium ceiling was added separately, its angles chosen to ensure adequate sunlight. “The roof breaks the limits of the building and forms a contrast to all the other architectural elements. Even the slope of the new roof is different from that of the main building,” says Brian Wendin, architect and daylight consultant at VELUX Denmark.

A diagram of the home outlines its sustainable aspects, including LED lighting and an Advantex septic system that has no environmental impact.

The benefit of the Wally system is its price and dead-simple setup. Some models like the WaterCop cost up to $400, while the Vivint flood sensor requires a $50 monthly service fee. At $300 for a hub and six sensors, the Wally is comparatively cheap.

Designer Christiane Hogner, Bruxelles

Use these drawings to create the dotted lines on the side of the chair.

The cushioned sofa was originally a project in which Högner made a sofa from sandbags. This iteration takes the sofa's smallest component--the pillow--and builds up.

Kangan Arora designs boldly printed textiles in her North London studio.

Stacked Stones pillows from Coyuchi: Made in India, this throw pillow features a hand-stitched appliqué and buttons made from coconut shells. Ideal for adding a graphic pop to your bedding motif. $115

Borders Pillow by Hella Jongerius, $275 from store.dwell.com

The Storm Square pillow ($69 each) by Sylvain Willenz features a razzle dazzle pattern inspired by a camouflaging technique used by WWII ships. Hem uses a 3D weaving technique to achieve the texture.

@bromco: These pillows flipping rock!! Literally! @rockpillows. #DODLA

Bolster Pillow by Blu Dot Sturdy his and hers bolster pillows brighten up the room in a deep aqua hue. $49

Buendia pillow by Inigo Elizalde Rugs: Inigo Elizalde’s woven dhurries are hand-knotted in Nepal, but he’s deconstructed a few of his boldest patterns into a collection of pillows, all printed in North Carolina and sewn in New York City. From $165

Ojo De Dios: Inspired by primitive iconography, the “eye of the god” print is simple and geometric, price upon request.

Studio Dunn exhibited a line of pillows made from naturally dyed textiles.