Biopavers
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.12.05
People, there's too much concrete in the world and most of it is entirely unnecessary. Rubbersidewalks are great, and here's a product that intelligently replaces the need for a hard surfaces too. Biopavers are specially designed pavers that catch storm water run-off and reduce the impact of petroleum-based pollution. (Oil and gasoline spills are one of the largest sources groundwater and soil pollution.) The paver comes with prepackaged soil and phytoremediating plants to target petroleum. This product won the 2005 Metropolis Next Generation Competition, and somehow we missed covering it until now. :: Biopaver
I'm in Switzerland and I'm noticing that in every parking lot the tiles look a lot like this one. They're not quite squares with holes in the middle, but a similar design. There's grass always growing out-- essentially the idea above. I don't think the Swiss tiles are as environmentally friendly as these mentioned because all the plants growing out weren't necessarily phytoremediating.