Conceptual research project in rural areas of England such as Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. In partnership with local planning authorities and property developers we aim to develop a modular tree house concept. This could, with a flexible planning arrangement, encourage a more organic approach to country living. Architecturally, the design direction evolves from the underside, to the interior and then outwards concentrating on views and aspects above the tree horizon. The ‘belly’ of the tree house accommodates undulating kinetic baffles that utilise wind power to generate electricity. The plan form also meanders to the extent that modular sections can be prefabricated so that the overall size can vary from a single bedroom house up to a five bedroom model. The prefabricated design can be installed on site within two weeks, is extremely lightweight, uses many recycled products, is part self-sustainable and low on maintenance.

With the name MARTa fronting the triad of design (M standing for Möbel/furniture), art (ART) and architecture/ambience (a), the museum aims to provide fresh inspiration for art, design, architecture and business both in the local region and far beyond. An extraordinary complex of buildings designed by Frank Gehry houses a novel combination of a museum, centre of excellence and event forum. It is here that exhibition curator and museum director Jan Hoet displays contemporary aspects of art and design. The main idea behind MARTa Herford is to highlight and redefine the contradictory links between art and business.

In addition, out in in California's Coachella Valley, they are in the process of developing a residential community chock full of Krisel Modern homes. This community should be open to viewings in late 2006.

Link: Maxx Livingstone [Thanks, Bob]

The Pivot Screen designed by Jacek Ostoya of Mebel Furniture in San Francisco. The screen is made up of frames with interchangable acrylic pieces. You can configure your screen with as much opacity as you choose and arrange colors or pictures to fit your mood. Ostoya was named by the LA Times as a furniture designer to watch in 2006.

Her design features a striking composition of a red "carpet" extending from the theatre into and over the dock crossed by a lush green "carpet" of paving with lawns and vegetation. The red “carpet” will be made of bright red resin-glass paving covered with red glowing angled light sticks. The green "carpet" of polygon-shaped planters will offer ample seating and will connect the new hotel to the office development across the square. The planters will feature marsh vegetation to soften the space and to act as a reminder of the historic wetland nature of the site. These will bring colour and variety to the space and act as a setting for the new buildings.

Many outsiders think this is a terrific, artistic career, but they don't realize how long it takes before an architect gets to design a building.

Because most landscape architecture projects don't have as many components as the design for a building, young landscape architects may get to design entire projects. Also, the training is shorter.

Busting a key economic myth, Interface Engineering of Portland, Oregon (has) engineered a top-level green building on a conventional budget, opening the way for other large scale projects to achieve high performance at standard cost. The firm also released an illustrated guide sharing the secrets and principles behind the project, formally known as The Center for Health and Healing at the River Campus of Oregon Health & Science University.

As a collective, Loyal Loot strives to create designs with a natural quality by staying true to materials. The inherent value of these designs is meant to last a lifetime ensuring that they retain a non-disposable presence and remain precious to their owner, becoming more and more meaningful as they age. Loyal loot exhibits their work together and aims to create community in design, within the collective as well as with fellow designers. Members of loyal loot are involved in several creative facets, specializing in furniture, products and clothing.

Sierra Towers sits on Doheny Road at the western end of the Sunset Strip, where the lively commercial clutter of West Hollywood gives way to the grand mansions of Beverly Hills. The building has always had its fans, well-heeled Westsiders of a certain age who appreciated the unobstructed views from every floor and the tender ministrations of porters and attentive doormen. It isn't surprising that condos in the building have been selling for jaw-dropping prices the last few years — the cost of residential real estate has skyrocketed throughout Southern California. Yet a Sierra Towers address now represents something more than a hefty price tag: The building has acquired a cool quotient.

The RIAI travels to numerous venues throughout Ireland as well as London to recognize and showcase the wide range of projects completed throught the year. From high end residential to conference centres, it's a great display of work to look through.

Link: RIAI - Irish Architecture Awards 2005

Urban homeless use carts to carry their possessions and to collect goods (like bottles, cardboard, etc.) that they then return to various recyclers in exchange for cash. this provides a small and valuable income. It is essential that your cart design not only accommodates all these functions but that it is affordable (for production and for private parties or charity organisations who wish to donate them).

Johnathan Pearlroth, son of Mitch and Arthur Pearlroth, and current owner of the house, approached filmmaker Jake Gorst in April 2005 regarding the possibility of preserving the house by relocation. Additions made to the house in the 1970s were decaying and much repair work needed to be done. Present day building codes made a complete restoration impossible without further compromising the original design. Pearlroth realized that he would have to build a new structure if his family was to continue enjoying their beachfront property.

Fuse represents a new mode in contemporary British design. The Fuse designers form the nucleus of a shared network of specialist knowledge and experience. The Collective is not a business, company or a "non-profit making organization", it is a group set up by its member designers to help each other to create better design, for themselves and their clients.