The complexity of cities can be overwhelming and fascinating. Surprisingly, only 3% of the US is considered urban landscape.
Den Outdoors
Assorted plans and kits for small modern structures with basic materials and clean lines. More here.
Viikki Church / JKMM Architects (Finland)
This beautifully organized structure appears greatly influenced by Alvar Aalto (Master Finnish Architect). The way it ties to the landscape with the rusticated perimeter wall and birch forest interior to the subtle modern curves highlighted by the wood shingles. More here.
Unique Mount EMEI - Land Of Dramas / WG Studio + BIAD-BOA Studio
These dream-scapes and structures were created by the Chinese director Wang Chaoge. Check out more about this project here.
GjG House - Blaf Architects (Belgium)
Reclaimed brick and some curvy moves make this fortress-like home shine. More here.
Yorkton Workshops - Cassion Castle Architects & Pearson Lloyd
Strong retrofit project in London (both on the int. and ext.). More here.
Città della Scienza (Masterplan) - Studio d'Architettura Briguglio Morales
Here’s to a greener future. Check out more about this conceptual plan here.
Tiny Studio/Bunkhouse - James Cutler
So much to love about this 8x10 glass, wood and steel box. Cutler designed and built this so his daughter would have a place for sleepovers and he would have a home office/poker den. Beds and tables fold up against the walls. See more photos here.
Hindu Temple Complex (India) - Sameep Padora & Associates
The stepped temples are made from local black limestone slabs to create a modern take on the traditional forms. These slabs are planted with greenery on the lower levels to buffer the interiors from the heat. To create the water feature, the architectures diverted waste water from a nearby quarry to a low-lying retention basin that was planted with vegetation to naturally clean the water.
Church of Saint George
Lalibela is an Ethiopian town famous for its rock-cut monolithic churches. St. George is believed to have been hewn from the existing lava rock in late 12th or early 13th century AD. More here.
Thanks again Dan Sjogren for putting this on my radar.
Sneci, the teeny tiny Houseboat - Tamás Bene (architect)
This combines two of my favorite things. Check out more pictures and information here.
Ecological Urban Master Plan of Guangming District, Shenzhen (China) - SOM
I like the optimism of this kind of future. See more here.
Lim'uhphile Co-op (South Africa) / Collectif Saga (architects)
The resourcefulness of this project is lovely to see. The architects at Collectif saga (France) teamed up with this existing Co-op to masterplan a site they had already been farming. The structures are mostly made of industrial bi-products or scraps and organized to create gathering spaces, training areas and greenhouses to start crops. See more here.
Lightness In Architecture - Masters in Advanced Studies/Digital Fabrication (ETH Zürich)
Twelve groups of students collaborated with researchers on robotic fabrication processes & 3D printing technologies. All topics show the ability to turn concepts into software and digital building processes with the power to transform the way we build. Check out projects here.
The Red Roof - TAA design (Vietnam)
Parametric Design
Parametric Design can be thought of like a spreadsheet, you supply the parameters and the computer kicks-out a summation. It’s a quick way to explore designs while adjusting the variables.
Copenhagen Loop B.I.G. (Bjarke Ingles Group)
Charged with rethinking urban sprawl and an outdated infrastructure in/around the city of Copenhagen, B.I.G. proposes a 50yr plan (LOOP) that links energy exchange, waste/recycling, water treatment, EV charging, and most interestingly, a public transportation line that is also building, park, commerce hubs and health care campus.
Hanging House / Casa Container Marìlia (Brazil)
Fun way to think about materials, reuse and space. More here.
Micro-Library by SHAU Bandung (Indonesia)
Made with 2000+ ice cream buckets, seems like everyone wins on this one - considered UpCycled Architecture. More here.
Casa en el Bosque - Weyes Estudio (Mexico)
Love how these impressively small structures (all part of one residence) were carefully tucked into this densely vegetated, rather small lot. More here.
