Space Saving Tiny Apartment, New York This tiny but highly sophisticated studio apartment in the East Village of NYC has made us very proud, thanks to JPDA. Not only was it built as a super efficient multi-functional unit but with the use of detailed mill work, the storage capacity was very cleverly executed and resulted in a super stylish studio with a decent amount of floor space. Shouldn’t all NYC dwellers aim to live like this? You decide… A schematic rendering demonstrates a realistic plan for this tiny apartment. Although we’re not too sure how realistic that cubbyhole at the crown of the loft is in a NYC apartment building, the rest of the space makes perfect sense. This tiny living/work space is beautifully masked with natural light and looks so inviting! This mezzanine bedroom is constructed with beautiful teak wood that houses hidden storage compartments… What great use of typically neglected storage space…. Well lit and highly efficient modern kitchen has beautiful appliances and plenty of counter space.
Chinese worker builds "egg" house to beat high cost of living By Rich Shulman This clever "green" mobile home solves several problems at once: Dai Haifei has eliminated his commute, cut energy costs by going solar, and eliminated his rent payment. The only problem? No toilet. Full story. AFP - Getty Images Dai Haifei, 24, from China's Hunan province, looks out from his egg-shaped mobile house where he has been living for the last two months, located near his office in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2010. Dai Haifei, 24, from China's Hunan province, rests in his egg-shaped mobile house where he has been living for the last two months, located near his office in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2010. Dai Haifei, 24, from China's Hunan province, waters the patches of grass on his egg-shaped mobile house where he has been living for the last two months, located near his office in Beijing on December 1, 2010.
Containers of Hope, a $40,000 Home by Benjamin Garcia Saxe By Eric • Jun 16, 2011 • Selected Work Benjamin Garcia Saxe has recently completed the Containers of Hope project with a budget of $40,000. Located in San Jose, Costa Rica this container house is the result of a close collaboration between the architect and his clients, who went on to construct the building themselves. The 1,000 square foot home is composed of two 40-foot used shipping containers set together with a raised mid section and clerestory windows. More shipping container houses here Containers of Hope by Benjamin Garcia Saxe Architecture: “Gabriela Calvo and Marco Peralta dreamed of living in their fantastic property 20 minutes outside of the city of San Jose, Costa Rica; where they could be with their horses and enjoy the natural landscape. It was important for me to provide them with the sunrise, the sunset, the spectacular views, and overall try and create a feeling of comfort and home. Photos by: Andres Garcia Lachner
A piece of heaven on earth | Adorable Home According to its creators Guz Architects, this amazing building is ‘a contemporary tropical bungalow’. But we could not agree with this simple description. The Fish House, as the project is originally named, is a piece of heaven on earth, an architectural height, a modern oasis that would impress everybody. The house is located in Singapore, just a few meters from the ocean, and to be in unison with the surrounding environment, it is designed with a huge asymmetrical swimming pool and stunning garden on the roof. In addition to this breathtaking architecture you can add an extraordinary futuristic interior featured by amazing spaciousness, light and comfort. Apart from all the open areas, this home invites the sunlight in also through its huge windows revealing a spectacular panoramic view to the ocean. Are you not just “dying” to live here?! Via
Most Interesting Libraries of the World The Royal library Black Diamond at the waterfront of Copenhagen owes its name to the black granite from Zimbabwe used for the facade of the building. The name was used by the public first and has been adapted officially later. Design by the Danish architects Schmidt, Hammer & Lassen. Portable Whangapoua Beach Hut Imaginez, une plage de sable blanc en Nouvelle-Zélande et un petit nid douillé mobile. Cette petite habitation écologique est une réalisation de l’agence d’architecture Néo-Zélandaise Crosson Clarke Carnachan. DIY Meditation Temple Built from Salvaged Materials We could all use a peaceful escape from the bustle and stress of our daily lives, but not many of us have the luxury or time to hop on a plane and jet off to a secluded beach or private mountain cabin. But what if we told you that a similar place existed in your own backyard for a mere one-time cost of $28? Created by Aaron Westgate, this relaxing Meditation Temple is a pile of salvaged materials transformed into a beautiful retreat for quietude and contemplation. The one-person Meditation Temple is an exploration in micro-architecture and material re-use. Built entirely from salvaged materials, the folly became an exercise in utilizing familiar construction components in unconventional, yet visually striking ways: stacked chunks of 2x4s evoke corbelled masonry, corrugated galvanized steel hand-flattened and trimmed set off a sleek shingled rooftop, and tension-reinforced rafter-tail cutoffs form the distinct conical cover. + Yestermorrow Design/Build School
Earthscrapers: Is Going Down Instead Of Up A Greener Way To Build? Evolo/via Every year, TreeHugger and all the architectural websites troll through the Evolo competition entries, looking for the most imaginative work from young architects with time on their hands. Sometimes you just have to shake your head and wonder at the creativity and drawing skills. In 2010, I did not pay a lot of attention to Bunker Arquitectura's proposal for Earthscraper, an upside down pyramid in downtown Mexico City. Bunker Arquitectura/via It was not a new idea, and it was not the best iteration of it that I had seen. Earthscraper has become the architectural equivalent of a shot heard ’round the world. She spoke with Jeremy Faludi, who had some issues with the concept: I think it would work much better in a dry area in a northern, colder climate, where solid ground keeps you warm, and the glass top acts as a greenhouse. Evolo/via I discounted it at the time for some of the same reasons; while I admired the density, I didn't think it resolved the environmental issues. evolo/via
underground fire pit. easy to make 全球最棒的 10 個游泳池，這輩子應該要去一次！ - 科技新訊 小編很喜歡在假日到海邊踏浪，因為很涼爽又能邊玩樂。只是北台灣能踏踏浪的地方就那幾個地方，玩久了也是會膩的。雖然有幾間不錯的水上遊樂園可以去，可是每到假日人就多到像在泡湯一樣！ 全球最美 10 大游泳池 1.溫哥華 淋浴屋（Shaw House） 這是一間私人小豪宅，一房一廳，還有書房、視聽室等，游泳池則設計在屋頂上。 2.巴裡島 烏布空中花園度假村（Ubud Hanging Gardens Resort） 這裡是烏布空中花園度假村，它位於巴裡島的中心，在這片森林中有梯田、峽谷、還有在峽谷中的游泳池！ 3.新加坡 Tangga 小屋（Tangga House） Tangga小屋就像座植物園，房子是以傳統四合院造型設計，L形的計劃，建立開放空間提供自然通風，樓頂種滿花草房子的兩側被透明游泳池和花園環繞，整棟房子充滿生命力。 4.比利時 尼莫33（Nemo 33） 尼莫 33 是世界上最深的游泳池，游泳池深達 115英呎。 5.新加坡 金沙空中花園飯店 Marina Bay Sands Skypark 金沙空中花園飯店的空中游泳池，花費約 60 億美元建立，在高空中的游泳池是看不到邊界的。 6.達拉斯 Joule 酒店（Joule Hotel） 這是原本是達拉斯國家銀行大廈，後來被買下之後，將它改裝成Joule 酒店。 7.日本 喜凱亞海洋巨蛋 主池（Seagaia Ocean Dome） 位於日本宮崎縣，喜凱亞海洋巨蛋面積約 328英呎（100米）984英呎（300米）。 8.紐約 232 West 15th Street 如客廳一般大小的游泳池，長 18英呎、深 8 英呎。 9.拉斯維加斯 水族游泳池 （Golden Nugget） Golden Nugget 裡的水族箱游泳池，在你游泳的同時，你跟水族箱裡的鯊魚只有一片玻璃的距離！ 10.智利 聖方安索蒂馬海水游泳池 （San Alfonso del Mar Seawater Pool） 這是世界上最大的海水游泳池，這個游泳池長 3,323英呎，超過一公里！ 圖片、資料來源：gizmodo
Shoebox Dwelling Beautiful Warehouse Conversion in Melbourne By Eric • Feb 14, 2011 • Selected Work Spotted on MBP, here is a completely renovated apartment located in a historic building in Melbourne, Australia. This three bedroom, two bathroom residence is on sale and according to the agent, “this superlative warehouse conversion in “Leicester House”, an historic 1880′s building, provides privacy and vast spaces. It features soaring warehouse ceilings, huge original arched timber windows, exposed red brick walls, imposing brick archways of 65 cm depth and high gloss timber floors. The exposed brick walls and the high concrete ceilings make this apartment feel like a loft. Sold! Photos courtesy of MDP Click any photo to see a larger image - Use buttons or j/k/arrow keys to navigate through the articles