One Madison Avenue is set to be the boisterous new address in NYC that boast of a green lung in the middle or congestion and pollution. Daniel Libeskind's Green New York Tower is a 54-story condo building that incorporates a series of ‘sky gardens’ into the structure, giving the tower a green-perspective. Apparently the green spaces would be enclosed in cylindrical glass tubes at the center of the building but have calculated cut-aways in the edifice that would open them up to the outside. These cut-aways also provide the condominiums in that part of the tower with balconies. I am sure residents of the building would appreciate the green space in the middle of the concrete jungle.

More...

Gwanggyo is a new town south of Seoul and is getting a fresh-face. The town is getting ready to become home to a new city center called the Gwanggyo Power Center. Dutch architects MVRDV, who landed the project after winning a competition to design a city center, are designing this. A part of the two centers planned for Gwanggyo, this new center will be the proud edifice of the 77,000 residents of the city. Penciled in the project are housing, office, culture, retail, leisure and education complexes. A note worthy point is that most of the structure envision boasts of a terrace and this is achieved by designing the elements as rings that placed outwards, giving enough space for terraces.

More...

Shakespeare said that there was nothing to a name, but clearly folks at Iosa Ghini Associati beg to differ. They have named their upcoming project New York Residence, which is an extension to New York Palace Boscolo Hotel in Budapest, Hungary. That's how you get New York in Hungary! The extension comprises of 60 new rooms and a whole floor full of offices. The structure will also include a conference center that boasts of an auditorium that can seat 500 guests. About 140 families will call this block their home, as the apartments will be situated from floors first to seventh.

More...

When you are Roberto Cavalli, you expect only the best. Naturally your abode has to suit your fancy…if the day goes good, you're happy and cheery…. you want bright colors to surround you. The showing in Milan goes bad; you're gloomy; you're surrounded by dark hues. This is what Italo Rota has planned for Cavalli's new home. The house changes its colors according to the owner's personality and whim! How cool is that! Apparently the location of this colorful house is the hills of Florence, Italy.

More...

Talk about being versatile in a green style and it's the Greentainer Project that takes a bow. Based in Gandino, Italy, this green architectural project stands out for its form as well as function. To address the eco-sensitive issues, a 40-foot container was transformed it into a structure that's mobile, flexible, and self-sufficient. Akin to the other cases where containers have been reused by transforming them into temporary residences or construction site offices or permanent structures, Greentainer's USP lies in the fact that it is 100% transportable. Ideal for multiple uses and destinations, from a small company canteen to a trade show lounge bar, and even as a mobile exhibition center or a meeting room; it can be positioned in any alfresco location. Fitted with a solar roof adds on to its green persona. A photovoltaic system supplies all the energy necessary to run the heating-cooling system, the lights and other devices.

More...

Here's a shout-out to a cool and contemporary site known as the Hotel SPHERE. It's the creation of designer Milla Rezanova. The most striking bit, of course, is that it latches to the side of a cliff. It would be a wonderful experience to go there for a vaction, however I wonder how one will access it.

Source

It's a great thing to walk around and put those muscles to use, however there comes a time that just want to plop down and catch your breath. There are other times that you just want to take a seat on the side-bench and watch the world pass by. For such scenarios there is the [C]space DRL10 Pavilion. This structure was first erected in Bedford Square, London to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Architectural Associations Design Research Lab. It's coming to a Singapore sidewalk by 2009. I like the nice cocoon-like effect that the architects have given to the space. It not only provides shelter and shade from the elements but also offers a safe haven for children to run about. It's been developed by NEX architecture

More...

Designed by You, Jun Sang, the Plaza in the Air is a space that combines three layers to maximize the lofty feeling of walking on air. The openness of the space makes it the perfect venue to host exhibitions or hold talks and speeches. It's a place where lovers can hold hands and walk or children can play about. It's a Plaza that will hold a special place in each resident's life.

More...

World Trade Center may bring back horrifying memories, but there is grace and dignity in moving on. 200 Greenwich Street is a 78-storey office tower that will form part of the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site in New York. With the current wave of change in America and Obama's astounding feat, it's a solace that the concept of this office structure is driven by memory, but equally by a sense of rebirth. The co-architects on the project are Adamson Associates along with Foster and Partners. I have a date with history…do you?

More...

Now-a-days having a Jacuzzi or a hot tub in your backyard is a common practice, its no longer an exclusive deal. But imagine living in a city that looks like it's out of the Flintstone era with natural looking thermal baths and streams flowing with gay abandonment. Dominique Perrault Architecture designed the thermal baths of San Pellegrino in Italy for a design competition and won it for their vivid representation of modern facilities with a Neolithic tone. They designed a city centered around a main building, which would add to the city's other main structures. The main building would be the Grad Hotel and the casino.

More...

I guess Dubai is soon turning into the skyscraper haven, which is why the latest architecture gossip thrives there. Anara Tower, the 125-story skyscraper is about 700 meters tall and vies for the tallest spot. Its been designed by the British firm Atkins and apparently the structure will conform to LEED certification requirements. It will boast of at least a silver rating by maximizing water and energy efficiency and potentially including renewable sources of energy. The green thumb people will find solace in the sky gardens placed every 27 floors, but the metrosexuals can rely on the 250 rooms luxury hotel, shops and office space. The building will also host 300 residential apartments, and a place for exhibitions and auctions. The all-in-one package will probably be the most expensive place in Dubai. Luxuries like exclusive swimming pools, exclusive elevators and spectacular views of the Dubai coastline come included. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2009.

More...

Water is a precious resource that is dwindling fast and we have finally awoken from our slumber to realize the gravity of the situation. Although various methods are being used to conserve this resource, not all of the efforts have borne fruits. People still waste and some even have a callous approach. The Human Pump by designer Gunwook Nam is an award-winning concept that looks at converting kinetic energy generated from human foot traffic to power a system of pumps that bring fresh drinking water to the surface in the form of a mesmerizing life-saving waterfall. One of three winners in the Re:construct competition sponsored by San Fransisco's Urban Re:Vision, the project is a 12-meter-wide boardwalk designed to be constructed where heavy foot traffic, such as the main route to a school or market is there. The stored kinetic energy will be later used to pump up the ground water. The concept is very ambitious but viable, hence it hold a promise in it.

More...

The iPad would be a prime example of how market trends influence the way we perceive things and transform them to suit the tastes. When initially unveiled in 2006, the structure resembled the iPod, which was the flavor of the season back then. Now the iPhone rules the roost, hence the transformation. Ready for completion by next year, the residence boasts of some state-of-the-art facilities. Some of the amenities include iArt, which allows the homeowner to digitally download artworks from a server and update their collection periodically. You can even rotate your rooms to catch a better view of the skyline.

More...

Eco park houses by Ushida-Findlay architects are the prime example of what is to be expected from the new-age environmentally friendly homes. The design has recently been given the green signal by the UK planning authorities. The highlight of the housing structure is the wave-like green roof which covers fives individual four-story homes. The clusters will share a common leisure space that surrounds the complex. Keeping to the current theme of eco-friendly practices, the construction ensures that sustainable practices, bio-diversity and low carbon emission are achieved.

More...

Optimum usage of space is one contention most architects and interior designers have to take into consideration while designing a structure. Likewise, The Farm by Japanese architect Akihisa Hirata is modeled on the folds concept and is influenced by the forms of trees and plants. By adding fold to the structure, the architect is able to create multiple spaces within a confined format. This concept provides ample space for public domains like the foyer, living room and family room. The private domains in the structure include bedrooms and a spa. The design is a part of the Gene 20 Architectural Project.

More...