Curated lists of the best new building-products, materials and design solutions to inspire your next project.
Easily identified by their dramatic V-shaped silhouette, butterfly roofs provide a visually striking alternative to traditional roof design. Two downward sloping surfaces meet to form a middle roofline, creating a shape that resembles a butterfly in flight. Typically found atop homes in the southwestern United States, the butterfly roof is an iconic feature of mid-century…
Architecture dramatically affects how we learn. In the last 20 years we have made serious advancemen ts in understanding the impact of physical environments on development, memory, and retention. The importance of light quality, acoustics, materials, and spatial organization shows that great design can make a real difference. Austria, known for dramatic buildings like Zaha Hadid’s…
Under most circumstances, bike lanes, bridges, and tunnels are designed around the existing network of sidewalks and streets. Fortunately, there are instances where cycling is not only being considered at the initial stages of urban design, but put at the forefront to create advantageous public spaces. Around the world, innovative thinkers have dreamt up newfangled…
In response to widespread criticism of the fast food industry, demand for higher-quality burgers has risen significantly. Consumers look for grass-fed, organic beef, made-to-order local ingredients, and artisanal condiments — and are willing to pay more for the experience. The taste for upscale hamburgers isn’t limited to the United States — restaurateurs all over the…
In New York’s scenic Brooklyn Bridge Park, Danish artist Jeppe Hein has installed an unusual series of ephemeral artworks entitled “Please Touch the Art.” To the delight of New Yorkers of all ages, viewers are invited to sit on, walk through, and climb all over the artist’s creations. This refreshingly informal approach to taking in…
Among the surge in craft breweries and trendy cocktail bars, new wine bars are opening their doors — and their cellars — in cities around the world. These elegant locales offer patrons a place to taste new wines, socialize, and unwind. Wine bars pride themselves on an educational aspect that sets them apart from other…
The self-proclaimed live-music capital of the world, Austin, Texas, is the fastest growing major cit y in the United States. According to census figures published in
Corten steel is a unique material that strongly connects to ideas of time, memory, and nature.
Many of the most fascinating contemporary homes belong to artists and other creative professionals. Willing to embrace the eccentric and unconventional, artists tend to be open to residential designs that push the envelope. The architects behind these homes often incorporate art studios into everyday living spaces. These residences and studios go beyond meeting the practical…