[photo via DESIGNhabitat]
When you first look at the home you might think “Hello Kitty”. To me it looks like they captured two intersecting triangles.
This home was designed by the students at Auburn University’s Architecture School for the Habitat for Humanity. There is so many things that make this little 1,100 square foot ranch home so unique. The “cat ears” section was built on site. Giving the home volume ceilings in the main living space and a unique screened porch entry. The other two sections were prefab and built by Palm Harbor Homes. This is where you’ll find the bedrooms, bathroom, …read more

Whew! I thought Goil might have been out!
What a boring show. The designers were given that task of a party designer for Bacardi Rum. The “big twist” it is in a party tent!
Oooh…
The remaining six designers were divided into two teams. With the task of throwing a party for Bacardis lemon flavored rum that will tempt all the five senses. The product spotlight was boring too. Bacardis commercial of the rum bottle as a submarine (…we all live in a yellow submarine..) and lemon fishes was more interesting and probably sold more bottles of rum to the swanky “twenty something”.
Nothing …read more

What makes a great architect great?
Everyone agrees that a structure that stirs the emotions of anyone who experiences it is what good architecture is. Is that emotion the influence that makes a great architect. Well I don’t! It is the majority, but I think the architect still needs to be responsible. That is the conflict I have when anyone talks about how great an architect Frank Lloyd Wright was.

One of the biggest responsibilities I believe an architect has, is to the clients budget. When a client hires an architect to create a home or even a skyscraper their budget …read more

[photo via Apollo Arch & Assoc]
So how small? Would a lotlot that measures 344 square feet be large enough for you and your parents? It was for a woman in Tokyo. In fact she hired an architect, Satoshi Kurosaki, who seems to be recieving a lot of business from young adults opting to live on postage stamp sized lots in order to be centrally located. That home, 3 stories tall, cost $170,000. Let’s say with a total of 1,032 square feet, that would be $165 per square feet.
Not Bad!
Locally, California, the smallest I could think of, 100 square feet by …read more

[photo via Treehugger & Ted Owens]
Straw bale homes have been receiving a lot of attention. With promises of high insulation values, low energy cost, and the comfort of using renewable materials. All of this positive promotion is good, it highlighting an alternative method of construction, but I also feel a need to point out the negatives.
In order for an “alternative method” to change the industry it needs to be practical and cost effective. Straw bale building doesn’t meet any of those, in my opinion. In order to prove my point, or for you to see my point of view, we …read more

When I first heard of the Glassic Flat it was the Breckenridge PC, both of which were designed by Christopher Deam. This architects vision increased Breckenridges’ sales and lowered their customers median age. At 400 square feet, it is a lifestyle change in modern design.
As you can see one side of the home is glass, floor to ceiling. That wall is divided into four sections. Each glass section represents an area of the home. The first being, and an exterior wall, is the kitchen. The next, combined with the kitchen, is the living space. There is one small enclosure which …read more

(JULIE FLETCHER, ORLANDO SENTINEL)
Just because you own land, or purchased a piece of property, should you be allowed to build whatever want on it? More specifically as large as you want? I’m glad to hear of another town putting the ca-bosh on the”Mega Mansions”. The picture above is from the Sun Sentinel and shows a home nicked name “Taj Mahal” by it’s neighbors because of it’s 14,000 s.f..
In case you couldn’t tell the “Taj Mahal” is on the left. It will have a total of 14,057 s.f., of that 9,850 s.f. of living space …read more

Designing for the baby boomer’s has been the mantra for the building industry for at least ten years. So when I came across ANOTHER article telling me what the Boomer’s want I almost turned the page. In fact if it wasn’t for the pretty pictures I would have. Really what caught my eye was a sketch, by BSB Design Architects, of a progressive 1 1/2 story home. This rendering was suggesting the use of materials I never would have associated with the wants of Baby Boomer’s.
In fact the findings from the article, and architects chosen, suggested …read more

re:Friday’s is a look back at the week of interesting stories from across the web. Stories covered by the blogs I enjoy daily and hopefully ones you are not aware of.

A home for those who fancy tin foil hats, who don’t believe Big Brother is a successful reality show, and black helicopter’s.. [via Treehugger]
An interview with John Rattenbury, apprentice to FLW. Pro-PreFab-er’s a must listen [via PrairieMod] [via PrairieMod Podcast #10]

Looks nothing like music. [via Design Sponge]

Most functional hooks around! [via design milk]
Want to live in a Green home? Don’t want to build it, but find an existing one? Need …read more

I know I am a little late to enter this
conversation, but I think Top Design is a great show! If you are behind
or have absolutely no idea what I am talking about Top Design is a show
on Bravo TV, you can catch up or check it out at MeeVee.

The task last night before the designers was to create a cabana on three of the most popular beaches. Last
night a designer, on the Miami cabana, was kicked off because of an acid green accent.

Really?…
They should have eliminated the two bickering designers. Throughout the show, both designers (Carisa and Ryan) said …read more