This house was created in the 50’s as part of an experiment to see if homes could be designed/built out of low-cost materials to handle the growing population demands of post war America. Read more here about the case study program.
Makoto Suzuki - Architect
Wood stove, brick, cedar, recessed bookshelves, low ceiling/high ceiling and glass - these elements combined in this particular way make for a thoughtful space. See more about this project here.
Soot House - Antony Esteves (Artist/Builder)
Soot House is another good example of the art of Shou Sugi Ban (charring wood). Watch this short video if you’re interested in learning more.
Sonoma Wee House - Alchemy
Love the simplicity of this prefab dwelling with adjacent guest house. Credit goes to my mom for directing me to this project. See more images and read summary here.
Luis Barragán - Architect (1902-1988)
Barragán was a Mexican architect/engineer, heavily influenced by European Modernism. His vibrant palette helped define his style. Here’s a good spread about him in Dwell.
Outward Bound School MicroCabins - CO building Workshop (CU Denver)
Great little steel boxes with wood interiors. Check out more about these here.
Vertical Forest in Milan - Stefano Boeri (architect)
This was completed in 2014. Imagine if 50% of Skyscrapers were required to have this much vegetation.
Urban Cabin
Fun way to think about having a mountain vibe while dwelling in the city. This project is in New Zealand, check out more here.
Elevation
I like the bar that is set by the level of detail in this drawing.
Leth & Gori (Danish Architects)
I like all the material choices in this project, as well as the squares and rectangles: tile, plywood, doors, drawer fronts, cubbies, etc. See more about this house on Leth & Gori’s website.
James Turrell - Roden Crater
Turrell has been working with light his entire art career, and has been at work on his staggeringly large scale Roden Crater project since the mid 70s. See a 5min. video revealing some of the chambers created within the crater and hear his thoughts.
Bio SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels)
These panels were designed by Julee Herdt (Professor of Architecture CU Boulder) and students in the Environmental Design program there. Read more here in a short article in Treehugger.
Signal Shed - Ryan Lingard
My favorite thing about this tiny cabin is that the siding has hinged shutters and hatches for covering the windows and doors. See more images here.
Migrant Housing - by architect Bryan Bell
Bell is a former student of Samuel Mockbee at the Rural Studio. This project is one of many that Bryan Bell has worked on for a population that typically can’t afford an architect. See more in Bell’s book Good Deeds, Good Design.
Emergency Housing Mexico (Competition Winners, Honorable Mentions, Finalists)
Below is the winner of the Archstorming competition. Here are some additional projects that placed - lots of strong ideas and clear graphics.
Writers’ Retreat
I like the idea of this simple structure dedicated to creating things. See more images here.
Cabin Fervor - Snøhetta (Norwegian Architects)
Snøhetta’s glue-lam super structure on their thoughtful little cabins is a nice touch. See more here.
Plastic Palace - Architects Raffaella Rosselli & Callum Coombe
This thoughtfully designed project was commissioned to raise awareness around a recycling crisis in Australia. Read more here.
Seattle Public Library - by OMA + LMN architects
Architecturally, one of the more stand-out new libraries in the country. It seems to represent the modern house of information. Read more here.
Solar Decathlon - Competition
The Solar Decathlon is a great idea for an architectural/engineering competition. Ten U.S. colleges/universities participate and have a year to conceive of and execute a zero energy house. Each project needs to be transported to and assembled on the mall in D.C. and awards are given out in various categories. Read more here.
p.s. There is also now an international competition.
