GULF COAST SLABS: THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF CLAY KETTER

Clay Ketter, an American artist/photog by way of Sweden, traveled to post-Katrina Mississippi to capture the view of its devastation not in the debris on the ground, but in the foundations of the former houses from above. Ketter, a former carpenter himself, knew just where to look to find beautiful composition in the bleakest of circumstances. Better known for his paintings and assemblages using construction materials, this series is especially evocative considering the lives and dreams that use to occupy the slabs he shot. (click on the images to enlarge)

A retrospective of Ketter's work (including the "Gulf Coast Slabs" series as well as paintings and sculpture) is currently on display at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden until August 16th of this year. Highly recommended. (via Today and Tomorrow)

THE BIG DIG HOUSE

There were few highlights in Boston's "Big Dig" highway overhaul that cost almost 22 billion dollars over the last 20 years. However, along with the wasted time and money (and lives) that accompanied the greatest highway project in U.S. history came tons and tons of industrial/construction waste. An architectural endeavor known as the Big Dig House in Lexington, MA has put to use the remains of the dismantled I-93. Designed by Single Speed Design, the house was constructed using over 600,000 pounds of salvaged materials (see pics below). This type of recycling is not only saving resources but quite a bit of money too, SSD puts it best:
Most importantly, the project demonstrates an untapped potential for the public realm: with strategic front-end planning, much needed community programs including schools, libraries, and housing could be constructed whenever infrastructure is deconstructed, saving valuable resources, embodied energy, and taxpayer dollars.
(via Arch Daily)

PORTABLE HOUSING: GREEN SHEDS AND CABINS FOR LIVING

This past year (and economic recession) has brought a rash of cheap, portable, compact and stylish housing ideas. While this is nothing new, (see portable globe house below) these high-concept homes were designed with green capabilities and a supreme use of space. For most folks these projects were conceived as an extra summer living space, presumably in some vacation land, but as a teacher, I see them as potential full-time homes. Most impressive is the new "Shed for Living" (pictured above) created by Manchester, England's FKDA. This micro home can reach ZERO carbon status, meaning it uses less energy than it generates including the building process and day to day operation. For those of you who dream of a small, handsome space (attention teachers and Japanese architects) peep the plans and imagine.



Pictured below is the Loft Cube, designed by Werner Aisslinger; the KS1 and KS2 homes from Swedish company Summer Entertainment and a log cabin called the "Flake House" from French designers Olgga. The Flake House is currently on exhibit in Nantes, France (if you're in the area) until August at which point it will be auctioned online to the highest bidder.
(Via Dezeen and DesignBoom)

NECESSARY OFFICE ARCHITECT: PAUL COUDAMY

As tech jobs take over and American working environments (and dress codes) look to the future, they might just look across the Atlantic for inspiration. French architect Paul Coudamy has designed a stunning, organic office space for Beartech (internet provider) called the "Bear Cave". Coudamy used found wood waste from dumpsters and sidewalks to create a fiberous "growth" from floor to ceiling. Whatever your taste, it's nice to see progressive businesses worldwide concern themselves with a comfortable, creative atmosphere rather than suits and stuffiness.

Coudamy's other work includes a cardboard office, similar (in theme anyway) to a cardboard office I wrote about a few months ago created by Joost Van Bleiswijk. Pictures available on his site.



(via Design Boom)

KEITH HARING COLLECTION MUSEUM and skate spot

The Japanese pretty much own architecture (and fashion too). With a limited amount of space on the islands of Japan, their designers use innovative lines and materials to create functional structures.. to skate. Atsushi Kitagawara (one of Japan's most celebrated architects) designed the fantastic Nakamura Keith Haring Collection Art Museum in 2007 (pictured top left), but as spring dries up the streets of New Hampshire in 09', all I can think is what an amazing skate spot it would be. Mr. Haring is still one of my favorite artists and I can't help but think he would have fully supported a session at his musuem. The rest of the buildings in Wallpaper's feature on Japanese architecture is worth at least few looks. (via Wallpaper)

SERIOUS RAMP HOUSE

It's about damn time. Greek Architectural firm Archivirus has created the "Ramp House" in Athens, Greece. Now this isn't just a ranch house with a crappy 2 foot particle board mini-ramp crammed in the living room like that divorced guy down the street had, the ramps are sizable and the house is handsome. Lead archtitect Athanasia Psaraki designed the wood/concrete space for a client who wanted a livable, functional skateable home (you can even skate from room to room). Eat your heart out. (via the Architectural Review)

3/28 note: once again, I got on this story before HS, only by a day though. Those dudes are good, damn them.

CARDBOARD OFFICE

The Dutch have done it again. Joost Van Bleiswijk has designed an amazing new office for Amsterdam advertising agency, Nothing, made entirely out of reinforced cardboard. Now a cardboard office would be one accomplishment, but this creation uses NO GLUE, NAILS, SCREWS OR "FIXINGS" meaning all 1500 pieces are affixed using only slots and grooves. Apparently, Joost has used this production method in the past to create a number of objects out of several different materials. In addition, the office is made completely out of inexpensive, recyclable, throw-away resources: Cardboard boxes.

While I don't work in an office, this would be an awesome space in which to spend 40 hours a week. Read the rest of the story from DEZEEN.

THE LOBLOLLY HOUSE

This pre-fabricated home on Taylor's Island, Maryland was built in 2007, and remains a shining representation of green building in America today. Because of its location on the Chesapeake Bay, the free standing architectural design guarantees as little environmental impact as possible. The amazing thing about this home is its use of a re arrangeable aluminum frame and advanced wall components (rooms) making it 70% pre-fab. The homes can be constructed as quickly and easily as they can be taken down thus reducing the impact on any environment (and your wallet). Other green technologies include natural ventilation, green roof (has vegetation on it) and sustainable construction processes. From Kieren Timberlake Architecture Firm

The Loblolly House is just one example of architectural genius from a new book called ARCHITECTURE NOW! HOUSES published by Taschen, which you can view here. The book will be available in April 09.