The Most Beautiful Olympic Stadiums Ever Built
The 2012 London Summer Olympics kicked off over the weekend, and after reading a fascinating article about the Architecture Olympics, explaining International Olympic Committee founder Baron de Coubertin‘s vision for “a global event that incorporated not only athletics but also art competitions, giving equal importance to works of architecture, painting, music, sculpture and literature,” we felt compelled to take an in-depth look at the stunning design afforded by the biannual competition.
Starting with a look at the most stunning stadiums constructed for this year’s events, and then going back in time to the striking simplicity of the first stadium in Greece, check out the most beautiful Olympic architecture ever built.
The Aquatics Center by Zaha Hadid — 2012 London Olympics
Velodrome by Hopkins Architects — 2012 London Olympics
Basketball Arena by Sinclair Knight Merz with Wilkinson Eyre and KSS — 2012 London Olympics
The London Shooting Venue by Magma Architecture — 2012 London Olympics
Coca-Cola Beatbox Pavilion by Pernilla Ohrstedt and Asif Khan — 2012 London Olympics
Beijing National Stadium aka the Bird’s Nest by Herzog & de Meuron with Ai Weiwei — 2008 Beijing Olympics
The Chinese National Aquatics Center aka The Water Cube by PTW Architects — 2008 Beijing Olympics
Olympic Sports Complex by Santiago Calatrava — 2004 Athens Olympics
Olympic Stadium by Roger Taillibert — 1976 Montréal Olympics
Olympiastadion by Ackermann and Partners with Jörg Schlaich — 1972 Munich Olympics
Yoyogi National Stadium by Kenzo Tange — 1964 Tokyo Olympics
Olympiastadion by Werner and Walter March — 1936 Berlin Olympics
The Coliseum by John and Donald Parkinson — 1932 Los Angeles Olympics
The Amsterdam Olympic Stadium by Jan Wils — 1928 Amsterdam Olympics
Panathinaiko Stadium by Anastasios Metaxas and Ernst Ziller — 1896 Athens Olympics
This post also appears on Flavorpill, an Atlantic partner site.
A Giant Gallery of Unique Staircase Designs
Some you’ll love, some you’ll detest and others you can only hope nobody has ever slipped and hurt themselves! Below is a gallery of unique and creative staircase designs. Not necessarily the most beautiful or functional, just a collection of interesting concepts that push the boundaries of staircase design into bold and often handrail-less territories. Enjoy
1. Bookshelf Staircase
Design by Levitate
2. Lello Bookshop in Porto, Portugal
3. Stairs with Slides
4. Floating Stairs
Design by École
5. Magic Mountain Stairs in Duisburg, Germany
Design by Heike Mutter + Ulrich Gent
6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Brazil by Oscar Niemeyer
7. Storage Stairs
8. Curvaceous Staircase
Design by Atmost Studio
9. Suspension Bridge Staircase
10. Platform Staircase
11. Ribbon Staircase
Design by HSH
12. Wavy Staircase at Longchamp Store in New York Cit
Design by Heatherwick Studio
13. Staircase Made from Shipping Pallets
Design by Most Architecture
14. Spiral Staircase with No Center Pole
Design by Patrick Jouin
15. Foldable Attic Staircase
16. Half Spiral
Design by Alberto Mozó
17. Shadow Patterns
18. Hanging Staircase
19. Hollowed Tree Trunk Staircase
20. Floating Concrete Staircase
21. Floating Staircase
22. Vertebrae Staircase
Design by Philip Watts Design
23. Split-Level Staircase
Design by nC2architecture
24. Suspended Staircase
Design by Chae-Pereira Architect
25. Robson Square, Vancouver, Canada
Photograph by Dean Bouchard
26. Stair Tree
27. Death-Defying Floating Staircase
Design by Schlosser + Partner
28. Stairs Everywhere
Design by 24H Architecture
29. Wedge Stairs
Design by TAF Gabriella Gustafson & Mattias Stahlbo
30. Umschreibung (Rewriting) by Olafur Eliasson – Munich, Germany
Design by Olafur Eliasson
Sources
– http://pinterest.com/search/?q=staircase
– http://pinterest.com/search/?q=stairs
– http://pinterest.com/elainen/amazing-staircases/
– Google Image Search: “Unique staircases”, “Amazing Staircases”
– http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/world-s-coolest-staircases.html
– http://www.houzz.com/photos/staircase
– http://www.dezeen.com/2008/05/14/edificio-bip-by-alberto-mozo
– http://www.boredpanda.com/creative-staircases/
– http://www.oddee.com/item_96882.aspx
– http://enpundit.com/amazing-staircases/
– http://weburbanist.com/2008/11/26/creative-modern-stairs-staircase-designs/
– http://www.atmosstudio.com/Sensualscaping-Stairs
If you enjoyed this post, the Sifter highly recommends:
8 Amazing Examples of Ramps Blended Into Stairs
25 Stunning Images of Spiral Staircases
The 9 Best Buildings of the London 2012 Olympics
Though not nearly as ostentatious as the buildings from the Beijing 2008 Olympics, the stadiums and arenas for the London 2012 Olympics are still quite lovely. Here are the best buildings you’ll probably see over and over again for the next few weeks.
A lot of the focus for the buildings of the London Olympics was to pare down on excess and build stadiums and arenas with recyclable materials and green principles. Many of the buildings are temporary and for the permanent structures, six have already found legacy uses for after the Games. Hopefully, London’s Olympic Park can avoid the fate of becoming a ghost town after its few weeks of glory.
Olympic Stadium
The main stadium looks almost like a giant laurel wreath. Its lower tier actually sits inside a bowl in the ground which was created by excavating 800,000 tons of dirt. Uniquely, the Olympic Stadium is surrounded by water on three sides, meaning visitors have to cross bridges to get to the stadium. And who doesn’t love a good almost-moat?
Aquatics Centre
Designed by architect Zaha Hadid, the Aquatics Centre looks like a yacht crossed with a Dubai skyscraper. The building holds 17,500 spectators, and will host all the swimming competitions (including Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte’s mega-battles).
Velodrome
Probably the best-looking building of all the 2012 Olympics, the Velodrome is an artfully designed… Pringle. In a good way! Cycling races will be held inside the 100% naturally ventilated system (read: NO AIR CONDITIONING). Other than the no AC thing, the Velodrome is lovely, and delicious. I’m impressed that they could build just one.
Basketball Arena
A temporary building that seems more like a cluster of marshmallows and/or soundproofed walls, the arena is made of 1,000 tons of steel and is recyclable. The exterior is covered in 20,000 meters of PVC fabric and will display the basketball genius of LeBron, Kobe, Durant and the rest of Team USA.
The Royal Artillery Barracks
If you ever wanted to know what a pepperoni pizza would look like in building form, the Royal Artillery Barracks is the answer. Good thing the building is temporary, because good gracious is it ugly.
North Greenwich Arena
More popularly known the O2 Arena, the ‘North Greenwich Arena’ wasn’t built for the 2012 Olympics but for the Millenium celebrations over a decade ago. But for the next 16 days, it’ll be home to Artistic and Trampoline Gymnastics, as well as Basketball and Wheelchair Basketball.
Copper Box
Simple and shiny, like a penny. Or pence. Or whatever Britishism is en vogue these days for a copper coin. Made for handball and the modern pentathlon, the roof of the Copper Box is fitted with 88 light pipes that pump natural light into the building.
Soccer Stadiums
So not exactly one building, because soccer games at the Olympics will be played at six soccer, er, football (fútbol?) stadiums across England: Old Trafford, Millenium Stadium, City of Coventry Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Saint James Park and Hampden Park
Wimbledon
No introductions necessary. Wimbledon will be home to… tennis. What, you were expecting lawn bowling?
BONUS: ArcelorMittal Orbit
Not a competition venue, the Orbit is the largest piece of public art in Britain and is supposed to be the “lasting legacy” of the Olympics. It looks like an orgy of steel or a tentacle wrapping around a stunted Space Needle or a perfect place to put the Olympic cauldron (though the Olympics have denied the flame will be housed there). Whatever it is, you’re probably going to see a lot of it over the next few weeks.
Cloud House by McBride Charles Ryan
Who doesn’t want to live with their head in the clouds? How about your whole body? Designed by McBride Charles Ryan, the Cloud House is actually an addition and renovation of an Edwardian house in Melbourne, Australia.
From the street, you would never imagine what is hiding in the back! The clients wanted to respect the neighborhood and keep the facade in character with the other houses.
The original structure is visually connected with the new addition by the wild floral carpet that runs from the front door through the space.
At the end of the carpet, you reach the new space and immediately enter the kitchen that’s in the form of a red “box.” The kitchen is the space that bridges the old with the new.
The cloud-like structure on the back of the house is completely unexpected. The dramatic curves of the roof are covered in a silver material on the exterior and the ceiling inside is covered in warm, wood slats. The north and south sides of the “cloud” are clad in windows (except for the area that joins the addition with the original space) that fill the space with light and a cross breeze.
The wood slats really draw your eye outdoors.
Photos by John Gollings.
New York Townhouse With Unusual Works Of Art
This townhouse in New York is very stylish and has one of the main faces of New York, John Lennon. The style is somewhat traditional, industrial and with art deco elements. Wood, rough brick walls give the impression of something industrial but that is immediately softened by the big soft carpets. The most exciting is art works like sheep statues, art works or a giant John Lennon portrait. The most unusual room is bedroom: it has brick walls, brilliant art works and minimalist furniture. The second bedroom is also unique thanks to rough brick walls, traditional fireplace and carpets, a study corner reminding of the beginning of the previous century. An Asian mask and Russian samovars in the bathroom just blow your mind!
What Makes a Home Manly
For some guys, a house is just a pile of sticks. But others see where they hang their hat as an expression of their true identity. “Masculine design can be seen in textures, colors and materials used,” says Meg Caswell, host of the DIY Network’s Meg’s Great Rooms. In other words, it’s not just about that 60″ plasma with the blabbedy-blah sound system and receiver. It’s about finding the right chair to match that custom-built oak mantle. Or taking pride in the contours of an archway. Or, to paraphrase the Big Lebowski, finding a rug that really ties the room together. See, men don’t just build. They create. For visual evidence, check out these modern American temples dedicated to testosterone
Leave the gun, take the canopies. This $2.9 million home located in the Todt Hill section of Staten Island was used in the classic film The Godfather—in the backyard, you might recognize where director Francis Ford Coppola staged the famous wedding scene and Don Corleone’s untimely back garden demise. Perfect for any budding mafioso-type, the layout of the Tudor home makes the place look like it’s part of a true Family fortress, with amenities that include a basement pub, butler’s pantry, four-car garage and two fireplaces. It also has an in-ground pool in case you want to sleep (or swim) with the fishes. And if that’s not authentic enough, when the home went up for sale in 2010, owner James Norton threw in Marlon Brando’s cue cards for additional bragging rights. Horse’s head not included.
This 1,959-square-foot Cincinnati home is an architecture geek’s dream. That’s because it’s one of the last works created by design visionary Frank Lloyd Wright (Brad Pitt is a fan). With 10-foot-tall doors that lead out to a terrace that wraps around the house, “it’s hard to tell whether you are inside or outside,” says owner Chuck Lohre, “but that was one of Mr. Wright’s signature styles.” Known as The Boulter House, the structure falls under FLW’s “Usonian” moniker, meaning it’s simple, yet sleek. That said, it doesn’t skimp on unique extras, such as 24 feet of built-in seating and bookshelves, a suspended staircase, and 450 square feet of glass to gaze out at the surrounding forest. Purchased for $455,000 back in 2002, Lohre hasn’t messed too much with the master’s vision. The kitchen and carport have been restored, and Lohre also finished off a bathroom that was started in 1958.
Dan Whitney may play dumb on TV, but the comedian known as Larry the Cable Guy sure knows how to install some clever home amenities. Before he traded in this Sanford, Florida pad for his growing family, Dan enjoyed indoor and outdoor movie theaters, a stocked fishing pond, gym, and safe room. Outside, the pool area has a waterfall, outdoor spa, bar and fire pit. But the crown jewel of the $1.55 million, 20 acre home is the indoor game room, complete with a poker table, pool table, bar, a variety of memorabilia, and what appears to be AstroTurf flooring. Now hat’s getting ‘er done
Situated on 31 acres on top of a ridge, this 4,300-square-foot Tennessee home is the ultimate boys’ club (without the girlie mags and secret passwords). To become one with nature, designer Brad Norris of Norris Architecture blended the design with its wooded surroundings. The living room and pavilion areas offer the visuals and openness of the great outdoors, while the office and bedroom cocoons inhabitants in a cave-like atmosphere. Almost every inch of the $1.99 million home is authentic, too, with actual Cypress or Western Lodgepole Pine trees throughout. “No fake stuff,” says Norris. “Real stone, real wood, real structure.” Real cool.
You can’t spit without hitting something insanely fun in this 24,500-square-foot mansion located in Washington, Utah (and priced at $6.995 million). Previously featured on MTV’s Teen Cribs, the 10-bathroom home with an all-wood elevator features a two-lane bowling alley, two Cineplex-style home theaters, and a sports pub with four flat-screen TVs above the pool table for multiple viewing angles. “Having a bowling alley in your home says, ‘You’ve made it!'” says Meg Caswell, host of the DIY Network’s Meg’s Great Rooms. After all, Richard Nixon installed one in the White House. But does 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. also have a handcrafted solid wood slide, a six-car garage, and 3,500 square feet of patio and deck space with its own outdoor kitchen? Yeah, didn’t think so
Would you want to live in a barn? Richard Landry does, and he’s pretty proud of it. The Quebec native designed this 5,000-square-foot Malibu home by incorporating remnants from a 100-year-old barn being demolished in his hometown. The aged timber is the main building material for this place, which sits on 15 acres that includes a running stream, a stable, and a swimming pool of corrugated metal. Using frontier craftsmanship as the main design theme, this paint-free home also has concrete block and slab, pecan wood floors, and both marble and granite in the bathrooms. “Masculine design can be seen in elements such as exotic woods, steel, glass and natural stone,” says Meg Caswell, host of the DIY Network’s Meg’s Great Rooms. That said, Landry’s place has plenty of modern conveniences, too, including surround sound inside and out, Crestron home control, and an industrial-looking, butt-kicking gym area
This Nashville, Tennessee homeowner made a 16-foot-wide see-through garage door part of his permanent living space, and it delivers great views, both inside and out. Designed by architect Ryan Thewes, the glass allows for plenty of natural light to show off rustic architectural elements, such as exposed curved bow truss steel beams and a tongue-and-groove wood ceiling. At night, though, it’s a whole different vibe. The door opens out to a 12-by-19-foot deck with cantilevered roof overhang, so houseguests can take a peek at downtown Nashville in rain or shine. Inside, the 3,171-square-foot home has plenty of other bachelor goodies, including a combo media/game room and another deck that leads out to a 9-by-13-foot resistance pool. There’s also a master bedroom that’s only accessible via catwalk
Going rustic doesn’t mean you have to give up luxury. This Missoula, Montana estate is part of a licensed shooting preserve that actually has a teepee on-site, but also boasts flat-screen TVs, leather seating, in-floor radiant heating and a 1,200 bottle wine cellar. Known as the Kootenai Springs Ranch, the compound manages to squeeze in a total of four stone, log and glass buildings into almost 2 acres. That includes a main house with a backup freezer and extra fridge (for your daily kill), along with a guest wing and a whole separate guesthouse. Oh yeah, and then there’s the Boy’s Club—a 508 square foot space with floor-to-ceiling windows, a wet bar, and all the comforts of your local sports bar (including poker table). In case you want to reel in the catch of the day, the room also has a few fly-tying stations. (Hall and Hall has the whole compound listed for $14.5 million.)
Poles aren’t just for strippers, firemen and aspiring Ghostbusters. This homeowner added one into his Bend, Oregon home for fun and speedy access to the rock-cooled, cave-inspired wine cellar in the basement. But there are plenty of other ways a guy can relax in the 3,900-square-foot space. Currently listed with Coldwell Banker for $849,000, the pad includes a basement theater next to the cave, complete with 7.1 surround sound. There’s also a hot tub and a huge deck where one can take in the 220 degrees of unobstructed mountain and river views
When we grilled comedian Adam Carolla about his 5,500 square-foot Hollywood Hills home (bought in 2003 for $1.6 million), he was relatively modest. Rather than focusing on the eight-car garage packed with vintage sports cars and its own beer fridge or the office with the four flat-screens, Carolla wanted to talk about his condom machine. “It’s one of those dispensers from the 70s where they show the chick in those tight, hip-hugger jeans, resting her arm seductively on the dude with the moustache and the long hair,” says the former contractor, who renovated the entire home himself, along with a totally sick man cave (his tips on building your own can be found here). “It’s like, ‘Yeah, that dude’s getting laid tonight.'” Hell, if we had a place like this, we’d say the same thing.
Some super-fans travel countless miles to show team spirit. This University of Washington supporter incorporated a piece of the Duchess Tavern, a Seattle landmark, into his man cave instead. “All the frat brothers would carve their names and Greek fraternity symbols into the top as they were enjoying a cold one,” says Joe Myers, owner of Joe Myers Construction. The bar room is valued at $150,000 alone and is a showpiece for the homeowner’s hobbies. Besides the flat-screen and temperature-controlled wine collection, there’s an array of collectible shotguns on display, in case anyone gets any funny ideas. Like rooting for Washington State.
Forget all those wussy palm trees and grass skirts. This 4,171-square-foot, $1.9 million Kaneohem, Hawaii estate set on 1.5 acres has a mean mainland streak, since most of the decor is an homage to the owner’s beloved Oakland Raiders. There’s a Raiders-themed pool table and a giant window adorned with the team logo in the fully loaded media room. Outside, you’ll find a commercial-grade outdoor kitchen and bar with its own audio setup to enjoy the game. There’s also 1,100 square feet of separate garage space, which includes a full gym setup and a boxing area for getting a few punches in when those referee calls start going the other way. When does football season start again?
Homeowner Stan Holt’s 12,000 square-foot Houston hideout is literally big enough to fit a plane (it’s located inside a privately owned airport, after all). But it can also hold three NHRA drag race cars, a Ruckus scooter, two Harleys, several golf carts, a 1946 Stinson aircraft and a pretty insane vintage car collection, which includes a Corvette and Mustang. Guests can lounge in the Texaco-themed bar area with a matching counter, table, and tons of memorabilia. Or kick back in the hangar’s inside bar or theater room, which includes a 62-inch plasma HDTV, three rows of step-up seating, and a candy counter. Not a bad way to wait out a long layover.
Antonio Manata isn’t your average hooligan, but he sure does love his soccer. The police officer scored something better than season tickets when the crew from the DIY Network’s Man Caves showed up in Clark, New Jersey, to revamp his basement. The crew spent a lot of time and about $18,000 to create this space, which includes soccer jerseys, a Foosball table, and a full-size goalpost with netting. There’s also a strip of FieldTurf artificial grass so Manata and his sons can get in a few practice shots. When it’s game time, the guys can kick back in leather seating and enjoy the room’s projector and screen, a full set of KEF speakers, and a Samsung receiver.
Here’s another man cave makeover thanks to the crew from the DIY Network. They helped financial analyst Nik Joshi live out his cowboy childhood dream in this detached Maplewood, New Jersey garage outfitted with a Qmark portable hydronic baseboard heater, a wagon wheel chandelier, StoneCraft Stone Veneer surrounding a gel fuel fireplace, and a pair of mounted longhorns. Of course, vintage 19th century touches dominate the decor—there’s even an old-timey cash register atop the wood bar. But that didn’t stop the contractors from including a Samsung HDTV in full view. That way, this cowpolk can catch the rodeo on a flat-screen.
Here’s another man cave makeover thanks to the crew from the DIY Network. They helped financial analyst Nik Joshi live out his cowboy childhood dream in this detached Maplewood, New Jersey garage outfitted with a Qmark portable hydronic baseboard heater, a wagon wheel chandelier, StoneCraft Stone Veneer surrounding a gel fuel fireplace, and a pair of mounted longhorns. Of course, vintage 19th century touches dominate the decor—there’s even an old-timey cash register atop the wood bar. But that didn’t stop the contractors from including a Samsung HDTV in full view. That way, this cowpolk can catch the rodeo on a flat-screen.
Talk about an auto erotic fantasy. This Rancho Santa Fe, California homeowner has his own 3,400-square-foot garage, which comfortably fits 12 cars—eight on the floor level and another four up on built-in lifts. The space also has its own guest quarters, exercise room and wine cellar. That doesn’t include the actual house attached with another 5,555 square feet of living space, outdoor pool and security system (on the market for $4.9 million).
A real man loves a space that’s fun and functional, but nothing beats a good deal. Jameson Tyler Drew certainly found a bargain with this 5,000-square-foot loft in Los Angeles. “A similar place in NYC will cost you well into the tens of millions of dollars,” Drew says. “Places like this can be obtained for $0.40 per square foot.” The only problem was that the apartment needed a total overhaul. Drew didn’t mind doing the work himself, though. The end result is a home that offers a ton of privacy, no-hassle neighbors, and the occasional soccer game in the lengthy living space. It also has plenty of sweet amenities, including an 800-square-foot bathroom, gym, and a rooftop golf course. However, possibly the best perk of all is the steady flow of models that come and go, since Drew’s pad is often used for pro photo shoots
Want a room with a view? All this homeowner has to do is open the sliding glass door in his living room. Situated right on the slopes of California’s Squaw Valley Ski Resort (available for rent via community marketplace Airbnb), this 6,500 square-foot home has plenty of lodge-worthy amenties, including a saltwater hot tub, 15-person sauna, 6-foot fireplace, and a 63-inch flat-screen. It also sleeps 17, which you’ll probably need to kick in the $5,000 a night rental fee.
Want a room with a view? All this homeowner has to do is open the sliding glass door in his living room. Situated right on the slopes of California’s Squaw Valley Ski Resort (available for rent via community marketplace Airbnb), this 6,500 square-foot home has plenty of lodge-worthy amenties, including a saltwater hot tub, 15-person sauna, 6-foot fireplace, and a 63-inch flat-screen. It also sleeps 17, which you’ll probably need to kick in the $5,000 a night rental fee.
Say hello to my not-so-little friend. Scarface is the perfect flick to play at this massive Orlando home, featuring a 240-inch (!) Stewart Filmscreen by the pool. And though the house itself looks a lot like the Santa Barbara location where the 1983 classic was filmed, Nael Yacoub, president and CEO of Crown Audio, says that the inspiration for the $250,000 install really came from the desire to watch football while wading in the deep end. The audio on this setup is equally gangsta, too—there are eight Niles Audio speakers throughout the pool area, all disguised as rocks, along with six Krell amps.
It’s hard to imagine any gambling aficionado sleeping in a place that isn’t pumped with fresh oxygen. But this Long Island homeowner does just fine in his half-acre den of decadence, complete with a Vegas-themed bedroom and cabana designed to mimic the entryway to Connecticut’s Foxwoods Casino. Looking like a scene from a Todd Phillips movie, the 8,000-square-foot home that sits on the water has a black jack room, custom movie theater, library, jacuzzi, and outdoor fireplace with two-floor patios. Also, for those times when things get a little too dicey, there are docks that can hold a boat up to 75 feet-long, with jet skis ready to roll at a moment’s notice.
Talk about killer amenities. Advanced Home Theater Systems was brought into this 12,000-square-foot Dallas home to help design a special room for the owner’s prized hunting trophies, which are cooled and lighted via Crestrol control interfaces. Besides 2,000-square feet of temperature-controlled space for those mementos, the pad also has a media room with a 116-inch Stewart screen, a VX-2000d CW DLP projector, a 7.1-channel James loudspeaker system, and Halcro processing and amplification. The rest of the house is pretty impressive as well, with another 10 Runco plasma HDTVs and Monitor Audio Gold IW in-wall speakers, which can be found in most of the 16 audio zones
Last Father’s Day, you probably got your dad another tie. NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson enlisted help from the DIY Network’s Man Caves crew to build a $35,000 custom garage for his dad’s Statesville, North Carolina home. The end result has a racing theme, complete with RaceDeck flooring, asphalt on the walls, custom cabinets made to look like a scoring tower, and plenty of photos of his award-winning offspring. There’s also a tool chest and workspace, a two-tiered bar, a touch-controlled Samsung 50-inch 3D TV, a hot tub, and a steel-veneer pool table. However, one feature that really revved up viewers is the underground hydraulic lift in the middle of the floor. Besides housing a brand new Victory Kingpin motorcycle, the lift has a remote-controlled rotating platform to automatically turn any vehicle around and have it ready for the next lap.
Welcome to the house that Derek Jeter built. Back in 2011, it was reported that the all-star’s home cost a modest $7.7 million to construct. What’s not so modest is the 30,875 square feet of space, one of the largest homes in the Tampa area (it’s been nicknamed “St. Jetersburg”). The place is so big, in fact, that Jeter could store every hot girlfriend he’s had in his MLB career without having to worry about them running into each other. Other details include seven bedrooms for all his teammates to crash in during Spring Training, nine bathrooms, an entertainment room, billiard room, and memorabilia area. The surrounding grounds are just as impressive, with two three-car garages, a pool, two boatlifts and a drive-through portico
HOUS.E+ by Polifactory
Shanghai architects Polifactory have developed a concept for a rammed earth house that generates energy from a lake on its roof.
Designed for a rural site in Vancouver, the self-sustaining HOUS.E+ would use turbines embedded in the walls to produce electricity from water being pumped through a system of pipes.
Additional electricity would come from photovoltaic panels on the rooftops of five blocks that rise above the water and any excess power could be fed back into the national grid.
Rooms would be set 2.5 metres below ground level, where they would be heated in winter and cooled in summer from an underground pump that uses the surrounding earth as a heat source or sink.
Two courtyards at this level would let daylight down onto the sunken floor, while more natural light would filter in through skylights.
Inhabitants would also be able to harvest their own food by cultivating an ecosystem of fish, seafood and plants beneath the surface of the water.
Polifactory developed the concept for a competition organised by The Architecture Foundation of British Columbia for a redesign of the typical regional house.
We also recently featured a self-sustaining house in rural China, which you can see here.
Here’s some text from Polifactory:
Hous.E+ is designed to combine new and old techniques in order to create a not only a resourceful building regarding energy efficiency and sustainability but also well equipped to actively respond to future demands of smart grid systems where energy surplus is distributed and agriculture within the city is a reality.
Above: solar energy and geothermal heat exchange
Designed for a competition in Vancouver, called “100 Mile House”, this project is more than just a concept, but reality with a twist. Therefore, it is based upon existing smart technologies, but goes a step further on solutions that haven’t been explored so far. In this house water is not only stored and re-used but also is part of a cycle that generates power throughout a series of wall embedded micro hydro-turbines. Unnecessary transportation of materials is avoid making a significant difference into the overall carbon foot print emission balance.
Above: hydropower
Hous.E+ is build upon a rammed earth wall technique that is unaffected by rain, fire or pests, plus it doesn’t require any further finishing. The walls act like breathing structures, allowing air exchange without significant heat loss, working naturally as a thermal mass, storing heat in winter and rejecting in the summer, eliminating the need for air conditioning.
The Gold Room by Lee Broom
Hackney designer Lee Broom has filled a room in a London mansion with studded furniture to host visting business leaders during the Olympic games.
The Gold Room is one of a series of newly furnished rooms at the nineteenth century Lancaster House, completed by a host of British designers that includesBarberOsgerby, Jasper Morrison and Sir Terrance Conran.
Broom’s room contains fourteen upholstered pieces from his 1930′s-inspired Salon collection, as well as oak and walnut tables featuring veneers and coloured stripes.
The rooms will remain in this guise throughout the Olympic and Paralympic games and will be used for a series of summits by government organisation the British Business Embassy.
See more projects by Lee Broom »
Here’s some information from Broom:
Lee Broom Takes Centre Stage at British Business Embassy During Olympic Games
This summer, acclaimed product and interior designer, Lee Broom curates a central room in the Lancaster House where the British Business Embassy will host global influential business leaders during the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Broom is one of an exclusive number of respected British designers, including Terrance Conran and Ross Lovegrove, invited to atmospherically enhance the British Business Embassy, which will take place at London’s historic Lancaster House. The magnificent 19th century house will be transformed to showcase modern art and design highlighting the talent of British or British-trained designers, photographers, furniture makers and sculptors.
The Gold Room by Lee Broom is the only room dedicated solely to one designer at Lancaster House. The historic room juxtaposed against Broom’s modern, contemporary pieces exemplifies the designer’s ethos of connecting the past and the future, the traditional and contemporary.
Included in the room are 14 pieces from Salon, an upholstered furniture collection in soft hues contrasted and accentuated with modern stud detailing. The room will feature several products from the range including armchairs, two-seater sofas, drum-seats, dining chairs and footstools. Further pieces included are: Parqlife, a side table and table in walnut veneer with complementing brass accents. Parquetry coffee table and lamp crafted from wenge, oak and walnut wood with blue accent stripe and panels. Carpetry console and pendant, which are from Broom’s first collection and feature pieces in satin lacquered blue with blue and beige carpet.
Demonstrating the designer’s commitment to his country’s heritage, all the pieces have been designed in Broom’s east-end studio and manufactured in the UK.
Broom says, “it is an honour to be invited to participate in this unique event, especially when the spotlight is on London during the Olympic and Paralympic games. Championing British design and manufacturing is something I feel passionate about and this centrepiece backs the best of UK creativity – it’s a hugely valuable opportunity.”
The British Business Embassy, developed by the UK trade & investment (UKTI) is the centrepiece of the government’s international business legacy programme. It will see over 3,000 UK and international business leaders come together for an ambitious series of global, sector and country summits. The embassy will stage a host of world-class speakers including Eric Schmidt, Sir Jonathan Ive and Howard Stringer.
Design leader and UKTI business ambassador, Sir John Sorrell, alongside Diana Yakeley, president of the British Institute of Interior Design have overseen the selection and creation of a total of 18 rooms at the British Business Embassy which will highlight British design talent. Other designers and contributors include Paul Smith for Conran and The Rug Company, BarberOsgerby, Jasper Morrison for Vitra, Sir Terrance Conran and Foster & Partners for Lumina.
DM0 Office by CHEKHOV
The office of DM0, which is a consulting company in Tokyo, is located in a 30-year old residence. The design group CHEKHOV came in and redesigned the space to give an overall playful and fun vibe and to make the staff happy (why aren’t all employers like this?!). The results are a light and bright, open concept space with individual workstations.
I love the Plumen bulbs that hang on colorful cords from the white beams above.
And how they set one on the glass table for added light.
Hidden outlets in mouse holes!
They included some fun features with my favorite being the hanging plant trough that separates the desks so you’re not staring at someone all day.
Prefabricated Architecture
A pile of prefabricated concrete beams form the structure of Antón García- Abril’s Hemeroscopium house Antón García- Abril
2008
Photo: courtesy Ensamble Studio
read the ”Prefabricated Architecture’ article on Architonic:
A huge granite slab, which the architects wryly refer to as ‘the G-point,’ acts as a visual expression of the gravitational forces holding the structure together Antón García- Abril
2008
Photo: courtesy Ensamble Studio
read the ”Prefabricated Architecture’ article on Architonic:
A huge granite slab, which the architects wryly refer to as ‘the G-point,’ acts as a visual expression of the gravitational forces holding the structure together Antón García- Abril
2008
Photo: courtesy Ensamble Studio
read the ”Prefabricated Architecture’ article on Architonic:
The large covered courtyard incorporates a swimming pool and links the various surrounding communal rooms
Antón García- Abril
2008
Hemeroscopium house, east elevation
Antón García- Abril
2008
© Ensamble Studio
Hemeroscopium house, north elevation
Antón García- Abril
2008
© Ensamble Studio
Hemeroscopium house, plan in section
Antón García- Abril
2008
© Ensamble Studio
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy’s SIP Panel House is built entirely from structural insulated panels
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
Only two sizes of panels were used in the house: wall panels measuring 122 x 244 x 11.4 mm, and split-level panels measuring 122 x 488 x 21 mm
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
The components can fit together in any configuration, creating spaces of varying volume
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
Photographer: Felipe Fontecilla
Internal dimensions are based on multiples of the wall panel’s width
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
Photographer: Felipe Fontecilla
Internal dimensions are based on multiples of the wall panel’s width
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
Photographer: Felipe Fontecilla
Drawing showing how modules can be combined in different configurations
Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
2011
© Alejandro Soffia and Gabriel Rudolphy
Benthem Crouwel’s extension to the Las Palmas building in Rotterdam looks out over the surrounding docklands
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
2008
Photograph: Jannes Linders
The penthouse perches on top of a renovated shipbuilders workshop, originally designed in 1953
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
2008
Photograph: Jannes Linders
Raised on 23 steel supports, the structure appears to float above the rooftop
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
2008
Photograph: Jannes Linders
The curved edges of the building reference its maritime surroundings
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
2008
Photograph: Jannes Linders
Inside the double-height boardroom
Benthem Crouwel Architekten
2008
Photograph: Jannes Linders
The Cube is an itinerant restaurant designed by Italian architects Park Associati for Electrolux. Seen here at the Royal Festival Hall in London
Park Associati
2011
Photographer: Andrea Martiradonna
An aluminium surface with laser-cut pattern wraps around the restaurant’s faceted exterior
Park Associati
2011
Photographer: Andrea Martiradonna
The Cube has been travelling to different European cities. It is assembled from prefabricated parts, stays for three months and is then disassembled before moving on
Park Associati
2011
Photographer: Andrea Martiradonna
The interior is minimal and clean and the open kitchen is fitted out with Electrolux appliances
Park Associati
2011
Photographer: Andrea Martiradonna
The Cube, section
Park Associati
2011
© Park Associati
The Cube, plan
Park Associati
2011
© Park Associati
The WikiHouse is assembled from a kit that can be downloaded and cut from plywood sheets using a CNC milling machine
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ongoing
Photo courtesy 00:/
Users also download instructions of how to assemble the different kits, which require no additional building equipment
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ongoing
Photo courtesy 00:/
A computer-controlled milling machine cuts sections for the frames from standard sheets of locally available material
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A computer-controlled milling machine cuts sections for the frames from standard sheets of locally available material
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Nlyten 
