Mathematical Street Art - Aakash Nihalani

Contributing to otherwise bland streetscapes, these non-destructive and simple additions by street artist Aakash Nihalani make a great addition.

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Glass Mosaic Garden House

Enclosing a lush garden or trees and foliage the glass mosaic wall creates strange illusion from the outside while also providing privacy from the busy Japanese street. The creation of renowned architect Hiroshi Nakamura the wall is comprised of over 6000 glass blocks held together in a steel lattice. 

via inthralld.com

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Sir Lawrie Barratt (1927 - 2012)

Earlier this week an influential figure in British housing passed away. Sir Lawrie Barratt established Barratt Developments in 1958 as a response to his own problems in becoming a homeowner with his company becoming on of the UK's leading housing developers. 

Barratt is a well known yet controversial name in Bristish housing. On one hand Barratt Developments were pioneers, with many of the methods invented now common practice in housing. Along with (the now industry standard) fitted kitchen, other schemes included the concept of part-exchange and other principles of maximising space, alongside a broader legacy of making home ownership a reality to many who were previously priced out of the housing market.

However the cost cutting methods came at a price and the delivery of cheap housing had its flaws; schemes have been condemned as 'rabbit-hutch' development lacking space, imagination and aesthetics. It will be interesting to see how the legacy and concept of 'affordable housing' will evolved over the next 100 years, and how the Barratt Developments (if still standing) will fit into this landscape.

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Shoffice - Platform 5 Architects

Combining both shed and office space, the aptly named 'Shoffice' is London-based Platform 5 Architects response to the combination of both outdoor storage and workspace separate from living space.

The elegant structure is constructed from timber with a heavy focus on allowing natural light into the ecliptic design.

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Shaping History, Shaping Tomorrow

"For Keio University's Shaping History, Shaping Tomorrow campaign, Tim White put together this video showing the Eastern and Western influences in the city of Tokyo. A bit of old, a bit of new"

via Doobybrain.com

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Newton Vs. Goldberg - Slick Chain Reaction Video

Created by Toronto based 2D House, 'Isacc Newton Vs. Rube Goldberg' is a new chain reaction video filmed with magnets, slick photography and clever visuals. All you have left to do now is guess 'which way is up?'

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House F - Ido, Kenji Architecture Studios

This wooden three story house built on a narrow urban infill site, uses material whose properties reflect the 'aim' of the spaces. For example the heavy reliance on soft woods has been used to create and atmosphere of softness and calm. 

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Oscar Niemeyer (1907 - 2012)

Every planning or architecture student must have one time come across the work of renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer who sadly passed away last week. A key figure in the modern architecture movement Niemeyer's work, as a "sculptor of monuments" may at times have appeared contrary to his political ideologies. 

In the past week many articles have emerged to celebrate both Niemeyer work and his life. However one of the best introductions to the architect and artists remains a short documentary put together in the final years of his life.

"I am not attracted to straight angles or to the straight line, hard and inflexible, created by man. I am attracted to free-flowing, sensual curves. The curves that I find in the mountains of my country, in the sinuousness of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean, and the body of the beloved woman".

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South West Regional Plan Study Published

The Department of Communities and Local Government commissioned environmental report on the effects of the abolition of the South West Regional Plan has found that the environmental effects will be largely similar in the event the strategy is either retained or abolished. 

More information regarding the study can be found here.

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