RecruitR: Architecture Blog

Concepts in design and architecture - Treehouses

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:47:48 GMT

Did you have a treehouse growing up? I bet it wasn't as good as these ones we've found! Everything from Tree Hotels to Tree House Restaurants, these designs will blow your mind!

A personal favourite is the Harads Tree Hotel concept by Swedish architects Tham and Videgard Hansson. Its mirrored surfaces blend the hotel completely into the surrounding environment. Complete with a kitchen, small terrace, living area and sleeping area, these cubes are perfect for a "get back to nature" mini break!

Check out these 12 funky designs

Now that's recycling!

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 22:12:18 GMT

Riddel Architecture of Brisbane have created an outstanding, high-end residence in Hill End, Brisbane using 80% of materials retained from the original, demolished building. This outstanding achievement not only produced a stunning house, but saw only two skips of waste produced. The house holds a six-star energy efficiency rating and proves that you don't have to sacrifice aesthetic appeal when creating an "eco-house".

Architecture in an Emergency

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:59:29 GMT

Often design and Architecture revolves around the grandest of structures: The biggest , tallest and strangest. While there's nothing wrong with a bit of weird and wonderful design, Architecture can play a critical role away from these big projects within disaster assistance, providing shelter and accommodation in times of other fellow human's greatest need.

Following the excellent work of organizations such as Architecture for Humanity and Emergency Architects I am keen to explore a little further some of the more innovative designs to date. Beyond the ubiquitous -and toxic- FEMA trailers, there is a whole string of prefab, temporary and transportable accommodation being designed.

Starting off the proceedings is the reCover Disaster Relief Shelter. With an accordion-like structure, it can be easily folded for transport and set up in a matter of minutes. Not too sure how it would stand up to severe winds and indoor cooking though.

For further ideas and inspiration, find a few more concepts here and here. What are the most important things to consider: Build costs, shipping costs, durability of shelter, ease of set up and operation?? There are a lot of things to consider with each design. Over to you to hear your thoughts?

Think Green: The Future of Environmentally Sustainable Design?

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:34:33 GMT

For those of you who know -and those who don't- we've just moved into 333 Ann St in the City, the new targeted 4 green star and 4.5 stars ABGR rating. Designed by ML Design it's got me thinking about the future of green?

For the grandest of the grand, have a look at this mega-project I found on Inhabitat for Dubai, aptly named Ziggurat. In the shape of a massive pyramid, this carbon-neutral structure is meant to sustain a population of 1 million people. Supposedly able to run completely off the grid, it has its own vertical and horizontal mass-transportation system. Whether or not I'd like to live there is another thing entirely.

What would it actually be like to live in a mega-city like this? Some argue that sustainable design is coming at the price of individual freedom and rights. Others argue that the benefits of this focus are not required and the supposed environmental impact is overstated.

Whether or not in the coming years we'll all have smart transportation, eco-friendly clothes and accessories , and green houses, is still yet to be seen. Either way, I'd be interested to hear your take on things and see what your vision of a better future is.