It’s no surprise to see that Porsche tapped HOK to design its new Atlanta-based U.S. headquarters. As one of the largest architecture firms in the U.S., HOK is well-suited to handle the needs of one of the most iconic brands in the automotive industry.

Although the 200,000 square foot structure will consist mostly of glass and steel, it will also feature plenty of green spaces, including the rooftop which will collect and filter rainwater.

“Our vision for our new U.S. corporate home is to create a bold and energizing environment where the physical elements are as memorable and moving as the Porsche driving and ownership experience,” said Detlev von Platen, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “The design must allow employees and visitors to see, hear, feel and experience both the emotional and practical benefits of the Porsche brand, from the moment they first see the building.”

The new headquarters will house some 400 employees, and it also will be an important corporate destination for Porsche owners, dealers, enthusiasts and visitors from around the world.

Every aspect of HOK’s design pays homage to the lines of the iconic Porsche badge. Even the facility’s parking structure had to exude the Porsche brand and product experience.

“We have designed a building with the same high-energy feel and performance as Porsche automobiles,” said Todd Bertsch, HOK Atlanta Vice President and Director of Design. “Everything about this space is designed to encourage people to fall in love with the Porsche brand and automobiles.”

The facility will be just as technologically advanced as the vehicles Porsche builds. The building is expected to achieve a high level of LEED certification.

Porsche’s new headquarters at One Porsche Drive in Atlanta is slated to open in 2013.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has recently celebrated another anniversary. The renowned New York museum, home to one of the world’s top collections of contemporary art, first opened its doors on October 21, 1959.

The Guggenheim is a hallmark example of hemicycle design. From the outside, it almost resembles an upside-down cupcake. Inside however, an open rotunda offers views of artwork on several levels. Images below, courtesy of Randy Pertiet, show how its interior complements the museum’s dramatic artwork.

A floating home isn’t a new concept, but many architects are now looking at these types of dwellings to sustain urban growth.

One of these forward-thinking designers is Donald Starkey, who has designed Ome Islands. With 1,400 metres of living space, Ome is a unique house that will give inhabitants the ability to drift between the various man-made islands of Dubai’s World Project.

Ome Islands feature a lower deck complete with an open air lounge, swimming pool, bar and dining area. The upper deck features six bedrooms.

The 32,000kW needed to keep Ome ticking will come from renewable energy sources, including solar. Unfortunately, all that space, technology, and freedom, will also come with a steep price tag of around $20 million. But, for those that always dreamed on living on their own private island, the Ome Island may be a good value.

The zombie apocalypse isn’t upon us yet, but if it were you’d better hope you’re living in a strong enough house. “The Safe House,” designed by KWK Proems, is exactly the time of fortress you’ll need to help maintain your distance from the living dead.

“The most essential item for our clients was acquiring the feeling of maximum security,” says the designer, which created a house that’s little more than a large concrete rectangle. Even the structure’s windows are covered with movable slabs of concrete.

There’s only one entrance into this house, which is located on the second floor after crossing a drawbridge — a clever strategy for keeping zombies at bay.

Like Venice, Bangkok is slowly sinking. Some studies even suggest Thailand’s capital could be completely submerged by water by the year 2030. In response to this trend, Bangkok-based architecture firm S+PBA has proposed the construction of a floating city, which they’ve dubbed “Wetropolis.”

The design keeps everything above water, and all structures are interconnected by roads and walkways. By sitting just above the water, S+PBA says the ebb and flow of the tide won’t damage the city’s structures.

Beijing’s iconic national stadium (The Bird’s Nest) helped make China’s capital one of the most architecturally advanced cities in the world. But a new 10-story tower that’s currently under development may become an even more renowned structure.

The Phoenix International Media Center, designed by Chinese architecture firm BIAD UFo, is due to be completed next year. Its unusual shape, almost mimicking the contours Chicago’s Cloud Gate, will house the eponymous satellite TV provider, as well as additional businesses, residences, and restaurants. A monumental glass façade helps create an atrium that rises 30 meters. And, thanks to robustness of its façade, the interior of the building won’t just be breathtaking, it will also be energy efficient year-round.

Architecture transforms environments, but even ideas about architecture can be powerful. By integrating an architecture school into a downtown area, there’s potential to unleash the creativity of students and drive downtown development — at least that’s what Robert González anticipates. González was recently named the director of Texas Tech University’s burgeoning college of architecture in El Paso, Texas. He hopes that the creativity of students will be able to transform El Paso’s depressed Downtown.

“Every architecture school in the world wants to be downtown. We are urban beings, and we see it as our laboratory,” says González. “We need to be in the middle of that. We can host important discussions and put exhibits up on the wall that propose new ideas that try to invigorate more activity.”

As he takes the helm of the college of architecture, González is pushing for greater ties with the City of El Paso. Officials like Providencia Velázquez, the city’s new historic preservation officer, are eager to see what fresh blood and fresh ideas can do for the city. González is convinced that a new Downtown studio will not only be good for the city, but it will also be beneficial for students.

“That is the beauty of an architecture studio, because you can just dream,” he says.

New York architect Luke Clark Tyler understands the sacrifices one has to make to live in the Big Apple. He rents a tiny 78-square-foot studio apartment for $800 a month. Living in a neighborhood where the average rental price per square foot in a studio is $72, Tyler is paying almost twice as much at $123.07.

“I was spending my life in a skyscraper and going underground, to work and then back again,” said Tyler. “I was missing out on anything New York had to offer. If I had to choose spending time in a train or living in a small space, I’d choose a small space.”

The 27-year-old’s Hell’s Kitchen apartment allows him to save money. His goal is to enjoy the city, and not to pay a staggering sum for a larger West Side apartment. However, he did invest in custom furniture that allows him to have extra space and extra storage. He doesn’t mind having to share a bathroom with three other similarly-sized apartment, but there’s one thing he wishes he had — a sink.

See more of this unique apartment below.

The Keret House, designed by Jakub Szczęsny of Centrala, will be the narrowest house in Warsaw, Poland when it’s completed. Measuring just four feet across at its widest point, the house features designated rooms for sleeping, eating, and working, despite its ultra narrow dimensions. Fitting tightly between two existing buildings, it will have off-grid plumbing inspired by boat sewage technology and electricity lifted from a neighbor. As a way to save space, entry stairs will be able to fold up at the press of a button and become part of the first floor. Although the apartment won’t be winning over architecture lovers for its beauty, it does illustrate how much one could creatively cram into a small space.

Is this the greenest house is Los Angeles? That’s what the LA TImes recently asked after touring the Nob Hill Haus in the neighborhood of Mount Washington. Architect Frank Pasker and designer Grit Leipert incorporated sustainable landscaping to make it one of the most water-efficient homes in the region. Beneath its desert landscaping, the house features a 1,500 gallon cistern to store rainwater and there’s even a solar water heater, photovoltaic panels and a gray-water system to maximize efficiency.

“With new design elements, architects have to try it out themselves as guinea pigs,” said Pasker. “If an architect wants to do something new, he very often has to do it for himself first to have proof that it works. That’s a good thing about being an architect. You actually can do it yourself.”

The Nob Hill Haus is truly a product of its environment. Because water and power are scarce resources in California, the house has been designed with conservation in mind.