AlvaLine is offering this sunny yellow modern kitchen design. ONDA is an Italian name meaning wave and reflecting its design. ONDA has both ergonomic kitchen cabinets and stylish modern design. Although stone countertops  could add a lot to the cabinet price, it’s  still recommend all kinds of stone countertops for ONDA model. That looks beautiful and grand.

ONDA doors have opaque coloring. Water based stains with silver effect look unique on the ergonomic and exquisite cabinet. Be sure to choose the right lighting for the kitchen room.

Mount Helix house offers 360 degrees of subtle rotation. Al Johnstone’s circular house is a futuristic marvel, filled with gadgets and systems that he designed. The 5,100-square-foot, four-bedroom house atop Mount Helix would be a spectacular showcase even if it didn’t spin.

But it’s the novelty of a rotating house that has brought the Johnstones media attention around the world, thousands of visitors to their Web site at www.rotatinghome.com, and questions from passers-by each day.

This home is an example of the future of architecture “Kinetic Architecture”. It is the only structure in the world, that we know of, that is a fully functional rotating structure with all the utilities in the rotating portion (unlike the Space Needle and rotating bars located in some hotels) along with many other unique features. You choose the speed of rotation – from one revolution in 30 minutes to one revolution in 24 hours.

How It Rotates
The second rotating floor rides on top of the 50′ in diameter first floor on 40, 8″ bearings that each have a 50,000 pound capacity, a main bearing in the center of the elevator shaft carries 1,364,000 pounds and the drive wheels (two 16″ x 3″ wheels) are in pillow block bearings that carry 150,000 pounds each – that’s a 3,664,000 pound capacity, the second rotating floor weighs 600,000 pounds. It is driven by a 1.5 horse power DC motor, it takes .8 hp to start and .75 hp to run the house in either direction anywhere from one revolution in 33 minutes up to one revolution in 24 hours, it can rotate in either direction as many times as one would want (it doesn’t have to unwind). The motor drives the drive wheels through a 1564 to 1 dual worm gear transmission – very smoothly.

The first floor is close to the mountain but has a path all the way around it. The house could be built on flat land or on a central column (no first floor or the rotating floor could be on ground level) or several columns ours is the way it is because of the lot we choose to build it on.

There are few words from house owners:

“Perfect for entertaining and personal enjoyment. No longer will you need to decide which rooms will have a great view and which rooms will have a minimal or no view at all – the RotatingHome allows you to see your entire view from all the major rooms in your home! If you prefer to enjoy your view in the open air, a viewing deck can surround the entire circumference, or just part, of your home. A RotatingHome may be just right for you.

You choose the speed of rotation. We recommend a variable speed from one revolution in 30 minutes to one revolution in 24 hours. A RotatingHome is perfect for an upscale beach house or large mountain cabin or even in areas prone to storm surges! Steep mountain terrain is not a problem as the RotatingHome can be built up on a central steel column. With only one fully RotatingHome that meets 21st century building codes currently in existence, its uniqueness and technology are unprecedented!”

You can have a tour of all the unique features of the RotatingHome or a tour and formal or informal dinner for 8 or more, or drinks and hors d’oeuvres for 30 or more of your favorite people, or almost any combination you can think of.

Features
The total house is 8,900 sq. ft. of living space, garage and decks. The main rotating floor is 5,100 sq. ft., 3,700 sq. ft. of living space and 1,400 sq. ft. of rotating deck and an additional 1,200 sq. ft. of fixed deck. The lower or fixed floor has 2,100 sq. ft. of living space, garage and entry plus a patio and putting green.

Capacity

• Food Stations/Reception (using main rotating floor only) 75-100 guests.
• Food Station/Reception (using entire home) 150-175 guests.
• Sit-down Dinner Party in the Dining Room 40 guests.

View Larger Map

Find rotating home on Bing Maps or Google Maps.

You can also find some additional information in this PDF file.

Standard equipment:

• integrated fridge freezer
• 2 burner cooktop induction
• telescopic mixer tap. 

Options

• integrated dishwasher
• garbage in three

I really love this! Sculptural staircase made of glass and timber by Philip Watts design. This is something unique and never seen before. But it also so natural! Spine is a base with steps, ribs are railing. Clean art and nothing frightening as ancient dinosaur’s bones.

As a proof of blobitecture popularity there is a fresh new “London Aquatic Center” built by Zaha Hadid Architects for London 2012 Summer Olympics.

Detailed designs for the venue by architect Zaha Hadid were released in November 2006, in line with the design competition held in early 2005. In April 2008 Balfour Beatty won the contract to build the Centre and planning permission was granted in May 2008. Construction started in July 2008, two months ahead of schedule now is finished, in time for Test Events before the Games.

The London Aquatics Centre is an indoor facility with two 50 metre swimming pools and a 25 metre diving pool, which will be one of the main venues of the London 2012 Summer Olympics and the London 2012 Summer Paralympics. The centre is located in the Olympic Park at Stratford in east London. With its distinctive architecture and curved roof, it will be the first venue visitors see upon entering the Olympic Park. During the Games it will have a capacity of 17,500, which will be reduced to 2,500 after the Games.

You can see more pictures over at Designboom.

Common apartment structures are equipped with flexible components to provide spatial elasticity concerning short orlong term cycles:

• optional use of the balcony
• optional size and shape of rooms
• optional number of rooms
• optional response to the climate

Elements:
Inner core offers a fixed set of sanitary equipment andcirculation.
Flexible elements allow an adapting to changing needs ofthe user:

• box-type double window: two independent mobile window layers with flexible joints
• inner walls: flexible wall wings, connectable with the window casements

This project was found on www.kalhoefer-korschildgen.de website.

Ferrari kitchen design came from Kicheconcept, Luxemburg company. Sexy curves of this luxury kitchen looks stunning in red, with plenty of black accents. A contemporary, ergonomic design, the sink is located on an ‘S’ shaped island, behind which stand tall storage and wall-fitted oven units. Placing tall storage and wall-fitted oven units behind the island, the lustrous kitchen includes an electric cooktop, raised about the surrounding table, on a freestanding unit, so you may prepare and serve dishes without wasting any time. So should you drive Ferrari into your kitchen?

Key Features

• Rectangular, courtyard, or L-plan.
  
• Horizontal massing.
  
• Asymmetrical shape with cross-gables and side wings.
  
• One story. The Spanish Colonial is the ancestor of ranch-style house.
• Flat roof, or roof with a low pitch
• Earth, thatch, or clay tile roof covering
• Thick walls made with rocks, coquina, or adobe brick coated with stucco. Thick walls are ideally situated for a hot environment — absorb the day’s heat and gently radiate it back into the building during the cool evenings.
• Several exterior doors
• Small windows, originally without glass. Smaller windows, originally sealed by wrought iron or wooden grates rather than glass panes, are sited on the building to best capture breezes while avoiding the direct rays of the sun.
• Wooden shutters, when present, are traditionally mounted on the inside of the home.
• Second story with recessed porches and balconies
• Limited ornamentation. Ornamentation on these informal homes was often limited to arches on entrance ways, principal windows and interior passageways.
• Interior courtyards. Historically, the courtyard let families move the cooking — and its accompanying heat and steam — outside. Today, these patios, porches and courtyards act as informal gathering spots for family, extended family and friends.
• Carved wooden brackets and ballustrudes. Wooden support beams. Wooden roof supports.

You should choose a floor that suits the function of the room. Also please don’t forget to take into account the amount of maintenance and care that a floor will require. Most of the times, the house keepers are not happy with the cleaning activity due to the wrong chosen style of flooring in the past.

So what to choose? Hardwood Floors? Ceramic Tiles? Laminate? Vinyl? Bamboo? Cork? Carpeting? Or maybe an area rug?

Laminate

High-performance laminate flooring possesses the remarkable ability to simulate wood or tile floors, is extremely durable and easy to clean with either a damp cloth or vacuum. Laminate flooring also deserves praise for what it doesn’t do: scuff, wear-through, burn, get scratched by pets, indent from normal family wear and lose color. This is a solid choice for moisture and family-prone areas as well as design appeal.

Carpet

When you’re thinking of “soft, warm and luxurious,” carpet offers a wide price range and selection for every decorating style and budget. Modern carpet vendors provide fibers varying in make (nylon, olefin, polyester or wool) and corresponding degrees of wear and stain resistance, resilience and cleanability. And if that’s not enough, carpeting formats include saxony, plush, texture, cut-loop, level loop, multi-level loop and frieze.

Ceramictiles, stone floors, and glass flooring

Glazed or unglazed ceramic tiles and stone floors that varies in texture and color are suitable for moisture-prone and heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, laundry rooms.

Vinyl

Vinyl floors are very easy to maintain. There are sheet and tile types of vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring have a wide range of colors, color combos, patterns, designs and textures.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is rich, elegant and all natural, create a warm, inviting look with either solid or engineered wood. Solid wood flooring, the most popular choice, consists of one-piece boards. Engineered wood floors consist of two or more layers of wood laminated together.

Bamboo

One of the advantages that bamboo flooring can give you is that this flooring is durable. You can see if bamboo is in some house or some office, no matter what pet tries to destroy it or whatever is the reason, bamboo flooring remains durable. There are two colors that are usually liked and used in bamboo flooring. One is similar to beech and the other one is carbonized that looks like oak. If you have applied wax on the floor, then it also prevents from insects and other such aspects. Bamboo flooring is also good for moisture, i.e. it does not get soiled after moisture and can be cleaned.

Cork

Cork flooring is preferred for the home owners in bathroom and kitchen. You should seal it from the sides so that the water does not get in the flooring, if you are also using it for the same purpose. Cork flooring is environmentally friendly and cork is considered a renewable and sustainable natural resource. Cork has natural properties that are anti-allergenic and resistant to insects.

Area Rugs

Bring instant and long-lasting warmth to hard surface floors with area rugs. Cut down on noise level and take a room up many notches with an almost infinite range of sizes, colors, patterns, textures. From Persian to Oriental and traditional to contemporary, rugs do the big job of protection and enhancing decor.

Sources: Prosourcefloors, Therightflooring

The building may actually be a condo when the building’s owner does not own the land, or it may be sold in fee simple. Targeted buyers are primarily those who do not want to be bothered by external maintenance typically associated with home ownership, sometimes because they only live in the patio home for part of the year.

There is not usually a legal definition of a patio home, and some houses called patio homes may alternatively be marketed as townhouses, garden homes, twin homes, or carriage homes. Most taxing jurisdictions do not have a separate classification for patio homes.

The term was first seen in print in the mid-1970s. In a more generic sense it may refer to a home with a prominent patio, such as some traditional Mediterranean-style homes.

Patio Homes – Pros

• A patio home is usually less expensive than a single family home
• Not as crowded (dense) as townhomes or condominiums
• No neighbors above or below
• Often only one shared wall
• A patio home affords an easy lifestyle – HOA often covers roof replacement, exterior maintenance, landscape maintenance, common area maintenance, and other expenses
• Ideal for “lock and leave” vacation homes
• No stairs and low maintenance make patio homes popular with seniors
• Commonly includes amenities such as a community pool

Patio Homes – Cons

• Noise from neighbors through the shared wall or walls
• Homeowners’ association fees and politics, and CC&R restrictions
• Less common than townhouses or condominiums, so the selection of patio homes may be small
• No yard, just a patio overlooking a common area.

Source: About.com, Wikipedia

In home building and remodelling in America, some of them are short-lived and some last a decade or longer. With the drastic downturn of new construction activity, builders are now wiser in their ways of constructing homes and buyers are adapting to these changes.

Builders have to be more creative to be able to survive recession. New construction trends in the US are giving new home building a shot and builders have re-invented themselves by becoming more clever in their field.

Below are some of the new trends in home construction in the United States.

1. New innovations in home building integrate security systems, more storage space, larger kitchens, laundry rooms, bigger garages with a work area, separate tubs and shower stalls and home theater system.
2. Home builders are also incorporating energy-effective methods in building homes like products that emit lower gas and flexible floor plans. Even Feng Shui is used in designing new houses.
3. Wiring is set up so that new owners can access state-of-the-art security systems with high-speed data, high-tech cable or satellite TV and state video pick-up. New buyers also request for remote control systems that help turn on lights to initiate the security system.
4. Most of the ceilings today are now painted an accent color; some even have more than one color and mostly the same color with the walls.
5. Game rooms are now the trend in many new homes. Normally a ground floor or basement room, now the game room can be found on the second level in place of a bedroom or office. You can find there arcade style games, pinball games and video game set-ups.
6. Crown moldings today have become less of an upgrade but a standard option in higher-end homes. Furthermore, panels, wainscoting, chair rails and fluted door casings are extremely popular.
7. Synthetic materials such as fibreglass doors and trim sidings are coming out in home building.
8. Wooden stairs and railings with iron balusters continue to be the choice of many homebuilders and is indeed the hot stairway look that many buyers are looking for.
9. Home products for roofing, insulation, doors and windows are all considered for energy effectiveness and safety in the home construction these days, together with solar and wind power. Shade and quality appliances are also factors in the new home building trends in America.
10. Current homeowners responded to the economic crunch because instead of selling, they are now adding more space into their current homes and incorporating more space to their homes and using new techniques and trends in the process.

However, do not think that these trends are necessary in your home. Nevertheless, if you plan to remodel or build a new home or getting it ready to sell, it is always beneficial to know the trends to maximize the market value of your property.

Regardless whether building out a present home or constructing a new home, homebuilders are finding work in the present recession condition and are expecting the new trends to boost the home construction market.

Author Resource:- Check out this over 55 community 55+ Real Estate in Scottsdale AZ, choose more space in 3 Bedroom Homes in Scottsdale AZ and homes with health amenities in Real Estate with Health Facilities in Scottsdale AZ.

It’s a strange but compelling time for contemporary kitchen design. The hunger for a new style direction is consuming any new material or format that pokes its head out of the ground. The old carthorse of white minimalist kitchens with high-gloss contemporary cabinetry and handleless doors is still thriving and will continue to do so for many years to come. However, curves and malleable materials are becoming more present from higher end designer kitchen companies. Corian, Hi-Macs and other acrylic solid surfaces are making a strong case as they are the only kitchen materials hard wearing enough to mould into exotic, ergonomics shapes.

At the latest European showcase, showstoppers included curved kitchen islands that combined the majority of required appliances with organic shaped breakfast bars incorporated into curved cabinetry to form ergonomic shapes wrapping around the user. They certainly look the part but would probably not be right for the majority of kitchen spaces. Designs like these are really to be used in very large spaces. As a result, these designs aesthetics can be cued from and incorporated in more normal kitchen designs. The only way to achieve this aesthetic is in a more tailored manner by having bespoke cabinetry designed and made just for your space. However, the island is also returning to a use of a singular dining area with a separate area for food preparation.

Chunky worktops are out – slim and sleek is in. This is using glass & metal fabrication as well as solid laminates which are still strong enough to maintain rigidity rather than flex or be brittle like wood or stone. They have been floated off the kitchen cabinetry by creating an inset sub-worktop that allows for opening the top of a handleless design. These thin section worktops also incorporate the built-in cooking areas. There is still a lot to be said for keeping a kitchen with handles and they can provide a very successful sculptural appearance that compliments the rest of the kitchen if chosen correctly. These are now more commonly being used with huge drawers that contain all the pots, pans, utensils & crockery.

Despite all the unfussy designs, there is the other end of the scale for those who like more decorative finishes. Pictures or even textiles in areas such as splashbacks are more readily available or even splashes of colour in appliances.

All of these can be incorporated easily if having a bespoke kitchen design. So, either way, there is a lot of room for personal expression in the most used room in the house.

Award winning Design republic specialise in bespoke kitchen and bathroom design. We offer a one-stop-shop solution for every aspect required to give you the designer kitchen or bathroom of your dreams. We offer the full range of specification and design services including architectural layouts, cabinetry, fittings, lighting, tiling and furnishings. Although based in Newmarket UK, our services extend to projects of all sizes over the country and abroad.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Max_Spenser-Morris

Every once in a while, a homeowner will go in their kitchen and not like what they are looking at. If you don’t not like the way your kitchen looks or works, it’s probably about that time to take action and remodel. It might even be time for a huge kitchen changing project. When it comes to kitchen remodeling, you will notice that, as a homeowner, you will have an enormous amount of options. If you wanted to you could remodel everything, the floors, countertops and even the kitchen sink.

So in regard to kitchen sinks, are you unhappy with your kitchen or sink? You might want to buy and replace the old kitchen sink. If that is the case, you will want to find one that looks and feels to your kitchen. When you are looking for a new kitchen sink, you should go take a peek in one of your local home improvement stores. There is a good possibility that there will be some kitchen sinks that interest you. Even though there is a good possibility to find the kitchen items you want at one of your local home improvement stores, there is also a good chance that you won’t.

If that occurs, you may want to start looking online for a sink, you might even find it to be cheaper on the internet.

Whether you look on the internet or in a local store, there are some things you should keep in mind. One of the most important things you need to keep in mind is the sink size that you have to buy.

If you are going to replace your kitchen sink, you might find it to be a bigger chore than you thought to find one. This often occurs because your counter already had a sized area for your sink. If you bought a sink that is too large in size for that space or might even be too small in size for it, a small kitchen remodeling project may evolve into a large one. That is why you should look for specific sink sizes. If you are remodeling kitchen cabinets and countertops, you may not have to worry about the sink sizes.

So if you already have the right size of the sink, you should look for what type you want to buy. Almost all kitchen sinks come with two basins, but there are a lot of types that come with only one. When looking for a kitchen sink that only has one or two basins, you should look at your needs. If you do not own a dishwasher, you will have to wash your dishes in your new kitchen sink.

When you are washing dishes, it may be better if you have a two basin kitchen sink. Even though two basin kitchen sinks are more efficient, you will soon find out that the one basin sinks have a better look and are more appealing, the look of a sink not only includes how many basins it has, but also includes the color. Though most kitchen sinks come in a stainless steel color, there are many other kitchen sink colors. A few other popular colors include white, granite, black, and almond, so, the color of a new sink may be a bit more important to you than whether it has one or two basins.

If you are also replacing other areas of your kitchen, like the floors or countertops, it might do you good to be sure that your new sink matches your other new areas. If you also are looking at really buying new countertops and floors just keep in mind to match it with all the other surroundings.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about kitchen remodeling as well as kitchen appliances at http://www.kitchenthingsplus.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall

National Kitchen and Bath Association or NKBA reports that traditional designs actually will never go out of style. If you’re about to purchase a house, apartment, or condo unit or planning on remodeling your home, you might want to take a look at this year’s latest kitchen designs. Check the tables, cabinet organizers, paints, and finishes under traditional, transitional or contemporary styles and designs and find the perfect mix and match that suits your taste, preferences and your home ambinet.

Sleek is in. From table tops to counter tops, to finishes and backsplashes, a sleek design never goes out of style, no matter what else is fashionable right now. For floor tiles, white ceramic, high quality vinyl flooring, porcelain tile and natural stone are good options. Granite countertops are still popular as are porcelain tile and glass backsplashes. Cherry wood remains at the top spot for kitchen cabinets followed by maple wood, and alder wood. Cabinet organizers made of one of these materials will give your home that modern look that so many contemporary home living magazines feature on their glossy covers.

Glass, aluminum, or nickel cabinet doors can give your kitchen a minimalist, and more modern look. Under counter refrigerators, dishwashers in drawers, and oven stove tops are some of the more popular trends that have been spotted nowadays. They don’t only contribute to that contemporary look you want for your room, but they also serve as good space savers for small spaces, which are so commonplace in most new homes.

Kitchen design and modeling is done only once or twice in a lifetime. This is why you should choose designs that are modern and contemporary, ones that can last for years without having to remodel or renovate. Now that houses are smaller and more activities like laundry, dining, and working are often done in the cooking area instead of a dedicated room such as the washroom, which simply has no place in small homes, make sure to go for furniture and appliance choices that serve both form and function, without losing anything from their modern, contemporary appeal. Look for tables that double as cabinet organizers, and purchase multi-functional appliances, so you can effectively make use of your small space and make it seem much bigger.

Kitchen cabinet organizers are some of the best kitchen storage and solutions nowadays. Visit my website to learn more about organizing your cooking area the proper way.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Image: Michelle Meiklejohn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kitchen remodeling is like redoing an ancient work of art. You want to maintain the message of the work, but you also want to infuse a little bit of yourself as well. Well, get right to it, and don’t relent until you have it all figured out. I know that I wouldn’t.

There is so much to kitchen remodeling that I know it is going to take up a whole lot of your time. However, if you take the time to really plan out the entire process, especially on paper, it will make the remodeling worthwhile and a huge success.

It does cost quite a bunch of money to remodel a kitchen, but the better you map out the processes, the less expensive it will likely be. At least with a plan, you can know what processes to merge and which to drop out entirely.

The time spent in planning the remodeling of a kitchen is time well spent; however you choose to look at it. When you know which way to go next even before the present process is done, you will are sure to be able to get things done faster, and the whole think over quicker. Plus, you will be spending less money than you otherwise would have.

For Remodeling Hardwood Floors and Plans Remodel Kitchen, click the foregoing links NOW!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Hunt

His buildings, including his private residence, have become tourist attractions. Many museums, companies, and cities seek Gehry’s services as a badge of distinction, beyond the product he delivers.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

His best-known works include the titanium-covered Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles, Experience Music Project in Seattle, Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, Dancing House in Prague, Czech Republic and the MARTa Museum in Herford, Germany. However, it was his private residence in Santa Monica, California, which jump-started his career, lifting it from the status of “paper architecture,” a phenomenon that many famous architects have experienced in their formative decades through experimentation almost exclusively on paper before receiving their first major commission in later years.

Architectural style
 

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

DeCon is often referred to as post-structuralist in nature for its ability to go beyond current modalities of structural definition. In architecture, its application tends to depart from modernism in its inherent criticism of culturally inherited givens such as societal goals and functional necessity. Because of this, unlike early modernist structures, DeCon structures are not required to reflect specific social or universal ideas, such as speed or universality of form, and they do not reflect a belief that form follows function. Gehry’s own Santa Monica residence is a commonly cited example of deconstructivist architecture, as it was so drastically divorced from its original context, and, in such a manner, as to subvert its original spatial intention.

The Gehry Tower in Hannover, Germany

Gehry is sometimes associated with what is known as the “Los Angeles School,” or the “Santa Monica School” of architecture. The appropriateness of this designation and the existence of such a school, however, remains controversial due to the lack of a unifying philosophy or theory. This designation stems from the Los Angeles area’s producing a group of the most influential postmodern architects, including such notable Gehry contemporaries as Eric Owen Moss and Pritzker Prize-winner Thom Mayne of Morphosis, as well as the famous schools of architecture at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (co-founded by Thom Mayne), UCLA, and the USC.

Dancing House in Prague, Czech Republic

Gehry’s style at times seems unfinished or even crude, but his work is consistent with the California ‘funk’ art movement in the 1960s and early 1970s, which featured the use of inexpensive found objects and non-traditional media such as clay to make serious art. Gehry has been called ‘the apostle of chain-link fencing and corrugated metal siding‘ (B. Adams). However, a retrospective exhibit at the Whitney Museum (New York) in 1988 revealed that he is also a sophisticated classical artist, who knows European art history and contemporary sculpture and painting.

(from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

WALKING HOUSE is a modular dwelling system that enables persons to live a peaceful nomadic life, moving slowly through the landscape or cityscape with minimal impact on the environment. It collects energy from its surroundings using solar cells and small windmills. There is a system for collecting rain water and a system for solar heated hot water. A small greenhouse unit can be added to the basic living module, to provide a substantial part of the food needed by the Inhabitants. A composting toilet system allows sewage produced by the inhabitants to be disposed of. A small wood burning stove could be added to provide CO2 neutral heating. Walking house forms various sizes of communities or WALKING VILLAGES when more units are added together. Walking house is not dependant on existing infrastructure like roads, but moves on all sorts of terrain.

Each unit is equipped with the basic systems for maintaining everyday life for a maximum of four persons. But it could easily be scaled up for larger family structures. Furniture is an integrated part of the structure. The module can be constructed from numerous materials. It is based on a framework made of steel, aluminum or wood and can be covered with steel, aluminum, wood or even semi- permeable textiles. Windows are made of polycarbonate. Insulation could be anything from thin plates of Polyethylene to wool.

Walking house could easily be equipped with specialized modules for various forms of productions like greenhouses, small factories etc. A Walking house or a Walking village could supply means for the inhabitants to make a living in this way while moving through the Landscapes and cityscapes. As an example a Walking village could be specialized in foodproduction or special modules for fishfarming, greenhouses and so on could be part of the construction.

Technical specifications:
Basic module:
Height: 3.5 meters
Width: 3.5 meters
Length: 3.72 meters
Weight: 1200 kg
Max speed: 60 meters/hour
Component list:
Plating and framework wood and plywood
Legs made of steel and mechanical components
12 linear actuators
solar panels
micro windmills
polycarbonate plates
interior equipment

Read more here

Even though the past 20 years have significantly changed the face of architecture, the basic form of these containers has remained the same. The ConHouse system now upgrades them to enable a quality of living comparable to classical housing. This is achieved mainly through rationally designed ground plans, carefully selected materials, a well-lit interior and the customized outer appearance of individual units. By enabling its occupants to coshape their compound unit according to their particular needs, ConHouse takes after the inventive automobile industry, where car owners can choose the components they desire, and after the IKEA-developed winning recipe of interior design.

The 2+ is a two-level mini housing unit composed of two containers perpendicular to each other. It shows that a minimal number of containers combined in an innovative fashion offers fresh yet functional architectural solutions. The upper container provides a projecting roof above the entrance as well as serves to shelter the back terrace. The ceiling of the bottom container is also a terrace of the first floor.

The pink-dotted facade illustrates the wide range of possibilities for tailor-made exteriors, the choice of which is as simple as deciding about which mobile phone cover to put on. The system’s modular nature enables containers to be added to or subtracted from the compound as needed, so that the ConHouse can grow or contract depending on the actual spatial needs of the people using it. Lower prices of such live/work units make them competitive as compared to traditional housing and are intended to increase the number of home-owners, who can then use the extra cash to expand their living space or invest more into interior design.

See more pictures here

The Decorating Diva wrote about top home design and decorating trends for upcoming year 2009. The main points are Eclectic styling (mixing of periods and styles to catch own unique personality in home decoration), being green (Societal responsibility and Eco-awareness in decor and furniture purchases) and Global and multi-cultural decor inspired by China, Russia, Latin America, Morocco and India (primary influences) are mixed and matched to create a global design tour at home.