The Ross Street House, was recognized as Wisconsin’s first LEED for Homes Platinum rated residence in July 2009. The home has captured the attention of green enthusiasts throughout the country for far exceeding the requirements to achieve the highest LEED rating of Platinum.

Brought to you by Modern Zen Architect Thailand…

Read full article at ArchDaily.com

Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect, recommends… There are millions upon millions of shipping containers used daily to transport goods throughout the world.  But a new trend emerging is finding a different use for these steel compartments.  As seen in the images below, these boxes are being converted into makeshift homes and offices.  We (Michael Earle) at Modern Zen Architect, first saw this done in Boston, Massachusetts with the new Puma flagship store.  It appears that the trend is definitely catching on.

Source: http://weburbanist.com/2009/12/01/cargo-shipping-container-house-home/

Read the full article here:

http://www.residentialarchitect.com/industry-news.asp?referer=rss275&sectionID=275&articleID=1134115

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Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect recommends… Architects Anton Žižek and Marjan Poboljšaj have been winning awards for their designs ever since they graduated in 1997.  Having formed their own architectural firm, Superform, it doesn’t appear like they will be slowing down anytime soon.  One of their latest projects for a private client in Slovenia deserves some recognition as well.  Combining two houses together to create one, Superform fulfilled their client’s wish.  They were able to unite the traditional architecture of thei first house with the modern design features of the second, no small easy feat to achieve.

Source: http://www.thecoolhunter.net/architecture

Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle, recommends… Although not much has been written yet about Villa Vals, Modern Zen Architects feels the new design by Search warrants mentioning.  Located in Switzerland, the dwelling Villa Vals is aptly described as a “mountain home.”  Not because it is built among the mountains of Switzerland- it is because it is built in the mountains of Switzerland.  It is almost reminiscent of the bomb shelters built in the 50’s in the US, only this one has class and style.  A full article about the house will be published in Abitare 499 in January, and we at Modern Zen eagerly anticipate more information on this design by Search Architects.

Source: http://mocoloco.com/fresh2/2009/12/01/villa-vals-by-search.php

Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect, recommends… MIT Stata Centre, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA (2004). “Another eyepopping assemblage of curvy silos and angled towers”.

Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle, recommends… Marqués de Riscal’s Hotel Elciego, Spain (1998-2006). Ribbons of coloured titanium are Gehry’s response to the unbroken landscape surrounding the building, coloured metals inspired by the rich tones of the sky and vineyard.

Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect, recommends… We at Modern Zen Architects have seen thousands of designs and concepts that have caught our attention over the years.  And the project designed by architects Paul Bernier and Joelle Thibault is no different.  Having won the prestigious Prix-Marcel Parizeau award, an award given to those creations that don’t exceed $150,000, it’s no wonder why.  It is not ever day when a dwelling has a full grown tree growing on top of its flat roof with green vegetation to covering the rest; at least not on purpose. The only question we have is where do the roots go as the tree begins to outgrow its space?

Source: http://mocoloco.com/archives/011277.php

Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle, recommends… Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1929, Gehry studied at the Universities of Southern California and Harvard before establishing his first practice, Frank O. Gehry and Associates in 1963. On reaching the symbolic age of 50, he opened the doors to his new firm Gehry & Krueger Inc in 1979 – set to become the hot house of creativity which would lead to his global fame and recognition.

Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle, recommends… Downtown Singapore is set to welcome its largest private development designed by the Office for Metropolitan Architecture: a 36-storey residential high-rise standing at 153 metres tall, to be located in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street. 20,000 square metres of built floor area will provide 68 high-end apartment units with panoramic views and is strategically designed within the confines of the region’s highly regulated building environment. It maximizes the full potential of the site, making the most of the attractive views towards the city centre and an extensive green zone to the north. Visit www.oma.eu for information.

MODERN VILLA CAP FORMENTOR

Brought to you by Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle.

This Aedas designed project just broke ground and is due to be finished in early 2011.

Its angular, multi-faceted design creates a variety of perspectives, changing the form dramatically depending on the viewpoint.

Suggested by Modern Zen Architects in Phuket Thailand
and guest blogger, Architect Michael Earle

Modern Zen Architect, Michael Earle, recommends… This design for the Kilden Performing Arts Centre in Norway is an interesting design.  The shapes of the curves reminds one of hulls of the giant ships and boats that pass through this area.  We also feel the presence of the waves themselves itself lapping at the shore.  You can almost feel this interesting space created between building and water just from the images.  The transparent glass at the entrance allows the sense of overwhelming scale not to be lost by the entrance enclosure. 

The firm ALA architects won this project in a recently announced competition and completion is expected in 2011.  The project will house the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and is a multi- purpose venue that should enrich the fabric of Kristiansand.  The total construction will total 27,000 metres of cultural space at a budget of 117 million pounds.  It is good to see interesting projects are still being designed and built in this tough economic climate.  I am assuming most of the projects on the boards in the next year or two will be government commissions and not private ones.

Brought to you by Michael Earle, Modern Zen Architect.