Blueprint for Living: Sharon O’Neill photographs a 60-year-old post-war housing estate



London Festival of Architecture 2016: 60 years after John Leslie Martin completed the Fitzhugh Estate in London, photographer Sharon O’Neill visited to see if the project lived up to its promises (+ slideshow). (more…)

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Selected: Serthar Wuming Buddhist Study Institute by sarawutkaka

A Nun fetch water at the Serthar Wuming Buddhist Study Institute on May 29, 2016 in Serthar County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. The Wuming Buddhist Study Institute is located in Larung Gar Monastery on an altitude of 3,700 meters (about 12,136 feet). The institute has the largest conglomeration of monks and nuns in Tibetan areas, with over 40,000 monastics from the Tibet Buddhism Nyingma School, Gelug School, Sakya School and Kagyu School, including more than 10,000 nuns.

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New York City – New York – USA (by mariocutroneo) 

New York City – New York – USA (by mariocutroneo

Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects’ Light Pavilion is on Display at the Danish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale


Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

Commissioned by the Danish Foundation for Culture and Sports Facilities, Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects’ Light Pavilion design is open and transparent, encouraging participation. With an area of 1,200 square meters, the multi-purpose structure will house a range of planned and spontaneous activities. The architects’ vision was to create a space in which a multitude of events could take place in and around it.

While the actual structure is currently under construction, a model of the building is on display at the Danish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale, alongside 15 other models of buildings that are deemed to be a source of national pride. The theme for this year’s Danish pavilion focuses on “architecture that benefits local communities,” a quality the Light Pavilion encapsulates.


Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

As its name suggests, the pavilion is light-filled. A steel framework and textile roof provides shelter from the wind and rain, while its transparent vinyl facades create “visible contact” between the pavilion and the surrounding environment. Its open quality serves a double-purpose; it minimizes the use of artificial light during the summer months and creates a luminous quasi-outdoor environment during winter. 


Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

Courtesy of Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

Andersen and Sigurdsson’s schematic design is infinitely adaptable and bears references to other lightweight structures such as tipis or Bedouin tents. Their malleable nature is reflected in the ability for the Light Pavilion to be placed in a rural or urban setting, and its façade can be opened and closed depending on the weather conditions. This not only allows the pavilion to be used year-round but also accommodates activities from a variety of user groups.

News via Andersen & Sigurdsson Architects

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Velocipedia project brings hopeless bicycle drawings to life with digital renders



People’s impromptu sketches of bicycles have been turned into a series of absurd-looking digital renderings in the Velocipedia project (+ slideshow). (more…)

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Budget Fountain Pen Showdown: Lamy Safari vs Pilot Metropolitan

There’s nothing like writing with a fountain pen, and while they can be expensive, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to own one. For less than $25, you can have a refillable pen perfect for art, journaling, or taking notes in style. Let’s look at two of the best, most accessible budget options you can buy.

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Sunday’s Best Deals: Chromecast, Simplehuman, Working Hands