Awesome Architecture

Architecture and design nerds will recognize the shape of this lamp as the Futuro House by Matti Suuronen. This 1:32-scale version of the UFO-shaped home serves as an art piece and an ambient light. It comes in several lovely colors as well as a slick chrome-coated version, and a special yellow and blue Ukraine edition.

We’re pretty sure The Beatles envisioned a much larger ship when they proclaimed “We all live in a yellow submarine.” But as Living Big in a Tiny House shows us, you don’t even need to live beneath the waves to dwell in such a golden vessel. If you happen to be visiting New Zealand, you can even stay there.

This pencil set from the firm of legendary architect Michael Graves contains 24 colored pencils in his sophisticated palette. Graves’ minimal aesthetic is everywhere, from the essay on color usage in the design process to the die-cut sleeve’s grid of squares — a nod to Graves’ characteristic window pattern.

This unique bridge connects two districts in The Netherlands. Designed by West 8 and fabricated by HCG, the helical truss structure was fabricated from 400 steel tubes which twist a full 90 degrees from one end of the bridge to the other. It was originally painted red, but its current, more natural state also looks very cool.

This innovative shelter system lets you set up a 10×10 foot cabin using nothing more than a screw gun. Its lightweight panels keep the elements out and feature vented shatterproof acrylic windows. Its roof structure is made from aluminum covered in a 3-layer insulated vinyl to keep its interior dry and comfortable.

Located in Scotland, The Hill House was created by architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Unfortunately, the damp climate has been unkind to the home’s experimental construction. Tom Scott shows us how conservationists are working to save the house by surrounding it with a box made from 34 million chain links.

While we’re not sure we could ever live in a tiny house, there is something appealing about the idea of an efficient living space. Living Big in a Tiny House introduces us to Dan and Annabel, who built a funky little guest house out of an old WWII railroad car. The greenhouse roof really brings light into the otherwise confined space.

The 65,000 square foot Peter Grant Mansion sits along the lakefront in Haileybury, Ontario, Canada. The enormous, custom-built home was never completed after a financial collapse in 2008. Bright Sun Films takes us on a tour of the now-abandoned monument to excess.

OUROBOROS ARQ loves to make miniature models of buildings and other structures using realistic construction materials. In this video, they show us how they built a modern multi-level house with concrete walls, brick details, a wooden staircase, and built-in lighting.

Architect Farhad Mirzaie and A.P.P Architects & Associates created a unique facade for a building that incorporates thousands of bricks that can rotate. Located in Arak, Iran, the Revolving Bricks Serai allows light into the office building while also preserving privacy and helping to reduce glare and heat.

Just BioFiber makes sustainable building materials from hemp plants, lime, and a biocomposite frame. The bricks stack like giant LEGO blocks up to 30 feet high, are as strong as concrete, and are self-insulating. Exploring Alternatives met with BioFiber President Terry Radford for a look at this innovative construction material.

In 1971, the 1,250 foot-tall Empire State Building was the tallest building on Earth. Today, the Burj Khalifa, is more than twice that height, at 2,717 feet. MetaBallStudios offers up a visual comparison of the tallest skyscrapers along with some planned and conceptual future projects which could tower over the Burj.

The Anthénea offers the ultimate getaway. The solar-powered pod floats on water, offering 360º views both above and below the surface. Its interior is decked out with luxurious fixtures and finishes, along with smart home technology. While it’s meant mostly as a hotel room, you can buy one for yourself if money is no object.

The Zen Work Pod provides a soundproof space that’s perfect for getting away from the kids while you work. It’s made from wood, aluminum, and tempered glass, and comes with shelving, a SmartDesk Connect, a ErgoChair Pro+, and more. Assembly takes just a day. It’s currently on sale for $21,000, including free US shipping.

For two decades, a statue of Buddha sat alone at the Makomanai Takino Cemetery in Sapporo, Japan. More recently, architect Tadao Ando built a man-made covering all but the top of the statue’s head, hiding the rest of the religious icon inside an observation gallery beneath a lavender-covered hill.

It took five builders three days to set up this enormous structure from Kapla wood planks, popsicle sticks, and dominoes – and under 2 minutes to knock it over. Kapla construction expert Crouzier Benjamin shared this satisfying footage of it being toppled – with a momentary pause at 0:54, and a satisfying cloud of dust at the end.