This is a fascinating video from the MoMA website about changing how ecology and technology relate.  These team leaders are discussing the climate change and working to do something revolutionary to help.  With the projections, the sea level could rise by six feet relatively soon.  That would mean that 20% of Lower Manhattan would be under water.  They are looking to build estuaries to help with drainage and run-off while also boosting ecosystems throughout the city.

Studiotrope Design Collective has focused their energy in improving publicly owned facilities.  Here is an amazing example of a public library in Denver’s Five Point neighborhood.  According to Modern in Denver, “Library projects comprise a large part of SDC’s workload. In the past four years, SDC has been brought in on several major library renovations and the studio has also authored Denver Public Libraries program for Contemporary Service Styles, as well as a program plan for CSU’s Morgan Library, recommending an overhaul of their 270,000 square foot interiors.”  With the emphasis on modern technology and fun color palette, this library soars above any others I have seen recently.

Check out the space:

Source: Modern in Denver

I found the VitraHaus, built by Herzog & de Meuron, to be amazing.  Originally designed to be 12 individual houses, the VitraHaus is now home to the Vitra Design Museum.

The exterior is austere, with its muted grey design.

The uniquely-shaped windows illuminate the sterile appearance.

The bright white interior works with the natural light to keep the design fresh, clean and modern.

Perhaps this modern townhouse, sandwiched between traditional townhouses, does not stand out too much while you’re strolling down this small street in Sweden…

but when faced with the exterior head-on, it’s prodigious design almost looks like it was Photoshopped in:

The interior is much like its exterior: an entirely white palette with clean, modern appeal.

Natural light is enjoyed in all of the rooms, with expansive windows and a huge skylight.

All photos courtesy of Elding Oscarson

This gorgeous modern apartment in the Upper West Side in Manhattan has gone green.  The 3,000 square foot home was remodeled by Hariri & Hariri and featured in Architectural Digest. “The architects… hooked up all the systems—heating, cooling, lighting, shades, humidity, audiovisual, computers and telephone—to a brainy computer hidden in a closet off the bar.”  A smart home, indeed.

GreenPods are 300-800 square feet homes that are constructed in an ecologically responsible way, using all green materials and energy.  They have varying floor plans and exteriors, all of which are gorgeous.  Soon they will have the capability to adjoin or stack several GreenPods to make the living space larger.  Here are some examples of what is available now:

Interior views:

Always a source of inspiration and envy, the architecture of New York is clearly defined as some of the world’s best. Whether in the heart of Manhattan or tucked away in the rural upstate, New York modern architecture is the in a league of its own.

The Box House from Messana O’Rorke Architects

From the Web site:

The Box House is a simple weekend retreat, akin to a cabin at the beach, with minimal accommodation. Located on Shelter Island overlooking Gardiners Bay and the North Folk of Long Island.

Conceived a glass box, the houses developed as a shaped structure. The glass box is cradled within the roof and base extended above and below, with a massive black wall. Lined with the same Ipe wood the delineation of interior and exterior becomes obscured. The base floats above the landscape and the whole structure turns its back to the road, and exposes its naked interior to the bay.

The interior is shaded from the solar gain during the summer months, but open to its advantages when the sun travels closer to the horizon in the winter. Photovoltaic cells on the roof generate back up the electrical power and a passive geothermal system enhances the air heating and cooling system. The accommodations of the house are a living room with kitchen and a bedroom separated by a block interior architecture, containing a bathroom and storage.

Las Vegas may be known for its lavishness, vice and steamy weather. But simmering beneath it all is a dedicated group of architects working hard to establish its reputation as a modern architectural center.

This contemporary Las Vegas home was designed by Creative Design Architecture.

From the Web site:

Creative Design Architecture, Inc, established by Rami I. Atout, AIA, and Hesham I. Atout, CPA, is committed to providing outstanding architectural, design and consulting services. Our firm has a well established history of delivering successful projects to clients in a diverse variety of industries, including public serves, commercial, tenant improvements, industrial, high education, telecommunication and health care sectors, as well as custom residential housing projects. The Key to our continued success is based upon our philosophy of providing a complete project delivery service, which we break down into three main principles: quality, coordination, and customer service.

San Diego, more than many cities, has a predisposition that’s ripe for modern architecture. This southern California city exudes charm and elegance, blending urban sophistication with a gorgeous environment. It’s no wonder that it’s one of America’s most coveted places to live.

Adding to that elegance is M+C Architects. These modern designers contribute to the overall efficiency and stature of San Diego’s contemporary homes.

From the Web site:

This mixed-use development covers a full city block at the core of a grid shift in the Little Italy District. Its configuration and location along a major connector created a unique building opportunity. The design parti was to promote a downtown connector – Kettner Boulevard – with a well-defined, pedestrian-friendly street wall while incorporating the restoration of an early 20th century art deco building and clock tower. Additionally, the dichotomy of the project’s massing captured the eclectic aesthetics of the context and produced a variety of housing types (lofts, shopkeeper units, carriage units and townhomes). The resulting architecture is urbane in its timeless character and devoid of clichés.

About M+C Architects:

Martinez + Cutri Corporation is a multi-disciplinary firm whose practice of Architecture and Urban Design is based on the simple concept that the design of forms in space should be generated by the context of their surroundings, while the principles of design should enhance our culture.

Our intent as a firm is to create good design; that is, to create spaces and structures which exhibit a timeless quality inherent in spirituality. We design environments that are inviting regardless of typology and locale. It is our contentions that the vitality and beauty of the built environment play a crucial role in creating a productive and healthy community and, as design professionals, we must assume responsibility for this role.

Imagine scenes of British Columbia. What do you see? Snow-capped peaks, glistening rivers, ancient pines bent in the wind? Sure, it’s all here.

Now imagine Vancouver. Do you see a bustling metropolis, gleaming buildings, curved streets and decadent cafes? Sure, that’s all here too.

BC is at once windswept landscape and home to Vancouver’s urban muscle. It is a union of rural and city living. You can find appealing modern architecture and the best of Vancouver’s contemporary homes.

Project: Latitude

by Bozyk Architects

Christopher Bozyk Architects were the prime consultant and architect for this project. It consists of 120 townhomes, each with breathtaking views over Kamloops Lake and the Tabiano Golf course, which was designed by Tom McBroom.

The architecture draws inspiration from the origins of the site by making reference to “ranch” imagery and reinterpreting it in a contemporary form. The townhomes range form single storey 2 bed units to 3 storey 3 bed plus den units.

(Italicized text courtesy of Bozyk Architects)