A vacation home built to house an extended family while comfortably providing their own space for retreat, Andrew Maynard Architects Anglesea residence in Victoria, Australia, was designed with a series of timber boxes built around an existing home. The additional spaces mirror the landscape and offer bold colors versatile spaces for the family. The top floor provides an expansive deck space amid the tree line and other interior volumes are carved to create nooks and play spaces for the children. The new northern box pulls in winter sun, warming the concrete slab and providing an efficient thermal mass for the home. [via archdaily]

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Karim Rashid have created one of the most fashionable restaurants we’ve ever seen. A truly unique space to enjoy lunch or dinner at the Dubai Mall, the Switch Restaurant and Lounge brings in the excitement of being inside an astonishing “cocoon” made of walls that can change color from electric pink to magical blue within seconds. Looking like an oasis free from chaos (with every room setting its own mood) the futuristic restaurant is an exciting new addition to the culinary scene in Dubai. [via Deco-Design]

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Talented designer Charlie Davidson has created a brilliant example of metallic outdoor furniture. Crafted by hand to bring hip functionality to a stylish modern design, the chair has been cut from 2mm punched steel sheet, brazed and powder coated. Futuristic and sophisticated at the same time, it makes for a great addition close to the pool side or could complete your steel furniture collection in the garden. Just put some steel paint on it if it’s too plain to fill your house … [via Acriacao]

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Brad Pitt’s New Orleans Architecture Project – There’s probably a joke to be made about Brad Pitt in here somewhere, but it’s hard to fault the actor for wanting to rebuild New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward. His organization, “Make It Right,” has solicited duplex designs from 14 architecture firms, eight of which were not previously involved in the program’s single-family designs from 2007. These duplexes, meant to house extended families and renters, are designed to fit the area with lots of green space and an emphasis on connections to the street. You can see that in the balconies and outdoor walkways in most of the designs. “It’s a demand we were eager to meet,” says organization director Tom Darden. Shouldn’t that be “Tyler Durden?” [via Architectural Record]

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Instead of buffing and varnishing, Gray Organschi Architecture’s sustainable storage barn uses only raw materials in its construction. Alongside the raw wood an stone are polycarbonate panels for that modern look. Furthermore, the stored materials themselves are slotted into cubby holes on the outside, forming a mosaic of textures that look pretty while walling off the inside of the barn. Located in Washington, Conn., the storage barn also hosts solar panels on the roof for lighting and heating, and it generates more electricity than it needs, so eventually this creation should pay for itself. [Archinect via Inhabitat]

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Despite sporting what would appear to be the flimsiest rear suspension ever concocted, the Recycle, designed by Shane Crozier, has many strong points. For starters, you’d never have to worry about smashing your package into the top tube. Always the mark of a quality bike. Integrated headlamp and taillights are another nice feature  for commuters that frequently ride home after the sun has set. Given its name, we’ll assume that its crafted from all kinds of recycled aluminum and rubber, making your footprint even smaller than the bicycle you usually ride to work. Finally, the three-spoked wheels and overall frame dimensions convey a certain sense of confidence and individualism to anyone lucky enough to be loitering on your daily route. [via Industrial Design Served] Continue Reading

The Ladderstile House is an eco-friendly London residence built around an internal courtyard. The home’s primary spaces are open to the courtyard, which ThreefoldArchitects says helps exploit natural light. Smaller satellite courtyards are scattered throughout the site, offering diverse outdoor connections to rooms and spaces. Light is scattered by perforated steel and raw timber screens and absorbed and altered by glass glazing. Exposed beams mark the first floor, dividing the home into private and public spaces, which are connected by a tiled indoor pool. The second story is clad in the perforated steel panels, which adds privacy and an interesting visual lighting effect. The home has planted green roofs, vertical hydroponic gardens arranged in the living room and a heat pump that uses ground temperature to temper the home’s interior climate. [via archdaily]

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Would you trust a glass floor that’s an inch and a half thick when suspended 103 stories in the air? People in Chicago today can find out at the Sears Tower, which opened its new set of glass balconies for public viewing. “The Ledge,” as they’re collectively called, hangs 1,353 feet in the air. With transparent walls and ceilings, visitors say its like floating in the sky, and the view is, of course, spectacular. Don’t worry, those glass floor can withstand five tons, but just to be safe, jumping up and down is probably not a good idea. [AP]

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Here’s the best way to ensure that no one — yourself included — can access your flash memory drive. The Mnemosyne, named for the ancient Greek memory goddess, contains a pair of small black cubes with a USB jack and flash memory. Surrounding them are five polished silver pieces, acting as the “key” to your data. Designer Toshiki Satoji promises that there’s tactile satisfaction in sliding all the pieces together or apart, but only if you’re not in a rush to access those computer files. Apparently, that’s the point: The Mnemosyne is supposed to guard the most precious memories, such as family photos, so that unlocking them is significant. No word yet on pricing or availability. [Mnemosyne via BB Gadgets]

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