Architecture - The MIMA Pre-fabricated House

If you have to have a pre-fab, and you think they stand for shoddy design and workmanship, think again.

This pre-fabricated house from Portuguese architects MIMA looks great, and it's modular interior with removable walls and exterior windows means few units will feel the same.  I love it, more details here.

Architecture - The Suitcase House

I'm loving the simple structure and interior design of this 'Suitcase House', part of a commune in north east China.  It is completely at home in it's immediate environment, which looks stunning by the way.

The quirky, lift up cupboards, seating areas and bathrooms are fun but entirely functional (at least in a culture that traditionally has less furniture and clutter than the West).

Not sure about the website, but it seems you can book to stay here.

Architecture - The Cloud

I'm not a fan of cities, or the monumental skyscrapers built in their centres.  To me they're a necessary evil, and often they're built to look pretty in isolation to the detriment of their immediate environment.  However, every now and then a project comes along which makes me look at them in a new light.  This is one such project: The Cloud, in Seoul:

Luxury apartments with significant public space at the levels where the two towers are linked, these buildings remind me how good architecture can be, when it's done well.  Find out more here.

Architecture - The Brick House

Modern architecture often disappoints or infuriates , with cost efficiencies driving physical production, poor use of shoddy materials and lazy design commonplace.   And yet it can all be so different.

I came across this building online recently.  

I confess I'd never heard of Philip Johnson, but his "Brick House" I find inspiring and, for a building with only three windows, all on one side of the house, astounding.  The vaulting is reminiscent of medieval construction.

Built as a guest annex for another of his creations, the "Glass House", the structure just delights me.  I'd certainly like to visit, if not live there.  It illustrates what happens when architects think 'outside the box'.