This book considers the material basis of building as a key impetus of both urbanization and the energetics of urban life. The otherwise externalized material geographies and thermodynamics of building's material basis reveal much about the dynamics and efficacy of how we build. This book plots the material history and geography for one plot of land in Manhattan: the parcel of land under the Empire State Building over the past two hundred years. Through...

Treehouses have come a long way since our collective childhoods. The very definition of a treehouse has broadened to now include anything from a hotel room where star gazing is must to exceptional viewing platforms and, of course, not forgetting a treehouse for kids such as exists only in their dreams. This carefully compiled list provides an overview of striking treehouse design across the globe, with designs that are truly beautiful. An inspiring...

"Learn to: design and build a sustainable landscape like a pro ; cut back on water usage ;control lawn and garden pests naturally ; opt for sustainable decks, patios, fences, and more."

"Extreme Architecture showcases 45 recent buildings designed for challenging environments, giving valuable insights into the extremes of architectural thinking. Futhermore, in an increasingly unstable world, some of the lessons they teach about self-sufficiency may yet become more generally applicable." "Projects range from a desert refuge in southern Arizona to a floating marine research centre, an underground seed vault in northern Norway and a...

Biophilic design is an innovative way of designing the places where we live, work, and learn. People need nature in a deep and fundamental fashion, but we have often designed our cities and suburbs in ways that both degrade the environment and alienate us from nature. The recent trend in green architecture has decreased the environmental impact of the built environment, but it has accomplished little in the way of reconnecting us to the natural world,...