Rubber-clad house

The Stephen Lawrence Prize sponsored by the Marco Goldschmied Foundation rewards the best building built on a budget of less than £350,000. Vista, on Dungeness beach, was designed by architect Simon Conder and is covered in a skin similar to a wetsuit. Judges praised the house for having a “carefully controlled witticism”.

The Hexayurt

The Hexayurt is a prize-winning shelter you can build yourself for about $200 (backup link). Suitable raw materials include common building materials ( fire safe insulation boards,) hexacomb cardboard and plastic. You cut six 4′ x 8′ panels in half diagonally to make the roof, and use six more whole panels to form the walls. It takes about two hours. The design (backup link) is in the public domain.www.hexayurt.com

Pollution Eating Concrete!

Pollution Eating Concrete! TX Active accelerates natural photocatalystic processes to reduce toxic substances in our urban environments.  This engadget report states that “the cement has a photocatalyzer that speeds up the natural oxidation process of pollutants in the presence of natural or artificial light, making it more environmentally-friendly by ‘transforming them into less harmful compounds such as water, nitrates, or carbon dioxide.’ “

Mouse Pads

This a constructive thing someone has found to do with mouse pads. 

Building Design + Construction

Building Design + Construction has a great Products of the Week page.   Lots of interesting ideas, products, and assemblies.  Keep checking back with this one.