Up until now, concrete cracks have been the nemesis of the construction industry. In fact, there’s an old joke that there are two types of concrete. The first type is concrete that has cracked. The second type is concrete that hasn’t cracked…yet. But is there something new on the way?
Concrete “flatwork,” that is, concrete poured in slabs for floors, sidewalks, driveways, and roads, is particularly prone to cracking. It will shrink as it “cures” and crack. And it will continue to swell and shrink when it gets warmer or cooler …

It’s freezing cold across much of the United States. Are you wearing passive solar clothes to stay warm?
I know it sounds like an odd question. We tend to think of using solar design for houses, not clothes. I’ll explain.
If you know it’s a cold day, do you think about what you’re going to wear? Of course you do. You might wear several layers. The layering forms more tiny air spaces around you and increases the insulating effectiveness of your clothing. You might pick out dark colors. Even if you don’t …

This live-work home is designed by and for the DADA Partners is both home and work space.

Designed around a courtyard, the house has formal living spaces in front and private areas at the back. The work area is sunk below ground to maximize cooling during the hottest part of the day while the two architects are at work.
In Indian architectural tradition, the courtyard (the Brahmasthana or sacred center) is a standard design feature; serving as both a social gathering space and a climate modifier.

And in this case too the courtyard …

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I received a note from someone the other day asking how much it would cost to add a room to an existing house. She was interested in the “cost per square foot” for budgeting and planning purposes. She also asked what the best options might be. Figuring the cost of building a new house based on a cost per square foot is a tough thing to do because there are so many variables. Additions are even tougher to estimate. You could spend anywhere from $100 per foot to over $1000 …

One of the more novel entrants in the Greener Gadget design contest this year was this hand operated washing machine and spin dryer - just for those times when you need to wash a few things right away and do not want to wash a full load of laundry.

Perhaps, coming back from the gym, a way to wash your sweaty running gear back in your apartment or in the dorm. Or perhaps your swimming togs after a day at the pool.

You actually hand pump this little device to set …

I’ve been writing fiction as a hobby for several years. I have not had anything published, but I’ve learned a lot about writing, had a lot of fun, and harbor dreams of maybe someday actually finding my novels in book stores. I am a realist, though. I know that there are thousands of us aspiring fiction writers out there writing novels no one will ever read. But that is going to change for one of us very soon.
I have entered my mystery novel, Carribean Ice, in a writing contest. It’s …

Huf Haus is a renowned German designing firm that has been dishing out some unique homes since 1912. Their new Huf 9 Fachwerkhaus 2000 Art Home is a lot more than just another design, but a spacious, lavish and charming home nestled amidst plenty of green. Featuring passive heating, solar panels and energy efficiency technologies that ensure it only consumes 57.2 kWh (despite its size), the house portrays its own “spirit” and with each room and section it seems to be integrating the four basic elements of life− fire, wind, …

Made out of molded recyclable polyester fiber and coming in four shades that range from hot fuchsia to plain white, the Soundwave Flo wall panels designed by Karim Rashid (for Swedish furniture company Offecct) are making big noise in the designing world. Forged to help reduce disturbing reflections of the outside environment, the lightweight sound absorbers will dampen any frequency beyond 500 Hz. Ideal for rooms that range from home theaters to living rooms and restaurants to office spaces, the best part is that you can just stick these blocks …

A brand of international reference in design, Nini Andrade Silva is a Portuguese interior decorator renowned for designing several famous hotels around the world. Her latest design is an original outdoor  and indoor furniture collection that was inspired by the black rolling pebbles of Madeira Island. Dubbed “Garota do Calhau” (Girl of the Pebbles) it’s comprised of a double sun lounger, a single sun lounger, a day bed, and a chaise lounge all made from synthetic rattan. Available from KIAN and priced somewhere between 2,120 and 2,720 Euro (US $2,700 …