Architecture & Design

In a room full of strangers, say, an event at a regional or national conference, the first question someone is likely to ask upon meeting someone new is, “Where are you from?”

What could a Japanese pagoda, a Swiss chalet, a Dutch windmill and an Italian villa possibly have in common? They, along with eight other architecturally distinct homes share a 32-acre campus with 116 multifamily residences in Forest Glen, Md.

The United States can learn a few lessons in energy-efficient buildings and green jobs from Europe and Australia, according to a new study by the Rand Corporation. The research shows that steps taken by the two continents to inspect, rate, and publicly disclose the energy efficiency of buildings indicate the structures use less energy and are worth more when sold or leased.

It is true that building information modeling (BIM) is revolutionizing the design/build industry today, but it’s also true that BIM is far from a new concept. “BIM is a re-introduction of historical design-build practices with a twist of technological advancement,” says Adam Lega, BIM coordinator for KAI, a Texas-based design/build firm.

When one traditionally thinks of garden apartments, sprawling suburban communities with plenty of open green space often come to mind. But with suburban sprawl quickly becoming a thing of the past, and with an emerging demographic of Generation Y renters who tend to desire closer proximity to the city, the new garden apartment communities are more urban than ever before.

Inspired by the term “Third Places,” coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the late 1980s, I’ve come up with my own, more modern take on these easily accessible public spaces away from home and work where people can enjoy interacting. I prefer calling today’s gathering spots in residential buildings “Third Spaces,” where residents can form a sense of community by regularly gathering in inviting areas to socialize.