This lovely underground home is slated to be the first zero-carbon home in the North West of England. Designed by Make Architects, this 4-bedroom oasis leaves the views of nature in tact above the ground while creating spaces filled with light and space below the ground plane. — michellekaufmann.com

Last week, we published the winners of the 2011 RIBA Awards, as well as the RIBA International Awards, presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects for architectural excellence in the UK and abroad. The 3XN-designed Middelfart Savings Bank in Denmark was one of the eight buildings honored in the European Union award category. — bustler.net

This retired Soviet Iluyshin IL-14 plane has found new life as an incredible restaurant and bar in Zurich, Switzerland. The vintage plane and its hangar, located across from the Zurich International Airport, have been converted into a unique dining experience, called Runway 34. The aviation-themed restaurant offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy meals, stiff cocktails, cappuccino and cigars inside the renovated aircraft and its environs. — http://www.inhabitat.com

“Cronocaos” was first shown at the 2010 architecture biennale in Venice, the ultimate example of what can happen to an aged city when it is repackaged for tourists. — NYT

Hamburg is building a cultural landmark: The Elbphilharmonie. Designed by the architects Herzog & de Meuron, a synthesis of the arts comprising architecture, music and a unique location by the port is arising on the banks of the River Elbe. In addition to three concert halls, a hotel and 45 apartments, the complex will boast a freely accessible venue at a height of 37 meters, affording a 360° panoramic view of the city – The Plaza. — THE ELBPHILHARMONIE HAMBURG

Mecanoo architecten has been selected by the district government of Shenzhen to design a new cultural complex in this Southern Chinese city. The design comprises a public art museum, science museum, youth center and a mega bookstore, totaling 90,000 m². The museum complex is located between the commercial business district of Longgang and Longcheng park. — bustler.net

Those homeboys over at the American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles (AIA|LA) are so bad, drumming up biz for their May 15 architectural home tour called "Ve ≠ SaMo (Venice is not Santa Monica)" by asking if the two locales drove different architecture -- say, Santa Monica soccer mom versus Venice Bohemian daddy. Everyone knows Venice is dead, cemented over by gentrification, and the emerging artist crew has moved onto Inglewood. — blogs.laweekly.com

Brooklyn/Copenhagen-based HAO / Holm Architecture Office in collaboration with Archiland Beijing, Kragh & Berglund landscape architects, and engineering consultants Cowi Beijing, has won first prize in a competition to design the Samaranch Memorial Museum in Tianjin, China. — bustler.net

On a more general note, I feel it necessary to stress the valuable role that MONU has played in the past few years, specifically for the architecture and urbanism community. As the biggest (to my knowledge) indie publication focused explicitly on urbanism, MONU has provided a voice for many emerging young professionals — a chance to be published and have their ideas heard in print format. — popupcity.net

The drawings and specifications submitted by GSBS Architects contained “numerous safety, security and functional defects, including but not limited to Defective Work,” according to the suit filed Monday in state court in Provo. — The Salt Lake Tribune