Nicholas de Monchaux is an architect, historian, and educator based in Berkeley, California. His work spans a huge range of topics and scales, as his new and utterly fascinating book, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo, makes clear. — BLDGBLOG

When the Vancouver Convention Centre was first completed we were totally blown away by its gorgeous (and huge!) green roof as well as its many green features. So we weren't surprised when the convention centre was recently recognized by the AIA landing its place among the Committee On The Environment's (COTE) Top Ten Green Projects. — Inhabitat

After our earlier celebrations of architecture’s mystique and particular fetishes—the inside of the Black Box, as we put it in Issue 3—FM decided to explore a more transparent or user-friendly aspect of the field, a side we’ll call the “How-To.” — University of Illinois (Matthew)

If you happen to be in Bucharest, Romania these days, don't miss to check out the latest exhibition piece of Swiss sound and installation artist Zimoun, "200 prepared dc-motors, 2000 cardboard elements 70x70cm". The 15x9x4.5m (49.2 x 29.5 x 14.7 ft) installation is a collaboration with fellow Swiss architect Hannes Zweifel and currently exhibited at the National Contemporary Art Museum MNAC. — bustler.net

We like to think of our architectural treasures as milestones of human progress. The Egyptian pyramids, say, or the Eiffel Tower. Perhaps we imagine a Planet of the Apes-like scenario where our ruined monuments will stand as testament to our civilisation long after we're gone. But what will most probably outlive anything else we have ever built will be our nuclear legacy. — Guardian

Designed by legendary architect Eero Saarinen, the J. Irwin & Xenia Miller House ranks (...) as a hallmark of Modernist design, (...) surrounded by some of the most beautiful Modernist gardens in the United States, created by landscape architect Dan Kiley. The interiors, a carnival of opulent colors and graphic patterns, are the work of Mad Men–era architect and textile designer Alexander Girard. — travelandleisure.com

NL: In some cases, the local professional design community regards university-based design centers as potential competitions What is the UACDC's relationship with the local professionals?

SL: Well, teaching and research hospitals don’t refrain from delivering medical services. We've enjoyed broad-based support from the professional design communities — but still, these types of skirmishes are symptomatic of a structural underdevelopment in the design profession. —

The verdict in the retrial over who owns the rights to the billion-dollar doll franchise sides with MGA Entertainment Inc. over toy giant Mattel Inc. Mattel will owe MGA millions of dollars. — Los Angeles Times

After more than a decade of disagreement, Berliners have settled on a monument to celebrate German reunification and the 1989 peaceful revolution: a giant, rocking dish.

The 55-metre, 330-tonne glittering steel wing can hold up to 1,400 people at any one time, but it needs at least 20 people to get it moving. — guardian.co.uk

The city has given the thumbs up to a design by Dutch architect Eelco Hooftman for a mountain in the park to be used by Alpine climbing enthusiasts. At 60 meters (around 197 feet), it may not be a Matterhorn, but it still has the potential to beat any of the capital city's existing puny climbing walls. — SPIEGEL

MONU is one of the leading independent architecture magazines published today, bringing together challenging themes with interesting architecture writers and theorists. It is excellent and deserves to be read by anyone interested in urban issues. — MONU

An exploration of Neurath's ideas on visual media, universal knowledge systems and the modern metropolis. — Press Announcement

When the Bella Sky Hotel, the largest hotel in Scandinavia, launches in Copenhagen May 16, guests are greeted in the foyer by The Bella Chandelier – a living scenography of light and color created by GXN, the R&D department of Danish architects 3XN. — bustler.net