Diawa Lease just sent Inhabitat the first photos of their new transforming EDV-1 shelter, which can be set on any terrain, doubles in size with the flick of a switch, and can sustain itself without any outside resources for up to a month by catching and reusing water and generating electricity with a huge built-in solar array. —

Brazilian real estate developer Gafisa decided to ask people directly, what they want in their new apartments? Launched last week, the Edifício Colaborativo (Collaborative Building) initiative transformed the company’s fan page on Facebook in a crowdsourcing platform, intended to harvest innovative ideas for a new building. — PSFK

This quarter I took an interesting seminar with Professor Karen Lewis called "Diagrammatic." The seminar focused on the history of diagramming in architecture and was split into progressive categories:

Forms & Relationships
Abstract Machines
Processing Program
Datascapes
Systems & Networks
Landscape Dynamics
Flexible & Intelligent — Knowlton School of Architecture (Greg)

One ring to rule them all — geekculture.com

Maybe they just couldn’t come up with any questions. So here are a few: Can you confirm that the architect of the building is Norman Foster, like everyone’s reporting? Is Apple going to make the grounds open to the public so they can enjoy the fifty billion trees that he’ll be planting? Will there be any kind of programming in the new auditorium that can expose the next generation to careers in technology and science? Could you share your awesome private transit system with the public? — Gelatobaby

[Apple] has staff scattered in rented buildings throughout the city. The plan for the future campus puts 12,000 to 13,000 employees inside a single four-story oval building. Jobs made a convincing case for what he calls "a shot at building the best office building in the world." By moving parking underground, 80% of the 150-acre property will be landscaped. Apple has hired the lead arborist from Stanford to fill it with 6,000 trees, and the company will build its own energy center power source. — mashable.com

Haifa-born Oxman, 35, one of the world's leading researchers in the field of digital architecture, is currently studying how our bones are affected by environmental conditions and by the weight that is brought to bear on them, and how such knowledge can be applied in other areas of life. It is known, for instance, that astronauts in outer space lose bone mass because of the absence of gravity, whereas women when they are pregnant develop stronger bones in order to withstand the added load. — haaretz.com

FAT Lab member Greg Leuch’s browser plugins have been mainly whimsical (abolishing mentions of folks like Justin Bieber and Charlie Sheen), but now, the developer has gone political with the release of China Blocker. It serves as a protest against the detainment of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. — mashable.com

3D distribution of musical elements introduces a whole new way to experience music. The moving musical elements will redefine the relationship between music and dance allowing the two elements to share the same physical space and communicate with its architecture in the language of movement. The choreography is going to be based on delivering music through the dancers. We're changing the function of moving bodies from executing choreography only, to executing choreography and music. — Ariel Blumenthal

Today, May 25, is Geek Pride Day. And to commemorate the occasion, IT staffing services firm Modis commissioned an exhaustive study on practically every aspect of geekdom, aiming to highlight the value geeks bring to the workplace. Among the findings: 57 percent of Americans consider it a compliment to be called a geek, and 17 percent identify themselves as a geek. Younger generations are embracing the word at an even higher rate. — geekwire.com

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

Associate professor Jamey Jacob is the leader of a group of Oklahoma State students who are designing a live-in habitat for next-generation space travel. The team at Oklahoma State is involved in a competition, hosted by NASA, with two other schools. — tulsaworld.com