Sanergy, a year-old for-profit social enterprise that manufactures high-quality, yet low-cost and compact toilets for urban slums in the developing world and then uses human waste to produce energy and fertilizer. It is an “affordable, accessible and hygienic sanitation” solution for millions that live in places without sewage or electricity. They are places where the street is the bathroom. And that’s precisely the problem. — blogs.forbes.com
Next month sees the launch of the Guardian's fourth annual young arts critics competition, open to all readers aged 18 and under. To help us get it under way, we want to put your questions to our team of critics. — guardian.co.uk
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 latest issue of MONU Magazine — an independent biannual publication devoted to writings on urbanism — has hit newsstands. Always theme-based, this particular issue centres on the idea of ‘Editing Urbanism’. When the term was first raised in MONU’s call for... View full entry
Archinect's Building of the Day series is brought to you by our friends at OpenBuildings.com, the web's most comprehensive directory of buildings. 'Cité de l'océan et du surf', a project in Biarritz, France by Steven Holl, and Brazilian artist Solange Fabião... View full entry
Consolidation of the structure provided a challenge given the size of the cracks and a system of exposed stainless steel ties and bracing frames in original window and fireplaces openings was devised with project engineers David Narro Associates. — www.OpenBuildings.com
The RIBA has announced the 17 ‘best new houses’ vying for this year’s Manser Medal. The White House by WT Architecture won the Ambassador Award. This exceptional private home, situated on the Isle of Coll, Scotland, was built in the ruins of a house abandoned 150 years earlier... View full entry
The new glass Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik is finally complete, opening for business this month. Designed by jack-of-all-trades Olafur Eliasson and Henning Larsen Architects, the project started construction last year right after Iceland’s economy tanked, but has proven itself to be a beacon of the promised recovery. The glittering hall mimics basalt crystals which are indigenous to Iceland. — Inhabitat
Earlier this month, the Obama Administration under the USAID (United States Agency for International Development) launched the advisory committee on voluntary foriegn aid (ACVFA). On that list advisors was none other than Cameron Sinclair, a person who has revolutionized the way we think and speak about people and architectural spaces, and actually acts and implements these thoughts and words into reality. — triplepundit.com
The magic of cities comes from their people, but those people must be well served by the bricks and mortar that surround them. Cities need roads and buildings that enable people to live well and to connect easily with one another ... in the most desirable cities, whether they're on the Hudson River or the Arabian Sea, height is the best way to keep prices affordable and living standards high. — grist.org
Kapoor, who dedicated his latest work "Leviathan" to Ai, wrote in The Times: "When governments silence artists it bears witness to their barbarity." — news.yahoo.com
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed to learn that a journalist at Southern Metropolis Daily newspaper in China is facing punishment after he penned a May 12 editorial that obliquely endorsed the actions of detained artist Ai Weiwei. — scoop.co.nz
The late John Chase was the City of West Hollywood's urban designer for 14 years. During that time, he made his mark on every corner of West Hollywood, helping transform Santa Monica Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly strip, shepherding high-quality development, commissioning well-designed signage, and carving out much-needed pocket parks. — A group of his friends, family, co-workers, and collaborators
On May 21, John's birthday, a group of his friends, family, co-workers, and collaborators will lead a walking tour across the city to experience John's legacy. Architects and city leaders will meet the group at the various projects to talk about working with John and offer advice on how designers... View full entry
The past 12 months have seen a remarkable number of humanitarian crises with earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand and deadly tornadoes in the southern US being among the most recent.
Among new innovations which could help relief efforts is a fabric shelter that, when sprayed with water, turns to concrete within 24 hours.
— BBC News
"Lo llaman democracia y no lo es. No nos mires, únete". Son los gritos de medio millar de manifestantes en Sevilla. Pretenden convocar una acampada esta semana. — eskup.elpais.com
While American news media is flooded by word of Arnold's secret baby, in Spain dozens of thousands of young people and others have congregated in major plazas around the May 15 movement. They are rejecting both major political parties and calling for an end to neoliberal austerity measures. View full entry
There is beautiful architecture but it was bombed down by the allies in the war. This is a nice city but I cannot shoot in modern architecture, my camera don't like it. My camera wants to kill your mama. — Aki Kaurismaki
"Badyboy filmaker" Aki Kaurismaki in Cannes, discussing his latest film "Le Havre". View full entry
The top may not reach unto heaven, but the Argentinian artist Marta Minujin's 25-metre tower is made of 30,000 books in languages from all over the world. Built in San Martin Square, Buenos Aires to mark the Argentinian city's naming as 2011 World Book Capital, the artist suggested that in 100 years people will say 'there was a Tower of Babel in Argentina ... and it didn't need translation because art needs no translation' — guardian.co.uk