Architecture

American Institute of Architects names top 10 new American homes

American Institute of Architects names top 10 new American homes
The American Institute of Architects has chosen 10 recipients for its 2014 Housing Awards
The American Institute of Architects has chosen 10 recipients for its 2014 Housing Awards
View 68 Images
The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The project was designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The project was designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The apartment complex comprises 49 units of supportive housing which serves young people leaving foster care, people with mental health issues, and the homeless (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The apartment complex comprises 49 units of supportive housing which serves young people leaving foster care, people with mental health issues, and the homeless (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The apartments also received some sustainability upgrades (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The apartments also received some sustainability upgrades (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The apartment building has been designed with windows which allow cross-ventilation, and a vertical photovoltaic panel array was also installed (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The apartment building has been designed with windows which allow cross-ventilation, and a vertical photovoltaic panel array was also installed (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
28th Street Apartments was recognized in the Specialized Housing category (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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28th Street Apartments was recognized in the Specialized Housing category (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The 1221 Broadway complex is located in San Antonio, TX (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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The 1221 Broadway complex is located in San Antonio, TX (Photo: Chris Cooper)
The project was designed by Lake|Flato Architects (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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The project was designed by Lake|Flato Architects (Photo: Chris Cooper)
Before development, 1221 Broadway was known as a ghost town (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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Before development, 1221 Broadway was known as a ghost town (Photo: Chris Cooper)
Local people referred to it as "the biggest homeless shelter run by the homeless" (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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Local people referred to it as "the biggest homeless shelter run by the homeless" (Photo: Chris Cooper)
The 1221 Broadway complex has been completely renovated and contains some sustainable technology (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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The 1221 Broadway complex has been completely renovated and contains some sustainable technology (Photo: Chris Cooper)
Passive cooling solutions, including open breezeways carefully oriented to cool the circulation corridors, are uniquely suited to San Antonio's climate (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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Passive cooling solutions, including open breezeways carefully oriented to cool the circulation corridors, are uniquely suited to San Antonio's climate (Photo: Chris Cooper)
Before development, 1221 Broadway was known as a ghost town (Photo: Chris Cooper)
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Before development, 1221 Broadway was known as a ghost town (Photo: Chris Cooper)
Cherokee Studios is based in Los Angeles, California (Photo: John Edward Linden)
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Cherokee Studios is based in Los Angeles, California (Photo: John Edward Linden)
The project was brought about by Brooks + Scarpa (Photo: John Edward Linden)
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The project was brought about by Brooks + Scarpa (Photo: John Edward Linden)
The building incorporates energy efficient design (Photo: John Edward Linden)
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The building incorporates energy efficient design (Photo: John Edward Linden)
Cherokee is 40 percent more energy efficient than California’s Title 24, the most demanding energy code in the United States (Photo: John Edward Linden)
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Cherokee is 40 percent more energy efficient than California’s Title 24, the most demanding energy code in the United States (Photo: John Edward Linden)
The building is inspired by the series of paintings by the British artist Patrick Hughes titled, “Prospectivity” (Photo: John Edward Linden)
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The building is inspired by the series of paintings by the British artist Patrick Hughes titled, “Prospectivity” (Photo: John Edward Linden)
Merritt Crossing senior apartments was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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Merritt Crossing senior apartments was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (Photo: Tim Griffith)
The apartments are located in Oakland, California (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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The apartments are located in Oakland, California (Photo: Tim Griffith)
The project provides a safe, secure and clean home for seniors (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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The project provides a safe, secure and clean home for seniors (Photo: Tim Griffith)
The colorful building design responds to its location at the edge of downtown Oakland’s eclectic and historic Chinatowns (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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The colorful building design responds to its location at the edge of downtown Oakland’s eclectic and historic Chinatowns (Photo: Tim Griffith)
The project provides a safe, secure and clean home for seniors (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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The project provides a safe, secure and clean home for seniors (Photo: Tim Griffith)
The housing community is designed to produce all its own necessary required to operate the buildings from renewable sources (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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The housing community is designed to produce all its own necessary required to operate the buildings from renewable sources (Photo: Tim Griffith)
Sweetwater Spectrum Community was recognized in the Specialized Housing category (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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Sweetwater Spectrum Community was recognized in the Specialized Housing category (Photo: Tim Griffith)
Kicking Horse Residence is located in British Columbia (Photo: Matthew Millman)
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Kicking Horse Residence is located in British Columbia (Photo: Matthew Millman)
The house was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects (Photo: Matthew Millman)
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The house was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects (Photo: Matthew Millman)
The clients desired a weekend gathering place for their active family of five (Photo: Matthew Millman)
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The clients desired a weekend gathering place for their active family of five (Photo: Matthew Millman)
The house is designed to handle the local climate which features very harsh winters (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
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The house is designed to handle the local climate which features very harsh winters (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
The house was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
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The house was designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson architects (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
The interior is bright and colorful (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
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The interior is bright and colorful (Photo: Nic Lehoux)
The Informal House was designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The Informal House was designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The house is based in South Pasadena, California (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The house is based in South Pasadena, California (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The Informal House features green lower roofs which help insulate the interior, while the higher roof is colored white and in a bid to minimize solar heat gain (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The Informal House features green lower roofs which help insulate the interior, while the higher roof is colored white and in a bid to minimize solar heat gain (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
Informal House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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Informal House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The brief called for the design to offer plenty of quality family space (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The brief called for the design to offer plenty of quality family space (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
Its unashamedly bright facade is both appealing and befits the home's name (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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Its unashamedly bright facade is both appealing and befits the home's name (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The house is based in South Pasadena, California (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
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The house is based in South Pasadena, California (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The Sol Duc Cabin was designed by Olson Kundig Architect (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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The Sol Duc Cabin was designed by Olson Kundig Architect (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
The two-story dwelling comprises two levels, and is set on stilts to provide protection from wildlife and floods (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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The two-story dwelling comprises two levels, and is set on stilts to provide protection from wildlife and floods (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
Sol Duc Cabin was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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Sol Duc Cabin was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
The client requested a compact, low-maintenance, and virtually indestructible house for himself and his wife (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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The client requested a compact, low-maintenance, and virtually indestructible house for himself and his wife (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
Sol Duc Cabin also features tough shutters which can be closed to ensure protection from storms (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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Sol Duc Cabin also features tough shutters which can be closed to ensure protection from storms (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
The Sol Duc Cabin was designed by Olson Kundig Architect (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
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The Sol Duc Cabin was designed by Olson Kundig Architect (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
Sweetwater Spectrum Community was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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Sweetwater Spectrum Community was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (Photo: Tim Griffith)
Sweetwater provides a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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Sweetwater provides a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Tim Griffith)
On-site energy reducing features include natural ventilation, photovoltaic solar panels on every building, and a solar hot water system (Photo: Tim Griffith)
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On-site energy reducing features include natural ventilation, photovoltaic solar panels on every building, and a solar hot water system (Photo: Tim Griffith)
Sweetwater Spectrum Community was recognized in the Specialized Housing category(Photo: Kyle Jeffers)
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Sweetwater Spectrum Community was recognized in the Specialized Housing category(Photo: Kyle Jeffers)
The community itself was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects to provide a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Kyle Jeffers)
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The community itself was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects to provide a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Kyle Jeffers)
On-site plan of Sweetwater (Image: LMS Architects)
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On-site plan of Sweetwater (Image: LMS Architects)
Topo House was designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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Topo House was designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
Topo House is based in Wisconsin (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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Topo House is based in Wisconsin (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
Topo House was designed for a biomedical engineer and his wife, a sculptor and installation artist (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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Topo House was designed for a biomedical engineer and his wife, a sculptor and installation artist (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
The house is designed to handle the local climate which features hot summers and harsh winters (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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The house is designed to handle the local climate which features hot summers and harsh winters (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
The site’s southern perimeter is designated for Solar PV arrays to generate about 33 percent of the building’s calculated electric power needs (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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The site’s southern perimeter is designated for Solar PV arrays to generate about 33 percent of the building’s calculated electric power needs (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
Topo House is located in Wisconsin (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
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Topo House is located in Wisconsin (Photo: John J. Macaulay)
The occupants are clearly fans of iconic local heavy metal band The Melvins (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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The occupants are clearly fans of iconic local heavy metal band The Melvins (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Park Passive House is, as we recently reported, Seattle's first residential property to achieve house Passive House Certification (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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Park Passive House is, as we recently reported, Seattle's first residential property to achieve house Passive House Certification (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
The three-story home is located on an urban infill lot (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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The three-story home is located on an urban infill lot (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Park Passive House features all the usual hallmarks of a proper Passive House (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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Park Passive House features all the usual hallmarks of a proper Passive House (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Though not required for Passive House certification, NK Architects included the necessary wiring for solar power (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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Though not required for Passive House certification, NK Architects included the necessary wiring for solar power (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Park Passive House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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Park Passive House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
The house boasts a near-airtight envelope, extremely efficient home appliances, and a bevy of energy efficient technology (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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The house boasts a near-airtight envelope, extremely efficient home appliances, and a bevy of energy efficient technology (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
The house was designed for a young family (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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The house was designed for a young family (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
The house was designed by NK Architects (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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The house was designed by NK Architects (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Park Passive House, Seattle (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
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Park Passive House, Seattle (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
The American Institute of Architects has chosen 10 recipients for its 2014 Housing Awards
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The American Institute of Architects has chosen 10 recipients for its 2014 Housing Awards
View gallery - 68 images

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has revealed what its judges reckon to be the 10 best new American homes and housing complexes, for the organization's 2014 Housing Awards. Though not explicitly marketed as a list of green housing, almost all of the winners feature some degree of sustainable technology or design.

The awards are separated into four categories: One and Two Family Custom Housing, Multifamily Housing, Special Housing, and One and Two Family Production Housing – though as no winners were chosen in the latter category this year, it is absent from this list.

Below, Gizmag highlights five standout examples, but head to the gallery to see each of the 10 homes and housing complexes in full.

Informal House

The Informal House features green lower roofs which help insulate the interior, while the higher roof is colored white and in a bid to minimize solar heat gain (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The Informal House features green lower roofs which help insulate the interior, while the higher roof is colored white and in a bid to minimize solar heat gain (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)

The Informal House was designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture for a family of four in South Pasadena, California. The brief called for the design to offer plenty of quality family space, both indoors and outdoors. Its unashamedly bright facade is both appealing and befits the home's name.

The home features green lower roofs which help insulate the interior, while the higher roof is colored white in a bid to minimize solar heat gain.

Informal House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category.

Sol Duc Cabin

Sol Duc Cabin was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)
Sol Duc Cabin was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category (Photo: Benjamin Beschneide)

In a choice that highlights the wide scope of the awards (and one of the few examples without any overt sustainable design), the Sol Duc Cabin was designed by Olson Kundig Architects for a client who requested a compact, low-maintenance, and virtually indestructible house for himself and his wife while on fishing trips in the rural Olympic Peninsula, Washington.

The two-story dwelling comprises two levels, and is set on stilts to provide protection from wildlife and floods. Sol Duc Cabin also features tough shutters which can be closed to ensure protection from any storms.

It was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category.

Park Passive House

Park Passive House, Seattle (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)
Park Passive House, Seattle (Photo: Aaron Leitz Photography)

Park Passive House is, as we recently reported, Seattle's first residential property to achieve house Passive House Certification. The three-story home is located on an urban infill lot, and features all the usual hallmarks of a proper Passive House: near-airtight envelope, extremely efficient home appliances, and a bevy of energy efficient technology.

Though not required for Passive House certification, NK Architects included the necessary wiring for solar power, to allow the owners to reduce their monthly bills further if they choose.

Park Passive House was recognized in the The One and Two Family Custom Residences category.

Sweetwater Spectrum Community

Sweetwater provides a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Tim Griffith)
Sweetwater provides a home for up to 16 adults with autism (Photo: Tim Griffith)

The idea for Sweetwater Spectrum Community came about when, in 2009, a group of families, autism professionals, and community leaders created the nonprofit organization Sweetwater Spectrum in order to provide appropriate and high-quality housing for adults with autism.

The community itself was designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects, to provide a home for up to 16 adults with autism. It contains special sensory stimulation zones which include ambient sounds, visual patterns and odors, in addition to specialized flooring, industrial-grade doors, and high-impact wall finishes.

Energy-saving features include natural ventilation, photovoltaic solar panels on every building, and a solar hot water system.

Sweetwater Spectrum Community was recognized in the Specialized Housing category.

28th Street Apartments

The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)
The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles (Photo: Eric Staudenmaier)

The 28th Street Apartments project involved the restoration of a historic former YMCA building in south Los Angeles by Koning Eizenberg Architecture. Comprising 49 units of supportive housing which serve young people leaving foster care, people with mental health issues, and the homeless, the complex also received some sustainability upgrades.

The apartment building has been designed with windows which allow cross-ventilation to help cool the interior rooms cheaply, plus a vertical photovoltaic panel array was also installed to reduce grid-based electricity requirements.

28th Street Apartments was recognized in the Specialized Housing category.

Source: AIA

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1 comment
1 comment
lwesson
Written on an older Mac.
Having built a spec home in Woodland Park, Colorado, that fit into nicely the gorgeous forest, designed by a friend/builder, I was curious. For the most part, no thank you per these flights of the imagination. Looking at most of the structures I wondered if the people would also be cube/angle shaped too? My own room/office grew cold while looking at the pictures here in my 1925 Bungalow house. I thought about the lifeless, culture-less Euro Currency too. Neo-Stalinesqe with a splash of color per what might be fancy dancy Gulags.
A few times I imagined what some advanced Alien Insect Civilization might build. I wondered how well these things would age and be appreciated by following generations. Auto design has provided some quick insight here. Take the Pontiac AZTEC, no take it ,or perhaps a Gremlin, or YUGO, all aged poorly right off the showroom floor.
I cannot put my finger on it, but for some reason some humans want other humans to be injected into, to endure... in some amazingly cold dwellings. The same as when THEY force humans to squeeze, to conform to using measures that are wickedly remote from the human experience. Humm? Celsius comes to mind. 0=cold 100=dead
The bottom line will be, will people really want to buy into these things? Would they even want them towering over their 1890's Victorians like that Old Peoples Retirement building that was shown. Humm? No. We have one hideous thing rising up near us as I type.