A follow-up to the highly successful XS: Big Ideas, Small Buildings, this book features contemporary solutions to two of today's most challenging problems-how to conserve space and help save the environment. The design goals of the 40 houses included here are to build as small as possible, to harmonize with the site, to use natural heating and cooling techniques, and, above all, to combine aesthetic beauty with ecological sensitivity. The houses are striking in appearance, inexpensive to build, and totally functional, and will serve as inspiration for architects and potential owners.Designed by a variety of young international architects (among them Patkau, ShoP, Sean Godsel, and Klein Dytham) the projects featured here reveal an extraordinary degree of ingenuity within a tight, creative context or budget. As homeowners become more environmentally savvy and demand environmentally sound choices, a new generation of architects and builders is creating warm, inviting homes that cause only a fraction of the ecological impact of conventional building methods. The book is also a compelling manifesto that illustrates how ecological responsibility can reinvigorate contemporary architecture. Sustainability is not just good for the environment-it also propels architects toward new innovations and greater creativity....

A wide range of delightful products created for children and their design-conscious parents.

In recent years material invention, technical innovation, and new manufacturing processes have greatly widened the range and availability of design products. But until now, consumers and professionals alike have lacked a book on one of design's major growth areas: design for children.

From nursery to pre-adolescence, from strollers to lamps, from chairs to toys, there is an entire world of "high design" waiting to be discovered by parents with design sense and style—if they know where to look. Phyllis Richardson has done the research for parents everywhere, trawling the blogosphere, poring over countless catalogues culled from around the world, reviewing every design Web site, and applying her own practical judgment as a mother to present over 450 of the most wonderful objects available for children.

Interviews with international design gurus, including Paola Antonelli, Yves Béhar, Tom Dixon, Greg Lynn, John Maeda, and Scott Wilson, illuminate the design process and are interspersed through the book. 754 color illustrations.

The categories include:
• Nursery
• Furniture
• Meal Times
• Toys
• Electronics and Lighting
• Decoration and Textiles
• Accessories
• Mobility
• Travel...

Completely revised and updated, featuring new entries and discoveries.

This exciting series focuses on the vitality and uniqueness of the world's greatest cities. Each volume is superbly designed and produced, yet ingeniously practical, with lavish photography, easy-to-read maps, and informed and enjoyable texts.

From offbeat cafés and cutting-edge restaurants to the most stylish stores, hotels, and neighborhoods, StyleCity uncovers all the special places where both locals and discerning travelers can find a vibrant urban experience. The guides are divided into two sections: "Style Traveler" identifies the most memorable places to sleep, eat, drink, shop, and relax; "Street Wise" divides the city into neighborhoods and provides convenient area maps....