Urban Typography

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Via Digg

Small Spaces

I would be happy living in a house that is 85 sq. feet and paid off like this lady is doing:

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Tags: architecture, home, efficient, designs, cool

Billion Dollar Bridge

$1.2 Billion to be exact. China just completed construction on the longest bridge in the world (and most expensive) in preperations for the coming Olympics:

The bridge links Shanghai to the industrial city of Ningbo across Hangzhou Bay, cutting the distance between them from about 250 miles to just 50 miles.

Link with embedded video attached.

Via LAT

Google House

The next time someone wants to rent a small space in your house, let them. USA Today has a great (long) article about the lady that opened her home to two aspiring computer engineers and the rest is history:

After earning her MBA in 1998, (Carol) Wojcicki bought 232 Santa Margarita Ave. for about $600,000. She rented the garage to two Stanford students for $1,700 a month to help with the mortgage. The renters: no ordinary slackers, but the Google Guys, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who incubated Google right there.

The article goes on to describe the fortunate luck that would shape the future (and families) of everyone involved, especially Carol...

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Via Digg

Jolly Old England

The only thing missing from these (37) amazing aerial pics of English Castles is the names and locations. I think I recognize a couple but the rest are mysteries:

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Via Digg

Tokyo in Twilight

Click the pic for the full size. Click the link below to see the haunting collection of photos of downtown Tokyo at Sunset:

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Via LAT

Flatiron Building (1910)

Click on the pic to see the full size:

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Urbanization of a Desert

The three NASA photos above are a clear display of how fast and how large the city of Dubai is spreading. Click the link below for a full description and the incredible Large Satellite Images:

The city of Dubai is home to more than 1.2 million people, and it is still growing rapidly. The city’s emergence as a major metropolis and tourist destination is evident in these images.

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Snowskiing in the Desert

The Burj al Arab building can be seen in the background. Click the link below to see all five pics of this enormous air-conditioned, snow skiing arena built in the sands of Dubai:

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For more detailed and accurate diagrams of all the superstructures being erected in Dubai click here.

Thanks Mom

This Old House sucks

If you are interested in Real Estate, or if you have ever owned a home, you will love this Photo Gallery of Home Inspection Nightmares. If the crappy advertising comes up just click through it (there are more Galleries to the lower right):

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Via Boing

Tallest Hotel Lobby

Click on the pic to see the full size:

Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel occupies floors 53 to 87 of China's tallest building - and standing at the reception desk, you can look up approximately 115 meters to the top floor.

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Via Digg

Hotel Implosions

This awesome collection of (nine) videos will make you want to jump on a plane and go to Vegas. The first two times I visited Las Vegas in 1988 I stayed at the Sands Hotel and Casino and from what I can remember we had a really good time:

For decades, The Sands was the epitome of cool on the Strip. The Rat Pack performed together for the first time on the stage of the Copa Room while filming “Ocean’s Eleven” during the day. For over thirty years it was one of the most recognizable hotels in Vegas. It took less than 30 seconds for it to come crashing down on June 30, 1996 to make room for The Venetian.

I never liked the Venetian...

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Via C

Green Buildings

Buildings that generate their own power is an excellent idea (that I came up with a long time ago). I couldn't get enough of this article about The Top Ten Green Skyscrapers from around the world. Too bad there are no "green" buildings in Houston:

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Work For Sale

Mark Luthringer is a professional photographer in Northern California. I really like the layout of his website and the unusual suburban typologies he's created. This group (above) looks slightly similar to my collection of doors.

Go to the link below and click on "Ridgemont Typologies" to see many more of Mark's cool collections like Recreational Vehicles, Office Parks, Mall Rooflines, Tail Lights, and more:

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Under Construction

These pics of the Eiffel Tower being constructed are amazing!

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Via C

Dynamic Architecture

A rotating building is a good idea because then everyone gets a chance at the "good view." But I will believe it when I see it:

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Via K

Inspired Architecture

God probably loves these ten pics of uniquely designed churches (with bonus churches at the bottom):

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Via UD

Colorful Vandalism

This graffiti covered building proves that abundance of color is never a bad thing:

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Love Hate NYC

This website by artist Rachel Fujita is a little difficult to figure out at first, but once you "enter" and view the (360 degree) panoramas of NYC you will be impressed:

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Urban Planning

Click on the pic for full size.