Van der Valk Hotel The Judgment House in exotic Roermond, Netherlands, is an 1891 jailhouse converted into a hotel. Wish we could do that in U.S. But can't because we have the world's largest number of prisoners.
Via inhabitat > http://www.hetarresthuis.nl/nl/home
One of these portable tourist towers might work well as a quest house or a retreat, right?
Pix/txt at designboom> http://tinyurl.com/a67ybh7
Bivoac --- urban rooftop campsite. Architizer finalist.
Details on architizer> http://tinyurl.com/bcyunht
My new essay on Artsjournal.com --- "Roomers: Micro-Housing in the Big Apple." Could you live in 300 square feet? It's likely your children will have to.
On artsjournal.com: http://tinyurl.com/ak84t6e
Providence RI Arcade (1828), first U.S. indoor shopping mall, will now sport micro-apartments. Will mega-malls and Tanger outlets follow suit? Some already have hotel rooms for exhausted shoppers.
Details at inhabitat> http://tinyurl.com/alyswm9
Swedish Slumming--- you can book different outdoor sites at "the homeless hotel" website and experience homelessness for yourself. Money goes to charity. I don't know what to make of this. Is it condescending?
Story & px at designboom> http://tinyurl.com/amozax7
Russian Opera House Uproar! Dominique Perrault plan rejected --- cost overruns, did not conform to building codes, sour cream soil. Public demand demolition of Diamond Schmitt substitute as too ugly. Perrault is at top. Diamond below.
Via ajarts> http://tinyurl.com/bakvrrt
