July 2009 Table of Contents

Why live on chips and salsa, when you can have the whole enchilada? Read more

ra's annual roundup of new design and architecture books will help you fill your downtime with the work and ideas of colleagues in the profession. Read more

Over the years, Estes/Twombly Architects has designed plenty of environmentally friendly houses. Cross-ventilation, managed stormwater runoff, and natural materials are part of every project that comes out of its Newport, R.I., office. Read more

Lutron Electronics' Maestro eco-minder dims homeowners' lights; its LED alerts them if they're conserving energy, too, changing from red to green if energy savings exceed 15 percent. Read more

Miele's new G 2002 series dishwashers meet 2011 Energy Star requirements and claim 17 percent greater water efficiency over previous models. Read more

Custom-Bilt Metals' FusionSolar system integrates a thin-film solar laminate with a standing seam metal roof, resulting in a turnkey solution that it says is more affordable than traditional roof-mounted solar installations and will pay for itself in 10 y Read more

Part of a remodeled master suite, this earthy, serene bath occupies what was once the worst spot in the house. Read more

Few houses survive for nearly 140 years without at least one kitchen transplant. Read more

Midway through year two of the grimmest recession in decades, many architects are wondering where their next projects are coming from. Read more

When he talks about the concept of time, Andrés Duany, FAIA, takes on the enthusiastic manner of a star physics student. “Time is a fascinating fourth dimension that is so exciting to me,” he says. Read more

No region of the United States has a stronger, more deeply rooted, or more characteristically regional modernist architecture than the Pacific Northwest. Read more

John Brown, RAIC, is on a profound mission, one that doesn't involve anything as mundane as scaling K2 or swimming the English Channel. The soft-spoken Canadian wants to simultaneously improve the quality of mass-market housing and make better houses more Read more

Imagine a cluster of 30 or so diminutive homes set on the edge of a large field, their compact rectangles topped with tilted roofs and punctuated with bright apple-green or ochre siding. This new crop of farmworker housing, designed by the Seattle firm Mi Read more

Bruce Tomb had no clear plans in 1984 when he hand-cast a basin for a gallery exhibition in Santa Clara, Calif. As an art piece, Sacred Basin was successful, but “it wasn't done with the intent to become a product,” the San Francisco-based designer says. Read more

The clean design of Du Verre's Rise cabinet hardware is decidedly modern, but its sweeping curves offer a hint of the organic. Read more

Sometimes an architectural element can serve as a sculptural piece with a practical use. London-based designer Jake Dyson—son of famed vacuum purveyor Sir James Dyson—believes his new wall-mounted Motorlight is such a product. Read more

Made from LUMINIST, a hybrid epoxy resin, the Neorest II lavatory exudes an ethereal vibe. Read more

City of Industry, Calif.-based Tonusa says its “elements” line of modern kitchen cabinetry offers “elevated design at a moderated price.” Read more

Austin, Texas-based McKinney York Architects often weaves sustainable design ideas into its work. So when the 14-person firm moved into a building in the East Austin neighborhood last year, it worked hard to make the cost-conscious renovation as green as Read more