For years, the students of Dan Rockhill's Studio 804 at the University of Kansas School of Architecture, Design & Planning has been turning out stunning modern green prefabs, placing them in challenging areas of Kansas City and selling them fast to modern design devotees who know a bargain when they see it- quality materials and construction, operating costs and great modern desig

All images by FG+SG Fernando Guerra, Sergio Guerra, via Archdaily

It is hard to call a big expensive second home in the country green. On the other hand, sometimes they are just so stunning and have so many great design ideas in them that you just can't help but post it.

TreeHugger has often discussed the use of screens or shutters to keep the sun out while providing ventilation and privacy.

Trolling the bar scene at Melbourne's Raising the Bar, we find the Offcut Stools by Edwards Moore Architects. They are part of an exhibition of works made from "hard rubbish finds, found objects or the reuse of existing materials" displayed at a working bar....

Falcon Water-Free Urinal

In February we wrote What is the Cause of "Stinky Situation" With Waterless Urinals?, covering the fight between the plumbers' unions and the manufacturers of waterless urinals.

Observation towers create a wonderful opportunity to connect with the environment, permitting a view over the treetops to incredible vistas. Many are utilitarian structures, but some are true works of art on their own.

There is no form of architecture more ephemeral than the condo sales office, where a lot of money is spent to construct a temporary building that tries to represent the image of the building. Rarely does it go against type.

Another ephemeral and ubiquitous object is the shipping container.

Image via The Way We See The World

We write a lot about alternatives to paper and plastic cups, or designs that reduce their waste, but this has to be a new favorite. Designers at The Way We See The World have envisioned picnickers everywhere using jelloware, an incredibly yummy version of disposable -- or rather edible -- cups.

They said it couldn't be done. When we first wrote about the almost invisible treehouse to be built in Sweden by Tham & Videgard, 899 commenters thought it was autocad eye candy, impossible to build and death for birds.

Cover, Henry Miller's Air Conditioned Nightmare

Air conditioning is not only an environmental problem, it is also a social problem.