Americans Are Moving on up to Smaller, Smarter Homes
from USA TODAY
New homes, after doubling in size since 1960, are shrinking. Last year, for the first time in at least 10 years, the average square footage of single-family homes under construction fell dramatically, from 2,629 in the second quarter to 2,343 in the fourth quarter, Census data show. USA Today talked with designers and architects to find out what this trend means for how we use our homes. More

Virtual Evidence-Based Design Project Receives Major Contribution
from Healthcare Design Magazine
The California Institute for Telecommunications and Information Technology (Calit2) at the University of California, San Diego, has received a $100,000 contribution from California-based HMC Architects. Calit2 is undertaking ongoing research into the effects of design on human cognition and behavior. One of its projects is StarCAVE, a 360-degree, 16-panel, 3-D immersive environment that enables researchers to interact with virtual architectural renderings in three dimensions, in real time and at actual scale. More

A Recession May Be a Time to Go Back to School
from The New York Times
You’ve been laid off and are having trouble finding another job. Should you consider applying to graduate school? More

G20 to Prompt Eco and Sustainable Interior Design?
from mydeco.com
World leaders taking part in the G20 Summit at London's ExCeL Centre will be hoping that they can come up with a solution to the world's economic woes. But one expert believes that the political convention, which has left large chunks of the capital on high security alert, could also mark the beginning of Britain's leadership in sustainable design, Design Week reports. Speaking to the website, trade minister Mervyn Davies suggested that many of the environmental issues currently preoccupying the public consciousness will be discussed at the summit. Davies predicted that sustainable design will become increasingly important in Britain over the next 20 to 30 years, as political leaders work towards a low-carbon economy. More

Vacation Home Sales Slipping in Downturn, but Long-Term Forecast Still Positive
from Multi-Housing News
The combination of vacation- and investment-home sales slipped to 30 percent of all existing- and new-home transactions in 2008, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, more than four out of 10 investment buyers and more than three in 10 vacation-home buyers paid cash for their properties. More

Why Asia Has the World's Best Airports
from BusinessWeek
Airports in the U.S. are widely viewed as public facilities, while those in Asia are seen as service-oriented businesses, analysts say. That helps explain why in the annual survey of airport service quality by Geneva-based Airports Council International (ACI), Asian airports—Seoul, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Nagoya, Japan—won four of the five top spots. More

20 Tips for Designers to Beat the Recession
from Design Sojourn
An industrial designer who, as a recent graduate, survived the economic crisis in the late 90s shares his insights on how to thrive in difficult times. “Personally, I like to believe a recession is a time of great opportunity for everyone. Especially for forward looking designers who have the right skills and are well placed to take advantage of a recovering economy.” More

Hospitality Construction Pipeline Tumbles Across the Globe
from Hospitality Design
Lodging Econometrics has released its Q4 2008 Global Quarterly Report, which indicates that the worldwide hotel construction pipeline peaked last spring. Many projects in the pipeline have been unable to move toward construction due to unavailability of financing. More

Singapore’s Stunning Digital Cloud Skyscraper
from Inhabitat
This incredible pixelated skyscraper by Singapore-based Design Act was a finalist in a competition to design a pavilion for the World Expo 2010. Entitled “My Dream, Our Vision”, the project uses permutated cubes to generate a spectacular modular sculpture that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Singapore as an efficient, dynamic, cosmopolitan, and forward-looking nation. More

Upper-End Kitchen and Bath Features Fall Victim to Housing Downturn
from AIA
Kitchens and baths, long considered to be key areas of focus within the home, are losing some of their attention with the prolonged slump in the housing market. Many upscale products and features are slipping in their appeal given falling home prices in most areas of the country and the renewed concern over housing affordability, says AIA chief economist Kermit Baker. More