All this sunshine and warm weather in New York City has really got us at Architizer HQ pining for our youth—you know, when we could play outside for an hour in the middle of the day for recess.  Yep, those were the good old days.

It’s been many years since that sunny nostalgia was a reality, and playground design has come a long, long way. Standard wood-chip covered parks dotted with tire swings and possibly hazardous monkey bars are artifacts of the last millenium. For today’s roundup, we’ve found some truly innovative and unusual playgrounds that would cause your inner child to start jumping for joy. From a colorful crocheted alligator, to a surreal, warping jungle gym, to a playground made out of recycled iron drums, these outdoor fun zones will have you wishing you were still 10 years old. But what the heck, go play on them anyway! Click through to see them all. 

more

Photo: HOK Architects

Spring is in the air—from the magnolia trees bursting into bloom in Brooklyn to the daffodils carpeting the Upper West Side, the last traces of a protracted wet winter are quickly vanishing. The old proverb, April showers bring May flowers, is proving true once again! In the spirit of the times (and the logical corollary to our April post, Architecture in the Rain), we’ve compiled a group of buildings whose forms are indebted to flowers, literally. From geometric inspiration to cultural responsiveness, these projects strut their stuff (petals?) across the globe. Click through to see them all!

more

Bust out the sombreros and get ready to down some margaritas. This Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, one of the biggest party days of the year!

Contrary to what you might think, the fifth of May is not Mexico’s Independence Day, which is celebrated in September. Rather, it commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which the Mexican army, despite being outnumbered, won a bloody fight against French troops. The event came to symbolize Mexico’s plight for freedom.

Okay, there’s your history lesson for today. Let’s move on to more festive matters, like awesome modern architecture just south of the border! Here, we feature our top 10 picks, from a wonderfully bizarre candy factory to a breathtaking rooftop pool. See them all…

more

Everyone likes lists, even PBS. A new TV special on the Public Broadcasting Service posits the top 10 buildings that changed America. We’ll give them credit for giving architecture its proper due — not everyone would say that buildings have necessarily changed this country, at least not in the way technological, infrastructural, or telecommunication innovations have. But the list is fairly typical, with (too) few surprises.

The show’s format is designed to be accessible to all, with host Geoffrey Baer traveling the continental US in search of the “revolutionary” structures whose influence can still be felt in cities and suburbs across America. That’s the rationale behind a rather hodgepodge collection that lumps in Jefferson’s Virginia State Capital (the polymath’s “declaration of architectural independence,” an awkward turn of phrase that leaves a bad taste in our mouths) with Mies’ Seagram Building. The same conceit also overstates the importance of the Vanna Venturi House and the Walt Disney Concert Hall on quotidian life; the former is the token Pomo project, one that contributed little to the country’s post-Fordist landscape, while the inclusion of the latter seems to have been conciliatory and perhaps (we hope) a pointed dig at Gehry — if you can’t have Bilbao, then a look-a-like will do.

So we challenge PBS’ selections with our own list of America’s top 10 structures. Sure, the criteria governing our choices are more architecturally inclined — you won’t find the White House or even the Empire State Building here — and our tastes, unabashedly modern, but it’s undeniable how each of the buildings listed here have significantly contributed and even altered our built environment. Click through to see them all. 

more

Villa L, designed by Powerhouse Company with RAU Architecture

To celebrate the end of tax season, which oh-so-fittingly coincides with National Stress Awareness Month, we’ve pulled together our top ten projects that help us relax, just by looking. These serene cabins, calming spas, and tranquil retreats are ideal places to unwind after filing your federal income taxes. And if you wildly overestimated your paycheck witholding, you might just be able to swing a night or two at one of these splendid hideaways! Click through to see them all!

more

Buongiorno, dear readers! We’ve just returned from Milan, where we spent a week fully immersing ourselves in Salone del Mobile—the Olympics of the furnishings world. Now, if you’re envisioning us sipping chianti and feasting on decadent Italian cuisine while casually checking out some neat decor, you have it all wrong. There was no time for leisure! We combed every inch of the 2.5-million-square-foot fair grounds, hunting down the coolest new products while also admiring some classics (like these Cassina chairs). We also spent time roaming the lovely city of Milan, which was abuzz with activities related to the annual design event.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out what we found during our expedition. Today, we present you with 10 striking new offerings from Artemide, the popular lighting company based in Milan. The collection includes lamps by such noted designers as Jean Nouvel, Daniel Libeskind, and Karim Rashid. See more!

more

Ladies and gents, it’s time to tuck away the puffy coats and winter cashmere. Spring is upon us! So is the Salone del Mobile, which unfolds next week in Milan (and we’ll be there!). To celebrate, we’re showcasing awesome furnishings this week: chairs for book lovers, modern chandeliers, sexy sofas. Today, we bring you the best in outdoor decor, from a sleek cabana to a giant bird’s nest made for humans (yes, really). Click on through and let us help fuel your sun-and-surf daydreams.

more

For years now, television’s spring premiere has become the new fall premiere, but the long-awaited return of AMC’s Mad Men sparks a whole new level of anticipation. Season six of the popular drama comes back this Sunday night, and whether you’re a die-hard fan eager to find out what’s happening in the mad world of Don Draper or you’ve never actually seen the show (we won’t tell your friends), you know this is a big event. In celebration, we’ve rounded up an impressive collection of modern, Mad Men-esque homes. Bring out the martinis, cigarettes, and psychoanalysis—and enjoy the show!

more

Want to know what makes a living space sublime? The perfect sofa. Whether you use it for napping, reading, smooching, entertaining, or watching TV, a couch is critical to your personal well-being. In preparation for Salone del Mobile, which starts next week, we’ve been spotlighting some of our fave furnishings. We’ve featured chairs for book lovers and stunning modern chandeliers. Today, we bring you divine divans. Click through!

more

It’s that time of year—time to brush up on your Italian. Next week, April 9-14, throngs of people will descend upon Milan for the 2013 Salone del Mobile—the biggest furnishings event of the year. Architizer will be there, and we’re getting psyched!

As we gear up, we’re spotlighting products we love. Yesterday we brought you amazing chairs for book lovers. Today, we present 10 resplendent suspension lamps. As you likely know, the Milan fair includes the exhibition Euroluce, where lighting designers from around the globe showcase their wares. This year’s Euroluce will cover 40,000 square meters. That’s a lot of wattage—we look forward to being awestruck!

more