+ Bob Augustine's latest project is this house in Cambridge, MA that combines green design with non-traditional architecture. The house, with exteriors of red cedar and pre-patinated copper, was inspired by the triple-deckers commonly found in Boston. Abundant natural light is key in this design and all floors and cabinetwork are crafted from sustainable bamboo. The roof is of particular interest, as it is planted with sod.

+ The Lightening Stick is a new low-energy lamp by Oliver Heath for Ecocentric. This steel lamp has a row of colour changing LEDs along its spine and washes walls with colour. A simple control box allows regulation of both the colour and the speed of the movement.

+ Luminale is a biennial festival of light held in Frankfurt, in tandem with the Light+Building trade show. The last Luminale, in 2006, was comprised of 180 lighting installations, exhibitions and performances, plus another 160 events that concentrated on light as the theme in areas of architecture, urban planning, design and art. The next Luminale takes place April 6-11, 2008 and a call for lighting projects by lighting manufacturers, planners and designers is on, with a deadline of December 24, 2007.

+ These gorgeous Artizan rings are the work of Michele Zanin, a Milanese jeweller whose range is marked by a very bold fluidity.

+ More information about this container getaway in northern Minnesota by Paul Stankey (one of the Hive Mod architects) and Sarah Nordby can be found at the rolu|dsgn blog.

Rocking Bench.

Eskimo Bench.

+ The Rocking Bench and the Eskimo Bench are part of the product range of Newcastle-based Just Another Product.

+ The Bile rocker and the Bohdi hanger are two pieces from Lazerian. Also worth investigating on the Lazerian website is the Thyia dining set, where the table and benches slide compactly into each other when not in use.

Erin Hayne and Nuno Gonçalves Ferreira of the Visual Reference Studio have completed work on their first collection of thermochromatic furniture, stools and benches that change colour when touched. Colour-changing crystals are activated in response to heat, so sitting or touching the pieces will leave an imprint of various body parts, but just until the piece cools down. Black furniture turns blue and red turns violet, but the variety of temperature fluctuations will bring about a range of shades. The Swamp Collection is inspired by the flora and fauna of the Mississippi cypress swamp, where the studio is located.

+ visualreferencestudio.com

Six rather large contemporary residential architecture projects that integrate alternative technologies for generating and conserving energy are featured in Off the Grid Homes (from "somewhat on the grid" to "completely off the grid"). By the same author as Off the Grid: Modern Home + Alternative Energy, this book delves into different aspects of energy and resource independence, from rainwater collection, to photovoltaic (PV) systems, to gray-water systems and more. The case studies have lots of diagrams and explanations of technologies and their applications in context. Interesting factoid from the publisher, "A recent study found that after 15 years, an increase in America's alternative-energy investment would create almost 150,000 jobs, increase wages nearly $7 billion, reduce carbon-dioxide emissions roughly 30 percent and save close to $30 billion in electric and gas bills.". Paperback, 128 pages, well illustrated, $14.93 at Amazon. P.S. If you want small and off the grid, there's always the miniHome.

+ Off The Grid Homes at Amazon