It is a tough environment for brick-and-mortar retailers right now. It is tougher still if you are in a niche market, like green bricks, mortar and eco-supplies.

A LEED-certified chemistry building on the MSU campus. Courtesy MSU.

There's nothing like conflicting information to give you a headache. Or maybe it's the building where I work, a structure built in the 1970s. According to a Michigan State University study, I'd feel better if I worked in LEED-certified building.

When the Strata Tower hit the blogs a couple of months ago I could not bring myself to post about it; the Giant Philishave was just so out of scale and pig ugly.

Images: Green Building Advisor

LEGO CNC milling machine & open source robotic arm. Image credit: Marta Malé-Alemany.

Meet George Jetson: (FAB)BOTS are robots or machines that fabricate structures and spatial formations for architecture.

photo: Kevin Poh via flickr

I normally don't cover traditional building methods, but this one is a bit too cool.

Howrah Bridge from Howrah train station, photo: vinay g via flickr.

This is too interesting and gross at the same time.

Square Root Architecture + Design

Forty years ago, when prefab was new, the building inspectors backed up the local builders and demanded that drywall be ripped off so that they could check the insulation, plumbing and wiring. By the time they were through, there wasn't much left of the interior. Eventually systems were put in place for State by State approvals that still hobble the American prefab industry.

Michelle Kaufmann Studio

Like most architects, Michelle Kaufmann has not been alone in having her ups and downs in the current recession, but there is no up like seeing a satisfying project get completed.

Credit: University of Maryland

Look out Bob Vila. University of Maryland students have turned "This Old House" on its head, and created a home that features an edible wall, and runs on sun, wind, rain and wastes. Let's hope the wastes are no where near the edible part.