The conflict over water and land in Sudan has created political unrest for decades. However, in 2007, scientists from Boston University discovered an underground lake in the region of Darfur, Sudan. This lake is tenth biggest lake in the world (31, 000 m2) and would have great potential in resolving the conflict if managed correctly. – Sebastian Jordana

Hugon Kowalski, from Poland-based H3AR, shared with Arch Daily his water tower skyscraper for Sudan. Sudan is currently the 17th fastest growing economy in the World. However, the sad and unfortunate reality is there is religious tension, reliance on agriculture and unstable conditions make it increasingly tough for  the masses to raise their heads’ over the poverty line.  There has been a presence of ethnic cleansing, genocide, throughout the recent history of Africa (Rwanda). Recently, Darfur has become a focus and rebel groups such as the SLA/M and JEM have been in the foreground. The desire, above all else, is to end hunger and poverty.  Since as early as the 1930s there have been tension between many ethnic groups in Darfur and since it attained its independence from the Anglo–Egyptian condominium in 1956 there has been unrest. This resulting from the competition of resources, especially land and water, and interests of security. By addressing such issues, the Polish firm H3AR architect and design recently proposed a building that allows access to underground waters through the application of water pumps. The form of the building was inspired by a water tower and also by the symbol of the african savanna – the baobab.

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Hydrofloors® are vertically movable floors enable the client to exploit the surface area of a swimming pool by converting the associated terrace or indoor pool room for other uses e.g. recreation, social events, for dining and dancing.

Here are some photographs of the VitraHaus by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, which has opened at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

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Neil Dawson’s Horizons, made of welded steel in New Zealand, is an imposing 15m high and 36m long.

This trampoline net spiral—which would allow people to bounce from the top floor to the bottom of the Guggenheim Museum rotunda—would probably not fare too nicely with the necks of the museum’s visitors. Luckily for you and all those people whose necks are still intact, this is just a concept by JDS Architects for the “Contemplating the Void: Interventions in the Guggenheim Museum” exhibition, which explores different formulas to fill the open space inside the famous Frank Lloyd Wright building.

Embedded in the exotic Antiparos lands in Greece, this stunning home comes to demonstrate, once again, that stone homes are a real trend of the 21st Century. The amazing architecture plans belong to Deca, a company based in Athens.  This place literally fusions with the environment, and its design “is a dual response to the particular topography of the site and to the rural domestication techniques that in the past shaped the raw ‘Cycladic island’ landscape”. The architects took advantage of the meeting between two slopes in order to build the “Aloni” residence, which seems naturally camouflaged in its environment.

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This is going to become our city’s new hope for an NFL franchise. From the images, it looks like a big huge party platter, different colors, designs, and layers… kinda messy?

Designed by Aedas Sport, the innovative 75,000-seat stadium will be the first LEED-certified building in the NFL and will capture the luxury and drama of the world’s entertainment capital. The project anticipates completion for the 2013 season. Both the NFL and the client, Majestic Realty, are committed to making a progressive statement with this building and are exploring a number of initiatives that will make this the most environmentally progressive stadium in the U.S. Aedas Sport has employed the unique topography of the site to build the stadium into a hillside, reducing the steel structure by 40% and allowing at least two-thirds of the seating bowl to be built on grade.

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The airport is usually a place filled with pissed-off people and crying children, but this doesn’t seems to be the case for the travelers at Tao Yuan International Airport in Taiwan. Ms. Hello Kitty’s lounge, complete with her entourage of pink and happiness, would solve the stressful woes of any traveler. From plush dolls to toasters, lingerie to diamonds, and cell phones to motorcycles, this airport lounge is just another addition to Hello Kitty’s ongoing quest for world domination–rawrrr.

Photo Credit: Eat, Drink, & Be Merry

Japanese architects Archivision Hirotani Studio have completed a beauty parlour clad with copper in Omotesando in Tokyo, Japan. Peep it!

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From the portfolio of Alessandro Bêda comes the “Untitled Flower Jar,” which resembles a whale spouting out your choice of flowers; it’s a work of art that is whimsical, ingenious, and comical. You’ve got to admit that it’s not everyday a flower jar (and an untitled one at that) puts a smile on your face. Keep reading for more pictures of his work. 

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