This summer, some of the NYC beaches hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy will get a new start with the opening of 37 flood-proof, prefab lifeguard stations, comfort stations and offices designed by Garrison Architects. After the superstorm, Rockaway Beach, Coney Island, Midland Beach, Wolfe's Pond Park and Cedar Grove were left with just the tattered shambles of what used to be their restrooms and other beach structures. The city knew that it had to rebuild in order to open these popular beaches back to their communities for summer 2013, but fast-tracking the design and construction of these buildings to a matter of months proved to be a challenge. Architect Jim Garrison and his firm were called in to tackle the task, and we're happy to say that they're making impressive progress towards their Memorial Day deadline. We stopped by the Garrison booth yesterday at BKLYN Designs and got to see some 3D models of the modular beach buildings in person. Click through our gallery to see the photos we snapped as well as renderings of the final designs.

 

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The Yingst retreat is a secluded home tucked into a forested site just three miles from Sleepy Bear Dunes on Lake Michigan. The client commissioned Salmela Architect to build a tranquil space that respects the local environment and nurtures the extended family. Comprised of a main house, separate small garages, a sod-topped sauna and a chimney building, the 4,000 square foot retreat isn't modest in size, but it does harmonize with the surrounding beech forest.

 

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As New Yorkers, we often take clean water for granted, but there’s a lot of money and effort being applied behind the scenes to make sure we have access to it. Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter H. Strickland, Jr. outlined the $20 billion dollars that the city has invested in its water system over the last decade, detailing upgrades to water mains and pipes, city dams, treatment plants, newly constructed sewer lines and other vital infrastructure projects. The officials also went over the work they are doing to ensure that the Gowanus Canal water quality upgrade project would also be completed by the end of the year, despite flooding and other damage from Hurricane Sandy.

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The New Zealand-based architecture firm of Bossley Architects specializes in building for the arts, residential work, and restaurants. Their ability to think outside the box brought about the creation of the Thorne Bay House. A steep site studded with deeply rooted trees created restrictive constraints, so the architects responded with a home that squeezes under and around the limbs of the trees as if it were a treehouse. The resulting house boasts magnificent sun-soaked spaces and dramatic views - read on for a closer look!

 

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We’ve been in love with Adam Frank’s LUMEN nightlights for all the years that this veteran designer has been bringing them to BKLYN Designs, but we are absolutely thrilled with his new LED version. Frank’s delicate little Lumen lamps are made of stainless steel sheets cut into shapes found in nature (like pine trees), and they cast gentle shadows on the wall. But now each one is even more efficient, long-lasting, and earth-friendly than ever before.

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Pickett Furniture was at the BKLYN Designs furniture show this past weekend showcasing unique handcrafted furnishings and accessories made from responsibly sourced wood and vintage textiles. Blending natural, modern and international influences, the eclectic collection of designs includes bamboo lamps, vintage marimekko fabric pillows, a handcrafted vinyl playing music console, and kids' toys! A set of adorable magnetic Bataljon Robots is the latest to join Pickett's collection, bringing a playful touch to this unique line.

 

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London’s Design Museum has formed a new partnership with furniture company Vitra to create a pop-up garden on the banks of the River Thames. The garden will showcase pieces by some of the design world’s biggest names, including Charles and Ray Eames, Jasper Morrison, Jay Osgerby and Verner Panton in a colorful prefab case.

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Singapore recently garnered acclaim for its Gardens by the Bay and Marina Bay Resort projects, but it will be soon recognized for a new landmark tower designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The Tanjong Pagar Centre will top out at 290 meters (951 feet), making it the tallest building in Singapore. The mixed-use, 64-story tower will be located on the same block as the Tanjong Pagar City Park and it will feature green building strategies, quick access to the CBD and an existing MRT station right underneath it.

 

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PHOTO: KENDALL RODRIGUEZ FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

If you attended public school in NYC, you probably remember the burgers having “warts” and boat-shaped pepperoni pizzas with enough grease on top to cause a small oil spill. While those memories will always hold a fond place in our hearts (and quite possibly our arteries), we’re excited that the new generation of students at PS 244Q will have some better food options during their formative years. The elementary school in Flushing, Queens recently became the first public school in New York – and one of the first schools the nation – to serve an all-vegetarian lunch menu. Curious to see what a typical day’s selection might include? Read on to find out.

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The Battery Conservancy and NYC Parks recently selected the top 50 designs for their “Draw Up a Chair” design competition. The challenge called on students and professionals from around the world to design an iconic movable outdoor seating element for Manhattan’s Battery Park, and the jury will soon select a winner from the 50 contestants. Click through the gallery above see a selection of the designs in the running to become actual chairs in Battery Park!

 

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BKLYN Designs came and went far too quickly, but it was fantastic to catch up with Brooklyn’s best and greenest designers – including Bien Hecho. Translated to mean “well made” in Spanish, this local studio offers a playful range of interior furnishings that are all made with salvaged materials. From lamps to chairs and tables to a brand new mini water cooler made out of timber harvested from large water towers, each piece is uniquely and unquestionably sustainable.

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US-based wind energy company SheerWind just unveiled the INVELOX – a tunnel-based wind turbine that can produce up to 600% more power than traditional wind turbines. The company states that after extensive field-testing, their new INVELOX turbine “significantly outperforms the traditional turbine” and could reduce installation capital costs to less than $750 per KW.

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Photo via Shutterstock

Scientists have been growing petri dish hamburgers from cultured meat specimens for the last few years, but Dr. Mark Post wants to make lab-made a consumer reality. The Maastricht-based researcher has been developing a beef muscle in vitro burger that he plans to serve up to attendees at an event in London next month – at price tag of $325,000! The burger is made up of 20,000 strips of cultured muscle, and Post plans to prepare it by adding only salt and pepper to enhance its lab-grown flavor.

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This green-roofed, angular home rises from the ground in Attica, Greece. Designed by Athens-based Tense Architecture Network, House in Sikamino blends in with the arid landscape, almost disappearing. A green roof planted with helichrysum, rosanthemum, lavender and thyme keeps the home cool and provides residents with a wonderful place to relax.

 

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Central Park photo from Shutterstock

Have you hugged a tree lately? If not, you might want to show your appreciation with a good squeeze. According to a recent state-by-state US Forest Service study, urban forests are responsible for storing 708 million tons of carbon – a service valued at $50 billion. Each year, our leafy friends capture an additional 21 million tons of carbon to the tune of a $1.5 billion benefit. Led by Dave Nowak, the study was published in the journal Environmental Pollution.

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