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In an age of information overload, it is a relief to see that there is sparse text in this well-designed book. There is an introduction to every architectural project, featured in an easy-to-read font and a generous use of images to showcase every house. There are, however, some images that have been enlarged to the point of pixelation and stand out horribly in an otherwise pleasing volume. There are several that are very dark and could have been processed better.

Useful information such as house plans and detailed design credits for each home give some idea about who the book is really intended for. On the whole, the quality of the homes featured is high on the aesthetic scale (with about two exceptions). Encouraging, too, is the cross-country representation of houses and architects from all over India.
50 Beautiful Houses in India
Publisher: White Flag
420 Pages; Rs. 2,995

Cooling constructions

Ever wonder how people living in the harsh desert climate survive without air-conditioning? Traditional Islamic architecture deals with such conditions by careful direction of light and airflow with elements such as mashrabiyas, wind towers, and earthen walls. Similarly, London designers PostlerFerguson have come up with Microclimates, a unique design that blends these age-old building techniques with computer-aided manufacturing. A customised software creates an interpretation of a mashrabiya that has layers made out of local sand, held together with a magnesium-based binder. Each rendition houses a complex internal structure made with a large-scale rapid prototyping machine. The structure’s surface will efficiently cool the air that passes through it.

More at postlerferguson.com


Auto

Low on carbon, high on carbon-fibre BMW’s Project i was set up to investigate the best format for ultra-low emissions future cars  and has confirmed that the first production outcome, on sale from 2013, will be a four-seat hatchback with a carbon-fibre bodyshell on an aluminium chassis. Batteries and an electric motor will drive the rear wheels. There may also be a range-extender hybrid version. The key to this project is low weight, though BMW has not released a figure for this first ‘i’ car.

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