• Photos: The 2025 HeART of ICA Gala

    Photos: The 2025 HeART of ICA Gala,Cole Novak

    Supporters gathered in the Garden at ICA San Diego/North in Encinitas for the HeART of ICA Gala on May 17, 2025. The evening, part of ICA’s “On Healing” exhibition season, invited guests to reflect on the role of art in our physical, mental, emotional, and collective wellbeing. Highlights included a

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  • Defy Ventures Brings Entrepreneurship to San Diego’s Prison Walls

    Defy Ventures Brings Entrepreneurship to San Diego’s Prison Walls,Cole Novak

    In May, 36 men at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility crossed a stage in caps and gowns. They’d just completed Defy Ventures’ Entrepreneur-in-Training program—a seven-month curriculum that blends business fundamentals with intensive personal development. There were Shark Tank–style pitches, volunteer

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  • Building Connected Spaces For SD’s Black LGBTQ Community

    Building Connected Spaces For SD’s Black LGBTQ Community,Cole Novak

    Founded in 2015 as the San Diego Black LGBTQ Coalition, the volunteer-led nonprofit has long served as a vital resource and gathering point for Black LGBTQ+ San Diegans. In 2024, the organization officially rebranded as San Diego Black Pride. The name change was intended to reflect its evolution int

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  • 8 San Diego Nonprofit Events to Attend This July

    8 San Diego Nonprofit Events to Attend This July,Cole Novak

    Ocean Park Inn & PB Town Council Ocean Safety FundraiserThrough July 4Ocean Park Inn and the Pacific Beach Town Council are teaming up to raise $20,000 for rip current warning signs along local beaches. As part of the campaign, Ocean Park Inn will match all donations through July 4. Contributions su

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  • The Best Things to Do in San Diego: July 2025

    The Best Things to Do in San Diego: July 2025,Cole Novak

    San Diego is booming this July, literally. Whether it’s fireworks lighting up the bay on the 4th, the San Diego Pride Parade dancing through Balboa Park, or waterside concerts at the Shell, the city’s summer energy is in full swing. Check out Independence Day festivities, sip wine at USD’s dreamy ca

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  • Jungle Retreat with a Floating Design

    Jungle Retreat with a Floating Design,Stefan Gheorghe

    Canopy House, designed by Studio MK27, is elevated above the forest floor using stilts, allowing minimal disturbance to the lush Atlantic Forest in Guarujá, Brazil. The concrete prism structure blends into the dense vegetation, with a rooftop pool and open-air living space offering immersive views o

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  • Minimalist Living Elevated: The White Line House by Nravil Architects

    Minimalist Living Elevated: The White Line House by Nravil Architects,Stefan Gheorghe

    Set against the stunning natural backdrop of Almaty, Kazakhstan, the White Line House by Nravil Architects is a striking expression of modern minimalism. Raised gently on stilts to preserve the existing terrain, this 300-square-meter residence embraces simplicity without sacrificing character.From e

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  • Compact Black Pavilion Unites Privacy and Proximity for Multigenerational Living

    Compact Black Pavilion Unites Privacy and Proximity for Multigenerational Living,Stefan Gheorghe

    i29 architects designed a compact 100 m² single-story residence on the same plot as an existing main home in Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. Meant for senior family members, the new house is both physically close to the main residence and strategically positioned to ensure privacy. The structure is cove

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  • Arched Retreat by the Sea in Crete

    Arched Retreat by the Sea in Crete,Stefan Gheorghe

    This coastal villa by Entopos Architects is a serene holiday home that blends curved forms, natural textures, and sea views. Located near Frangokastello in Crete, the design uses soft arches, sandy plaster walls, and olive trees to echo the Mediterranean landscape.The indoor-outdoor layout flows eff

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  • Greece Dream Home Carved into the Hillside

    Greece Dream Home Carved into the Hillside,Stefan Gheorghe

    The Slot House by Katerina Valsamaki Architects is more than a residence—it’s a vision of quiet architecture that merges with the landscape. Positioned on a steep slope in Tinos, Greece, the house captures the vast Aegean panorama while sinking into the earth for shelter and privacy.Crafted from rou

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  • Rainforest Residence Blends Concrete with Nature

    Rainforest Residence Blends Concrete with Nature,Stefan Gheorghe

    Nestled in the lush enclave of Tanarimba, Janda Baik, Malaysia, the Rainforest Residence by Choo Gim Wah Architect redefines tropical living through concrete minimalism and deep engagement with nature. Designed for an artist family, the linear structure integrates with the forested slope, using the

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  • Cliffside Retreat Integrates Architecture With Raw Mexican Landscape

    Cliffside Retreat Integrates Architecture With Raw Mexican Landscape,Stefan Gheorghe

    Perched on a rocky outcrop in Valle de Bravo, Mexico, the Las Rocas project by architect Ignacio Urquiza and interior designer Ana Paula de Alba is a striking example of nature-led design.The small complex of four houses was laid out to preserve existing vegetation and rock formations, with each vol

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  • 15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 26–29

    15 Things to Do in San Diego This Weekend: June 26–29,Cole Novak

    No judgement if you’ve spent the last few weeks locked into Love Island every night. But if you and your couch have had a little too much quality time lately, consider spending the weekend out and about among the community. Buy a drink from one of several local independent brewers taking part in San

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  • Modern Glass Extension Transforms Classic English Cottage

    Modern Glass Extension Transforms Classic English Cottage,Stefan Gheorghe

    A traditional English cottage in Hampshire received a sleek, modern update with the addition of a 70-square-meter cantilevered glass extension designed by Stephen Marshall Architects. The classic facade belies the modern extension in the back.From the front, the ivy-covered facade maintains its clas

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  • Bali Home with Central Void and Slide by Alexis Dornier

    Bali Home with Central Void and Slide by Alexis Dornier,Stefan Gheorghe

    AKASHI Residence in Pererenan, Bali, is a three-story concrete and timber home designed by Alexis Dornier. A central open void organizes the plan, brings in natural light and airflow, and contains a stainless steel slide connecting the upper floor to the pool level.The house uses exposed concrete sl

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  • Ibiúna House: A Sculptural Take on Modular Living in Brazil

    Ibiúna House: A Sculptural Take on Modular Living in Brazil,Stefan Gheorghe

    Ibiúna House by Brazilian architect Rodrigo Ohtake is a 180-square-meter modular residence designed as a weekend retreat outside São Paulo. Built on a 20,000-square-meter forested site, the home is composed of a series of prefabricated rectangular units manufactured by Syshaus. Strategic voids betwe

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  • Contemporary Dutch Villa Merges Sustainability with Waterfront Views

    Contemporary Dutch Villa Merges Sustainability with Waterfront Views,Stefan Gheorghe

    A modern, sustainable villa by Marc Architects sits on a small island outside Amsterdam. Designed as both a full-time residence and retreat, the 300-square-meter home includes a 35-square-meter terrace and features a compact, open layout that maximizes natural light and outdoor views. The house is o

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  • Gambrel Barn House Designed for Flexible Living and Work

    Gambrel Barn House Designed for Flexible Living and Work,Stefan Gheorghe

    A 10,000-square-foot custom barn in Manson, Washington, serves as both a functional agricultural building and a residential retreat. Designed by SkB Architects based on the client’s initial sketches, the structure includes ground-level storage for orchard equipment, a commercial kitchen, and a below

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  • Alternatives to Concrete for Sustainable and Modern Homes

    Alternatives to Concrete for Sustainable and Modern Homes,Stefan Gheorghe

    Concrete is widely used in construction, but several alternative materials offer comparable strength, better sustainability, or unique design benefits. Below are practical substitutes, each used in real-world projects that showcase their architectural potential.Rammed EarthRammed earth walls are den

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  • Clean Lines and River Views: A Modern Canadian Home by Saucier + Perrotte

    Clean Lines and River Views: A Modern Canadian Home by Saucier + Perrotte,Stefan Gheorghe

    Located in Terrebonne, Québec, this 724 m² residence by Saucier + Perrotte Architectes is designed to maximize river views while maintaining privacy from neighbors. The home features a horizontal concrete base with a cantilevered black zinc volume above, creating a clean, geometric silhouette.A floo

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