A CHAMELEON IN THE PARK

In a park near Istanbul is a semi-underground building dubbed "Chameleon." Its form was determined partly by the surrounding trees, none of which were permitted to be harmed by the construction. The award-winning project is the creation of Global Architectural Development, a firm that was founded in Turkey and has since moved to New York. Next week we'll see how their chameleon changes with its landscape.

CONVENTION CENTER OF A DIFFERENT GREEN

Pittsburgh's new Lawrence Convention Center, designed by architect Rafael Vinoly, will be the first convention center to be certified as "green" by the U.S. Green Building Conference. Its energy-saving strategies, the work of engineers and architects at Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann, include a degree of reliance on daylight , natural ventilation, and water recycling that is extraordinary for a large convention center. Next week we'll find out what the fabric ducts are all about.