THE CHAMBERS OF VILLA NAUTILUS

Villa Nautilus spills down a hillside overlooking the Bay of Acapulco, the house’s spatial bounty following the irregular topography of this Mexican city. Villa Nautilus, designed by Migdal Arquitectos, displays a playful sense of the site, which slopes steeply toward the bay to the northwest. Next week, ArchitectureWeek contributing editor Michael J. Crosbie will show us how the house is firmly married to its site.

LIBRARY SECURITY

As security grows as a concern in the 21st century, architects have begun incorporating ideas about personal and property safety into nearly everything they design. In libraries, as in other building types, it's important to do so without interfering with normal functioning of the spaces. After-hours motion detectors, for instance, should be positioned near doors and windows, but located where they won't be obstructed by massive bookshelves. Next week we'll look at other strategies for making libraries safe without making them fortresses.