SEATTLE 2006 HONOR AWARDS

The Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects has just celebrated its 55-year-old awards program by honoring the "the state of the art in architecture produced by the Washington design community." The single Honor Award went to a unique environmental learning center at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School in Kirkland by Mahlum Architects. According to the jury, it "enhances the learning experience of students and visitors through connection to the natural environment — with nature further incorporated into the craft of the structures themselves." Next week we'll look at this and some of the other award recipients. (Photo by Benjamin Benschneider)

PLATINUM HOUSE

A Santa Monica, California, model house has just received the first residential platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. Built with a modular system designed by L.A.'s iconic architect, Ray Kappe, for environmentally thoughtful developer LivingHomes, the house boasts zero emissions. Next week writer Allison Milionis will show us around the house that demonstrates that less is indeed more. (Photo by CJ Berg)