Parramatta City Council is officially on the hunt for the boldest, most innovative and creative thinkers to present their vision for an iconic site along the scenic Parramatta River foreshore as part of an international ideas competition, ‘Ideas on Edge’. Prize money of $50,000 is on offer for a commercially viable idea for the site located at a prime position on the edge of Parramatta River, with the competition open to people of all ages and backgrounds from around the world.

Boston based research and design firm, PRAUD, shared with us the West End Museum which is a community-based museum in Boston dedicated to documenting the history of the West End of Boston. The museum especially captures the immigrant era which dates approximately from 1880 to the West Ends destruction by eminent domain in 1958. More images and architects’ description after the break.

“Environmental issues such as sustainability, the protection of resources or reducing emissions have long been the focus of politics, industry and the economy. High time, then, to examine their role in the world of architecture more closely.

The recycling, and with it the re-introduction of materials into the cycle of matter takes place in different forms in the construction industry. The projects presented in the magazine range from the recycling of entire building components (e.g. from concrete), to the use of waste products (e.g. wood) and demolition waste (e.g. stone) or even the completely invisible use of recycling materials like façade panels made from old glass.

In the »Discussion« section, chemist M. Braungart describes the principle of »cradle to cradle«, which questions ecological efficiency and calls instead for intelligent design. He believes that products must be designed so that instead of becoming waste at the end of their lifetime, they can be used to create new things. He shows how this can be done in architecture with several already completed examples.”

Further information, photos, plus the full table of contents after the break.

The AIAS 2011 West Quad Conference ‘Architecture in the Networked City’ raises the question of how a new generation of architects, planners, and designers can explore networked possibilities for the urban environment. Hosted by the New School of Design April 14th-17th, the conference’s three key note speakers include, Chris Genik Dean of NSAD and principle and co-founder of Daly Genik, Miles Kemp founder and president of Variate Labs, and Geoff Manaugh author of BLDGBLOG.

Olson Kundig Architects shared with us that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has honored two of the firm’s projects with 2011 National AIA Housing Awards. Located in Seattle, Washington, Art Stable and 1111 E. Pike, which have both been featured on ArchDaily, have received awards in the Multifamily Living category, and are among the eighteen projects recognized nationwide.

The AIA’s Housing Awards Program was established to recognize the best in housing design and promote the importance of good housing as a necessity of life, a sanctuary for the human spirit and a valuable national resource. More images and architect’s description after the break.

Architecture for Humanity’s Japan reconstruction efforts are being assisted by youth in 15 different countries. In the wake of the Sendai Earthquake and Tsunami Students Rebuild and Do Something.org have organized worldwide participation of young people to support their Japanese peers by making paper cranes.

Spanish architects Lluis Sabadell Artiga + Ecosistema Urbano shared with us their project ONETHOUSANDSQUARE, winner of the Stortorget Main Square Competition in Hamar, Norway. More images and architect’s description after the break.

STAV Architects shared with is their competition entry for The Umm el-Fahem Museum of Contemporary Art which was awarded third place. Planted in its surroundings, the building grows from the side of the mountain, looking towards the Wadi on its border. It refrains from overtaking the Wadi, posed on one of its banks and watches it to the opposite pine planted bank, watching the city from afar to spread into the urban topography of Wadi Ara, Israel. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was the last major project designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright between 1943 until it opened to the public in 1959, six months after his death, making it one of his longest works in creation along with one of his most popular projects. Completely contrasting the strict Manhattan city grid, the organic curves of the museum are a familiar landmark for both art lovers, visitors, and pedestrians alike.

We at ArchDaily have featured many of the proposals for the cultural and spiritual Russian Orthodox center in Paris competition and today have the privilege of sharing with our readers the winning entry from Arch Group. Additional images from the Russian firm’s winning proposal in addition to a lengthy narrative after the jump.

Award-winning designer Karim Rashid will join PennDesign on Monday, March 28th as part of the Integrated Product Design Lecture Series. Labeled as one of the most prolific designers of his generation, Karim Rashid is known for designing the ubiquitous Garbo waste can and Oh Chair for Umbra, interiors such as the Morimoto restaurant, Philadelphia and Semiramis hotel, Athens and exhibitions for Deutsche Bank and Audi.

A second stage of development for the South Kilburn Masterplan is underway as plans submitted by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Alison Brooks Architects (ABA) were approved last week. The developments span a 2.09 hectare site in the London suburb of South Kilburn, replacing three existing isolated estates with 144 new dwellings.

More on the masterplan after the break.

Adrian Lo of ALo Design has shared with us his winning entry for the Hong Kong Eastern Harborfront Street Furniture Design Competition. Images of the project as well as a brief summary of both Adrian’s project and the competition itself can be seen after the break.

Inspired by contemporary architecture the SmartPlayhouse is architect David Lamolla Kristiansen’s answer to providing a modern, comfortable and safe play space for his daughter. The four playhouse versions, Kyoto, Casaforum, Hobikken, Illinois, are unique spaces that encourage creativity.

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Architects: Erik Giudice Architects Location: Stockholm, Sweden Art: Charlotte von Poehl Landscape: Urbalab Biodiversity: Naturföretaget Project area: 415,000 sqm Images: Erik Giudice Architects

The Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami (MOCA) recently announced that Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects will be designing a 27,000 sqf expansion tripling the current museum exhibition space. Unanimously voted by the Council, MOCA’s new gallery space will expand by 16,000 sqf providing the opportunity for multiple exhibitions continuously throughout the year. The project pursue a sustainable design of LEED certifications, and fitting within the city of North Miami’s master plan.

For our sixth selection of previously featured refurbishment projects we have five posts from June 2009! Check them all after the break.

Pullpo Advertising Agency / Hania Stambuk Starting the project from the abandoned facilities of a salt factory in the western sector of Santiago Chile, the commission is considered as a counterpoint of industrial aesthetics of the precarious versus a clear and contemporary proposal that complies with the various demands of an advertising agency (read more…)

The European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation recently announced the six finalists competing for the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – the Mies van der Rohe Award. They have been shortlisted from 343 works in 33 European countries. The award ceremony will take place on June 20 at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, Spain.

See the complete list with photos from the finalists after the break.

March 30th will mark the grand opening for the Hinman Research Building, Georgia Tech’s College of Architecture (COA) $9.5 million restoration, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic building.

The Laboratory for Visionary Architecture [LAVA] has shared with us their proposal for the Home of the Future. Additional images and a project description are available after the break.

We’ve told you before about “Metropol Parasol”, the Redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnación in Sevilla, designed by J. MAYER H. Architects. March 27 marks the opening, while the final completion of the project is scheduled for April 2011. More images and complete press release after the break.

Department of Unusual Certainties [DoUC] recently completed a submission to the Network Reset, Rethinking the Chicago Emerald Necklace, competition hosted by Mas Studio and the Chicago Architectural Club. Participants were asked to look at the urban scale and propose a framework for the entire boulevard system as well as provide answers and visualize the interventions at a smaller scale that can directly impact its potential users. Through images, diagrams and drawings the work should express what are the soft or hard, big or small, temporary or permanent interventions that can reactivate and reset the Boulevard System of Chicago. DoUC’s proposal focused on filling Chicago’s Emerald Necklace with a framework of posts, beams, ropes and counterweights - to produce a pick-and-choose- method of program management. Images of their entry and a description can be seen after the jump.

Back in 2009 we published the Ílhavo City Library by ARX. Located in the remains of the Manor Visconde de Almeida, it’s a noble house from the 17th-18th century, that was later transformed and demolished.

Garrison Architects are completing designs for Red Hook Green, New York’s first sustainable zero-energy, live/work building. A completion date projected is summer 2011. This unique structure is expected to become one of the most distinctive architectural additions to up-and-coming Red Hook section of Brooklyn.

Architect: Garrison Architects Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA Project Area: 4,000 sqf Renderings: Courtesy of Garrison Architects