Each year around Earth Day the American Institute of Architects (AIA) celebrate the top ten green projects of the past year. This year's list included two homes — one a net-zero live/work home, the other a small affordable house in a planned community.

Have you heard the news? Tokyo is pretty crowded. And since space is at such a premium, some renters are choosing to live in something called "share houses" in downtown Shibuya. If you are in any way claustrophobic, and don't want to hyperventilate, don't click to see the rest.

I usually stay at the Motel 8 or the Holiday Inn, but on my dream vacation, I'd stay at a gorgeous contemporary villa like this one, situated in a mountain valley outside of Araras, Brazil. 

I guess it's not a coincidence that the two Modernist works of architecture that I chose to study in depth while in graduate school were both built in France and created by designers whose skills and works were undervalued for the first 40-50 years of their careers. 

Name: Architect Cass Cheesar, Carla Umlauf-Cheesar, Sophie 13, Ella, 11, and Maggie (our lab)
Location: Brentwood; Austin, Texas
Size: 2,200 square feet
Years lived in: 8 years; Owned

Architect and builder Cass Cheesar and his wife, Carla Umlauf-Cheesar, a native Austinite and realtor, renovated a 1952 home in the Brentwood neighborhood a few years back. While modern elements were brought in, they also maintained the spirit of the original home, all combined with their impeccable style. The end result is an elegant, playful home with Mid-Century lines, bursting with the personality of a vibrant family. 

Think you know a balustrade from a newel? Or a louver from a flue? What characterizes colonial-style architecture, and how did painted ladies get their name? Just for fun, take this quick quiz to see just how architecturally savvy you are. 

I love living in Chicago, but I can get a tad envious of places where warmer weather allows for year-round indoor/outdoor living spaces. One such space? This stylish family home composed of sleek mini-buildings. 

As a public service, Projectophile is alerting its readers to the dangers posed by key elements of mid-century modern residential design. Read on for their full alert.

If you're an architecture buff like me, you've probably spent plenty of time admiring great buildings, in person and on the pages of glossy magazines. But have you ever thought about living in one? Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece La Miniatura is for sale, and if the price is right, this could be your chance to own a piece of architectural history.