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Home away from home: The history of college dormitories

Nov 29, 2024
"You could teach the entire history of American architectural style just using dormitories," says Carla Yanni of Rutgers University.
Students at the University of Michigan use a large rolling bin to move out of their dorm.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Taller, slicker data centers could be the future

Oct 1, 2024
Data centers are getting taller and slicker as they move closer to urban and suburban areas.
A construction crew works on a CloudHQ data center in Ashburn, Virginia.
Nathan Howard/Getty Images

The history behind the "shotgun" houses of New Orleans

Aug 22, 2024
Despite their association with New Orleans, researchers say the shotgun style originated farther afield.
A traditional clapboard Creole cottage in the Faubourg Marigny historic district of New Orleans.
Tim Graham/Getty Images

Barbie's Dreamhouse paints a picture of America's housing history

Jun 29, 2023
From the bachelorette pad of the 1960s to today's pink mansion, the Dreamhouse's evolution shows the politics and trends of American life.
For more than 60 years, Barbie Dreamhouses have reflected style trends and aspirational homeownership.
Bethany Clarke/Getty Images

Can supertall buildings help us build more sustainable cities?

Apr 11, 2022
The new book by urban designer Stefan Al explores what the history of skyscrapers can show us about the future.
Giuseppe Cacace/AFP via Getty Images

Football teams rethink stadium design to adjust for COVID

Oct 6, 2020
Architecture firms that specialize in stadium design are being asked to make changes to help fans maintain social distancing.
Todd Olszewski/Getty Images

A tourism-driven building boom threatens the architecture that makes Savannah a destination

Jul 4, 2018
Like many old cities, Savannah, Georgia stakes a lot on its history. In fact the National Park Service calls Savannah’s downtown one of the largest urban Historic Landmark Districts in the country — a big draw for tourists and residents alike. But a familiar tension between building the future and preserving the past may be putting […]

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How the financial crisis changed the way we think about home

Jun 29, 2018
Designers, architects and the president of IKEA U.S. weigh in.
Home stager Meridith Baer says after the recession, people looked for clean, simple home design.
Courtesy of Meridith Baer Home

France debates how to pay for saving crumbling cathedrals

Feb 22, 2018
A proposal to charge tourists for entrance to historic churches has been met with resistance from the Conference of French Bishops.
Stonework that has fallen off Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
John Laurenson /for Marketplace

The history of the Las Vegas Strip is the history of how we vacation

May 15, 2017
The evolution of the Strip's architecture reflects how U.S. leisure trends have changed in the last several decades.
Neon signs advertising casinos and clubs on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images