Columbus, Indiana is an architectural destination that continues to reinvent itself. A major infusion of modernist structures in the mid-20th Century established a precedent for place building that continues today.

Most people who know and love Columbus, Indiana have moved beyond its story of unlikeliness. Still, a great deal of what’s written about Columbus plays up the improbability angle: how does a city like this, with more than 70 modernist masterpieces designed by internationally-acclaimed architects and artists, spring out of soybean fields? Unlike the obvious architectural hubs in the United States, such as Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., Columbus has a ‘have-to-see-it-to-believe-it’ quality. But it has earned its stripes: the American Institute of Architects rated it sixth in the U.S. for architectural innovation and design— next in line after the aforementioned cities.

Understand product basics: what a primer is, what functions it serves, and how the marketing hype underserves the consumer.

The latest trend in the paint industry is "paint and primer in one," and it has proven to be quite the controversy. Technically, the only newness about it is the hyper-marketing aspect. The phrase "self-priming" has been a line item on some paint labels for decades. Indeed, some products are formulated for application directly over bare substrates, such as floor enamels and some concrete products. Given the variety of products available in the wider market of general, non-specific paint finishes, it is impossible to say which ones employ precisely which technologies. However, it is possible to understand product basics: what a primer is, what functions it serves, and how the marketing hype underserves the consumer.

In the past year, we’ve seen many wrenching images of post-tsunami Japan. What has happened since March, and how much hope is there for the affected area’s recovery?

Media coverage was intense following Japan’s Tohoko earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Despite the scale of this disaster, coverage inevitably shifted to other news stories. The people of eastern Japan still have a long road ahead in the rebuilding and recovery process. How are they faring, nine months later?

In May of 2011, a domestic modernist masterpiece opened its doors to the public at last, after spending 50 quiet years situated amid the architectural treasures of Columbus, Indiana.

J. Irwin Miller and Xenia Simmons Miller were like a lot of their contemporaries: raising children in a home they cherished on a quiet street in a friendly Midwestern town. Their children chased each other, roller-skated on the patio, had slumber parties with their friends, and scattered their toys on the floor. The only difference is that this family was living in one of the most spectacular modernist houses in the country, designed by Eero Saarinen, one of the most important modernist architects of the day. The home’s interiors were brought to life by designer Alexander Girard, and the landscape was designed by Dan Kiley.

What makes for success as an interior contractor and what are the basics of staying in business? An experienced contractor takes a look at some of the misconceptions that plague the industry and brings the focus back to fundamentals that can help you understand the full value of your skill set.

Being in business in this economy means understanding the fundamentals of our industry and where it's going. As a small business owner I've seen my fair share of ups and downs. Usually most of the misunderstandings and problems can be solved by a little inquiry and a lot of listening.

Toyo Ito & Associates and b720 Fermin Vazquez Arquitectos collaborated to create "the best skyscraper in the world." The Hotel Santos Porta Fira in Barcelona earned the prestigious designation when it won the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2010.

Sometimes it is what’s on the outside that counts, and that’s just the case with the Hotel Santos Porta Fira. The Barcelona, Spain, skyline received a burst of fiery red coloring with the addition of the towering skyscraper. The 369.78' spiraling masterpiece features 26 floors, 320 rooms, and luxury amenities and services, such as an on-site health club and massage center. The hotel also offers nine large, state-of-the-art meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology and a plenary room. The hotel has a meeting capacity of 1,357 and the largest meeting room can accommodate 740 occupants.

Ever considered the amount of house you choose to occupy? Join Jeff Wilson, the host of Everyday DIY on the At Home channel, in thinking small to see what it can do for you and what great possibilities exist for living in tiny spaces.

Back in my “salad days,” I spent a little time working in a ski town out west, and I do mean working – I had three jobs at any one time and had job titles as diverse as Record Store Clerk, Taxi Driver, Pizza Delivery Guy, and Graveyard Shift Convenience Store Clerk. That last job was the only one I ever had where I had to routinely carry a baseball bat (and I don’t mean that in a good way).

Pythagoras Solar undertakes a pilot project to install solar windows on the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) in Chicago. The project should provide data on the potential use of glass facades to collect solar energy.

Pythagoras Solar is conducting an experiment on one of the most iconic structures in the world – the Sears Tower, now Willis Tower. Established in 2007, Pythagoras specializes in solar panels for windows, focusing particularly on skyscrapers and other tall buildings. Skyscrapers have little rooftop area to accommodate solar collectors but use an extensive amount of glass use in their facades. These expanses of glass result in astronomical heating and cooling costs. Skyscrapers also contribute to a localized retention of heat known as urban heat island (UHI) effect, and large cities such as Chicago are looking for ways to mitigate that heat retention.

Find out, step by step, how to upcycle an old door into a unique bathroom storage unit. To see Rachael in action, watch {Re}habitat, her upcycling and repurposing video series.

Most bathrooms could benefit from added storage and a splash of color. An old wooden door, some knobs and racks, and a fresh coat of paint will help you to keep your bathroom organized and give it some character. This storage unit is perfect for bathrooms and other small spaces, but it can add functional, funky vertical storage to any room of your house. Join Rachael as she demonstrates how to turn a salvaged wooden door into upcycled bathroom storage.

From green building to Building Information Modeling (BIM), new technologies are changing the construction game and changing it fast. What legal and contractual protections can be put in place as the workplace adopts these technologies?

There’s no question that, in the design and construction industries, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is what’s termed a “disruptive technology.” Since the 1980s, when PCs finally became affordable enough for architectural practices to begin to bring them to bear on design, computing power has become ubiquitous and increasingly influential on budgeting, programming, design, and construction.

A rooftop observation deck spans three hotel towers and creates a dramatic element in the Singapore skyline.

The SkyPark is an architectural masterpiece that rests atop the three 55-story hotel towers of the Marina Bay Sands mixed-use resort in Singapore. Recognized as one of the world’s largest public cantilevers, the SkyPark defies gravity as it extends 213' beyond the towers and boasts incredible panoramic views of the Singapore skyline, the South China Sea, and Marina Bay.

Creating a multifunctional side table to augment your living room furniture is easier and more affordable than you think. Join {Re}habitat host Rachael Ranney as she turns a vintage suitcase into a useful and chic addition to her living space.

Vintage suitcases are one of my favorite ways to keep clutter hidden and my home organized. Buried deep in the dark corners of my closet and all around my office you will find piles of them. I use old funky suitcases to hide my crafting supplies and photos and to store my out-of-season clothes.