A Private Villa is a Mix of Modern and Traditional Thai Design: The Samsara House 5.

Samsara was the first development by Original Vision architects on Phuket with House 5 being one of the first to be completed. The Samsara House 5 displays a distinctly contemporary architecture with influences of the traditional southern Thai vernacular.






The entrance is a processional experience that dramatically uses the view to shape the transition from the road through unfolding external and internal spaces and levels down to the private entertainment and living level.









Interconnecting cathedral roofs float above living and dining spaces that open fully onto terraces and the main pool deck creating a combination of interlinked volumes that blurs the line between inner and outer space resulting in a fantastic resort home that takes full advantage of the slope and the stunning Andaman Sea view.







Bedrooms and Baths:





The home fuses the outdoors and the indoors, providing lots of outdoor seating and the home also has an outdoor shower:








About Original Vision Ltd:
Over the past 20 years, Original Vision has been pioneering new concepts in leisure architecture and design in South East Asia. Based in Hong Kong and Thailand and with projects throughout the region, they are dedicated to innovation, creativity and quality in design and in their finished projects.

The manipulation of space, light, texture and color is the core of their philosophy. They bring these elements together to harmonise with function and desire. Their goal is to create places that are wonderful; spaces that are breathtaking and inspirational and above all, environments where people just love to be.

Original Vision Architects

The Work of Jedediah Morfit Is Flat, Fabulous and Fanfriggingtastic.

Artist Jedediah (Jed) Morfit is a professor of sculpture at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Meet The 10 Most Heroic and Inspirational Women of 2013.

This year Microsoft / Bing showcased Sara Bareilles' song "Brave" in their Windows marketing campaign which inspired them to take a different approach to the "Year in Review." They sought out women who spoke out, stood up, led, persevered and fought their way through adversity and challenge to come through the other side triumphant and created this one minute video and a special website to honor them.



So, who are these women?:

1. Malala Yousafzai


Malala Yousafzai stood up to educate us all. After surviving an assassination attempt, she arose stronger than ever. In 2013 she addressed the UN, was named one of Time's "100 Most Influential People" and, at 16, became the youngest woman to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.


2. Margaret Thatcher


Margaret Thatcher blazed a trail. Still the only woman prime minister of Great Britain, Thatcher paved the way for women to lead in the highest offices in the world. Known as the "Iron Lady" due to her uncompromising politics and leadership style, she passed away in 2013.


3. Adrianne Haslet-Davis


Adrianne Haslet-Davis vowed to dance again. Despite losing her lower leg in the Boston Marathon bombing, this dance teacher shows amazing courage. She has committed to not only dance again, but to also run in the 2014 Boston marathon on a prosthetic leg.


4. Gabrielle Giffords


Gabrielle Giffords got back up to fight for others. Surviving a gunshot wound to the head, U.S. Representative Giffords returned in 2013 to make an inspirational statement to Congress in the Sandy Hook hearings, and has gone on to use her experience and position as ex-member of the House to fight for improved gun safety regulations.


5. Diana Nyad


Diana Nyad persevered. After four attempts, at age 64, Diana Nyad embodied tenacity by becoming the first person to swim from Havana to Key West unassisted and without a shark cage.


6. Janet Yellen


Janet Yellen shattered the glass ceiling. On October 9th, 2013 President Barack Obama nominated Janet Yellen to be the first woman to be Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.


7. Antoinette Tuff


Antoinette Tuff said "I love you" to save a school. Rising above panic, Tuff talked down a gunman who had entered Ronald E. McNair Discovery Academy with words of compassion, convincing him to peacefully surrender.


8. Angela Merkel


Angela Merkel had the strength to lead again. Angela Merkel is the first woman to hold the offices of Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union. In 2013 she led her party to a historic third-term victory in German elections.


9. Edith Windsor


Edith Windsor won a victory for equality. One of Time's "People of the Year," her Supreme Court victory in United States v. Windsor was hailed as a landmark milestone for marriage equality.


10. Deb Cohan


Deb Cohan danced to inspire us all. Facing a double mastectomy, she denied despair, holding a dance party just prior to the operation with the surgical team. The video of the party went viral, giving hope and courage to those fighting cancer.


And of course, lest we forget, all the women who fought to protect this country, its principles and its people:


This courageous group of women have changed the world and shown us all what the human spirit can achieve. Let that inspire you for 2014.

info, images and video courtesy of Bing

The Ufogel Is A Cool and Cozy Rentable Refuge in Austria.

Designed by architect Peter Jungmann, The Ufogel (a combination of the words 'UFO' and 'Vogel' which means bird in German), is an extraordinary and comfortably appointed house made almost entirely of larch wood available for rent all year round in the East Tyrolian village Nussdorf - the southwestern part of Austria known as Tyrol (or Tirol).

Food Art So Impressive, You'll Feel Full. The Art Toast Project by Ida Skivenes (IdaFrosk).

above: Frida Kahlo's famous self-portrait created with food on toast

Oslo, Norway based Instagram food artist and enthusiast Ida Skivenes (aka IdaFrosk) uses a dinner plate as a canvas to create original and reproductions of classic art with food. Her Art Toast Project features the classic works of masters from Magritte to Munch recreated on, you guessed it, toast.