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The US Department of Defense has invested $2.4 million over two years in deepfake detection technology from a startup called Hive AI. Its the first contract of its kind for the DODs Defense Innovation Unit, which accelerates the adoption of new technologies for the US defense sector. Hive AIs models are capable of detecting AI-generated video, image, and audio content. Although deepfakes have been around for the better part of a decade, generative AI has made them easier to create and more realistic-looking than ever before, which makes them ripe for abuse in disinformation campaigns or fraud. Defending against these sorts of threats is now crucial for national security, says Captain Anthony Bustamante, a project manager and cyberwarfare operator for the Defense Innovation Unit. "This work represents a significant step forward in strengthening our information advantage as we combat sophisticated disinformation campaigns and synthetic-media threats, says Bustamante. Hive was chosen out of a pool of 36 companies to test its deepfake detection and attribution technology with the DOD. The contract could enable the department to detect and counter AI deception at scale. Defending against deepfakes is existential, says Kevin Guo, Hive AIs CEO. This is the evolution of cyberwarfare. Hives technology has been trained on a large amount of content, some AI-generated and some not. It picks up on signals and patterns in AI-generated content that are invisible to the human eye but can be detected by an AI model. Turns out that every image generated by one of these generators has that sort of pattern in there if you know where to look for it, says Guo. The Hive team constantly keeps track of new models and updates its technology accordingly. The tools and methodologies developed through this initiative have the potential to be adapted for broader use, not only addressing defense-specific challenges but also safeguarding civilian institutions against disinformation, fraud, and deception, the DOD said in a statement. Hives technology provides state-of-the-art performance in detecting AI-generated content, says Siwei Lyu, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University at Buffalo. He was not involved in Hives work but has tested its detection tools. Ben Zhao, a professor at the University of Chicago, who has also independently evaluated Hive AIs deepfake technology, agrees but points out that it is far from foolproof. Hive is certainly better than most of the commercial entities and some of the research techniques that we tried, but we also showed that it is not at all hard to circumvent, Zhao says. The team found that adversaries could tamper with images in a way that bypassed Hives detection. And given the rapid development of generative AI technologies, it is not yet certain how it will fare in real-world scenarios that the defense sector might face, Lyu adds. Guo says Hive is making its models available to the DOD so that the department can use the tools offline and on their own devices. This keeps sensitive information from leaking. But when it comes to protecting national security against sophisticated state actors, off-the-shelf products are not enough, says Zhao: Theres very little that they can do to make themselves completely robust to unforeseen nation-state-level attacks.

This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. OpenAIs new defense contract completes its military pivot At the start of 2024, OpenAIs rules for how armed forces might use its AI models were unambiguous: it prohibited anyone from using them for weapons development or military and warfare. It has slowly softened those restrictions over the course of this year, and now, OpenAI has announced that its technology will be deployed directly on the battlefield. The company is partnering with the defense-tech company Anduril, a maker of AI-powered drones, radar systems, and missiles, to help US and allied forces defend against drone attacks. Read our story to understand how, and why, this pivot unfolded.James ODonnell Would you eat dried microbes? This company hopes so. Whats new: A company best known for sucking up industrial waste gases is turning its attention to food. LanzaTech, a rising star in the fuel and chemical industries, is joining a growing group of businesses producing microbe-based food as an alternative to plant and animal products. Why it matters: The global food system is responsible for roughly 25% to 35% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions today, and much of that comes from animal agriculture. Alternative food sources could help feed the world while cutting climate pollution. Read the full story. Casey Crownhart To read more about the potential positive effects of alternative meat on the climate, check out the latest edition of The Spark, our weekly climate and energy newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday. Google DeepMinds new AI model is the best yet at weather forecasting Google DeepMind has unveiled an AI model thats better at predicting the weather than the current best systems. The new model, dubbed GenCast, is the second AI weather model that Google has launched in just the past few months. In July, it published details of NeuralGCM, a model that combined AI with physics-based methods like those used in existing forecasting tools. That model performed similarly to conventional methods but used less computing power.GenCast is different, as it relies on AI methods alone. It works sort of like ChatGPT, but instead of predicting the next most likely word in a sentence, it produces the next most likely weather condition. But while its results are impressive, that doesn't mean the end of conventional meteorology as a field. Read the full story. Scott J Mulligan The must-reads Ive combed the internet to find you todays most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology. 1 Donald Trump has appointed a billionaire astronaut to head up NASA Jarad Isaacman has been into space twice, and was the first private citizen to carry out a spacewalk. (CBS News)+ Unsurprisingly, hes also a close associate of Elon Musk. (Fast Company $)+ Will the appointment make Musk more amenable to NASA? (Economist $)2 The price of a single bitcoin has passed $100,000 Its a remarkable milestone for the famously volatile cryptocurrency. (NYT $)+ The industrys faithful hope Donald Trump will pass crypto-friendly laws. (The Guardian)+ Congrats, investors. What comes next, though? (FT $)3 Humane isnt giving up on its AI pin Despite few sales, it wants to embed the device in your phone and car. (The Verge)+ The pin made a special appearance in our inaugural AI Hype Index. (MIT Technology Review)4 Amazon deliveries are slower to arrive in low-income zip codes Despite the DC residents paying for the same Prime program as their richer neighbors. (WP $)+ A lawsuit claims Amazon covered up the real reason for the delays. (Ars Technica)5 Law enforcement has busted two major crypto laundering networksCriminals swapped huge sums of cash for crypto across crime networks. (Wired $) + Over in Dubai, crypto scams are running rampant. (Bloomberg $)6 Where it all went wrong for the worlds biggest offshore wind companyrsted was riding high on the clean energy waveuntil it wasnt. (FT $) + The UK is failing spectacularly to harness wind power properly. (Bloomberg $)+ Whats next for offshore wind. (MIT Technology Review)7 OnlyFans has quietly launched in ChinaAlthough pornography remains illegal in the country. (CNN) + Chinese gamers are using a Steam wallpaper app to get porn past the censors. (MIT Technology Review) 8 Were getting close to solving a major mystery of the universeIts biggest galaxies may have been formed by cosmic collisions. (The Guardian) + The galaxy which used to look like a sombrerodoesnt any more. (CNN)9 This winged drone can hop and jump Making it look a whole lot like a robotic bird. (IEEE Spectrum)+ Whats next for drones. (MIT Technology Review)10 Why X had a meltdown over a womans PhD thesis Go outside and touch some grass, all of you. (Vox)Quote of the day We never doubted. We never wavered. And we will never stop building. Kris Marszalek, chief executive of exchange Crypto.com, celebrates bitcoins colossal surge to a $100,000 valuation for a single coin in a post on X. The big story What the future holds for those born today Happy birthday, baby.August 2024 You have been born into an era of intelligent machines. They have watched over you almost since your conception. They let your parents listen in on your tiny heartbeat, track your gestation on an app, and post your sonogram on social media. Well before you were born, you were known to the algorithm.Your arrival coincided with the 125th anniversary of this magazine. With a bit of luck and the right genes, you might see the next 125 years. How will you and the next generation of machines grow up together? We asked more than a dozen experts to imagine your future. Read what they prophesied.Kara Platoni We can still have nice things A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line or tweet 'em at me.) + If you want the best pizza the world has to offer, you should head to Jersey City (apparently)+ Thinking of gifting something thats been previously owned this Christmas? Make sure you conduct these essential checks.+ What science can tell us about how to combat bullying.+ Uhohhoney fraud is on the rise!

The Wellington City Councils Krau Tpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee voted yesterday to replace the quake-prone Capital E building and the City to Sea Bridge, which connects the capitals waterfront and Civic Square. The bridge will be replaced with a pedestrian crossing to cross the six-lane Jervois Quay, and a new bridge will be considered for funding by the Council in a future Long-TermPlan.An amendment from Councillor Iona Pannett to delay the decision to give staff time to gather more information and develop a cost effective solution to strengthen the bridge was defeated by 10 votes toeight.The debate reportedly did not consider advice received from engineers Dunning Thornton, noting that the bridge is not subject to the earthquake prone provisions in the Building Act, hence there is no legal requirement to seismically strengthen it. Dunning Thornton also said the safety risk for people on the bridge could be considered lower than in abuilding.The Council said the former Capital E building has a seismic rating of 20% NBS and the bridge is also at risk in a major earthquake and presents a safety and access risk to Jervois Quay a major arterial road if it was to collapse or be compromised in anearthquake.The Council says the cost to fully strengthen the bridge and Capital E was at least $85 million and partial strengthening was at least $53.3 million. These options were deemed unaffordable by elected members given the financial constraints the city isunder.Krau Tpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee Chair Tim Brown said that todays decision was the correct one: The decision ensures public safety and is financially responsible. It was based on comprehensive expert work presented to Council by seven engineeringcompanies.Council Chief Operating Officer James Roberts said that yesterdays decision means the long-awaited return of Te Ngkau Civic Square wont be delayed: We understand the range of views in the community about the bridge, but making progress on this key part of Te Ngkau takes us closer to our ultimate goal of returning the heart of the city to the people ofWellington.The Council says it is working with the families and representatives of the artists to explore options around finding a new home for the bridgeartwork.The planning phase of the bridge demolition and construction of the new pedestrian crossing will beginsoon.

Click to enlargeJosh Sanoria of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellingtons Te Kura Waihanga Wellington School of Architecture with his Queeriosities of Space. Image: David St George1 of 9Sanorias Queeriosities of Space: The Pink Swan. Image: Josh Sanoria 2 of 9Sanorias Queeriosities of Space: The Pink Swan. Image: Josh Sanoria 3 of 92024 Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Award, highly commended: Nofoaga Natia (A Hidden Place) Plantation Perspective by Ethan Hansell-Hunt. Image: Ethan Hansell-Hunt 4 of 9Nofoaga Natia (A Hidden Place) Plantation Perspective by Ethan Hansell-Hunt. Image: Ethan Hansell-Hunt 5 of 92024 Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Award, highly commended: Artistic Activism! Drodel Process by Tom Arbuckle. Image: Tom Arbuckle 6 of 9Artistic Activism! Drodel Process by Tom Arbuckle. Image: Tom Arbuckle 7 of 92024 Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Award, highly commended: Algorithmic Abodes Beacon North Elevation by Lucy Lee. Image: Lucy Lee 8 of 9Algorithmic Abodes Beacon North Elevation by Lucy Lee. Image: Lucy Lee 9 of 9The winner of this years 2024 Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Award demonstrates how architecture can break down barriers to inclusivity, encouraging diversity in the face of adversity.Josh Sanoria of Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellingtons Te Kura Waihanga Wellington School of Architecture was the winner of the 2024 Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Resene Student Design Awards with his work Queeriosities ofSpace.The judges were impressed with how the final year MArch students visually exuberant and powerful project demonstrated the ways in which architecture can break down barriers toinclusivity.Colour is beautifully and consistently expressed throughout this project, which invites escapism and exploration in a world that is rarely represented in architecture. The metaphor of the closet is explored as both a place of repression and safety, pushing the boundaries of this space. A postmodern architectural aesthetic is applied to two buildings, one in the Philippines and one in Aotearoa. Each features arches, like rainbows, embracing the visitor as they are welcomed into a safe and respectful environment where they can explore theirsexuality.The judges added that the reuse proposition has a kaupapa of safety and acceptance, encouraging diversity in the face ofadversity.Three students were highly commended: Tom Arbuckle from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington for his Artistic Activism!; Ethan Hansell-Hunt from Te Whare Wnanga o Wairaka Unitec Institute of Technology for Nofoaga Natia (A Hidden Place) and Lucy Lee from Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington for AlgorithmicAbodes.Of Arbuckles work, the judges said: Through provocative shapes and forms in a carnival of colours, Artistic Activism! puts art in your face, agitating for it as essential to public wellbeing. Three speculative designs culminate in a remarkable response to a tough site, resolving barriers to accessing the arts by bringing it to thepeople.The judges saidHansell-Huntpushes traditional building technologies to achieve a contemporary take on the fale, creating a respectful outcome for community and guests. People from near are invited to engage in community and commerce, people from afar are invited to connect with culture andcustoms.Of Lees work, the judges said: Partnering with industry shows initiative in fostering solutions toresponsibly resolving housing security against a backdrop of economic and climate challenges. Carbon is addressed at the outset, with the designer embracing technology and nature in the builtresponse.The judges were Te Khui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects Perehitini Huia Reriti, Ng Aho representative Whare Timu, Raphaela Rose and MuraliBhaskar.

html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"As the new year approaches, we are beginning our annual reviews for 2024. In this piece, we reveal the most-read and interesting architecture news of 2024.As we conclude another year, the most-read stories from the World Architecture Community highlight challenging and speculative architecture projects and news, including Adjaye Associates' dot.ateliers community and art space in Accra, Zaha Hadid Architects' West Kowloon Terminus development in Hong Kong, Tremend Architecture Studio's organic tree-likeMetropolitan Stationin Poland, andMVRDV's NIO flagship building in Amsterdam.Read the top 10 architecture news of 2024 (listed by the number of views):Adjaye Associates dot.ateliers' community and art space in Accra. Image Adjaye Associatesdot.ateliers community and art space by Adjaye Associates in AccraAt the top of the list in architecture news, Adjaye Associates' new project, a community and art space in Accra heads our list. The project was created for dot.ateliers to provide a community-focused, environmentally conscious building that offers a spacious area for artistic creations.The 560-square-meter structure, called dot.ateliers, was designed for Amoako Boafo, the artist and founder of the dot.ateliers, to give the local artists a fresh space to express their creativity. Its unique sawtooth roof form and double-layered rammed earth walls represent the neighborhood's profoundly contextualized identity. At the time of this writing, the story received over 26,933 views.Read more about the community and art space in Accra.Image MG; The constantly evolving material industry is focusing on alternative materials to combat industrial impactNavigating The Future: In Exploration Of AlternativesThe second architecture news discussed the material industry, alternative materials, and decarbonization from an innovative perspective, penned by former WAC Country Reporter Megha Balooni.The article focuses on transforming the materials industry, a major contributor to environmental degradation. Material Industry: Statistics, Building Materials and the Climate: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Alternative Materials, Examples of Alternative Materials are a few sub-titles of the article.At the time of this writing, the story received over 11,719 views.Read more about navigating the future: in exploration of alternatives.Klein Blue Hills and White Cliff by Wutopia Lab. Image CreatAR ImagesKlein Blue Hills and White Cliff in Shanghai by Wutopia LabAccording to our third row, the Klein Blue Hills and White Cliff project, designed by Wutopia Lab, attracted the most attention from our readers. Chinese architectural practice In Pudong, Shanghai, China, Wutopia Lab transformed a duty room and a roofed stockyard into a wave-shaped community center.The 330-square-meter complex, which is a mixed-use building with two shelter-like buildings with wave-shaped roofs, is called Klein Blue Hills and White Cliff. The white structure, which is a curtain wall made of translucent PVC fabric, is located in the front of the courtyard, while the undulating blue metallic building is located at the back.At the time of this writing, the story received over 8,501 views.Read more about the Klein Blue Hills and White Cliff project.West Kowloon Terminus in Hong Kong by Zaha Hadid Architects. Image Hayes DavidsonWest Kowloon Terminus in Hong Kong by Zaha Hadid ArchitectsOur fourth row includes a construction update on the West Kowloon Terminus development in Hong Kong, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. According to Zaha Hadid Architects, construction has advanced to the roof level of the new 3.2 million square foot complex situated over Hong Kong's High Speed Rail West Kowloon Terminus.In addition to the station and its rooftop park, the Zaha Hadid Architects design incorporates the finest levels of civic, office, and retail areas. The design calls for two pairs of connected office towers at the site's northern and southern ends, complemented with plazas and garden terraces totaling about 100,000 square feet (9,290 square meters). The buildings' lower five levels have atriums with places to eat and shop.At the time of this writing, the story received over 6,973 views.Read more about the West Kowloon Terminus development by ZHA.Yokosuka Museum of Art, 2006, Yokosuka, Japan. Image courtesy of Tomio Ohashi10 Notable Projects Of The 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize-Winner Riken YamamotoThe fifth place hits the 10 significant projects of the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize-Winner Riken Yamamoto. On Tuesday, March 5, Riken Yamamoto, a Japanese architect and social activist, was announced as the 2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize winner. Yamamoto was named the 53rd Laureate of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. Our article looks at the architect's wide range of structures in Japan, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, including private homes, public housing, elementary schools, universities, civic spaces, and city planning.At the time of this writing, the story received over 6,642 views.Read more about the 10 significant projects of Riken Yamamoto.Mdia Library Charles Ngre, Grasse/Grassa, France by Beaudouin Architectes; Ivry Serres Architecture. Image Fernando Guerra40 Shortlisted Projects for the EU Mies Van Der Rohe Award 2024In our sixth row, the news about the 40 shortlisted projects that compete in the 2024 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies van der Rohe Award topped the headlines.The works on the shortlist were dispersed among 20 countries and 38 European cities in 33 regions. A jury consisting of seven membersFrdric Druot, Martin Braathen, Pippo Ciorra, Tinatin Gurgenidze, Adriana Krnov, Sala Makumbundu, and Hrvoje Njiricselected the forty shortlisted pieces.At the time of this writing, the story received over 5,516 views.Read more about the 40 shortlisted projects for the EU Mies Van Der Rohe Award 2024.An example virtual scene assembled from premium 3D assets. Assets could be licensed, contingent to use-ap- proval from the creators and owners. Image Zaha Hadid ArchitectsThe Treasury platform by Treasury Spatial Data, and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)In July, Treasury Spatial Data, a design technology business based in San Francisco, and Treasury's founding partner, Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), have introduced the Treasury digital spatial asset platform. A variety of innovative and technological solutions are available on the Treasury platform to find and acquire superior spatial assets.Promoting a creative community and conversations around the importance of 3D assets and spatial design in the age of the spatial internet is one of the foundational principles. Fingerprinting-based digital asset security for the metaverse and spatial computing is one of the platform's primary features. At the time of this writing, the story received over 5,048 views.Read more about the Treasury platform by Treasury Spatial Data, and Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA).NIO House Amsterdam by MVRDV. Image Ossip van DuivenbodeNIO House Amsterdam by MVRDVOne of the most widely read architecture news stories of 2024 features the NIO House Amsterdam, designed by MVRDV. This project revitalized a 19th-century listed building for the electric car manufacturer NIO, showcasing vibrant colors and a rooftop pavilion atop the structure.The 2,700-square-meter structure, known as NIO House Amsterdam, has a car showroom, a caf, an office, a children's play area, a gallery, event spaces, and a lounge. The seven-story structure, which was first constructed in the late 19th century on Amsterdam's Keizersgracht, was created for the European headquarters of the electric vehicle manufacturer NIO.At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,872 views.Read more about NIO House Amsterdam by MVRDV.Metropolitan Station in Poland by Tremend Architecture Studio. Image Rafal ChojnackiMetropolitan Station in Poland by Tremend Architecture StudioEarlier this year, in the Polish capital of the Lublin Voivodeship, an integrated transit center with a linear canopy supported up by organic tree-like columns was created by the Polish architectural firm Tremend Architecture Studio.The station, called Metropolitan Station, is situated in the heart of the city and, along with its supporting infrastructure, serves as a major transportation hub that connects the urban, regional, and national transportation networks. It was designed to be a landmark in the city.At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,692 views.Read more about Metropolitan Station in Poland by Tremend Architecture Studio.o Mu Museum and Temple by ARB Architects. Image Triu ChinARB Architects Founder Nguyn H won the 2024 Moira Gemmill Prize For Emerging ArchitectureARB Architects was at the center of several architecture news on WAC in 2024. In March, at the 2024 W Awards, formerly the Women in Architecture Awards, Nguyn H, founder of the Vietnamese architecture firm ARB Architects, received the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture. The judges praised the architect for her o Mu Museum and Temple, dedicated to the folk religion of o Mu. The project includes brick towers built along a brick wall in a lychee orchard, as well as the conversion of a former weekend home into a temple."Nguyn H sees what isnt visible and finds a project that isnt a project. The architecture preserves important practices of craftsmanship, achieved through resilience and persistence; you can feel the hours of work. It is work for that specific place," said the judges.At the time of this writing, the story received over 4,686 views.Read more about the Nguyn H and 2024 Moira Gemmill Prize For Emerging Architecture.Top image in the article: Metropolitan Station in Poland by Tremend Architecture Studio. Image Alek Malachowski.

Submitted by WA ContentsSix Columns by 31/44 Architects wins RIBA House of the Year 2024United Kingdom Architecture News - Dec 05, 2024 - 12:38 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"A functional and discrete family home by 31/44 Architects has been awarded the RIBA House of the Year 2024.Named Six Columns, the family home, designed by Will Burges, Director of 31/44 Architects, was created for him, his spouse, and their two kids, ingeniously occupies a small urban plot in the lush suburbs of Crystal Palace, South London, United Kingdom.This prestigious annual award, presented by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), crowns the best example of UK one-off house design. Video by RIBAThe family will keep making changes to the building both inside and out as they live there, enabling it to adapt to their changing needs over time.The two-story, four-bedroom home, which takes its name from the six columns that support the building's main structure, mimics the size and materials of nearby terrace houses while maintaining a unique style that alludes to the designer's wide range of architectural influences, including the Case Study houses in California and the Barcelona Pavilion by Mies van der Rohe.The interior design maximizes the wedge-shaped site, resulting in a practical family house that is easily adaptable to changing needs. The main hub that connects the many areas of the house is the entry hall.A bright and spacious kitchen diner on the left combines contemporary features, including full-height sliding windows and crisp white granite worktops, with a decidedly rustic look, best represented by oiled, unpainted pine cabinets and drawers.Modular living replaces the open-plan design to the right of the entrance, with smaller spaces that put privacy and storage first.Thick, exposed pine walls that serve as shelving units and a Wunderkammer (or cabinet of oddities) to display the family's collections and recollections are the defining feature of the living area. The space may be opened up by a sliding door to the kitchen in the summer, but it is intended to feel cozy in the winter.Apart from the independent bedroom suite on the ground level, there are two further bedrooms on the second floor and a fourth bedroom in the attic, which is tucked away in a raised roof box.The layering and "covering-up" of modern construction are purposefully challenged by the use of self-finished materials throughout. In addition to providing a natural warmth, exposed painted brickwork and easily adjustable spruce pine planks for joinery and fittings allow for future adjustments.A low-maintenance, west-facing rainwater garden that directs water from all the roofs that cascade out of a massive spout and into a steel tank to prevent overflow and encourage reuse is one of the house's three distinct outdoor garden areas.The home features three distinct garden areas outside, one of which is a low-maintenance, west-facing rainwater garden that directs water from all the roofs into a steel tank via a massive spout to encourage reuse and prevent overflow."Six Columns is a beautifully crafted family home that cleverly incorporates Brutalist references and creative flourishes while retaining a strong sense of suburban belonging," said RIBA President Muyiwa Oki."It shows what can be achieved when working with even the tightest of suburban sites, and its flexible, unfinished aesthetic offers a solution to futureproofed design: this is a home that can evolve with its occupants changing needs overtime.""The generosity of space belies the limitations of this small garden plot. As we look for creative and practical solutions to the housing crisis, Six Columns offers a blueprint for bespoke urban infill development," Oki added."What makes a great home? Building your own home is a hugely intensive endeavour; if you are lucky enough to do it at all, you will probably only ever do it once in your life. One-off houses are as unique and varied as we are as individuals, so often producing them needs a closer understanding between the client and architect," said Je Ahn, 2024 RIBA House of the Year Award Chair."This philosophy of the home as a lifelong process might be a tricky concept in this fast-paced contractual world, however, Six Columns demonstrates an important message that we should all remember; your home is not a static slice of time, but continuously evolves with you," Ahn added.Six Columns was selected from a shortlist of Eavesdrop, Sussex, byTom Dowdall Architects, Farmworkers House, Cornwall, byHugh Strange Architects, Peckham House, London, by Surman Weston, The Hall, Kent, by TaylorHare Architects, Plas Hendy Stable Block, Monmouthshire, byStudio Brassica Architects.Last year, Green House by Hayhurst & Co was awarded the RIBA House of the Year 2023. In addition, the Red House by David Kohn of Architects was awarded the RIBA House of the Year 2022.Established in 2013, the RIBA House of the Year award recognizes the best new home or home addition created by a UK architect.All images Building Narratives, and video by RIBA.> via RIBA

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Guidance on meeting regulations to be simplifiedThe housing secretary has asked the Building Safety Regulator to undertake a fundamental review of guidance on building regulations.Source: MHCLG/ FlickrDeputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner holds a meeting with stakeholders following a residential fire in Dagenham over the summerIn her opening speech during the House of Commons debate on the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 report, Angela Rayner announced the investigation into the Approved Documents.The Approved Documents provide detailed guidance for built environment professionals on how to meet the requirements of building regulations but there have been criticisms that it is too complicated and difficult to use.Both the 2018 Hackitt review and this years Grenfell Inquiry report highlighted these problems, with the former calling theApproved Documents complex, ambiguous and not user-friendly.The review, which will be led by the regulator with the support of external experts, will explore how to make the guidance easier to understand and use, more regularly updated to keep up with new developments and more accessible for smaller firms.TheBuilding Safety Regulator will establish a review panel and appoint a chair to lead its activities in early 2025.