Its not the dream of a full bundle, but some Google One subscribers will soon get a discount on YouTube Premium in the US. Meanwhile, YouTube is starting to test a handful of new features that subscribers can opt-in to.You have to be subscribed to a Google One Premium plan, which starts at $9.99 per month for 2 TB, in the US. The $1.99 Basic (100 GB) and $2.99 Standard (200 GB) plans are not eligible for this discount.This will result in a $2 discount per month discount on YouTube Premium Individual, which costs $13.99 per month. As such, this negates the 2023 price increase.Family and Music Premium plans do not currently support this discount. Existing YouTube Premium customers have to first cancel their standalone plan and then sign-up again via Google One. More details will be available here: one.google.com/explore-plan/youtube-premium. Meanwhile, the next wave of experimental YouTube features that Premium subscribers can test are now available. Notably, you can now test multiple at the same time instead of being limited to just one.Of note is the ability to crank up playback speed to 4x on mobile. Today, the range is 0.25 to 2.0x in .5x increments following the Playback speed redesign last year.Other experiments coming to youtube.com/new includes:High-quality audio: Premium members will experience new audio enhancements, enjoying high-quality 256kbps audio on music videos with more clarity and depth.Jump ahead on web: Previously available on mobile devices, you can now seamlessly skip ahead to the best parts of a video while browsing on web browsers.Picture-in-Picture for YouTube Shorts on iOS: Watch your favorite Shorts while browsing other apps or checking messages.Smart Downloads for YouTube Shorts on iOS: You will have recommended Shorts selected and automatically downloaded for offline viewing.Additionally, YouTube is bringing Ask Music in YouTube Music to Android subscribers in the UK and Ireland. This is rolling out starting today and will let you ask for upbeat workout tracks, relaxing jazz, new indie discoveries, and more.Finally, the YouTube app on iOS will also get the Ask chat button underneath the player to answer questions about the video youre watching, suggest related content, and more.Add 9to5Google to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Google experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Google on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

We yesterday got a look at what is claimed to be the iPhone 17 Air camera bump, and the reaction hasnt been overly favorable.While we dont know for sure that the photo shows the real thing, our own sources indicate that the design depicted is probably accurate Its easier than ever to create fake images these days, using either AI or 3D printers, but we noted that this one does at least align with what our own sources tell us.Majin Bu has a mixed track record when it comes to sharing Apple hardware leaks particularly this early in a rumor cycle. However, I have also seen separate CAD drawings from previously accurate sources that corroborate this camera bar-style design for the iPhone 17 Air.Commentators werent impressed.It looks pretty dumb in these photos.It seems so top-heavy and unbalanced. As others noted it looks similar to the Pixel 9, however that visually looks better to me.Pixel 9, is that you?Oh man. That was a good laugh.I dont like the look of that. It looks odd.This looks awful.Its worth noting a couple of things, however. First, these leaks always seem to be poor-quality photos, and in this case we also have the distortion created by what appears to be vacuum-sealed plastic packaging. Those are pretty challenging conditions for anything to look good!While I agree it looks terrible in this photo, I dont think it will in reality.Second, human beings are resistant to change, and we see a consistent three-step pattern with any new Apple design: everyone hates it, everyone gets used to it, no-one could imagine it being any other way.One thing many of us will welcome is that the phone wont wobble when placed on a desk or table! Im not a fan of camera bumps in general though do accept that we couldnt have the entire phone as thick as the camera module, so they are unavoidable but hate the way iPhones wobble when you try to use them on a flat surface. Even if its just swiping away a notification, it bugs me.This design would at least solve that issue, and it would also slightly tilt the display toward the user, which is a bonus when not accompanied by wobbling.Reminiscent of the Nexus 6PAs several people commented, the design is reminiscent of the Google/Huawei Nexus 6P from way back in 2015. All Ive done is removed a couple of extraneous elements to give an idea of what this kind of bump could look like in reality, I honestly dont see anything wrong with it.So although I dont expect to be in the market for the iPhone 17 Air personally Ill be sticking with the Pro Max for screen size and camera features I wouldnt mind owning a phone with this design.Photo: Krlis Dambrns (edited by 9to5Mac)Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

"Well always have humans involved in the decision to employ force."Kill Chain EngageThe Pentagon is bullish on recent AI advances, saying they're helping kill people faster than ever before.In an interview withTechCrunch, the Pentagon's chief digital and AI officer, Radha Plumb, admitted in a mask-off moment that the technology is helping to expedite the way the military kills."We obviously are increasing the ways in which we can speed up the execution of kill chain," Plumb told the website in an interview, "so that our commanders can respond in the right time to protect our forces."According to a Mitchell Institute white paper from 2023, "kill chain" is militaryspeak for "the process militaries use to attack targets in the battlespace.""The kill chain can be broken down into specific steps find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess that enable planners to build and task forces for combat operations," the paper explains.Military PrecisionIn short, the Pentagon's top AI officer bragged off-handedly about using AI to expedite the process of ending lives. Though she didn't get into the specifics, Plumb did admit that AI is primarily used in the planning and strategizing phases of military kill chains."Playing through different scenarios is something that generative AI can be helpful with," Plumb, who previously worked at Facebook and Google, told TechCrunch. "It allows you to take advantage of the full range of tools our commanders have available, but also think creatively about different response options and potential trade-offs in an environment where theres a potential threat, or series of threats, that need to be prosecuted."That's a wild admission: the Pentagon is not only using AI to dream up scenarios that would require lethal force, but also boasting about it on the record. There are few more dystopian usages of the technology, and here one of the military's ranking officials is laying it out for the average reader.Plumb said the Pentagon doesn't buy or operate fully autonomous weaponry, meaning that for now there are still humans involved in any lethal decision-making."As a matter of both reliability and ethics, well always have humans involved in the decision to employ force," she insisted, "and that includes for our weapon systems."We're not sure about you, but that's not very reassuring and with AI lover Donald Trump back in the Oval Office, even that modicum of oversight could soon be under attack.More on military AI: OpenAI Strikes Deal With Military Contractor to Provide AI for Attack DronesShare This Article

A win for open source.Start Your EnginesUnless you've been living under a rock, you're probably aware that AI is developing at a breakneck pace.Early yesterday morning, a gleeful post on X-formerly-Twitter by Chinese AI firm DeepSeek announced a new model called R1 a "reasoning" AI model which the outfit says is performing "on par" with OpenAI's o1, a splashy model released last month.And unlike 01, DeepSeek R1 is open source, meaning hobbyists and researchers can tinker with it at home and even release their own versions.The reasoning model is said to narrowly edge out OpenAI's system in "math, code, and reasoning tasks." If the claim holds up a big "if," since the results haven't yet been independently verified it's an exciting milestone for a much smaller lab in the AI research space, which iscurrently dominated by deep-pocketed ventures like OpenAIDeepSeek taking a dig at the closed-source OpenAI by celebrating its work as pushing the "boundaries of **open AI**!"Open AIUnder the open source model, anyone has the legal rights to use, alter, and distribute DeepSeek's software (household-name open source projects include Mozilla Firefox, VLC Media Player, and Linux.)In theory, it's the most egalitarian approach to software development. However, not everyone's convinced that open source AI is the way forward; in an interview on the podcast "Tech Won't Save Us," professor of economics at University College London Cecelia Rikap argued that open source AI's development is often still connected to a for-profit business model."In principal, open source is very positive... the more we share knowledge, the more knowledge we are producing," she said. "What Amazon, Google and Meta have been doing is putting pieces of the puzzle in open source, [which] helps them to gain popularity... It is also a way to get people working for free in improving pieces of the puzzle, which only make sense together with the other pieces, and some of those pieces are kept secret, registered as copyright... basically in the end, those who profit from collaborative development are the same Big Tech."DeepSeek is no exception. The AI firm is a subsidiary of a Hangzhou-based hedge fund called High-Flyer, which trades through the Securities and Futures Commission out of Hong Kong. So on a certain level, yes it's a win for the little guys.But on another, it's a victory for Chinese financiers, not unlike Meta which has also used open source development practices to fuel its rapid market climb.So while this is still an impressive feat for the Chinese tech industry specifically and open source AI-development more broadly, only time will tell if the cheap new model will lead to equally egalitarian use cases for the advancement of all, or if it will be yet another investor's footnote in the tech sector's.And in the AI horserace, OpenAI's o3 is said to be prepping for launch.More on Chinese AI:The Chinese Military Is Weaponizing Facebook's Open Source AIShare This Article

This is really and truly the end forCobra Kai, which debuts its final batch of five episodes on Netflix in February. (Okay, maybe its not truly the end; at the very least Daniel will appear in the newKarate Kid movie coming to theaters in just a few months. Nonetheless, this is the series finale for the tV version.)Thats just one of the dozens of films and shows coming to Netflix in the weeks ahead. Youll also getKinda Pregnant, a new romantic comedy starring Amy Schumer, a new animated movie set in the world ofThe Witcher, and a new series calledRunning Pointstarring Kate Hudson as the new president of a famous pro basketball team. Orif you want to watch movies on Netflix (a wild concept, I know) theresParasite,The Nice Guys,Train to Busan, andDespicable Me 4.Movies, now more than ever, etc.Heres everything coming to Netflix in February 2025...Avail. 2/1/25 SAKAMOTO DAYS -- NETFLIX ANIME (new episode)Once the greatest hitman of all, Taro Sakamoto retired in the name of love. But when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family.Cult of Chucky From Prada to Nada Happy Feet Happy Feet Two Home Improvement: Seasons 1-8 It (2017) Magic Mike XXL Miss Congeniality The Nice Guys Parasite Queen & Slim Richie Rich Space Jam (1996) Spanglish Two Weeks Notice The Wedding PlannerThe FounderThe Weinstein Companyloading...READ MORE: Netflix Is Raising Prices Again Across Multiple Subscription TiersAvail. 2/2/25The FounderAvail. 2/3/25Bogot: City of the Lost-- NETFLIX FILMAfter moving to Bogot for a chance at a better life, a young Korean man rises through the Colombian black market risking peril for a shot at success.Avail. 2/4/25The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: The Week of January 24, 2025Avail. 2/5/25Alone Australia: Season 1Celebrity Bear Hunt-- NETFLIX SERIESHolly Willoughby hosts this competition show set in the Costa Rican jungle, where 12 celebrities become prey for that fearsome hunter Bear Grylls.Envious: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESVicky finds herself torn between two possible paths: marrying and building a family project with Dani, or allowing herself to explore a relationship with Matas. At times, that country club life she once dreamed of no longer seems so appealing, but the desire sparked by the possibility of a new love terrifies her.Grimsburg: Season 1NetflixNetflixloading...Kinda Pregnant -- NETFLIX FILMJealous of her best friends pregnancy, Lainy wears a fake baby bump...and accidentally meets the man of her dreams.Prison Cell 211 -- NETFLIX SERIESCaught in a prison riot, a human rights lawyer poses as an inmate to survive. As he blends in, chaos and personal loss unveil the darkness within him.Sintonia: Season 5 -- NETFLIX SERIESAs Doni, Nando and Rita face new moral dilemmas as adults, will their convictions alter their paths, or is friendship stronger than what divides them?As Doni, Nando and Rita face new moral dilemmas as adults, will their convictions alter their paths, or is friendship stronger than what divides them?Avail. 2/6/25Apple Cider Vinegar-- NETFLIX SERIESTwo young women advocate for wellness remedies to cure deadly illnesses, unraveling their lives as they unknowingly and knowingly mislead the world.The re Murders -- NETFLIX SERIESA Stockholm detective under internal investigation heads to a ski resort to unwind, until a young girl's disappearance compels her back to work.NetflixNetflixloading...Cassandra -- NETFLIX SERIESA family moves into a vintage smart home and discovers that it's under the control of a virtual assistant who will stop at nothing to keep them there.Golden Kamuy -The Hunt of Prisoners in Hokkaido- -- NETFLIX SERIESWith two map pieces secured, Sugimoto and Asirpa continue their hunt for the remaining 22 tattooed convicts whose bodies hold the key to hidden treasure.Supreme Models: Limited SeriesSweet Magnolias: Season 4 -- NETFLIX SERIESIt's a very Serenity holiday season as the Magnolias weather a tragedy, a town crisis and a fierce storm in the weeks from Halloween to Christmas.Avail. 2/7/25A Different World: Seasons 1-6The Conners: Season 6The Greatest Rivalry: India vs Pakistan -- NETFLIX SPORTS SERIESTracing the cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan, this documentary series explores their intricate past and uncertain present on the pitch.Pokmon Horizons: Season 2The Search for Laqua Part 1 -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter traveling with the Rising Volt Tacklers, Liko, Roy and Dot decide to improve their knowledge as Trainers and learn more about their Pokmon pals.Wrong Side of the Tracks: Season 4 -- NETFLIX SERIESIn the final season of this acclaimed series, Tirso is drawn into a serial killings case and seeks revenge for the tragedy that devastated his family.Avail. 2/8/25SAKAMOTO DAYS -- NETFLIX ANIME (new episode)Once the greatest hitman of all, Taro Sakamoto retired in the name of love. But when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family.SpencerAvail. 2/10/25AftermathAmerican Pickers: Season 16Rambo (2008)Rambo: Last BloodNetflixNetflixloading...Surviving Black Hawk Down-- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYIn shocking detail, US soldiers and Somali fighters recall the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu and the now-famous downing of three Black Hawk helicopters.Avail. 2/11/25Felipe Esparza: Raging Fool -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALIn a furiously funny special, Felipe Esparza riffs on his tough-love Mexican mom, keeping a marriage spicy and why dairy is more dangerous than drugs.The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: The Week of January 31, 2025PeninsulaTrain to BusanThe Witcher: Sirens of the Deep -- NETFLIX FILMMonster hunter Geralt of Rivia gets drawn into an epic conflict between land and sea in this animated film from "The Witcher" universe.Avail. 2/12/25Death Before the Wedding-- NETFLIX FILMWhen Maja brings her fianc home, her traditional parents must overcome their cultural biases amidst a crisis at their dairy farm. Can love find a way?Honeymoon Crasher -- NETFLIX FILMWhen his fiance dumps him at the altar for her ex, a young man is left with no alternative but to go on his romantic honeymoon with his mother.NetflixNetflixloading...Avail. 2/13/25Cobra Kai: Season 6: Part 3 -- NETFLIX SERIESGranted one final chance to finish the Sekai Taikai, Daniel, Johnny and the team lay it all on the line in the ultimate championship showdown.Dog Days Out -- NETFLIX FAMILYWhen their humans are away, cute and curious pup Holm and his dog pals love to play with their best friends their favorite toys!The Exchange: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter their big break into Kuwait's male-dominated stock market, will Farida and Munira keep rising to success or lose everything theyve worked for?La Dolce Villa -- NETFLIX FILMSuccessful businessman Eric travels to Italy to stop his daydreaming daughter Olivia from restoring a crumbling villa. Italy, however, has different plans for him as it delivers on its legendary promise of beauty, magic, and romance.Resident Alien: Season 3Trial by FireAvail. 2/14/25I Am Married...But! -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter a meet-cute ends in a whirlwind romance, a couple must learn to navigate the messy reality of married life that's nothing like a fairy tale ending.Love Is Blind: Season 8 -- NETFLIX SERIESA new group of singles face the ultimate dating experiment. Will they find their soulmates and get married, or will looks get in the way of love?Melo Movie -- NETFLIX SERIESA movie buff falls for an aspiring director, igniting a romance that fizzles out too soon. When their paths cross again, can love find its way back?Valeria: Season 4 -- NETFLIX SERIESAs the four friends enter a more grown up era of love, careers and life, Valeria must finally work out her feelings especially those involving Vctor.Dhoom Dhaam -- NETFLIX FILMOn their wedding night, a timid mommas boy and a daring wild child find themselves on the run from ruthless goons, finding love and chaos in a night of crazy adventures all while searching for the elusive Charlie!Love Forever -- NETFLIX FILMA Stockholm couple plans to get married on the gorgeous island of Gotland, where family-imposed traditions turn their most important day into a disaster.NetflixNetflixloading...The Most Beautiful Girl in the World -- NETFLIX FILMA playboy stages a dating show to earn his inheritance by granting his father's last wish: for his son to marry the most beautiful girl in the world.Umjolo: There is No Cure -- NETFLIX FILMAfter losing her title for publicly exposing a scandal, a former pageant queen works on a tell-all book all while her love life remains unwritten.Avail. 2/15/25SAKAMOTO DAYS -- NETFLIX ANIME (new episode)Once the greatest hitman of all, Taro Sakamoto retired in the name of love. But when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family.Avail. 2/16/25Don't Let GoGoldTed 2Avail. 2/17/25Gabbys Dollhouse: Season 11 -- NETFLIX FAMILYGabby, Pandy and the kitty crew are back for more feline fun, cool crafts and imaginative adventures and there's a new room in the dollhouse, too!Avail. 2/18/25Court of Gold -- NETFLIX SPORTS SERIESFor the first time ever, top medal contenders in mens basketball granted behind-the-scenes access at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Court of Gold gives an unfiltered, insider look at Team USA, France, Serbia and Canada as they gear up and battle for gold in Paris. International basketball has caught up to the U.S. and the competition and stakes are higher than ever.The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: The Week of February 7, 2025NetflixNetflixloading...Offline Love -- NETFLIX SERIESYoung singles spend ten days in a foreign country, relying on fate alone to fall in love. Without any digital devices, will they be able to find the one?Rosebud Baker: The Mother Lode -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALRosebud Baker delivers a raw and hilarious look at motherhood in all its chaotic beauty filmed both before and after giving birth.Avail. 2/19/25My Family -- NETFLIX SERIESA terminally ill father prepares his chaotic family to care for his two young kids and face life without him but they must put old quarrels to rest.To Catch a KillerAvail. 2/20/25Operation FinaleZero Day -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter a cyberattack sabotages transportation and power infrastructure across the U.S., former President George Mullen is asked to find the culprit.Avail. 2/22/25SAKAMOTO DAYS -- NETFLIX ANIME (new episode)Once the greatest hitman of all, Taro Sakamoto retired in the name of love. But when his past catches up, he must fight to protect his beloved family.Avail. 2/23/25The 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards -- NETFLIX LIVE EVENTKristen Bell hosts as the biggest names in film and TV light up the stage for the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. (Live event in English.)NetflixNetflixloading...Avail. 2/25/25Full Swing: Season 3 -- NETFLIX SPORTS SERIESThis immersive documentary series follows the world's greatest golfers on and off the course during a season of relentless competition.The Graham Norton Show: Best Bits: The Week of February 14, 2025Really LoveWatcherAvail. 2/26/25Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Seasons 5-6Miss Italia Mustnt Die -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYBehind the glitz of Miss Italia, director Patrizia Mirigliani fights to save the iconic pageant, now wavering amid scandals and changing beauty standards.Avail. 2/27/25Demon City -- NETFLIX FILMFramed for his family's murder and left for dead, an ex-hitman will stop at nothing to exact revenge on the masked "demons" who have taken over his city.NetflixNetflixloading...Running Point -- NETFLIX SERIESWhen a scandal forces her brother to resign, Isla Gordon is appointed president of the Los Angeles Waves, one of the most storied professional basketball franchises, and her family business. Ambitious and often overlooked, Isla will have to prove to her skeptical brothers, the board, and the larger sports community that she was the right choice for the job, especially in the unpredictable, male-dominated world of sports.Toxic Town -- NETFLIX SERIESBrave mothers fight for justice in a drama based on the true story of the Corby poisonings, featuring Jodie Whittaker, Aimee Lou Wood and Claudia Jessie.The Wrong Track -- NETFLIX FILMWhen chaotic single mother Emilie hits a new low, she looks to her brother for help. He has a brilliant plan: to enter a cross-country ski marathon.Avail. 2/28/25Aitana: Metamorphosis -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYIn this documentary series, Aitana reveals intimate moments and untold thoughts about her journey from regular teen to international pop sensation.Despicable Me 4Sonic the Hedgehog 2Squad 36 -- NETFLIX FILMA police agent launches his own investigation when a series of killings claims the lives of officers from an elite unit he was forced to leave.Get our free mobile appThe Best Netflix Movies of 2024These are the Netflix movies worth putting on your end-of-the-year watchlist.Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky

For basically the entire history of film, weve been looking to the future and imagining what it would look like five, ten, 15,50 years from now, using whatever current technology and geopolitics we have to track trends and attempt to predict what the world is going to look like before we get there. Sometimes were pretty accurate, and sometimes we let our imagination get away from us, but its always interesting to look back and see if any of those predictions ended up coming true.Since were in the mid 2020s, our real world timeline is catching up with a bunch of futuristic movies from the past, some more prescient than others. 2025 is a big year in film it sounds like the future, and its situated comfortably in the middle of a decade, not too far away from the past, but not too close, either.Some of these movies are more famous than others, with a vision of the future that isnt too far from our current day. Were in the year of Her, with artificial intelligence taking over our social lives. Were also in the year of Pacific Rim and the little known made-for-TV movie Futuresport, which, thankfully, dont have that many similarities to our current reality. Lets look back at some of these forward-looking films and see which ones hold up, which are still pretty silly, and which ones might be more prescient than we could have even imagined.The Best (and Weirdest) Movies Set in the Year 2025How close are these 2025-set movies to life in the real 2025? Lets find out.Gallery Credit: Emma StefanskyREAD MORE: HowJohnny MnemonicPredicted the World of 2021Get our free mobile app80s Movies That Could Never Be Made TodayFiled Under: Her, Pacific RimCategories: Galleries, Movie News, Original Features

Time zones: EST (UTC -5), MST (UTC -7), ART (UTC -3), UTC -4, UTC -4:30, UTC -3, UTC -2Responsibility: Drive return on ad spend through paid ads for e-commerce clientsIn this role, you'll manage a diverse portfolio of clients from onboarding to continuous growth, creating data-driven strategies through platforms like Meta and TikTok. With a high degree of autonomy, you'll be responsible for achieving key metrics, such as CAC, NC-ROAS, eROAS, and ad spend targets.Main Accountabilities:You will ensure success of clients within your POD by executing on paid media strategy;You should feel comfortable auditing an ad account and using the data collected to inform an ad account strategy;You will work with the Growth Strategist to establish a paid social strategy centred around client objectives;You will use ad account and Triple Whale data to inform ad account optimisations;You will effectively test creative created internally and externally;You will report to the Growth Strategist on key learnings, bottlenecks, and future direction of an ad account;You will ensure each action we take in an ad account is centred around objectives and KPIs the Growth Strategist has established;You will report on performance by communicating this with the Growth Strategist and weekly/monthly client reports.You...Have at least two years of experience in running paid social advertising on MetaAre remaining at the forefront of paid social and using your insights to service clients withHave a great understanding of effective paid social testing and scaling approachesHave strong analytical skills with experience in data-driven decision-makingHave a lot of experience in using ad account data to inform day-to-day ad account changes and optimisationsAre highly organised and can ensure thorough ad account hygiene through your ad account structure and naming conventionsExperience & Skills:At least two years of experience running Meta and TikTok Ads at a high level for e-commerce brandsPreferably, prior agency experience or experience in a 7-8 figure e-commerce brandStrong understanding of Shopify and DTC e-commerceExceptional research skills to adapt quickly to varied client needs

Submitted by WA ContentsRea Studio completes Casa Alazn with porous volume in Jalisco, MexicoMexico Architecture News - Jan 22, 2025 - 14:07 html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Mexican architecture practice Rea Studio has completed a house with porous upper volume in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mxico.Named Casa Alazn, the 505-square-metre house has a modern, minimalistic style that blends modern architectural characteristics with organic materials.The geometric composition of the lattice walls, which is based on triangular patterns, makes them stand out. This allows natural light and ventilation to flow through, producing dramatic shadow plays inside and outside the house.In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this component significantly improves the room's lighting and temperature comfort.The lower floor's dark-toned natural stone walls offer a sturdy foundation that contrasts with the upper floor's latticework's seeming lightness. The overall composition of the facade is balanced by the contrast between the heavy and light elements.The house's modernity and the purity of its volumetric design are emphasized by the white coating on the upper walls. The main door's use of wood balances the sobriety of the stone and white by adding warmth and texture to the design.The relationship between the architectural design and its natural environment is strengthened by this careful material selection.Basement floorGround floor planFirst floor planProject factsProject name:Casa AlaznLocation:Zapopan, Jalisco, MexicoArchitectural Design:Rea Studio Year:2025Land area: 520m2Built area:505m2All images Jos Juan Rodrguez.All drawings Rea Studio.> via Rea Studio

Sites unveiled for two hospital rebuilds in northern England only last monthNHS trusts have pressed pause on two hospital sites in northern England worth a combined 3.5bn following the governments decision to delay the schemes past 2035.Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have suspended public engagement on the 2bn Royal Preston Hospital and the 1.5bn Royal Lancaster Infirmary, which will now not start until 2037 and 2035 at the earliest, respectively.Work on a full replacement for Royal Preston Hospital may not start until 2039 under the new timetable for the governments New Hospital ProgrammeProposed sites for the full replacement schemes had only been announced in December 2024, with a series of public engagement events for the schemes launching earlier this month.The two trusts said: In light of the significant delay to the timeframes in which the new hospitals are expected to be built, the local NHS has made the difficult decision to suspend public engagement on the proposed sites.The planned programme of public events and independent market research will be cancelled until further notice.Aaron Cummins, chief executive of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust said the delay was disappointing, but we accept the need for a fully costed and deliverable timeline of investment through the New Hospital Programme.The move comes after health secretary Wes Streetings announcement on Monday of a revised timetable for the governments 20bn New Hospital Programme which will see 13 schemes delayed until at least 2035, five years after the original 2030 deadline set out by Boris Johnson in 2020.Work on the 1.7bn redevelopment of St Marys Hospital in central London is now scheduled to start between 2035 and 2038, while eight of the schemes in the third and final wave of the programme may now not start until 2039 under the cost-saving measures.Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust chief executive Tim Orchard said the delay to St Marys Hospital was devastating news for our communities, our staff and patients, and for the whole of the capitals healthcare system.We understand that the Governments New Hospital Programme must be affordable but the simple truth is that St Marys Hospital, in particular, will not last until the 2040s.Orchard added: We need to digest the detail of todays announcement, but we have to find a way to progress our schemes more quickly.This includes exploring alternative funding approaches, leveraging the value of our land that will be surplus to requirements and the significant contribution of our life science partnerships to local and national economic growth.The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said it was extremely disappointed with the delay to the redevelopment of Royal Berkshire Hospital, now expected to start between 2035 and 2039, adding that staff and patients deserve better.The Trust added: The condition of our current hospital presents challenges for staff and patients which we manage every day, to deliver safe, high quality healthcare services to our local communities despite these challenges.We will be seeking urgent meetings with NHS England and the New Hospital Programme team to explore the implications of the announcement.Meanwhile, Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Sam Higginson said the need for urgent investment has not been fully recognised in Streetings review of the programme, which has delayed the redevelopment of North Devon District Hospital to at least 2035.We have spoken publicly about the risks in our ability to continue to deliver health and care services which meet both our current and future needs, Higginson said.As the most remote hospital in mainland England, investing in our hospital services is vital to ensure we can continue caring for our local population for years to come.NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, said on Monday that the timetable review had come as a major blow to trusts, staff, patients and communities.The bodys chief executive Saffron Cordery said: Despite a hugely welcome cash injection in the recent budget and further boost today, the fact remains that too many NHS buildings and facilities are in a terrible condition right now.The governments maintenance backlog on public sector buildings is now at least 49bn, according to the latest estimate by the National Audit Office.In a report published yesterday, the governments spending watching said Ministry of Defence properties, schools and NHS properties have a backlog totalling more than 10 billion each and make up 88% of the total backlog.

Alistair Sim in a scene from Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (1951) Source:&nbsp Landmark Media/AlamyInspired by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol, Kunle Barker reflects on housings missing architectural component At a dinner party just before Christmas, a friend remarked that it was odd that, as a species, we have chosen the rather arbitrary marker of New Year to reflect on our lives. I accepted that no celestial events marked the New Year but disagreed that it was entirely arbitrary. We agreed to disagree, lest the red wine turned our debate into an argument. New Year offers an ideal moment for reflection; and this year my thoughts turned to housing.Over the Christmas break, I decided to introduce my daughters to Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. We were planning to watch a musical adaptation, so I thought it was the perfect time to introduce them to the story. As we sat watching Brian Desmond Hursts 1951 adaptation (the best, in my opinion), I couldnt help but reflect on the countrys current housing problems. I thought about how the crisis would shape my daughters experience of housing and how different that would be from my own.I imagined what it would be like if, instead of ghosts of Christmas, I was visited by ghosts of housing. What if I could travel through time and visit key moments in our housing history? Here are my musings.AdvertisementThe Ghost of Housing Past from the 1980sThe Ghost of Housing Past takes me to 1980, as Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher finalised the Right to Buy Act. The average house price was 20,897 three times the average salary. Right to Buy expanded homeownership but sparked a decline in affordable housing, with no commitment to replace the sold properties. In the following 10 years, over a million council homes had been sold, while new construction plummeted by 80 per cent, from 88,540 in 1980 to just 17,870 in 1990.Private investors exploited the scheme by buying discounted properties from tenants unable to exercise their right to buy, accelerating the loss of social housing. This era marked a shift in government policy as the state stepped back from mass housebuilding. Thatchers policy, once celebrated, created the patient zero of todays housing crisis epidemic.The Ghost of Housing Present from the 2020sThe Ghost of Housing Present takes me to 2020, where the average house price is now nine times the average wage. Every government since 1980 has struggled to build enough affordable housing. Even under Labour affordable housing was neglected, with only 130 local authority homes built in 2004, the lowest number since the Second World War. Consecutive governments have relied too much on the open market and mechanisms like Section 106 to provide affordable housing.In 2024, rising interest rates and the cost-of-living crisis have exacerbated the struggle. Help to Buy has inflated house prices and benefited developers over buyers. The average cost of a flat in London is now 430,000, with many young people locked out of the market. In the 2020s, governments have built just 177,593 new homes a year on average. Renters face severe financial strain, with a third spending over half of their income on housing.The Ghost of Housing Future from the 2060sThe Ghost of Housing Future offers two contrasting visions. In one dystopian scenario, mega-corporations dominate the housing market, where the average house price exceeds 1 million and home ownership is a bedtime story told by grandparents. Renters spend over 80 per cent of their income on housing and homelessness is widespread, with thousands housed in makeshift developments. Originally meant to be temporary, these now litter the country and are monuments to an entirely broken housing system.AdvertisementIn a more optimistic future, bold government action taken from 2025 onwards transforms the housing landscape. Affordable social housing and rent controls ensure fairness, while innovations like community land trusts and tokenised ownership broaden access. Government initiatives manage to align the goals of the public and private sectors, allowing good architecture to thrive and produce sustainable, community-focused housing developments. This focus on placemaking fosters thriving communities that promote economic growth and social cohesion. Improvements in general wellbeing reduce the burden on the NHS and state, proving that investing in housing is both a social and economic necessity.Dickens aside, the housing challenges we face are clear. Our industry understands the built environment better than anyone and homes are perhaps the most important part of that. There is no silver bullet, but our industry can and must lead the way; we must make our voices heard in a coherent manner.Fixing this crisis will take decades and many of us may not see the full results in our lifetimes. But thats the point the homes we envisage, design and build today will outlast us all. Lets use architecture to unite government, developers, and landowners to take bold, decisive steps forward, because every step we take now is a leap forward for the future.Kunle Barker is a property expert, journalist and broadcaster2025-01-22Kunle Barkercomment and share