In most cities, space is a premium and environmental responsibility is an afterthought. Which is why this home designed by ONG & ONG Architects in Sentosa Cove, Singapore is all the more special: not only does it keep its footprint to a minimum, but it also creates those luxuries that one doesn’t instinctively think of when considering Singapore-living – peace, privacy and tranquility.

This is a home that can endure the tropical climate with minimal environmental impact, by tapping on available natural resources. Four levels make up the building, each catering to the family’s various social and entertainment needs while also accommodating each member’s individual need for solitude.

Achieving a maximum amount of space and privacy were masterfully factored into this design, in view of the house’s close proximity to neighboring units. As a result, the internal spaces face inward into a multi-functional courtyard which acts as circulation pivot, light well and ventilation exhaust, while also serving as a visual focal point. Dense foliage also provides a natural means for additional privacy.

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We’ve just made our 69th and 70th microfinance loans to two groups of women in the African nation of Rwanda.

Abahujimbaraga Group
Christine is 32 years old and is married. She has three children between the ages 5 and 11 years. She is the president of a group called “Abahujimbaraga.” She is in the middle who raise the hand.

Christine sells various goods such as rice, sugar, bread and biscuits. Christine employs two persons for help her and has been working for two years. She and her group have requested a loan from Kiva lenders in order to purchase more goods such as beans, cassava, maize, rice, sugar, bread, etc to sell.

With the profits achieved through their $1700 USD loan, Christine and her team would like to satisfy the basic needs of their families, reinvest in their businesses and start saving.

Click to learn more about our support for KIVA.org

Umucyo Group
Immaculee is 36 years old and is married with three children between the ages of 6 and 10 years old. She is the president of a group which called “Umucyo”. Her business is well-organized. she sells charcoal in her market. She has seven years of experience and works from 6 am until 10 pm every day.

Immaculee and her group have requested a $1200 USD loan from Kiva in order to purchase more goods like charcoal to sell. With their profits, Immaculee and her group will reinvest in their businesses and to build their own houses.

Find out more about Marquette Turner’s support of KIVA.org HERE

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The Woofer Chair by Singapore-based Ministry of Design for Saporiti Italia is a fantastically innovative concept, integrating a loudspeaker with technology that allows for sound waves to vibrate throughout the seat.

The user is thus able to hear and even to feel the audio spectrum, thanks to sophisticated sound actuators hidden inside the fibreglass structure of the chair, eliminating the space between music and listener.

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Being crammed into a carbon-fiber tube for hours as we seek to get to our destination as quickly as possible is something that sends a sense of dread right through ones body, so the release by manufacturer Airbus of their future aircraft concept greets us with interest (even though the time lag between concept and completion is painfully slow at the best of times).

Featuring a completely transparent fuselage of a special futuristic type of ceramic which, on demand would send electrical impulses through the material to instantly make it see-through, passengers would be able to view the heavens above and earth below.

“The planes of the future will offer an unparalleled, unobstructed view of the wonders of the five continents – where you will be able see the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower through the transparent floor of the aircraft,” they state as part of “The Future By Airbus”.

What’s more there’s morphing seats made from ecological, self-cleaning materials, which change shape for better ergonomics; walls that become transparent at the touch of a button; and holographic projections of virtual decors, allowing travelers to transform their private cabin into an office, bedroom or Zen garden!

The future passenger cabin will be ecological. No more non-renewable materials like metal and plastic, but plant fibers, fully-recyclable, that can be grown to the desired shape from sustainable resources.

Okay, for now it certainly seems like pie in the sky stuff, and for those with a fear of heights and/or flying well, such concepts probably don’t go very far in alleviating such pre-dispositions. Nevertheless, the future has to start somewhere!

We’ve only visited Washington State in the Summer time, but even then we could see just how stunning a place it would be for a mountain home when covered with beautifully-white, powdered snow in the Winter. And for those who appreciate their cold months with the option of warmth, there’s nothing like a well-designed, rustic hideaway that harmoniously blends natural materials with the surroundings.

This mountain retreat on Lake Wenatchee in the Cascade Mountains was designed by DeForest Architects and wonderfully encapsulates all of the above.

The property is cozy for two whilst being comfortable for a crowd; combines the warmth of wood with low maintenance tile, stone, and composites; and works for all seasons with such features as overhangs to shed snow whilst ensuring shade during the summer months.

To see Mountain-style real estate for sale on MarquetteTurner.com CLICK HERE

Photography by Benjamin Benschneider

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As die-hard Formula One fans and with our eyes lighting up at the site of multi-million dollar mansions, news that Candy Spelling’s massive 57000 square foot property has sold to Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone, certainly got our attention.

The mansion sits on five acres in the exclusive Holmby Hills neighborhood (in the district of Westwood in western Los Angeles) and contains 14 bedrooms and 27 bathrooms. It contains rooms dedicated to such important activities as gift-wrapping and storing silverware, in addition to the standard amenities, such as wine cellar, bowling alley, screening room, library, and gym.

Petra, the 22-year old daughter of Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, already has a £56 million home for in London “for her five dogs” (her words) and even if Candy Spelling’s property was purchased anywhere near the vicinity of the initial asking price of $150 million USD, it is still just a drop in the ocean when considering Petra’s net-worth.

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Photos courtesy of Realtor.com.

During our travels, we’ve come across a number of former places of worship that have been lovingly restored into cutting-edge, contemporary, and very-livable homes. This masterpiece in Rotterdam, Netherlands – the work of Ruud Visser Architects – is certainly no exception.

Situated on the River De Rotte, the wooden church dates back to 1930 but had not functioned as a Church since the 1960s: it was simply being used as a storage space and garage. Completely covered with aluminum sheeting it represented both an architects dream job, not to mention a huge challenge.

On the back-side of the original church was the choir, its facade directly on the bank of the river, the choir has been replaced by a modern volume, completely out of glass which provides a magnificent view of the landscape.

If you like the idea of living in a stunning converted former Church, MarquetteTurner.com is currently offering one for sale in Utrecht, Netherlands. FIND OUT MORE

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Casa Pite in Papudo, Chile is out of this world. If you’re looking for somewhere to escape from the daily stresses of life, marvel at mother nature and breathe the ocean air, this guest house should be high up on your list.

Designed by architect Smiljan Radic, using contemporary design with dramatic line and angles, there is not one element of the property that doesn’t take absolute advantage of the position. Whether you’re resting by the pool, taking a swim, or rising and drifting off to sleep, the aspect is a pure delight.

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