A team of New York architects has designed a vinyl, octagonal structure they hope to set up in Haiti to help those left without housing after the January 12th earthquake. The 166 square foot structures are designed to withstand wind, hurricanes and earthquakes, and can be mass produced for about $3,000 each. HaitiSOFTHOUSE project manager Rodney Leon said, "There are people who are in these vulnerable conditions every day that can't live in those situations very long without getting sick. So we wanted to find something that was somewhere between a tent and a permanent house." more ›

The crane collapse last week that killed seven people showed just how weak the enforcement of safety rules and building codes are in New York City. In addition to the inspector who was arrested for faking a report on the inspection of the crane that collapsed on the East Side, engineer Jose Vargas was arraigned this month for failing to complete a final inspection on a discount store in the Bronx. The building collapsed unexpectedly during a fire in 2006, killing two firefighters. The Buildings Dept. is conducting a review of 29 other buildings that Vargas never signed off on. more ›