Increasingly, architects and home owners are responding to the need to be creative and flexible with how they create or convert existing structures into homes.

Church conversions and even stable conversions have turned unused buildings into residences across Australia, not to mention the growing trend of apartment conversions.

Looking further afield it seems that homes are being squeezed into and molded out of all types of structures.

A wind turbine

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This design is yet to be built, butit promises big things for home buyers in Rotterdam. With72 apartments planned within a steel and glass wind turbine, the Dutch Windwheel has the dual function of providing new housing and generating sustainable power.

The plan is for the windwheel to provide a tourist attraction for the area, including cabins that run on rails to see the views and allow visitors to see historical presentations and visit the panoramic restaurant/sky lobby within the wheel.

A hotel of 160 rooms across seven floors is also part ofthe design, as well asbasement car parking.

It's also expected to capture rain and produce biogas.

Luckily, it's the bladeless form of wind turbine, expected to be silent for those who live within the structure.

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Apartments in wind turbines: Five designs you never thought could be homes

HGA Architects and Engineers, one of the states largest design firms, has a new chief executive. On Feb. 1, Tim Carl succeeded Dan Avchen, who had been the companys CEO since 1996 and will now focus on strategic planning.

Throughout HGAs growth from a regional to a national firm, design excellence has always been at the heart of our philosophy and practice, and no one understands how to usher that legacy into the future better than Tim, Avchen said. Tim is a consummate designer and leader, and he recognizes the many opportunities for growth and innovation both within our firm and for our clients.

Carl, 51, has been at HGA for 17 years, most recently as a design principal working with designers in various offices on a number of projects. Hes won several design awards, and led design efforts on several high-profile projects, including the University of Minnesotas Northrop Auditorium renovation, the expansion and renovation of General Mills headquarters and the Nelson Cultural Center addition to the American Swedish Institute.

Carl also led the teams design and planning for the new St. Paul Chamber Orchestra concert hall, and is leading the design on a new Conservatory of Music and Dance for the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Dan and the senior leadership at HGA have built an extraordinary architectural firm, and I am honored to have this opportunity, Carl said. Our legacy is built on a culture of collaboration across a tremendous diversity of talent bringing the best ideas forward for clients in nine industries ranging from health care and corporate environments to higher education and energy infrastructure. This is an exciting time for HGA, and I am looking forward to the future and working with our teams and clients throughout the country.

HGA recently acquired a firm in San Jose, Calif., and has more than 650 employees. Building Design + Construction recently said HGA was one of the top 10 architecture and engineering firms in the United States.

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HGA Architects names new chief executive

2015-02-20 - Architects - Gravedigger live
Architects performing #39;Gravedigger #39; in Munich (Backstage-Club). Thank you guys for this gorgeous show!

By: camar078

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2015-02-20 - Architects - Gravedigger live - Video

City of Dreams Hotel Tower Macau Zaha Hadid Architects
http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/city-of-dreams-hotel-tower-cotai-macau/

By: ZahaHadid Architects

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City of Dreams Hotel Tower Macau Zaha Hadid Architects - Video

Naysayer - Architects live in Roncade (New Age)

By: Alberto Isolati

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Naysayer - Architects live in Roncade (New Age) - Video

Pier Solar and the great Architects #47 - Die Magieschule
Nix mehr verpassen: http://goo.gl/iYz3bn Playlist: http://goo.gl/mZJVbh -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

By: ByteMe

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Pier Solar and the great Architects #47 - Die Magieschule - Video

Architects - Dead Man Talking Live in Stuttgart Longhorn 2015
Architects in Stuttgart Februar 2015 mit Bless The Fall , Every Time I Die und Counterparts.

By: Halbtags Held

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Architects - Dead Man Talking Live in Stuttgart Longhorn 2015 - Video

Architects - Naysayer, Red Hypergiant + Grave Digger (C Club, Berlin)
Architects live in Berlin, C-Club, 28.02.2015 3:23 - Red Hypergiant 4:14 - Grave Digger.

By: LaZ Chris

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Architects - Naysayer, Red Hypergiant + Grave Digger (C Club, Berlin) - Video

The Architects Chair part two: Rough shaping the seat.
http://www.theunpluggedwoodshop.com/ Part two of The Architect #39;s Chair. In this video, the seat is roughed shaped using only 4 simple tools- a spokeshave, tw...

By: Tom Fidgen

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The Architects Chair part two: Rough shaping the seat. - Video

Architects - Even If You Win You #39;re A Rat Guitar Cover
A cover of Architects song.

By: Danny Nguyen

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Architects - Even If You Win You're A Rat Guitar Cover - Video