A commemorative book documenting the visionary and varied responses to the Living Steel’s International Architecture Competitions will hit bookshelves in November.

Houses of Steel features 48 unique award winning designs from Living Steel’s International Architecture competitions for sustainable steel homes, including single and multi-storey residential projects.

All featured designs are winners or finalists from the three unique competitions, documenting the most outstanding entries between 2006 and 2008, including projects across India, Poland, Brazil, China, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Each project is presented with detailed sketches, 3D elevations, drawings and architectural plans, highlighting inventiveness, originality and sustainable features of the builds. Further information on each entry is detailed on the Living Steel website with flash modules to supplement the reading experience. The collaborative competition was launched to develop innovative approaches to meet sustainable housing needs using steel worldwide – a ubiquitous building material that offers a unique, cost effective design solution for the world’s growing urban populations.

Judged by some of the world’s leading architects, including Glenn Murcott and Charles Correa and attracting submissions from highly acclaimed architecture firms including Cartwright Pickard (United Kingdom), Peter Stutchbury Architecture (Australia), Perkins + Will (United States) and Hideto Horrike (Japan), the competition attracted thousands of entries worldwide to address the unprecedented pressure of urbanisation on infrastructure, communities and the quality of people’s lives.

Scott Chubbs, Programme Director, Living Steel said the book was a testament to the commitment of the world’s best architects to the use of steel in more sustainable housing.

"Houses of Steel offers readers an outstanding portfolio of designs that provide an extensive source of inspiration for architects and students alike. It is our hope that publishing these exceptional designs will encourage more architects to incorporate steel in housing design to further expand the role the worldwide architectural community can play in the development of global housing solutions,” Mr Chubbs said.

Andrew Orgorzalek, Director of PCKO Architects and competition Jury Member, said the book would inspire upcoming architects to rethink their approach to developing long-term sustainable housing.

“Steel technology in its pure form is traditionally rarely used in design, despite its ability to create light, flexible and transparent structures which offer cost-effective and recyclable housing.

"“Houses of Steel addresses the real and urgent need for architects to manifest their views and to produce innovative solutions to the seemingly overwhelming problem of housing some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Mr Orgozalek said.

Houses of Steel will be available in all major architecture and design bookstores globally in November 2009. Houses of Steel will be distributed in China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea by Azur Corporation; in Australia by The Scribo Group and in North America and globally by ACC Distribution.

Visit www.livingsteel.org for further information on Houses of Steel and the Living Steel programme.