Until June 26 2011 visitors to the Woodmere Art Museum in Philadelphia can enjoy witnessing an extremely rare and interesting art exhibition.

Titled “Violet Oakley and the Women Artists of Paris”, the exhibition features the works created by some of finest female mural artists America has ever seen.

In the late 1800s, a young Violet Oakley enrolled at the Arts Student League in New York City.

12 months later the highly talented youngster moved to Paris where she became involved in the same circle as some of the most influential artists in Paris at the time and was influenced by the revolutionary artistic movement during that particular epoch – Impressionism.

The exhibition is dedicated to Violet Oakley’s work during the Impressionist movement and also includes works by some of the influential artists Oakley encountered during her time in Paris, such as Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt.

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Miami-based firm, NC-Office is planning to provide shelter to those who live in disaster-struck areas, particularly Haiti.

A house archetype, which was conceived for Haiti, aims to help those who are in need of relief in terms of shelter.

The structure will be split into 4 modules, measuring 8’x 8’ which can each be used like normal rooms. The whole area is divided into a bathroom/kitchen area, a living/dining area and also has a sleeping quarter.

The plans also include an ‘L’-shaped porch around the exterior. This shape will ensure that each house gets its own garden area to relax in. Not only will the house provide shelter for those that need it, but it will also help to rebuild a sense of community for those that lost their homes in the Haiti disaster.

The homes are aimed at places that are particularly earthquake prone, and are built to be sturdy enough to tolerate extreme conditions.

The structures contain crucial 4”x 4” steel ‘H’ beams and columns, and the whole unit is believed to form a rigid box that will be positioned over a chain of stone walls. They will be able to tolerate high force winds and earthquakes to prevent the residents from facing the same problems as before.

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