"These slatted benches are constructed as meticulously jointed wooden frames in sections of 2 and 3 cubes. Their light airy structure provides ideal minimal impact seating but they can also be used as coffee or occasional tables or at the foot of a bed. Low profile leather cushions are available as accessories"
Link: Seri
There has been a lot of talk recently about planted roofscapes. We have featured a few projects recently that have employed green roofs, and just today we have run across two news articles: one features a Toronto resident has created a roof garden on top of his garage, and the other a commercial building in Washington D.C. And of course there is the Ford Motor Company factory complex which has been renovated with a 10 acre planted roofscape.
There are multiple benefits to green roofs from this insulation value for the building to larger environmental issues such as the urban "heat island" effect, not to mention the design possibilities.
So for your browsing pleasure, here is a compilation of some links that we have found regarding green roofs... enjoy:
Article: Globe and Mail
Article: Washington Post
Article: MSNBC (Ford Factory)
Link: Ford's River Rouge Factory
Link: Roofmeadow
Link: Hyedrotech
Link: Green Roof Plants
Link: Creating a green roof (Interesting to read... dare to do-it-yourself?)
Reference:
Green Crusade
Reference: The Wind Tunnel
Reference:
Greenwich Academy Upper School/ Library building
Inspired by the famous garden festival at Chaumont in France, Chris Hougie teamed with Peter Walker to create an American avant-garde garden show. The Cornerstone Festival of gardens is located in Sonoma Valley, California, about a 40 minute drive north of San Francisco. The show features well known landscape architects and designers such as: Peter Walker; Lutsko Associates; Mark Rios; Ken Smith; Walter Hood; Martha Schwartz; Andy Cao; Mario Schjetnan; and Pamela Burton.
Link: Cornerstone Festival of Gardens
Via: ASLA Landscape Architecture News Digest
The delayed and (naturally) controversial memorial to Princess Diana has been completed and will be officially dedicated July 6th by Queen Elizabeth. The design by American landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson was selected by the memorial committee in a design competition. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has described the memorial as such: "Like the Princess herself, the fountain is open and approachable. In some areas it offers a welcoming space for families and paddling children, in others a shady spot for quiet contemplation."
Link: BBC News
Link: The Guardian
Link: Royal Parks Press Room (detailed description of design and construction process)
Firm: Gustafson Porter
New from modern furniture designer Richard Schultz:
"Our new Pavilion is a modern garden gazebo designed to define space and create shade. The structure is 100% stainless steel with pleated vinyl mesh top and side curtains. Choose from our modular components to create your own layout."
Link: Richard Schultz
Well known and broadly published landscape architect Ron Herman has designed gardens for celebrities such as Joe Montana and Neil Young and for corporations and institutions such as Oracle and the National Gallery in Washington D.C. He studied with California landscape greats Garret Eckbo and Lawrence Halprin at Berkeley and went on to graduate school in Japan. These influences can easily be seen in his creative, expansive and dynamic landscapes.
We respect his attention to detail as well as his ability to manipulate space and layer a landscape in such a way that it feels larger than it actually is.
Interested in Panelite but not sure how to apply it? Looking for slightly different yet creative ways to use it? ID Magazine invited three designers to get creative with Panelite and the resulting concepts are "sweet".
"Bright, bubbly, and inclined to glow, Panelite panels make cheerful company. But this material is no floozy. Constructed of a honeycomb core of polymer, fiberglass, or aluminum sandwiched between fiberglass facings, it's strong and consistently rigid for its weight. A 4-by-8-foot panel, 3/4-inches thick, is 32 pounds, a feather compared to acrylic (144 pounds), or plate glass (316 pounds) in the same dimensions. What's more, the gumdrop colors and honeycomb cells produce vivid visual effects when light passes through the material.Image: Leni Schwendinger Light ProjectsWhat might other adventurous types do with Panelite? We asked the lighting designer Leni Schwendinger, industrial designer Gadi Amit of Newdealdesign, and graphic designer Mirko Ilic each to propose an application. They and their colleagues worked like drones to produce the concepts presented here."
Innovative stool designed by Natalie Cole and Wayne Pottinger of the recently formed Also Studio. The stool, made from birch ply (have we already said how much we dig birch ply?), folds up for convenient storing when not in use.
Link: Also Studio
Via: Wallpaper
Interesting light design found over at Funfurde:
"The Low Volt Light from SuckUK is about as minimalist a design as you'll see. There's no shade and no on/off switch, just a bare bulb and two hoops of wire. Put the bulb in one hoop and it turns on, put it in the other and it turns off. (Okay, there are a few more parts, like a cord so you can plug it in and a shiny reflector plate. But that's it. Really.)"Via: Funfurde
According to John Latschar, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park, the architects hired during the Mission 66 program "ran amok." The Mission 66 program implemented under Eisenhower produced, in addition to Neutra's Cyclorama Center, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis by Eero Saarinen.
The LA Times ran an article yesterday by Mark Rozzo entitled Who Chooses History?
The National Park Service Has Decided That L.A. Architect Richard Neutra's Landmark Cyclorama Center--Which Has Stood at the Gettysburg Battlefield for More Than 40 Years--Now Detracts From the History.Richard Neutra's son Dion, who is also an architect, is fighting the impending demolition of the "Abraham Lincoln Shrine of the Nation." Besides running amok, the other great quote from the LA Times article is this one from Mr. Latschar, "Mr. Neutra had the idea that this would be his monument to Lincoln and freedom and all that stuff." Yeah, why bother with all that stuff?
Article: LA Times
Link: Richard and Dion Neutra Architecture
Link: Mission 66: Mid Century Modern Architecture in the National Parks
We've always loved the simple lines of the Emeco Navy chair. After looking up some info on Gehry's new Superlight chair by Emeco, we came across a picture of the Navy in polished
Oh, and as for the Superlight? Well, the jury is still out on that one. Ok, to be honest, we're not crazy about it. Which leads us to wonder how Joe's performance on the Navy would standup against a similar performance on the Superlight. Hmmm, Joe?
UPDATE: Today we received an email from Dan Fogelson, VP of Sales and Marketing for Emeco. He wanted to inform us that we incorrectly described the Navy as "chrome" when in fact it is highly polished aluminum and very easy to keep clean. Here's what Dan had to say:
"Thank-you for your mention of Emeco on your site. Emeco makes 100% aluminum furniture - we do not chrome plate our products (a process that is environmentally dangerous and temporary). The photo you show is of a hand polished aluminum Navy chair. Simple Windex or other non streaking cleaner keeps it looking great. Next time you are in NYC, stop by the Hudson hotel where our polished chairs have been used continuously for close to five years. And if you are in the US, I'd like to show you the new Gehry Superlight T chair for your review now that it is in production."Thanks for setting us straight on the Navy, Dan, and we'll be sure to get in touch with you about the Superlight.
Link: Emeco.net
Link: Emeco Superlight Press Release
Link: Book of Joe
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The Tread line of funky translucent chairs and cubes stands in contrast to the sculptural and graceful Wave line of furniture also by Float that we featured a while back. That's what we like about Float, they design furniture that shares a common spirit, but a that has a completely different feel and look. Both the Tread chair and cube come in a variety of translucent cast rubber colors.
Link: Float
Locus Architecture has created an updated bungalow style home constructed in a manner that reduces the waste and negative environmental impact inherent in standard construction practices. And... it's for sale!
It’s a synthesis of fanciful urban loft and practical family basecamp. Kaleidoscopic art and green design. Radical new techniques and reused materials. Welcome to nowhaus 01: the first in a series of singular homes that celebrate modern, sustainable city living—conceived and built by LOCUS Architecture. This dramatic rebirth of a 1950s rambler near Cedar Lake manifests our core principles—and some of our most intriguing ideas.Link: NowHaus
When we saw the work of this young photographer, we felt as if we had found a kindred spirit... though one who is truly a photographer and not just someone who loves to document everything with photographs as we do. Some of his work made us think of the photographs we love by Charles and Ray Eames. We truly admire Pete's eye for capturing the extraordinary, humorous, and sublime in the ordinary environments that surround us.
In addition to his own very nicely designed online portfolio, some of his work is featured on fStopImages.
Peter Baker is disarming. The youngest contributor to the fStop collection, his work is a synthesis of studied professionalism and youthful exuberance.
Link: Peter Baker Photography
Link: fStopImages
To follow up on yesterday's post, more modern alpine architecture. This time an exhibit which runs from today through the end of October in New York, and then moves to Helskinki.
The first American showcase of the varied and energetic architectural scene flourishing in Austria's two exquisite, westernmost mountain provinces of Tirol and Vorarlberg. Featuring the work of 26 individual architects and firms, Austria West presents an array of models, drawings, photographs, and other documentation, revealing the ways in which architects in these two very different regional cultures have together forged a new Alpine modernism of international relevance.Link: Austrian Cultural Forum
"The VIP Chair was especially designed for the World Expo 2000 in Hanover. It was used in the VIP room at the top of the Dutch Pavilion. The VIP Chair is now part of the Moooi collection.The chair is completely upholstered with a woollen, felt-like textile, available in a few different colours. The upholstery covering the legs of the chair hang loose, like trouser legs. Thanks to hidden wheels, when the chair moves it looks like it's floating above the ground."
Designer: Marcel Wanders
Link: Moooi
Check out this little project from ReadyMade magazine for an inexpensive and personalized lamp. We haven't tried it ourselves, but we think it looks pretty cool... and plus, we were looking for a weekend project.
Link: ReadyMade
As snow sport enthusiasts, we are always intrigued by modern alpine architecture since the vast majority of mountain architecture is heavy timbered and rustic. This competition seeks to put a Swedish resort on the map with an enormous mountaintop complex featuring a hotel, 3500 seat auditorium, restaurants, spa, ski facilities, etc.
The winning entry called Biesse-Baenie by Swedish firm Wingårdh Arkitektkontor is a stunning topographic design that extends the slopes and ski lifts up onto an artificial roof landscape punctuated by organic crystalline mounds forming sky lights and the hotel building. The gondola sweeps from the town square at the foot of the mountain and up into the main lobby space of the new building.
The other proposals are also very interesting, but we agree with the jury; the Biesse-Baenie proposal is outstanding.
Link: Breath of Life
Firm: Wingårdh Arkitektkontor
The first group of houses is under construction and "Sagaponac House-43" by Hariri & Hariri has just been completed.
The Houses at Sagaponac is a residential development in the Hamptons on Long Island, New York. It is a sort of who's who gallery of starchitects all building in the same neighborhood. The idea is to create something in contrast to the recent proliferation of shingle style "McMansions" inspired by another starchitect with a more historicist bent, Robert A. M. Stern.
The houses themselves are all designed to create modest, functional, single-family living spaces from 2,000 to 4,500 square feet that are environmentally conscious without compromising artistic vision.Apparently $1.4 - 2.9 million for a house is modest in the Hamptons... anyway, there are some cool designs to be built and we applaud the landscape plan for the development which emphasizes indigenous vegetation and eschews planting of vast ornamental lawns.
Via: Architectural Record
Link: Houses at Sagaponac
Firm: Hariri and Hariri Architecture
So bad it's good. Yeah, there is some bad stuff in here, but then again, we kind of dig some of the ideas. It begs to be said... totally groovy. Can we help it if we are children of the ´70's? Just wait until we are looking back at 2004 in thirty years. Seriously.
Link: EUROBAD '74
Via: Things Magazine
This competition sponsored by the AIA Committee on Design produced some interesting results. Entrants were asked to "explore the impact of their designs relative to sustainability, economics, and social issues." First place (design shown at right) was awarded to a team composed of Jeffrey S. Lee, AIA; David Hill, Assoc. AIA; Matthew Konar; Jennifer Olson; Nelson Tang; Marni Vinton, and Holly Williams.
Link: AIArchitect
Looking back, the critical turning point was when people realized mobility investments were crucial enablers of quality of life, not detractors. Mobility is the lifeblood of our city. When it deteriorates and going places becomes just too much of a hassle, the loss is subtle but significant: the lunch with a friend not taken, the handshake business deal not made, the romantic dinner forgone, the family outing canceled, the volunteer or charity event missed, or that great little hole-in-the-wall restaurant that slowly dies because customers can't get to it. Real quality of life is when people can make connections to other people the true essence of any city. Great cities — world-class cities — are not a closed collection of isolated islands. They are open cities. Connected cities.Via: Houston Chronicle
This complex of apartments, shops and offices has all the elements of so many "mixed-use" developments which are cropping up in the United States recently, but with a few key differences. First and foremost, the complex has been built over the course of three decades, expanding and adapting with time. In addition the design is modern, the scale is intimate and the result is brilliant.
The basic idea is intelligently urban (an early modern New Urbanism) with much attention paid to the "interaction of facade and street space, understanding the sidewalk as a place of activity." The development also features a network of paths and stairways which connect the various levels of the hillside complex and provide pedestrian circulation through the site.
What is remarkable is that the complex blends so well into its context without resorting to pseudo-historicism. If only more American cities and developers would learn this lesson of incremental development and detailed place making.
Firm: Maki and Associates
Link: Hillside Terrace
"New techniques now allow recycled polyester to be created with a softer texture and hand. Insight is an effervescent yet soothing design of variously sized circles suggesting both creative process and contemplation. Gizmo, an amusing pattern whose motif brings to mind a non-specific bit of technology, is woven from a bouclé yarn for a level of texture unusual in recycled polyester. Mindscape is a sophisticated alternative to a solid or a pattern, a dreamy texture that makes the perfect background for any flight of the imagination. All three patterns are created from the same new, cleaner, and forward-thinking technology, yet most impressive of all, are colored with the usual high Unika Vaev standards and fit seamlessly into the Collection as a whole."
Designer: Dorothy Cosonas
Link: Unika Vaev
From Bernhardt Design comes the Orbit chair. Designed by Ross Lovegrove, this chair is part of their "Guest" collection.
Designer: Ross Lovegrove
Link: Bernhardt Design
Lisa Chamberlain at Metropolis writes:
"On March 30, 2003, in the dead of night, a bulldozer lumbered through downtown Chicago toward its much celebrated lakefront. Dispatched by Mayor Richard M. Daley with a police escort, it turned onto a 90-acre peninsula, home to a tiny airport known as Meigs Field, and without warning, plowed giant Xs into the airport’s single runway, rendering it useless. Chicagoans were stunned by this seemingly bizarre act of destruction. Mayor Daley said the war in Iraq and fears about airport security were the reasons for bulldozing the runway. This brass-knuckles move, however, stranded 16 airplanes—infuriating the corporate community and cementing Daley’s reputation as an autocrat. Of course, it’s not unheard of for unilateral action to be justified in the name of national security, even if the real motive turns out to be quite different. So what was the mayor’s strong-arm tactic really about?Believe it or not, a simple park."
Link: Metropolis
"When you work in a field for a long time, it can seem that the same things happen, day after day. But occasionally, it's a good idea to sit back and take a look at what has been going on. A couple of rainy days recently gave me some time to look over the topics of my roughly 400 columns and identify some new threads in the landscape fabric. For instance, I noticed an increasing desire in recent years for "natural" solutions to landscape opportunities and problems. Here is more on that topic and other topics of increasing current interest."
Link: Washington Post
"The 2 Bar Slip is anchored by a central living space with windowed views in every direction, perfect for a site with desirable views in multiple directions. The central living-dining-kitchen space opens at two corners to bright windowed halls that lead to bedrooms. This space creates a cross-directional axis that is further implied by tilted roof and ceiling planes, opening the interior to the outside.. The two separated wings of bedrooms allow the house to easily sustain a large family, or work as a shared duplex residence."
"Egg Bird Feeders attract many types of wild birds and the elegant, clean design is a perfect addition to any outdoor environment. The handmade Egg Bird Feeder is also easy to use, durable and gray squirrel proof."
Link: eggbirdfeeders.com
"Award-winning garden designer Christopher Bradley-Hole has drawn together a great variety of minimalist gardens from around the world - large and small, urban and rural. The projects are grouped into thematic chapters, including the landscape garden, pools and water gardens, courtyard gardens, and terrace and roof gardens. Among the designers are Vladimir Sitta, John Pawson, Luis Barragán, Seth Stein, Jacques Wirtz, Martha Schwartz, Shodo Suzuki, and Isamu Noguchi. Large color photographs and detailed images show the gardens in context; the text discusses the inspiration behind each garden, the relationship of space and proportions, and the frequent use of unusual materials and imaginative planning. Directories of materials and plants for the perfect minimalist garden are included as well."
Author: Christopher Bradley-Hole
Link: Booklounge.com
Art Center's new South Campus in Pasadena transforms a site of industrial desolation into a metaphor for our times.
The design proves that desolation and decay can be virtues. A subtle balance of grit and elegance, the building draws on the wonderful moodiness of its setting. Old forms are carved up with surgical precision; new forms are imbued with palpable energy. The result is a building that is both emotionally raw and marvelously unpretentious.
Link: LA Times Calendar Live (registration required)
Reference: The Wind Tunnel
"Bruce Mau Designs collaborates with some of the world's leading architects, artists, writers, curators, academics, entrepreneurs, businesses and institutions." Just a couple of his well known designs are the font commissioned for the Walt Disney Conert Hall in Los Angeles (yes, a Frank Gehry connection) and the design for Rem Koolhaus's book S, M, L, XL. How about a little Bruce Mau on your couch? He has created several panel fabric patterns for Maharam.
MegaNano by Bruce Mau challenges the predictably static appearance of panel fabric in the corporate office environment with the introduction of two series of patterns, each centered on a singular theme presented in macro (Mega), micro (Nano) and mixed (MegaNano) scales. Constructed with 100% post-industrial recycled polyester, MegaNano Structure, Mega Structure and Nano Structure depict an elemental organic grid, while MegaNano Point, Mega Point, Nano Point and the over-scale Giga Point are based on perforated punch cards that recall the origins of our computerized society.Maharam also produces textile patterns by such designers as Charles and Ray Eames, Hella Jongerius, George Nelson and Verner Panton just to name a few.
Link: Maharam
Designer: Bruce Mau Design, Inc.
Sam Maloof is well known as a master craftsman and designer of contemporary furniture. His works are featured in the permanent collections of many of museums, including, the Smithsonian, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Art Museum, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Now through the Maloof Foundation, the Maloof's home in Alta Loma, California (east of Los Angeles), is open to the public. The home evolved over many years and was crafted by Sam Maloof as if it were a giant piece of furniture.
Link: Maloof Foundation
Book: Amazon
Fun new dining table from Crate & Barrel subsidiary, CB2. If you haven't already looked, check out the recent LA Times article (below) on knockoffs. Sort of reminds you of that Noguchi table doesn't it? Needless to say, this is an attractive table at an attractive price.
"Web of intrigue and desire. Along came our spyder. Seat six down beside her. Handcrafted steel spokes crisscross and radiate in a dramatic black ice finish. Beveled glass top takes in the view."Link: CB2
Feature article from Domus on the Dutch Son-O-House:"The Son-O-House is a sculpture that does not spring from a movement trapped in the material. The movement actually remains virtually present in the volume of the structure; it surrounds its material elements and, at the same time, permeates them. The same applies to the sounds emitted by the installation that Van der Heide has integrated into Spuybroek’s project. The speakers do not play music but a droning sound, the key of which varies according to the movements of those present in the various rooms."
David Keeps at the LA Times writes about knockoffs in the design world.
"Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when it comes to design, it can also be the most insulting form of commerce.Take the classic Ball Clock created by George Nelson, a master of midcentury industrial design. A simple configuration of metal rods and painted wood, the 1948 timepiece, then priced less than $25, was an icon of peacetime that transformed the structure of an atom into a whimsical decoration. On Sunday, Los Angeles Modern Auctions sold a vintage Ball Clock for $1,300. As the hammer fell on the final bid, Ben Storck of Modern One asked: "Don't people ever tire of that clock?
Apparently not. The Ball Clock is one of the most recognizable — and most copied — products of the fabulous '50s."
Link: LA Times
Reference: Ikea and DWR
Right up there with the Dualit toaster, we've always considered the Kitchenaid mixer to be one of the must-have countertop appliances for your kitchen. Then we discovered that Viking makes a countertop mixer. Both come in a multitude of colors. The Kitchenaid maxes out at 6 quarts and 525 watts; the Viking takes you up to 7 quarts and 1000 watts. That's some serious horsepower in the kitchen. Move over Kitchenaid.
Link: Viking
Reasonably priced "digital thermal prints" that are sure to add a touch of color to any interior."A 'modern digital canvas' is the stylish and affordable art solution for any interior. Our cool modern images are thermally printed and arrive ready to hang. Sized 3-6 feet high and priced $150 - $395. Complete your space with an innovative, M-DC."
Link: md-canvas.com
We think that Kohler makes some pretty nicely designed products, but this just leaves us speechless.
Link: Kohler
We really like this cabin... despite its name... and we are not alone as it was granted with an honor award by the American Institute of Architects this year. This resembles no "cabin" we have ever seen, but with the elemental form and use of simple materials, the moniker seems very appropriate. The design is certainly bold, but we think that it fits nicely within its surroundings. And check out that view... we can conceive of no finer picture frame. Plus, we just want to play with that door.
Firm: Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects
Link: 2004 AIA Honor Award
An LA Weekly article by Gloria Ohland entitled "Brave New Cityscape" makes an urban critique of icon buildings and their designers.
This is "starchitecture" that pushes the aesthetic frontier but also evidences the self-indulgence that can result from the cult of celebrity and genius. And there’s a strain of machismo running through these trophy buildings, as cocky and detached as they are from the surrounding neighborhoods.
While starchitecture has certainly given L.A. an edge, it’s those who look back as well as forward who will show us the way to a brave new world.
Article: LA Weekly
Designed by Berlin design studio Double Standards, this light fixture caught our eye for its use of color and material, and its object nature. Clearly this is not a reading lamp.
Double Standards is a multidisciplinary design studio producing a wide range of designs: lamps, interiors, print, film, etc.
Link: Double Standards
"We installed most of the wall panels in two days. The beams were extremely heavy, but Kevin and Neal installed all of them. We will finish the exterior walls and install the roof trusses during the 4th of July weekend. Until then, we will put a final coat of waterproofing on the foundation, install the drainage system and Sonny will finish backfilling."
Link: Article
Link: LV Home Kit
Reference: LV Home - Building Update I
Reference: LV Home - Building Update II
Reference: LV Home - Building Update III
Fun lampshades from UK designer Madeleine Rogers.
"In 2001, Madeleine Rogers left her career in art directing to start up her company mibo. Her intention was to create original, yet affordable interiors products. First off the press were the distinctive patterned lampshades, still a firm favourite, all bearing seaside inspired names and mibo’s now familiar bold colour palette."
Link: mibo
The guys over at Gadget Madness have a pretty in-depth review of the Philips Senseo coffee maker. The Senseo is a marginally attractive appliance that uses "coffee pods" to brew one or two cups of joe "with a frothy coffee layer that seals in aroma and taste." The Senseo comes in three colors (blue, black, white). The only problem we have is we tend to brew our coffee 10-12 cups at at time in order to get our caffeine buzz. Two cups just won't cut it.
"Needless to say the coffee this thing makes is consistently strong, frothy, smooth, and freakin' delicious. I say this from the vantage point of having consumed every form of caffeine I've ever been able to get my hands on, everything from chewing handfuls of raw beans to Starbucks, from Seattle's Best to Cafe du Monde, toss in some French Market, Cafe Molido, and Medaglia D'oro - you name it. I don't generally care much for brewed coffee, but the drip from the Senseo is probably the best I have tasted from a standard drip coffee maker. The coffee isn't the best part about the Senseo though - the cleanup is!"Via: Gadget Madness
Developed by architect, Eric Rosen, and furniture maker, Joel Stearns, Terraboard is a product made from recycled papers bonded together with glues and hardeners to form durable tiles and panels for a variety of applications. Three basic product lines provide a rand of color and texture options. Custom panels can be made to incorporate graphics, special papers, etc.
Link: Terraboard
An impressive portfolio of bold landscape designs, theoretical writings, and sketches. Their website is a bit cumbersome and layered, but well worth the effort.
Whilst Room 4.1.3's central expertise is landscape architecture it specifically encourages and supports interdisciplinary and diverse modes of production and discourse. Room 4.1.3 is concerned with translating ecological and poetic readings of places into urbane, innovative, built forms which are intellectually labyrinthine. Therefore, the work is both monstrous and joyous, both popular and personal.Firm: Room 4.1.3.
We noticed a trend on some of the other design blogs this morning in that several of them were featuring glassware. For the past few years, we've been using highballs from the Balance barware collection featured at Pottery Barn (yes, Pottery Barn) and we love them. Thick, heavy, sturdy, simple. Pour yourself two glasses of your favorite beverage -- one for each hand -- and you'll get quite a workout curling these 18 oz. behemoths. I wouldn't drink my, uh, non-fat milk any other way.
"Artisans in Poland give these handblown glasses heavy bases and smoothly flared sides that make them a pleasure to hold. Before each glass cools and hardens, the blower uses scissors to cut and shape the rim. Each is oversized to hold plenty of your favorite libation. Made from soda lime glass that's as clear as water."Link: Pottery Barn
Now here is a Gehry chair we can love.
"Frank O. Gehry is one of today's most important architects. Gehry likes to use unusual materials for his architecture and furniture and with the furniture series "Easy Edges" from 1972 he succeeded in lending such everyday material as cardboard a new aesthetic dimension. Although they appear unbelievably simple "Easy Edges" are constructed with the architect's care as well as being very robust and stable. Four models from the series - Side Chair, Wiggle Side Chair, Dining Table and Low Table Set - are now being produced by Vitra."
Designer: Frank Gehry bio at Vitra
Link: Vitra
Perfect for groovin' in your space age bachelor pad. The Space Panel is constructed of white fiberglass and features a fixture in the middle. Mount them on the ceiling next to your mirrors. They can also be ordered in custom colors. Groovy, baby.
Speaking of roof gardens (we always end up with some kind of theme running through our posts) the newly opened building at the Art Center College of Design South Campus features a planted roofscape designed by Nancy Goslee Power. We made a visit a couple weeks ago and took some pictures... should've charged the battery... but oh well...
The first major exhibition to be held in The Wind Tunnel is happening right now: a region-wide exhibition of all the artists graduating the MFA programs at Art Center, CalArts, Claremont Graduate University, Otis, UCI, UCLA, UCSD and USC.
Also see the article in Metropolis about Art Center's long range campus plans... which, we are relieved to know... include work by Frank Gehry. Too bad he doesn't build much.
Architect: Daly Genik
Landscape Architect: Nancy Goslee Power & Associates
Link: Article in Metropolis
Show: Supersonic Jun 12 - Aug 21, 2004
Latest book from landscape architect Signe Nielson. From the publisher:
"Great design ideas are combined with practical tips on transforming an outdoor living space into a personal oasis. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of examples, this book provides a stunning portfolio of hidden treasures and is packed with innovative and useful suggestions. You will be able to make informed choices for everything from style to plant selection. The book guides you through steps toward composing a sky garden, beginning with key principles of design. Discover endless possibilities for creating a special place, whether a shady nook for relaxation or a dramatic vista for alfresco dining. Bring your airy retreat to life by choosing from eye-catching plant combinations and furniture arrangements. Add the finishing touch with lighting, outdoor sculpture and ornaments, and fountains and other water effects that make a garden uniquely your own. This is an invaluable resource for everyone planning to renovate or build a rooftop, terrace, or balcony garden. With expert advice and images from a leading landscape architect, you will be inspired to express your personality by adapting the ideas to suit your taste, needs, and budget."Link: Schiffer Books
Outdoor showers are the hip thing to have in your yard this summer. Earlier, we featured a shower from Target and one from Restoration hardware. The Target shower, we found out, was made from nyatoh wood, which just isn't quite up to par with the teak found on the Restoration Hardware shower. However, if wood just isn't your thing, we've found a stainless steel model at -- where else? -- DWR:
"The slender Coro Shower has an easy-to-assemble, freestanding design that hooks up to any standard garden hose for convenient beach and poolside rinsing. Attached to a heavy metal base plate (diameter of 17"), it is completely stable and scaled for users of every height. The shower’s all-stainless steel construction is resistant to corrosion, and will provide years of consistent use. Because of its compact and unobtrusive form, the design is a practical addition to even the most manicured of outdoor environments. Made in Italy."Link: CORO
"The Australian Garden will open in 2005. Designed by Landscape Architects, Taylor Cullity Lethlean with Paul Thompson, it will feature the remarkable Sand Garden, an expansive and open garden reminiscent of sparsely vegetated landscapes and the Rockpool Waterway which explores the role of water in shaping the landscapes of Australia, and particularly the beauty of water moving over a predominantly flat land. Also featured will be Display Gardens and the Dry River Walk, where visitors can encounter the beginnings of water flow in our landscape."
Link: The Australian Garden
Firm: Taylor Cullity Lethlean
Parklex panels are manufactured from 100% natural wood fibres and treated with durable resins to create a high performance wood surface product. Different grades and treatments are availble for various applications; exterior cladding, floors, interior wall panels, countertops, etc. The panels are also available in a wide range of colors and finishes.
Link: Parklex
US Distributor: Finland Color Plywood Corporation
"The Pope-Leighey House is a "Usonian" house which represented Wright's vision of affordable, well-designed housing in a democratic America. The low cost was attempted, in part, by the conventional means of reduction in size, and the use of four basic materials-- wood, brick, concrete, and glass. The reverse board-and-batten "sandwich" walls were an attempt to simplify construction by fabricating the exterior and interior walls as a complete unit. Wright designed the floor plan on a 2' x 4' grid which saved on costly on-site estimation."
Birch ply tables and stools by designer Corin Mellor."Birch plywood furniture designed by Corin Mellor and made in England for David Mellor Design. These beautiful minimalist stools and tables are versatile and mobile, enhancing almost any architectural environment."Designer: Corin Mellor
A beautiful wood sidetable found on the website of Australian custom furniture designer Anton Gerner. Unfortunately, other than the dimensions of the table (480 X 480 X 400 mm) there isn't any detailed info on this table with regards to wood, construction, etc. This is, in our opinion, the standout piece from his Art Deco collection.
Link: Zebrano Sidetable
Designer: Anton Gerner
Bay Area designers Davis Dalbok and Tim O'Shea collaborate on landscape designs for gardens and interiors with "a fusion of unique Pacific Rim-styled sensibilities." While we don't necessarily have a problem with the rustic Asian touches used in a sort of interior-design-mode of display, that is not the aspect of Living Green that appeals to us. Rather it is the arrangement, juxtaposition and layering of textures, and colors of their plant material choices that we admire.
Isn't birch ply wonderful? We've used birch ply for lots of things that we've built: shelves, coffee tables, platform beds, the list goes on. The designers over at Szado are also hip to the wonders of birch ply and have used it to create the Spyder chair."The Spyder chair is for people who want to exercise their freedom of expression at home or the office. This curvaceous chair exudes confidence and fun. The smooth planes of wood are angled just right for a very enjoyable sit. And it tends to make people giggle."The Spyder is available in a maple, cherry, or walnut finish.
Link: SZADO
Via: Sensory Impact
"In 1931, destiny brought Edward J Wormley, a young twenty three year old furniture designer with a fresh new perspective, to the doors of DUNBAR. A gifted designer and student of furniture history, Wormley inspired a global perspective and was instrumental in the introduction of world-class design philosophies into the American interior landscape. With a passion for quality and an eye for detail, Wormley found a perfect partner for his talent in DUNBAR, and remained with the company as Design Director for over three decades."
Now the designs of Edward J. Wormley are available for the first time in over 50 years.
"Tillamook Cheddar is a Jack Russell Terrier from Brooklyn, New York. She is widely regarded as the world’s preeminent canine artist. In her native New York City she has already had six solo exhibitions. Tillie is five years old.
In April 2002 Tillie worked with 25 humans in an incredible feat of interspecial collaboration: the COLLAROBATIONS exhibition, presented at The National Arts Club.
Last year the artist reached another milestone, the first inclusion of her work in a museum exhibition—PETROPOLIS at the New-York Historical Society."
Artist: Tillamook Cheddar
Via: Artbox Project
"Introducing Aura, a sensuous new lighting addition to the Pablo Collection by designer Fred Bould. The Aura's glowing shade appears to float freely, tethered by its gently coiled cordset tht exits out of a side portal. Aura is injection molded in clear tinted acrylic for optimal clarity and durability."
Designer: Fred Bould
Link: Pablo
Link: Nambé
We saw this at a new restaurant recently... like Greg Brady's attic bedroom that we were always so jealous of, but way more sexy. It's just a chain of metal balls, nothing new here, but the application... ah the application of the system. It can be used for a wide variety of effects and purposes as demonstrated on their website, and is available in a range of sizes, colors, textures, finishes and track configurations. Does it make you randy, baby?
Link: ShimmerScreen
A hat rack that you can use to hang just about anything. From the Mox website:"There's nearly everything you can hang on LILI. A wardrob to be used in an exceptional way. Avalible in playwood oak blached or playwood oak stains brown."Dimensions: 100x100cm (max. distance from wall 20cm)
Link: Mox.ch
Roger Duffy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill integrated landscape and architecture in a new building for a private high school in Greenwich, Connecticut, with light artist James Turrell and landscape architects Brown Sardina. The landscape weaves through the building in the form of courtyards, and the roof is literally an extension of the landscape as the sloping site allows the roof of the merge with the ground plane. Transparent glass facades and light cupolas on the rooftops of each structure flood the building with daylight.
In addition to the extensive use of daylight, other sustainable design initiatives include the use of recycled materials, a waste management plan, storm water and irrigation systems, and high quality air and energy systems.
Via: Architectural Record
Firm: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Firm: Brown Sardina
Link: Hydrotech Garden Roof system
"Walter Gropius, founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus, was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. He designed this house as his family home in 1937, when he came to teach at Harvard's Graduate School of Design."Visit: Gropius House
We came across this website about artist Andy Goldsworthy by a student in the Environmental Analysis program at Pomona College. We have always admired Mr. Goldsworthy's work, so this seemed to be the perfect follow up to our first art category post from yesterday.
Goldsworthy makes site-specific pieces of art using only the materials and tools found on the site where he is working. We were drawn to respect for nature and the sense of place inherent in Goldsworthy's art. Most of his work is created in isolated natural site, but he has also done works in urban environments as well as installation piece such as the current exhibit at the Met in New York. An important aspect of his work is the passage of time and the decay of his art by the forces of nature.
Link:
Andy Goldsworthy
Please note that the images across the top of the page are links - slow loading rollovers
Time: Amazon
Elaine Louie writes about the Nicholas Murcutt designed Box House in the today's NY Times online edition. An excerpt from the article:"...in Australia the Box House is much admired among designers, having won a commendation in 2002 from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. And it is not even finished. For $50,000, Ms. Charles and Mr. Halstead got a roof over their head, but not a gas stove or hot water. That's Stage 2, to be completed in August for another $11,000 (all sums in this article are in American dollars). They will have to wait for Stage 3 for a toilet, to be tucked into a storage shed with solar panels on the roof. The collected electricity will permit a refrigerator, hot water and lights. Stage 3, still on the drawing board, will cost another $11,000. In the meantime, the family uses a neighbor's outhouse, which the Australians call a long drop. It is also a long haul, being more than 100 feet away."
Architect: Nicholas Murcutt
Link: NY Times
Link: NineMSN
Images: © Brett Boardman for The New York Times
Two size are available (basic and laptop) in a range of milk crate colors. We dig it.
Link: Thingsmatter
Via: Archinect
The Board of Trustees of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has selected the recipients of the 2004 Medals and Firm Award, to be presented on November 1, 2004, during the ASLA Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.Peter Walker will receive the ASLA Medal, the highest honor the ASLA may bestow upon a landscape architect and Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC, will receive the Landscape Architecture Firm Award.
"Aarnio was - and still is - one of the pioneers in using plastic in industrial design. Plastic material set the designers free to create every shape and use every color they wanted. This gave birth to objects oscillating between function and fun - but always fascinating ones."
Link: Eero Aarnio
Link: Ball Chair
Link: Bubble Chair
Link: Screw Tables
Link: Tipi
"Andrew Lindell is a carpenter and self-taught artist currently living in Toronto. He draws his inspiration from his extensive traveling in the Canadian arctic and his love and concern for the environment."We haven't really featured any artists on L+L, but this one caught our attention. He's an environmentally aware carpenter turned artist, and that just seems interesting...... and maybe we're having a bit of snow withdrawls now that summer is here, and we saw the painting entitled "Powder" as well as the two pieces featuring skiers, so that tipped the scale in favor of featuring Mr. Lindell. At any rate, an interesting collection of work inspired by nature.
Link: Andrew Lindell
An Atlanta based firm adds more space to their client's apartment by going up.
"Our client loved the views from the roof of his loft apartment in the Castleberry Hill Historic district in downtown Atlanta. Like so many other downtown residents, he also wanted to capture some outdoor space. Living in a landlocked apartment, his best option was to go up onto the roof and create an urban oasis there."Firm: Square Feet Studio
This sofa was designed by architect Massimo Morozzi, a member of the radical design group Archizoom who later went on to open his own studio designing household items and products for the likes of Cassina, Mazzei, Alessi, etc.The backrest cushions have leather backs and can be laid in a horizontal position to form large support and work surfaces. The square silhouette with wide armrests offers comfort when sitting straight, suitable when reading. The seat structure is in solid wood and the backrests are in steel. Elastic, transpiring expanded polyurethane padding. The feet are in satin-finish, varnished aluminum. The removable cover comes in a range of catalogue fabrics and leathers.
Link: Edra
Designer: Massimo Morozzi
"Barry and I put the first waterproofing coat on the foundation wall May, 25, 2004. We were hoping to finish waterproofing before framing started but it rained the rest of the week.
The treated lumber for the floor was delivered on May 28. We started framing early Saturday morning, May 29. It was a beautiful day...sunny and in the high 70's. The framing crew consisted of my brother Kevin, Christopher (a family friend), my husband Barry and I."
Link: Article
Link: LV Home Kit
Reference: LV Home - Building Update I
Reference: LV Home - Building Update II
"In collaboration with top international designer Philippe Starck, Oregon Scientific is moving the art of understanding the environment to a new level - with the introduction of a new Time and Weather Collection."
Designer: Philippe Starck
Link: Oregon Scientific
Via: ID Online
Back in March, again in April, and upcoming in June, the EPA, the IDSA Design Foundation, and J. Ottman Consulting sponsored workshops for changing perceptions of sustainable design. An excerpt from the article:"More than just evaluating products, the mission of the workshop is to demonstrate how producing green can be a win-win strategy, increasing a company's profits while positively distinguishing it from the competition. Ottman and Doering offered some simple "swift approaches" to environmental design: Use recycled materials; increase energy efficiency and substitute alternative energy when possible; reduce toxicity by using "known" and stable compounds; extend product life, moving away from disposable products by creating goods that are durable, upgradeable, and repairable; and provide the product as a service or on a lease basis where the consumer keeps the product through its useful life, and the manufacturer reclaims it for disassembly or refurbishment."Link: ID Online
"This reaction breaks down filth on the glass, with no need for detergent. When water hits it, a hydrophilic effect is created, so water and dirt slides off."
Link: BBC News
The Blisterlamp by Dutch designer Henk Stallinga is made from two identical halves of transparent PET G which simply snap together. PET G is the typical polyethylene blister packaging material that encases so many products we buy, from toys to toothbrushes. Blister lamp may be used individually or as a cluster, standing or hung.
Love this.
"Doorman doorstop designed by Gaby Klasmer for Memphis Milano. The doorman is part of the 'post design' series from Memphis Milano- a collection designed by students from the Royal College of Art, 1999, under the direction of Ron Arad. stainless steel, 11.5" height."
Link: Memphis-Milano
Designer: Gaby Klasmer
Link: Unica Home
We weren't around when this Gehry article was published by Newsweek, but if you missed it the first time (as we did) and you simply can't get enough Gehry, then this one is for you, Mr. I browse the Internet night and day looking for Gehry articles Man.
"If you’re hoping to persuade Frank Gehry to design something in your city, here’s one phrase you should not use: 'the Bilbao effect.' He hates it. 'When people approach me like that, I turn them down,' he tells NEWSWEEK. The architect understands that his iconoclastic design draws hundreds of thousands of admirers annually to Spain's Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, which opened in 1997. But he takes issue with the term, which was coined after cities around the world tried to emulate the museum's success by commissioning high-style architecture designed specifically to draw attention—and tourist revenues. Gehry is not comfortable with the whole phenomenon. He says his designs are meant to benefit and improve the communities where they will be built and he insists he wants to be a 'good neighbor.'"Link: Newsweek/MSNBC
It has been said... or at least the Wicklow visitors bureau has coined the phrase... that Ireland is the Garden of Europe, and Wicklow is the Garden of Ireland. And it is true that the natural beauty of this mountainous region south of Dublin is a sight to behold. The temperate climate provides the perfect environment for spectacular gardens as well. Each summer gardens of all sizes and types, from historic formal gardens to contemporary landscapes and from botanic gardens to small cottage yards, are open to the public as part of the Wicklow Gardens Festival. Perhaps just as appealing is the opportunity to explore the landscape of beer gardens and pubs after hours.
Link: Wicklow Gardens Festival
Good looking outdoor furniture that we would gladly invite inside. Designed by Los Angeles architects Marmol Radnizer.
If you have a few hours to kill and an interest in Arts and Crafts architecture, here is something to keep you occupied. This online archive is an exhaustive collection of photographs, drawings, sketches, paintings, correspondence and documents related to the work of Greene & Greene. The website is quite advanced and is geared towards scholars... bit it isn't too hard core for someone with a passing interest. Isn't the internet cool?
The Brits love their gardens, and the U.K. is awash with garden festivals each summer. There were some wonderful designs last year and this year's designs seem quite compelling as well.And the quote of the article: "I always wanted to be an urban planner, not someone who designed iconic buildings for rich people."
Via: Boston Globe
Firm: Gehry Partners (they don't need a website)
Firm:Olin Partnership
Firm: Cooper, Robertson & Partners
"Panelite materials are translucent, lightweight, and modulate both light and vision. Providing light transmission, visual privacy, and aesthetic flexibility, they are suited to a wide range of applications including walls, ceilings, furniture, and exterior facades."
Link: Panelite
"The urban jungle that is Mexico City will soon be blessed with two oases of calm. The plan is to complement the city's new José Vasconcelos Library scheme with an adjacent botanical garden. The library itself is the work of a team of Mexican architects, Alberto Kalach, Juan Palomar, Gustavo Lipkau and Tonatiuh Martínez. Locals see it as Mexican president Vicente Fox's answer to France's Bibliothèque Nationale de France. Once finished, the library will house more than two million volumes."
Via: Wallpaper
Link: www.conaculta.gob.mx
a-matter and Arcspace both have nice pieces about the "Living Tomorrow" pavilion in Amsterdam, designed by NL Studio. "Living Tomorrow" is an exhibition featuring a "House of the Future" and an "Office of the Future" with products and designs from 34 companies including: HP, Microsoft, Philips and Unilever. The exhibition web site is not yet available in English, but the a-matter and Arcspace features both provide some more information about the exhibit and (mainly) the architecture.
Link: a-matter
Link: Living Tomorrow Amsterdam (Dutch - English coming soon)
Firm: UN Studio
These book shelves by Rabih Hague are available in solid oak with a natural finish. They stand 180 x 150.
"rabih hage is an interior design company specialising in contemporary design, furniture and art. The company's unique style is a mix of art and design pieces carefully chosen by Rabih el Hage (architect and interior designer). Designs by Rabih Hage sit alongside work of designers such as Christophe Côme, Mark Harvey, Johnny Swing and Christian Tortu. The company's products (exclusive in the UK) are available for trade and distribution. Many are on display at the rabih hage showroom in London."
Link: rabih hague
A new book by David Gottfried, president of sustainable development consulting company WorldBuild Technologies.To say this book is about the power of one person to change the world, though true, would be a cliché. This book is not about David, sustainability, or even green buildings. It is about the mystery of change. Although it is axiomatic that everything changes, it is a mystery as to how things change. What we have here is a first-person and animated account of how things did change. When you read it, you will draw your own conclusions. Yes, his is a story of pluck and determination, to be sure. And it is one of timing, hard work, and manufactured luck. But above all, it is a story of conviction. Not the conviction that makes others wrong, but more an affirmation: of what is right and what is possible.Green to Green
"The bent one is a lounge chair. And it's bent. It began as an experiment to see what can be achieved with flexiply, yet as interest grew, Morgan Cheetham began working on The Bent One. The result takes flexiply to its limit. The body of the chair is made of five layers of 3mm flexiply. The production of the chair is a little complex - a collapsable former had to be made to release the glued body. Each laminate is glued and clamped up seperately. The armrests are made of steam bent laminated timber. These are bent over a regular mould, seperate to the flexiply laminating. Once the armrests are ready, they are glued and clamped to the body section. The whole chair is sanded, sealed, and waxed to finish."
Link: Morgan Cheetham
Really nice modern bedspreads, pillows and throw blankets by Bay Area designers Max and Linda Geiser. The line offers a wide variety of patterns, colors, materials and sizes.Link: FOLD
If you are like us, you are just dying for something to divert your attention from the train wreck parade of so-called design and make-over shows that currently abound... and we have to watch, don't we? Painful as it can be, we watch... like a junky who needs a fix. But save for the very rare morsel of inspiration, we are just not satisfied with what we see.Well, there may be hope for the home design genre of television. A television program by the creators of Dwell Magazine is currently in production and will air on the cable television network Fine Living this fall. So hold your breath along with us, won't you?
Article: San Francisco Chronicle
Via: Dwell Forum
"The Deneb Outdoor system is derived from the Deneb table. The system is comprised of a table and matching bench. The same base is used for both and they each have an Iroko solid wooden top.
The principles of Stua are embodied in this system, simplicity, timelessness and warmth. The Deneb system is suitable for indoor and outdoor use."
Iroko wood is a popular alternative to teak with a similar texture and grain.
Link: Stua
Designer: Jesus Gasca
A photographic documentation of the travels in Japan of two scholarship winners; Roche Scholarship winner Colin Franzen and SOM Traveling Fellowship recipient Zane Karpova. Four "sections" cut across the island were chosen as paths of travel and documentation. The images are keyed to these lines of investigation revealing a wonderful array of landscape, architecture, culture and space.
Link: Franzen and Karpova Japan Sections
Via: A Daily Dose of Architecture
From Swedish furniture maker Swedese comes the Bend Chair. The bend chair is available in either birch or walnut. An upholstered seat is an option.Update: We received an email from Scott Hartkopf of the Hightower Group. He wanted to let us know that the Hightower Group is the North American distributor of Swedese and if anyone is interested in purchasing a Bend chair, they stock them at their distribution center. The Hightower Group's website can be found at www.hightoweraccess.com
Link: Swedese
Designer: Mårten Claesson
While this might not really fall under the guise of Modern Lifestyle & Design, this is actually an issue that we've followed over the years and if you're an LA resident, an issue that has had an enormous impact on modern LA society. As noted on our about page, we're avid snow sports enthusiasts and during our pursuits for Sierra Nevada snow, we pass by Owens Lake several times each month. It's nice to read about the efforts the LA DWP is making to restore Owens Lake in a publication such as Metropolis.
"Today, parts of Owens Lake look like a sandy desert floor, parts are under a few inches of water tinted red from algae, and still other parts are covered with a thick salt crust. The lake is the largest stationary source of pollution in America; its amount of wind-blown dust violates EPA standards of particulate matter 20-30 times a year. The EPA’s standard is 150 micrograms per cubic meter; levels measured at the lakeshore reach 12,000.Link: MetropolisNow the DWP is trying to reverse the damage it did to Owens Lake. The Department has tapped into the aqueduct to re-direct up to a quarter of the flow back into the lakebed, and is using a combination of shallow flooding and managed vegetation to bring the water body within EPA standards. The project is scheduled to end in 2006 with 29.8 square miles treated.
"Tangent tiles allow you to customize the acoustic and aesthetic properties of any environment. Three-dimensional and reconfigurable, they can be assembled in a variety of patterns. These tiles fit almost any wall or ceiling area and are made from 100% post and pre-consumer waste paper. Tangent tiles are easy to recycle when no longer needed. They are durable, can be painted with water-based paints and are easy to install."
Link: MioCultureLab
Designers: Jamie Salm, Esther Chung