October 2004
Books — October 29, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Time machine to 1957 not included
Another great book from our friends over at DigModern. Written in 1957 by Norman Cherner, this book explores small component housing from the 1950's.
An excellent look at small, modernist component built houses by the architect Norman Cherner. Divided into chapters as follows: Plans and intro, Panel Construction, Bent Construction, Girder Construction, Masonary and Foundation Construction, Quonset Construction, Materials and Methods. Excellent isometric drawings and details by the architect. Also sections, elevations, and floor plans. Black and white photos of homes under construction and finished.
Link: DigModern
Lighting — October 29, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Another great example of reuse: recycled chopsticks.
While some might not consider these lights to be pure "modern" design, they are definitely eco-friendly and that's good enough for us. While living in China, Bryan Parks, the founder of Kwytza Kraft, wondered just how many single-use chopsticks were used in the country. Turns out, it's quite a lot:
Research showed that literally billions of single-use chopsticks were consumed annually. The more shocking revelation was that it took, by some estimates, 25 million trees and bamboo plants to support that resource waste. Was there an opportunity to use the chopsticks for other applications that would provide a consumer benefit while bringing awareness to the negative environmental impact of single-use chopsticks?
With a virtually unlimited resource of chopsticks at his disposal, he began designing a collection of home accessories with "eastern aesthetics and western conservationism." Great work, Bryan!
Link: Kwytza Kraft
Clock. Coat. Hanger.
From Lapalma Design comes the clock/coat hanger. Available in natural maple or stained cherrywood.
The clock dial is white lacquered with quartz movement.
Designers: Shin and Tomoko Azumi
Link: Lapalma
Who wouldn't like to be Mr. Gehry's neighbor?
Mr. Gehry finds peace with his new Venice neighbors.
It started as a rumor, hardly louder than the rustle of palm fronds from the octet of 90-foot trees that sway above the southern end of one green, quiet block. Frank Gehry, for most people's money the most famous architect in the world, had bought the large vacant lot at the northern end of the block. He was planning to build his dream house there.
Perhaps the very first thought — you could see it in people's dawning reaction, even from those who haven't yet rattled their jewelry at the much-debated Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown — was that the house had every chance of looking as wrong as Shaquille O'Neal in a Miami Heat uniform. But that thought was almost immediately shooed away by a second: They were about to be … Gehry-adjacent.
From the LA Times.
Link: LA Times
Dining — October 27, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Lunchbox for grown-ups
Unique package combining a plate, bowl, cup, utensils, and placemat.
"A personal plate, bowl, cup, and utensils, all snugly wrapped together in a desktop-sized placemat. This set of dishes expands your good-design sense to the office and stands with upright readiness next to a desk or in the communal kitchen cupboard. Made of high-heat malamine, the dishes add a touch of practical elegance to our takeout soup and sandwich."
Link: Vessel-Store
Business signage from Square One design
Distinctive business signage from this Michigan-based design firm.
"Need the bathroom? Gotta check your voicemail? Time for a caffeine fix, pronto? Life's minor emergencies call for signage that speaks loud and clear, in any language. Out of the ordinary yet obvious, our highly visible 3-D signage brings a sense of order to your work environment, all with a creative spin and whimsical touch. Our icon based signs are made of flame retardent, high-density black PVC. Installation is accomplished lickety-split, thanks to brushed aluminum brackets that require just two screws."
Link: Wheresthebathroom.com
Link: Square One Design
Books — October 26, 2004
Posted by James
A must read for anyone interested in modern landscape design... we here at Land+Living borrow liberally from Church's philosophy. This text contains the essence of Thomas Church's design philosophy, as well as practical advice. It is illustrated by site plans and photographs of some of the 2000 gardens that Church designed during his career. Called "the last great traditional designer and the first great modern designer", Church was one of the central figures in the development of the modern Californian garden. For the first time, West Coast designers based their work not on imitation of East Coast traditions, but on climatic, landscape and lifestyle characteristics unique to California and the West. Church viewed the garden as a logical extension of the house, with one extending naturally into the other.
Author: Thomas D. Church
Link: Amazon
News — October 26, 2004
Posted by James
A design-theory rant at WorldChanging.com
Interesting read...
...Green design is the real post-modern movement: because it is the first movement after modernism that has something new to say and yet is still a kind of modernism, a fulfillment of some of modernism's central goals: functionalism and future-fetishism.
Check it out.
Link: WorldChanging - Why Green is the Real Postmodernism
Via: Archinect
Street graphics meet Nepalese textile traditions
An unlikely pairing creates some very nice results in Rugged Art's collection of hand knotted carpets designed by young graphic artists such as Romon Kimin Yang and José Parla. Not to mention the fact that the prices (while not cheap) seem to us to be very reasonable for this kind quality.
Founded by London based antique textile specialist Nat Turner, and collaborating with some of World's most exciting graphic artists, RuggedArt has launched a groundbreaking new collection of hand knotted rugs, available in limited editions of ten.
Instead of Ephemeral art on a wall, or hollow conceptual statement, RuggedArt rugs are a painting for your floor, a strikingly beautiful piece of furniture.
Link: Rugged Art
Furniture — October 22, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Sheet metal chair from this NYC designer
Lightweight chair designed for Studio 9 by Mark McKenna.
"Mark McKenna's latest chair, "frank" for Studio 9 Design is probably the best expression of his ideas. It is made from only four pieces of .035" sheet steel -- no thicker than a fingernail. The pieces are cut using a computer controlled laser and can be assembled by hand. Once put together, the chair is both amazingly light and strong. Interestingly, this process also yields beautiful finger-like joints between the parts, which are both structural and decorative."
The chairs come in stainless steel and in a variety of finishes: walnut veneer, white powder coat, orange, blue, green, yellow or stainless accent colors.
Designer: Mark McKenna
Link: Studio 9 Design
Australian Year of the Built Environment showcase of prefabricated housing types
Six prototype houses each designed to be constructed of a different material - concrete, steel, cardboard, timber, glass and clay -
were designed by an architect in collaboration with the appropriate trade association or research institute.
The objective of the exhibition is to promote new ways of providing affordable, environmentally sustainable, prefabricated housing in Australia that are also futuristic and innovative in their design.
The idea of an exhibition or prototype house is to break the boundaries of convention and to offer a vision of what the House of the Future might be like.
Link: YBE2004 Houses of the Future
Article: Infolink.com.au - Houses of the future on show in the present
Hand crafted wood table
It's an aircraft carrier! It's a plane! No, it's a table!
We like the strong presence and wonderfully simple design of this piece by Staten Island based modern craftsman, James Murphy.
I try to build pieces that promote a sensation of balance through the use of subtle proportion and line as adornment.
Crafted of solid American walnut.
Link: James Murphy Design
Materials — October 18, 2004
Posted by Anthony
New materials are reshaping our world
Catalog of materials, products, and processes from the folks over at TransStudio.
"Unlike the artist, who interacts directly with his or her palette, the architect is one-step removed from the physical substance that makes architecture. This synapse often breeds ignorance about what materials are available or what properties they possess, which is reinforced by the fact that most buildings are still comprised by relatively conventional products and systems despite the wide variety available."
Link: TransStudio
Via: Core 77
A house that floats
A Weekly Dose of Architecture is featuring a modern Boathouse in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Lots of text and images (including construction photos and plans)... plus there are more photos on the firm's website. Check it out, won't you?
Firm: Eindhoven Architecten BV
Link: A Weekly Dose of Architecture
Wallpaper collection
"Created by Amsterdam-based interior and landscape designer Petra Blaisse, Touch explores the relationship of interior space to the limits of the walls which contain it and expresses those boundaries as soft, sensual and ambiguous ‘edges’.
In aiming to create depth within the two-dimensional wall surface, Blaisse engages a play with layers, unexpected materials, natural and artificial colors, as well as an exaggeration of scale to indicate unusual contexts. Photographic prints of soft materials, based on previous textile design testing, are transformed in the medium of printed vinyl."
All inks & adhesives used are waterbased.
Designer: Petra Blaisse / Inside Outside
Link: Wolf-Gordon
First purchasers describe the process.
The tenth update from Jennifer & Barry on their LV home build:
" This past weekend was a very productive one. On Thursday I took a load of construction debris to the dump and sprayed insulation around the windows. Barry installed OSB over one of the faux wall panels that houses a downspout and more siding was installed. We spent most of Friday afternoon assembling the aluminum frames for the 10' sliding doors, installing shims around each door frame and cleaning up around the site. On Saturday Barry and I installed all of the 10' sliding doors. Since the house is now "weathered in" we can have all of the electrical installed. Barry will also start staying in the house during the week instead of driving back and forth to Richmond each day."
Link: Luminhaus
Link: Article #10
Link: LV Home Kit
Reference: LV Home - Building Update I
Reference: LV Home - Building Update II
Reference: LV Home - Building Update III
Reference: LV Home - Building Update IV
Reference: LV Home - Building Updates V & VI
Reference: LV Home - Building Update VII
Reference: LV Home - Building Update VIII
Reference: LV Home - Building Update IX
Furniture — October 15, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Modern TV Consoles and more from this Puerto Rican designer
"Reynold Rodriquez' studio is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Established in 1993 by the designer as an enterprise to produce independently designed pieces of furniture and work for various design markets. The work comes from projects developed for clients over the past few years. These designs challenge seeking new responses from a visually experienced culture."
Link: Reynold Rodriguez
Handles, pulls and locks design by Pierluigi Cerri
Here is a beautifully designed line of handles from Italian handle maker Valli & Valli. The design speaks for itself... very nice.
Designer: Pierluigi Cerri
Link: Valli & Valli Fusital Collection
Blazona's latest to be auctioned on eBay
Received word today that Edgar Blazona's latest creation, the MD 280, is planning to be auctioned on eBay come October 14th.
"I wanted to give you a update on the latest Modular Dwelling prototype to be auctioned off on Ebay starting October 14th. This new 280 square foot building has a separate bedroom, separate bath and a full kitchen. It will come complete with all the fixtures, appliances, and cabinets. The MD 280 will also come with pin foundation piers so there is no need for a foundation or slab. Please check out Fabprefab for lots of great shots. The starting bid will be $39,000.00 and the auction will last 10 days. This should be the first PRE FAB building to ever be auctioned off on the almighty Ebay."
UPDATE: The MD 280 is now listed on eBay.
Link: Fabprefab
Link: Modular Dwellings
Related: MD 280 (MoCoLoco)
Lighting — October 14, 2004
Posted by James
Series of adjustable light fixtures
We've seen this light fixture concept before, but we like the execution of design and the many configurations and mountings available in the Multi series by Prima Lighting.
Choices are seemingly unlimited with nine, six, four, three, and two light configurations available as wall sconce, pendant, floor or table lighting and many are compatible with cable and monorail systems. Available in silver or chrome finish.
Link: Prima Lighting
Furniture — October 13, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Bentwood furniture
Bentwood pieces from Swedish designer Caroline Schlyter.
"The h-family grew out of my background as a sculptor. The thought of casting furniture in wood appealed to me. My aim was to create a clean, unbroken line and avoid joints and connecting details. Thus, most furniture in the h-family is pressure formed into one piece. I enjoy playing with the line and exploring the border between volume and void - the shape the line creates, two dimensionally and three dimensionally in the architectural space."
Link: Caroline Schlyter
First purchasers describe the process.
The ninth update from Jennifer & Barry on their LV home build:
"One tropical storm, two hurricanes and many days of rain…we survived. I researched several roofing systems including EPDM, and Barry and I decided to go with the Duro-Last system. Duro-Last is a PVC prefabricated roofing system (most of the roof details and seams are fabricated in the plant). Duro-Last membranes are all custom made from the architectural roof plans. The results provide lower on-site labor costs and better installation quality. Duro-Last is available in three colors: white, gray or tan. We chose gray for its reflective quality and its ability to blend in with the Galvalume siding. Duro-Last also provides a 15-year warranty at no additional charge."
Link: Luminhaus
Link: Article #9
Link: LV Home Kit
Reference: LV Home - Building Update I
Reference: LV Home - Building Update II
Reference: LV Home - Building Update III
Reference: LV Home - Building Update IV
Reference: LV Home - Building Updates V & VI
Reference: LV Home - Building Update VII
Reference: LV Home - Building Update VIII
L-Shaped Modernist Home
"The house is composed of two simple rectangular volumes forming an L-Shaped plan. It engages the landscape and the pleasures of being in the country by framing it. The private pool area acts similar to some beaches in teh area, where the beac becomes a stage for exhibitionism by parading bodies.
Inspired by Giacometti's sculture titled, "Figure in a Box between Two Boxes which are Houses", the Sagaponac-House takes the form of minimalist structure hovering over a solid platform within the untouched natural landscape."
[Thanks, Graig!]
Firm: Hariri & Hariri
Related: First of the "Houses at Sagaponac" Completed
New public park built on the site of a former gas works
Westergasfabriek is a culture park in Amsterdam created on the brownfield site of a former gas works. The master plan and landscape was designed by Kathryn Gustafson with Francine Houben of Mecanoo. Landscape elements include a large events field and theatre square as well as many promenades, gardens, forest and ponds.
Unlike most brownfield reclamation projects, Westergasfabriek incorporated the existing buildings and structures into the project retaining the history of the site. The project is also ecologically sensitive; all soil was retained and reused on site, and solar panels now grace the frame of the former gas plant.
Link: Westergasfabriek
Firm: Gustafson Porter
Firm: Mecanoo
Link: Archined - images and text (Dutch)
News — October 8, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Feature story in the LA Times on popular film homes
From the article:
"[Case Study House No. 22 is] an architectural masterpiece perched at the top of the Sunset Strip, looking out at a blanket of lights," explains location manager John Panzarella, who used the Stahl home for the home of soap opera doctor Greg Kinnear in "Nurse Betty." "The house is completely made of glass, so you have the opportunity to film the interior from the exterior. You can set up a shot with the pool in the foreground, and through the glass wall you can see right into the house."
Link: LA Times (Registration Req'd)
A modern day Zen priest who strives to express his spiritual self through landscape
Shunmyo Masuno is not only a Zen priest, but also president and founder of Japan Landscape Consultants, an firm founded inb 1982 and known worldwide for their landscape designs.
When asked what the garden means, Shunmyo explains, the garden is a special spiritual place in which the mind dwells. The gardens he creates are the places which hold his expressions of mind.
Shunmyo refers to gardening as his spiritual training ground in his quest of a higher understanding of himself.
Link: Shunmyo Masuno + Japan Landscape Consultants Ltd.
Article: International Herald Tribune - Zen and the art of landscaping
Via: Archinect
Mobile for indoor or outdoor use
Stunning mobile from Miranda Watkins.
"Mobiles are dynamic, kinetic, sculptural structures. A strong breeze or a gentle touch will set the delicately balanced elements in motion, offering a limitless array of visual possibilities.
Precision engineered in high-grade stainless steel and anodised aluminium, mobiles are suitable for internal or external spaces. The structures are created from a series of frames, which gently rotate around a central axis, suspended from a stainless steel ceiling unit.
The mobile at the right is constructed from a series of matte, frosted anodised aluminium panels contrasting with machine turned segments."
Designer: Miranda Watkins
Link: Panel Mobile
Furniture — October 7, 2004
Posted by Anthony
Birch ply table
"Low table designed using a simple method of construction, whereby flat modular sections connect together by means of interlocking slots. The shaped slotted pieces create a matrix of rising and falling contour lines which for a stable base for the glass top.
Costructed with birch plywood, walnut face veneer, and toughened glass."
Designer: Andrew Tye
Link: TYE3D
Suspended Fireplace
The Fireorb is a wood-burning suspended hearth with a 360 degree rotation field. It's fabricated by spinning steel according to a CAD-governed form. The Fireorb can be used in any space: living room, bedroom, greatroom. The dimensions of the Fireorb are 26.5" x 36.5" while the lenght of the flute can be fitted to accomodate almost any space.
[Thanks, Andrew]
Designer: Doug Garofalo, AIA
Link: Fireorb
Corten inspired tiles by TAU Cerámica
Easy there you head banger you, we're not talking about the mavens of heavy metal rock music, we're talking ceramic tile here... whaaa? You read right, porcelin tiles that replicate the look of naturally oxidized steel.
Rock on.
Link: TAU Cerámica
Fun for a girl or a boy.
"It walks down stairs, alone or in pairs and makes a slinkity sound." Oh wait, wrong toy, but this vase from Elsewares sure reminds us of one of our favorite childhood toys.
"This anodized aluminum vase is encased within a galvanized steel coil, so the outside can be reshaped to your heart's content. 8.5" h x 3.5". Made in Brooklyn."
Link: Elsewares
Lighting — October 5, 2004
Posted by James
Light sconce
The power cord is often an afterthought when it comes to the design of electric devices... in fact the cords are often omitted from product photos. But this simple little light fixture turns the tables on this way of thinking making the cord a prominent feature of the design by placing it right out front.
Designer: Jakob Gebert
Link: Belux
Pockets, pets, and petites maisons
Domus Web has a write up on Japanese architecture firm, Atelier Bow-Wow.
"
For Atelier Bow-Wow's Yoshiharu Tsukamoto and Momoyo Kaijima, Tokyo is full of wonders and idiosyncracies that never cease to inspire their architectural creations. There is almost a real-time interaction between what they see and what they do in the complex, ever-evolving city. Domus presents some extracts of their researches (‘Made in Tokyo’ and ‘Pet Architecture Guidebook’) and three recent domestic projects. Text by Taro Igarashi. Photography by Takashi Homma"
Link: Domus Web (Reg. Req'd)
Reference: Japan-Architects
Misc — October 2, 2004
Posted by James
Premiers this Sunday
In June we discovered that one of our favorite magazines, Dwell, was being translated into a television show. And since that time, we have waited with baited breath to see if Dwell the TV show can live up to Dwell the magazine... and the wait is nearly over.
Tomorrow (Sunday, October 3rd) Dwell will premier on the Fine Living network. There are only two episodes currently listed, but both sound promising.
Link: Fine Living - Dwell
Reference: Dwell Television (L+L)
