James
A master planning approach to landscape design serves up a system of healthful opportunities
A feature at ArchNewsNow by Jack Rubinger looks at environments for healing and the master planning for seven Samaritan Health Services facilities in Oregon. Macdonald Environmental Planning of Portland and Bend, Oregon, facilitated a process that went beyond just the physical facilities to shape an overall philosophy and vision for Samaritan Health Services.
Link: ArchNewsNow
Firm: Macdonald Environmental Planning, p.c.
Reference: Resources about healing gardens (L+L)
Davis, California based firm with an office in a renovated Airstream trailer
Design-build is becoming more and more common in the United States from large scale commercial and institutional projects down to small residential remodels. It is a return to a kind of practice where a "master builder" orchestrates the entire process rather than the rather disjointed design-bid construction industry prevalent today.
MAK is an example of a Design-Build firm doing some interesting work including the remodel of an Airstream trailer for their own office space. They also have a very nice website that details the process of design-build and shows some examples of their work. In addition, MAK is committed to environmental sustainability; just an example of the flexibility and innovation common in design-build.
Firm: |M|A|K| Design+Build
Via: Archinect
Thinking outside of the bowl... its all about plannar sinks
Omvivio makes some very nice products, and we are particularly impressed with the Washplane®: "flat" sink surfaces. Forget what you know, or think you know about sinks... no little circular drain in the bottom, no bowl, no basin and when water hits this flat surface, it too goes flat and sheets away without splashing. Beautiful products and beautiful function. The four models take variations of the planar sink theme in single or double configurations and are made of a nice range of materials: ceramic, glass, Corian® or stone.
Link: Omvivo Washplanes
"To be smart we need only to be less stupid."
A David Letterman inspired "Top 10" list from Jerald Schnoor, editor of the American Chemical Society publications, about the harmful policies of the United States.
Link: ACS - Top 10 Stupid Environmental Policies (PDF)
The urban "Entertainment District" trend
What is the deal with these new entertainment districts such as L.A. Live by Anschutz Entertainment Group and Kansas City Live by the Cordish Company? These are just two examples of the new mega downtown developments which are popular these days, and apparently the word "Live" is the new buzz word... some past hot words (just off the top of my head): Marketplace, Promenade, street addresses like One Rodeo, um... let's see... oh yeah, and remember old skool words like Plaza and Mall?
These two projects by different developers (although Anschutz is building the arena in Kansas City) but share some other similarities beyond the name. Both are centered around the city convention center, include a sports arena, and will include retail, residential, office and entertainment. The mixed use nature is key to this kind of project, thanks in part to the New Urbanism. We're all in favor of mixed use, however these types of developments tend lack the very thing that they are attempting to recreate, that is the organic, multi-scale nature of urban centers; instead they are singular, mega-malls with little or no room for progressive intervention or evolution. Past mega efforts in major cities have become sore spots, such as the late 70's Les Halles in Paris which is now the site of high profile effort to mend the damage. But, perhaps these Live projects will at least be fun for a while.
Link: Kansas City InfoZine
Link: Los Angeles Downtown News
Reference: Ephemeral cities (L+L)
Hi-borg, Cyborg and Lo-borg cabinet units designed by Dune's design director, Nick Dine
Borg is an appropriate name as these pieces wouldn't seem at all out of place on the set of Star Trek, but they're not too out there as to appear out of place in your terrestrial abode. The designs from Tribeca New York based Dune Furniture come in aluminum with walnut veneer, high gloss polyurethane with ash veneer or all polyurethane finishes. Touch latch doors add that Trekkie glide to the operation of the drawers and doors.
Designer: Nick Dine
Link: Dune Furniture
Flush-fitting built-in glass ceramic honeycomb cooking surface
This custom layout cooktop system is too cool. The hexagon shaped tiles are made to fit flush into the counter surface. The flush touch panel control tile can operate up to six units or three dual cooking zones. Three options for heat surface size and BTU output are available and the tiles can be arranged in any desired configuration.
Link: Küppersbusch USA
Via: Gizmodo
Nice style that is easy on the wallet
We like these simple glass pendant lamps from West Elm, purveyors of mix-and-match contemporary home furnishings and accessories. West Elm is kind of like a modern Pottery Barn... nothing that knocks your socks off, but when you are looking for clean contemporary design on a budget, it is nice to have some options.
Link: West Elm Oblong Glass Pendant
Link: West Elm Cone Glass Pendant
Garden festival featuring an array of noted landscape designers opened today
The San Francisco Chronicle ran a nice article by Judy Richter about the new Cornerstone Festival which we featured last month.
Eventually Cornerstone will have 28 to 30 gardens with each remaining one or two years. "It will be like a museum with temporary exhibits," Hougie said.
Cornerstone features cutting-edge design, "the kind that may or may not be suitable for home gardens" but that will challenge people to think, he said. Intended to appeal to both gardeners and artists, "it's a place to be inspired. You won't see the ordinary."
Link: Cornerstone Festival of Gardens
Link: San Francisco Chronicle
Reference: Cornerstone Festival of Gardens (L+L)
For you and your H2
Honestly, do you need a Hummer branded flashlight? Well... perhaps if you drive an (FU) H2 you do.
The thing works by shaking it for 30 seconds which provides three minutes worth of light, no batteries... which is actually kinda cool. But really, we'd take the technology sans-lame, thank you. Both available at Sharper Image.
2004 Professional Awards Recipients Selected
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the recipients of its 2004 Professional Awards. The awards will be presented during the ASLA Annual Meeting, October 29-November 2, in Salt Lake City.
Some nice browsing... lots of images and links.
Link: ASLA 2004 Professional Awards
Reference: ASLA 2004 honorees announced
Historic home in Michigan is purchased over the internet, dimantled and moved to California
This is definitely not modern... the house is 173 years old... but we're all in favor of reuse and the story is just interesting.
The owners had originally planned to build a replica Victorian (shudder) but they purchased a 1831 Greek revival house from Michigan which was slated for demolition instead. Better. Dismantled piece by piece, the home is now being reconstructed in Sonoma County, California.
Via: Inman News
Link: Slideshow
"Investigation into mistakes, miss-prints and ink-cartridge tests with printers."
The Nozzle Check Rug by young Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz is a witty design inspired by the utility of standard ink jet printers. We've hung a bunch of test sheets on the office wall before just for the heck of it, but we never thought of putting them on the floor. Nice.
Link Sylvain Willenz
Simply cool
Designed by young French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, this collection is a wonderful interpretation of common tube framed patio furniture. We like the proportions and straight forward design. The collection features chairs, chaise lounges, stools and tables. Chair covers that don't look like an after thought are also available.
Link: Magis
Designers: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Paris
U.S. Postal Service issues postage stamp in honor of R. Buckmister Fuller
You've seen it before, but now you can stamp your mail with it.
The U.S. Postal Service released the stamp today, Buckminster Fuller's birthday, in honor of the 50th anniversary of his patent for the geodesic dome.
We're a little freaked out that they decided to make Bucky's head into a geodesic dome... kinda looks like Dr. Evil's secret volcano lair.
Link: USPS
Link: Buckminster Fuller Institute
The museum in New York has reopened to the public following a two and a half year renovation
The Isamu Noguchi Museum, designed by the artist before his death, has been renovated and reopened. The museum features a comprehensive collection of Noguchi's works and also features exhibitions on other artist and designers. The museum is located in Long Island City, Queens.
Noguchi was a sculptor of all materials: stone, light, sound, paper, wood, metal, water, etc. creating wonderful objects, landscapes, spaces and experiences.
Visit: Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
Mondern retreat is embeded in the Texas landscape and recalls the local ranch vernacular
Sited to enhance the various landscapes of forest and meadow of a former ranch, the design vacillates freely between interior and exterior with broad covered porches serving as living and circulation space. Other built elements extend into the landscape including boardwalks and two water features, which attract birds and evoke functional cattle and irigation troughs. Over the years native grasslands and wetlands on the property have been restored by the owners. The only manicured portion of the landscape is a rectangular field of water conserving buffalo grass bordered on two sides by the "L" shaped house.
Architecture Firm: buildingstudio
Landscape Firm: MESA Design Group
Via: Architectural Record
Millennium Park sculpture by Anish Kapoor is revealed
Weblog "A Daily Dose of Architecture" is showing two images of the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago's Millennium which has been uncovered in preparation for the park's grand opening festivities... check it out.
Link: A Daily Dose of Architecture
Reference: Chicago's Millennium Park
Microsoft's new mouse by Philippe Starck
Starck strikes again, this time for Microsoft. Always a little slow on the uptake, the computing giant goes for a little high design.
We know that people want products that are as beautiful as they are functional. Because of that great design is no longer reserved only for luxury cars or concert halls, but is evident now in common items and places. We've found that people today demand products with exceptional design, as well as performance.
Hmmm... who clued them into that?
Link: Microsoft
UK developer of "urban regeneration projects"
Now here is something we don't run into everyday... a developer dedicated to high design standards, a sense of urbanism and an apparent motive beyond just profits. With projects designed by Alsop Architects, Foster and Partners, Glenn Howells Architects and FAT we could not help but take notice. Then again, if it sells, it sells. Take a look, browse the slick website... what do you think?
Link: Urban Splash
Airstream trailers by San Francisco designer Christopher C. Deam
Clean. Efficient. Elemental. The Airstream trailer is the epitome of modernity. The CCD line features updated interiors by interdisciplinary designer Christopher C. Deam. "The International CCDs are aptly named because they can be towed cross-continent or cross-county," actually we were thinking that CCD stood for Christopher C. Deam... but anyway, "anywhere an automobile can go and still have all the facilities for comfortable living. Yes, even luxurious living!"
We like that the designs bring the flowing lines of the exterior, and even the riveted aluminum skin, inside.
Link: Airstream International CCD
Designer: Christopher C. Deam
Better four years late than never
Chicago's new 24.5 acre Millennium Park is be unveiled next week with the grand opening ceremony on July 16th and festivities planned throughout the weekend.
The park has its share of designer credentials with Frank Gehry, Kathryn Gustafson and Anish Kapoor just to name a few.
Link: Millennium Park
Link: Public Building Commission of Chicago
Link: Millennium Park - unofficial site
Link: Archinect (Pritzker Pavilion photo gallery)
Critical commentary about current urban trends
A couple of interesting articles by Joel Kotkin questioning the sustainability of current "urban revival" trends. Though I'm not sure I totally agree with Kotkin, there are some good points about cities becoming centers of entertainment and experience; in essence shopping malls rather than traditional centers of commerce and industry.
What we are seeing is more like a subtle shift in the role of cities: from the commanding centers of global civilization to (at least in the advanced countries) a more peripheral function.
In many ways, this follows the prediction made a century ago by H.G. Wells, who said that cities would evolve from the unquestioned center of economic life into a "bazaar, a great gallery of shops and places of concourse and rendezvous."
Link: Trying to be hip won't save cities
Link: The Ephemeral City
Line of shoes by master of design Philippe Starck
Starck's theory of evolution... he forgot the part about the pocket-lining-monkeys.
This shoe collection is modern because it includes all the technology we now know... but without having to show it - because we don't need to show it!
These shoes are based not on design, not on showing off, not on more and more and more features, but on showing less and less and less. It means more technology, more intelligence, but less styling. This is the secret of the product of tomorrow.
Starck, you so crazy.
Quick Link: Starck Puma (without sized window)
Designer: Philippe Starck
Catching up on what has been going on
From this weekend's Fourth of July cornerstone laying ceremony for the new World Trade Center Freedom Tower in New York, a panorama by Jook Leung shows the scene from ground zero. The tower was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill based on Daniel Libeskind's master plan.
Link: Rebirth Marked by Cornerstone at Ground Zero
Link: Port Authority Press Release
And earlier today, the Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain designed by Kathryn Gustafson and Neil Porter was dedicated in London.
Link: In pictures: Diana memorial
Link: MSNBC video feature
Ann Sacks: tile, tile and more tile
The holiday weekend has barely begun and we've already consumed our limit of tile. We're blogging under the influence of tile. While we don't usually feature something perhaps quite so obvious, a quick browse of the Ann Saks website today made us think: "Are we a design weblog or what? We need to bring this to the people!" So, obvious or not, here is our little "show and tell" session of tile. Thanks to Ann Sacks for carrying such great product.... we like this stuff.
And thanks to you for reading. Have a good holiday weekend if you're an American citizen, or you live in Canada or Belarus or Burundi or Cape Verde or Comoros or Malawi or Venezuela or whatever and you too have a holiday weekend.. This tile's for you.
Link: Ann Sacks
Landscape architect Catherine Mosbach creates a new garden at the Bordeaux Botanical Garden
The new Bastide Garden at the Bordeaux Botanical Garden in France by landscape architect Catherine Mosbach is designed to deal with issues of biodiversity, renewable natural resources and the dynamics and mutation of landscapes. The concept is that of the artificial "botanical object" for the layout of the gardens.
a-matter has a nice article about the garden with photos and plans.
Link: a-matter
Visit: Jardin Botanique Bordeaux: La Bastide
"Not bigger, but smarter."
Interior designer Jasper Sanders and architect Gavin Elliot had the idea of creating a compact apartment unit that could offer the option of low-cost city-center living to those otherwise priced out of the market. The concept, called Abito, is hyper-efficient 347 square foot apartment priced around £85,000. Each apartment features high ceilings, balcony, foldaway bed and storage wall, and a multifunctional pod (the "central living unit") in the center of the unit which contains storage, laundry, kitchen and bath. Ask Developments is now building the concept in cities across the U.K.
Imagine you could buy a city centre apartment that was cheaper than a one bedroom flat, but much, much better. (Abito is) specifically designed to reflect modern lifestyles.
Link: Abito
Modern, graphic textiles for your bed
Not affiliated with Dwell Magazine (at least not that we can determine), but cool enough to get away with the same name. We saw plenty of stuff we liked on their website, and they even have bedding for cribs! We have never seen cool baby bedding before, so check it out you hipster parents.
Inspired by the linear forms of modern architecture, vintage textiles and antique wallpaper, the Dwell home accessories line has a sophistication that is a natural choice for modern interiors. The vivid colors and graphic prints are elegant and clean, reminiscent of the textiles of the mid-century.
Link: Dwell Home Furnishings
Vegetated roof cover, eco-roof, green roof... call it what you will
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
