If you find there is any copyright abuse, contact us as soon as possible, thanks.
My Thoughts on Greg La Vardera's "Our Re-Modern Movement - The Tipping Point?"
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWI had always been interested in homes. I always dreamed of something better and more exciting than the standard fare of suburban cul-de-sacs, though I wasn't totally hooked on modern yet. But when I saw this cover, with a real family in a cool-ass house, it was like a lightning bolt. I can't tell you how badly I'd like to live in a Flatpak. It's one of the top three contenders for me. It just fits me and my family so perfectly. When the time finally comes to really build a new home I will be giving them a call to talk.
It's funny though, how "weird" most people think modernist homes are. My mother said "you want to live in a white box?" with a look on her face that was pure disbelief. Talking houses with some neighbors I could detect their nervous smiles when I mentioned concrete and steel, as in "uh, okay, sure, as long as it's not next door to my house." And look at the real estate markets. That's all you need to know. You don't see a lot of developers building modernist spec homes. Just pick up a real estate magazine and thumb through it for a minute. How many cool modernist homes will you find in the listings. Maybe one or two in a hundred page book. And they're mostly really big, expensive houses, probably built in the eighties after watching too many episodes of Miami Vice. Good, simple, modern homes for real families are hard to come by. Your best bet is a fifties ranch. Even those are a minority in the market compared to the grand total of everything else.
But I think Greg is right. This is the right time. Dwell has been so successful that some other similar publications have started to appear. Blogs like mine are popping up like daisies. Sarah Susanka's "Not So Big House" movement has a lot of followers (because it makes a lot of sense). Or consider John Brown's Slow Home Movement. And green is suddenly king. People finally realize that their choices have a real impact. Now is definitely the time of Less is More, and modernism fits that bill perfectly.
Probably the biggest helper in all of this, in my opinion, is going to be the bursting of the real estate bubble. I say that for one simple reason: it will make people change their view as to what their home really is - a home to live in and not an investment to make a fortune off of. I really believe that people won't/can't build what they really want because they are too hung up on resale value and growing massive equity. I don't know if this attitude caused the housing bubble or vice versa, but either way they combine to create an effect where the resultant high cost of housing distorts our views, closes our minds to new ideas, prices lots of people out of the market for a good home, and places too much power in the hands of developers, not in the hands of consumers where it should be. And so, here we are. With the bubble busting and home prices correcting I think we may also see home buyers making very different decisions about what they want to live in. I know this is the case for my wife and I, and I hope, at least, that this is the case for others.
It's definitely time for America to focus its attention on things like better homes, greener communities, reliable energy, even better communications technology, education and health care. These are the things that make up the infrastructure of this country. We won't have to worry about foreign threats for long if we allow ourselves to fall apart from the inside.
This whole country is at a tipping point, or near one. Modern homes are just a tiny, tiny part of that. We can choose a better way to live without giving up all the really great things we already enjoy.
Better living through design. Work smarter, not harder. Find the holistic solutions.
We can do it.
Tom Kundig's Sublime House - "The Brain"
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOW
I resisted buying the book, though I'd really like to have it. It's very nice and Kundig's work is amazing. The house on the cover, Chicken Point Cabin, has been shown everywhere, and for good reason. It's pretty spectacular, and that giant, tilting window and the unusual mechanical folly for opening it are sublime.
Visiting the OSKA site, I found that the house I liked most wasn't one of the groovy cabins I'd spotted in a lot of the blogs and architecture mags. I was taken by the "The Brain," a fascinating concrete monolith built for a filmmaker.
That's wonderful. I love the way the house rests on its site, half hidden, with creeping vines growing all over it. I hate big ugly garages hanging off the side of a house, parasitic, distorting proportions, so I was delighted to see this house with the garages tucked neatly underneath, buried into the slope of the landscape. No yard either - excellent!
"The form is essentially a cast-in-place concrete box, intended to be a strong yet neutral background that provides complete flexibility to adapt the space at will." - OSKA site
The austere concrete exterior belies a more playful space inside: wonderful bookshelves (just look at 'em!), interesting lighting, a fireman's pole, and an amusing custom staircase.
Yes, this is a house I can see myself living in. The only exception I take with it, and with most Kundig houses frankly, is that they all look like bachelor pads. I'm married with children. But I think the wife and kids could adapt. Who wouldn't want to live in a house with a fireman's pole?
_____________________________________________________
Addendum:
I should have pointed out this very good Seattle Times article about "The Brain." I've realized since writing this post that "The Brain" is a garage/studio, not intended to be a residence. Thanks to those who left comments pointing that out. It is also worth noting that Kundig received an AIA award for "The Brain" in 2004.
Oh well, even though it's not technically a house I'm still very inspired by it!
Image credits - Amazon listing (book), OSKA Architects site
Thank You Design Public!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWWe wanted something modern and cool, and a little more substantial than a regular "kids bed." There are a lot of neat beds on the market but the modern offerings tend to be really pricey and are too often the kind of thing that will look silly in your kids' rooms by the time they're ten. My wife and I finally settled on a pair of these great-looking platform beds from TrueModern. They cost more than we wanted to pay, but were priced reasonably compared to a lot of other modern offerings on the market (many not as nice), and I think they look great, look well made, and will last the kids a long while.
Now, you can get these from a lot of places but for whatever reason we ordered ours from Design Public. I'd never bought anything from them before, but I'm one of those people who shops online a lot and it's not a really big deal for me to try a place completely new, even for a big purchase - throw caution to the wind, reckless abandon, all that jazz. I really don't recall why I picked them for my order.
So anyway, the beds get ordered, it takes about two weeks for them to ship, and then I get the call from the freight company who will deliver them. Long story short, there is a problem, possibly some confusion, and I am concerned about it. The problem was the freight company, not Design Public or TrueModern, but rather than tackle it solo I decide to call Design Public for help.
I must say, I was absolutely impressed by the extremely friendly and helpful response. I won't get into the details, but I thought that the Design Public staff went above and beyond the call of duty in helping me. I spoke to Jonathan, who was unfailingly courteous and diligent in his follow-up on my issue. I felt like they really cared, that I was valued as a customer, and that Design Public genuinely wanted to take care of me. It was really nice!
Like I said, I shop online a lot without giving it much thought. And I guess I've learned not to expect too much. But really, I thought Design Public were wonderful to deal with. If you want some really cool modern stuff, check out their site. It is loaded with amazing furniture, accessories, lighting, gifts, etc. - you name it. Very nice. It's a small company that's really living up to its mission. I was totally impressed.
Bravo and thanks!
Image credit - Design Public site
5 lessons from the gorilla
07/02/2008, 11:56 | Influxinsights“Its 28 different postings on YouTube have garnered 10m views. It has been spoofed with a toy gorilla as well as remixed with a 50 Cent and a Bonnie Tyler track. It is simple, bonkers and funny”
Media Guardian-October- 2007
What have we learned?
1.Sales Performance: It worked- Dairy Milk got a 9% bump in sales
2. Some Creatives Get the New World: Creatives liked it and it won big at awards shows including Cannes
3. Some Creatives Don't Get the New World: Creatives didn't like it- it caused some significant debate at awards shows including Cannes
4. There's No Such thing As A Formula: It's hard to repeat success- the second spot, despite it's craziness could not capture in the way Phil and the gorilla did
5. The Planners Worked Hard: Despite the feeling that planners weren't involved in this- they did a ton of work setting the stage for the client to accept a new form of advertising. Things like:
Why being matters more than saying
Being true to yourself, rather than pretending to be something you are not
Being authentic vs. contrived
The idea of brands taking on the role of entertainers.
6. Research Can't Explain Everything: This thing was tested to death- it blew the lid off Millward Brown's ad testing scores, but the company couldn't explain why.
One thing is for certain, it's paved the way for other clients and agencies to take more risks. Not everything is going to work, but they are going to have a lot of fun doing it.
Posted by Ed Cotton
ICFF 2007 NEW YORK - HOT WHITE chairs
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
Photography by Evanseye
CELON lounge chair by Bernhardt Design, $1500 USD
Photography by Evanseye
ONDA lounge chair by Bernhardt Design, $1200 USD
Photography by Evanseye
Resin arm chair by Martha Sturdy.
Photography by Evanseye
Mamma Rocking Chair, made from a single piece of fiber glass in a glossy urethane finish. Montreal based designer - Patrick Messier. Purchase Price $6,000 USD. Dimensions 26.2"W x 46"D x 37.36"H ** was very comfortable to sit in, it hugs you as you rock back & forth.
I was looking a little tired from all the walking, luckily Michelle and I brought along a pair of ballet slip-ons to calm the feet. Looking forward to the day that Vancouver can finally host a modern exhibit of this caliber. Feel free to check out the slide show of our travels through ICFF.Bare Hill Barn House
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWThat was the case again this week when I got an e-mail from Ben, who pointed me to his site, Bare Hill Barn House. Ben's blog chronicles his very cool project of dismantling, moving and then transforming a once forgotten barn into a totally hip modernist house.
What a fabulous study in recycling and reclamation. America is dotted with old barns, full of big hardwood timbers you can only buy at very high prices today. I really enjoy seeing someone make good use of these materials. There's an old barn not too far from where I live and every time I pass by it I look at those heavy oak beams and think "hmmm ... what if." Ben and his family have taken that idea to reality, and with a modernist twist.
Ben's site is really great. He does a wonderful job telling the story of what it's like to take on a project like this. He has lot of thoughtful posts about the nature of the project and some of the choices they've made, as well as the inspiration behind it. And besides seeing pics of the house's progress you'll also find video as well as great links to barn home resources.
Ben and his family should be in before year end. I know I'll be following along on Ben's site, watching as things progress. I can't wait to see the finished home!
By the way, Ben is working with JASONOAH Design Build on this project. The firm does some really unique and interesting work. Their theme is "designing and building for healthy, inspirational living." You can't beat that. Very nice. It's awesome to see yet another firm promoting great green design. Definitely check their site, especially their Chatham House. Really nice.
Image credits - Bare Hill Barn House site and JASONOAH Design Build for elevations and renderings (copyright).
MODERN CHAIRS
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
"Marcello Ziliani's Caprice chair from Casprini is easily the most interesting and original transparent chair to hit the market since Christophe Pillet's Meridiana Chair in 2004. It's also more comfortable. Unlike the original transparent polycarbonate chairs, the Caprice chair's transparent technopolymer body is softer, and it's open asymmetrical honeycomb design not only allows it to flex (making it more comfortable) - it practically eliminates scratching. The Caprice chair is also generously proportioned." - stephen spencer
California's Green Building Code
07/22/2008, 17:14 | Green Home Building and Sustainable ArchitectureThese new codes include basic passive solar mandates: "When site and location permit, orient the building with the long sides facing north and south. Provide exterior shade for south-facing windows during the peak cooling season. Provide vertical shading against direct solar gain and glare due to low altitude sun angles for east- and west-facing windows."
For renewable energy, the codes says, "Use on-site renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact hydro, biomass and bio-gas for at least 1% of the electric power."
For water conservation, the code says, "A schedule of plumbing fixtures and fixture fittings will reduce the overall use of potable water within the building by 20%, and provide water efficient landscape irrigation design that reduces by 50% the use of potable water beyond the initial requirements for plant installation and establishment."
"Each building shall further reduce the generation of wastewater by one of the following methods: The installation of water-conserving fixtures (water closets, urinals) or utilizing non-potable water systems (captured rainwater, graywater, and municipally treated wastewater
(recycled water)."
For materials to be specified for construction, the following is mandated:
- Select building materials or products for permanent installation on the project that have been harvested or manufactured in California or within 500 miles of the project site.
- Select bio-based building materials and products made from solid wood, engineered wood, bamboo, wool, cotton, cork, straw, natural fibers, products made from crops (soy-based, corn-based) and other bio-based materials with at least 50% bio-based content.
- Employ wood-based materials and products comprising at least 50% of a major building component, such as framing, flooring, or millwork, which are certified by one of five listed sustainably harvested certification programs.
- Use materials made from plants harvested within a ten-year cycle for at least 2.5% of total materials value, based on estimated cost.
- Use salvaged, refurbished, refinished, or reused materials for a minimum of 5% of the total value, based on estimated cost of materials on the project.
- Use materials, equivalent in performance to virgin materials, with post-consumer or preconsumer recycled content value (RCV) for a minimum of 10% of the total value, based on estimated cost of materials on the project.
- Use cement and concrete made with recycled products, fly ash, raw or calcined natural pozzolan, blast furnace slag (as a lightweight aggregate) .
- Select materials for longevity and minimal deterioration under conditions of use.
- Select materials that require little, if any, finishing.
- Select materials that can be re-used or recycled at the end of their service life in the project.
- Select materials assemblies based on life cycle assessment of their embodied energy and/or green house gas emission potentials.
Environmental and health-related items establish specific limits on VOC emission of materials used within the structure, as well as regulate ventilation, CO2 emissions, tobacco smoke, lighting, outside views, and noise transmission.
Additional recommended measures include:
- If feasible, disassemble existing buildings instead of demolishing to allow reuse or recycling of building materials.
- Utilize a Frost-Protected Shallow Foundation.
- Use pre-manufactured floor and roof systems to eliminate solid sawn lumber whenever possible.
I have been advocating most of these measures at www.greenhomebuilding.com for many years now, and it is heartening to see them being officially sanctioned. This is a far-reaching and well-considered attempt by California legislators to establish requisites for living sustainably. If there are going to be building codes, they might as well be green! Yeah California!
Does Your Company Need a Chief Blogger? [del.icio.us]
04/20/2008, 00:18 | :: Vol. 2: the design management weblog | by ralf beuker :Greg La Vardera's Dream Will Come True!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOW
Via Materialicio.us (here and here).
Image credit - LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
TRANSPORTATION TUES: The Dry Leaf Eco-skateboard
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
We often cover alternative cars and other vehicles for Transportation Tuesday, and while they are making advances for their respective industries, they still require some type of fuel and are resource intensive in their production, which brings their sustainability into question. So when we can feature a truly sustainable transportation alternative, we jump at the chance. Enter the Dry Leaf skateboard by Lets Evo, a sweet eco-ride that is almost entirely constructed from sustainable materials and socially responsible labor practices.
Trend: Raw food
00/00/0000, 00:00 | CScout TrendBlog
Healthy, eco-friendly and innovative, raw food is offering a new way to excite and engage customers.
Trend description
Interest in raw food diets is growing, as cooked food gets slated in the media. Raw food proponents believe that cooking food destroys nutrients and enzymes as well as altering chemicals, so that food no longer benefits the consumer, introducing free-radicals and poisons instead. A raw food diet, which is vegan by nature, offers a supposedly healthier alternative, as well as offering sustainability benefits. The diet has a smaller carbon impact than a conventional one, due to its avoidance of animal products, lack of energy used for cooking, and inclusion of organic ingredients wherever possible.
Cases
Saf, London
Turkish for “pure”, Saf’s menu is seasonal, locally sourced and made from ingredients that are either raw or cooked at temperatures below 48C. Despite being an eco-friendly business offering organic, healthy food, the space looks like a conventional high-end restaurant. The approach is not overly serious either, withinnovative, exciting cocktails on offer, such as kumquat caipirinhas made with fresh organic juices.
Raw Fairies
Raw Fairies is the UK’s first raw food delivery service, providing clients with every meal needed for the day. Everything it delivers is organic, raw and vegan, as well as being wheat and dairy free with no added sugar. It has recently collaborated with Detox International to provide a complete 12-day detox for busy people. Currently, all food is delivered using public transport, with electric scooters and vans soon to be employed. Wherever possible, ingredients are locally sourced, packaging is biodegradable and recycling is encouraged.
Trend Impact
Many businesses offering either health benefits or environmental benefits may soon feel pressured to extend their offering, encompassing a greater section of customer interests. However, as health and environmental benefits often go hand in hand, businesses may not need to reinvent the wheel to take advantage of this trend. A few well chosen, cost effective initiatives may be enough, or it may even be a case of revisiting marketing angles in order to increase the value of existing initiatives.
MODERN FURNITURE: 2MODERN BLOG
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
MODERN FURNITURE - COOL SWIVEL CHAIRS (to see full article go to 2modern)
Luxy italy | big jim
31.5" wide x 32.28" high, seat height: 16.53"
for version with swivel auto return and polished aluminum base
$1,525.00 available through SPENCER INTERIORS
MODERN LOUNGE CHAIR re-inventing the bean bag chair
Available through Ligne Roset, Livingspace Interiors Vancouver
MODERN DAYBEDS - Frigerio Italy (to see full article go to 2modern)
Frigerio Italy | cooper wings daybed 90 cm
35.43" x 59.84" x 26.77"/34.25" high, seat height: 13.77"
$5,685.00 in fabric Cat Lusso available through SPENCER INTERIORS
MODERN FURNITURE - SPAIN (to see full article go to 2modern)
The "holy day" lounge chair from Vicarbe Spain designed by Jean-Marie Massaud is the perfect modern alternative to the the commonly used Barcelona Chair.
(27.5"W x 30.3"D x 26.4"H) $2,179.00 CAD from Spencer Interiors.
MODERN DAYBEDS - still sourcing (to see full article go to 2modern)
40.5"D x 80.5"W in category C fabric, includes 3 back cushions40.5"D x 80.5"W in category C fabric, includes 3 back cushions. Still in the process of sourcing a modern daybed that is comfortable to sleep on, timeless in style and at of good value to meeting our budget . A great option is the modern clean lines of the "BENSEN sleeper sofa" designed by Niels Bensen and available through INFORM INTERIORS.
The Uncanny Orlow
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Land+Living: Modern Lifestyle + Design
Brought to you by Milwaukee DJ/Artist The Uncanny Orlow is easily one of the hottest customs seen in sometime.
More images after the jump!
Link: The Uncanny Orlow
Emu Ivy
01/01/1970, 06:00 | MoCo Loco
The Ivy collection by Paola Navone for Emu is a line of metal outdoor furniture that is meant to be overgrown with tendrils of green. Inspired by topiary art, the concept is to be as one with nature, and the collection includes a side table that houses a solar panel. Once it is dark enough the table also functions as ambient lighting. Of course the ivy growth is not a requirement, as the pieces look equally stylish without embellishment.
+ emu.it
Common Pond Plat House - new photos
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
More photos after the link.
Technorati Tags: house plans, modern design, modern house, Plat House
Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Santa Barbara Riviera Residence
03/25/2008, 14:10 | Modern Residential DesignSanta Barbara Riviera Residence
Sun Filled in the Hills - Shubin + Donaldson Architects have created an ideal place to soak up sun and views in the Santa Barbara hills.
Client
Owners Geoffrey Moore and Genie Gable searched more than a year to find a site that met their exacting and almost-contradictory requirements.
- Moore (international businessman and writer who, when not travelling, splits his work time between a home office in Santa Barbara and a corporate office 85 miles south in Santa Monica) wanted a shaded, quiet office space filled with cutting-edge technology for global communication where he could write without distraction.
- Genie, his wife (principal of Genie Gable Interior Design, and a graduate of the Professional Design Program at UCLA, studied in the masters classes of Rose Tarlow) sought sun-filled spaces with unimpeded views of the nearby Pacific Ocean and, at night, the city lights of Santa Barbara.
The public rooms reflect her specialisation of modern design in modern homes.
Although by Santa Barbara standards the home is relatively compact (Moore and Gable are empty-nesters) no space is wasted. "We use every room every day," she says, "and never tire of the constantly changing light from the ocean to the south, the canyon to the east and the mountains to the north."
Program
This relatively small house (when compared to its neighbours) has all of the elements of a 5,000- or 6,000-square-foot house in a tidy, 3,200-square-foot package. The three-level home and two-car garage include open living/dining area, kitchen, master bedroom and bath, guest bedroom and bath, home gym, powder room, two home offices with office bath, outdoor dining area, outdoor lounge areas, lap pool, and 1,400 square feet of lower-level storage.
Design
Hidden environmentally sustainable design - Though not immediately obvious, this house embraces several green design characteristics.
- The house layout is based on solar orientation, resulting in passive solar gains throughout the year.
- Photovoltaic power generates household electricity through a 2.8kw system (when power is not needed, it feeds back into the grid).
- A passive roof-top solar heating system provides for domestic hot water and a passive solar ground-level hot-water system is used to heat the pool.
- The natural flow of hot and cool air is fortified by the use of radiant hot-water floor heating and separate central air conditioning in the ceilings. - Although these systems are in place, they are rarely used because of the solar orientation of the home and the natural ventilation.
- The architects re-used the existing foundation and caissons. During construction, the existing house was taken apart piece-by-piece, with all usable elements donated to Habitat for Humanity.
- Other energy-saving systems include double-pane windows, UV-resistant glass, ample insulation, and energy-efficient appliances.
- Deep exterior overhangs are designed to provide shade in the summer, and let in sun during the winter.
Style
A dramatic glass canopy ceremoniously marks the entrance to the home, bisecting the ground-to-roof planes of glass that form sidelights and clerestories. Throughout the house, walls intersect with glass in a play of solidity and transparency. There is a certain efficiency of design in the layout, yet it provides all of the amenities so that the house looks and feels like a five-star private residential club. By taking up minimal space (what's absolutely necessary and no more) the house also takes up minimal resources.
A monumental feeling is emphasised by designing the house to constantly open up to the outdoors. A neutral colour scheme complements the colours of nature that comprise the predominant palette. An infinity pool just outside the living room leads the eye to the ocean and the Channel Islands beyond. Four separate terraces surround the house, continuing the indoor/outdoor feeling and accessibility.
Each room affords great vistas as well as stunning natural light throughout the day. Large windows create frames for nature. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves complement the mahogany living room wall that houses an entertainment centre. Set into the wall, and surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, it acts as an extension of the outdoors. Doorways in general (even in the limestone-clad bathrooms) are taller than usual and lead the eye upward to be rewarded by either natural light or a beautiful vista. Dark walnut floors and softly minimalist furniture are sophisticated and inviting. Bedrooms and master bath look out to the ocean. The kitchen faces the hillside, emphasising how the house maintains a connection with nature.
Plans
Firm: Shubin + Donaldson Architects is a high-design architecture firm that specialises in developing livable environments. Headed by partners Russell Shubin, AIA, and Robin Donaldson, AIA, the firm tailors its projects (custom residential, office buildings and interiors, retail, hospitality, planning, and multi-family housing) with a refined sensitivity toward the land and context.
Architect: Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Robin Donaldson, AIA, Principal and Russell Shubin, AIA, Principal
Project Team: Nils Hammerbeck, Daniel Webber, Kelly Kish, Allison White, Josh Blumer, Alan McLeod, and David Van Hoy
Interiors: Genie Gable Interior Design
Contractor: Quillin Construction
Landscape: Lane Goodkind
Photos: Ciro Coelho
Article & Imagery: Courtesy - Taylor & Company (many thanks)
via: Taylor & Company
Totally Awesome 'Penguin House'
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWYou know I'm a huge fan of Japanese modernist houses. This one is genius.
'Penguin House' (aka Skin House Project #2) by Yasuhiro Yamashita of Atelier Tekuto.
Via the girl in the green dress
Back to the Boom
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Land+Living: Modern Lifestyle + Design
Okey dokey, very quiet around here for CA Boom time of year... yes we are usually buzzing with activity. Alas, not this time. We will have some stuff to share with y'all later, buy you'll just have to wait. In the mean time, here are some links to tide you over:
LA Times was there, and they were snapping pictures:
LAist was there... first timers? Dunno, but they put together a nice photo essay from the Hangar: And the NY Times was there too... no comment: Props to the Curbed LA peeps for stepping it up this year with some nice coverage of the home tours:
- Kanner Residence | Kanner Architects
(we were there back at CA Boom 2... just had to say that) - Felderman Keatinge Residence
- Alan-Voo House | Neil M. Denari
- Red Barn House (for sale with questionable use of "stone")
- House of Sand | lee + mundwiler architects (another one for sale?)
- Modern-Shed on the Prefab Floor | Modern Shed (for sale signs galore!)
745 Navy For Sale [sigh]
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWThe luscious 745 Navy is on the market. Here are a few pics from the real estate site Curbed LA, and a few more from The Value of Architecture - Los Angeles, a site that showcases architectural properties with the goal of raising awareness of the value of good design. For the best pics, though, check out this excellent slide show from Bulldog Realtors.
745 Navy is a bright and breezy little bungalow of just 700 square feet. It's clean and casual. Just look at that translucent wall! Amazing! I just love that. I also like the concrete floors, the funky carpet treatment in the bedroom, and the fact that it's a remodel of an existing home. It's the kind of place I can easily imagine myself living in.
However, it's not quite the kind of place I can imagine my wife and two kids living in with me, although apparently there's an existing, approved plan for a two-story addition! But for now I think I'll just have to be impressed with it's sunny, groovy design and store away a few ideas for another day.
MODERN DAYBEDS
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
MERIDIANI - belmondo dormeuse day bed available through SPENCER INTERIORS
Dimensions (86.47" x 34.25" x 30.7"H)
$4,772.00 CAD fabric category C
MAXALTO - #9950 Apta Collection day bed available through INFORM INTERIORS
Dimensions (78.75" x 29.5" x 25"H)
Pricing on this piece in fabric ranges from $4307 to $6164.
B&B and is net priced – which means the discount is already built in to the pricing.
CASSINA - MISS daybed available through ITALINTERIORS
DWR - Havana sofa bed available through DESIGN WITHIN REACH
Dimensions (88.5" x 39" 24.5" H Arm H 20.5" Seat H 13") $3,300 USD in oatmeal or brown.
Sourcing the perfect seating for home-office guests
MODERN Challenge: Dual-purpose design in single-room space.
When it comes to having an office / den that can also accommodate home visitors, there seems to be limited choices in comfort and style at an affordable value.
I'm working with a lovely couple of young professionals who have requested additional seating that can easily be converted into a bed in their office. When not being used as a guest room, the sofa bed could provide a place to sit down for casual business conversation while the other is sitting at the desk.
From what I’ve discovered, most pull-out sofa beds are rather uncomfortable. I also find it hard to convince a client to invest in a piece of furniture that is more gimmicky than functional. I always say that if you are choosing to add furniture to your collection, go for comfort and timeless style in small spaces.
MODERN Solution: Chaises and day beds that are classic, timeless, multi-functional (without the gimmicks), and most importantly – comfortable!
M2E Charges Your Cell Phone With Kinetic Energy!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
Earlier this year we highlighted Idaho startup M2E Power’s push to develop motion-powered electronics for the military. Now M2E is emphasizing the commercial applications for their technology, with a specific goal: revolutionizing cell phone batteries. M2E will announce the development of an external charger later this month that will generate between 300 and 700 percent more energy than current kinetic energy technologies, and may eventually replace cell phone batteries altogether.
OJMR Architects | Fritz Residence
04/22/2008, 14:07 | Modern Residential Design
L Shaped Simplicity - Wrapped around a cooling pool with ample shade and expansive living areas, this Jay M. Reynolds residence in Palm Springs, combines two simple volumes to create a modernistic whole.
Name of Project: Fritz Residence, Palm Desert, California Information courtesy of: OJMR Architects and Taylor & Company (many thanks)
Site
The house is located on a flat, irregularly shaped lot at the end of a cul-de-sac. The neighbourhood contains a variety of styles and references to the preferred typical suburban desert subdivision architecture.
Program
Mew single-family residence including kitchen, dining area, living room, office, three bedrooms, and two-and-one-half bathrooms.
Design
The house is designed for a retired couple with the need for guest bedroom suites and a large communal space for the living, dining, and kitchen areas.
To achieve a feeling of "simplicity" within conventional means, it was decided that planning and construction must be straight-forward and the character of the house reflect a strategy of enclosure and openness focused towards the main outdoor space. Two simple volumes are connected together to define a corner with one wing containing the guest bedrooms, and the other containing the master suite. The two wings are connected at the main living, dining, and kitchen space.
Hallways are located along the east and south sides of the two wings and help to define the laterally spaced rooms, which can be closed off from the circulation zone with large sliding walls. The rooms all access the outdoor pool/courtyard space from large sliding glass walls.
Plans
Architect: The Office of J.M. Reynolds Architects, Los Angeles
Jay M. Reynolds, AIA, principal
Built area: 2,600 square-feet
Completed: 2003
Budget: US$650,000
Materials: Exposed concrete block walls, natural stone veneer walls, plaster over wood framing, concrete floors, walnut cabinetry, Gascogne Blue limestone floors in bathrooms, translucent glass panels, Montauk Black marble counters in kitchen, Venetino White marble countertops in bathroom and on kitchen island.
Photos: Ciro Coelho
Inspiration, people, products
00/00/0000, 00:00 | David Report
OPENnetwork is a tool for the creative industry by Danish Lynfbrikken. It’s all about inspiration, people and products. It’s a Panel-based rendering engine allowing mixing and comparison of multi-section content side-by-side as the basic information architecture - keeping the “let me quickly see what’s here” functionality from the old site, but greatly enhancing it’s potential. You can easily create collections of your favourites
The “Inspiration” section is populated by content gathered through numerous RSS feeds. Various workflows based on Yahoo Pipes (among others) are used to pull hard to get content, like Flickr Sets. Keeping the content sources for the “Inspiration” section strictly remote, allowed the developers to tap into the multitude of (mostly) freely available tools developed to manage the publication of online content - providing the users of OPENnetwork with a flexible and ever increasing platform of tools, like mobile-blogging, and the availability of highly personalized workflows for content publication. Making OPENnetwork exist as a node in a network rather than yet another self centered hub.
Of the numerous innovative features of the site, the ability to save a given selection of panels into a Collection (available as a RSS feed, permalink-able and print-able) makes it possible for users to create design Issues of their own. Products can be compared and saved as share-able inspiration or shopping lists, News articles can be referenced side by side and Persons can be located and recommended.
Andra bloggar om: internet, inspiration, design, arkitektur
Living Walls Provide Local Produce
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
Green Living Technologies is an innovative landscaping company that is taking advantage of an oft forgotten space to grow plants - walls. Their Green Living™ Wall system uses specially designed recycled aluminum panels to grow herbs, vegetables, fruits and even perennials. These beautiful creations not only enliven a space, but can also provide locally grown food.
links for 2008-02-20
02/20/2008, 02:23 | :: Vol. 2: the design management weblog | by ralf beuker :- It’s fascinating to see the self-refering attitude of the Italians in general and Verganti in particular. On the other hand he did ‘publish into action’ what I’ve found as ‘too simple textbook application’. So sometimes it just takes a simple ‘go for it’!
lena corwin contest: finalists+ voting!
07/25/2008, 16:00 | Design*Sponge
after a week of collecting entries for the lena corwin printing by hand contest i am overwhelmed with the gorgeous use of print and pattern in people’s homes! we’ve selected our favorite finalists and now it’s up to you to choose your favorite! voting is open today and will be open through monday evening, july 28th at 10pm EST. choose your favorite by voting right here and the top 5 winners will receive signed copies of lena’s new book and our 1st and 2nd place winners will win one of lena’s gorgeous pillows as well. so- here are your finalists! click here to vote- thank you to everyone who sent us photos of their beautiful homes!
[quick note- there were so many great entries and we’ll definitely be sharing more of them (and expanded sneak peeks) as we go along]
Finalist #1: Catherine’s Patterned Floor (see image above for a larger version of this shot)
Finalist #2: Christine’s Patterned Radiator
Finalist #3: Meredith’s Patterned Walls
Finalist #4: Addie’s Rock and Roll Prints
Finalist #5: Tonya’s Patterned Bedroom
Finalist #6: Ashley’s Silhouette Bathroom
Finalist #7: Rachel’s Blue Patterned Wall
Finalist #8: Shauna’s Patterned Bedroom
Finalist #9: Michelle’s Pattern-Filled House (with pup!)
Virgina Plat House - exterior complete
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
Here is the master bedroom side of the house. I liked this photo because it gives you a good look at the side overhang rafters. They did a good job with this detail which is always gratifying to see. You can also catch a glimpse of the creek in the distance - what a great setting for this house.
There are three new photos of the house posted at the flickr set for this project. Also remember to look at the LamiDesign Flickr photo pool to see all the photos from customers documenting the house designs under construction. Our thanks go out to them for sharing their projects with us.
Technorati Tags: house plans, modern design, modern house, Plat House
WELCOME - TANYA SCHOENROTH
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
I just wanted to send a warm welcome to a dear colleague and friend, Tanya Schoenroth, who recently launched her new website. I'm looking forward to collaborating with an amazing talent in the coming year to help bring fresh new modern ideas to a growing market of sophisticated buyers and home owners. Like me a modern dog lover, we send our best to all of you for the holidays!
New Mexico EcoSteel House - more photos
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
As before more shots in a photo browser below the click through:
Technorati Tags: 6030 House, 6040 House, ecosteel, modern design, modern house