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kevin kelly- the next phase of the web
11/07/2008, 10:51 | InfluxinsightsHe takes us through what might happen in the next 6,500 days of the web.
Some highlights.
1. Not be anything like the web
2. Be a single machine- everything is connect to the same thing.We have one large machine with the web as its OS
3. The web will own every bit that's produced- if it's not part of the web, it will not count
4. Everything in our lives will be on this "machine"
5. The machine has and will have a global sense- see latest financial crisis
6. Move to the cloud
7. Be all about sharing- what can we do? what will the limits be?
8. Always be on- never off
9. Extreme dependence on this "machine" because it makes us smarter. Being off will feel like an amputation!
10. Lead us to continue to question- "Who are we?"
11. We will need to believe in the impossible
Posted by Ed Cotton
Blog Action Day
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWFirst of all, why do I often post about green homes, even when my site is not purely focused on green issues? Well, for starters, green makes a lot of practical sense. It's laughable how much emphasis we put on greening our cars when we spend way more energy in our houses. It should be obvious every week when we take out the trash that our homes are the epicenter of our consumption habits. And I care about my family's health. I want them to live in a safe household environment, not one that is riddled with toxins and allergens.
Second, green isn't that hard to do anymore. You don't have to live in an Earthship made of tires pounded full of dirt, and old aluminum cans to be green (though that's pretty cool if you ask me). You also don't have to be an eco-warrior living off the grid in Northern California, growing all your own food and living off $10,000 worth of yearly organic produce sales. I guess what I mean is that being "green" isn't really an extreme lifestyle choice, it's part of everyday life for everyday people all over the USA. We have to stop treating green as extreme. Frankly, I think that alienates more people than it attracts. That's why I try not to overplay my green views, just as I don't downplay them either. To me, the important thing is that we're all constantly raising our awareness and incorporating green practices in our lives one little step at a time.
There are so many good ways to green any home, any style, old or new, anywhere. How about more efficient appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs, better insulation, and low-VOC paints? These are pretty easy things that can make a big difference. How about not using those toxic cleaners in your kitchen and bathroom? Use good ol' white vinegar - it works great and is non-toxic. Inexpensive too. And great technology is here, with real strides in renewable energy being made every day. The reasons for not taking advantage of better technology for greener homes are becoming fewer and fewer. We're pretty much at the point where going green isn't about making tough choices, it's about making smart choices. The difference now isn't as much about toughness as it is about awareness.
I like to show interesting modern homes, and some of them are not particularly green. But lots of them are, in lots of different ways. Some are green just because they are compact. Some are green because they have a broad sheltering roof and good insulation. Some are green becaues they make good use of recycled materials, or new materials like steel framing that will last a long, long time without a lot of costly maintenance, and that can be recycled someday if need be. Maybe they aren't all perfect, but we can learn something from them. My site is about ideas. Some of the good ideas I like to show are about environmentally friendly homes, and some of the ideas are about other things. They're not mutually exclusive. And we have to stop thinking in those terms. Green fits with modern because they are both about good design. Good design has logic, economy and beauty all rolled into one. I see green as a part of that, not a whole unto itself.
Don't get me wrong, I don't take green for granted. I accept green as a matter of fact. That's how it should be - a natural part of life, not a radical philosophy. I view the recent mainstreaming of green as a sign that we've finally turned the corner. It won't be long now before we build the momentum to make lasting positive change. The challenges are real, but humanity, in spite of itself, is a problem solving species. We can do it.
Californians Vote Yes on 800 Miles of High Speed Rail!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
Barack Obama’s election to the presidency wasn’t the only sustainable choice on the ballot last Tuesday. Californians voted in favor of an 800 mile high speed train system that will stop in every major city from Sacramento to San Diego. According to the High Speed Rail Authority, California is the 12th largest source of greenhouse gas emission on earth, 41% of which come from transportation. Traveling at 220 miles per hour, the trains will reduce greenhouse gases by up to 12.7 billion pounds annually, the equivalent of removing 1 million cars from the road each year. Set to begin construction as early as 2011, California’s high speed rail will create 450,000 new jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil by 12 million barrels a year.
a chair for the times
11/07/2008, 11:05 | InfluxinsightsHerman Miller took a long hard look at these problems and designed a chair with a positive impact on health. It's amazing to see a company take such an ambitious and rigorous approach to understanding and solving the needs of its users.
"Embody lets your body move and keeps you well supported, because your mind works best when you move freely and stress is minimized on your muscles, bones, and tissues. Blood circulates better, heart rate goes down, more oxygen flows to the brain, and there is no distracting discomfort or physical constraint. That's critical in our idea economy where innovation drives success and people get paid for their thoughts and creativity."
Better health= Better ideas- Very smart and it makes a nice pitch to CEOs and CFOs.
To get there, Herman-Miller talked and involved dozens of experts in fields of vision, biomechanics, physical therapy and ergonomics. These experts shared insights and helped develop prototypes.
Of course, the Embody is ahead of the curve environmentally, containing 45% recycled materials, no PVC and is 95% recylable.
Posted by Ed Cotton
These Designers Have a Hard Time!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Design Sojourn10 Useful Cost Saving Design Strategies for these Troubled Times
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Design SojournMODERN 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!
Earthbag Tube Forming Machine
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Green Home Building and Sustainable Architecture
Recycled Houses
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Green Home Building and Sustainable ArchitectureA big truck tractor was towing this entire 1200 square foot house balanced on two huge steel I-beams and a bunch of wheeled dollies. Progress was slow but steady as it inexorably moved toward its next incarnation. Just that morning it had departed its original home where it had been seasonal housing for migrant workers.
The owners of this seeming mirage had searched for just the right orphaned house to adopt as their own, lovingly place it on a new foundation, and refurbish it. Many houses would not be suitable for such a trip; generally only well-built wooden structures can withstand the stress of such a move. This house had all the qualities they were looking for: charm, integrity, and affordability. The entire cost of the house and having it moved was $10,000.
By the time they have it completely fixed up with new plumbing and electric service, an insulated stucco exterior, new energy-efficient windows, a metal roof, a completely rebuilt front porch, all of the interior walls resurfaced, and miscellaneous repairs, they estimate that the total cost of the project will be about $50,000, including the land. Not bad for what in most regards will be as good as new!
Of course new is not what they wanted; they bought this early twentieth century house (it's actual date of construction is unknown) precisely because of its special vintage quality. It reminds one of the owners of the house his grandmother lived in, with 9 foot ceilings, three smallish bedrooms, tongue and grooved fir flooring, cast-iron radiators, built-in cabinets, drawers and even ironing board, and the intangible quality of a by-gone era. They plan to retain the original floor plan intact, only altering a walk-in closet to become the mechanical room and turning a room off the kitchen into a dining space.
The house made the entire trip with just a few places where the plaster cracked in one corner, which is easily repaired. This is one very solidly-built house, made from the sort of fir that no longer can be bought. There was only one place under the kitchen sink that had suffered leak-induced rot over many years; everything else is as straight and true as any carpenter would want.
Another late twentieth century vintage home of about 800 square feet came from property leased from the Federal government and the house needed to be moved. With local help, the buyer of this little home added an additional room onto the original to comply with the homeowners' association square foot minimum. She has thoroughly enjoyed the process of remaking this simple cabin into her charming home, imbued with the wonderful quirky qualities that spring from her fanciful mind.
Once a house is moved it must comply with current plumbing and electrical codes, so these elements were completely redone. Most of the windows were replaced with second hand units that gave her just the views that she wanted. The exterior was resurfaced with rough-sawn lap siding and a new metal roof was installed. The original interior plastic paneling was replaced with sheetrock, and decorated with lots of natural wood trim. The whole feeling of the place is one of lovingly crafted touches wherever the eye lands. The new owner says, “I would much rather live in something recycled than buying something brand new which has no character. I let this house come together…it just evolved!”
Creating new life for old or abandoned houses has got be one of the most sustainable ways of making habitation. This is the ultimate form of recycling, where most of the basic components of a house are utilized intact instead of being tossed into a landfill or burned. There is a tremendous savings in the embodied energy of the house (in both materials and labor), so that all that needs to be done is to repair and polish the original dwelling to create a whole new life for it. Hoorah for these people who have the vision and willingness to take on these projects!
4occhi glasses by giullo iacchetti at aspesi 1910 store
00/00/0000, 00:00 | designboom weblog, design related news, reviews and previewsaspesi 1910 store in milan.
4occhi is a pair of glasses with four lenses that can be customized according to individual needs.
image © studio foto iacchetti
aspesi 1910 store
more:
http://4occhi.it
Architects rank high in "Happiness" [Clipping]
11/10/2008, 14:23 | Land+Living: Modern Lifestyle + DesignBernardes + Jacobsen - CF Residence
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Modern Residential Design
Steeling the show - Blessed with a great plot and open brief, a lightweight, transparent, horizontal building, was what the architects Thiago Bernardes and Paulo Jacobsen designed.
Overview & Plot
Located on a plot in the picturesque condominium Portogalo in Angra dos Reis, Rio de Janeiro, Paulo Jacobsen and Thiago Bernardes wanted to accommodate a large family retreat taking full advantage of the plot and its location. The challenge was how to minimise the buildings impact from roadside - difficult with such a large house.
Departing from traditional Brazilian wood or brick structures the house employs steel to span the vast openings that connect all rooms to the views below.
The svelte steel corner pillars provide minimal interruption to the open plan dining and living area of the ground floor. In summertime (almost constant in Angra dos Reis) the glass panels dividing this area up slide away to provide an enormous expanse of shade.
Half way up the façade, and providing elevated viewing to the bedrooms are two outdoor balconies of Peroba wood, these break up the stark white of the lower level and the surrounding steel structure. The wood is also used throughout the second level interior, and as a lining the the vast roof span.
Continuing to the roof level, tropical storms and heavy rain, common in the early part of the year in Rio de Janeiro are caught by large glass overhangs, which still let light through to the bedrooms. The glass also blurs the connection between the roof’s reflecting pool, paved with green ceramic tiles, imitating the colour of the inlet and sea beyond. The same applies to the pool on the terrace, which seems to fall into the sea. This camouflage, and the fact that the house is set into the hillside at the rear, reduces its size, as to the thin steel structures, elongating its horizontal structure. It’s only from below, backstroking in the pool that the house’s true size is revealed.
Layout
With the entire ground floor dedicated to the pool, dining and entertaining, the upper level provides the entrance and 4 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Originally two giant bedrooms, the sets of two our housed either side of the atrium over the pool. As you enter the residence through its large dark wood doors, the bedrooms act as blinkers, focusing the view out to the water beyond.
A small seating area between allows you to contemplate, and perhaps acts as a formal arrival area. From here, “grand” staircases head both inside (left) to the living room, and outside (right) to the pool area (Bernardes + Jacobsen are renowned for impressive staircases).
The Result
Now complete in a 4 bedroom layout, this family retreat seems to have all one needs for a relaxing weekend. The thin steel structure and stretched horizontal roofline give it the appearance of a lightweight marque or stretched canvas roof. A seaside camp that mirrors the water beyond. Yet, from within, there is no doubt that this house is: permanent; modern and luxurious; and will provide a great weekend spot for years to come.
Plans
Architect/Designer:
Bernardes + Jacobsen
Client: Carlos Firme
Construction: February, 2001 – December, 2003
Materials: Steel structure, stone, wood, glass and Ceramic tiles
Built area: 1024m2
Plot: 2000m2
Information courtesy of: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Sketch your NURBS Model with ILOVESKETCH!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Design SojournLondon Design Festival: Piet Hein Eek
10/05/2008, 23:25 | MoCo Loco
The London Design Festival saw the launch of the first Rabih Hage/Piet Hein Eek pop-up store in a space large enough to highlight a wide variety of Eek's work. The temporary shop will be open through October 31 and features Eek's new 99% cabinets, storage that makes use of 99.13% of a whole steel sheet (the waste is a result of the holes for the fasteners). There was a nice selection of signature Waste Scrapwood pieces, all a glorious, yet soothing, patchwork of colours. The Plywood Chandelier and Plissélamp were good examples of Piet Hein Eek lighting, and the ceramics range caught the sun on the tables. The Crisis Cushion Sofa beckoned softly from a corner, and the Plywood dining set showed up well in the space.
HOUSE kn by Kochi Architect's Studio
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOW
Nice treatment of parking space too. My pet peeve is nice homes ruined by ugly attached garages and bad driveways. HOUSE kn gets it right.
Via the girl in the green dress. It's a wonderful design blog, so please do click over and take a look. You'll be delighted.
Image credit - Kochi Architect's Studio site.
Frederico Zanelato - Architect's Residence
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Modern Residential Design
Structured Strata - Layered up for optimum views, ventilation and privacy, Ferederico Zanelato's house in São Paulo is a quality residence at an economical price.
Overview
This architect’s house is what it should be, driven out of pure needs and the situation at hand, with clear intention. Frederico, with a Masters focus in economical design, is conscious about using materials wisely. Serving him well in the design of his own house, which apart from quality hard wearing flooring, uses well finished local materials to create a high class residence. Completed in 2005 and setting aside the cost of the plot, the house came in at under $400 US per square metre for construction! Far more impressive, considering that similar executions in São Paulo are quoted as $1200 US.
The plot is located in the Sierra Itapety, 54km from São Paulo, surrounded by a pool of Atlantic Forest, which drives the houses windows and openings, catching your eye from every corner.
The geographical position provided the strategic entry of light and ventilation. Large overhands and shading battens provide shelter from peak summer heat, and allow the air to cool in the shade before entering, traditional solutions within new design. The slope of the land also imposes on the distribution of the volumes, the zoning, the entrance and landscaping, thus completing the desired dialogue with the house’s surroundings.
Layout
The ground floor is occupied by the social area: living room, kitchen, guest bedroom and bathroom. With access to the front garden and full sun, this level is laid out by relative use of sunlight, with a bright and airy living area, and the guest bedroom snug at the rear.
The middle level: houses a covered car park and service area - come laundry and bathroom.
On top of the social area is a patio / garden, solarium with reflecting pond, and a wooden deck.
The intimate master bedroom and bath are housed in the final volume suspended above. Cloaked in shade providing battens, yet still with views out across the valley.
The materials chosen for the construction, simple and local to the region, establish a connection between the area and the owner’s way of life. The exterior, cleanly rendered in stucco, is livened up with a fantastic entrance way mural. The floor of white granite is broken by a carpet of pink sandstone that calls attention and directs to the main entry. Wet zones are covered with white granite chips and the ground floor exterior with large grade loose gravel. Useful for tropical storms and the winter floods common in São Paulo.
The views to the surrounding Atlantic forest, framed by white walls, form calming green curtains. Outside the master Bedroom, water, vital for life, reflects and intensified the surrounding green and the sky above. Features which embrace and justify Frederico’s choices of white, black, wood, stone and iron.
Plans
Architect: Frederico Zanelato
Completed: 2005
Costs: $400 US Per square metre
Images and information courtesy of: Frederico Zanelato
Slide Show of Earthbag Building Projects
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Green Home Building and Sustainable Architecture
The pictures are labeled so that if any of them attract further attention, the more detailed description of the project can be found on the projects page.The pace of the slide show is controlled by the viewer by clicking on arrow buttons below the images, so one can browse as casually as one likes. This is a great way to become familiar with some of what is being created with earthbags. The photos depict both works in progress and completed projects.
So sit back and enjoy the show!
design miami, florida 08: ornamentum jewelry gallery
00/00/0000, 00:00 | designboom weblog, design related news, reviews and previews
'matador necklace' by philip sajet
ornamentum gallery will be the first jewelry gallery ever to participate in design miami. founded in 2002 by
stefan friedemann and wife laura lapachin, the hudson, new york gallery represents a collection of pieces of
conceptual jewelry. ornamentum gallery focuses on contemporary jewelry designers who are working beyond
our traditional understanding of jewelry as ornamental, showcasing pieces that explore sculptural forms,
new materials and approaches.
'freundeund' by gerd rothmann
'rough ruff' by dan jocz
'marble necklace' by ted noten
all images © ornamentum gallery
ornamentum gallery: http://www.ornamentumgallery.com
Shubin + Donaldson Architects - Santa Barbara Riviera Residence
00/00/0000, 00:00 | 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
Akihisa Hirata Architecture Office's House t
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWFinally, I saw something that sparked a little daydreaming again, which is really what I'm after. It's "House t" by Akihisa Hirata Architecture Office (HAO) of Tokyo, Japan. Of course, it's Japanese. Is there any place in the world that produces more unique, original, thought provoking houses than Japan? NO WAY!
The approach to a second story and the division of spaces in the home is totally different. I get lost just looking at the roof line and the placement of the windows. It's bright, clean and sculptural in a way that only Japanese houses are.
Via Things Magazine (October 3rd, 2007)
Image credits - HAO site
Bernardes + Jacobsen - Vila Nova Da Conceiçao Residence
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Modern Residential DesignVila Nova Da Conceiçao Residence
Smoke and Mirrors - once past the solid industrial façade of this residence, light, shade and reflections open up this hemmed in residence by Thiago Bernardes and Paulo Jacobsen.
Architect/Designer: Bernardes + Jacobsen Information courtesy of: Bernardes + Jacobsen
Overview & Plot
In dealing with a narrow conical plot near Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo, stretching the layout and smart use of structural steel, has rewarded Thiago Bernardes and Paul Jacobsen.
The sloped plot, required them to play with the layout of the house, spreading out and reordering the location of the office, five bedrooms with en suites, and the gym into a plot of just 760m2.
At the narrow entrance end of the plot sit the service area, laundry and garage, just below ground level. Half a level above street height and just a little further down the plot are the entrance, kitchen and dining room. From here, an impressive atrium carries you either: down a long set of short depth stairs the living room, home theatre and gym; or upstairs to the five bedrooms. This atrium is an amazing planted area with bamboo and foliage abound. Through glass openings above; it appears light and airy, despite being in the centre of the narrow plot.
Key to the project is this area of vertical circulation. It is composed of a set of stairs and bridge, illuminated by openings above, which give the residence spatiality that is unusual. Through this atrium, emphasis was also placed on the secondary entrance, access between the house and garage, used every day, but often ignored in design. 
Layout
On the ground floor, at the widest area of the plot, the living rooms all open out to the pool and BBQ area receiving light through sliding doors that rise the height of their extended stud.
Above, the bedrooms are one and a half storeys off the ground. The extra high stud, affording them light and views above the surrounding residences.
The Result
The project also takes full advantage of the external area at the bottom of the plot.
This is done through: high studs; open plan; minimal interference in the indoor outdoor flow; and where support was needed the upper levels, svelte steel poles were used, and even then, polished to a mirror, to minimise their impact.
The garden is then in effect doubled through the use of a reflective sheathing on the rear party wall (intriguing, as we often see this in narrow restaurants to double the depth of perception). 
Plans
Completed: December 2005.
Materials: Steel structure, stone, wood, glass and Ceramic tiles
Built area: 900m2
tokyo design week 08: 'cristalina' by campana brothers
00/00/0000, 00:00 | designboom weblog, design related news, reviews and previewscurated by tokujin yoshioka the exhibition focusses on fusing nature with technology.
'cristalina'
image © designboom
for 'cristaliana' the brothers used the idea of nests of birds to create a seat with branches interwoven.
craftsmen worked for hours using various wood structures to create this unusual design.
sketch of 'cristalina'
the making process
craftspeople weaving the seat
image © designboom
image © designboom
branches woven into the seat
image © designboom
more:
http://www.campanas.com.br
designboom interview with campana brothers
Steven Holl | Planar House
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Modern Residential Design
Desert Tilt Up Wonder - This Steven Holl designed residence in Paradise Valley, AZ, USA, uses raw Concrete and Corten Steel to create a great prefabricated home and art gallery for it's owner.
Overview
Designed to house a contemporary art collection, internally, the house sets out to be a blank canvas, not to distract from the works held within. The street façade blends into the desert greys, with the ageing steel fitting in perfectly.
Flourishes on the exterior are limited to the courtyard from where a ramp leads to a rooftop sculpture garden - a place of silence and reflection.
The rear, with overhands for shading, is the largest expanse of light giving glass. These sliding openings taking in views to the nearby Camelback Mountain.
Layout
The house is broken up into three functional areas. The garage and master bedroom, together with the library form the quiet zone at front of the house. To the rear are the dining and kitchen areas, located to soak up the views down to the mountain. A contemplative study joins these rooms at the rear, cool in summer no doubt as the doors to both the pool behind and rear yard would form a breeze-way of cooled air.
Between the two spaces lies the gallery and living area, a perfect space for the owner to enjoy the collection.
Similar natural cooling techniques are employed inside, with the overhead light shafts linking to cooling pools on the floor below, a technique which combined with minimal unshaded glass, would keep air con bills to a minimum.
Images
Plans
Google Location Paradise Valley, Phoenix, Arizona
Status completed 2005
Client Withheld
Architect: Steven Holl
Project Architect Martin Cox (Tim Bade - Schematic Design)
Floor Area 3320 sf
Project Team Robert Edmonds, Annette Goderbauer, Hideki Hirahara, Clark Manning
General Contractor(s) The Construction Zone
Structural Engineer(s) Rudow & Berry
Mechanical Engineer(s) Roy Otterbein
Civil Engineer(s) Fleet Fisher
Electrical Engineer(s) Associated Engineering
Landscape Architect(s) Steve Martino & Associates
Photos Bill Timmerman
via:Steven Holl
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.
Luminescent Fiber Optic Wallpaper by Camilla Diedrich
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
What if we could light our homes with glowing wallpaper rather than having to rely on electric lights? Swedish designer Camilla Diedrich has asked this exact question, and in response, created a stunning line of luminescent wallpaper that is lit by fiber optics. Her Nature Ray Charles Wallpaper features a delicate assortment of floral motifs that shine through in lucid lines, adding a touch of energy-efficient ambiance to any room.
-THANK YOU -
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
Photography - excited to learn new means of observation
DEAR READERS - thank you for your patience and support over the past few months. I am honored to have you come back even with my absence (I've been away from the blog scene to attend to a long overdue personal retreat) - I'm glad to say I am back. Blogging almost became an addiction. I missed it dearly and am now back to writing again because sharing with those of you who appreciate modern design is a rewarding experience. I find balance in making blogging part of my day, just like eating breakfast.
So, straight to the point: I would like to share with you a few projects. I will soon publish various articles linked to my involvement with other great networks and causes ... as well personal projects like MODERN CAUSE.
Since I love modern art, architecture, design, fashion, interiors, photography and my yorkie Tyson - I am collaborating with those who inspire me in the design world and will share with you other sources outside of design that inspire me every day.
MODERN CAUSE is a blog focused on causes or moments that have touched my heart
MODERNDESIGNSOURCE is blog focused on sources for the modern design enthusiasts of Vancouver, BC
I will be a guest blogger for blog friends Jeans.com and 2Modern to share with readers 2 of my favorite topics of interest: MODERN FASHION and MODERN FURNITURE.
JEANS.COM is a blog focused on my sources for the jean savvy, inspired enthusiast through a designer eye- here I will share with you the style statements of amazing talents
2MODERN is a blog that focuses on my sources for the modern furniture enthusiast, gained through my work with various clients and showrooms.
SEE YOU SOON - looking forward to hearing your comments & design questions!
Designers must Develop Critical Insight
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Design SojournMODERN INTERIOR DESIGN - AVROKO
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
Finley Residence
Architecture & Interiors by: Avroko
Location: New York, USA
Specialty: Restaurants, Hotels, Residential, Convept Development, Furniture
Project Highlights: Sapa, Quality Meats, European Union, Park Avenue Summer
Interior Photography: Avroko
Park Avenue Summer
MODERN ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN - VANCOUVER
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
Architecture & Interiors by: Omar Arbell
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Specialty: residential and commercial renovations to custom furniture and landscapes
Project Highlights: Renovations of Penthouse Suite, Vancouver + Inform Interiors + Salt Tasting Bar
Interior Photography: Michael Boland Photography
Getting back to blogging, I look back at the past year and am proud of Vancouver for the increase of modern design projects, it's a slow start but great to see that modern aesthetic is starting to be recognized more and more every day. An architect I have long admired is Omar Arbel. After seeing the transformation of a penthouse renovation, the opening of the cool Salt Tasting Bar, the renovation of the new Inform Interiors showroom - I'm speechless. It's inspiring to come across Omar's work being featured in more and more design articles to also experiencing installations of his designs like the Bocci Lights. A beautiful choice of light fixture hung throughout STK in the meatpacking district in New York.
To gain a "behind the scenes" insight into the building of a cool new interior in Vancouver, check out the blog story behind Salt where Sean shares the inspiration of combining the design talent of Omar Arbel with the details of local furniture designers like Brent Comber. Got to love learning more about the design & food lovers joining the blogging community.
