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Modern North
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWI've never been to the Twin Cities but it occurs to me that most of my favorite modernist architecture and related firms and websites are based there:
DO Research - A favorite Minneapolis-based modernist blog
rosenlof/lucas - the hippest modern landscaping duo going, with a cool blog to boot
Alchemy Architects - you cannot resist the appeal of their weeHouses
Flatpak - I drool over these Eamesish beauties
City Desk Studio - recently in Dwell, awesome Skyway Retreat
Bark Design - I'm in love with Doris
Hive Modular - The B-Line is an instant classic modern prefab
What is it about Minnesota????? So much good stuff is coming out of there right now. It makes me want to move. I think a weekend trip to finally see the Twin Cities is in order.
New-crete
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Green Home Building and Sustainable ArchitectureI have a patented product of lightweight cement called new-crete. New-crete is designed to form millions of air bubbles when cured. This makes new-crete 50% lighter and stronger than regular cement and 35% lighter and stronger than lightweight cement. It is also 30%-40% cheaper than regular cement. It has an R-20 insulation value with a 9-inch thick wall. It is nontoxic and not corrosive and it floats.
- Price: regular cement , $125 per cubic yard; new-crete, $75 per cubic yard
- It has the ability to shed water with a .5 mm saturation point. this will prevent water seeping into it and freezing causing cracking.
- The ingredients to make New-Crete are readily found around the world and are in no danger of being depleted.
- New-crete can be formed into any object. We have the designs for walls, drywall, floors, shingles, stairs, window frames, cupboards, bricks, doors ect....we can make a whole house from the bottom up using only New-Crete
- It can be painted, or laminated with wood panels, ect.
- It can be nailed into and not crack.
Once this is up and running we can start supplying the world with better, cheaper homes. The plans for the prototype home is for a regular box style home. The next step will be to make in-ground and underground domes that are storm proof. They will also be cheaper and strong than regular homes with revolutionary designs...100% self sustainable.
The Canadian north (native reserves) are in much need for about 35 000 new homes as the old ones are in 3rd world condition.
So I know this will be better for everyone, especially the trees. This will change the world. All I need to do is find $150 000 to get it started. I see many people with lots of money (US government spending trillions on war) and the Canadian government also spending money on war ect...the will to change the world is the first key; money will then come naturally.
I believe we must start using other building materials instead of trees before they are all gone. If interested you can contact Matthew Smyth at infiniteearthdesignATyahoo.ca or visit his website: www.InfiniteEarthDesign.com
MODERN OUTDOOR FURNITURE - PART 1
00/00/0000, 00:00 | GAILE GUEVARA
This Week At Art MoCo
10/03/2008, 06:36 | MoCo Loco
Miguel Ornia-Blanco's paintings of London are surprisingly colourful. We expect a gritty urban grey, but he gives us aquas and mauves.
Ornia-Blanco goes by the name of Migy for his cheery illustration work, such as the Bus Number 253 to Hackney.
People, places and projects are the keys to Martin Adolfsson's photography. We are stuck on his places.
Paul Zografakis creates collage and murals out of found objects.
Sam Messenger's careful freehand drawings seem mechanical in nature.
More at Art MoCo.
London Design Festival: New Designers Selection
10/07/2008, 12:54 | MoCo Loco
The New Designers SELECTION was an exhibition of work by 50 young designers who were selected from the New Designers event in July. Held at the Village Underground in Shoreditch, this show featured a variety of furniture, jewellery, accessories and lighting. There were colourful (and cheeky) ceramics from Michelle Wood, a salute to the monarchy by Faye Power, and intricate work from Rebecca Smye-Rumsby. Elena Fleury-Rojo's glass pieces were a combination of frost and shine, and Rachel Postlethwaite's layered cubbies provided unusual modular shelving options. More after the jump, along with work from Lizzie Thomas, Katie Merrick and Mira Horn.
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).
New Mexico EcoSteel House - railings installed
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
I had gotten very used to lookng at the stair without a rail, and I was afraid that the rail would somehow complicate or spoil the spare look of the stair. Well it did not turn out that way and I think this is why. The rail that was picked is a stainless tube rail with cables so its very light and transparent. Also the brightness of the stainless really separates it from the grey vertebrae and ribs appearance of the stair. If the rail had been painted steel work that matched the stair I believe it would have compromised the lines of the stair.
More photos below the fold.
Technorati Tags: 6030 House, 6040 House, ecosteel, modern design, modern house, prefab house
These Designers Have a Hard Time!
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Design SojournBuilding with Unbonded Pumice
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Green Home Building and Sustainable Architecture
Dr. Owen Geiger and I have just found that a book published in 1990 in Germany, Building with Pumice, written by Klaus Grasser and Gernot Minke, describes experiments done in the 1970’s at the Research Laboratory for Experimental Building at Kassel Polytechnic College in Germany that have considerable bearing on the history of earthbag building. Most of the book is about the physical properties of pumice, how to obtain and process it, and how to make blocks or walls with pumice/cement, but the fifth and final chapter, titled “Building with Unbonded Pumice,” describes how they began to investigate the question of how natural building materials like sand and gravel could be used for building houses without the necessity of using binders. The use of fabric-packed bulk material was found to be a cost-efficient approach. They used pumice to pack in the bags, because it weighs less and has better thermal insulating properties than ordinary sand and gravel. Their first successful experiments were with corbeled dome shapes (an inverted catenary) which was obtained with the aid of a rotating vertical template mounted at the center of the structure.
1978, a prototype house using an earthquake-proof stacked-bag type of construction was built in Guatemala. They used cotton bags soaked in lime-wash to protect the material from rot and insects. When flattened, the bags measured roughly 8 X 10 cm. Vertical bamboo poles placed on both sides of the bags and interconnected with wire loops gave the stacked bags stability. The bamboo rods were fixed to the foundation and to the horizontal tie beam at the top.
Obviously the concept of constructing homes with fabric bags of mineral material predates Nader Khalili’s earliest experiments by many years, and I was certainly not the first to experiment with filling earthbags with pumice! The entire chapter is reproduced as an article at www.greenhomebuilding.com.
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.
Deliver a Presentation like Steve Jobs [del.icio.us]
00/00/0000, 00:00 | :: Vol. 2: the design management weblog | by ralf beuker :360 Winnett: Excavation
10/07/2008, 07:21 | MoCo Loco
We decided quite early in the process to excavate under our garage and take advantage of the 200 sqft that would have otherwise sat unused. I don't believe this is particularly common, but it's a relatively inexpensive way to maximize the space on a small lot. Our original intention was to use a product called Insul-Deck to support the garage floor, however we've since had to abandon this approach in favor of a straightforward concrete & rebar structural slab.
obama and social media
11/05/2008, 18:32 | Influxinsightsgood is the new lifestyle choice
11/03/2008, 16:39 | Influxinsights"What does “good” mean to you? For some, the word may inspire visions of helping a homeless person find shelter for a night. Others may think of global warming and chant the mantra, “reduce, re-use, recycle.” Or, maybe your mission isn’t to save the world, and it simply connotes a positive fun attitude.
Joie de Vivre Hotels’ identity as a socially-conscious company inspired us to design this SOMA hotel with all these good intentions. From beds and headboards made from locally reclaimed wood to glow in the dark messages, our guests will discover that we are good with a lighthearted twist."
Is it smart to lead with Good or to build Good into everything you do?
Should Good be half-hearted?Should Good by light-hearted?
Answers please on a postcard or in the comments section.
Posted by Ed Cotton
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.
Wallpaper that Looks like a Stone Wall
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Freshome
Personally I know that I would like to have in my apartment a wall that looks like a stone wall, but how this is not possible you can still have this idea by using a wallpaper that looks like a stone wall. For those of you who like this idea, and are already thinking on how their apartment will look with this stone wallpaper you can buy the stone wall from Target.
a
Wallpaper that Looks like a Stone Wall
I Like Homes Where Books Live
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOWThe Maison de Verre in Paris (via NY Times via rolu|dsgn). This house is absolutely brilliant.
Image Credit - NY TimesThe Upcher house by Bates Masi Architects (via DO Research). Beautiful.
Image Credit - Bates Masi ArchitectsMill Valley Straw Bale Residence by Arkin Tilt Architects - the entire main inner wall is one great bookshelf and art gallery.
Image Credits - Arkin Tilt Architects
Image credit - FAR
Image Credit - Andrew Lister siteIn my house there will be books. Lots of them. Message to architect - be ready.
links for 2008-08-29
00/00/0000, 00:00 | :: Vol. 2: the design management weblog | by ralf beuker :-
Good case on how the idea of a 'Blue Ocean Strategy' can be applied: "The heart of a company’s business model should be game-changing innovation. This is not just the invention of new products and services, but the ability to systematically convert ideas into new offerings that alter the very context of the business."
London Design Festival: Designersblock Part 1
10/07/2008, 17:30 | MoCo Loco
The Designersblock exhibition that took place at The Piazza Covent Garden during the London Design Festival was the best Dblock show we have seen. The space was great and there was a huge variety of design over three floors, including some 100% Norway (some of the same pieces that were at Earl's Court) and the sensational freshness of the Seoul Designers Pavilion. We'll start with a taste: the Brilliant Wings installation by YLEM (Moonjung im & Sungsu Kang), a night sky full of birds that are really hands made out of sticky tape; intricate bespoke wallcoverings by Asma Hussain; a variety of pieces from DIDshow, Daegu University's Industrial Design department; and some Added Value porcelain. There was humour mixed with practicality abound, as shown by work from Eleanor Freya Gregory for KithKin Presents (the Chesterfold was a hit with the crowd) and Yookyung Shin & Younga Kim, who were ready to clean up.
links for 2008-08-11 [delicious.com]
00/00/0000, 00:00 | :: Vol. 2: the design management weblog | by ralf beuker :-
More and more I find that simple, clear & intenlligently designed concepts are the most convincing ones in our world of increasingly plurivalent and confusing messages: I'll make it all white!
Metropolitan Home article by Karrie Jacobs
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan BlogWe've not seen the issue yet, only this scan from friend Jeff "jake" Jacobs.
Karrie is a thoughtful observer and commenter on design and one of my favorite design writers. It was the questions that she posed as founding editor of Dwell, about why it was not possible to go out and buy a modern home that inspired me to create this collection of house plans way back at the start. Its really an honor to have it come full circle, to be interviewed by her about the house plans and the whole journey.
Technorati Tags: house plans, modern design, modern house
Building Studio Site Updated - Great Modern/Green Projects
00/00/0000, 00:00 | FUTURE HOUSE NOW
The works cover the full spectrum of residential building, from private homes to vacation cabins to urban infill. All of them have a serious sustainable bent. Click over to the Building Studio site for lots more images and full details on all their projects.
Image credits - Building Studio site
Arkansas Plat House to be on HGTV
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
The episode covers several different house projects, but the Plat House no doubt is the segment described as "a couple who found almost everything used to build their home through Internet shopping."
The first airing of the show will be September 17, 2008 9:00 PM ET/PT with several other airings to follow. See the entire scheudle at the HGTV site.
And for anybody who did not see the link to the Plat House catalog page in the first line of this entry I'll give you another link right here:
CLICK HERE to go to the PLAT HOUSE catalog page!
In case you missed the sentence before this one, that link goes directly to the catalog page for the PLAT HOUSE, the one from TV!
Technorati Tags: house plans, modern design, modern house, Plat House
Drew Mandel Design - 83A Marlborough Ave
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Modern Residential Design
Infill house on a 13ft wide plot, becomes feature residence of the street - Drew Mandel has used every inch of this brownfield (ex 1 car garage & garden) site to create his ideal residence. Influences of Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler eminent in the residence's façade lead to elegant use of wood detailing for the interior.
Overview
Drew, an up and coming Canadian architect snapped up an “interesting” plot, that his colleague at MacLennan Jaunkalns Miller Architects, David Miller had on offer. Setting out to create his debut "big time" design, Drew won a number of awards in Toronto and Canada. The house is an impressive example of modern infill, coming in at a modest $182 per ft2.
The Lot
Miller and his architect wife, Amy Falkner, had obtained a minor variance allowing them to build to the very edges of the property line without the usual margin of grass or ground cover. (It's only because the houses on each side are set back from the lot line that there is any space at all between the Mandel-Cooper house and its neighbours.) To support development, the municipality had allowed a substantial increase in the floor space, from 908 to more than 1,280 square feet above ground.
Their relatives labelled the plot a bowling lane, Mandel and his wife like to think of it as a lane each.
Design
Focusing on commercial design at work, Drew’s evening efforts on his own house pulled from his designs of multiplexes, community centres, libraries and banks. The main Achilles heel of the plot, the extended walls down either side of the property, led Drew to (as he sometimes reflects) to overcompensate with house glass panels at either end and a large light well at the centre of the build. I disagree; the house is fantastically bright and airy.
Breaking the house away from other designs out there and I believe linking it to his favoured FLW and Rudolf, is the use of patchwork glass rather than a large expanse of industrial like uniform façade. A cute modernist take on the Juliet balcony protrudes from the master bedroom, breaking the rear wall further and allows great views down to the meticulously landscaped garden, that complements the house so well. Adding to the functionality of the glass façade, a large central panel pivots to allow bigger pieces of furniture to be hoisted in.
Bringing in that industrial design know-how resolved the issue of construction methods too. Such a narrow tall design refused traditional frame design used in residential projects, meaning an industrial to balloon framing technique was adopted. Steel supports for the entire 38-foot length of the walls were put up first, and then the floors were locked in afterwards.
Further industrial features of the house include the two ramps from the entrance of the house to the living room and from the master bedroom to the second bedroom, a comfortable alternative to stairs.
Layout
From the semi-subterranean guest room at the front of the house you head south up the ramp to the living room, then north up five stairs to the dining room-kitchen floor, then south again up the house's only full flight of stairs to the master bedroom and bathroom. Finally, completing the layout you head north, up the second ramp to the second bedroom.
The Result
Drew and Denise have blown their relatives away. Despite the restricting plot they've created a house that through it's high ceilings, skylights and maximum glazing at both ends is a bright, spacious and airy home.
Plans
Architect/Designer: Drew Mandel Design
Client: Denise Cooper & Drew Mandel
Completed: 2007
Structural: Blackwell Engineering Ltd. (David Bowick)
Builder: T. Fijalkowski & Associates
Site Plan Approval: David Miller & Amy Falkner
Lot:13' x 115' or 1560 ft2
Costs: $182 per ft2
Information courtesy of: Drew Mandel Design
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!
design miami, florida 08: al-sabahart & design collection
00/00/0000, 00:00 | designboom weblog, design related news, reviews and previews
'swivel chair' by bokja, sixties furniture upholstered in embroidered vintage fabric from tajikistan - image © bokja
al-sabah art & design collection is a contemporary gallery which is scheduled to open its doors in dubai in early
spring of 2009. the gallery is the result of a recent partnership agreement between DIFC (dubai international
financial centre) and founder of the luxury retail emporium villa moda, sheikh majed al-sabah from kuwait.
the mission of the gallery is to promote the craftsmanship of the middle east. sheikh majed al-sabah wants to
encourage local governments to take more responsibility in preserving their cultural heritage.
before the gallery is even completed, it will preview its collection at this year's design miami 2008 from
december 1st - 8th with an exhibition entitled 'ALEF'. the name of the exhibition refers to the first letter of the
arabic alphabet 'a', but also acts as a symbolic name to mark the gallery's first show. 'ALEF' will highlight the
work of two lebanese designers, huda baroudi and maria hibri of bokja. the duo is known for their use of
vintage furniture, embroidered in fabrics originating from the east. also on show will be the work of dutch
product designer, pieke bergmans, who works in porcelain, plastic and glass. he will be creating a series
of pieces using traditional syrian mother-of-pearl inlaid antique pieces of furniture. for the gallery's official opening
in 2009, new works by studio job, maarten baas, marcel wanders and jaime hayon, who have created limited
edition pieces with local artisans, will be revealed
'swivel talia' by bokja, vintage furniture upholstered in a combination of vintage lakii from central asia together with
suzani (decorative textile) and new fabric - image © dina debbas
'crystal virus' by pieke bergmans, blown glass vase
al-sabah art and design collection: http://www.alsabahcollection.com
john hodgman's inspiration
11/11/2008, 09:48 | InfluxinsightsHe was on superb form, so much so, that interviewer Dave Eggers could barely get a word in, let alone a question. Hodgman talked about the pleasures of his new found fame that included sharing first class aircraft cabins with the likes of Peter Berg and Rachel Hunter. He also told the crowd that George Plimpton (former editor of The Paris Review) had been his inspiration from an early age. In fact, it was Plimpton's ad campaign for Intellivision video games that persuaded Hodgman that being the "PC" was the right thing to do.
Here's Plimpton selling video game systems.
Hodgman also played a couple of his political attack ads aimed at friends, people who had let him down and hotels. Here's the one attacking is friend, Johnathan Coulton for his cat sitting skills.
via videosift.com
Posted by Ed Cotton
Life Preservers for Polar Bears On Sinking Arctic Ice
00/00/0000, 00:00 | Inhabitat
As the climate crisis mounts and Arctic icebergs slip away, polar bears are suffering starvation, population declines, and drowning as they must swim further and further to find food. Seeking to raise awareness for the endangered species’ plight, ADDI Concepts has taken wildlife preservation literally by designing a life-vest for displaced polar bears struggling to stay afloat as their homes sink into the sea.
Hus1 - moving towards design prints
00/00/0000, 00:00 | LamiDesign Modern House Plan Blog
Technorati Tags: house plans, Hus1, modern design, modern house