Author: Lauren Moss

Last Friday kicked off the Solar Decathlon in Washington D.C., a week-long event established by the U.S. Department of Energy in 2002 celebrating innovation, energy conservation and sustainable design. The biennial competition transforms a portion of the National Mall into a solar village in West Potomac Park with twenty concept homes, designed and built by university-led teams from across the globe, on display and open to the public for educational tours.

Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

Per the rules established by the Department of Energy, teams are judged on ten criteria, including energy, appliances, hot water, home entertainment, comfort zone, affordability, architecture, market appeal, engineering, and communications.

The final winner will be determined after the completion of judging for all criteria is complete and announced on October 1st. So far, the following three teams are in the lead, based on scoring from four of the above categories.

Inspired by the ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay, the University of Maryland’s WaterShed addresses water conservation and energy efficiency with greywater system, a constructed wetland, edible wall and green roof.

credit: University of Maryland Solar Decathlon team

Ohio State University’s enCORE is based on the concept of increased efficiency while providing functional, livable spaces, including increased outdoor spaces.

credit: Ohio State University Solar Decathlon team

Purdue University’s INhome is focused on passive strategies and cost-effective measures targeting the typical Midwestern consumer.

credit: Purdue University Solar Decathlon team

In a few days, the final scores will be released, determining this year’s winner. Check out the other entries at the official Decathlon website, and let us know which are your favorites!

Also worth noting is that the public exhibit is supplemented with free workshops and presentations for both consumers and design professionals. By creating an inclusive and accessible forum for individuals to learn about energy and new technologies, the Decathlon gives visitors the inspiration and opportunity to take action and implement these innovative strategies in their own homes.

And what could be better than that?

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Happy August!

It’s the time of year to enjoy the warm weather, vacations and, of course, your local farmers market and all the local fresh produce, flowers and products it has to offer.

Having recently returned from the Pacific Northwest, I had the opportunity to visit one of the largest and well-known markets in the country- the Portland Farmers Market at Portland State University.

It did not disappoint, to say the least…

Open on Saturdays from mid-March through mid-December, the market is only one of six located in the city. A feast for the senses, it features not only food and agriculture vendors, but is host to various musicians and cultural events as well.  Thousands of visitors purchase farm-fresh produce, baked goods, meats, cheeses, seafood and other specialty foods from more than 250 vendors.

In addition to providing some of the most beautiful fruits and vegetables I’ve ever seen (and tasted), the diversity and the dynamic nature of the Portland Farmers Market encourages interaction and engagement.  By fostering community, the market provides the public with access to regional and seasonal goods, in addition to bolstering the local economy and promoting the sustainable values for which Portland is so well known.

Learn more about the farmers market online, and if you happen to find yourself in Portland, make sure to stop by and enjoy all it has to offer!

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In the past few years, we’ve seen the proliferation of modular structures, from shipping container shelters to pre-fabricated homes, but the mass production of products began decades ago, and the prolific use of these designs today is a testament to a high-quality of design and construction, as well as a visionary spirit.  I’m referring to the work of Charles and Ray Eames, pioneers of the concept of mass-produced furniture and icons of mid-century design.

Husband and wife design teams are fairly prevalent these days (in fact, I’m half of one at MYD studio), but this wasn’t necessarily the case early in the twentieth century.  However, when partnerships were formed, they enabled women to participate in the modern design movement.  This was the case for the Eameses, who are considered by some to be the most influential American furniture designers of the century.

Ray’s background was in painting and sculpture, while Charles was an architect and designer. Collaborating since their marriage in 1941 until Charles’ death in 1978, they produced designs still produced and widely used throughout the world today.

The first to experiment with molded plywood, their interest in the material began with a contract from the U.S. Navy to produce splints during World War II, which led to the generation of furniture prototypes, later mass-produced by the Herman Miller Furniture Company, who continues to manufacture their designs today.  These plywood innovations won numerous awards from MoMA for lost-cost furniture and made good design accessible and available to a much greater demographic.

In the late 1940′s, the couple created another game-changing innovation:  the molded fiberglass collection of furniture, also fabricated and distributed by Herman Miller, including the chaise (seen above), as well as chairs and rockers.

Things have certainly changed since then, and today, almost everything we use is mass-produced, which has spurred a recent movement back towards the handmade.  However, next time you see an Eames rocker, chaise, or plywood chair, consider the spirit of innovation and experimentation that led to its creation.  And make sure to have a seat; they are not only beautiful and iconic, but are some of the most comfortable pieces of mid-century design.

So, keep on rocking!

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Last June, I visited Back Bay for a post on the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach, and with summer in full swing, I figured it’s time to head back outside and take a closer look at another beautiful local site, where the architecture enhances a connection to nature, environment and place-  the Nix Nature Center in Laguna Beach.

Dedicated in 1993, the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is the result of collaborative efforts and proactive measures on the part of dedicated and committed individuals and organizations.

In the late 80’s, the movement to preserve the open space in Laguna Canyon gained traction, literally, when over 8,000 people came together to march against a proposed housing development.  In the years following, the preservation of thousands of acres of wilderness was secured, officially establishing the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Approximately 15 years later, James and Rosemary Nix donated funds to establish a Nature Center at the park, which opened in 2006.  Designed by Roesling Nakamura Architects, the Center’s theme is ‘Through the eyes of an Artist, a Scientist and a Historian”, a testament to the strong community values and rich artistic history of this small beach town.

The actual building itself is a reflection of this creative spirit, with a soaring butterfly roof that maximizes views of the coastal canyon within which the Center is located.  The open feel of the extensive glass at the other walls is grounded by the thoughtful incorporation of natural materials and low walls, leading visitors toward the building and through the space to the trails and hills beyond.

The board-formed concrete of the entry wall gives texture to a very linear form, and the imperfect nature of the material blends harmoniously with the natural elements of the site.  As one nears the entrance, the concrete gives way to a rammed earth wall.  This transition enhances the design’s connectedness to the environment and adds visual interest, with the subtle undulations and variations in color at the rammed earth providing a counter to the glass and steel of the rest of the structure.

The result is a balance of enclosure and lightness, blurring the boundaries between the built landscape and the natural surroundings.  The application of other materials, including wood and cor-ten steel, further complement the beauty of the site and create unique outdoor spaces without sacrificing views.

With 2,300 square feet of exhibition space, the building is also home to the Laguna Canyon Foundation.  The non-profit organization restores habitats, organizes educational programs and works on land acquisition projects in the South Coast Wilderness area;  for more information on the park or to volunteer, visit the Foundation’s website.

Thanks for reading, and have a great summer!

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In the forward of Hideyuki Oka’s classic 1965 book, How to Wrap Five Eggs,  a compendium of traditional Japanese packaging materials, methods and applications, George Nelson, design director for Herman Miller and creator of countless iconic modern designs, wrote, ‘We have lost… a once-common sense of fitness in the relationships between hand, material, use, and shape, and above all, a sense of delight in the look and feel of very ordinary, humble things’. His words reference the care taken in the use of natural fibers, ropes, and materials to create an intricate product, infused with a sense of ritual and culture, a counter to the modern world’s standard of mass-production and immediate gratification that has only continued to heighten as a global economy characterized by technology and communications has inevitably caused a shift away from the beauty of process and the handmade.

So, with that said, I thought I’d get a little crafty this month and share some favorite means of creating, repurposing, and sharing.  Like many architects, I came to this practice from a childhood love of drawing, making and art, which I continue to foster today, as design is a multidisciplinary practice highly connected to the innate need to create.  With the efficiency and advantages that advanced technologies allow for today, it makes that relationship to the handmade even more important.

Growing up, my mother always used to (and still does) tell us that she simply wants a card, a note, a few words of our own, instead of our buying something she most likely doesn’t need.  I took that to heart and never looked back, and to this day, I make her something for every holiday.

This year, I experimented with some leftover ribbon, a needle, thread and kraftpaper and ended up with the package at the left.

On Valentine’s, a bit of basswood, a twig and a scrap of felt did the trick.

With the increasing popularity of the DIY movement and maker culture in recent years, we’re exposed to and inspired by the talents of friends, acquaintances and colleagues, and I’ve found that by sharing our diverse insights and range of skills, we can collectively empower and enable one another.  That connectedness to the world around us, whether it be through relationships, food, invention, gardening, or what have you- is truly very meaningful.  For me, it has always been a means of not only expressing myself creatively, but of showing friends and family my appreciation of them, through the time, consideration and attention to detail found in something personally crafted for you by hand.

I mentioned Japanese tradition at the beginning of this post, and it looks like I’ll end on that note, as origami and paper folding is a favorite form of creating, as well as a therapeutic means of relaxation, enabling focus and calm in the midst of the fast pace of the world around us.  Well, for me, at least…

Have a great weekend! LM

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