Posts Tagged by guest blogging
Inspired by Charles and Ray Eames
| January 24, 2012 | Posted by Lauren Moss under art, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Places, so-cal local |
To add to Linsi’s great post on her visit to LACMA to see the California Mid-Century Decorative Arts exhibit, I thought I’d share a recent experience I had at another great destination right across the street, the Architecture and Design museum, or A+D. One of the many galleries participating in the Pacific Standard Time collaboration, a program by the Getty celebrating arts in Southern California, the A+D museum is currently exhibiting a curated selection of quotations of Charles and Ray Eames, in conjunction with the everyday objects and humble tools that shaped their view of the world, and consequently, their iconic designs. For a quick refresher on the background and history of the Eameses, check out the post I wrote a few months ago here at Inspired Design Daily.
The exhibit itself, called EAMES WORDS: Eames Designs- the Guest/Host Relationship, is centered around the quotes that highlight the couple’s approach to design, as well as their view of the world, shaped by their travels and personal collections.
‘From tumbleweeds to strawberries, a bolt of cloth to a keg of nails, to elephants in India and the bread of Scandinavia, the whole world was their canvas.’ -aplusd.org
‘The role of the designer is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests.’ -Charles Eames
Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of Charles and Ray Eames, and for more information on the Pacific Standard Time collaborative, check out some favorite shows we’re looking forward to seeing, or the official website for a complete schedule and exhibit details.
Thanks for reading!
Lauren
Sustainable by Design: An Igloo Primer
| February 17, 2011 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living |
Greetings Readers! For my first guest post of 2011, I thought I’d try something a little different with a building typology case study- one that is seasonally relevant and inherently sustainable… the Igloo.
www.old-photos.blogspot.com
Having never lived through a ‘true’ winter, I am probably not the best candidate to evaluate or comment on what it’s like to coexist with this phenomenon in the modern world, but as a curious information-seeker and observer of the built environment, I’ll try my best to figure out a bit more on the Igloo, or ‘house’, as translated from Inuit.
So, starting with form… The basic shape of the dome is historically one of the most structurally sound forms used in architecture, with similar properties of an arch- in particular, high compressive strength and resistance to stress.
First built by the Inuit, or Eskimos, hundreds of years ago throughout Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Canada, igloos were used as both temporary and semi-permanent shelters and ranged in size to accommodate a single traveling hunter to multi-room dwellings. In such regions, building materials are scarce, to say the least- unless one utilizes snow, which performs fairly well when used in the appropriate applications.
Unfortunately, the soft, fluffy, cloud-like snow of this Californian’s romanticized winter landscape is not an appropriate building material for these applications.
Compacted, wind-driven snow is (apparently) fairly easy to cut into blocks and stack, and it insulates surprisingly well, too.
www.primitiveways.com
The basic structure of an igloo requires preliminary excavation below grade, with the structural blocks cut from the compacted snow and stacked in a spiral pattern. Look here or here for further information regarding the details of constructing an ice house- it’s still being done today!
Though typically temporary dwellings, igloos are strong and perform well structurally and thermally. Occupants increase the insulation capacity of the structure with trapped body heat, and this alone can increase the temperature inside by 40 degrees. Structurally, the igloo increases in rigidity and strength after a few days, as solar and body heat cause the snow to melt slightly and re-freeze into solid ice.
Like most buildings, igloos require ventilation, usually in the form of openings near or at the top of the structure. In this circumstance, ventilation is essential to ensure that carbon dioxide escapes, though the fundamental concept remains a key sustainable design issue today, as circulation and air changes are important factors in providing for high indoor air quality. We see this in many passively-cooled spaces, in the form of operable skylights or clerestory windows that provide for thermal comfort, as well as for a means of promoting air circulation without mechanical equipment.
In spite of the growing and increasingly advanced building technologies that enable us to live more efficiently inside our homes, exploring the means by which early dwellings responded to site conditions, in terms of form, materiality, and method, can be of great value.
Additionally, such forms can inspire alternative creative endeavors, such as this cardboard dome, Packed Pavilion, featured at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.
For more on this very high-tech iteration, check out its blog and learn how digital design was used to address logistics and fabrication issues in a modern, global context.
Cheers, and thanks for reading!
Love and Green Nest
| February 14, 2011 | Posted by Linsi Brownson under furniture, Guest Bloggers, holidays, interiors, Seasonal |
Happy Valentine’s Day – I hope you’ll be celebrating all the amazing people in your life.
Today I’m a guest over at Green Nest, where I share some thoughts on how to fall in love with your furniture and keeping that spark alive for the long haul. So come say hi and I’ll see you back here later in the week.
Ta-ta.
Sustainable By Design: Beyond Buildings
| September 30, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Sustainable Living |
The building industry has come a long way in recent years when it comes to addressing energy efficiency and new construction technologies. Considering buildings consume approximately 40% of our energy, it’s definitely an appropriate place to start! Significant progress has been made in terms of making construction and architectural design strategies more effective, less wasteful, and more site-responsive.
However, buildings as individual entities require a broader perspective in terms of how they relate to critical social, cultural, and economic issues in order to enable lasting change. Buildings are an integral part of the urban fabric, and they have the capacity to contribute to socially just, egalitarian and prosperous neighborhoods and cities. Accessible and well-designed public spaces are critical in this effort, and I’d like to focus on a recent development that’s received significant attention lately- High Line in New York, by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
© Iwan Baan
The restoration of the 1.5 mile stretch of abandoned elevated rail, 30 feet above New York’s meatpacking district, was allocated government funding in 2004, in spite of prior opposition advocating the demolition of the dilapidated public space, due to the increase of crime and other unsavory activities over the years.
The reconstruction incorporates elements of the site’s history and existing elements, such as the rail tracks and ties, visible in the image below, while utilizing new, sustainable materials to create gathering spaces, seating, and walkways.
The result is a vibrant urban park above New York, enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, that has spurred further development in the area due to its success. The project serves as a model for urban redevelopment for a sustainable future on a city-wide scale.
© Iwan Baan
The High Line Park is an inspired example of how thoughtful and well-planned urban renewal can employ adaptive reuse to preserve existing structures, increase property values, enable pedestrian access, and introduce nature in a dense, urban context. The new iteration is a celebrated public space with a new identity and function, that still maintains its historical relevance. What was once a symbol of innovation at its inception, has recaptured that identity once again, thanks to well-planned, sustainable design.
The High Line exemplifies a design solution that is responsive to the dynamic and changing nature of our society’s needs; it embodies the holistic and integrated future of our rebuilt (and reimagined) environment.
Can’t wait to visit!
Historic Preservation, Adaptive Reuse… & Glassblowing?
| August 26, 2010 | Posted by Lauren Moss under architecture, Guest Bloggers, Inspiration, Sustainable Living |
If there’s a magical time to visit New England, it’s almost here, as the transition to autumn provides the opportunity to witness a visually spectacular natural process- the changing of fall colors. During the several peak weeks in September and October, the natural landscape becomes dominated by vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow.
Within this extraordinary setting, picturesque towns and villages and traditional architecture provide a context that creates a sense of time, place and authenticity. This meaningful relationship between the natural and built environments underscores the relevance of historic preservation, a key topic in the dialogue of sustainable architecture today.
A personal favorite example of adaptive reuse (using an existing structure for a new function or purpose) is the building below, located in Quechee, Vermont, adjacent to the Ottauquechee River.
This masonry building was renovated in 1981 by Simon Pearce, an Irish glassblower who brought his craft to the states and converted the 19th century woolen mill to a glassblowing factory. The renovation included the addition of a restaurant and retail space, as well as the incorporation of a new hydroelectric turbine, tucked beneath the building to utilize the site’s natural resources to provide power to the factory.
Back outside, the cantilevered addition of the Simon Pearce Restaurant provides architectural contrast to the existing design language and responds to its unique site, creating a truly dramatic dining experience, especially when the expansive window wall is open, further enhancing a connection to the natural beauty of the site.
www.simonpearce.com
Hovering over the rushing waterfall, the dining room design highlights the connection of old and new and exposes original materials to maintain a strong sense of place, rooted in history and community. The fantastic restaurant uses seasonal local ingredients from nearby farms.
The workshop has been producing its own electricity for over 25 years and guests are encouraged to take a look at the equipment that harnesses the energy of moving water, as well as visit the workshop and learn about the art of glassblowing.
www.simonpearce.com
This inclusive, education-focused approach is consistent with the company’s philosophy and commitment to innovation within the context of tradition and history. The importance of craft, function, longevity, and local production is evident in the beautiful pieces created by these artists and seeing the process is just as inspiring…
Learn more about Simon Pearce and the history of the Mill at www.simonpearce.com.
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