We got excited a while back when we found a source for modern aluminum and glass garage doors made for residential application... for some reason they are somewhat hard to find. Well, we've found another source. Clopay has adapted one of their commercial models to meet the demand for such a style in the residential market.
Link: Clopay Avante
Reference: Glass Garage Doors
These glass plates, bowls and platters are handcrafted by Pittsburgh based Riverside Design Group of post-industrial / pre-consumer recycled glass.
There are 10 shapes / sizes which are available in 12 luminous colors and are made for every day use - food, dishwasher and microwave safe.
Link: Riverside Design Group
Via: Mettaefficient
The American Dream just keeps growing. Since 1970 the size of the average new home has ballooned by 50 percent.Studies have found that even with the big houses, modern comforts, opportunities and latest technologies, we are no happier than our predecessors. In fact, some studies show that Americans are less happy today than 25 years ago. It's part of what is often referred to as "the dark side of the American dream," the insatiable appetite for more wealth and more stuff to the detriment of personal well being.
Whoa... too big a topic for this quick blog... but while we here at Land+Living are all for the enjoyment of your home and the contents within and without, we also believe that there is more to life. Dare we say, it’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.
Link: Mother Jones - This New House
Traces of the former agricultural field are exploited and built upon to create a modern regional home in Michigan. PLY Architects of Ann Arbor developed the design as a spatial exploration of the rural American landscape as manipulated by the Jeffersonian Grid, exploring the relationships between the agrarian landscape and domestic life.
Connections are made between inside and out; primary interior spaces are linked to reciprocal landscape elements, relating the domestic rituals with the grided landscape and creating a symbiosis between daily life and place.
Firm: PLY Architecture
We featured Istanbul design firm Autoban a while back for their groovy plywood furniture and accessories shown on their temporary website. Well, their new web presence is now live and includes a more extensive portfolio of their works. Of particular note are their interior design projects ranging from clubs and restaurants to stores and offices as well as homes and special events.
Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar have an eclectic and unique design sensibility that is modern but highly layered and influenced by historical precedent. They often mix old and new, incorporating existing architecture with new elements or using antique furnishings with pieces of their own designs such as their ply items we like so much.
I visited Arcosanti in 1998 on an extended field trip through Arizona while pursing my masters degree, and was reminded of this trip while reading an article in the Arizona State University student newspaper.
What a crazy place... crazy, and incredibly interesting. During our two day stay at Arcosanti, we learned about the concept of Arcology, explored the site, and partied all night with the locals.
Paolo Soleri is an Italian architect who was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1940's. Soleri later developed the concept of Arcology, the fusion of architecture and ecology, an alternative urban development form. In 1970 construction began on Arcosanti, a prototype town for 5,000 people (there are currently about 60 residents).
...a highly integrated and compact three-dimensional urban form that is the opposite of urban sprawl with its inherently wasteful consumption of land, energy and time, tending to isolate people from each other and the community.I bet Mr. Greenhut would freak. ;-)
Link: Arcosanti
Link: Cosanti Originals
Article: ASU Web Devil - In your own backyard: No roads, no conservatives (via The Dirt)
We featured a different table called the Concord "plug table" a while back, but this design by Munich based designer Matthias Demacker is a totally different concept.
The form is elegantly simple, a table reduced to the minimum components. The top is made from compactforming HPL which can be made in any color. The tube steel legs can be removed by hand with no tools, and allow for two different table heights. The design also makes the table easily portable.
The table was given the Interior Innovation Award for Best Detail at the IMM 2005.
Link: Demacker Design [Thanks, Matthias!]
Andrew Blum has come to some concerns and conclusions similar to our own when it comes to the lifestyle center phenomenon. In an article published today on Slate, he talks about the evolution of malls and the appropriation of "public space."
The lifestyle center is a bizarre outgrowth of the suburban mentality: People want public space, even if making that space private is the only way to get it.Article: Slate - The Mall Goes Undercover
Unfortunately, this fits with my informal assessment of friends and colleagues who are architects here in the United States... so, be nice to your designers, won't you?
Link: City & Guilds
Via: The Dirt
The Castelo Branco Chair was designed to compliment the Castelo Branco project. The Castelo Branco project will be located in Portugal and is being designed by Josep Lluis Mateo of Map Architects. The chair itself is a prototype and part of a larger collection of semi-mobile furniture designed specifically for outdoor environments.
Link: Castelo Branco Chair
Link: Map Architect
Link: Castelo Branco Project
Sometimes it doesn't matter what opinion I may hold when I read gibberish spewed by someone feigning authority. Mind you, I am not a journalist (most traditional journalists would be quick to point out that journalistic shortcoming of blogs), but I am an educated professional with experience, opinions and knowledge that give me some background from which to judge the worthiness of an argument within my field. I have read the opinions of many educated opponents of New Urbanism that I can respect, but an article published Sunday in The Orange County Register written by Steven Greenhut is not among them.
Now, I do not consider myself an expert in New Urban theory, but I do think that Mr. Greenhut is grossly misinformed. Or perhaps he just enjoys lighting a fire and fanning the flames. At any rate, he misses the concept that New Urbanism promotes a mix of housing types and income levels and that the principles can be applied to lower density situations. Mr. Greenhut has bitten off more than he can chew... and indeed more than can even be responded to in this format. Never the less, let's take an abbreviated look, shall we?
Article: Orange County Register - City planning by Those Who Know Best (reg required)
Link: BugMeNot.com (get a username/pwd here)
Link: Congress for New Urbanism
Link: NewUrbanism.org
Not to be confused with Big Head Todd and the Monsters, these Big Head coasters are a great accessory for your boring coffee table. They can be easily stacked for storage or, impress your friends by lining them up in a row and knocking them all down, domino style. They are sold in sets of 4 and claim to include both "boy" and "girl" models, however, that appears to be anatomically incorrect.
"the coasters are manufactured using heat resistant rubber moulded in the form of either a boy or girl figure with an enlarged ‘head’, which provides space for your drink. the coasters have ‘feet’ so they can be stacked together and stood up to attention when not in use! when you need them, just flick them down and place your drink on their big heads. the ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ forms mean your drinks need never get muddled up again!"
Link: J-Me Big Head Coasters
It seems to us that the whole colored wristband thing has gone a bit too far. Then again, the concept is to raise money and awareness for "good causes" and to provide a way for people to contribute to and display their support for these causes. So really, what's wrong with that?
The wristbands are available for $5, with the proceeds benefiting the ASLA Library and Education Advocacy Fund.
Link: ASLA's Store - Live Green Bracelet
Link: Landscape Architecture Month - Design for Active Living
Reference: April declared National Landscape Architecture Month (Land+Living)
A recent article in the Christian Science Monitor details the controversy surrounding the photographing of public art, namely the Cloud Gate sculpture by Anish Kapoor in Chicago's Millennium Park.
Can a city really prevent others from photographing - and profiting from - public art on display in a public park?Link: csmonitor.com - "Who owns public art?"Under copyright law it can, explains American University professor Christine Farley.
My smart cousin who is a student at Carnegie Melon University in Pittsburg tipped me off to this new campus garden designed in collaboration by artist Mel Bochner and landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh.
The garden is a physical manifestation of Carnegie Mellon's multidisciplinary philosophy, a communal crossroads of the arts, business, science and humanities. The garden is an intimate gathering space and a foil to the large formal lawns, quads and early 20th-century Beaux Arts architecture that dominate the campus.
The University has a wonderful website that provides extensive information about the design, the players and the plantings, as well as information about how to visit.
Link: Kraus Campo
Artist: Mel Bochner
Firm: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates
Based in Spain, Luzifer Lamps manufacturers suspension, floor, wall, and table lighting in a wide range of styles. Shades are available in materials such as timber, veneer, parchment, and polypropelene. If you're the type that enjoys matching fixtures throughout your home, Luzifer makes many of their styles in each of their lighting categories. However, since variety is the spice of life, why limit yourself to one style? Go ahead, mix it up a little!
Link: Luzifer Lamps
When my niece and nephew are visiting there is always a flurry of activities… I get to go places I would never otherwise go… and yesterday we had LEGOLAND California on the agenda.
LEGOLAND on the whole was not overly impressive as a theme park (the rides and shows were just OK), but the things that they did with LEGO bricks... cars, boats, animals... you name it… oh yeah, my childhood LEGO fantasies were realized. Especially in the Miniland section which was by far the highlight of the park. Here they have recreated seven regions of the United States out of 20 million LEGO bricks.
A fair amount of modern architecture was represented, especially in the New York scene including the yet unbuilt Freedom Tower. So, what the heck. Here is a Land+Living modern tour of LEGOLAND California.
Link: Legoland
Last summer in our coverage of CA Boom, it was noted that Sami Hayek was on the panel of a conference that James attended. We included a link but unfortunately didn't feature any of his work. I recently visited his site, and, well, being the huge fan of bentwood furniture that I am, I was impressed with the work that I found. I was most impressed with the Inana cocktail table (below, bottom left). His work is available in finishes such as walnut, maple, and leather. Featured at right is the rambius shelving unit.
Link: Sami Hayek
Reference: CA Boom (Land+Living)
Is it wicker? Is it wire? Is it a "high-tech plastic"? We're not sure, but whatever it is, Lebello shapes it and paints it in some cool colors. Their product line ranges from ottomans and lamps to chairs and stools. The Hollow ottoman (featured at right) provides an open frame for books to be placed in its center. Each product is available in a wide range of fun colors.
Link: Lebello
Link: Available Colors
Using a proprietary acrylic known as "Altuglass", desginers at Aitali have come up with the Alikudi chairs. The acrylic is approximately 25 mm thick and can be embedded with graphics to create bold and striking designs.
In addition to the Alikudi chair, they also manufacture a table and chair set and a chaise lounge, all created with Altuglass. Very cool!
Link: Aitali
Founded in London by architect Philipp Mainze, e15 produces well designed furniture in an array of styles and materials. Some of our favorites include the Tafel bench, the Ingmar console, the Alex side tables, the Harry garden bench, and the Noah bed (featured at right).
"Solid European wood, stainless steel, aluminium and leather are selected with beauty, strength and durability in mind. The feel and appearance of the material inform the design of each product. The shape is modern; the craftsmanship traditional. Designed and built to endure, the pieces are assured, refined and uncomplicated, allowing the natural beauty to be appreciated in its most elegant form."Link: e15
You might not have noticed but we've been making some small changes to the site here at L+L. We've added pagination to our main pages (finally!) and recently fixed a bug that was causing comments to be submitted multiple times. We've also made a few changes to the database so hopefully pages will load a little bit faster. I'm pretty sure things are running smoothly but if you happen to notice any weirdness, give us a holler and let us know, or simply comment below. As always, thanks for stopping by!
Link: Contact
Toilets haven't changed too much since they evolved from the outhouse... the shape and parts are fairly standard and predictable. But this is different from anything we've seen.
Conventional cues of the traditional toilet are removed as the minimalist inspired electric toilet offers a clean aesthetic both visually and physically with its innovative tankless design. The result is a utilitarian product which provides tremendous performance yet offers unexpected beauty by turning common perceptions of what the traditional American toilet should look like upside down.The form is nice and simple... hopefully the technology is simple enough that it won't be a maintenance nightmare. But then again, if you can afford the $2890 price tag...
The real wonder of it all is that the same company that can produce a toilet as sleek and straightforward as the Purist Hatbox also made this.
Link: Kohler Purist Hatbox
Via: MSNBC
Browsing the Moss online store, we were smitten with these industrial looking, albeit pricey, sterling silver napking rings designed by Italian architect, Gabriele De Vecchi. For a cool $1275, this set of 6 rings can be yours as well.
For me, however, I think I'll stick with bicycle cogs and some silver Rustoleum.
Link: Modern Rings (Moss Online)
Québec based architect Pierra Thibault designs a wide range of projects on a variety of scales. Always central to his work is an understanding of context and the dialogue between design and environment.
The interrelation of landscape, site history and cultural context allows for the development of distinctive solutions that give birth to buildings rich with meaning, atmosphere and heightened sensory awareness.Link: Pierre Thibault, architecte
Back in early February, I had this flashback to my high school woodshop days. It was caused by the X-Lounge from Modern Objects and since their website lacked information about their lounge, I rambled on about the old high school memory it evoked.
Well, since then, it looks like they've been busy because they've got a new site up with quite a few new products and plenty of information. Bravo to them!
So it turns out, the X-Lounge is available in three different woods: poplar, walnut, and teak. In addition to the X-Lounge, they also have a few new tables: the min coffee table, which features a sliding, removeable platform shelf; the hidey table, which features a "box like" shelf for stashing your keys, wallet, etc; and the italic table (at right), which has an off angle book cubby and a floating removable shelf. Nice work, Jesse!
Link: Modern Object
Designer: Jesse Doquillo
Reference: X-Lounge (Land+Living)
Architecture For Sale is an online resource featuring some of the most sought after real estate on the planet. From Schindler to Neutra to Murcutt, Architecture For Sale has them listed. The prices of these homes are way out of my price range, but if you've got a million plus burning a hole in your pocket and are in the market for a new home, check them out.
Architecture for Sale is the premier online resource for architectural properties around the world. For nearly a decade, architectureforsale. com has featured an eclectic and diverse offering of estates, historic properties and architectural residences. Our current listings may include: a craftsman bungalow in California; a grand Southern plantation inLouisiana; a modernist retreat in Connecticut; a prefabricated house available for construction worldwide; a historic light house in Maine; or an urban loft in Germany. Our goal is to marry a customer with the architectural, historic or estate home of his or her dreams.Link: Architecture for Sale
Previously, we mentioned the firm of Kanner Architects in a blog about the AIA/LA Awards. Revisiting their site, we discovered their Canyon View guesthouse.
The owners insisted on a warm modern design that was to be flexible, private, and contextual. The structure's highly articulated form is composed of a series of angled cedar wall planes. "Breaking the box" into a series of angled walls allows the building to more effectively blend into its environment.Firm: Kanner Architects
From UK Designer Samuel Chan comes Channels.
Channels is an acclaimed British furniture designer-maker. Its distinctive style is a refined modernity - bringing together minimalism in design with the richness and luxe of timber. Every piece of furniture is made in Channels' own workshops and the craftsmanship is superb.Link: Channels DesignChannels presents at least one new range of furniture a year. Some pieces are available as stock items, others are made to order.
Based on the date of our last entry in the kitchen category -- and the, *sigh*, general lack of entries -- it would appear that we've been neglecting one of our favorite rooms in the house. Well, now that we've found this wonderfull kitchen island from Time & Style, we're hoping that will change. This island features a built-in range and sink with all plumbing and gas lines built into the legs. An extendable top board is included and a pull-out counter is also available as an option. Materials include stainless steel and walnut.
Link: Time & Style