 Here we are - again.....and it's Fall. In the northeast (Vermont, New England, Canada East) we never fail to be amazed at the riot of colour, texture and tone as the heat and season of summer segués into Autumn. Glorious! Some see this season as an ending time....for myself, I feel it always as a time of encouragement......a time of re-growth. Not as in renaissance, per se - not as in Spring - but as in a gathering of goods, the remarkable harvest - a re-visitation to values and things we hold important....reflection, rather than renaissance. Does anyone else feel the same? If you know me, you know I am cursed with being an early (very) riser......not by choice, quite honestly. It's a hereditary thing passed down to me by grandfather.......he was always up at 4:00, 4:30 AM.......and it's not like he had anything to do......he was retired - had no responsibilities other than stoking the wood-burning furnace in colder weather. And at some point in my life, maybe about 25 years or so ago, my internal clock switched over to the same heartbeat. I don't resent it......although it is always the same, be it a Tuesday or a Saturday......vacation times, holidays, have no meaning to me in the sense that, 'Wheee! I get to sleep in....' Never happens. But, in early June, when our east facing windows first see the crack of the sunrise at about 4:15......it is a most glorious window onto the world. Knowing that I am probably about 1% of the population up and about at that time, provides an odd sense of ownership over the new day........anybody else so afflicted/blessed? In terms of productivity, it's an awesome advantage.....typically by 7:00 AM I have already put in half a day's work......and now, as it's end of September, those morning sun rays do not break the horizon until 6:15-ish. And I know, of course, as we wind down into November, Christmas and beyond, the depth of darkness will continue its rhythms as time immemorial. And, but - that's, okay......okay by me. Here is a photograph published on Facebook by a former interior design student of mine.....Adriana Garcia, who lives and works in Ottawa. To me, albeit this does not conform to the typical fall foliage photographs one sees, this evokes the mood and feeling of a changing season. As her teacher, back about 10 years ago, I didn't know her well - except I do recall her work was always meticulous, detailed, determined....at some point she began to study/pursue photography......this, is, to me, an awesome contribution  ©adriana garcia 2018 Brava Adriana........incroyable! I hope you don't mind that I have just up and posted this - but your work is fantastic and it deserves to be seen.  And on the topic of time, I want to bring to your attention, one of the best tools (apps, programs - whatever you choose to call them) for the recording of professional time that I have ever seen or worked with. Way back in the mid-80's, when I was managing my design firm, Marshall/Moore/Goyette Design, with a staff go 12 full-time designers, the need to efficiently and accurately track our time spent in projects, with clients, was the lifeblood of our business. This was back before Windows had become the de facto standard....back when we worked in DOS (MS-DOS). We experimented with and skinned our knees on numerous productivity tools....our firm was the first in Quebec to be completely automated as a design firm......we were networked, we had multiple copies of AutoCAD, network-linked, we used a very cool general administration software called Open Access (spreadsheets, word processing, database) and, we used a fantastic product for its time, Timesheets.....also networked. Timesheets is still in existence - but in recently checking into see that it is more cumbersome than it needs to be, but still effective......and, expensive. One of the great features of Timesheets was the ability it provided for me to do a sort by designer, by project, by timelines - of work done, unbilled, reports - you name it - it was a powerful tool. Over the years I have tried literally dozens of different management time-tracking tools......some did some things great, but not all things.....I kept searching, particularly for an app that would run on my main system (MAC Pro) along with my iPad, iPhone and AppleWatch ........ and be dynamically linked so that an entry/edit on one device was immediately viewable on all the others. I found that tool.......and it is fantastic. OfficeTime......  The thing is, you enter/create TASKS one time only.....can do it on your iPad and they will show up on your iPhone simultaneously - so, if you've been lackadaisical about doing your timesheet (who hasn't?), now there is no excuse.....even do them on your Apple Watch......the same applies for Clients, task abbreviations, expense codes, etc. To top it all of it has a built-in invoicing system - and you can run an invoicing issue and sort by whatever fields/terms you wish.....it creates really cool graphs - will export to RTF, DOC, PDF..... And it's less than $100.CAD - why wait? It's a time-SAVER and $$$$-maker. For MAC and PC......oh yeah - they're Canadians these guys....no wonder it's so good!  So - here's challenge for you.......what if, you wanted to create a graphic image....say, of a partially open cardboard box. Simple enough, eh?  But you want it to appear as if there is light flowing out from within - like there's a lightbulb and you see the glow.....sortof like this:  However, it's easy to see that this is fake - it is an illustration of what light mght look like......I'm talking REAL light here..... 'But why?', you ask. Well, see - I have this client assignment - to re-design/re-vitalize a logo......and as I've been pondering it, rolling it around in my brain, I began to play with the constituent letter - V and R . I reviewed the current logo - that has been in service for quite some years.....  ....and really - there's nothing wrong with it - it's just kinda flat and lifeless. All of a sudden the lightbulb went off in my own head.......asking myself the question, in separating the 'V, what form shapes is that perhaps derivative from? I began to see a curl - a curling page corner.....YIKES! Yes! Why not? And while I'm at it, why not use the analogy of 'turning pages' as the verbal hook to introduce the concept.......hey! Cool..... But - how the heck am I going to make it look real? Looking fake is not going to cut it...... Fortunately, being a better-than-average 3D visualizer/modeler, I realized, I had to 'make' a box......make a form, a three dimensional form, and simply insert light sources beyond, or within the form. Okay - so in AutoCAD I traced the existing logo, and even extended the 'R' with a swoopy kinda tail...... then I imported it into SketchUp........then I extruded it, so I had, my box...... finally, using Podium Light Tool I inserted a number of light source points behind - within - the box.......changed my camera view to parallel, plan view, and rendered it out...... Well the first result was pretty good  Not great - but I felt I was on the right track......the diffused light did look realistic. However, the overall form shape looked flat - had no 3D characteristics to it........hmmmmmm! Further experimentation (adding more light points, 'painting' the interior box surface with different colours, metallic materials...) resulted in this:  It was getting closer - still didn't have the realistic curl I was searching for. .....next brainTwister was to try to figure out, geometrically, how do I build, digitally, a form that is an accurate representation of a page, curling. Clearly, I had to actually 'build' that geometry.....how the heck to I do that? I spent hours scouring the web - bring over this way and that....asking questions - mostly never getting answers. Trying to physically reproduce the issue.... So, I took a piece of paper, and curled it - actually as it would be in real-time....  Analyzing this form shape, what doe we have? If you draw a line straight across, and cut, you would be left with a cone shape......not what I was looking for.... Following is paper partially folded. . . . .  And this is the shape of the paper, as it was cut. . . .  Hmmmmm, again - what to do? Clearly the spiral line that creates the desired endShape, is not a random line......it has to follow a very precise geometry. I went back to the internet - started to scour SketchUp instructional videos until. . . . . I came across this dude..... Justin Geis - and his muchCool SketchUp tutorial site, www.sketchupessentials.com. In reviewing a number of his online videos I finally figure, 'What the heck - you never know, right?......and so I e-mailed him -provided a short description of the problem/challenge and - he replied! Not only did he reply he provided a link for a SketchUp utility that showed me how to achieve what I was looking for.... Curviloft is a specialty tool/add-in for SketchUp modelers. The following images are progressions that he so kindly provided to illustrate the process : : Cool! Very cool......and i was off......took a few kicks, but each time I got closer.....until  Somewhat crude but I could see - could see where I was going....and then these flowed from that Am I finished? Not quite......the following was what was presented to the client following their response/reaction to the idea of a 'page curl'.......not where i thought it should go, but - hey! Who signs the cheques here, eh?  The jury is still 'out' in terms of final acceptance - we may still tweak colours, materials and other aspects - but, my point is, quite simply, a) never give up, and b) trust your gut......if you have a vision, do your very best to either prove, or disprove, it's validity. Did I get paid for all the time invested in this....of course not. I wouldn't think of billing for it - but, I now have mastered a most unusual tool - the very idea of creating an effect wherein light flows from behind a constructed object - well......another tool in my toolbox. AS an example, I recently completed this quick design study fro a client - idea is to install a slab of granite with the top edge serrated, at an angle from the back wall of the shower, install an LED light strip behind it, et, voila!  Of course, experimenting with the lighting intensity becomes a part of the final decision....could probably tone this one down a touch.  It's TravelTime once again....this time to northern Germany - Göttingen. A little research tells us that Göttingen is famous for its old university (Georgia Augusta, or "Georg-August-Universität"), which was founded in 1734 (first classes in 1737) and became the most visited university of Europe. In 1837, seven professors protested against the absolute sovereignty of the kings of Hanover; they lost their offices, but became known as the "Göttingen Seven". Its alumni include some well-known historical figures: the Brothers Grimm, Heinrich Ewald, Wilhelm Eduard Weber and Georg Gervinus. Also, German Chancellors Otto von Bismarck and Gerhard Schröderattended law school at the Göttingen University. Karl Barth held his first professorship here. Some of the most famous mathematicians in history, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Bernhard Riemann and David Hilbert, were professors at Göttingen. Like other university towns, Göttingen has developed its own quaint traditions. On the day they are awarded their doctorate degrees, students are drawn in handcarts from the Great Hall to the Gänseliesel-Fountain in front of the Old Town Hall. There they have to climb the fountain and kiss the statue of the Gänseliesel (goose girl). This practice is actually forbidden, but the law is not enforced. She is considered the most kissed girl in the world. [from Wikipedia] This, to me, is a visual treat....a cornucopia (harvest time, right?) - a feast of great design balance, a mastery of much - - clearly, the architects/designers have evolved professionally to be fluent in the practise of eclecticism in design.....not an easy skill to come by. This feature was showcased by DesignMilk (https://design-milk.com/hotel-freigeist-gottingen-hotel-rooted-academics-design/) - by staff writerVy Yang. Somehow, this wonderful hotel - its rooms, common areas - speak to me of fall, Octoberfest - fires and fireplaces.....warmth and comfort. Isn't that what any good hotel should say to you? Walk along with me on this visual journey.....  Of course, this is photographer's trick - see how the light is cat vertically and horizontally, as in a grid des lumières.........but it's such a c o o l effect, no? And the rooms are delicious - note the almost full-height disappearing pocket doors between the sleeping area and the lounge area......attention to detail. Someone was thinking.... From the DesignMilk article, the following: Hotel Freigeist Göttingen, the latest member added to the Design Hotels portfolio, doesn’t look like a hotel that belongs in a college town. With its princely interiors that exude a quiet sophistication, the modern hotel looks like it should be located on the outskirts of town in a quiet meadow versus at the center of the city. It’s not until you take in the surroundings that you realize the Göttingen, Germany hotel is linked to a number of academic landmarks (including the university, the museum, and the university’s Knowledge Forum opening 2020) and the calming interiors were designed for intellectual stimulation. Designed by Hannover-based architecture firm Ahrens & Grabenhorst Architekten, the Hotel Freigeist Göttingen’s façade is made of bricks laid in a wild pattern, a reflection of the contemporary nature of the building and the creativity that lies within it. Interior designer Frank Kassner took inspiration from American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and gave the interiors a gritty vibe by adding graffiti street art by Patrik Wolters (aka BeNeR1) to balance out the luxe effect from the ash wood paneling, plush velvet, and modern furnishings. The Intuu restaurant serves up Japanese-South American cuisine by head chef Alexander Zinke, so guests can experience a flavorful palette of sushi, sashimi, ceviche, and grilled meats in the restaurant’s open concept style kitchen. Public lounge areas are lined with custom-designed carpets by Nani Marquina, colored Moroccan cement stone tiles, oversized arm chairs, plush velvet sofas, and contemporary fixtures – all elements conducive for conversation and collaboration. Modern amenities include a spa, fitness rooms, yoga facilities, a “Fatboy” relaxation lounge, and a rooftop terrance. What: The Hotel Freigeist Göttingen Where: Berliner Straße 30, Innenstadt, 37073 Göttingen, Germany How much? Rooms start at approximately $156 per night Highlights: The hotel has all the signifiers of a member of the Design Hotels portfolio: luxe interiors, gastronomic offerings, modern amenities, and more. Design draw: The street style graffiti art adds a playful element to the sophisticated hotel. Book it: Visit the Hotel Freigeist Göttingen Photos by Sebastian Böttcher.  Steven Hu, our ace contributor/colleague, has come up with a fascinating story and we are including it here.......the mandarin version will be found under 'mandarin' from the MainPage. From Shabby House to Gorgeous Inn Nowadays in China, with the rapid promotion growth of urbanization, traditional dwellingsarebecomeingincreasingly decadentand declining. They are being destroyed. They are disappearing. Langzhong is one of the four mostintact ancient cities in China. ComparedtowithPingyao in Shanxi, Lijiang in Yunnan and She county in Anhui province, traditional residential buildings in Langzhong have a very different uniquestyle. These dwellingsIthave a blendedstyle of iscompatible with the northernand style and the southerninChina, including the quadrangle courtyard in the north, the garden style in the south, and the peculiar hui style from Anhui. To synthesize Based on the respect for the traditional historyand focus on the contemporary humanities, the renovation of Langzhong floralwerhall has retained the original folk dwellings in northern Sichuan, such as the mortise, tenon structure and the roof form of sSmall green tile double slope suspended mountain.  The complexity of de-constructing something ancient and preserving the integrity of its core, its soul, is a daunting, a challenging responsibility......following images show some of the careful dance that had to be done in order to gently move the old to the new - without losing, the old..... The care and the caring, brought it to this point: Thank you Steven.....This article was published by Taoyuanjun on www.zhihu.com.  Beyond ridiculous....you've all heard the expression, no? Like, it is SO dap......it's ridiculous and beyond.... such is the case in they spectacular residence, that cares not a whit about the conventional envelope - it surges, pushes - way beyond........its spirit challenges our conventional perceptions of scale, glory, passion - yes! All in this....see for yourselves: (published by archDaily - https://www.archdaily.com/902791/artery-residence-hufft-projects?ad_medium=gallery) Text description provided by the architects. This home we named the Artery residence. The couple has been repeatedly named by ARTnews in the top 200 contemporary art collectors globally. The focus of this home is the art collection and how it flows and is pumped throughout the home, by way of a main ‘artery’. Art is at the heart of this home. Hufft designed a custom residence for two prominent contemporary art collectors and philanthropists. The design of the home centered on a sub-grade gallery space that houses paintings, photography, and sculpture spanning 20 years of collecting with specific lighting and climate control for the preservation and display of such works.  Just look at that cantilever, that overhang.....shades of Frank Lloyd Wright!  I have little else to say - in regards to this e p i c example of one unique example of architecture....enjoy!  one last thing....(as Steve Jobs would say....) - and he, a lover of Porsches (come moi...) might just have one of these in his home office:  Quoi ça? What is it? It's a small home desk, called a Porsche Desk - it's the rear deck of a 911.....check it out:  Want/need one? You gotta write me and ask - real pretty now......  Okay - so THIS is c o o l . . . . . this system is outrageous...... Curious? Write me.....I'm here to help  Hey! Can you lend a hand here? These things are heavy - takes two of us to manhandle a sheet of drywall off the stack and over to the studs.....  Thanks Floyd.......wasn't sure I could handle it by myself.....can you sock that puppy into place or do you need me to help you......you can? Cool....I'll just be over here - give me a shout if you need me..... Oh....you got that? You're good....'k....well, I'm gonna go grab a coffee......want anything? Yeah - I know.....not today, maybe - but tomorrow? For sure.....these guys are gonna re-write the world of construction. Wonder if they have a union?  I'm thinking. . . . . I like this:   Okay - wrapTime. . . . . never fails. I have SO much stuff.....that I want to include. But there's a practical limit......IF, this were a paying proposition, I could easily be convinced to make it a twice a month publication...... but, not. So - here's a preview of what we'll be showing next issue:  Thank you for your support - this month marks the second full year of DesignReview•International.
It is my sincere hope that we will be able to continue into the next few years, bringing you interesting, scintillating + challenging examples of what is, in our opinion, good, responsible, innovative design. inbox@DesignReview•International
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  Classic - an American Classic, as was American Graffiti. . . . . See You in September, what became the iconic, back-to-school anthem for a number of generations.....the pangs of missing that summer love. Ahhh....youth! Why is it wasted, as they say, on the young? This song was released by The Tempos, written in 1959....almost 60 years ago! And although it is now September, I am working on a backwards calendar. . . . . this issue is 2•8 - August. Why? Well, from auditing the readership stats for the July issue it was clear that most of you were travelling, or in cottage country where internet access was not easily available....so, I've been waiting for everyone to get back to normal......the September issue will be forthcoming in a few weeks. And so, what do we have for you this issue? As is always the case, way too much to fit in.....from the newest Scottish Design Museum to a fabulous design for a new very slick camper (still in prototype stage), to this fantastically delicious beach house......Jennifer Aniston's, no less.  Situated directly across the street from the beach, it is located in Corona del Mar, California......  With a classic blue and white coastal motif, this living room is elegant and could comfortably entertain a crowed      This traditional bathroom features a polished nickel lantern above claw foot bathtub with wall-mounted tub filler paired with Waterworks Easton Metal Stool. The master bathroom also boasts wainscoting and custom cabinets topped with white marble and marble tile flooring  Located on a sought-after street, Ocean Boulevard in Corona Del Mar, CA, and just across from a fabulous beach, this beach house has everything you could wish for! The very talented interior designer Barclay Butera from Barclay Butera Interiors designed this home coordinating coastal decor with traditional architectural details. The result is a beach house with classic coastal interiors full of timeless ideas. This submission is from Lucianne, HomeBunch.com - the full article can be viewed here. Ed note: Here's what I think. . . . . I am impressed by designers and architects who, in every aspect of a project, an undertaking, they deftly demonstrate complete control of their craft. That, is what i see here....there is not one false note, not one mis-step.The overriding gentleness speaks volumes - the serenity of tone, texture and temperment responds both to the wash of the waves and obviously to the amazing life balance of the Owner, Jennifer Aniston - who has steadfastly sailed her own craft through difficult waters. There is not one thing I would change - I can't think of a more sincere compliment than that.     The V&A Dundee is a new branch of London's Victoria and Albert Museum and is not only Kuma's first project in the UK, but the very first dedicated design museum for Scotland. Structures that exist in harmony with their surroundings are a hallmark of Kuma's portfolio, which spans from his native Japan to Brazil to Portland, USA. Set on the edge of the River Tay in the Scottish city of Dundee, the museum was designed to integrate with the environment and serve as a "living room" for the city and revitalize the community. Along with exhibition spaces, the museum is home to a large public hall for concerts and workshops, a shop, cafe and restaurant. The facade is an intricate and complex arrangement of long panels made from a mix of stone, cement and reinforcement mesh. These pre-cast concrete blocks gently rotate along the building's exterior, giving the impression that its walls lean inwards at some points and outwards at others. Inspired by the cliffs of north-eastern Scotland, this cladding also creates unique shadows that take on different patterns in changing weather conditions and times of day. A large void also runs through the center of the building, creating a dramatic walkway that connects the river to the city streets. "My inspiration always starts from the place where the project will be," says Kuma. "In the past, I have visited Scotland many times. It is a very beautiful country and I'm truly in love with the Scottish landscape and nature." The V&A Dundee opens on September 15, with its first exhibition to showcase the design and importance of ocean liners throughout the 20th century. The complete article can be read here.  I don't know how many of you are photography aficionados........moi, I've been a student of the art for 10+ years......never taking any formal courses, trial and error - experimentation.......I developed a passion for the 'magic hours'- 4:00, 4:30 AM in high summer - dusk, whenever. Being an early bird I would often rush out before the first fingers of dawn were apparent - to get to where I've I wanted to be, to get into position to shoot through that magic light. I idon't have very sophisticated equipment - all NIKON......started with a DX40, added a D5000 - bought two great lenses - a 12 - 21mm wide angle Nikon lens + a long range lens.....given that one gets next to nothing when trying the sell used camera equipment I kept my DX40 and leave the wide angle lens on it permanently - saves a lot of time when you want to take etc same shot with two different lenses.I am constantly in awe of the artistry of my friend/colleague Lydia Pawelak, whose work I have often showcased in this blog. And she has, from time to time, allowed me to stumble along behind her on impromptu shoots......great fun. But for all my day to day stuff - site shots, product shots, etc, I do what you all do now - rely on my iPhone....which is perfectly serviceable for run-of-the-mill stuff. This week I stumbled across what might be a very cool device - but until Lydia checks it out and blesses it, or not, I'll refrain from buying one. But, in principle, it seems like a no-brainer....    Currently this is available for $85.99 USD........if it were $CAD I would probably sign on - just a bit too pricey for something that might be just junk....here's the features list:
Take unprecedented control over your smartphone's camera—and naturally, better photos—when you shoot with this innovative grip. Fitting most smartphones, this grip comes packed with buttons and wheels that let you shoot one-handed and with greater control over your camera's settings, like exposure, zoom, and ISO. Its secret lies with the companion app. The Pictar app picks up high-frequency sounds emitted by the grip when you press its buttons, letting you adjust settings on the fly while using less battery than traditional wireless communication methods. And the video demonstration can be viewed here.  While I'm sure many of you are still in summer•mind mode, let's check out the kind of place we would all love to live in - and it would feel like summer all year round.  Floating homes are unique by their very nature—they are, after all, literally floating on the water. Since it takes a special kind of builder or homeowner to go for the floating home, though, they sometimes come with all sorts of special little details. This floating home, built in 2012, has a lot going on, starting with a green roof and ending with a secret entrance to the basement. Upon approach, it looks like a more standard high-price floating home, with a modern design that adds wooden accents for an extra-nautical look. Right inside, an open living room, dining area, and kitchen are decorated by sweeping views of the lake from floor-to-ceiling windows. Wood trim, built-in shelves, and an exposed-grain accent wall with compass decor add to the maritime theme. The basement level includes a wine cellar and storage. It’s not much to look at now, but it’d make an incredible batcave. This home was listed for $3.4 million. From: Curbed : : by Sarah Ann Lloyd  I have always been intrigued by small spaces......my earliest memories in the exploration of space design were when I was about 11 years old. My grandparents had this old country house with one large bathroom. Had the requisite claw foot tub of course - no shower though. My recollection is that it probably measured about 10' X 12' - pretty much the norm in old farmhouse bathrooms.....and I would spend an inordinate amount of time pondering, wondering - imagining, how if one had only that bathroom to live in and was not allowed to remove the tub, the toilet or the washstand (yes Gracie - that's what vanities used to be called...). And I remember toying with the idea of a bed, on a pulley, that when not in use lived on the ceiling......when lowered it precisely covered the bathtub......the logic was brilliant, no? I mean, if you're sleeping what need do you have of a bathtub? Anyways, in playing space headGames of that nature I was somehow shuttled to the world of interior design. But some of my most successful projects have been actually the tiniest, spatially speaking. And so this wonderful environment shown here really speaks to me.....it is brilliantly conceived but even more brilliantly, and with a deft hand, made to sing in the choice of materials and patterns used to enhance the space. As I often tell my clients, 'It's not how much space you have - it's how much space you feel, you have...' This, has a most wonderful feeling......I believe the most brilliant decision was to float the bed in the middle, providing movement space all around it......the normal temptation, to maximize every square inch of floor space, would be to push the bed up against a wall......but no! Reason prevailed - great design instincts       Could You Live in 15 Square Meters (161 sq ft) of Space? SUMATORIA's 'Tiny Home' May Make You Think Twice
SUMATORIA proposed a living solution based on digital transformation and increasing urbanization. The solution starts with an efficient, scalable, and easy-to-implement design for primary residences, secondary residences, or even a hotel project, where demand for comfort and durability plays out in a reduced space. The scalability and efficiency of the design works under the 'Plug and Play' concept, which permits serial construction, and makes for reduced building time and costs, as well as easy implementation. In this 15 square meter (250 x 600 cm) structure, basic needs for a living space are fulfilled. The space is flexible and can play the role of a dual kitchen and living room, bathroom, and bedroom. The dimensions are defined, yet structured in a manner that allows the inhabitant to make use of every centimeter of space without feeling claustrophobic. This is achieved with the installment of mirrors that create the illusion of a larger space. The kitchen/living area is outfitted with an appliance that serves as a two-burner stove, a combo oven (that fulfills the role of a conventional oven and a microwave) and a refrigerator located beneath the dishwasher. In front of the 'kitchen,' there is a living area with a table. The restroom is located between the living room/kitchen and bedroom; it also serves as a mediator between the two spaces. The space is fitted with a light shaft that serves as both ventilation and an entry point for natural light, giving the bathroom an element of vertical spaciousness. The shower is located on the other end of the bathroom and is outfitted with two workable glass doors that can be extended to form the shower, or a way to conceal the wash area when not in use. The bedroom hosts a full-size bed, while under the mattress are 6 suitcase-sized compartments that serve as a closet. At the back of the bed, there are reading lamps and USB outlets with a shelf that also serves as a nightstand. Everything in the Tiny House fulfills sustainability criteria, from the reuse of grey water to the possibility of installing solar panels, and even insulation materials. The project was awarded the Casa FOA prize for 'Best Transformation of a Space' and 'Best Application of ROCA' which are distributed in Chile by CHC. https://www.archdaily.com/900966/could-you-live-in-15-square-meters-of-space-sumatorias-tiny-home-may-make-you-think-otherwise?ad_medium=gallery BRAVO! What a deliciously delightful space.....accolades well deserved Vanessa Bertran - one of our start designer/collaborators/contributors, has completed the spanish translation of this piece and you can see it / read it here:   If, you have to ask, 'What is THAT?' you obviously are not an astute student of design. Or you've never seen the movie, 'How to Steal a Million Dollars' with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole....  What this is, is the re-released E-Type Jaguar, fully electric version. . . . . .   The general rule is it’s considered uncouth to upstage the bride and groom at their own wedding. But when it’s the iconic Jaguar E-Type we’re talking about, even royalty can make an exception. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s electrified matrimonial Jaguar E-Type Zero sparked such great interest with its appearance at the conclusion of the Royal Wedding this past May, the British luxury automotive manufacturer decided to turn a one-off fairytale into the reality of a production vehicle The Jaguar E-Type has long carried bona fides as “the most beautiful car in the world” (attributed to Enzo Ferrari from a 1964 interview with Classic Car Review), one of only six automotive designs deemed worthy of inclusion in New York’s Museum of Modern Art permanent collection. The decision to integrate zero-emissions tech while leaving the model’s sleek feline silhouette untouched seems prudent considering the risks associating with messing with such an iconic design. Jaguar assures us this updated roadster will “drive, handle, ride and brake like the original E-type, with its front-rear weight distribution unchanged”, a symbolic spearhead designed to acknowledge the past, while point toward the luxury manufacturers plans for an electric powered future. Gregory Han is Tech Editor of Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com. You can follow Gregory Han on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google. Read all of Gregory Han's posts.  It seems that every issue has its fair share of things mobile - from RV's to sailing craft - from sports cars to.....well, this : :  But, in each case, the point being made is, every one reeks of amazingly brilliant design - from the muscular styling of this Warhawk motorcycle to the seek/sexy styling of the e-type Jag.....first unveiled in 1961!    And this, also from Curtis - its forthcoming all electric motorcycle......WOW! HOT!   Speaking of the simple life. . . . as on a farm, perhaps - what is more symbolic than a silo? This just happens to be a live-in silo.....  And so, once again, here we have, a s m a l l s p a c e .......cool, huh? PHOENIX, ARIZONA 2012 - 2014 Located in the heart of Downtown Phoenix’s up-and-coming Garfield Historic District, the Silo House is a converted 1955 corrugated steel-wall grain silo. With a 230sf footprint and 340sf total livable space, a central design challenge was attaining a sense of ‘home’ within a shape and size foreign to common perceptions of home. Spaciousness and simplicity are achieved by accommodating all functions for living in a two-story walnut and black steel crescent that hugs the silo’s southern perimeter. This approach maximizes construction efficiency, usable floor space, and the perceived spatial volume of the interior. Subterranean air ducts that mitigate mechanical noise from the air conditioning system also work passively, in conjunction with an operable skylight at the top of the silo to deliver passive cooling This is the product of some pretty cool architectural thinking by the firm : : KAISERWORKS    There are some of you - the faithful few - who have stuck with me over these past two years - yup! Two teams this month. . . . who by now, get it - get me. And, is that important, or is it like, 'who cares?' Wish I could answer that. What I do - what I and my colleagues, students, attempt to do with DRI is provide you with a unique prism - a looking glass - through which you see the best examples I/we can find of clever - that's clever spelled C L E V ER - design, design thinking. We don't do boxes, as in thinking on the inside of them......and that is what defines us as a relevant journal of design. Are we arbiters? Nope - wouldn't presume to be that. Are we taste-makers? Not that either. . . . are we pilgrims/pioneers....absolutely not - what we showcase is often the work of pioneers - design pioneers...different thinkers. "THINK" is a slogan first used by Thomas J. Watson in December, 1911, while managing the sales and advertising departments at the National Cash Register Company.[1] At an uninspiring sales meeting Watson interrupted, saying The trouble with every one of us is that we don't think enough. We don't get paid for working with our feet — we get paid for working with our heads. Watson then wrote THINK on the easel. Asked later what he meant by the slogan, Watson replied, "By THINK I mean take everything into consideration. I refuse to make the sign more specific. If a man just sees THINK, he'll find out what I mean. We're not interested in a logic course." And in 1998 or thereabouts, Apple introduced the 'Think Different' campaign. There is a huge story behind that story......it is available as a separate PDF file if anyone would like it, I will share it with you. The point is, simply, thinking differently, oft-times referred to as 'thinking outside the box', is a trait that we here at DRI seek out in the work we showcase. If there is a mission to what we do, it is that. . . . in that spirit, please take a look at this, thinking differently.  Don't look like much, right? How about this?  And, this -  Futuristic camper expands to reveal huge party deck In the camper world, there are only so many types of vans, trailers and RVs. Need a ton of space? Class A is your best bet. Don't want to haul anything and enjoy stealth camping? Check out an adventure van. It's rare to see anything that challenges these categorizations, because for the most part, designing a brand new type of camper requires thinking way outside the box, Back in 2012 a New Zealand architectural and interior design firm, W2, designed a camper called the Romotow that - at first glance - looks a bit like a normal trailer. Push a button, however, and the centre of the camper folds out, spins around and reveals a sheltered deck area. It was the stuff of sci-fi dreams - a concept that could reinvent camper design - if only it could actually be built. And now, it has....well, almost. The world's first Romotow is being built in Christchurch, New Zealand. A team of experienced boat builders are tackling the project and the Romotow should be completed in a few short months. Boasting 290 sq feet of living space the Romotow is made from an advanced composite body shell....and it sits on carbon composite chassis. Even in the closed position, the Romotow is an impressive camper. The cabin can sleep four adults comfortably, two in a rear bedroom and two other people in a front sleeping area created from the living room couch. A customizable kitchen backs up to a spacious bathroom outfitted with high-end fixtures, and the show model will feature teak for all of the interior timber and a leather headboard. A state-of-the-art sound system is integrated throughout the three living areas—bedroom, living room, and deck—and windows with built-in shades create a comfortable sleeping cave at night. The deck is lined with synthetic teak normally used on luxury super yachts, and you can cook outside thanks to a fold-down electric barbecue. Up to 1 KW of solar panels and a 400Ah battery will power the camper whenever it’s off the grid, and a diesel heating and cooking system provides the comforts of home. A deck enclosure kit with awnings and screens will also be available, meaning that the Romotow could sleep an additional four people on the deck. The first Romotow is under construction and the company is taking orders for a limited number of custom trailers that will be shipped to clients directly from the factory. Pricing starts at $350,000, but will vary according to custom finishes. Check out the video here. and the youTube video here. Boxes? Who needs 'em?  I 'm beginning to consider a byline in each issue - And Now For Something Completely.....' and you know what the missing word is. Well, this, is different - question is, 'Who cares?'. Except it's very existence does in fact underscore our mission statement.....and, it's cool. Some bright light(s) decided we had to have this - it os a fully functioning app, of Windows 95. Yes, it is an app - fully functional just as it was 20+ years ago.....Windows95 app Available for both MAC OS and Windows......have fun! Windows 95 is the operating system that’s now used as a yardstick for what’s possible on modern devices and platforms. We’ve seen Microsoft’s popular OS appear on the Apple Watch, an Android Wear smartwatch, and even the Xbox One. Today, someone has gone a step further and made Windows 95 into an app that you can run on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Slack developer Felix Rieseberg is responsible for this glorious app, based on an existing web project that supports Windows 95, Windows 98, and a whole host of older operating systems. Now nostalgia lovers can play around with Windows 95 in an electron app. Rieseberg has published the source code and app installers for this project on Github, and apps like Wordpad, phone dialer, MS Paint, and Minesweeper all run like you’d expect. Sadly, Internet Explorer isn’t fully functional as it simply refuses to load pages. The app its only 129MB in size and you can download it over at Github for both macOS and Windows. Once it’s running it surprisingly only takes up around 200MB of RAM, even when running all of the old Windows 95 system utilities, apps, and games. If you run into any issues with the app you can always reset the Windows 95 instance inside the app and start over again. Enjoy this quirky trip down memory lane.  As stated at the outset, we are in September - start of a new school year. Para mi, Just finished my courses for this year......and it was a great experience. Fourteen students, graduating and moving on into the world of design/décor. . . . . . seeking experience, looking for jobs - hoping to find a place - any place, to start. I wish them well.....I had them for one other course prior to this one. I am happy that I was their 'exit lane'......next issue I will devote the appropriate space to the final projects which they completed with me....for the moment I will share only one......it is the work of Greta Hermosa, a lady with a wonderfully attuned and intuitive grasp of design and décor. This image is of a living room concept she developed for a real, live client that participated in our final project.......I hope you enjoy it. If you would like to hire her, you can contact me - I'd be happy to put you together.  |
AuthorAs a professional interior designer (45+ years) and as a Certified Graphic Designer (25 years) I have devoted my life to the pursuit of design excellence. Winner of numerous design awards I have also spent 25+ years teaching Interior Design.....the greatest quote regarding design is: the greatest faux pas in design is irrelevance • Note Regarding Archives •
Weebly provides an archive header by month - such as March 2021 . . . . when you select a month, you will be able to access all issues posted in that month - there is no way, thus far, to provide the reader with archival access via Issue number - were working on it. Archives
August 2021
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