August 05th, 2020

Ever heard it? The classic Abbott & Costello baseball routine? Still funny 70+ years later •  •  •  • 
I'm not gonna repeat it here - but go read it for yourself....then watch the video on youTube.

Why? Let's just say, the times, and the tone, of these times require it . . . . . . 

Where else but San Francisco?  How many of our readers have been there I wonder? Whether you have, or whether you haven't — it is, the most special place. Me? I've visited SanFran either four or five times. I must confess - it's been 25 years since my last trip. 

Okay - so we did things a little bit differently this time - you've seen all the exterior shots - hope it whetted your appetite.

DWELL magazine just ran this feature property for sale - $5,500,00.00 USD - once you've 'toured' it you'll agree, it's a bargain.

​Housed in a former laundry and tooth powder warehouse, the Fillmore Factory House is an industrial haven in San Francisco. The 3,600 square foot residence features three bedrooms and three baths with a home office and a loft. Living spaces take advantage of the building's 17-foot ceilings while exposed ceilings, beams, and rough cut floors maintain the historic charm. At the center of the interior, a pair of stacked shipping containers hold an ensuite bedroom on the bottom and an office with a bunk above. On the rooftop, an additional 800 square feet of living space provides a custom bar with 11-foot custom teak bar top and lounge area backed by views of the city.

​This truly one-of-a-kind space prominently features industrial design elements while retaining the warmth and comforts of a single-family home in design and layout. 3600± sq.ft., 3 bedrooms/baths and home office with loft, this voluminous space features ±17' ceilings and custom artisan details throughout, including two internal customized cantilevered shipping containers, teak vanities, Wolf & Sub-Zero appliances, indoor/outdoor multi-zone Sonos-powered sound system and state-of-the-art projection home theater as well as a 2-car garage with additional storage/workspace. 

​Additional 800± sq.ft. of outdoor living space completes the experience with custom-built outdoor bar featuring professional bar touches and 11’ custom slab teak bartop and under-bar heaters, fire table and grill area.  

Upstairs bedroom comes complete with its own deck and massive catamaran-style hammock. Privacy, sophistication, true NY SOHO loft living in an established, vibrant neighborhood. 

See the tub in the far corner? Draw back the full height draperies et voila!

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Office / Guest Room

If you had to - really had to, leave your heart in San Francisco, this would be pretty good spot to leave it.

From ArchDaily : : Jakob presents Green façades, which is a wall system, where climbing plants or cascading groundcovers are trained to cover specially designed supporting structures.

Green façades use climbing plants, which are divided into self-supporting plants like root climbers or adhesive-suckers, and plants that need supporting structure, like twining vines, leaf-stem climbers, leaf climbers, or scrambling plants.

There are different types of support structures for Jakob's Green façades:

Modular trellis system: Stainless steel cable and rope wire systems consist of a kit of parts that includes high-tensile steel cables, wire trellises, anchors, spacers, and supplementary equipment. Vertical and horizontal wires can be connected through cross clamps to form a flexible trellis system in various sizes and patterns. And to cover large areas, stainless steel wire-rope nets can be supported on flexible or rigid frames.
Single cables system: Cables can be oriented in a vertical or horizontal arrangement and spaced to suit the overall look and/or plant type selected. Single Cable Trellis systems are a great way to draw vines up a space while scrambling plants love to sprawl sideways along horizontal style trellises.
Webnet for Greening: The stainless-steel mesh Webnet as a plant support blends well with modern architecture and enables an exact greening of the façade.

Spinnaker House (2018), the most recent work of Sparks Architects, reconciles another monumental setting. It builds upon lessons learnt by the practice over more than a decade of being challenged by precarious sites. Perched on the edge of an escarpment overlooking Hervey Bay, Queensland, the building seeks to balance the visual opportunities of the landscape, while providing sanctuary from the windy coastal environment. The building projects confidently, its sloping form paralleled by the falling ground below. The continuity of roof and wall strengthens its presence, making it a defiant object in a windswept landscape. Like many projects before it, Spinnaker House’s building section reveals most about the architectural intentions. Light and glare, breeze and wind, are controlled by the manipulation of enclosure. Occupation is encouraged to the very edge of the building, against the leaning timber screen hovering on the precipice. X : : https://architectureau.com/articles/sparks-architects/​

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase is considered to be the West Coast’s premier design showhouse event, renowned for featuring the work of the region’s top Interior Designers. Selected to design “His Office” for the 2015 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, ABD STUDIO explored the concept of beauty resulting from destruction. A timeless design, the space featured a highly textured custom shou sugi ban desk with a patinaed antique brass sculptural base and an abstract painting depicting fading memories inspired by damaged video tapes. The home's original, expansive iron-framed windows and herringbone wood floors served as the prime foundation to layer lush textures such as soft white wool drapery, a well-loved antique rug, woven cashmere, Patagonian sheepskin, ebonized wood and linen paired with crisp contemporary tufting.

​ABD STUDIO is a high-end San Francisco interior design firm specializing in residential & boutique hospitality interior design and architecture. We are committed to thoughtfully creating elegantly understated interiors that are inviting, encourage connection and provide respite from our busy world. Each space is customized to enhance the authentic personalities and lifestyles of those who dwell there.
Through mindful consideration, we achieve the intricate balance between architectural style, scale and overall room composition enduring a consistent and effortless ease as well as subtle luxury. It is our deepest hope that these spaces inspire meaningful memories for many years to come.
With a dedication to excellence and building trusting relationships, we welcome collaboration with clients, architects and general contractors while supporting artists and craftsmen in the communities in which our clients reside.

Editor's Note/Comments:
But first, a question to the readership — as you are all well aware I invest countless hours in seeking out fresh new, novel, inventive expressions of design —be they architectural, furniture - graphics — the whole broad spectrum. And in so doing I apply my own sense of judgement as to what constitutes the extraordinary from — well, the ordinary. Frankly, you have no idea of the articles, pieces I preview — and reject. But I have to look at them, examine - explore, to see whether they meet a certain standard.  Those that do, appear here in DR•I. And judging by comments I receive, it seems you agree with those choices.
However, in reviewing certain design installations I find I am often appalled at the callous indifference that many designers have for the real practical use and enjoyment that a patron or a client has a right to expect following both their investment of faith — and dollars. And so I have decided to speak out - to expose examples of such to you - all with the idea that there is learning that can be done here.
For example - the following room was designed/decorated by ABD Studio as a feature room in the showcase house. And it has a nice appeal - until you attempt to put yourself 'in the picture'. Look at the photographs and then I'll draw specific pointers about them

This is what I might term a 'very handsome and sensitively designed home study'— most likely envisioned for a woman in spite of the bold use of black as a striking backdrop.
But — a) who among you would ever sit on that bench? It is a bench, right? With no back — and so, one might sit, very uncomfortably — for a mere few minutes. But why? What's the point? It looks expensive. . . . it IS expensive.And it is - pointless. By virtue of its placement in the room it might suggest it is positioned where it is so that one might enter, and go and sit and look at the painting. But, that is just weird! 
b) let's examine the other end of the room - trés elegant, yes? But, trés dumb! Why? For starters look at the chair and then look at the rug — a facsimile of a pony hide. By its very nature it is very thin. Imagine you go around the desk, pull out the chair so you can sit down and then pull the chair towards the desk.
One of two things must happen next - either the chair legs 'scrunch' the rug forward under the desk (most likely), or, you have to literally pick the chair up and move it — above the floor — in order to position it on the rug. And, what happens if you don't get it quite right the first time? You have to repeat the procedure enough times until you do get it right - until you are comfortable. . . .and then you don't dare move 'cause you have to do the chair calisthenics all over again. So - haven't these designers heard of comfortable chairs on casters? Perhaps not. And when it is time for you to get up and leave, how do you manage the chair? Do you slide it across the surface of the rug? Remember, I pointed out that the rug is rather thin - exactly how many times will you do that before the rugs has un-removeable chair leg marks in it. And, what then? Not fixable, certainly. It's simply, plain, dumb — all to aid in the perpetuation of the requirement to create 'cool' design. The one thing I am guessing that does make some kind of sense is the armchair can be readily turned about to face the desk for use by a visitor.

As we continue with DR•I we will share additional examples of 'wrong-thinking design'. 
I trust you will find it both interesting and educational.

Who dat?

If you're of a certain age you'll recognize him as Ernest Hemingway -- one of the world's most famous authors.  
In 1934 he bought a boat in order to pursue his love of fishing. The boat, Pilar, became a home away from home. He jumped back and forth between his house in Key West and Cuba. ​In 2012, Ernest Hemingway's niece Hilary explored his old fishing boat for the first time. The 38-foot Wheeler Playmate "Papa" named Pilar after his wife Pauline was just sitting in a berth outside Havana, holding nothing but history. 
Hilary Hemingway boarded the boat that day with Wes Wheeler, whose great-grandfather founded Wheeler Shipbuilding in 1910. They measured the Pilar from bow to stern and now—eight years later—a new Pilar has been built from those measurements by the Wheeler Yacht Company and is expected to launch in September.
It probably was the most famous at the height of Ernest Hemingway's fame. The Nobel Prize-winning author piloted the Pilar throughout the Caribbean and had many adventures,

"It’s probably the most famous fishing boat in the world."Hemingway's boat — PILAR

Wheeler Yachts has worked hard to re-constitute the Pilar in a modern-day rendition.

Editor's note / comment: I have a great respect for leadership in design that seeks to perpetuate character and style from an era long gone. Simply because we, the world, are so very high tech now, does not, in the least, diminish the values inherent in fine and proud craftsmanship. IMHO - in the world od robotic leadership today, pride of craftsmanship is simply not a constituent element of mass production - pity that.

Why? Why this? 'Cause it's just,  c o o l . Cool design, cool execution - it has flavour and character.

Jay Ahr bags:
If you’re inspired by travel and fashion alike, you cannot go wrong with a piece or two from the all-new One&Only Heritage Collection by Jay Ahr. With the launch of the new ensemble, the renowned resort chain aims to celebrate the love for travel with a touch of luxe.
Designed as a limited-edition range of custom-designed vintage Louis Vuitton Keepalls, the Heritage Collection celebrates the natural beauty and rich culture of each One&Only resort location. Sourced from the 10 global resort destinations, each bag is handpicked and embroidered to perfection in quintessential Jay Ahr style. Only two bags are designed for each of the brand’s resort and are exclusively available for purchase from One&Only.

WOW! Is it maybe, a slice of watermelon? Surrounded by - broccoli? Nah! that's silly!

Seen from a different perspective - it's a rooftop

​Designing a project like Casa Biblioteca is every architect’s dream. So being able to combine an idyllic location, a sizeable commission, an open minded client who knows what they want, and the inherent sense of experimentation of a start-up, is quite a coup for a young practice. The residence’s creator, Sao Paulo based Atelier Branco was just a year old when this project came along, making this distinctive piece of architecture a breakthrough one for the firm, winning them since a number of awards and attracting international attention. 
Nestled in an idyllic, tree-filled spot in the municipality of Vinhedo, in upstate Sao Paulo, this private home was the result of the architectural flair of Atelier Branco’s founding duo, Matteo Arnone and Pep Pons, and the character, needs and idiosyncrasies of their client. ‘It was a very challenging client and we were able to experiment a lot with the architectural solution,’ the pair says. ‘The result, even after a few years is still surprising. We are very proud of it.’ 
The brief outlined a home ‘to accommodate the need for a place to read; and the need of a place to think’. The architects’ response was to create a space more like a modernist pavilion or an art gallery, than a traditional home. 

​The structure is a simple rectangular glass box with a cast in-situ concrete structure (‘all the concrete was cast in a single working day,’ say the architects proudly). A series of slender columns hold up the tall ceilings creating a generous, triple height space. The walls are glass expanses that dissolve into the views, bringing the outside in. 

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Studio / Atelier Banco

​After graduating from the Accademia Architettura Mendrisio in Switzerland, Italian Matteo Arnone and Spaniard Pep Pons moved to Brazil to set up their studio, Atelier Branco in São Paulo in 2012. Soon after, the firm started to attract international attention, winning the Gold Medal at the Triennale di Milano in 2018 and the Dedalo Minosse International Prize for Commissioning a Building – OCCAM Under 40 in 2019 for their Casa Biblioteca.

From WALLPAPER: (Ellie Stathaki - https://www.wallpaper.com/author/ellie-stathaki)

Photography: Ricardo Bassetti Kaza and Jaqueline Lessa

​Enter Anthénea: An eco-friendly floating party pod that can sail where ever you want

You KNOW you want one, right? Man! What a fantasy!

Enter Anthénea: An eco-friendly floating party pod that can sail where ever you want
If a quirky getaway is on your mind, consider hopping onto Anthénea – a luxury floating hotel suite and water-based mobile home that is perfect for traveling in the times of COVID. Inspired by James Bond’s floating pod in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, the vessel is fun, fancy, and every bit fantastic!
Designed by architect Jean-Michel Ducancelle, the floating wonder runs on solar power and is 100% eco-friendly. It releases clean water back into the ocean using black and gray water stations and is equipped with sand screw anchoring to avoid any harm to the underwater ecosystem and environment.

Built as a luxury pod, the vessel offers 360-views of the ocean via its dome-shaped structure. It features a bedroom with an overflow round bathtub, a small living area with kitchen necessities and fiberglass windows as well as an outdoor seating area with a capacity to accommodate 12 people at once.

Anthénea can sail across waters and can be used by travelers to get to one destination from another. It is currently stationed at the Pink Granite Coast in Brittany, France and can be rented for a few nights. Interested folks can also buy one to live in along with customizations. Details on pricing and more are available on the company’s official website. Well, offbeat travel cannot get any better than this!

So — that's it for another issue — and I've barely scratched the surface. Stay tuned - be back at you in a couple of weeks.