We are now in Week 22.
Meaning that for me, it is now 22 weeks since I was forced into a 'stay-at-home' regimen - doctor's orders, way back on February 18th. HowzThat? Well, fact is I, unfortunately, suffered a fairly serious leg injury, which became infected, which took me to Emergency 4 times in 8 days,
which resulted in the 'stay at home' order.
Followed by, in the first week of March, the order to the general population, to 'stay home'.
22 weeks - almost half a year - hard to believe.
Coping, has been difficult - as we have collectively sought to shrink within ourselves, within our households - within our family units, there have been some startling discoveries. Coping mechanisms, the likes of which we, as a society, were never confronted with before, became the keys to maintaining and preserving some sense of normalcy — of a 'new normalcy' .
ZOOM fusions - remote movie night shares — order in, take-out. Introspection, the likes of which, as a society, we've never had to deal with before.
The overwhelming need, over time, to break free - break free of the tyranny of this pandemic. The urge to sit in a café once again — the need to see friends. The absolute need to see family — none of which was available to us.
For myself, as I strove to find ways to keep myself distracted, busy, to set projects for myself, I spent a great deal more time reading, reviewing — seeking out and searching for novel ideas/innovations in design. Perhaps because, collectively, being locked down, locked up, locked in — within our abodes, our shelters, many of us elected to re-examine the norms of our households — things we had previously accepted and taken for granted, we now had time to question. Makes sense, yes?
Professionally, as a designer for five plus decades, it was all these things that propelled me to think back on recent projects which dealt with small spaces. Thus, in this issue, and for the reasons as stated, I am indulging your patience in taking a look at one such project. However, as it involves Before/After photographs along with floorplans, it will be posted as the last entry in this issue.
Fusing local Oaxacan culture with modern architecture, BAAQ' has created an idyllic beach escape. The Naila House places four volumes on the rocky coastline of Mexico's Puerto Escondido. Each structure is situated on a concrete base, forming a cross-shaped courtyard with a swimming pool at their center. Their wood frames are clad in palm bone, a nod to the area's traditional beach huts while the interior's clay and earth floors and a clay stove in the kitchen fall in line with the local vernacular. Folding doors open the living spaces directly to the exterior, affording views of the Pacific Ocean to every room.
Fusing local Oaxacan culture with modern architecture, BAAQ' has created an idyllic beach escape. The Naila House (Casa Naila) places four volumes display over a surface of 740 sq. meters in Puertecito, on the rocky coastline of Mexico's Oaxaca, 20 km from Puerto Escondido.
The land is located on the highest hill of the coast, providing the house a privilege double side view of the sea. The main goal was to avoid any impact in the landscape caused by the used of the property and its context, as most of the daily activities are done outside.
The creative process of Casa Naila started with the core idea of 2 axis, in which each of the 4 structures are situated on a concrete base, forming a cross-shaped courtyard with a swimming pool at their center. These structures were key to achieve the perfect integration of architecture and its immediate surroundings.
Each structure consists of buildings of divers’ heights and inclined covers, which are a direct reference to the uneven and rocky landscape of the beach. It was important to give different orientations to the spaces to allow the best lighting and air circulation, as well as provide to each user a view of the sea.
The architectonic programme takes place indoors and outdoors looking for efficient and functional spaces, making the core of the project its connectivity between the living spaces, private areas, main courtyard, and the pool. As a result, we obtain a simple, aesthetic, and low maintenance housing able to accommodate up to 15 people.
The ground levels are made of reinforced concrete trying to frame and direct the views of the spaces to the south and west of the property. In the upper levels, the spaces are defined by structures made of wood frames and clad in palm bone, which are the predominant resources of the area and a nod to the area's traditional beach huts at the coastline of Oaxaca. The folding doors open the living spaces directly to the exterior, affording views of the Pacific Ocean to every room.
Due to the characteristics of the region’s weather, the adjustment of the palm bone and the mosquito net allows the permeability and ventilation of the spaces, beside creating an interesting mix of shadows and transparencies during day time, and a contras of lights during the night; making the house give the impression of a lighthouse from faraway.
One of the fundamental spaces of the project is the kitchen area, as this one harbors as center piece a clay stove called Lorena, which fall in line with the local vernacular. The bar and main workstation were also made of clay, as well as the covering of the floors, providing a thermal comfort to the users while giving the interiors a more natural and earthy appearance.
Named after a traditional song of the coastline, Casa Naila seeks to honour Oaxaca within every single aspect of their culture, from the selection of materials, the construction systems and techniques to its traditions and living experiences, but above all they way the cook.
Commentary: This is a novel, imaginative and inventive way to look at a communal property.
The latin culture is centered on family before all else. This interpretation is consistent with the values of latin life — the articulation of spaces, the sensitive use of natural materials - the mood and the ambiance all speak together in harmony and shared community.
For the spanish speakers among us, here is the extract from Uncrate, verbatim:
Commentary: This is a novel, imaginative and inventive way to look at a communal property.
The latin culture is centered on family before all else. This interpretation is consistent with the values of latin life — the articulation of spaces, the sensitive use of natural materials - the mood and the ambiance all speak together in harmony and shared community.
Gee! Lookee here! It's a closet, with a chair and a counter. Looks/feels familiar. Why might that be?
Oh yes! Now I remember - way back, many years ago, whether in an apartment or a house. my @home office was always in the smallest bedroom. And the way I would maximize space/efficiency was to take the doors of the closet, buy a hollow core slab door, cut it to the approrpriate length, buy 3 yards of white vinyl from Fabricville and wrap/staple the vinyl around the door. A couple of lengths of 1" x 2" strapping, screwed to the back and end walls of the closet at a height of 28 ½ inches was all I needed. With the door cut to the length of the closet interior I would then simply insert it so that it rested on the strapping strips.
Generally I would then do the same thing with two or three shelves above the desktop. This worked, by the way, with a drafting board originally and with computers, keyboards later on.
So that is why this looks familiar.
It is a cool concept - in this form, pricey though. Where this is best suited is like here:
That's pretty cool - idyllic even. Except — except it does not take into consideration that you simply require a power source if for no other reason than being able to close the door and turn on a light and a fan.....no?
Of course you could also do this. But, the same provisos apply. And of course, there are NO windows.....yuck!
From the manufacturer, LIVIT:
The work from home movement has left many people wishing for a dedicated workspace. Livit's Studypod is designed specifically to meet this need. Measuring roughly seven feet in each direction, it's made from a composite material, with a large glass window affording views of nature from behind the detachable desk. Oak laminate flooring, four downlights, and power socket fill out the feature list, and the simple shape lets it easily transition from office to yoga studio or even a bedroom.
Then again, if budget permits, there is this option. This is what I would do if I ever re-activated my residential interior design practise involving large-scale renovations or newbuilds.
See, this would be an ideal mobile work environment. The driver's chair and passenger's chair swivel around to face the table, which with the banquette would comfortably accommodate two others.. The mini kitchen would be great for coffee service and/or working lunches plus the rear section, with the beds removed, would provide a really nice table/desk workspace.
I would do this in a heartbeat if I were to seriously pursue private projects.
Of course, as a mobile 'writer's cabin', it would be a most wonderful place to spend a working day.
Here's the details:
LA STRADA NOVA EB CAMPER VAN
German camper van manufacturer La Strada has released their Nova EB built on the Mercedes Sprinter. Measuring in at 10 feet tall and seven feet wide, the La Strada designed the GRP bodyshell
for maximum interior space with clean, simple interior design to avoid any obstructions
while moving around inside. The upper cabin sleeps two in either dual twins or one
combined queen size bed, while below is a fully-equipped kitchenette, bathroom, and a
convertible dining or lounge area. Ambient lighting sets a relaxed tone and the materials
used are top-quality and highly customizable to the buyer's taste. Optional equipment like
four-wheel-drive and engine choices allow for getaways off the pavement.
Unfortunately, La Strada has no plans to bring the Nova EB to the US, like many
of the best camper vans on the market.
So, if a client or a contractor, in a fit of pique, said, 'Get the hell outta here!', their request could be comfortably accommodated. . . . . .
This is, simply a w e s o m e !
Why is it, as I see it, that so much creative brilliance and innovation literally erupts out of Asia?
I don't believe that this is simply my own opinion.
Innovation, inventiveness - the ability to look at and see things through
prisms that westerners, generally, do not have the ability to do.
That is not always the case, but when one sees a project like this one
has to wonder, 'Where on earth did such a
compelling vision come from?'
Text description provided by the architects. Little Shelter is located in Chiang Mai where its old cityscape and vernacular architecture are characterized by wood structure with shingle pitched roof.
The hotel roof form inspired by traditional hip roofs as homage to the local architecture
has a little reinterpretation with an asymmetrical form blending naturally with the
surrounding tree top silhouette. The west side of the roof is partially carved out to
become a roof deck for guests to enjoy the panoramic river view at sunset.
The design continues the local architectural character through the use of the predominant traditional material – the wood shingles. The most interesting aspect of the material is in its system
that has been well developed for hundreds of years. Small units of wood shingles are
laid out like fish scales to become a watertight architectural plane.
On the entrance façade, the upper portion is composed of solid wood shingles
and they trickle down to mixed with polycarbonate shingles on the lower part.
Although working with the traditional shingle system, the uninterrupted translucency
surface is achieved by a special detail design using translucent studs and
special transparent screws.
The facade is glittering in the sun as the light touches different material grains,
from the solid wood shingles to the different translucency levels of the polycarbonate shingles.
The light passes through the facade and creates varying interior atmosphere
at different time with the changing light condition of the sky.
At night with the light from the inside, the building becomes a lantern glowing
on the riverbank. The structure seems less of a building but becomes
more like a piece of craftwork.
I suppose, if I were to drill down - way far down into the psyche - the deep sub-conscious, I might discover certain clues. One, simply would be, a fearlessness of sensitivity.
I do not know, and would be most curious to find out, if the architect/designer might be a woman.
The 'signature' I feel here, seems to flow from that distinct possibility.
Speaking of innovation : : check this out! A most clever solution to the best location for a flatscreen TV.
Mount it on a frame that rolls back and forth between living room and kitchen/dining area.
What I can't quite figure out just yet is how are the necessary wires/cables are kept out of sight. Unless they are on a self-governing retractable spooling mechanism I don't see how it has been done....but, brilliant as a solution.
The refrigerator is standard height but somewhat narrower than normal. And the counter was designed to accommodate two people very comfortably with the ability to squeeze in a third if desired.
The seating unit is an IKEA Vallentuna design which easily flips out to become a single bed.
There are two large flatscreen TVs installed.And top it all off the rent included one indoor heated parking spot. Although the apartment was only a 5 minute walk from a Metro station it was anticipated that a target corporation would be either providing a rental car, or the occupant may well drive back and forth between Montreal and Ottawa, or Quebec City - or Toronto.
Note the piping that traverses the space
Before : : Bedroom at front of apartment
Plan/Layout Before Renovation
New Proposed Plan/Layout
As noted in the project description there were many challenges that had to be overcome in this undertaking. For instance, the Owner insisted that we supply and install a queen size bed in the bedroom. He also insisted that the kitchen counter be able to accommodate 3 people. Moreover a full-size washer and dryer had to be located where the previous unit was because of plumbing/drain considerations.
And, full-size washer and dryers are extremely uncommon - had to invent a completely new support system to manage the installation. It is for that reason that a pleated accordion blind is what is the cover/mask in front of the washer/dryer.
There you have it. Working in small, tight spaces requires focused concentration and coordination among trades. In a case such as this, the unit had to also act as the staging area — there was no other available space in which to store ceramic tiles, toilet, vanity, doors — whatever. Insofar as I acted as both the designer/planner and project coordinator I spent countless hours running back and forth in attempts to coordinate deliveries from Home Depot, Canada Appliances, Best Buy - all the various suppliers — for there was no such thing as being able to tell them, 'It's okay - just leave things at the side of the house.'
A further complication was the simple fact that the Owner wanted the complete job to be done only by a licensed contractor. His reasons were valid, certainly - but the costs were pretty much double what they could have been — and we had scheduling issues/conflicts that were dictated by union regulations, etc.
But the job got done - everything worked. All was good. It's a job I take professional pride in - not because it is one of great design value - but because so many intricate challenges were met and overcome.
The space, feels, spacious — hard as that may seem, it does. And both the Owner and the Tenant, are happy. Pointe finale!
And so - once again, here we are.
You might want to be asking, 'So - what's new with DR•I?'
There are things - new directions - as I keep promising/threatening, so to speak.
Some of you have been the recipients in the past couple of weeks of an issue of DR•I that's somewhat different in format. We are moving towards a different way to present DesignReview.
Ultimately it will transition away from being the web-based internet site that it is now to being a standalone 'flipbook' publication. That has some interesting added attractions which we are still exploring. The extended use of incorporated video, of added soundtrack — some other features, will hopefully provide greater enjoyment to you the reader.
So - stay tuned - and watch your mailbox. Readers are being selected at random these days to receive the new DR•I in trial form. Your feedback is always appreciated.
Half full glass, half empty glass - halfway there - come halfway......
some may think of it as a threshold.
July 1st - Canada Day here, in Canada. 4th of July in three days in the USA
Said I wouldn't go there. . . . wouldn't make any disparaging remarks. About them. About him.
But - 125 days left. Or, 4 months and 2 days. 18 Saturdays.
Until the US election. A lot can happen in 125 days. A lot can happen in the 10 dozen days from next Monday until November 3rd.
Interesting, no? Of course it is.
The living area came with nearly 10-foot-tall ceilings and original windows that required restoring. Lucy agreed to expand her white paint palette: the walls are in “a warm and inviting but still neutral shade,” says Lonika--Paper I from the Paint & Paper Library. “With no cornice, the ceiling was painted in with the walls to soften the junction between the two. The window sash bars and rails were painted in Off-Black by Farrow & Ball, not only to make them stand out, but also to highlight the pretty Victorian spindles on the balcony behind. We went for bespoke sheer roller privacy blinds set inside the recess to expose as much of the original paneled detailing on the window architrave as possible.”
The furnishings are a mix of midcentury pieces Lucy already owned and antiques Lonika tracked down at good prices. The sofa cushions are made from vintage Kuba cloth: “as an artist, visual texture is extremely important to Lucy,” says Lonika.
“We spent a lot on the build and getting the bones of the property right, with good-quality flooring, tiles, and other fittings,” says Lonika. “Things like the ironmongery and the new doors were expensive. This meant that we had a tighter budget for the soft furnishings.”
Nestled among the trees of Portland's Forest Park, the Royal House, designed by William/Kaven Architecture, brings a contemporary edge to the rugged scenery. The 4,352 square foot dwelling is formed by a series of rectangular volumes stacked along a wooded ravine. Clad in black siding, the facade blends the stark, geometric forms into the surrounding tree trunks. Its four-bedroom interior boasts bright, open living spaces featuring white oak floors with dark walnut inlays and custom oak cabinets. Floor-to-ceiling glazing envelopes the level in views of the treetops while sliding doors expand the interior to an outdoor terrace and a Juliet balcony overlooking the hillside. Along with direct access to hiking trails including Wildwood Trail, the home is just minutes from the shops, restaurants, and bars of downtown.
A stunning, private home designed by award-winning studio
William / Kaven Architecture.
Photography © Jeremy Bittermann / JBSA.
A clever new product by Danielle Baskin is a remedy to current challenges with facial recognition software used to unlock phones. The San Francisco-based designer recently launched Maskalike, a company that prints custom face coverings with photographs of the wearer. Made of machine-washable cotton, the functional masks create a seamless look that opens cellphones and other devices without having to remove it first.
Maskalike currently has a waitlist for custom designs, although there are options for those who want to maintain some anonymity. The company sells masks printed with Hide the Pain Harold, a man featured in stock photographs who now is recognized widely as a meme. “Look permanently uncomfortable, trying to be happy,” the product description reads.
Try Before You Buy: Walkable Plans Offer a New Way to Visualize Architecture
These full-scale floor plans allow architects and their clients to take their designs for a test drive.
WOW! What an awesome, stupidly O B V I O U S solution to every architect's, designer's major problem - how to accurately, simply and inexpensively convey the true realistic spatial realities of a structure to the client?
Once you see this you slap yourself upside the head and ask yourself, 'Now why did I think of that?'
Check it out here
This idea, this concept came out of Australia. Read this brief account of how it came to be.
I was a builder pouring concrete at Tempe for a customer, the customer is annoyed by the size of the building and wanted it to be bigger, he didn’t realise how small the actual house was, even after looking at the plans for a long time.
I myself then wanted to build my own house and looking at the plans it was hard to wrap around the actual size of the building. I decided to draw the plans onto the ground in a park and was subsequently fined by the council. There had to be a cheaper way to view your plans life-size and that’s when it hit me. I rented out a warehouse, put up some projectors and was now able to walk through my house before it was built saving myself thousands from simples mistake, and now I am bringing this technology to you.
Bringing your architectural plans and your future house to a real-life size before you put $1 on building your home.
With the use of state of the art technology and tailored programs we are able to show your complete dwelling – including upper and lower floors, backyards, swimming pools and entertaining areas, along with driveways and parking spaces to a 'true' 1:1 scale.
You can park your car in the garage and walk around your whole property without annoying glasses or goggles. Your whole family can experience this all at the same time.
So - this technology is now available in the US - and probably soon in Canada also.Currently it is offered in Pittsburgh - but watch - soon it will be available in every major city in North America. So simple!
Even with detailed floor plans and renderings, it’s difficult for architects and clients to clearly visualize and estimate the proportions of a space. This discrepancy can lead to delays in design finalization, mid-construction changes and costs or an inadequate final product.
Ron Lyndon seeks to mitigate this issue and provide greater transparency during the design process with his new Walkable Plans venture. Located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Walkable Plans is a floor plan projection center that provides an immersive 1:1 scale layout of a residential or commercial space.
According to NEXTpittsburgh, Lyndon based the company on an idea he saw on “Shark Tank Australia” called Lifesize Plans. He took the concept of projecting true-sized floor plans and applied it to Walkable Plans, which is the first of its kind in the United States.
Using the latest technology, the floor plan projection facility displays life-sized architectural layouts onto the floor, allowing an architect or client to better experience and visualize a space. It gives builders, designers, architects and families the ability to confirm that a design is perfect before investing in construction.
The Walkable Plans facility uses four projectors that are connected to create one massive image measuring 48 by 70 feet. All the company needs is a PDF of the drawings a few days in advance. To make the experience even more immersive, the facility uses real furniture and portable walls in order to provide better clarity.
The Walkable Plans technology also has applications beyond residential and commercial building. It can cover landscapes, retail, manufacturing, office, medical and entertainment spaces. Additionally, it can be applied to more civic projects, such as public transportation and city planning spaces.
As stated on NEXTpittsburgh, Lyndon views Walkable Plans to be the “missing step in the design process.” The benefits are clear. Its ability to display all types of spaces allows individuals to cautiously plan, which ultimately saves money and time on a project.
Does anybody agree with me? Examine it more closely.....the walls appear to be a travertine marble. Perhaps not - could be Kerlite, or even a wood product. Point is it has a nice, rich but subtle texture.
The ceiling -as beautiful as it is, so tone rich, overpowers the space.
So, I decided to do a little experiment - using my Photoshop skills. Check it out.
There are a number of options that might be explored here - but I elected to retain the beams and the architectural reveals that run down the centre of each beam, thereby maintaining a strong connection, both visually and feeling-wise, to the original architecture. I eliminated the recessed coffer in so doing. To my eye the geometry is more gentling, actually more delineating because both the recessed coffers and the wood grain are not now pulling one's focus to the ceiling.
On the other hand, I did a similar experiment in the dining room - which I feel is terribly sterile, design-wise.
In this case I retained the recesses but eliminated the woodgrain ceiling deciding instead to carry the colour richness from the ceramic floor to the ceiling.
And so, whadday a think?
Moi, once done, I realized i wouldn't advocate for such a change. Not that it doesn't work - it does. But the coffered panelling provided a degree of warmth and material richness that this rather barren space really needs.
I would be interested in your opinions, comments
Looks kinda like a beehive sort of, yes?
Hooba Design Group used bricks with glass inserts to create a "semi-transparent character" for the headquarters of brick manufacturer Kohan Ceram in Tehran, Iran.
Tehran-based Hooba Design Group designed a special type of brick, which was manufactured in Kohan Ceram factory, for the six-storey block's facades.
"The spectacled brick was exclusively designed by our office and produced by Kohan Ceram factory for this project," said Hooba Design Group founder Hooman Balazadeh.
"The final block was achieved based on a series of trial and error samples," he told Dezeen. "A close cooperation between our office and the producer resulted in an innovative building block which combines brick and glass to create a singular module."
"The urban scenery along the major highways in Tehran is an amalgam of forms and materials, causing visual disturbance to the urban environment," Balazadeh said.
"This project tries to overcome this issue by minimalizing the form and limiting the materials. The resulting building is calm and neutral in the urban scale," he continued.
"In the building scale, on the other hand, the spectacled brick creates a very different perception for the observer and adds a layer of detail to the atmosphere."
Other recent building projects with patterned brick facades include Fundamental Approach Architects' Tehran apartment block with perforated brick screens and Adept's customised-brick housing alongside Carlsberg's Elephant Gate.
Materials new extension. Polished concrete inside and the outside terrace on the same level. Walls: masonry with painted. Windowprofiles: ODS Jansen Ixtra lasercut and tailormade with insulated glass from Saint Gobain. (glass 1.5 ton each slab). Each window (with frame) 2 tons. Dimensions: 3x6m and 6x3m above. Concept window: same form: T shaped as an old standard window. Kitchen: table tops also in concrete. The island is movebla to the terrace. The ideal bbq house. In the old front part we renovated the existing floors and architectural details. The new bathrooms are in the old style with modern approach. But we kept the old lavabo’s that were available in the house.
The new bathrooms are in between the two big bedrooms with double doors ‘en enfilade’ (a classical term for doors of different rooms on one view axe). So we didn’t do a lot; but what we did has giant repercussions to the way of living in that house.
This is what is truly known as a Tour de Force! Frankly I cannot understand why one would want to invest the kind of money it must have taken to design/specify two such huge doors. Spectacular result, no doubt......but. . . . . .
This is the home of Barton Myers, Architect. Although American by birth he lived and worked in Toronto for many years. The firm, Diamond and Myers, was the architectural firm that all young design professionals hungered to work for back in 1968 and almost 20 years thereafter.
Featuring steel garage doors that stave off fires, the home, guesthouse, and studio of Barton Myers are now on the market.The nearly 39-acre site in Montecito, California, that architect Barton Myers chose for a family home afforded breathtaking views of the ocean, the Channel Islands to the south, and the mountains to the north—but it did raise a red flag for him and his late wife, Victoria. "Fire was very much on our minds," shares Barton. "As an architect, if you are going to go into a dangerous area, you have the responsibility of dealing with that in a sophisticated way and hopefully establishing a prototype of how people should deal with these areas."
Barton Myers’s residence was notably featured in
American Masterworks: Houses of the 20th and 21st Centuries
which proclaimed it "one of the 40 most important works of
residential architecture in the last 120 years."
So - that's a wrap for this issue - barely scratched the surface of all the goodies I have stockpiled for y'all.
So far we're maintaining the twice monthly publication. Stay tuned - write, comment, critique - say something!
As 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