The U.S. Postal Service is honoring pioneers of American industrial design with twelve new Forever stamps. Earlier this week at a ceremony at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the all-new Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps were unveiled. The stamps focus on innovators of Machine Age products that emerged during the Depression. Many of the of the designers featured were inspired by the Art Deco style of the period, and many products were streamlined and reminiscent of planes, trains, and transportation design. A sheet of 12 stamps can be purchased for $5.28 at post offices, or online at the USPS online store. [click to continue…]
Altius Architecture designed the Cliff House in Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, Canada. The house was intended to accommodate a family of four against the majestic backdrop of a popular lake. The house almost sprouts up from granite, which serves as the structure’s base. It’s also positioned to maximize views of the lake, light, and breezes off of the cliff. Sustainability was important to the owners, and thus the house takes advantage of passive and active strategies to reduce energy loads and augment comfort. During summer, solar shading limits heat gain while operable windows are orientated to take advantage of natural ventilation. In winter, optimized glazing and solar orientation help the house take advantage of the sun’s radiant energy. [click to continue…]
In an area that typically receives 8 to 9 feet of snow, site conditions influence the design of any building. That’s why the Sugar Bowl Residence in Norden, California uses a simple, bent planar roof form to help shed snow toward the rear of the house preventing snow from blocking the front entry. Within the first floor, John Maniscalco Architecture incorporated the entry, boot room, children’s and guest bedrooms, and service spaces. The upper level houses living spaces and the master bedroom. All of these rooms feature mountain views. [click to continue…]
Dutch architectural firm ArchitectenConsort designed the stunning GT Tower, which makes a dramatic addition to the Seoul, South Korea skyline. The 130-metre-high building features an undulating glass façade, which appears to change its form when passing by the building. Inside, the GT Tower has 54,000 square meters of floors space and will feature office spaces as well as room for commercial and cultural uses. A parking facility is also on-site. Sustainability was also an important concern of ArchitectenConsort, and the tower features solar panels for generating power, a well-insulated façade, and innovative use of natural light and ventilation to provide an optimal working environment. A “sunken plaza” in the entry area of the building was also devised to provide a pleasant area to relax, as it’s sheltered from wind and street noise. [click to continue…]
MLK Studio and Belzberg Architects have teamed up to devise a modern retreat in Los Angeles, CA. The Brentwood residence was designed by Hagy Belzberg of Belzberg Architects. Meg Joannides of MLK Studio collaborated with Belzberg early on to design the interior of the 10,000 square foot house. Joannides was responsible for all 10 bathrooms as well as the main kitchen and guesthouse kitchen. In addition to walnut hardwood flooring throughout, the kitchen features bluestone counter tops, calacatta marble, and high gloss cabinetry. The master bathroom features Turkish limestone walls and flooring that stays true to the neutral color palette demanded by the client. Landscape and lighting experts were also consulted for the project. [click to continue…]
Chyutin Architects have designed a landscaped garden in Israel connecting theBen-Gurion University campus and the city of Be’er Sheva. The square serves as an entrance gate to the western side of the campus, and gives students and the local residents a venue for cultural and social activities. Since the area was designed for large congregations of young people, the square was designed with limited areas of vegetation, as its planters will not interfere with gatherings. Vegetation, trees, and concrete benches have been scattered randomly among the strips of lawn. [click to continue…]
Model making is often an essential part of the design process, and it’s one of the architect’s tools to illustrate the complexity of their concepts. Models also help architects sell their designs to builders and investors. The importance of the model and model making in general cannot be overlooked, and that’s why it’s explored in a new series from Dwell called The Model Architect. One of the newest videos in this series focuses on architect Bart Prince and how models help him create unique, unconventional structures. [click to continue…]
Longman & Eagle is a popular Chicago restaurant and bar that has received accolades from notable publications including GQ and Esquire, and has even received a Michelin star. Now, the restaurant is embarking on a new path, as a hotelier. Six rooms above the restaurant have opened to guests. Designer Cody Hudson continued the theme of the restaurant upstairs, with cushy chairs and stainless-steel fixtures. Other features include mattresses made of organic soy, Apple TVs, and tokens that are good for a whiskey downstairs. [click to continue…]
In Atlantic Beach, New York, many aging houses, fixtures of the community, have been replaced with larger modern houses. There are fewer and fewer Spanish, Tudor, and Art Deco style houses from the 1920s and 1930s. In an effort to reclaim some of the classic architectural cues of older homes, Belmont Freeman Architects designed the Kowalewski Residence to recapture some of the Art Deco heritage of the Atlantic Beach community. The 3,600 square ft. house is the primary residence for a family with two small children, so it’s designed with an open plan for casual living. The layout also maximizes the house’s connection to the outdoors. The structure is steel with light-gauge metal framed floors and walls. The exterior includes the use of stucco, black slate, stainless steel and glass. [click to continue…]
The Lighthouse is a residential project by Linebox Studio that achieves the elusive balance of being ultra modern and warm. The latter was an important element for the family of five that wanted the home to be inviting. The Lighthouse is 4,500 square feet and features a sticking façade which was oriented north to preserve privacy. The elevated great room with its 22-foot high ceilings, warm maple floors (all floor have radiant heating), and crisp white walls is uncluttered and absent of visible light fixtures. The project called for both intimacy and connectivity, and the home certainly achieves this goal. [click to continue…]
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The U.S. Postal Service is honoring pioneers of American industrial design with twelve new Forever stamps. Earlier this week at a ceremony at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, the all-new Pioneers of American Industrial Design stamps were unveiled. The stamps focus on innovators of Machine Age products that emerged during the Depression. Many of the of the designers featured were inspired by the Art Deco style of the period, and many products were streamlined and reminiscent of planes, trains, and transportation design. A sheet of 12 stamps can be purchased for $5.28 at post offices, or online at the USPS online store. [click to continue…]
