10 ways Architects ruin puppies Arrange the puppies by percentage of recycled content. Allow the mechanical engineers to place the supply and return grilles in the puppies without adequate architectural coordination. Over Articulate the puppies. Juxtapose the puppies with kitties. Put non-operable shutters on the puppies’ openings. (note, use of shutter dogs, not withstanding). Provide more than 2 exits from the puppies. Put … Read More
Thank you Public Plaza
. Thank you public plaza, for being so unnecessarily spacious, and for allowing me to park so far away from the entrance. I probably needed to walk that extra 30 minutes during my lunch hour on my way to the DMV. Thank you public plaza, for changing levels occasionally, just to keep me alert. Thank you public plaza, for your simple paving pattern articulated … Read More
Architects need a good slogan
I’ve got it! Sure, we’ve been struggling as a profession lately. Yeah, the economy has hit us hard. People have needed to re-think their priorities, and Architecture hasn’t made the list. But, I think all we need is a good ad campaign. Am I right? A snappy slogan could be just the thing we need to revitalize this profession. Hell, … Read More
Dear Design Studio
Dear Design Studio, Why are you so cold? Do the maintenance people turn down the thermostat when they go home for the day on purpose to keep us lethargic? Are you hanging meat in here? And what is that sound? Is that ass in the art studio across the atrium banging an 8 foot by 12 foot wooden frame together at … Read More
Thirst 4 Architecture
Just a quick note… Put on your turtleneck and come out to the North Carolina Museum of Art tonight from 6:00-8:00 for the Thirst 4 Architecture event. Hosted by Triangle Modernist Houses and New Raleigh. Mitch Magee (Mr. Glasses) will be there! and so will I. We’ll be wearing very stylish glasses and rolling our eyes whenever someone mentions symmetry. Plus, … Read More
Oath of Modernism
I, modernism, being of sound mind and having a firm understanding of what should be, do solemnly swear to ignore the needs of poor people and democrats. I, modernism, will not knowingly or unintentionally promote the excessive ornamentation favored by the nostalgic and simple-minded. I, modernism will remain pure, and separate, loosening my tie, only after a few drinks, or … Read More
10 Things to keep in mind when designing for Hipsters
irony = iron + y cardboard tubes Bon Iver is not French they sell wine at Walmart cabins are less than 200 s.f. rust it’s not too much wool chickens everything comes easy to you, doesn’t it? nevermind . . photos are from banlon1964’s photostream on flickr (used under creative commons license) .
Definition of Architecture
I can’t believe I’ve written this blog for over a year and never bothered to define Architecture. A glaring omission to be sure. Perhaps I could get some help on this one? What’s a good definition of “Architecture” ? . . Architecture (noun): the act of artfully placing complex forms in remote locations to be photographed for magazine covers. . Architecture (noun): … Read More
The Architect Interviews Mr. Glasses
As many of you know, I am a long time supporter of the modernist movement in architecture. An advocate for the clarity of a cleanly drawn line, if you will. Could a movement in Architecture better capture the widening sense of isolated distopia marinating at the very core of the American dream? Could a movement more perfectly represent the collective malaise of the industrial machine … Read More
Beat Poet Architect for the Working Man
*solo bass begins – pensively* The Architect steps out from the shadows *clinking of drinks* . . The working man will begin from a square, with four equal sides of a life that ends in pain and isolation with 2 long views framing a vista into the depths on the lonely landscape of a wrecked economy that will be barren, like the bottom … Read More
Architectural Terminology – The Urban Design Vocabulary
I’ll admit it, I throw around Architectural terminology with the best of them. Especially when it comes to “Urban Design”. I can’t order a coffee without commenting on the vernacular nature of the locally roasted beans and the sense of place established by the “take a penny leave a penny” bowl next to the cash register. “Take a penny, leave … Read More
Architects Anonymous
“Go on” Richard said “It’s time”. Richard had only been my sponsor for a few days, but we’d known each other since we were in Design studio together. Man, I was wild in school. My thesis project was unnerving. All angles, and patterns and overly complex order, with a poetic sense of place. The project was completely uninhabitable, but striking. The final crit. … Read More