Tag Archives: Architecture

5 Things I Loved This Week

20 Jun

La Cabane Perchée

These guys build luxury tree houses all over Europe… You have no idea how badly I would like to invite someone to spend a weekend at my treehouse outside Geneva.

All different, all hidden among the branches, built without driving any nails into the trees, without wounding them, respecting of their shape and integrity, striving for harmony between the tree-house and the host tree.

BetaCup Winner Announced

I love that the winner of the contest was not only not a cup, but also a remarkably simple solution. I think there are two lessons here:

  1. Sometimes you need to take a step back from the product and look at the user’s motivations, behaviours and the ecosystem surrounding them.
  2. Strive for simplicity. Technology can be a distraction.

Nokia Bicycle Charger Kit

This kit starts charging your phone when you are cycling at 6kn/h or faster and at 12km/h will charge your phone at the same speed as a plug-in adapter. I don’t know what the unit price is on this guy, but I could see them gaining widespread adoption in places like Pignon, where bicycles are pretty common, but outlets to charge cell phones and the energy supply to those outlets are at a premium.

Fontstaches

Something to consider whenever I decide to shave this beard… I wish I could grow a Mr. Jeanne Moderno OT.

desigNYC

desigNYC’s mission is to improve live in NYC by connecting nonprofits, community groups and city agencies serving the public good with passionate, professional pro bono designers. In January, we launched our first 12 pilot projects, and this summer we’re celebrating their progress and impact with an exhibit hosted by Pratt Manhattan Gallery.

I Love… Umbau School of Architecture’s Manifesto

21 Dec

I think everybody could benefit from considering the first few paragraphs (I was tempted to say stanzas, but it’s not a poem).

Stop doing what is comfortable.

Contrast is good.
When broad, go narrow. When tall, go low.
When wide, go tight. When bright, go dark.
When certain, get lost. When obscure, go clear.
Too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

Always look at the work on your desk from varying distances.
Every distance tells you something different.

Contrast is to architecture as dance is to a dervish.

Always honour the context.
Go first with camouflage.
Then illusion.
Then interpretation.

Always listen.

You can find the rest here.