favorite # 634

It’s all in the details inside this bare-bones auditorium. Minimal wall sconces set on white walls allow the colored fabric on the seats to sing – and create a brilliant optical illusion (can you see it?!). And while I cannot imagine the budget was blown ordering multi-hued upholstered seats, the result is majorly impressive and must be a hoot for the presenter!

Reception / Lobby. studioTECHNE Architects

Although not a performing arts project, per se, a recent studioTECHNE Architects project for MediaVision at Case Western Reserve University, above + below, used the bold bright colors that appear on television screens during system tests to inform the paint, carpet and counter-top colors when creating these vibrant offices, conference rooms, a kitchen and a recording studios inside a warehouse space on campus.

Staff Kitchen. studioTECHNE Architects

The result is certainly eye-catching and dramatic and cost just pennies more (or in some cases, there was no upcharge) to specify, for example, yellow laminate cabinets versus standard beige, as seen in the kitchen, above.

Show like HGTV’s “Design on a Dime” have been demonstrating money-saving techniques that pack a punch in residential design for years. Now, it’s easy to see that commercial and institutional designers can still achieve greatness without blowing the client’s budget!

  Left: The approach. Right: A recording room. studioTECHNE Architects

ART, art thou responsible?

  Social Awareness Art speak volumes. However, art that takes on fragile societal topics can be tricky to navigate: if you’re too controversial you could lose part of your audience who disagrees or feels targeted by your work’s shock value. On the other hand, if you’re too timid, the message is lost.

I believe Anna Utopia Giordano hit the bullseye with her collection Pop Bottles. In her show, bottles with obviously alcoholic shapes, logos and names are converted into baby bottles with rubber nipples. Parts of the branding identity are also changed so  that “Grey Goose” is replaced by “Hello Kitty” and “Jack Daniels” by “Fisher Price”. The simple. but powerful statement, “Parents, please, feed your kids responsibly.” accompanies the bottles.

While the initial response to these visuals may be “wow! I want one!”, when understanding the artists’ plea to parents and her desire to raise awareness about alcohol of abuse among teens, by pregnant women, and how far marketers go to attract the attention of young viewers, it’s clear to see that her unwillingness to sell (“The author says: the bottles are NOT for sale, they are part of an art exhibition.“) is rooted in her deep belief that art can not only raise awareness but encourage viewers to take action.

So if after viewing her collection you’re so inclined to pop a bottle out of the hand of a youngster near you, check this chart first, because in much of the world, teenage drinking is legal at 16, or from birth, if you’re in Vietnam, Jamaica or Togo! For more information on abuse, visit www.niaaa.nih.gov/

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Special thanks to the lovely Bizhou Wang for posting this to her gchat status.

kick the box

You know when you’re in the produce aisle at your grocer and you spot a sign that says “artichokes = six bucks” and you whisper to yourself “Jesus Christ!” and then you see the “organic” tagline and then the price makes sense? Well, what if the non-organic artichokes were actually more expensive and less tasty (and good for you)??? Unreal, right? In an industry that did $26.7 billion in sales in 2010, there is a popular understanding that food of the dirt and only of the dirt is more expensive. The exception, apparently, is wine.

Organic wines sell for cheaper than their synthetic counterparts. Didn’t know that, did you? Me neither, so I’ll forgive you for running out on me to shop your local wine shop before this truth becomes widespread public knowledge.

Magali Delmas, a professor at UCLA’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability, has been studying the effects of eco-labels on California wines since 1999. Delmas has found that when an eco-label—advertising “made from organic grapes,” “certified by California Certified Organic Farmers,” “USDA Organic” or “Demeter-certified”—is applied to these spirits, prices plummet. That’s because “organic” wines come with a stigma: that they suck.

Delmas and researcher Laura Grant published a study on “The Wine Industry Puzzle” [PDF] in Business & Society in 2010. Using a database that included 72 percent of California-produced wines, the authors found that overall, wines produced from vineyards that use organic processes are valued at 13 percent higher than their competitors. But stamping on an eco-label reduced the price by 7 percent below conventional wines and 20 percent below certified, non-labeled wines.

Delmas continued studying the wine industry’s paradox at UCLA, where she ran an experiment with 830 participants from across the nation. The results of that study echoed those from the first: Consumers associate eco-labels on wine with low quality.

Oh, how wrong we’ve been! But, before you swear off over-priced sulfite-added wine, remember, USDA organic wine does not have a long shelf life. While this may be an obvious downside for people with wine cellars, for people who buy to immediately consume, the pros (cheaper! yummier!) still out weigh the cons (must drink NOW!). All in all, a good reason to pass over the Franzia box next you’re trolling the shelves.

Delmas says younger drinkers are more positive and receptive toward organic wines (see my pro and con list, above). But consumers need to be educated before they can care. “It’s almost like the whole industry of organic wine needs a rebranding,” says Campovida’s Beuselinck. “It’s amazing how much time I spend educating people about sustainable, organic, biodynamic. But I like that part—taking them through the process of themselves, the earth, and understanding what they’re eating.”

As read on: Good.com

absolute favorite

If you’ve never had the privilege of catching a re-run of the BBC show “Absolutely Fabulous” I feel absolutely awful for you, bloke!

The kooky half hour sketch revolves around Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone, two middle-aged besties whose glamorous lives in the world of fashion and PR (when they go to the office, that is) is steeped in heavy abuse of champagne, caviar and heroin. Their outlandish behavior is juxtaposed by Edina’s mother – a confused prude of an Englishwoman – and her brilliant, nerdy daughter.

Nothing much happens (think “Seinfeld”), but after the AB FAB opening credits, hilarity always ensues. Actress Jennifer Saunders (Edina) originally wrote the sitcom to be integrated into a comedy sketch show, a la SNL, but the fragments of the show were so successful, AB FAB quickly became it’s own show.

Now that my viewing audience is all caught up on the premise of the show, onto my point. Last night, while flipping through the the Spring 2012 (huge) issue of Harper’s Bizarre I stumbled across this ad from Alexis Bittar. Ah, how I wish we could all dress this way everyday, in 2012! Aren’t they, well, Fabulous?

I happened across this show on a trans-Pacific flight to Asia in 2009 and wished there were more than three episodes in the que for my 16 hour flight! Now that I’ve seen all of the episodes at least once (thanks to the wonderful archives in my local library), I haven’t given much thought to the show, in oh, perhaps six months. After seeing this ad, however, I did a little Googling and discovered that the show will return to the air for it’s 20th anniversary later this year with the first of three specials. Sadly, this is true only if you get BBC One and live in Scotland. Damn.

Not to leave you on a sour note on this day of love, Alexis Bittar has a behind the scene’s look at the shoot with AB FAB stars on her site, and also some lovely Valentine Day e-cards.

Hearts, roses and pink glitter to everyone <3

regrets

“Never regret anything that has happened in your life, it cannot be changed, undone or forgotten so take it as a lesson learned and move on.“
-Unknown

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I try to live my life to the fullest as often as possible, soaking in every opportunity and often placing myself well out of my comfort zone. Pushing myself to the point where a little bit of my gut says “turn around, you’re not brave enough” and reaching out and moving forward despite my fear makes my world spin round.

In accordance with this self-inflicted mantra, I also disregard the notion of regret.

With one exception: after spending six months in Prague in spring of 2008, I knew, with complete certainty that a week after I arrived back in the States that the coolest shop, bunker turned nightclub, or restaurant would suddenly appear on my radar. One week too late.

Well I arrived in New Jersey, was whisked away to Disney World with my family and then instantaneously found myself back at Carnegie Mellon for my last year of architecture school and in that three week blur, I didn’t even have time to upload photos to Facebook, let alone scour the Prague Post for all the things I was missing.

Even whilst preparing my Thesis, about Letna Park and the bunker beneath it, I never found a new place to lust after. And while I often ached to return (and still do), it was for all the places I had seen and loved and wish I could revisit.

Until now. Today. February 13th, 2012, four years to the month I first landed in the land that I love.

Whilst harmlessly scanning my Facebook newsfeed this morning and clicking on a link relating unrelated artists to each other for Valentine’s Day, I stumbled across a rather provocative interactive media sculpture by famed Czech artist David Cerny (video here) and gasped to discover that it’s home is in a gallery called FUTRA in Prague 5. Oh, dear. I visited their website and shed a little tear, for I never ever walked the four blocks behind Andel Mall to this cutting edge, tongue-in-cheek gallery. And it’s killing me.

Deep breath. Add it to the do-list. Deep breath. Next time.

Karibu Kenya!

Reblogged from Nessa in Kenya:

Jambo! =Hello!  Karibu Kenya= Welcome to Kenya. So, it has been quite a while since my last post and for that, I apologize.  After over 27 hours of traveling, I made it to Nairobi last Wednesday.  Suffice to say I was exhausted and totally out of my element so, the first few days were bumpy to say the least.  But, I am definitely now adjusting to life in Nairobi and I had my first day of work today! I am sort of struggling with exactly how personal or professional I want to keep this blog.  I want to …

Oh how I love when friends use WordPress! Here’s another re-blog of what will be a truly amazing accounting of Nessa French’s foray into micro-finance in Nairobi, Kenya. Cheers to her new beginnings in Africa!

and the Oscar goes to… YOU!

Even those of us far removed from the glitz of Hollywood have a right to partake in a night of decadence!

Don’t host or attend this year’s 84th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 26th without these mini-Oscars – a perfect topper for cupcakes, place cards, and so much more!

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PaperPanache by AliThe Architect is pleased to present my newest offering: mini-Oscars for your 84^th Academy Awards party (Watch Live, Sunday February, 26^th @ 7pm on ABC: http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/84/nominees.html)!!!

The Oscar Awards history dates back 80 years when the first statue was given out in 1929. In 1931 the statue earned it’s official name by the Exectuive Secretary of the Academy who thought the 13.5” trophy looked like her Uncle Oscar.

Because none of us are entirely close to nabbing a 24karat gold award of our own at the end of this month, I designed this mini-Oscar in Adobe Illustrator. Each Oscar measures approx. 3” x ½” and is laser cut from either premium 80lb glue-pressed gold glitter cardstock from Kings Crown (ie these little lookers are sturdy and will not wilt!) or cut from 65lb acid and lignin-free black cardstock emblazoned with a gold rhinestone in place of the sword that the actual Oscar holds.

What will you do with these little fellas? The opportunities are endless, but some of my suggestions (photographed above) include pinning them to your guests’ formal wear like a corsage (or a nametag if your gala will be on scale to rival the events in Hollywood!), mount them on table setting place cards, or top off delectable desserts with a touch of glamor (the glitter is not loose and will not flake off!).

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Glitter Oscars are bundled packages of 10 for $6.00/package*

Black Rhinestone Oscars are available @ 10 pieces for $5.00*

*including ship. – if you live in Cleveland = $5.00, $4.00 respectively

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Message me @ ali[dot]alithearchitect[at]gmail[dot]com with your order and address and I’ll message you back my address.

Most orders will ship within 2 business days.

Personal check or cash only.

Thank you for your continual interest in my work! Special orders and custom designs available!

end users

Yesterday one of our most lovely product representatives said the term “end user” to describe our clients. I’ve never loved the phrase ; it feels cold and aloof to me and doesn’t quite describe the client in all cases.

For instance, in a hospital, the Board of Trustees making the plays are not the nurses and patients who will walk the corridors day in and day out. Such is also the case in any urban planning project, where members of a council may never use the bus shelter or public playground they help shape. True end users are the people who will be affected by our design choices, including one member of the public who recently found great reason to bash a new light rail station entrance in Pittsburgh’s downtown.

And he’s right, in some respects.

The project is far from pretty (and pastel, as the author would like it to be).

In fact, the gray, spindly  images from the architecture firm’s website (EDGE studio) are akin to 1st year architecture studio path projects (of which it is hard to find evidence of, for none of us former students use it in portfolios and the project is not part of the curriculum any longer ). Perhaps it’s the half-toned silhouette people, too, that make it less appealing? Or, perhaps it’s the architecture (below).

An excerpt from the letter reads,: This station should never have been built as is, and its existence bespeaks much that is wrong with Downtown planning. It looks much like a mutated millipede. It is plainly ugly. Second, it is made of steel pipes and glass.

Now I ask: Is this city not already sufficiently gray from five months of near-continuous clouds? Are the older buildings not already sufficiently gray from years of industrial soot and grime? Is it wise, then, to build a Downtown of more gray/silver buildings (Gateway Center, Heinz Field and now the Gateway station at Stanwix) to further accentuate these drab and hard, cold, metallic surfaces that already define Pittsburgh? It is time for Pittsburgh to move beyond its industrial, gritty, grungy and grimy past.

So, to those responsible for the current monstrosity on Stanwix, I paraphrase President Reagan in saying, “Mr. Designers: Tear down that station!”

If only architecture could always stir up these emotions, right?

The author has key points: the sky is perpetually gray, many buildings are likewise gray and while the gritty is sometimes romanticized, it really is time to spruce up Downtown. Twisted, muted enclosures are apparently not mean for sprucing. AND on the firm’s website, one of the renders does in fact depict the glazing in a pastel blue (below).

ABOVE: Perhaps the architects should have taken their own images more literally?

In jest, the architecture firm posted a photograph today (top of page) alluding to the demands of this Letter to the Editor in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Amazingly, this Photoshopped render hits on so many good interventions that looking at renders of the actual design leave me wishing this newly posted render wasn’t a joke!

Green grass next to the station to sit upon while waiting for a train or a friend? Love.

Rainbows. Love. (who needs gray skies?)

Happy people. Love.

Plantings. Love.

Color. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Actually, the only thing I have a problem with in this faux-render is the cat, because, well, I strongly dislike cats.

I say kudos to this letter writer whose response to architecture stirred enough nerves in a group of designers to spur an image of what could never be, but, which could be, and happily. It’s “conversations” like this that make me happy to be part of firm so engaged with its public and so involved in organizing charrettes and public meetings.

Power to the people!

walk-ability is key

Just over a week ago I wrote about the suffix “-ability” taking over my vocabulary (read: Dunkability).

And here we go again.

According to this 98 page survey dissecting where Americans want to live in the 21st century (no, not Mars), more than three quarters of us consider having sidewalks and places to take a walk a top priority. I hold this truth to be self-evident (after all I moved ten minutes down the road in order to drive less) and in the monthly community meetings for a school district master-planning project my architecture firm is coordinating, the term “walk-ability” weaves its way into conversation every five minutes. To further comment on the importance of connectivity, 6 in 10 people said they would sacrifice a bigger house (buh-bye McMansions) to live in a neighborhood that featured a mix of houses, stores, and businesses within an easy walk.

This survey was initiated in 2011 by the National Association of Realtors who were in need of updating survey results on the same topic from 2004 (when the housing market was unquestionably more stable).

As GOOD.com so correctly puts it, “For once, our preferences align with our impending reality; in the future, we may not have a choice whether or not to downsize our lifestyles.

Regardless of our financial situation, living in walkable areas is just better for us. There have been numerous studies concluding that suburban and rural lifestyles are actually less healthy than cities, while New York City, the mother of all walking cities, enjoys a record-high life expectancy. Urban planners are already trying to figure out ways to design suburbs that necessitate less driving. Things that are good for us all too often require a bit of sacrifice. But in this case, our ideal and our fate are perfectly in line.”

Read more on GOOD.com.

Photo via (cc) Flickr user Jim Bahn.

Designing my House – Part 1

Reblogged from rmbarch:

I have been starting to do some work with my house in Revit, and I’ve used a screen recorder to help document it. The hilarious results are in a video below.

Take a gander at my friend and fellow Carnegie Mellon Archie grad, Ray’s, new blog and his foray into documenting and designing his new home in Pittsburgh!