[Image Source: Pacific Standard Time]
Last month, SPD took their show on the road to participate in the annual KBIS event, held in Chicago. The shop pumped out several stellar cabinet pieces to showcase, and it was a fantastic opportunity to get these out for public viewing. The dust may have settled from the road trip, but we’ve been thinking a lot about the artistry and craftsmanship of woodwork, and found ourselves with a desire to continue along this trajectory. So we came up with a list of a few impressive woodworkers to highlight for today’s post, and unsurprisingly, there’s a healthy representation of architectural training in the mix. Read more »
The design and construction process is lengthy and demanding; every step of the way has its own set of challenges and goals. And while a typical schedule is filled with time-sensitive and carefully sequenced events, there is one event that might be the most important of them all. Nope, it’s not making sure to schedule the framing inspection prior to insulating (although that’s an important one). Nor is it making sure that the electrician runs their in-floor conduits prior to pouring that exposed concrete slab (also important). Nope, it doesn’t have anything to do with permits or power tools. One of the most important events on our schedule is—wait for it—throwing a party. Yup, a good old party. Rounding everyone up and sharing some good food, drink, and conversation doesn’t just make for an enjoyable evening, though. A well-timed party has many important purposes. Here’s our top 10:
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You’d think with the amount of time we architects spend in school, all the esoteric titles on our book-shelves, and the cryptic language we use amongst one another at dinner parties that the keys to understanding modernism would be complicated, scholarly and difficult to comprehend. You’d be led to believe that the fruits of modern design are only achieved after years of study and monastic-like internships; the culmination of having actually read all of those books on our shelves. It’s what many of us architects would like you to believe. These diversions do a good job of justifying why we write “manifestos” that nobody understands and they validate why we need to take out a second mortgage to afford all of those linen hardcover books.
But the fact of the matter is that good modern design can be boiled down to a handful of basic principles; principles that you don’t need a Ph.D. in architecture to understand. Today’s post is an explanation of five simple codes of modernism. Over the years, we’ve found that these 5 are present in almost every good example of modernism and they matter more than all of the obscure styles, trends and fashions put together. Granted, good modern design requires more than just these principles, but these 5 will get you most of the way there.
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[Image Credit: Everywhere Magazine]
Spring may have technically arrived, as evident from the numbers on the calendar and the mind-games the sun’s been playing with us Seattleites the past month, however, we know better. The sustained days of blue skies and warm temps are still a ways off, which is why it’s the perfect time to get some serious warm-weather traveling on the books. The next trip in our queue is to the mid-century time capsule of Palm Springs. It’s a place thick with icons of California MCMs as well as a contemporary layer of modernism (and kitsch), making it an enjoyable spot for the design-minded traveler in search of some sun. We’ve compiled some spots worth checking out, and if you’ve got any recommendations that belong on TML, shoot ‘em our way via the comments section.
[Image Credit: New York Times]
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Spring has finally arrived (more or less) here in the Pacific Northwest! After another long, gray winter, the longer days, sunshine and blue skies usher forth a notable difference in our lifestyles. Naturally, we spend much more time outside and have a chance to put all of those “outdoor rooms” to use on a regular basis. Along with opening up all the doors, inhabiting the decks, and throwing late night outdoor dinner parties comes a bit of preparation. Today’s post is a quick Spring Cleaning and Home Maintenance to do list. Not only will it properly prepare your dwelling—whatever the shape or size—for the season, but taking good care of your home is one of the most sustainable things you can do for the built environment. Check these items off as soon as you can (all doable in a weekend, by the way) and get on with enjoying your summer days.
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[Image Source: Curated Magazine]
As architects, we’re always thinking about and talking about the built environment. However, we also have pretty strong opinions about the objects which will be housed in the environments we build and inhabit. And it’s no secret at this point that we’ve been trained to appreciate—and rattle off on command—the iconic pieces of mid-century furnishings that have become fixtures in the collective mind of the modernist. However, individual tastes can tell a much more nuanced story. So along the lines of our Favorite Houses post a few weeks back, we decided to delve into the individual opinions here at BUILD. This time, with furnishings. What we own, what we want to own, and what we think we should want to own. Mid-century and beyond. It’s all covered here. Read more »
[All photos by BUILD llc]
With construction humming along on our mid-century remodel in Des Moines (the one south of Seattle), we figured it was a good time to take a look at some key techniques implemented on this project which have produced increasing returns and could be incorporated into future MCM projects.
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BUILD is gearing up to speak at the AIA Billings annual Meeting in the Mountains Conference next week, and it looks like we’ll be in good company. The firms joining the stage for the main event include Luis Ibarra and Teresa Rosano of Ibarra Rosano Design Architects out of Tuscon and Randy Brown of Randy Brown Architects based in Omaha. We’ve enjoyed reading up on the work of these firms. They’re making a marked modern impact in their respective regions; maneuvering within the grains of context and creating their own opportunities when none might otherwise exist. If you haven’t already gotten wind of these practices, consider this your introduction. And if you plan on attending the conference, we’ll see you there. Read more »
In a little over a week, BUILD will be adding more miles to the travel log, this time by way of our cabinet shop, Special Projects Division. On April 24-26, the world of kitchen and bath design will descend upon the Windy City for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show. It’ll be our first appearance at KBIS as an exhibitor, and we’re pretty excited about it. Reputed to be the world’s largest international tradeshow event dedicated to its industry, this year’s event has a roster of 500+ exhibitors and an expected 20,000-some attendees. That’s a lot of eyeballs. Read more »
[Image Source: Fubiz]
In the day to day of doing good work and staying on task, it can be a challenge to stay inspired. Taking a moment to pause and reflect on wisdom from the trenches expressed by like-minded creatives—from the design world and beyond—can be just the mini-jolt we need to tackle what’s in front of us. Below is a shortlist of quotes we’ve culled from our Twitter #quotes series. Take a read, enjoy, and stay inspired.
“Don’t fight forces, use them.”
Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983), Systems Theorist/Architect/Engineer/Author/Inventor
[Image Source: Thomebeau.blogspot.com] Read more »
