Last weekend we had the rare opportunity to visit one of only 3 Frank Lloyd Wright houses here in Washington State. Recently touted as one of Seattle’s 10 Greatest Homes, the Tracy House is a mid-century gem located in Normandy Park (approximately 30 minutes south of Seattle), and it also has the distinct honor of being listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The house was designed and built for William and Elizabeth Tracy from 1954 to 1955, and they were the sole owners until Elizabeth’s passing a couple years ago. We were extremely honored to see such an exceptional piece of architecture and want to extend our thanks to the organizer, tour guide, and Wright aficionado, Larry Woodin.
This edition of OtR is overflowing with incredible design, designers, and design events. No better way to kick off a new year than with some highly inspired activity brewing within the creative community. Let us know what’s been grabbing your attention and spinning your wheels these days in the comments section below.
LEARNing
Get familiar with Theaster Gates. Chicago-based artist, designer, cultural change-maker. His time is ripe in Seattle with an ongoing exhibit at the SAM and an upcoming lecture at the University of Washington. [Image Credit: kavigupta.com]
Now that the dust has settled from the frenzy of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and anything in between, here’s the list you’ve been waiting for: A thoughtfully curated collection of gifts for the designers in your life. Our previous post, Gift Guide For The Persnickety Design-Types, demystified some of the design code, and it’s a reference we find ourselves going back to from time to time. This year, we’re taking a fresh look at some local-heavy retailers and design operations out of Seattle, Washington. Some which we’ve only discovered just recently, and are excited to share. We are all for supporting those listed below, but also encourage you to use this list as a springboard to hunt down those local to where you are. And share in the comments below what you find.
1. Accessorizable. An array of sculptural, yet functional, artifacts can be found among the pages of the Japanese shop Futagami. Trivets and bottle openers never looked so good just sitting there. The Good Flock out of Portland creates biodegradable goods and a variety of Apple accessories for the detail- and life-cycle-oriented. Both can also be found at Seattle’s newest design boutique: O B J E C T .
Sheesh -it’s been busy around here. As we’re coming up for air, we figured we’d scribble a few things up on the blog and give you the scoop with what we’ve been up to lately.
Crack open that fall issue of Arcade Journal or go to their website and read our latest Interview with the wonderful Billie Tsien of TWBT Architects in NYC. She’s graceful, insightful and we had a blast speaking with her.
We get a lot of calls here at BUILD from clients who are thinking about buying a piece of real estate and taking on a project. They’re usually pretty serious about a particular house or lot, however, it’s typical that there are a handful of unknowns about the project. The issues may include: placing their program (needs, wants) within that property, the allowable buildable area of a challenging site, easement access to the property, or the practicality of building the desired home within pre-existing neighborhood covenants, to name only a few of the possible issues. They’re all very good concerns and a savvy home buyer knows that an unfavorable code, provision or covenant can be a show stopper.
At the same time, good property is becoming increasingly difficult to find here in the Pacific Northwest, and while a potential homeowner is sorting out the value vs. risk equation, someone else (with more insight or less aversion to risk) may scoop up the property.
So it’s a real conundrum for potential homeowners who don’t have a good system for assessing the value vs. risk equation. We’ve worked with enough clients now on this very scenario that we think it’s a good time to document the BUILD strategy for securing property while limiting risk. This system applies to mid-century remodels, new homes on existing foundations, new homes on fully-demolished structures and new homes on blank lots.
We’re pleased to announce that team BUILD has pulled off our second annual charity bicycle ride: a 2-day, 187-mile jaunt from Seattle to Vancouver, BC now officially christened as the S2V Invitational. We ask our friends, colleagues, and progressive business owners to ride or just sponsor, and we’re delighted to send the not-insignificant proceeds to *social* profits doing important work.
Participants (top row L to R): Kevin Eckert, Ryan Linton,Josiah Johnson, Donald Summers, Albert Shum, Bill Reilly, Steve Oliver, Mike Mackie, Greg Plaunt, Aaron Pambianco, Scott Bleistein, Chris Patano
(bottom row L to R): Derek Birnie and Jorji Knickrehm of Washington C.A.S.H., Bill Wiegand, Bart Gibson, Duff Bangs (not pictured): coach, driver: Gary Plaunt
It’s a big day here at the BUILD World Headquarters and we’ve got some exciting news to share. Several months ago we collaborated with the talented folks over at FRANK on a documentary short film based on the work of BUILD LLC and our design inspirations. Today we’re happy to announce that the film is complete and available for your viewing pleasure. The footage dives into some of our favorite projects, allows us to speak about our design philosophy, and gives a peek at some projects that powerfully influence us. Pull up a seat and check it out here:
We’re big fans of the dynamic nature of architecture and the film does a wonderful job of capturing the movement, light and tactile qualities of design. We had a blast working with Brandon, Kevin and Melissa on the filming and we’re honored to be the focus of their hard work and expertise. We want to extend a huge thanks to our friends at Parallels for taking an interest and funding the film. It’s just extraordinary to see individuals and groups come together, get involved, and create a cultural piece like this. We’re flattered to have a role and hats off to the hard working people that made it happen.
We’ve been swamped with great work and interesting activities lately- more so than at any point in our previous 12 years; so we figured it was a good time for the team to take a moment and share the scoop.
On the travel front, we just returned from New York City where we attended the Chase JarvisDasein show at the Ace Hotel –an energetic photography exhibit that focused on the raw human existence of “being there”. Over 15,000 snapshots (submitted by all types of folks from all kinds of places) created a thread of understanding and interpretation of the world. A super cool show with a heck of a wrap-up party. Big thanks to Chase and his crew.
Over the years we’ve experimented with many different types of countertops covering a range of materials, manufacturers and methods. The countertops that we’re using today are, for the most part, the ones that have proven themselves. We’ve rounded up a bunch of past projects and it’s a good time to share what we know and what we like about countertops. Like anything, take it with a grain of salt – this is just what experience has taught us.
As you may know, the BUILDblog is a huge supporter of Shelterbox. About a year ago we took a thorough survey of disaster relief organizations and Shelterbox was by far the most sensible, innovative and strategic of the groups out there. When we donate resources, organize fundraising events or participate in events, we know that it results in direct benefits to the victims on the ground with Shelterbox. We just can’t give enough props to this extraordinary organization.
The news from Japan has been horrendous and alarming. The volume of pictures, videos and coverage continues to be incredibly informative; at the same time this inundation of media brings about a feeling of powerlessness. It hits home all the more here in the Pacific Northwest, where many of the same natural variables exist. We’re directing our money and our time at this concern and we’ve got a few important items to post today, should you choose to join us at chipping in and helping out some people in serious need.
We get a lot of calls here at BUILD from clients who are thinking about buying a piece of real estate and taking on a project. They’re usually pretty serious about a particular house or lot, however, it’s typical that there are a handful of unknowns about the project. The issues may include: placing their program (needs, wants) within that property, the allowable buildable area of a challenging site, easement access to the property, or the practicality of building the desired home within pre-existing neighborhood covenants, to name only a few of the possible issues. They’re all very good concerns and a savvy home buyer knows that an unfavorable code, provision or covenant can be a show stopper.
