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1-31-09: New sustainable furniture designs
I put together this graphic last night with the intent of conveying the spirit of sustainability that has inspired much of my recent design development, not only in furniture, but also architecturally. I intend to put together a similar layout soon that highlights architecture specifically. This will cover Jim and Madeline's home near Fredericksburg, which is a super-efficient combo of ICF foundation, Icynene insulated wall framing, and curved Structural Insulated Panel (EPS) roof. They are both looking forward to late February, when they can begin opening up both ends of the living room, cranking open the upper awning windows and flipping the circuit breaker to the AC unit off...ahh passive cooling. All windows and overhangs are designed to minimize interior solar gain in summer and maximize in winter.
A really cool footnote:
With some hard work Madeline may have Breaux-arts, Sierra Homes, and her family in Dwell magazine before too long...we are all pretty excited! She has me thinking about Texas Architect...here are a few more shots (thanks to Jim and Madeline for the construction photos - including the thumbnail on my homepage!).
1-13-09: Design Process
A preliminary render of the 'stingray' coffee table
A crocheted hyperbolic plane by Dr. Diana Taimina -image courtesy of
www.theiff.org
I want to talk a bit about design process today. What is this magical, mystical concept of design process that seems so unattainable as a fledgling architecture student? Seriously, the angst I felt over the obvious fact that I was more or less fumbling my way through most of my first two years studying architecture was ridiculous. I asked a few trusted professors about process repeatedly, and got some relatively unsatisfactory answers. I have to admit that as a fairly hormonal, overworked, and newly liberated male freshman some of the subtleties of what they said may have been lost on me.
It may be that each of us must go through some version of this casting about, looking for a method and slowly assimilating a set of skills, ideas, occupational and cultural habits that eventually we realize has always been the ongoing design process. It is really a beautiful synergy to be a part of as a designer. In the long-run an abiding satisfaction in working each idea or theme through the process is the fuel to inspiration's spark. Perhaps an equally rewarding facet of 'finding oneself' in the process is that the experience and understanding of other's work is greatly enhanced.
The underside of the stingray coffee table
Photos from a recent trip to Grand Cayman
A beautiful shot by my brother-in-law
So I want to make several points about design process here, the first of which is that it is gratifying enough to keep generations of designers coming back for more, truly. But there is this whole elusive side to it. It seems to defy our need to define and pin it down (or up) as we begin to learn it. I mean WHAT THE HECK IS DESIGN PROCESS ANYWAY?
This leads me to the second goal I have in writing this: to demystify some of the more concrete things about learning the process, and to point in the general direction of the real mysteries (which may be all that can be done without citing some poetry). To clarify, there are some very real and important things a new designer can do to improve their skills and ability to work with the problems of design, there are some nearly ineffable things that one must experience, lose, make part of one's life, gain, plan for, fail at, etc. etc., and all these take time.
To break down this second point (call this pt. 2a) I am going to give my reflections on skills development and 'idea farming' for what they are worth. I say this not in the negative, but to emphasize the point that each of us must not flee from making our own judgements on what matters if we are to be called designers. Here we go, on skills development: the MOST IMPORTANT THING IS YOUR ATTITUDE! No joke, I wish someone would have told me this firmly. What this means is that first a designer wants to learn and second a designer respects the opportunity and challenge that each experience provides to grow abilities. Get out and do it, experience the world, its people, arts, culture, don't ever regret it.
12-15-08: As the year comes to an end, I think it is a good idea to take a look back at the progress Kristin and I have made in restoring (and adapting) the home that Charles and Mamie Bosshardt built in 1906. We've gone from fun house floors and an interior rain water collection system - better described as 'attic tea collection'- to a home we can truly be proud of. We have learned a great deal about working on vintage houses along the way. My intention is to turn this into a tutorial that covers some of the trickier or more design-related questions and solutions we came across.
Lets begin with a comparison of two rear facade images taken about 10 months apart. The more recent is from mid-summer and doesn't reflect many recent changes. I'll update with a third image soon when the koi pond is finished. See any difference? This is the kind of thing that keeps us going (through the cold winter...).
Next addition will be a tutorial on casting deep-relief architectural ornament using a flexible polyurethane mold. The example we will be using is a nearly destroyed Corinthian column capital from our front porch that I rebuilt and cast. Stay tuned...
12-7-08:
I had the chance to photograph a reading lamp and drink stand (built about 11 years ago) while visiting family for Thanksgiving. The lampshade (not pictured) was to be hammered repousse-style from copper in a leaf shape that would use the upward arc of the body as it's stem.
I didn't have the facilities to manufacture the shade and diffuser at the time, and sometime in the ensuing 4 years (without a shop) my dad commandeered the lamp and rather expertly fitted a shade from a flexy desk lamp on it. I am pleased that he is happy and had the opportunity to take part in personalizing his lamp, but you won't see that shade in any photos!
12-6-08: Our main page is redesigned in a (semi) tableless layout using divs, and is behaving now...time to get down to making that picture gallery to the right work. In the meanwhile, here is a picture of a 'floating' bathroom vanity I recently finished for our master bath. The exposed parts of the hinges need to be enameled to match the woodwork, and the rest of the bath is still in progress, but of course we are using it already...
Materials are poplar, plywood, and brown marble tile. I sprayed a brown dye (hvlp) and then 5 coats of lacquer for the finish, and I'm really pleased at how this finish turns a low-grade hardwood like poplar into something beautiful (not to mention saving us a ton of money. The basin was $20 at a garage sale (thank you Kristin) and we bought the PF faucet about four years ago for another project that didn't go. Total cost: approx. $280 plus 15-20 hrs. labor. SWEET!
12-1-08: I want to thank all of my students at DATA from last year. You guys and gals were a constant source of inspiration that continues to this day. I look forward to seeing you take over the world while simultaneously developing cranial MP3 player implants (Reyna!). In the meanwhile, study hard, be nice to the ETA people, and don't forget your community service hours. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday break!
Breaux-Arts work on display at the show: a Greene brothers inspired dining table in black cherry with ebony details. It may seem deceptively simple, but this is a huge project with over 42 individual parts or elements. We are enjoying having it out of the workshop and on display!
The Bosshardt House vacation cottage is now open for booking. Check www.sacottage.com or www.vrbo.com/200003 for details on this beautiful and private vacation rental. The cottage is a fully revitalized 1906 Queen Anne we have lovingly rebuilt over the past three years. It is richly appointed with hand-crafted Breaux-Arts furniture and premium appliances. We are ideally located in the historic King William district less than a mile from the riverwalk here in San Antonio. Come see us!
