KANSAS CITY... 2

Enjoying the company of a friend and colleague the other night, I was raving about a trip we made to Kansas City a couple years back.  3 things summed it up: Rock Chalk Jayhawk (college basketball at it's finest), Bob's Bar (unlisted establishment) and Guy & Mae's (pork ribs).  And afterwards, I realized that I never documented Part 2 of our trip to Kansas City from this past year (unrelated to the above trip/story).  

For me, the architectural education and inspiration imparted on me while traveling is the intangible I am always seeking after.  It involves the people, the weather, the history and food of the place.  All of it has valuable implications on the architecture that we'll see if I can effectively communicate! 

There's so much here in these two buildings.  The aesthetics of post construction demolition, all of a sudden you have a never seen before facade for the Peck's (or Beck's) labeled building. How about the idea of construction cost savings that is intrinsic to density?  One less face to worry about!
And how about the grounding of a building.  Planting it's stake in the ground using big, bold stone and transitioning into smaller scale levels of detail as you rise in elevation.  
And double hung windows are just great.  

Cold and warm materials balanced with some playful color.  Done.
There's a drip edge underneath the concrete beam that we just don't always think about here in Southern California.  The fact that it's hard to see in this photo is a testament to the great detailing and execution.

Sky bridge, sky loft... just don't fill the void.

On Weathering.  
I bet you thought I was going to comment on the fantastically designed and fabricated street sign/security screen.

I pondered the concept of public space after I passed both of these plazas on my walk.  Although both are empty, it was easy to know which one actually gets inhabited by people and which one hasn't seen a person in awhile.  What if both outcomes were the goal?  I don't know.

And to top it all off, Quay Coffee was the perfect office while in Kansas City.  The very polite folks there make an excellent cappuccino and have created a great atmosphere to enjoy (and work in).   

Upon further review, I realized that my first post about Kansas City was lost in the transfer to our latest web platform.  (tears wiped away... ) but GO HERE for my best attempt at re-creating Part 1 in all its enthusiasm.

FROM PEN PAL TO THE PLAYGROUND

A few of us here at the office have pen pals in Ms. Anderson's 4th grade class at Rea Elementary in Costa Mesa, CA.  And while telling one pen pal about life as an architect is cool, why not use our tie to the classroom and start the next generation on a little architectural education!   

So last week Jana spent a morning teaching the young and eager minds about architects, architecture, measuring and then even giving them a design project of their own.  She went bold and started off by asking the question, "What is an architect?".  Then transitioning to much simpler topics like taking measurements and math, but not before talking about some of the other skill sets an architect might employ...that of a scientist, designer, researcher, artist, and problem solver.

And then she went analog... pulling out her triangle and scale.

While it may appear that Jana is complimenting the student on his choice of shoe style and color, this is actually where measurements went practical.  She taught them about measuring their own foot and then using that as a unit of measure.  Never done that yourself?  Well, there you go... have fun.

And, that's how we get to the playground.  After spending time talking about measurements, some simple math and planning, Jana took them outside to talk about a playground.  (And yes, this is Southern California in the Winter)  

We'll see what the students come up with for their playground.  Jana went easy on Ms. Anderson and didn't give them a deadline.  Well, back to that pen pal letter...

photos: Ms. Anderson

10 YR EVENT...

We experienced Disneyland like never before a few Tuesday nights ago.  An empty Main Street!  

I've yet to decide if I learn more through architectural photographs with our without people.  On one hand people can be a distraction from viewing the well thought out details and superb craftsmanship.  But on the other, you get the opportunity to observe the human experience.  Can I just get both please?

And photographs are one thing, but how about the real life, in living color, experience?  Having BOTH can be just as rare of an opportunity.

Well, not this time.  With a big thanks to our amigos Bobby and Ben for providing the other half of the Disney phenomenology education.  And if we didn't have friends to see, I think I could have just parked myself on a Main Street bench and observed the details all night long...  

or at least until 2am.

footnotes : Some may be wondering why an architect is telling this snippet of a story that's main subjects are a clothing company and a party at Disneyland.  Inspiration.  Cross pollination and passion are integral to the creative process at ITZEN.  It's about what is observed beyond the obvious.  

ON MDC EVE...

In preperation of the AIA's Monterey Design Conference up here on the coast of California, I listened to an interview with Kanye West. He recently caught the ear of ARCHITECT magazine via BBC Radio. And now, he caught my ear. For me, it was the type of interview, discussion, or at times monologue that challenges your brain. How you think about things. Not comfortable with everything being said kind of experience. I loved it.

And just to see if I can entice you to listen (or at least watch the 15min video excerpt), here are some of my favorite, most challenging lines out of Kanye:

I know how to make perfect. But that's not what i'm here to do. I'm here to crack the pavement...

I hang out mostly with architects.

(in regards to his latest album, Yeezus) …not having to speak with the textures of the time.

and perhaps the cleanest, most concise item...I WANT THE DOPENESS.

THE LINK TO ARCHITECT'S COVERAGE AND PART 1 VIDEO

THE LINK STRAIGHT TO THE BBC RADIO INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE

Oh, and how did this prepare me you may still be wondering? Well I plan on similar mental stimulation all weekend by the likes of KENGO KUMA, HON. FAIA, MARCIO KOGAN, HON. FAIA, FUTURE CITIES LAB, FREELANDBUCK and of course THOM MAYNE, FAIA. So, I needed to shock my system.

AIAOC ART WALK 2013

Art inspires us more than we can probably fully articulate here at ITZEN. Some even say as architects we create art (but we'll save that philosophical question for later). We love museums, galleries, our artist friends and all the creations they make. And from time to time, we even make some art ourselves.

That's why we wanted to share this with you. The AIAOC chapter is having their annual ART WALK this Friday evening and I entered a piece in the event. It's simple. A mixed media, repurposed IGU (piece of glass) that I used as the canvas to abstract an architectural inspiration. I used etching paste, KRINK paint markers and a Sharpie.

Hope to see you Friday...

KANSAS CITY!

Jana continues to  join our colleagues in making a difference through our profession (AIACC, AIA national, AEP, YAF... I'm sure there are acronyms I'm forgetting), and this time it takes us to Kansas City to join the other large states of this great country in sharing, planning and learning from each other.

However my sharing, planning and learning takes another form as I get to know and explore the city a bit more as I've only been here once before.  

With natural, modern design tendencies... it's always a treat to stay in the midst of other creative, well executed visions.  To experience the elevators at Hotel Phillips alone was a treat.

Just a bird on a window.

This wall of art had a great local story, it is a part of city walking tour of public art installations.  To fully experience the colors you have to break off the sidewalk traffic and walk down the alley a bit. 

The City Market and Carollo's.  I scored a truly authentic italian sandwich amidst their large containers of various olives. 

Just a bit of moving art on the side wall of a parking structure.  Why not, right?

Peep this Eames.

And perhaps the biggest artistic surprise and delight were the taxidermy peacocks.  Thank you  Petah Coyne for your Untitled #1336.  Stunning.  The experience cannot be communicated through photograph, but although the birds are stunningly full of color I believe this high contrast image does a pretty good job of conveying the initial feel I had of walking into the space.  The rest of the experience is for you to find.

BOUND TO KNOW

Designed to skate or not?

Trained as an adolescent to look for anything and everything I could skate, I cannot help but still see the built world in this way.

Whether in a skate video or just down at the high school, there are standard skate-able elements (curbs, ledges, stairs) and there are extraordinary elements of opportunity (China Banks, Brooklyn Banks, Pier 7).  As an architect I now tend to look at those extraordinary spots with a new intrigue.  Did the architect know how amazing it would be to skate that while in design?  Did the client know?  With the current wholesale distribution of skate stoppers out there, you would think no and yes.  But...

in the end, all I know is how much fun it is to have these serendipitous moments still come along.

(location above to remain undisclosed, it would ruin the serendipity for you)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

The close of one year and the start of a new one affords us a moment of reflection over past milestones and anticipation for what is coming. And just a few days into the new year, we started with a new milestone in the life of ITZEN - our first feature in a magazine publication. In the January issue of MODERN LUXURY's Riviera Magazine, I have the honor of being recognized as a part of their 'Best of O.C. 2013!'

Chatting with freelance writer Jocelyn Stewart for the article was a delight.  It was great to share with her some of the principles which shape ITZEN - like client interaction and collaboration.  

The photoshoot took place in the creative headquarters of Analog Clothing and Gravis Footwear with Ethan Pines. To read more details regarding the space, see our previous post.  And a special thanks goes out to Sabrina Failler for allowing us to 'work' in their creative office space for the day - what a treat!

Holly Alexander (hair) and Tanya Rae (makeup) made me feel like a million bucks for the day. I mean, who doesn't love traveling with an entourage!?!

We are looking forward to ALL this new year holds - for us here at ITZEN and for you, in your home and business. Wishing you a blessed and prosperous year in 2013!

Check out the digital publication or pick up a print copy around town.