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.
GOLD MEDAL CLIENT
A couple weeks ago one of our clients mentioned that he had just returned a book to the library about how to work with an architect. It blew us away! He gets it. And then yesterday amidst light conversation a friend innocently asked, "What does an architect do?" I smiled.
Through these couple of conversations there's been a bit of a revival in me to educate people what we do as architects and with clients how can we have the greatest possible relationship. Whether it's working with your architect, contractor or dentist... the relationship matters. How we relate, understand and communicate can propel our project further than anyone could have imagined. So, we found some articles that others have written and each have their own positive spin on working with us (architects):
On the official, serious side of the discussion is the AIA's (our professional organization) website How Design Works For You. And you can specifically check out the section Working With An AIA Architect (you have 2 here at ITZEN).
Bob Borson's eloquent wit is fantastic to read. This article is focused on The Architect's Ego.
houzz is such a great resource to residential architecture. In their article on How to Work With an Architect you get simple points to focus on.
Dwell's bold magazine you've probably seen on your friend's coffee table... and well, yes they to answer Five Questions about Working With Architects
And just so we reach beyond the architecture world, US News focused really well on How to Talk with an Architect
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...
GREEN, GREEN HOMES
The Orange County Great Park is the host to a Net-Zero home, that of which will be arriving not soon enough via the year 2020. AIAOC organized a visit today to learn a few things about universal design, some success stories and what to do next time for a Net-Zero home. John Morton Of SCE taught us all a few things with his open book attitude on the design and construction of the house.
Speaking of open, forget the cameras (especially camera 4), but every 10 seconds this house is logging data about everything from plug loads to water usage to kW coming in from the solar panels. Awesome. If we can't track it, we're not going to learn!
A few of my highlights...
1. I'd gladly donate the undersink area to save 600 gallons of potable water a year.
2. 3d diagrams. Can't get enough of them. Everything just makes sense.
3. Harvesting the sun, yes. Pull it up on an iPad and there are smiles all around.
John had a great line today about water usage. About 19% of energy in California is used for water. Transporting, heating, cooling, purification... So, reducing water usage is also reducing energy usage. And I like those two things. (disclaimer: facts and figures not verified, nor do they need to be. the principal is the same)
Last lesson of the day: Make it legitimate, give it a plaque.
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)
ANALOG / GRAVIS CREATIVE HEADQUARTERS
Burton's west coast brands Analog Clothing and Gravis Footwear moved into their new design headquarters in early 2012. A 10,000 sf warehouse space located in Costa Mesa was designed to function as their day to day creative studio, warehouse and office space.
One of the key factors for their new space was creating an environment which supported the creative endeavors of their brand through art, music, skating, and printing making. Among some of the more direct functional uses of the adaptable spaces were hosting new product launches, art shows for their sponsored riders and facilitating fun.
Our design team employed the concept of free standing office ‘pods’ while preserving the open volume of the original warehouse. Wrapped in raw plywood, these clearly defined spaces give the opportunity for each department’s individual culture to be expressed (seen above sans ALL the artwork) while visually maintaining the overall sense of the Analog/Gravis culture.
Remaining facts include: private office spaces, exposed wood grid ceiling, a central conference room and a flex lounge space adjacent to the conference room working as post meeting and pre-function space, which opens to the outdoors through the original sliding/pivot garage door.
Project: Analog/Gravis Creative Headquarters
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Size: 10,000 sq. ft.
Photography: Daniel Han
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.