DESIGN DAD

Architortured...

Gorgeous little cabin project called Knapphullet designed by Lund Hagem.

Their work is consistently well sited, formally interesting, and full of beautiful materials and details.

I've been super impressed by Irving Smith Jack Architects after coming across one of their projects earlier this month; offSET Shed House, I quickly looked up more of their work. offSET Shed House has a floor plan that responds well to both life and the environment; the house opens to the south coast and invites one outside in the warm summer months, controlling the amount of solar exposure through external shades, but then enables an internalisation in the winter, providing shelter from the southern exposure by the offset form, and opening up to the precious northern light. I love the materiality both inside and out, it appears to be built to last through harsh elements, but not at the expense of either beauty or comfort in any way.

offSET Shed House - Irving Smith Jack Architects

2. Design:

Ferrolic

A Ferric Clock designed by Zelf Coleman, quite possibly the coolest clock I’ve seen. Using embedded electromagnets, it controls the displays ferrofluid to show the time. The ferrofluid is a black liquid that is made up of suspended magnetic particles that respond to the electromagnets, and they look like little swimming organisms. So cool.

3. / 4. Art / Music:

Rolling Art and Music into one, I came across this great track by Movement called 5.57. Loved it. So, as one should always do when they find something they love, I looked a little deeper. I was rewarded when I found this wicked video by Kevin Millet that explores fruit picking in the Okanagan Valley. I found it fascinating, beautiful portraits of some very interesting people, an overall exceptionally video. Not to mention its one of my favourite parts of BC.

S W E E T C H E R R Y from Kevin Millet on Vimeo.

5. DesignDad:

"Facet Deer" is a painting I recently finished up, the first I've completed in a line of study I’m working on called Fascinating Animals, using acrylics on 36” x 36” canvas. It seems that as soon as it was completed, it was off to a new home (some paintings are harder to release than others), but I'm happy in knowing it has a great new family, and a nice wall to rest on.

"Facet Deer", Acrylic on Canvas, 36"x36", by Jay Meyer

September 5

1. Architecture:

Loving the design aesthetic of Herbst architects, practicing in Auckland, New Zealand. About a year ago I came across their Under Pohutukawa house, and it definitely caught my eye. Since then they have completed a bunch of gorgeous works, including the Castle Rock house. It brings together all the elements that I love in architecture, beautiful use of natural materials, innovative yet refined details, well proportioned and comfortable spaces, and interesting, but not complicated, massing.

Castle Rock House - Herbst Architects

2. Design:

Hanging Outdoor Lounge Kodama Zome. Who wouldn’t want to waste a day reading in the beautiful geode hanging in the yard. I would. It reminds me of a (much loved) Dedon Nestrest, but with a Buckminster Fuller styled spin. Love it.

Kodama Zome

Dedon Nestrest

3. Art:

I found this incredible artist profile short and had to share. The film itself is a well crafted work of art, reinforcing the emotional impact of the subject throughout, and the subject matter is pure, raw, poetry. It captures the beautiful truth of a human condition. Well done.

Beth Cavener - Sculptor from Bas Berkhout on Vimeo.

4. Music:

Beautiful brooding and emotional song: London Thunder by Foals, a nice slow burner. Enjoy

5. DesignDad:

I was happy to lend a few brush strokes to the very worthy cause of “Architecture for Kids” - supported by “Art for Kids Trust” the RAIC. Architecture for Kids brings together local architects and K-12 students who, “through hands-on studios, learn more about the power of architecture and the elements that make it an asset to our communities” - RAIC.

The event is an Art by Architects (AxA) Exhibition and Auction - celebrating the artistic talent of emerging and established architects and designers to raise money for the charity. Provided two 10”x10 wood panels and the theme “ArchKIDecture” we were asked to get creative and interpret the theme. An opening reception was held at the AIBC Gallery on September 17, 2015. Artwork will remain on display until November 5, 2015.

"Inspire" 10"x10", Acrylic on Wood Panel, Jay Meyer

"Reach" 10"x10", Acrylic on Wood Panel, Jay Meyer

August Five

1 Architecture:
I was delving into some of my own past lately, researching some of the Architects that I have met or been taught by in the past, and I came across the Tofino House designed by Anthony Robbins. Anthony is a practicing architect, artist, and professor at UBC's School of Architecture whom I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago when I had just moved to Vancouver, after graduating from Dalhousie. It was a pleasure meeting him, and it was apparent to me that he had a strong passion for creating, and the creative process. The Tofino House is a exemplary product of this passion. The house is beautifully sited, has a well developed massing, tight detailing, with sustainable qualities that are built into the house through prefabrication and up-cycling, with a touch of a playful yet sophisticated nature.

2. Design:
I fell in love with the Duna Lounge Chair from Mula Preta Design. When I was in University I played a fair bit with the laser cutter and CNC machines to develop prototypes for furniture and design items. This chair threw me back to those late night sessions in the CNC room at Dalhousie. Mula Preta Design have created a beautiful piece here, equal parts sculpture and comfortable lounge chair, an incredible balance.

3. Art:
I was captivated by these GIF’s of animated street art by A.L. Crego - check out more of his work here.

4. Music:
Anthony and Josephine from Oh Wonder recently released a beautiful new track “Drive”. This is the 12th song from the duo released this year as part of their 1 song/month for a year - more on that here. I look forward to the Album release come September!

5. DesignDad:
Inspired by A.L Crego, I made my own attempt at an animated GIF, using my Monkeymoo and Scruffles characters from one of my pet projects: Night of the Monkeymoo. Part of a fun exploration.

5 for now...

A few things that I've come across lately that peeked my interest:

1. Tower House - an incredibly fun, explorative, and innovative house by Andrew Maynard Architects, in Alphington Australia.

2. An interesting departure from the traditional form of a cabin, Cabin Norderhov is located in Norderhov, Norway - a creative small project by Atelier Oslo.

3. Deptford Goth made another great track; "Feel Real"

4. Here is a really great interview with the partners of my all time favourite architecture firms; Fearon Hay Architects.

5. The latest from our own adventures in home improvements:

We recently purchased a house that was previously suited into two units, and thus had a 2nd kitchen. We are taking over the whole house, as our boys need lots of room to romp and play, and we are slowly turning the second kitchen into a media/tv room. It's been great fun experience so far - tearing out the existing cabinetry, capping the plumbing and electrical, a little framing and drywall, lots of patching, and painting, and now finally about to install some carpet. During the whole process, the room was still used as the TV room, so the boys have seen every stage as we've progressed. I think they will be very happy to get the cozy carpet down, but I have to say they are such happy-go-lucky little creatures that have been intrigued in the entire process without complaint.

Another Happy Fathers Day

I'll admit it; I am lucky.
I have two remarkable little boys who take up massive amounts of my time, massive amounts of my love, and throw it all back at me tenfold.
Being a father is amazing journey, and I get to travel it with these two little monkeys.
The brothers. They are the essence of my heart and soul.

Seriously! What a couple of imps!

Video: The ABC of Architects

Came across this earlier, had to share...

The ABC of Architects from fedelpeye on Vimeo.

M-RAD: Fresh Hills

While I was attending Dalhousie, getting my masters in Architorture, I had a partner in crime with whom I had an spectacular amount of fun; Matthew Rosenberg, founder of the LA based design office M-RAD. Getting into all the kinds of trouble one really should, and some that one shouldn't, we supported each others Scotch habits, and helped each other make it through the late night x-acto blade and super glue marathons that are so prevalent in architecture school. Sadly, our time together was cut short (perhaps for the best), when he moved on to pursue his masters of architecture at SCI-Arc, whereas I stayed on at Dal. Needless to say, we've stayed in touch over the years, and recently I was happily impressed with an outstanding achievement of his, when he received second place in the Fresh Kills Land Art Generator Competition.

His project Fresh Hills for Fresh Kills was not only conceptually strong, but a beautiful, poetic response to the site, and so I felt the need to share it with you.

Inventive: Thread Wrapped Furniture

I came across the video below earlier today. I have seen the furniture by Anton Alvarez , but I had not previously seen the process by which it is made. It is by far one of the most interesting process driven designs I've seen in a while.

With thread and glue replacing standard joints and screws, the process by which the furniture is built is fascinating and uses a custom-made machine designed by Alvarez. Aside from the really cool inventiveness of the machine to wrap the string while adding glue, the aspect that appeals to me is that the process of making this furniture is itself a craft; the craft of thread wrapping, and it's a seemingly new craft at that.

Check it out...

Thread Wrapping Machine by Anton Alvarez from Dezeen on Vimeo.

More description and images can be found from Dezeen HERE.

Video: Gloam

I came across this beautifully created short animation, and fell in love with the spooky yet gentle woodland creature Gloam. I can't wait to show my boys tonight, we've got plans to design/build a pint-sized haunted house out of cardboard boxes in order to begin prepping for Halloween. This movie will provide a great ending to the night, we'll sit in our newly created haunted house eating cookies while listening to the fire crackle in the background. Sounds like a perfect October night to me, good thing everything always goes according to plan when little children are involved...

Hhmmm, Better keep my fingers crossed.

Gloam from We Are The Forest on Vimeo.

Follow the link here to see the 'behind the scenes' shot breakdown. I'm always fascinated by process, and it was really interesting to see.