26.10.10
20.8.10
7.8.10
ANOTHER DAY AT THE VIVARIUM
This is what I try to tell the visitors that come in on my volunteer days (Friday mornings if you want to visit), but mostly they want to see the slugs.
DION: In some ways, this project is an abomination. We’re taking a tree that is an ecosystem—a dead tree, but a living system—and we are re-contextualizing it and taking it to another site. We’re putting it in a sort of Sleeping Beauty coffin, a greenhouse we’re building around it. And we’re pumping it up with a life support system—an incredibly complex system of air, humidity, water, and soil enhancement—to keep it going. All those things are substituting what nature does—emphasizing how, once that’s gone, it’s incredibly difficult, expensive, and technological to approximate that system—to take this tree and to build the next generation of forests on it. So this piece is in some way perverse. It shows that, despite all of our technology and money, when we destroy a natural system it’s virtually impossible to get it back. In a sense we’re building a failure.
28.7.10
FOR THE FAINT OF HEART - issue no. 1 of Matériel
MATERIEL ISSUE NUMBER 001 HAS HIT THE STREETS. THE INAUGURAL EDITION FEATURES WORK FROM SOME OF OUR [THEIR] FAVORITE DESIGNERS, ILLUSTRATORS, PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VISUAL ARTISTS.
Matériel is available in select locations in Chicago and New York, and is sold online at various web retailers.
Dr. Leatherbarrow
I am finally getting around to reading my old mentor's book "Architecture Oriented Otherwise". Here are two quotes that are concurrently insightful and useful.
"The building must accept the fact that its effects are codependent on the potentiality of a situation."
"The building's investment in the unseen fullness of what "there is" sets the stage for its situation to live and breathe as is they had arisen by virtue of nature itself."
Reading the work of Leatherbarrow always takes me back to the practical and poetic, which is so refreshing.
"The building must accept the fact that its effects are codependent on the potentiality of a situation."
"The building's investment in the unseen fullness of what "there is" sets the stage for its situation to live and breathe as is they had arisen by virtue of nature itself."
Reading the work of Leatherbarrow always takes me back to the practical and poetic, which is so refreshing.
Product vs. Building Design
Scale is the difference. A material transformation through varying methods and problem solving to reach highest potential is the similarity.
To say more seems to dilute my fascination.
 |
| house numbers and house - both by richard neutra |
26.7.10
red shirt school of photography
Inspired by BLDGBLOG 's recent project of scanning and blogging about books found in the CCA archives, I am now going to do the same with books I come across.
The first is one I purchased for 50 cents on Friday: "National Geographic on Indians of the Americas; a Color-illustrated Record" by Matthew W. Sterling.
Mostly, what I find endearing about this - and other National Geographic records from the 1950's - is the staging and coloring. Apparently this type of photography is called the "red shirt school of photography " which used kodachrome film that enhances reds to brilliant levels.
22.7.10
CHAINGANG
I design with free time. Here is our latest creation: CHAINGANG
CHAINGANG uses a repetitive linking technique to re purpose heaps of scrap leather into versatile accessories. CHAINGANG is available in various shades of tan, brown, and metallic; our commitment to utilizing otherwise discarded materials results in slight variations in color and texture.
styling by ashley helvey
photos by the amazing kyle johnson
Free Time Industries is a multidisciplinary design studio focused on creating innovative products by merging new technologies with natural materials and a contemporary aesthetics. A true collective, each designer utilizes their unique skill set in constructing furniture, housewares, and personal accessories that illustrate and enhance an imaginative yet uncomplicated lifestyle.
design value
standard american strip mall
When looking at history, even briefly, it is readily apparent that the arts play a critical role in creating and upholding the stories of culture and humanity. Without them, we have little basis from which to understand where we come from or who we are. Currently, one of my foremost concerns is the state of American architecture in this context of history building. With the devastating blow to housing and construction during this global recession, and the majority of architecture lending itself to being a business venture, what we are left with is a design culture that cannot be trusted to be a vital contributor; by the people who work in it or the people who invest in it.
In my limited years of practice, I have been continually frustrated with the tremendous challenges that arise when trying to get a project built which has the foremost goal of contributing to our cultural fabric. Innovative designs are difficult to get permitted, funded by banks, and are generally more expensive to build due to standards in construction. Therefore, what has become the norm are practices that subscribe to standards established by city officials, banks, and developers. By surrendering such authority, architecture has let itself become a slave to outside forces; forces that have completely failed.
It is my hope that Architecture can pull itself out of this quagmire with the understanding that we must think of ourselves as more than just an assembly of skills and business deals. We will need to have faith in the value of our profession, educate our clients, and fight for poetic integrity. Otherwise, what are we doing this for?
10.7.10
6.7.10
DIRTY MAG
Free Time Industries featured in issue no. 1 of DIRTY MAG.
“DIRTY is a new creative quarterly and curatorial endeavor, showcasing the work of a new generation of artists & designers. Inspired by the subversive, the sarcastic and sometimes the absurd, DIRTY features the best in art, design, entertainment and food. Check out our feature with the NYC online publication at http://dirty-mag.com”
2.6.10
laser nature is now at VERIDIS
22.5.10
cool stuff found on interwebs
19.5.10
a few things from ICFF weekend
-cool cabinets: jspr
-best store on mott st.: A DETACHER
-lovely product photography: STUDIO DUNN
-fun: RS Barcelona
13.5.10
9.5.10
faraday
final prototype shots by kyle johnson
... this is what we have been working on for that past few weeks
preliminary computer concept rendering
thank you emmett and christopher. xxx
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