Some porches or patios remain empty through the best weather, while others are occupied at the first glimmer of a sunny day. Certain shopping areas are a “no man’s land” around and between buildings; you want out as soon as possible. Next to many homes you’ll find long, narrow side yards which are nearly unusable, except as passageways from front to back, or to accumulate endless piles of junk. These … Continue reading
What is in a pencil jar… besides pencils? The bigger question is: where does one find inspiration and how does one come to a creative solution? It makes sense that picking a colour from the pencil jar is the first step in putting an idea on paper. A pencil, for the majority of us in the design world, is the medium that initially pulls a thought from our minds and brings it to … Continue reading
The story of the “3 Petits Cochons” (the 3 little pigs) is as well known to Americans as to the French. Any culture which has grown up with this story probably has certain prejudices about the relative value of the building materials described. Brick is best, wood is next (but won’t stand up against the wolf), and straw is worthless. The first little pig built a house of bricks In … Continue reading
Architects are often asked to identify their design style. Frequently the questioner expects to hear the name of a style such as “Victorian,” “Arts & Crafts,” “French Country,” “Romanesque,” “Modern,” “Post-Modern,” “Southwestern, etc.” Although some architects may acknowledge certain influences, most will not want to respond by labeling their work as a particular style. In the absence of a clear label, non-architects often describe buildings by using the vague term … Continue reading
I recently discovered a previously unfamiliar form of housing during a month-long work trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I stayed in the small town of Pweto on Lake Mweru, in the Katanga Region (southeast DRC). In Pweto there is no electricity or running water, and the inhabitants (now returning from Zambia where they have spent several years as civil war refugees) have few possessions. A house of … Continue reading
Every day Commute: When I started working in the 80′s I made a promise to myself that I would never car commute. No matter what. In order to help keep this promise we choose a studio location that allows several of us to ride our bikes to the office along Goose Creek Trail in Boulder, CO. It is such a delight to start each day by gliding eastward down the … Continue reading
“You cannot make a building unless you are joyously engaged,” renowned architect Louis Kahn once said. This “joyous engagement,” as architect and clients’ imaginations meet, is a projection into the future of more than just a building. It is the envisioning of a felt experience of life which will take place within and around the architecture, and which ideally becomes a daily lived experience of inspiration. This inspiration may be drawn … Continue reading
¡Muchas Gracias! A big thank you goes out to everyone who made it to our Studio Opening party on Friday, October 7th! And to those who were unable to make it, we missed you! * Note: two black jackets were left at the party. Please call or come by the office to reclaim them. * Event Acknowledgements: > DJ Musa from Tip Top Music Entertainment for providing the lively Latin beat, … Continue reading
About three years ago, upon meeting with Tamdin, who came to Colorado as a Tibetan refugee, I was introduced to the high-stamina work that Tibetan Village Project (TVP) (www.tibetanvillageproject.org) has been doing for the last 10 years: building pedestrian bridges, green-houses, schools, scholarships for college students, businesses micro-credit. Operating out of Westminster, Colorado, this non-profit organization has had tremendous success in raising awareness and support for sustainable development and the cultural … Continue reading
Reaching out to the world from Boulder, Colorado, our multicultural team creates socially and ecologically responsible designs that are moving, uplifting, and bring new perspectives to life.
