ahhh finals

professor quote of the week:

"I don't play world of war craft because it's so addicting. I don't do crack for the same reason."

-DUNN

Roadtrip Nation

I signed up for this today...to say that I'm completely pumped out of my mind would be an understatement.

-DUNN

Ka-boom!

The duo Herczeg & Kaehr have produced some amazing work. Their photographs feature some incredibly well-timed exposures depicting actual, small explosions.

-WONG

wowzers

I love this. So serene, yet still intense.

Wanderlust levels are through the roof.

-DUNN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUNN!!

Here's to another year of experience. Happy Birthday and may this year be your best ever.

-WONG

current theme song

-DUNN

Jack

-DUNN

art>case study

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what makes me happy...and how I can create a life for myself that I can be happy in every single day.

-DUNN

Bring Alex and Luke to STOON

Remember Alex and Luke?

You need to watch this.

I've been virtually following them on their North American road trip adventure since JUNE. They are finally coming to Saskatchewan, but only to select cities!

Bring them to Saskatoon this week by voting HERE.

-DUNN

Marcel!

Enjoy this video via an email from my fave Vancouverite. Oh Marcel, so silly!

-WONG

vancouver, fo sho

-DUNN

Splinterheads

"become the amazing butterfly that you're meant to be, heh heh heh"

LOL. I randomly came across this movie while browsing trailers on iTunes. I flipped out big time when it came to the GEOCACHING part! GEOCACHING! IN A MOVIE! Could I get nerdier?

Looks just about good enough for a semi-legal download :)

-DUNN

Saskatoon Speaks

If you have not yet done so, register for the Saskatoon Speaks City Summit at: http://www.saskatoonspeaks.com/.

The 'Saskatoon Speaks, Shape Our Future' event is going to start on September 29th and will feature Peter Mansbridge of the CBC as a keynote speaker. This is an event that all citizens should attend, as it concerns the direction upon which our city will be headed in the next twenty years. Clearly, it is also valuable forum in which to get informed and connect with other like-minded people. Have your say in shaping the future growth of Saskatoon!

-WONG

FIELD TRIP

-DUNN

The Fab Lab House

Now THIS is what I call sustainability! The Fab Lab House produces three times the energy it uses. AND the design is through the roof amazing.

The organic shape really sets this home apart from other "green homes" which sometimes can end up looking like a plywood box. The sloping roof and curved solar panels are SO ingenious! They can keep gathering energy even when the sun isn't directly above the structure.

Based in Madrid, the Fab House was developed by the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia.

Check out their website here. And oh yea, this thing is completely PRE-FAB!

-DUNN

summer of DUNN

I guess I'll get this party started with my own defining summer moment post!

-DUNN

guest post on DUNNWONG!

Hello friends! DUNNWONG is looking for volunteers to submit posts and appear on the blog in September. We invite you to share your "defining summer moment" in the form of text, images, film, audio, etc.

Send everything that you would like included in your post to dunnwong@gmail.com and we will publish it here on DUNNWONG. We encourage self promotion so include your own blog/website in the message! If you'd like to submit your post anonymously, that's cool too!

Be sure to pass this opportunity on to any friends who have had extraordinary summers and would like to share.

Deadline to submit is September 30/2010!

DUNN/WONG

colour my world with the chaos of trouble

You just have to watch this video! Amazing cinematography and concept!

What a difference a little (or a lot) of colour makes in urban spaces! Adding colour immediately changes the way people feel in an environment- and it's such a simple and inexpensive medium to work with.

Here's a real life example:

Painting for social change in Brasil!

-DUNN

PS--Stay tuned for a DUNNWONG announcement!

time on my hands

-DUNN

Chance

What could be more perfect than a clothing line inspired by the classic horizontal stripe? Discover Chance clothing company here.

-DUNN

The Art Of Travel

Oh what I would give for a conversation with Alain de Botton! I, here on DUNNWONG, officially declare my crush on his brain.

One of my favourite de Botton books called "The Art of Travel" deals with, well, the art of travel. "Few things are as exciting as the idea of travelling somewhere else. But the reality of travel seldom matches our daydreams. The tragi-comic disappointments are well-known: the disorientation, the mid-afternoon despair, the lethargy before ancient ruins." It explores travel-for-pleasure and the disparities that arise. Many of the situations he writes about are quite frankly, very vulnerable and thus, telling. Don't many individuals travel to find a new perspective or to meet interesting people? The travel industry doesn't meet that need; not by sending people to look at the Eiffel Tower by themselves. One thing that is absent from modern travel is human contact - though few travelers would deign to admit it. Not wholly dark,the book takes turns both humourous and ironic.

I highly recommend all of his writings which take a philosophical look at a range of topics such as travel, love, work and status without any trace of stilted academic prose or posturing. At the very core of the literature is our human interactions and the intersection between lucid consciousness and popular culture. Digging into any aspect of life can be difficult. But as Socrates' famously polarizing statement suggests: "The unexamined life is not worth living."

-WONG

falling garden

welcome to my dream land.

See the work of Gerda Steiner & Jorg Lenzlinger here.

-DUNN

travel lust

It's always comforting knowing that SOMEONE out there is fufilling my own travel goals and sharing their stories via blog. I'd like to share 3 of my favorites, but beware you may be inclined to purchase expensive plane tickets after reading them!

Everyday Musings

Olivia just got back from an amazing tour of Europe and the UK. Her Scotland posts nearly had me in tears. Her photos are amazing, and you'll certainly appreciate her love of food.

Sending Postcards

This unique couple left everything and hit the road. They have been through some of the less traveled, but amazing areas of the world-and sampled the cuisine in STYLE! Oh yes, this is traveling in style.

Alex and Luke

I actually stumbled upon these guys just last week and immediately had a life crush on them! They too dropped everything and set out with a unique goal-to explore North America with their route determined by social media outlets. Their entire brand appeals to my marketing/travel lovin' ways. They are everywhere- Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogging on Wordpress. Check them out NOW.

PS... I'm blogging from here:

-DUNN

Traffic Bridge

Last week I took a magnificent cruise down the South Saskatchewan River...

...And after writing about the High Line, I thought it would also be appropriate to discuss the future of the Traffic Bridge.

The City of Saskatoon has set up two websites: one detailing the current situation and the other asking for the public's opinion.

With sustainable re-development in mind, I am all in favor of keeping the bridge structure intact and having it open to non-motorized users. If it were up to me, I would duplicate the current pedestrian walkway on the down-stream side of the bridge, and use those areas for cyclist traffic, mitigating safety concerns of cyclists speeding down from Victoria Avenue hill. The down-stream side would be for cyclists traveling towards downtown, and the up-stream side for cyclists traveling towards Nutana. The bridge bed itself would then be open to developments for pedestrians, offering a wide pathway interspersed with planters and seating areas.

Roadways on either side of the bridge would have to be considered as well. On the east side, diversions would have to be made for traffic on Victoria Avenue, while still allowing pedestrians and cyclists access to the hill down towards the bridge. On the west side, the established roundabout provides some challenges, as it connects to Spadina Drive and the roadway leading to the Remai Arts Center.

It's apparent that the public is in favor of keeping the bridge for it's historical significance. With the changes that would have to be made to the traffic flows on either side of the bridge, it's a pity that the city didn't better evaluate the life line of the bridge before investing so much into River Landing, as the project could have better integrated the future of the bridge.

Thoughts?

-DUNN

The High Line

I was introduced to NYC's High Line project during the first presentations for the Saskatchewan Architecture School here in Saskatoon last August.

I was instantly drawn to the project as it combines my two favorite objectives of urban planning: revitalization of existing infrastructure, and green living.

The High Line fell victim to the illusive phrase of "I found this sweet thing on the internet and I can't remember what it's called, so I can't show you, but it's really awesome".

After google session after google session, I found it (sorry about the unnecessary back story), and The High Line and I had a wonderful reunion.

Keeping the original structure intact, the High Line has been transformed from an elevated railway track to an attractive public space. Elements of the history of The High Line are incorporated into the design through landscaping, public art, and seating areas. The High Line runs for 1.45 miles, with numerous entrances along the way.

The whole project encompasses the ideas of creating public space for all to experience, interact within, and be inspired by. Projects like the High Line and what they stand for are what I am motivated by in pursuing my planning degree--I might just have to take an educational field trip to NYC!

**ALSO search The High Line in youtube and watch some of the documentaries! I'm at the lake right now, using my BB as a modem for my laptop, so I couldn't embed the videos!

-DUNN

pure genius (and funny)

I recently came across the blog of Keri Smith, mastermind behind the "Wreck This Journal" publication.

I thought you might appreciate another work of hers--the "Artist's Survival Kit"

Click each image & print :)

-DUNN

Behance Network

Getting hired depends largely on past experience and networks - in all fields of study. But what if you are a new graduate just starting out with few professional experiences and contacts? In the competitive field of design, the best work is not always the work that is promoted.

This is where Behance comes in. The whole idea behind the network is that creative talent garners attention based on merit, not credentials. Creative output is judged by peers and seen by a vastly diverse audience serving to make the connections that are so important within art. Cases in point, a light-graffiti team from Germany is seen by an ad company and commissioned by Sprint. An illustrator has his portfolio noticed by Pacific Sunwear and begins producing pieces for their product. A photographer connects an illustrator from across the globe to collaborate on images with. Scott Belsky, Behance's CEO and founder, puts it best - "Our users are the most creative people in the world. They don't need our help generating ideas. They need our help executing their ideas."

-WONG

utter perfection

hey hey hey

-DUNN

a love letter for you

Y'all know of my well documented love affair with street art...

So when I came across A Love Letter For You I couldn't resist sharing.

This sweet project brought together 40 artists from around the world, contributing their talents in beautifying Market Street in Philidelphia. The 50 murals are viewed from the elevated public transit train running along the street. Which murals you see depend on the direction which the train is going! So obviously a trip in both directions would have to be in order!

Not only do the murals contribute to a drastic revitalization of the physical environment, but the project gives back to the community, creating free signs for businesses, and training and employing locals in creating the art!

I LOVE LOVE this idea!

...some of my favorite murals...

(sticky notes and street art, these are a few of my favorite things!)

All images from here...check it out!

-DUNN

Capital Gate

During my international business project last semester, when I should have been researching cultural, financial, and political features of the United Arab Emirates, I was busy studying the country's ground breaking advances in architecture.

The only thing I knew about the UAE before the project was that the worlds tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, was located there.

I had also previously known about "The World" development, but didn't realized that it was located in the UAE!

Both "The World" and the Burj Khalifa are located in Dubai. I recently came across this development (nearing completion) in the second richest emirate, Abu Dhabi:

Capital Gate, leans 18 degrees westward, 14 degrees further than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Watch the video to see how the heck they managed building it!

-DUNN

the sketchbook project

Wong, you need to see this!

-DUNN

well I never!

For my 11th birthday I got a panorama film camera. I was hooked. This camera takes pano shots to the next level! I've never seen anything like this!

This camera takes 360 DEGREE PHOTOS! Sweet deal!

I'm also in love with the original Diana cameras :)

-DUNN

USB Typewriter

Interesting idea. Nothing beats the click of keys...

People Watching

Ever since I attended the two part lecture series from Jan Gehl last September, I have been positively mystified by his ideas of people watching as a pure form of entertainment.

He spoke about public spaces, such as plazas and squares, and how they should be built to accommodate people, inviting them to take a seat and observe.

People naturally enjoy watching other people. I know this very well.

When I came across this mini documentary/interview, I was reminded of Gehl's ideas.

Public space made for interaction is what I feel Saskatoon lacks--we're drowning in a sea of vacant lots repurposed into parking lots.

Take a look at this slideshow and article. It takes a little bit of a different direction than the creating public space route, but I still was intrigued by it.

-DUNN

PS. I thought I better continue my trend of posting videos...so here's a cute one!

LOLerballs

That's a new word I just made up, in honor of this video. 1:05 is the absolute best.

-DUNN

just ridin' the wave

-DUNN

mini movie

I'm dabbling into film making this summer and I thought this was cool.
In other words, I'm experimenting with iMovie.

-DUNN

Congrats, Wong!

-DUNN

Up in the Air

Located in the Netherlands, this unique hotel suite includes a jacuzzi tub, sauna, mini bar, flat screen televisions, full kitchen, wireless internet, and airconditioning. Pretty standard stuff, really. But take a look at the photos...

Strange dome like structure...

Porthole windows...

Compact design...

Hmmmm...

Book your personal airplane suite here!

-DUNN