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-DUNN

LEED

I must admit, I browse Bloomberg regularly - which is how I came across a Frank Gehry interview by Thomas Pritzker (of Pritzker Foundation and the Pritzker Prize). I am a adamant proponent of environmental sustainability and Gehry's views on LEED certification struck me as selfish and misinformed. Admittedly, my own biases are showing through in a big way, but isn't any action in conservation, preservation and sustainability a worthy one? Dismissing environmental concerns as political, Gehry went on to state that "“the costs of incorporating those kind of things don’t pay back in your lifetime.” What a flashback to myopic finance classes specializing in the extollment of monetary return as paramount. Humanity as a whole isn't significantly bettered or remembered by the return of a security, humanity is shaped and defined by culture, built form, and hope.

I still respect Gehry's contribution to the architectural landscape but quite simply: with great influence comes great responsibility. Unfortunately, architects gain widespread status not by conceptualizing human betterment but through the realization of the grand and the unexpected. This world needs architects to design for the good of humanity. If more established architects were kind to both the environment and those who utilize built form, would such association diminish their work? I don't think so.

-WONG

Nanimarquina

Nanimarquina's new Digit rug, by the London-based graphic designer Cristian Zuzunaga. Want!

-WONG

Family??

via

Check out the sweetest blogpost over at everyday musings. Looks like I might have relatives in Alabama :)

-DUNN

Happy Tape

Seriously, the Japanese are the coolest people when it comes to stationary supplies. happy tape makes sweet Japanese masking tape in America (but they are still Japanese??). These lovely tapes come in every colour of the rainbow and brighten up anything boring. I like things like that.

They are all so cute and colourful!!! Personal fave??

Would have to be the plaid. It's the Scottish in me.

-DUNN

on repeat

This is officially the theme song of my summer.

PS. 1:14 LOL!!!!!!!!!!!! Just loving the Ray Bans!!!!!!!!!!

-DUNN

The Rain...

...in Spain stays mainly in the plain!

I was struck by this image today. It reminded me of the above lyric from the movie "My Fair Lady". I watched it a few weeks ago, and I thought it was funny that the photo is of an umbrella installation in Alicante, Spain!

Yes, I am still obsessed with public art.

This example in particular has some special qualities. The way the light comes through the umbrellas, making the street below glow...

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And how the canopy of umbrellas almost creates a ceiling to the street, appealing to one's caving instinct...

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And how the shadows create geometric shapes on the pavement...

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-DUNN

Cup to the Cake

I am aware that the world has recently gone bananas over specialty cupcakes, and even cities like Saskatoon have received their share of cupcakeries (no less than three).

But these cupcakes are different. They're simple, no-fuss, and best of all aren't sold from a flashy little shop. In fact, they aren't sold at all.

Ming Makes Cupcakes whips up her own cupcake recipes, with ingredients ranging from mango & cocconut and pumpkin & cream cheese and posts them on her sweet website.

My personal fave:

Meet Cupcake 16: Guinness Chocolate with Cream Cheese Frosting.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Visit Ming Makes Cupcakes
2. Drool
3. Get your bake on
4. ENJOY

-DUNN

Seizure

What does pumping 75,000 liters of liquid copper-sulfate into a building result in?

A Turner Prize nominated installation by Roger Hiorns. This is beautiful, seriously.

Only on Thursdays

Two friends. Living across the world from each other. On a mission to document their respective lives/cities in a meaningful way.

Each week they choose a theme and their goal is to capture that through photography in their own unique way.

I stumbled upon their blog and really took a liking to their style--inspired by simple design, fashion and the city.

The whole project is something that I could see DUNNWONG doing in the future.

Visit littlejourney.org

-DUNN

OH. And I forgot to mention that they post their themed photos every Thursday.

Archiculture

'Archiculture' is the evolution of a documentary film originally entitled 'Architorture' that "explores the role that architecture and design play in our daily lives. The film follows five architecture students through their final senior design projects in order to shed light on the critical issues impacting our built environment." The work was initially titled 'Architorture' because of the intense reality of studio work.

For anyone who has worked in a studio of any sort (photographic, print, etc..), then one knows the type of intense studio-oriented culture that develops and in many cases, consumes. People eat, work and even sleep in studios - the outside world is removed. It can become an insular, isolated world of seclusion.

It doesn't look like this documentary will be in wide release but will most likely be distributed through architectural organizations, academic tours and online simulcasts in the upcoming year.

*Interesting fact: where in almost all other fields women are achieving proportional representation, only about 13% of architects are women.

-WONG

My Architect

Most films and documentaries about architecture can be a little mundane and abstract. However, 'My Architect' directed by Nathaniel Kahn really breaks the mold and puts a personal touch on what can be a cold subject. The film documents Nathaniel Kahn's search to understand the life of his father Louis Kahn, an artistically influential man who left behind a catalog of imposing works and numerous secrets for his only son to reconcile.

In addition to exploring the physical reality of Kahn's structures, there is insight given into the social mores of the mid 20th century regarding love, politics, philosophy, religion and gender. Numerous interviews occur with architects such as Frank Gehry, I.M. Pei and Phillip Johnson.

One quote that stuck with me was "...how accidental our existences are, really, and how full of influence by circumstance." How true and how very apropos.

-WONG