Bernal Heights Kids Coloring Contest
November 22, 2011
I just overheard a young couple outside my office window: “… a four day break from school next week?? What the hell are we going to do??” My sentiments exactly. So just in time for a rainy Thanksgiving break, we are launching a kids coloring contest.
Client Wanted: Polka-Dot Aga
August 5, 2011
Truck Step turned Soap dish
July 8, 2011
We’re a bit late to the party on this one, but we’ve just come across an unlikely combination of durability and functionality in the novel repurposing of a tractor/trailer foot step turned flush mounted soap dish. This comes our way via Todd Lappin, a Bernal Heights industriophile who has more than his fair share of creative gems lurking beneath his “Telstar Logistics” brand. Read more about it here.
Architects in their own words: Desert Infill?
November 27, 2010
Architects Take On Museums in Doha and Abu Dhabi – Interactive Feature – NYTimes.com.
This interactive feature presents four architects describing recent museum commissions in the Middle East. The architect engage both the lack of physical context as well as the contemporary aspirations of their surrounding societies.
Its refreshing to hear architects in their own words. Much like the The Chicago Tapes or The Charlottesville Tapes, this excerpt helps to demystify the nature and intention of the design process that is otherwise left behind closed doors.
Return to Quality in Bay Area Commercial Lending
November 22, 2010
RTRE bay area commercial lending.
This just in from The Registry: there’s more money out there than good investments and Commercial lenders are showing signs of activity in the Bay area–but only in areas that were not previously vaporized. Its a very short flight to safety–and all evidence suggests that investors are choosing asset quality over current returns that may or may not be there tomorrow.
Where, indeed, is the secured commercial implosion that we were all warned about?
Winfield Street Slides – NYTimes.com
November 22, 2010
Winfield Street Slides – NYTimes.com.
Take a quick tour of our eco-sexy paradise!
Robert Moses and the Bikelane Backlash
November 22, 2010
Bike Lanes’ Growth in New York Brings Backlash – NYTimes.com.
While New York City appears at the forefront of a national trend to increase access to its scarce pavement, a review of the chronology dating to back to the beginning of the 20th century reveals this “forefront” to be more of a “crest” in a cyclical wave of politics. Somewhere in that mush of time Robert Moses transformed New York– how he did it is as important to cyclists today as what he did.
Cyclists should review the techniques and strategies of Mr. Moses for clues as to how to implement their vision through parallel political and a-political processes. Here are my three cents:
First, frame the message: Moses was ‘giving’ parks and parkways to the people. Cyclists appear to be ‘taking’ from the auto and pedestrians. Since there is little debate as to the future demand, need or desire to implement a healthy and sustainable alternative to the auto, the onus will rest squarely on cyclists to reframe their message as a giving and not a taking.
Second, make no small plans: Develop and sell the entire network–not just the individual intersection. Its too easy for individualized local fights to overwhelm the value of an entire network.
Third, follow the money. Moses gave us toll roads (aka “parkways,” ahem) while Bikes remain basically free. Bike coalitions have largely been self financed and their respective political results suggest this meager purse power. Municipalities that want to encourage the muli-tmodal use of their roadways should immediately enforce a drivers/riders license requirement and impose a new use fee for cyclists that use the road (and not just ‘share’ or ‘borrow’ it). The use fee should start out high and decrease with the actual mileage traveled (or perhaps number of consecutive years renewed.)
I’d value your continued comment and thoughts.
Polyvore, a fashion Web site for the masses : The New Yorker
November 21, 2010
Polyvore, a fashion Web site for the masses : The New Yorker.
Thanks to Polyvore’s offering up free version of their mini-editor we can now let our friends and visitors play “dress-up” with an assemblage of interior design objects (instead of shoes and handbags) that we know and love. Come and play with us! Thanks Polyvore!
Visit our interiors editor here.
Job Site Photos: San Mateo Residence
September 25, 2009
Posted via email from Architect Mason Kirby Inc.
Plan!t Now Scholarship Interview
June 19, 2009