Book Review: Private Towers
May 28, 2009
Private Towers: Expanded Edition by James Grayson Trulove
Private Towers: Expanded Edition by James Trulove is a delightful compendium of oddly shaped residential structures that demonstrate how various tall forms are used to maximize the relationship between a functional program and surrounding environment. Peter De Bretteville’s personal residence, aka “Cistern Tower” in New Haven, is featured in this book. Peter is an instructor at the Yale School of Architecture who taught second year design studios, and materials and methods while I was there. I remain a fan of the round “free weights” that anchor the edges of the otherwise loose canvas awnings that surrounds the exterior of his reclaimed and reused water tower. Examples found in this book influenced our plans for the “Wiley Tower,” a project currently on-the-boards located in Mendocino, California.
Check out the rest of my lending library and view my reviews.
Plan!t Now announces undergraduate scholarship program
May 6, 2009
Plan!t Now is very excited to formally announce their college scholarship program. They are offering scholarships for individuals who have been negatively affected by a hurricane or other natural disaster and are in need of funds to attend college.
Their scholarships are geared towards college sophomores and juniors, but all are welcome to apply. For the academic year 2009-2010 Plan!t Now intends to award three (3) $10,000 scholarships to the top three candidates.
Visit the following website to learn more about the scholarship and download an application.
http://www.planitnow.org/scholarship-announcement/
Highrise Sustainability
May 3, 2009
This high rise home suffers from both southeast and south west exposures.
Living in a high rise has particular challenges and opportunities– not the least of which is interpreting the current call to action to be green or to live sustainably.
On the outset, if you live in a highrise you should be commended for choosing to live in a dense, compact building form within the middle of an existing developed urban area. The benefits of being able to walk to work, shopping and social activities are not lost on you– but by channeling development into urban areas which use a city’s infrastructure helps to preserve outlying natural resources, reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use and associated sprawl.
As a highriser, what you might not appreciate are the numerous sustainability and efficiency opportunities that are either right at your fingertips or within arms reach. Read more