Byrdhouse

MA Guide Book

Design is Human - May 6-11

I'm proud to announce the MA08: Design Is Human event in Atlanta May 6-11, 2008.

MA is the result of the vision and efforts of Bernard McCoy and Elayne DeLeo to unify the greater Atlanta design community through modern home tours and events throughout the city. I have been fortunate to have been involved on the branding-concept-strategy-design side of things. It’s been a team affair of armchairs, pc students and design friends.

Join us, explore some of those homes you've had your eye on during the Modern Atlanta Home Tour. Other highlight events include the wine tasting at Poliform SWITCH, the Belgium Design & Fashion Event for Darfur, and the Launch Party at Mason Murer Gallery.

Ticket prices vary. Many events are free. More information is available at the MA web site.

McCormick Tribune Campus Center

This is by Rem Koolhaas OMA at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The school is Mies van der Rohe's old stomping grounds. See the Full Gallery here.

Concrete for Miles

Montreal

Home Improvement: Storefront

It's amazing what you learn by engaging in small home-improvement projects. We recently enclosed a back room in our home with commercial storefront. White laminated glass fills the door and the lower panel, allowing natural light to permeate the space while still maintaining an element of privacy. (Channelling architecture schooling, that previous sentence was essentially composed for me.)

The Install.

Storefront is generally sold at a single price, including materials, construction and installation. We opted for white laminate glass over its frosted cousin. White lam differs mainly in construction. It contains a white film sandwiched between two opposing panes of glass. Frosted glass is single-paned and finished on one side. The downside of the frosted version is that oils and smudges become very difficult to clean.

Here's a wider view of the surrounding space. Before and After.

This shows a view from inside looking out, showing how the white laminated glass obstructs view, but allows light in.

Concluding with what we learned:

1) You should always check pricing with multiple glass providers, no matter how small the job. We saved some 700 dollars by shopping around.
2) You should always seek the input and guidance of someone with building experience before embarking. (Thanks Bill!)
3) It takes 6 months to contemplate a building project, and only 2 days to execute.

Happy store-fronting!

Goodbye Grady Homes

Grady Homes, a well-known public housing project in inner-city Atlanta will soon be flattened. These sort of low income developments are considered governmental failures by the new urbanist camp (and many others). They will cite examples they've memorized from the pages of Jane Jacobs's bible, why sustainability is not only about embracing green building techniques. And maybe they're right.

Still, I must say walking the area last week, I liked it despite its shortcomings. Plentiful green spaces, old trees, community centers; the elements of failing modernism elicited a sweet romanticism. Granted, the place was desolate.

I'm thinking its mixed-use replacement should be named after a bar drink like "The Manhattan" or at least something refreshing like "Grady Springs."

Reminder for Thursday

Hey remember last week at that pub. How I told you we had an art thing coming up. It was one of your classic blank stares you gave. A most considering pause, caped by one serious, "I really need a haircut." Well it's Thursday May 5th at the RIALTO downtown Atlanta. We'd love to see you there.

As fate would have it, we're also going to be at Sage in Decatur that afternoon unveiling the Decatur Arts Festival design.

Sustainable Sound

Our most recent field trip was across town to the West End's Northyards. Wade from EAI gave us a short tour of an empty space adjacent to their own office space. The concrete surfaces made for an incredible natural sustain. Have a look and listen.

Creative Types Need Apply

[poster announcement for The Lightroom Fellowship]

We at Lightroom are looking for a summer intern (we'd prefer to call you a collaborator). Take a moment and cruise on over to our site for more information and the official application.

Walmart is a Molting Serpent

Nothing's left except an empty shell from a former Walmart. Not to worry, they built a Walmart Supercenter only 3/4 of a mile down the road.

Calatrava Unveils Symphony Design

Tonight Santiago Calatrava reveals his design for the Atlanta Symphony Center. Most think that the big swooping thing over the top of the building is a water slide. It is most definitely not.

I'm anxious to see the design's impact upon Atlanta's image, where much mediocre architecture has sprung up over the last decade. It's a refreshing change that we designers all secretly hope catches on. Seriously, we just added a photo of Phillip Johnson to the modernist shrine we pray to.

All kidding aside, architecture driven by market and "public" architecture are two entirely different leagues, and they will likely continue to part ways. Still, we look to a brighter tomorrow. 2011 actually, when they say it will be complete.

Brand Building

Quick, can you guess?

For Sale

One gorgeous four bedroom home located in Atlanta's Lake Claire neighborhood. The house is designed by architect Carlos Tardio, and is currently owned by musician Shawn Mullins. It's one of Atlanta's finer modern gems if you ask me. You should get it. I'll wave to you everyday on my way to the studio.

A Bright New Lightroom

Ladies and gentlmen, designers and rockstars, we humbly present to you, the fabulous new face of Lightroom.

Go see the new digs.

Breaking The Rules

[Candler Park Pool]

Dinner at Nine

[Jon's Kitchen]

Image shot for architect Lynn Cain who designed an addition to a craftsman-style bungalow in College Park. I so want a kitchen island I can store wine in.

Fire Station No. 1

[Decatur]

Note to self: You will one day document art deco and mid-century modern fire stations. The collection will become a coffee table book. Everyone you know will receive it as a Christmas gift.

Soft Launch

Dear friends,

We are preparing to launch a new website for a furniture designer in the next few weeks, just in time for ICFF. Aside from getting an early bird vantage point, you my fine professional are being called to duty. Give us some insightful feedback. We have been working diligently on its development, but know it will only be a successful site with your help. Just click on the image above.

-

Kitchen

How about that for a clever title?

Hush Hush

[Brighthouse, Atlanta]

Been quiet around these parts lately, I know. I got a new camera. Boy, I just love it.

Remember, a fancy pants camera doesn't really make you a better photographer. You've got to have a funky looking camera bag and several large lenses to be truly pro. Wearing sunglasses indoors can alone make you talented.

Hey, I read that somewhere.

No Picture, Please, No Picture

Last week in Washington, D.C. the late Samuel Mockbee was awarded AIA's prestigious Gold Medal Award. For those unfamiliar with the southern giant, he is perhaps best known for spearheading the Rural Studio at Auburn's School of Architecture. The Gold Medal is the highest honor an architect can ever receive. Even more, the last architect that was awarded the honor posthumously was Thomas Jefferson (he was an architect, btw). What amazes me is the total lack of coverage surrounding the event and honoring. We all definitely heard about Martha's verdict last week. This is disconcerting, because without spotlight on such events--and the starring architects--the public loses sight of the architect as a key player in shaping our cultural and physical landscape. It's glossed over, just as this event was.

Oh and yes, that is I.M Pei you see there. Courtesy of friend Jim Burton.

Lights On

Matt and Aaron are discussing some ideas for the lightroom film. I can't say much about it other than that Gang of Green may make an appearance. To me, there's nothing more exciting than watching bright ideas get brighter when there's a shared vision.

If this were an ad, you'd overhear this tagline as the mesh-music did a decrescendo, "Bright people get brighter... in the lightroom..."

(Fade to black.)

Abstract Concrete

We recently purchased our first home in Atlanta. Despite being a loft, it has nonetheless entered our lexicon as home. Airy and open, the space has all the qualities we desired. High ceilings (20'). Large windows and skylights that allow natural light to permeate throughout. A semi-private outdoor patio which overlooks an attractively landscaped courtyard (that I don't have to mow). Stainless steel appliances and finely selected fixtures. I'll admit it's an out-of-the-box, but it's thoughtfully designed and perfect for twenty-something creatives not quite ready to commit the time to a custom home. And there are plenty of us here. Painters, architects, graphic designers, dj's, writers- it's a community.

At closing, one concern of ours was the floors. They're concrete. If a 2001 cabernet sauvignon were to tip, the porous, unfinished concrete would stain permanently. ("Remember that crazy cocktail party we held? Boy, the floors sure do.") Sealing them with an epoxy was without question. With a little research and the consultation of a few architects I have the pleasure of working with, we opted to not only to seal, but apply a concrete acid stain as well.

We sought the talents of a local contractor who had experience with many of the adaptive-use projects here in Atlanta- Puritan Mill, Magnolia Hall, Fulton Cotton Mill, to name a few. The interesting thing about concrete stains, which work similarly to the spilled glass of wine effect, is that the age of the concrete has a lot to do with how the stain absorbs into it and the hues which result. Concrete continues to harden for decades. The harder the concrete, the less the stain absorbs. Portions of our floors were from an existing building, while other parts were new, like where they cut it to bring in plumbing. He used a chemical stain produced by Scofield called Lithochrome Chemstain to create an antique amber finish of golds and browns. The results are breathtaking. The colors mingle like an oil painting on ours floors. We're really happy with them, and I recommend the technique to anyone with a similar space.

And yes, that is spilled oatmeal you see.

On the Edge

I don't travel outside Atlanta's perimeter much these days, mainly because places like Conyers are far more frightening to me than the abandoned urban center at night. But that's another post. I traveled out to one of Atlanta's edge cities in search of the Riverdale Library, a fine piece of architecture in a seemingly desolate sprawl of strip malls and fast food chains. I shot images of the interior casework designed by one of my clients, Soorikian Furniture. The library and furniture were gorgeous. The town, troubling. There was apparently no town center, as if from the decaying parking lots and big box retailers erupted a city. A scary genesis indeed. Truth is, this is no abnormal occurrence. Wal-marts and other retailers have been giving birth to cities for years now. It is only in recent years that we have been seeing the more devastating impact on this sort of development. As the big box retailers pick up and leave, the burden (and eye sore) of empty 100,000 s.f. buildings stand hauntingly in their trail. It seems absurd to build a new Walmart Supercenter less than a mile from an empty Wal-mart building. But that's exactly what's happening. What's to be done about it? Back in school I toyed with the idea of planning a reuse development for a now thriving shopping district filled with these sort of giant structures. Set in the future, years from now, when they too will have moved on. Maybe develop it into a university campus or a residential neighborhood or a theme park. Hey, it's going to happen eventually. I guess at the time, a thesis project where I got to design a club seemed ever more appealing.

Listen Up

I'll be speaking at the upcoming Young Architects Forum on Wednesday, October 29th. You should go. I mean, if you live in Atlanta of course. I won't say much about the talk other than that it will involve seven (hopefully eight) dancers in exotic fish costumes. If that doesn't get you out of your cave I don't know what will. Enough said. Here's the details:

October 29th, 6:00pm
Offices of TVSA
1201 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta
Parking available at 15th Street entrance
Seating is limited.
or call (404) 222-0099 ext 1.

modHouse

We've been working on branding for modHouse, a company offering modernist house plans.
For your review:

Be sure to view some of the other contenders.

Urban Textures

We shot some images last weekend in Atlanta's West Midtown district, full of great decaying industiral parks. The images are to be used in an upcoming music video by director Matt Hutchinson.

Check out the entire collection.

Breen Architecture

Not Green, Breen. Last evening I shot images of the Breen Residence, located on the banks of Atlanta's perimeter.

Lightroom

We're working on branding for a new architecture firm. Here's some logo comps for your review.

UPDATE: Lightroom is now online

The Om Factor

What is architectural modesty, exactly? It's definitely not found in Bilbao. Christopher Hawthorne of Slate explores this rising trend in architectural humbleness. Read his slide-show essay about the new architecture of modesty.