Thursday, October 30, 2008

Stuff White People Like


This book cracked me up...pretty accurate.

Airo Island in Austria


Built in 2003, this piece of work is called the Airo Island, located on the Mur River in Austria. Vito Acconci, Brookly-based artist/architect is the main designer. It features a sunbathing elevated terrace, modern bar, and a coffee house. The piece of artwork allows circulation from both shores of the Mur River. Airo Island's inverse ramps that circulate traffic in and out of the "hub" reminds me of Corbu's Carpenter Center in Cambridge, Boston.

Influence


"Influence", a book filled with exclusive interviews of iconic people who have made a mark in the design/art/fashion industry. Overall, pretty amazing book with a good amount of inspirational quotes and stories. Responses and reflections are candid and real.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

The Charlie Rose

My heart is still with Anderson Cooper but I also found another...

Friday, October 17, 2008

Houses Going Green

This is Thomas Small and Joanna Brody's eco-friendly house. It is intensely green: it relies on cross-ventilation for cooling, solar energy for heating and recycled water for irrigating the garden.The structure reminds me of Corbu's Notre Dam Du Haut.
Pretty cool how the venue becomes a stage set, especially with different elevations!
The mix of translucent and transparent windows create privacy but still lets enough sunlight into the interior.
With the blue saturated sky, the house almost looks like a ship ready to sail out. I think it has to do with the smooth concrete panel pointing horizontally. Notice how the house is mostly made with very fine concrete. Pretty amazing.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Snowbound in Japan




This is one of my favorite photo spreads published by the New York Times. The photo shoot takes place in Akita Prefecture on Japan's Honshu Island. Akita Prefecture is known for Lake Tazawa and the Akita women. It's been said that Akita women are renowned for their porcelain white skin, rounded faces, and high voices, traits that are considered highly desirable. Something also worth noting: Akita has the highest consumption of sake in Japan.