Posted by Harry
Meta MoCo | 12 Jan 08 | Comments (2) | Stumble
This week's MoCo picks.
+ Air Architecture architect François Perrin recently completed this polycarbonate-clad timber guest house/addition. "The project is using an 'air' insulation, which is a void in between the wood frame and the translucent skin that protects the interior from the cold and the heat" at Dezeen.
+ Marge Arkitekter's waterside Sjöbod/house at Below the Clouds.
+ Watershed, FLOAT architectural research and design's 100 square foot writer’s retreat in Oregon is a "small-scale project [that] fulfills its intention of revealing the surrounding ecology while allowing observation without disturbance" at Inhabitat.
+ RES4's Artist’s Retreat, a 2550 SF prefab project in Southampton, NY. "The 3-Bedroom house is shared by an artist + mother, and includes an office/study, art studio, combined kitchen/dining/living, 3 baths, and the previously mentioned solarium + roof deck.". Via architecture.MNP.
+ More of Thomas Phifer and Partners' Salt Point House, a 2200 sq. ft. country house at thecoolhunter, NYTimes and Arkinetia, "From a distance the length of the narrow house looks like a metallic screen rising out of the surrounding meadow.".
+ Lorcan O’Herlihy's Habitat 825, West Hollywood at the The NYTimes, a 19-unit building "designed with a courtyard design, which could be a nod back to LA's tradition of courtyard apartment complexes.". Via Apartment Therapy:LA.
+ Five Modern Prefabs Coming to the MOMA via The NYTimes, "Five architects have been chosen to build prefabs for Home Delivery: Fabricating the Modern Dwelling. It is a mix: "I wanted a mix of existing buildings and prototypes," said Barry Bergdoll, the chief curator of architecture and design at the museum... Mr. Bergdoll [also] wants to counter other misconceptions about prefab housing, like the notion that the reason to build them is to save money.".
+ Johanna Grawunder's lighting objects at Designer's Gallery, where "on show for the first time are the light benches Splits and the VuVanity and Switch low cupboards.". Via pan-dan.
+ Designer Banri Miyashita's borosilicate glass rings for Lima 7192. Via sub-studio.
+ Studiomeiboom's 'The Enlightenment' lamp, "inspired by bestsellers such as the Bible, Koran and Thora, we designed an object for lighting and enlightenment. A book as a light. A light as a book: The Enlightenment.". Via design.nl.
+ 366cm's Square laser engraved 'cooktop element' trivet that "as soon as you put a hot pot upon it, it quickly transforms to an orangy red glow that not only conveys the heat but looks beautiful as well.". Via NOTCOT.
+ Helenbilt Urchin pendant lights with "hundreds of flame tipped bulbs collaborating in this organic form". Via Hemfeber.
+ Belkin's Laptop Hideaway "gives you a discreet place to stow your laptop and all its accoutrements. It has just enough space for your machine, power cord, and even a magazine or two.". Via AT Unplugged.
+ The I.D. 40, forty designer workspaces revealed.
One thing that struck me is the lamp that looks like a book. I notice that someone is holding a lit up lamp in their hands. Doesn't that get hot or is that a cool touch lamp? You'd have to consider that, you don't want a hot lamp sitting right next to your valuable books. If it were a cool touch lamp, I'd definitely get it. Just imagine how beautiful it would look with some dark furniture and fancy leather books.
The Watershed writer's retreat caught my eye, so I followed the link to Inhabitat for more. I found the comments/debate there quite thought-provoking. Several valid points were made, but the one that stuck with me was this, "100 sq foot unit with 4 walls for one person is an extremely inefficient use of materials..." Hmmm.... so much for that dream project.