Today I learned about the incredible Eucalyptus Deglupta. A beautiful tree that sheds its bark annually, revealing the bright green inner bark. This bark gradually changes colors, through purple, orange, and maroons. This is incredible to me. 

Today I learned about the incredible Eucalyptus Deglupta. A beautiful tree that sheds its bark annually, revealing the bright green inner bark. This bark gradually changes colors, through purple, orange, and maroons. This is incredible to me. 

Absolutely loving this building by the Spanish architecture group, A-cero.  I tend to have a love for concrete buildings like this. The strong formal lines, the almost bunker feeling. It’s all quite impressive. But I also appreciate how often you do not see concrete used to create simple perpendicular buildings, but rather to tilt to an angle. Even if the building itself does not have those angles, it certainly promotes them. A perfect example is the above kitchen. Just look how that breakfast bar just rises out of the floor. A less restrained person than I might just slide down that after a drink or three. And the beautiful strong form of the black…. I don’t know, counter? How it starts hanging on the ceiling then just falls down to ground then picks itself back up. It all just reeks of modern masculine class.  Which is not all together a bad thing. I just have to silence the liberal socialist in me every now and again. 

Absolutely loving this building by the Spanish architecture group, A-cero. 

I tend to have a love for concrete buildings like this. The strong formal lines, the almost bunker feeling. It’s all quite impressive. But I also appreciate how often you do not see concrete used to create simple perpendicular buildings, but rather to tilt to an angle. Even if the building itself does not have those angles, it certainly promotes them. A perfect example is the above kitchen. Just look how that breakfast bar just rises out of the floor. A less restrained person than I might just slide down that after a drink or three. And the beautiful strong form of the black…. I don’t know, counter? How it starts hanging on the ceiling then just falls down to ground then picks itself back up. It all just reeks of modern masculine class. 

Which is not all together a bad thing. I just have to silence the liberal socialist in me every now and again. 

While most people tend to think of the World Wars in terms of black and white and shades of brown, this was never the actual case. Life has always had color, and it is all too easy to forget that. These are some remarkable color photographs from World War II, showing many aspects of the war that have always been set apart from many of us by those classic sepia tones.  In full color, it seems easier to relate to the lives of these people. They become less just some guy way back when, and more real people. A truly beautiful collection that merits some time to appreciate. I encourage all five of my readers (and anyone else who’s feeling adventurous) to do so. 

While most people tend to think of the World Wars in terms of black and white and shades of brown, this was never the actual case. Life has always had color, and it is all too easy to forget that. These are some remarkable color photographs from World War II, showing many aspects of the war that have always been set apart from many of us by those classic sepia tones. 

In full color, it seems easier to relate to the lives of these people. They become less just some guy way back when, and more real people. A truly beautiful collection that merits some time to appreciate. I encourage all five of my readers (and anyone else who’s feeling adventurous) to do so. 

The Modern Metropolis

(Read: Dubai as photographed with 19th century equipment. Looking very much like the original film. Love it. Also; prints: great birthday present idea)

"IF YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE GREATNESS, STOP ASKING FOR PERMISSION."
Quotes from a designer I am not familiar with

At least, until I read these and started looking him up. Then I realized we are all familiar with his work. 

Don’t believe me? Look him up; he designed the logos for such companies as Westinghouse, IBM, ABC, Enron (R.I.P you sniveling bastard) and so on and so forth. Certainly worth a read or three.

"Art is like masturbation. It is selfish and introverted and done for you and you alone. Design is like sex. There is someone else involved, their needs are just as important as your own, and if everything goes right, both parties are happy in the end"
Colin Wright
"The loss of the “freedom” to buy inefficient vampire bulbs is tantamount to the freedom we’re all deprived of by not being able to buy weaponized anthrax or endangered birds."
http://gizmodo.com/5820322/is-obsolete-tech-an-inalienable-right
Second Tumble! Something punny regarding Infinity Pools.

So, yeah, second post is again from Dezine. Which I think stands to their general ability to have a engaging website with a unique format to present ridiculously interesting material (at least, to the designer in me). But anyways, I get the impression that I’ll be using this to write critiques of the material presented more than anything, because they do provide spaces and designs that really stimulate conversation. 

So, for this post, the Casa de La Flora.

I’d first like to say that, I love the general shape of this piece. And yes, I am referring to architecture as “piece”. Get over it. Maybe it’s the beach, or the modern interpretation that invokes a bunker, but something about this piece makes me think that in a year or three we’d be seeing James Bond (played by younger Sean Connery) relaxing here with Ursula Andress, until out of nowhere a sniper takes her out and a long and involved chase scene ensues.

The point being, I think it does a great job of making itself a distinguishing location. 

The next point being, I love retro design. If you know me even a little bit, you will know this. And to me, I could totally see this form being built back in the 60’s and 70’s. Which I love. But at the same time, it pulls a great deal from the modern vernacular. The mixing of wood and concrete, and the design of the pools (oh gawd, those pools! More on that later.) all seem to pull inspiration from modern times, but encase it in a retro bunker. And to me, it’s generally awesome.

But those pools! Ugh! Are they not just awesome? I love everything about them. I love that they have the shallow area with the chairs. I think that is one of mankind’s greatest ideas and is completely under utilized. Even if it’s less than an inch of water, it cools the ground so you don’t have to walk around on ridiculously hot concrete. That alone is inspired design.

So anyways, in conclusion: to both of my followers (at the moment there are two of you, not the vast multitudes I’m expecting next week) feel free to remember that my birthday is in a year so you have plenty of time to save up for our beach trip. Thanks!

i

My first Tumble ought to tumble in style.

My new favorite design magazine. And a pretty awesome piece in it.