March 10, 2007
Bikes are Cheaper than New Houses
It's a Merlin Fortius, black, titanium, Campi, not exactly what's pictured here but close enough.
Here's what Merlin has to say about it:
Named for its strength and durability, the Fortius is an excellent introduction to the performance of titanium. We have combined our renowned compact geometry with handcrafted 3/2.5 titanium tubing for the perfect blend of stiffness, light weight, and durability. We offer compact frame designs because of the performance benefits they deliver, not because they are trendy or cheaper to make. The Fortius, just like its brethren the Magia and Agilis, provides better climbing and acceleration from the lighter frame weight and small rear triangle.Stiff and responsive are the adjectives most commonly used to describe the Tom Kellogg signature, compact frame geometry.
High speed descents are nothing to fear as the oversized 1 3/8" down tube provides rock-solid stability and confidence.
The ideal fit is a snap with five different sizes.
Not only is the Merlin brushed finish indestructable, it's the most beautiful in the industry.
Now I just need to get one of these sweet Rock Creek Hincapie cycling jerseys. Blast! I just remembered that I wanted to take that photo again because the right side's pulled up a bit on the mannequin. The work never ends...
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 11:10 AM
February 1, 2007
Patagonia LEED Certified Warehouse
More thoughts on the enviro-house. This is a video from Patagonia's LEED-certified warehouse operation. Some points to take home: light colored paving tiles, light colored roof. They also talk about runoff control and separation tanks that remove oil from the water. My house will probably be up on pilotis, and won't be big enough for this to be much of a problem, but I would like to have a cistern of some sort collecting water for re-use around the property.
Patagonia, with founder Yvon Chouinard at the helm, has consistently pushed the environmental agenda over the last few decades. Chouinard helped build much-needed economies of scale for things like Organic Cotton and started an organization focused on giving 1% of revenues back to the environment.
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 5:40 PM
January 29, 2007
House Book
, from Phaidon, one of my favorite architecture books that I've never owned. $5. Can't beat it. The lady at checkout told me that architecture was her section and they had about 10 of them originally. There was still one left if you live in the Chattanooga area.
Here's what Amazon says about it:
The House Book presents a vibrant and fresh view of architects and designers responsible for some of the most diverse international houses of all time. From Hadrian's Villa to Palladio's Villa Rotunda and Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye through to the contemporary houses of Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry, it features the widest range of both architect-designed and traditional dwellings.
Stoked. I'll have to post some of the ideas I pull out of there. Some of the classics I saw in there were the Case Study house Charles and Ray Eames built and lived in until their death, of course the Farnsworth House that I've mentioned before, and one other house I love that's like Farnsworth and is catilevered over a stream but I can't remember what it's called- I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 5:46 PM
October 17, 2006
MiniHome Sustainable Modern Housing
Check out the MiniHome- it's an environmentally sustainable new modern house design.
Here's what they have to say about it:
Recipe for a good idea:
1. Take the familiar - The lowly Travel Trailer
2. Build it to last, and be easy to maintain
3. Make 350 sf feel like 600 sf
3. Use only Green materials
4. Add Off-Grid, Solar and Wind systems
5. Let it run on biodiesel
6. Keyword: Multi-functional
7. Keep it extremely light on the land
8. Make it beautiful
Combine all of the above into a package easily deliverable by truck anywhere in North America, that can set up on arrival in less than an hour.
Sit back, and hopefully watch it transform the both trailer park and suburb into the new American landscape of affordable, green domestic architecture.
The miniHome uses 1/100th the electricity,
1/10th the fuel,
1/10th the materials,
and 1/10th the water of the average, 2000sf home.
Source: http://www.sustain.ca/
Thanks to Treehugger for the tip on this one.
Also, check this out: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/10/sunpowers_new_s.php
PS- on a personal note: "Hey, look, I'm blogging again! Not too much, just a little here and there to keep me sane and start up some dialogue with old friends."
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 6:59 PM
November 27, 2005
The Lighthouse in Glasgow, Scotland
Despite the fact that I have no photographs from the Scotland trip, I'm trying to relive the experience to some extent by surfing the Web. Perhaps the coolest thing in Glasgow was The Lighthouse, "Scotland's Centre for Architecture, Design and the City." The original building is a Charles Rennie Mackintosh building with a contemporary extension. There's a 360 degree view from the top of the tower and a number of interesting permanent and traveling exhibits in the building. The gift shop is incredibly tempting to the modern design lover. I managed to get away with only spending about $40 US.
After spending the day there, I walked across the street to Bar 10, also on Mitchell Lane (10 Mitchell Lane, in fact) and had a few beers while trying to get in touch with my sister. This place is terminally hip, and a great place to pay five and a half pounds for a pack of Lucky Strikes. Not that you would particularly want Lucky Strikes, but they only sell Lucky Strikes.
Check out The Lighthouse online.
They also have a great contest on right now, with photographs from all over Glasgow.
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 7:21 PM
October 13, 2005
Galería Fotográfica del Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía
Just in from Scotland- photos coming soon! For now, here's something I found while surfing around at lunch today:
Santiago Calatrava ha completado su Palau de les Artes Reina Sofia y aqui hay varios imagines photographcos: Seleccione aqui.
Santiago Calatrava has finished the Queen Sofia Palace of Arts in Valencia, and here are a few photographs of the building: Click here.
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 1:26 PM
October 3, 2005
More Wright, Less Wrong
Okay Joshua, here are more photos. I still have more to come. This is the beautiful house that Joshua and I went to see on Sunday. A lot of these images are way too warm but I just processed them quickly- will update, I promise. Since I'm running way short on time I haven't been able to get all the photos processed (and the light was rather awkward, so they're requiring more work than I expected [after all, i'm a self-professed night photographer, so daylight's a bit disorienting]) and so I'm going to just quote Joshua's entry on the house from his blog:
The house was commissioned by Seamour and Gerte Shavin in 1949 and the home at 334 N. Crest Road on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga was completed in 1952. It is constructed primarily of crab orchard stone and treated Louisiana cypress wood. The Shavins, who still reside at the home, are very enthusiastic about architecture and are able to discuss the poetry and philosophy of their home passionately and knowledgeably. I believe the home is open to tour a few times a year, but if you ask them nicely they might give you a private tour.Rock on. Rock Wright.
Here's the goods:
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 6:28 PM
Hangin' Tough with DJ Frank Lloyd Wright
This is officially a tease. More to come tonight...
[UPDATE: I've uploaded the large version if you want to click on the image!]
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 8:58 AM
September 10, 2005
Cool Building: Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
In preparing for another trip to St. Louis, I happened upon this great building that I must see. Plus it's a contemporary art museum, so all the better! The architect is Brad Clopfil, principal of Allied Works, Portland.
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 6:14 PM
July 22, 2005
Le Corbusier's Ronchamp Chapel
A friend just sent a Web site with photos from Ronchamp, but I found the chapel's own Web site to have much better photographs, plus the site itself designed according to Corbu's own idiosyncratic vision for the place.
Does anyone remember the name of the bar in Raleigh, NC that has a photograph of the chapel on a wall upstairs? I noticed this one evening and thought it quite bizzare, but for me one of those unexpected moments of grace where a pinpoint of light pierces a rather dark situation.
Visit La chapelle de Ronchamp ou La chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut
Posted by Mark C McKnight at 8:08 AM
