I saw this house on a visit to Comanche, Texas a couple of years ago. I like the curved roof and the entry porch with the door and window with pointed head trim. I like the proportions of the attic vent. Most of all I like the tasteful paint job. Siding, trim, and windows, and foundation are all painted white and there is one accent of black trim. I am curious about the person who lives in this house in small town central Texas. Clearly an artist exercising great restraint and minimalism.
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Found Objects | Tagged: color, curves, minimalism | 
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Posted by sarah
Removal of material in decorative pattern creates sparkle of light on plain steel chair back
Leave a Comment » | Found Objects | Tagged: decoration, holes, patterns | Permalink
Posted by sarah
It’s not the greatest photo, but here are the promised southwestern blue (turquoise) windows. (I found it! southwestern teal on colorswatches.com and from the Catalina Pueblo architectural guidelines – DunnEdwards Reef Encounter– DE573 ) Probably the color is just right for the Sonoran desert because it mimics the color of copper and turquoise, abundant in the region. This photo is the front of my aunt’s house in the Catalina Pueblo. It is part of a 108 house development designed and built in the 1970s by Don Maxon. The association has fairly conservative design guidelines, but they do allow this one bright accent color.
Ahead of their time in the 1970s, the architect and builder preserved much of the native desert vegetation, including many saguaro that are now well over 100 years old. They modeled the houses closely after houses in Alamos, a pueblo in Mexico, sticking to design elements that were carefully documented. The community also has shared amenities such as swimming pools and walking trails. I have mixed feelings about rigid design guidelines, but in this case the result is a very tasteful and cohesive architectural fabric.
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Posted by sarah
On a recent visit to Tucson, Arizona I saw this cool bridge for bikes and pedestrians over East Broadway Blvd . (If you zoom into the map and switch to satellite you can see the extent of it. It was designed by Simon Donovan. I also liked the bright blue bollards and railing. This particular color looks just right in the Sonoran desert, but Im not sure why. You will see the identical color in another post later this week. The painted steel mesh skin really looks like a snake – kind of like a dry, discarded snake-skin. The shadows created by the crisscrossing steel are also quite nice.
Three southwestern blue bollards
Southwestern blue ramp railing
snake-skin
Rattlesnake tail
Looking through the snake
Tucker exits the snake mouth
Snake head through the trees
Snake bridge body through the trees
Dagmar and Tucker walk back through towards the tail
2 Comments | Found Objects | Tagged: bridge, color, desert architecture, diamond, rattlesnake, steel., Tucson, turquoise | Permalink
Posted by sarah
The High Line in Manhattan is credited with generating over $2Billion of new investment and the creation of 20,000 jobs.
High Line fall 2010
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Posted by sarah
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Posted by sarah
Redwood railing with copper pipe - Forestville, CA
Painted railing with decorative holes in the white pickets, contrasting black braces - Inverness, CA
Painted railing with decorative cross-shaped cutouts - Berkeley, CA
Leave a Comment » | Found Objects | Tagged: guards, historical styles, holes, railings | Permalink
Posted by sarah
Federal Center, Chicago, Mies van der Rohe (Photographed by me at the MoMA, NY)
I worked on a studio project once with a German exchange student whos drawings looked a lot like this. He was very smart and I liked him, but he was not an overachiever or a workaholic. He kept things simple in part because it was easier that way. On the other hand you’d probably say that Mies showed remarkable restraint and that to achieve minimalism he spent long hours honing things down to the barest essence, making all the parts speak together in unison with no part left unconsidered. Less is More.
I took this photo of the same building (to left) a few years ago. Minimalist buildings make a nice backdrop for the colorful Calder sculpture.
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Posted by sarah
I enjoyed watching this video of life in a 12′x12′ cabin with no hot water, electricity, internet, and heated by fireplace. In exchange for giving up these modern amenities, the occupants get peace, quiet and a simple life. Not a life for everyone, but perhaps we all can take something from this example. The cabin itself is also very well designed and built.
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Posted by sarah
My friend Amanda installed this Marmoleum floor in her laundry room. I think the color choice is great in this small, mostly white room. It might be a bit busy in a bigger room with more colors, objects, and activity. Marmoleum is a great product – It is old fashioned linoleum made from “linseed oil, rosins, wood flour, jute and ecologically responsible pigments.” It comes in a wonderful array of colors…most are subtly speckled so dirt and crumbs and scratches don’t show so much.
Leave a Comment » | Found Objects, Information | Tagged: color, flooring, green building, linoleum, patterns | Permalink
Posted by sarah
fibercement mitered corner
hobbit lurking in the sun
A bit of redwood siding after all that fibercement
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Posted by sarah
colorful fresco in the loggia
More of the fresco in the loggia
decorative cutout in a wood door panel
Foyer with concrete tracery and view through to garden
cute kitchenette in guest suite
I took these photos with my phone.
4 Comments | Found Objects | Tagged: Berkeley, Doorways, holes, houses, Julia Morgan | Permalink
Posted by sarah
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