Architectural Fantasy Camp

You've probably heard of adult Baseball Fantasy Camps but Architectural Fantasy Camps? It's true. The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust is offering a four day adult architectural fantasy camp this October in Oak Park, IL. The class is geared to non-architects who are passionate about design. Campers will learn basic drafting techniques and create their own original floor plans. [caption id="attachment_1010" align="aligncenter" width="550" caption="Robie House at The University of Chicago Campus - Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright"][/caption] Participants will work with architects in Wright's original drafting studio in Oak Park. What an inspiration! Dates + Times: October 3-6, 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm Location: Frank ...

The Power of Architecture

Architecture is a powerful tool for community building. This story about the Park Street Clinic in New Haven demonstrates how a building can not only be used to help heal the sick but the community as well. Laboratories don't usually stand out as works of architecture; most are tucked out of sight. The new Park Street Clinical Laboratory in New Haven, however, is something else entirely—a building that not only aids medical diagnoses but is a quite visible attempt to heal longstanding physical and psychological rifts in the surrounding community. The latest addition to the Yale-New Haven ...

Happy Magic Water Park

Remember this? The water cube became the symbol of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The building was noted for its unique design, energy efficiency and innovative use of materials. It is also considered one of the "fastest" pools in the world and boasted 25 world records during the Olympics. Well, fast forward to 2010 and take a look at the water cube now. Redesigned as Happy Magic Water Park the building has taken on a new life. The water park is so popular it has become China's second most visited tourist attraction next to the great wall! The Olympic pool is still ...

53rd Annual New Hampshire Antiques Show

If you love antiques, you don’t want to miss the 53rd Annual New Hampshire Antiques Show. This antiques show is sponsored by New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association (NHADA), managed by a dedicated team of volunteers and is considered “the best show of its kind in New England” by Maine Antique Digest. Exhibitors offer a wide range of antique furniture and accessories at the New Hampshire Antiques Show, such as clocks, folk art, textiles, glassware and more! Each exhibitor is a NHADA member, adhering to the highest standards of the antiques business, celebrating the long tradition of excellence in quality of merchandise, and ...

Sustainability Begins with Preservation

While the trend to "build green" is noble, preserving what we already have is a true green option. We have been involved in many wonderful restoration projects and it is an absolute passion of ours. We came across this interactive program on the Virginia Department of Historic Resources website and we thought it was worth sharing. The tool will show you how to weatherize a historic house in a way that is sensitive to its inherent "green" qualities and older materials. It will also show you how to reduce the energy costs for a historic home. Tips include what to look ...

Happy Magic Water Park

Posted on August 24, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Remember this?

The water cube became the symbol of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The building was noted for its unique design, energy efficiency and innovative use of materials. It is also considered one of the “fastest” pools in the world and boasted 25 world records during the Olympics.

Well, fast forward to 2010 and take a look at the water cube now. Redesigned as Happy Magic Water Park the building has taken on a new life. The water park is so popular it has become China’s second most visited tourist attraction next to the great wall! The Olympic pool is still used for swim meets, but the water park utilizes the rest of the facility. What a great way to re-purpose the building.

All photos via inhabitat.

Rain Barrels

Posted on August 22, 2010 · 1 Comment

Photo credit University of Rhode Island

Did you know that residential water usage goes up 40% during the summer months? This is why a simple rain barrel is a great eco-friendly solution to enhancing your water supply.

What is a rain barrel?

A rain barrel collects and stores rainwater from rooftops to use later for lawn and garden watering. If this water is not captured it will flow through your gutters and then become runoff headed to storm drains.

What are the advantages of a rain barrel?

Stores water for when you use it most.
The rain water containing no lime, chloring or calcium
Potential to save homewoners 1300 gallons of water
Saving water not only helps the environment it decreases your water bill.
Decreases runoff to streams which may have potential pollutants

Where can I find a rain barrel?

The easiest way to find a rain barrel and compare prices is through a quick internet search. You can also find them at local hardware stores or nurseries. Prices generally range from $89 to $159.

Do you have a rain barrel? We’d love to hear if you find them useful.

A Seaside Home

Posted on August 19, 2010 · Leave a Comment

NECN’s New England Dream Home featured a wonderful Seabrook, NH home designed by TMS Architects. The home was inspired by the architecture of the 1920s when the country saw a boom in beach living. The house has a contemporary open floor plan with some of the beautiful architectural details of the period. A wooden ceiling, subway tiles, beautiful molding and bead board are all a nod to the 1920s.

TMS’s John Merkle faced several challenges in designing the home due to zoning and lot constraints. The lot was long and narrow, height was limited and the first floor was right on dune level. The solution was a home where the living space is on the second floor and the private quarters are on the first floor. This way everyone can enjoy the spectacular view.

Take a look for yourself.

http://www.vimeo.com/13706452

« Previous Page — Next Page »