You may have been seeing more and more about Mid-Century Modern (MCM) design popping up all over the place. Right along side of that, you may have seen a lot of reference to Palm Springs. No, not Palm Beach - Palm Springs. As in the California desert paradise frequented by many of Hollywood’s elite during [you guessed it] the mid 20th century. Palm Springs has a very high concentration of MCM homes. And, if you have not already heard, we are in the midst of MODERNISM WEEK in Palm Springs: 11 days of bliss, sunshine, smiling faces, and all things modern.
It is safe to assume you will need to book your flights for 2020 and plan your visit to next year’s Modernism Week well in advance of next February. However, despite this week being amazing, you can visit PS other times of the year and still have a fabulous time. Just don’t expect quite as many Mid-Century Modern homes to have their doors open and ready to welcome you in. A few major benefits of attending modernism week in Palm Springs is the organization of the endless supply of tours you [the public] can choose from. Couple that with the huge wealth of knowledge of the volunteers, organizers, and designers from around the world coming to this spot really make MODERNISM WEEK truly a unique experience.
Richard Neutra’s, Kaufmann House Palm Springs, California
Some of our favorite shots and spots from last year’s studio trip left us wanting more, so we will be back to Palm Springs. Will you?.
On this day: Louis Kahn
On this day, one of the great American Architects was born. Happy birthday to Louis Kahn!
Louis Kahn was an Architect who made some amazing and monumental pieces of architecture during the 20th Century. On the west coast, visiting the Salk Institute is inspiring for any designer (or human being for that matter). Or back east, visiting the Yale University Art Gallery and the Exeter Library at Philips Academy in Exeter, NH. We have been fortunate to have experienced Kahn’s visions in the built form, and feel it is important that we highlight such a great mind.
Images below are from the National Assembly building of Bangladesh, sometimes called Kahn’s greatest achievement.
Today, our skylines are often plagued with lifeless glass facades and developer-driven designs. Often, off to the wayside are Architects and their Architecture, a profession and an art so often undervalued by our own industry members, low balling, undercutting or not charging at all for their expertise and services. So today, we acknowledge a true Architect - a man riddled with drama and tragedy, but a legend whose career was barely acknowledged until years after his death. Happy Birthday sir, and thank you for these spaces.
Here are some of our favorite memories over the years visiting some of Kahn’s inspiring spaces.
Ask an Architect: Why are construction costs so high?
I get this question a lot. No matter your budget, salary or bank account size, people love their money. There is not one person in the world who chooses to pay more for something when they think thet could pay less. That said, we live in a very strange “2-day shipping” kind of world. One where imported items fill our homes and often have very little value in our lives. These same objects are to blame when we ask, “Why is this or that so expensive?”. By having low quality items around us at all times, it distorts our understanding of value, something hand made or locally sourced, and what it means to have meaningful things in our lives. So, my best response to this question is: instead of asking yourself why construction costs are so high, try asking: “Do inspiring and meaningful spaces matter in my life? Is making memories with my family in a well-built home with unique details or selective objects important to me?”. If that is the case, then perhaps it might help us turn off our distorted throw-away-culture consumer brain and turn on the herloom, long-lasting switch which could help us all ask, “Does this bring value into my life and what am I willing to pay for that?”.
What’s new in the Studio?
Technology is on our mind this month. We have been working hard at developing a virtual reality interactive design review for our clients. It is certainly a work in progress, but this will allow our clients added value throughout the design process to best understand what their new spaces will look and feel like. Head over to the VR portion of our website to take a peek at our first project example. Remember, you are viewing this inside a web page and not a headset. For those who do have a headset and want to explore our designs more, please email us directly and we would be glad to send over the VR file that can work with your headset. Otherwise, for those of you who have the Power Glove, it’s so bad… however we don’t support the Power Glove at this time.
With Kisses,
