Design Shifts

Lately, I have been in the myopic focus of work. Imagine my surprise when I lift my head and see the plethora of great design going on outside my bubble. Do I need a vacation?? Innovation is alive and well despite absolutely no support from our government. Maybe that's a good thing.

GREEN  When I attended the first USGBC conferences years ago, we gathered around donuts and coffee moaning about: how could this movement ever confront the bastion of entrenched city codes? Today, the conventions are huge and USGBC is the foremost buzzword in commercial building and becoming the political rhetoric at every local planning commission meeting. But, I am alarmed by the rise of green-washing: BP Oil as the green energy source or Dupont as...what?.

DESIGN Whether the realm is large city structures or furniture design, artists are constantly recreating the language. I think the definition of modern is the fearless mix of diverse world/historic influences. Some of my favs are Sassi Luminosa for new lighting and Casa Tolo for clean architecture. Of course, the Italians are dominating the interior spaces and the Germans excel at clean, hardware innovation with sources like Bartles and Raumplus.

WORLD FOCUS Doug Sharp at BSB Design in Des Moines, Iowa has created an instant solution in South Africa to poverty housing. It is a structure that ships FedEx, can be assembled in a day and only takes a screwdriver and an awl (which are included). Link to picture above for more info. Get on board Renzo Piano.

(Photos from Dwell)