Hopeless Romantic

these stories tug at those strings

via le love

You too shall Perish

If you don't get over to the lovely Perish Trust.

CPH metro

So glad we voted this past fall for the high speed train along the California Coast... (So is Obama, yea us!) I can't wait to be able to jump on a train to Los Angeles. Flying has become such a pain in the ass I'd rather drive that hideously long drive but not if there were a train option. Is it too much to ask that the stations are all as beautiful as the metro stations in Copenhagen? Who is being asked to design them? Will there be a competition? Will everyone be invited or just select few well known firms? What auxiliary buildings are being planned?

And are there plans yet as to who is designing the train itself?
He he... this is actually where Copenhagen didn't measure up in the design department the trains were designed by Italians (not so tall people) for the Danes (very tall people) so when you ride the train you see all these lanky people with their knees up to their noses. Just a little undersight. oops! But the trains themselves are quite good looking and fun with a large window in front where all the kids gather to watch you go through the tube.
The station was designed by KHRAS Architects
The train was designed by Giugiaro Design

The sweet smell of Cookies!

Congratulations Anthony! It sure looks like a successful opening to me.
The line was out the door the entire day. Hope you like your new home.

p.s. So sorry for the awful photo.... hmm perhaps its time for a new camera.

Welcome Caleb!

I became an Aunty again this past weekend. I can't wait to meet you little one. And Congratulations Sharin and Dave!

Sunday in the City

Looking forward to Sunday in the City with the lovely Victoria tonight at the Curiosity Shoppe tonight and then a bite to eat over at Beretta. And perhaps if there is time a little meet and greet with Ms. Sofie Ølgaard at Mission Statement.

p.s. Our good friend Anthony is having the opening of his cookie shop this Saturday starting a 1pm. And really who can resist free cookies. By the way as a serious cookie lover and critic. ( Man do I hate those over-sugared cardboard things that are sold in every cafe in town) These are damn good!
(p.s. we are the architects of this project and yes we were paid in cookies!)

A wall of books

I've always wanted a wall of books, in fact recently I've had to curb my book habit because well... I'm running out of places to put them.
When I was a kid my Mom would let us stay up later if we were in bed reading. She would eventually come around and say okay lights out now... I'd say okay and then grab my flashlight and head under the covers...
If there ever comes a day where I get to design my own place there will be one wall that extends through the whole house floor to ceiling holding nothing but books.

photo via one of my fave new (new to me) blogs Hollister Hovey

Zumthor

When I heard that Peter Zumthor won the Pritzker this year I went scrambling to find my school sketchbooks so I could relive my travels.

I had an amazing opportunity to see quite a few of his works, all were awe inspiring and quite frankly in todays world where we race to find the youngest freshest talent with all the 'unbuilt' conceptual work, (I'm growing a bit tired of students coming right out of school proclaiming their greatness, whatever happened to life experience?) I find Zumthors hand to be a calm and humane touch to the structures we inhabit. If nothing else they have a strong experiential quality that awakens your senses as you move sequentially through them. What more could one ask for?

Perhaps my head is in the clouds, but well thats where I like it.
(p.s. my details are far more readable now.)

photos from various sources, dezeen, a postcard, flickr

sketches by yours truly... a long time ago,

Nuts about you

My darling Mister presented me with this small gift after I returned from a trek down the mountain (At the Ranch) for some forgotten foodstuffs. Isn't it lovely! I think its a black walnut seed/pod.

Ranch Dressing

Hello Hello... Hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend last weekend. Our good friends invited us up to the Ranch House again. It is so so lovely up there.

The question on my mind before the drive is always what does one wear to the Ranch? Since I'm a city girl at heart this always seems to be a bit of a struggle. How does one dress sensibly without forgetting to bring a bit of style into the mix.

I know I know so silly, but I think you all know how much I love to play dress-up and just because it is 'the ranch' I'm not going to throw away an opportunity. I know I'm just doing the same things up there as I do in the city but who can resist dressing for the occasion;
eating, drawing, conversating, cooking, sitting around the fire (okay perhaps I don't do that in the city) and the occasional game of horseshoes and my personal favorite archery.
Its not like I'm feeding the pigs or bringing the cattle in in the evening. Still all the same it looks like Elvis knows. Although perhaps Skeet Shooting should be a new past time if thats the uniform for it.

What are you doing this spring weekend kittens?

photo via reference library , Hollister Hovey

They did it again...

They are really truly madly killing me. So rare is it to come across design that feels new and fresh.
Bravo Antoine + Manuel!

Sisters

My sister came to visit me this past week. It was loads of fun catching up... it had been quite awhile since we've had the time to do so. There were many adventures and late nights!

Sisters set via hello bum

Its a girl thing!

You can imagine my delight when a client walks in the door and describes a space that is to be trés feminine as they are armed with a book of Alfonse Mucha and visions of robust women. I almost squealed... for in the world of Architecture femininity is not usually an asset so I have to keep that part of my personality under wraps as much as I possibly can cursing like a Sailor when in the presence of any contractor and keeping my affinity for heels in my closet Monday through Friday. (Is it working Yakuh? Probably not huh...)

So it was my pleasure to put before the client the 'modern mucha's'. We didn't go the illustration route but it was fun none the less to gather these lovely ladies together for a showing. From Top to bottom we have...

Tina
Stina
Coco
Cecilia

I also adore Audrey, Stella and Kat and Kat but thought their ladies were a bit too childlike, waifish or delicate.