No, not Al Gore, but GoreDesign - a design studio based in Arizona that specializes in custom concrete and steel furniture/fixture. I have to post this because not only do I absolutely love *LOVE* the topographic sink (below), I also love this little shell picture (above) and the quote from their site:

“Come upon an emerging design, and against certain lights, an industrial high noon, the silhouette of invention stretches itself out, turns darker, heavier, it begins throwing off its own long shadows – smokestacks, carbon, the metallic haze of industry and plastic.

But then there’s the design that wandered off, the one that turns its face to the sun and makes itself translucent in the light, that takes on the shapes and colors of the world outside it, that remembers its foundations will rest on the earth.”

To GoreDesign and all the designers and consumers out there who give a damn about the environment, I salute you.

PS. I just got me a grocery shopping bag. From now on, no more plastic or paper. Just one bag that’ll let me do my little part.

ArchitectureDays is a three-city series of events including lectures by leading architects, customized tours, receptions in amazing spaces and more. Sponsored by Architectural Digest, the goal of the event is to celebrate architecture and its influences. Dates are: New York - 10.9 to 10.15; Los Angeles - 10.23 to 10.29; and Miami - 11.06 to 11.12. See more details here.

I’ll be attending the Modernism in Greenwich Village session which will cover mid-century modern buildings in the neighborhood. Although I would also love to check out the Brooklyn Shoreline, waking up for a 10AM *anything* on *both* days of my birthday weekend is just unrealistic. (Well, I guess doing that any weekend is unrealistic for me). Along with Digital Life event at the Javitz Center, it will be a good first relaxing weekend in a very long time to look forward to.

.. I’d love me one (or more) of these uber cool prefab homes. Somewhere along the way I hear from people that prefab homes have a sort of “stigma” around the concept. What exactly that stigma is, I’m not sure. One thing for certain is prefab homes are generally more friendly to the environment. Some say they are cheaper because of fewer labor cost, while others say the saved labor cost is transferred into high tech materials and delivery anyway. If I were ever presented with an opportunity to build or buy a home, I’d definitely build. And I’d definitely go for prefab. What would you do? It’s friday, let’s dream a little dream.

Picture from Resolution 4 Architecture. For more resources on prefab housing, tune in to Live Modern.

Not long ago I blogged about how uttery difficult it is to find the perfect planters for my patio. I guess if I had found these guys earlier, I would certainly have not complained. Architectural Pottery makes gorgeous geometric shaped planters you see in every chic hotels and boutiques. That ought to say it all. Their most famous product is probably the Peanut Planter (not shown here) which has made its way to both Domino and Dwell many times. Above: Gallery 2 Product 8 ($310 and up) and Gallery 3 Product 10 (price varies). You can custom order different colors and finishes here. Enjoy.

Despite various buzz around Project Runway, I have to admit I have not seen a single episode of it until today. Aside from Heidi being unexpectedly bland, the show does have that Apprentice season one appeal. One of thing I love about the show is how they decorated the contestants’ living quarters. Bold, dramatic, modern - their selections fit just right in every camera shot. On one little section of it I saw an accent wall that reminds me of Brad Teasdale’s work I saw at BrooklynDesign a little while back — which is why I am now posting about him. Below is a snippet of his philosophy from his website. Beautiful work.

“I use glass, concrete, metal and wood to reinterpret classic themes with modern technique and function. My work is a reminder that fine art need not be separate from ultilitarian purpose. Above all, I strive to communicate the joy that nature and great art inspire; and I am committed to using sustainably harvested materials with ecological responsibility.”

Architect, artist, and engineer Santiago Calatrava was born on July 28, 1951 in Valencia, Spain. He recently had an exhibit at the MET that I missed. I did, however, learned who he was and saw many photos of his projects (and, of course, fell in love). There is an organic, and very poetic feel to his constructions. I can’t fully articulate so I’ll just let the photos speak for themselves. I am on the market for blueprint copies of his bridges (like one above). If anyone has leads, holla.