Archive for July, 2010

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Low ceilings, old wires, hot days


2010
07.28

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This past month the temperature in NJ has been over 90 most days and over 100 for at least 30% of those days.  So we may have been overusing our ceiling fan or it may have just been at the end of it’s life, but the swaying and clicking got louder and louder!  My wife thought I was trying to kill her by rigging the ceiling fan to fall on her in her sleep.

Our Master Bedroom was the last room in the house with the lighting left over from the previous owner.  In addition to the noises it was making, it was never any good with lighting.   The room always felt dark, even with the nightstand lights on.

This weekend we decided we needed to upgrade and last night we finally got around to it.  We have old wiring and low ceilings, which I had to overcome…
(more…)



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Trenton’s Rich


2010
07.16

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Posted in architecture, the profession | 2 Comments »

According to a recent study (Page 6), Trenton is full of rich people!  Who knew?  6th highest per capita income in the country!  We do have a ton of people who live here who work in the city and save up their cash by commuting…  Now if I can find out how to tap into those 6.2% of our population that are millionaires and get them to hire an architect!

Trenton

Trenton - a Capital city if you have capital



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Disappearing Walls


2010
07.15

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Posted in architecture, products | 4 Comments »

I had a great professor at RPI named Ken Warriner (R.I.P. Ken) who in design studios was a nut about ambiguous spaces.  He would push us to design spaces that could function in different ways with different occupants at different times of the day, spaces that could be one thing at one time, and something completely different at others.  One of his first year studio tasks was to work on spaces that were both inside and outside simultaneuosly.

Nana Wall in residential application

In most climates, that inside/outside line is pretty easy to find because there is a plane of glass keeping the heat or a/c inside.  But on those days where the temperature is just right, here is a product that definitely helps blur that line of inside and out…  disappearing walls!  A company called Nana Wall has large sliding window/door systems that can really open up your indoor space to become more of a covered outdoor space. (more…)



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June/July Project Update


2010
07.14

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June was a little rough on the wallet, but by collecting on a few outstanding debts from clients, I again worked through the slump and July has been very busy thus far, so that’s great news.  Here’s the update of what’s been going on since the previous project update post:

Propel Braddock Hills Charter High School, Pittsburgh, PA: Finally the client has given the go-ahead on this 46,000 sf project and things are flying right along – the floor plans are pretty close to finalized, interior elevations and details have been started, engineering is underway and a 50% set should be issued by the 16th of July! If things stay on schedule, the 85% bidding docs will be issued in Mid August and VE will begin.


The Sterling Building, Trenton, NJ is an old retail building that the developer wants to gut and rehab into a LEED certified green building with a mixed use occupancy. Bids have been coming in significantly higher than the developer can justify and are threatening the current plans for the project.  At this point, the project is on hold as the developer determines the next steps.

GuavaJavaGuava and Java, Philadelphia Airport - The new Guava & Java coffee shop in the B concourse OPENS TODAY!   This location, while small, will feature coffee, tea, cold beverages, pastries and hot items too.  Make sure your next trip through the airport includes a stop at this new venue. (more…)

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Cool Vacation Spot


2010
07.13

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Posted in architecture, criticism, things to see | 2 Comments »

Poniente Beachfront of Benidorm

Poniente Beachfront of Benidorm (Spain)

If I get to go to Spain, I hope to have the chance to check out this new promenade featured in this month’s Architectural Record.  The Poniente Beachfront of Benidorm
is a mile long beach front construct designed by the Office of Architecture in Barcelona (OAB) after winning a design competition for the project.

From the Architectural Record article: “Completed in 2009, the architects’ solution is a sinuous structure comprising a sculptural concrete shell and brilliantly color-coded, landscaped tile paths punctuated by stairways and ramps that provide universal access to the town and beach. A slender “boardwalk” winds around the base for strolling, bicycling, and jogging.”

Poniente Beachfront of Benidorm

Poniente Beachfront of Benidorm (Spain)