This month, VIVUS Architecture + Design turned 2!

So, we’re celebrating with an open house / happy hour on Friday afternoon, January 20 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm. We welcome you to join us!

There will be music, food and drink, as well as an opportunity to see our work and get to know us better.

Your presence is requested, but please, no presents!

Place: VIVUS Architecture + Design Offices

Address: 101 5th Street East, Suite 204 -map-

Date: January 20, 2006

Time: 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Be there!

Back when I was in graduate school at Iowa State University, my major professor loaned me a book called “The Passive Solar Energy Book”, written in 1979 by Ed Mazria. I’ve learned that when people loan out a book very guardedly, there is probably something special in those pages. Bob made very sure he got the book back. But before he did, I scoured the pages, taking in all the knowledge I could about sun angles, insolation, characteristics of heat, passive solar systems, and design patterns. The material became the heart of my Master’s thesis and a part of who I am.

So, when I started my practice, I searched out the out-of-print book and bought a copy, remembering the wealth of information it contained. Sure enough, it came in very handy when designing our first low-energy house. I also have been acquiring other resources to aid in the quest for sustainable design, including energy modeling software, green materials data, and articles on integrated design.

Today I came across a link to Architecture2030.org on Sounding Circle.com (Thanks, Lloyd.) I was delighted to find out Ed Mazria put together this excellent website. It is like coming home after a long trip. What makes it so good?

First, it is a well designed site that is easy to follow, making learning easy and interesting. That is a major hurdle passed.

Second is the content. Each section is concise and factual, making a clear case for green design.

Third is the fantastic collection of resource links; it’s like a second Christmas!

While primarily directed at the architecture community, I think the site is good food for thought for the entire building industry. Take a look!

www.architecture2030.org

Recently, I’ve been following the weblog of Shea Gunther, an eco-entrepreneur from Boulder, Colorado.

His business, Skye Creative, is celebrating it’s second birthday like we are!

Anyway, his entries, while not intended for the business of architecture, have been interesting and thought provoking. He is both an ecological thinker and an businessperson, so perhaps we share a kernel of common core. I haven’t linked to him because I wasn’t sure how it all fit with my blog. The post that got me was this one, what he learned in 2005.

Perhaps your line of work could benefit from his collection of links and insights.

Happy Birthday, Skye Creative, and thanks, Shea!

“Oh for a book and a shady nook…”

John Wilson obviously likes to read. Perhaps his longing for a special place to read suggests that his home lacks that nook!
As designers, we understand the need for spaces that nurture us through the activies that help us unwind, relax, and recharge. An alcove or nook can be a perfect space for reading a book, knitting, sketching, or writing letters.

Alcoves are so important that Christopher Alexander dedicated a chapter of his Pattern Language to them. Here’s the jist: No rectangular room of uniform height can accomodate a group of people well. Togetherness as a group requires space that allows a chance to be alone or in groups of two. These “alone spaces” let the occupant(s) have a small degree of privacy in a space proportionally suited to the activity and yet allows them to see and to be part of the larger activity. A classic example is the bay window seat: cushioned and wonderfully illuminated by the sun, these small places are both wonderfully personal and accessible. And, their charm is undeniable.