Fibonacci Sequence, Golden Mean and Nature. Basic, complex and beautiful.
Source: FibonacciNumbers0112 and Chris Fenwick

Finally had some time to film a residential project we completed in Maplewood, Minnesota. The weather was not the best but I hope the video gives you a feel for this fun home. Thanks Jason and Stacy for letting us intrude and for trusting us with designing your fabulous project!

For ‘Photography Friday’, I found this cool video on Film Maker IQ and wanted to show it here. This was to mark the opening of a shoe store, believe it or not, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It took 25 animators over 5 months to create this video and 350,000 Post-it Notes. 30,000 people wrote messages on the Post-its. Fun!

This inspiring structure built in China has a sculptural quality but with its white color, it allows the people to be the real focus. The siting and lobbies are beautiful but the true gem is the auditorium. Take a look!
More images at: The Guardian UK
Source: I Like Architecture

A former client, now friend, started a new company called Bolster. They help develop the Brand, the Story, the Experience of your business. My wife and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the opening bash in their recently remodeled warehouse space in Minneapolis. They did an excellent job turning this former foundry into a functional and special work setting. There is something about getting a group of creatives together that is energizing. Sure it could have been the live music, catered food or the open bar… but I think it was the conversations with old, and now some new friends. Shoot them a line if you are interested in moving beyond just a logo. I know you will also make some new friends.
Click on images to enlarge.

We are under construction! The new offices for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization is located on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. The invasive plant species will be removed opening a visual and physical connection to the river. The entire site will be sculpted to demonstrate a variety of stormwater management techniques.

As with any former industrial site, there are challenges with knowing what actually is under the surface. Contaminates, old refrigerators, construction debris…? Soil borings will tell you what is directly below that spot but there cold be a buried oil tank 2 feet away! For the most part, we were OK -except for the geothermal wells. We ended up having twice as many as planned (60) due to rock. Luckily, they only needed to be half as deep to accomplish the same task.

The Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) are going up as you can see by the photos. Once the steel work is done, the building shell will be completed in three days! We still have a long way to go but it is always exciting to see progress! Click on images to enlarge.
Contractor: Meisinger Construction

Everyone can be creative. You probably already are and don’t know it! This is a great little video about ‘What may seem obvious to you, may be amazing to others’. Don’t be afraid to express, to collaborate, and test out your ideas. You may be surprised at what develops!

Source: Nice

I am working on a new facility for the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (see MWMO Project Update posts). While attending some meetings at their current office space, I saw the instructions and ‘fixins’ for Alice’s Wonder Spray – an environmentally safe cleaning spray you can make yourself inexpensively. I mixed up a batch and brought it home. It is amazing. I don’t worry about toxic or abrasive chemicals with this and it cleans! It even took some stains off my exterior siding without dulling the finish. Unfortunately, I don’t know Alice’s story but print out the label below, stick on a spray bottle and mix some up in her honor!

Here is one of those small, simple and economical DIY projects that never got built. The idea was to have a ‘convertible’ building that could be locked up when gone but opened to allow for views/breezes when visiting. Steel tubes slide through u-bolts to lock the doors but then can be used to create an awning when opened. Screened panels fold down to protect you from those pesky mosquitos and ‘bunk shelves’ also fold down from the walls that can comfortably sleep four.

This would then be turned into a storage shed when the main cabin was built. In this case, the client built the cabin we designed first…!

Today we speak with EcoDEEP‘s Kevin Flynn AIA LEED AP about LEED. This is an internationally recognized green building certification program. A few questions discussed include:
-What is the basic philosophy behind LEED?
-Are there different classifications depending on the building type?
-What are the categories within LEED and how does the point system work?
-What do people need to be aware of when looking into doing a LEED project?
-Basic steps to become certified -costs/paybacks?
-What do you see for the future in terms of LEED -building codes, etc.?

Feel free to contact Kevin with further questions.
email: info@ecodeep.com
phone: 651-788-8641

Other links worth checking out: United States Green Building Council
and USGBC Minnesota Chapter

Please subscribe to these podcasts also via iTunes. Search for the title ‘Design & Other Fun Stuff’.

Great little video on ways to stay creative. Enjoy each day, each struggle and each success. Check it out and get creative!

Time to wrap up another project. This is always a great time -seeing the final product of a lot of efforts come together. It also feels like you are sending a child off on their own. The day to day contact, the teaching/learning, and the relationships with everyone involved now changes. You have to trust that success will continue and that you have done all you could to give the client and building a bright, happy future.

This ‘final’ stage of the project involves walking through the facility with the Owner, members of the Design Team and the Contractor to develop what is called a ‘Punchlist’. These are items that still need to be completed or items to repair. Usually (hopefully) the extent of work is paint touch-ups and installing a few missing ceiling tile. Closing out his project was a bit more complicated because the Owner completed some of the work. We needed to make sure and clarify responsibility. In the end the list was small and the church will be officially ‘moving in’ by the end of the month. Thanks to everyone involved and especially the Riverview Baptist Church for allowing us to help realize your dream!