Yes, I could have gone to Bed, Bath and Beyond and purchased a slide-out tie rack that would fit into my closet system…but that would be boring! Instead, I thought about what I needed in a tie rack. A space for a dozen ties, maybe hold a belt or two, and someplace to keep my tie tacks so they wouldn’t get lost would do the trick. There was a small unused portion of wall just inside the closet -perfect for a wall-mounted something or other. The result is shown below. Using readily available aluminum angles, brass and steel rods, of course my favorite -truss plates, a bit of paint and then some small bolts pulled it all together. I smile every time I use it. Click on the images below to enlarge.

Two things I love (besides architecture) is photography and music. This video created by Lv Sisi is titled ‘Digital Analogue’ and uses only sounds recorded from a collection of antique cameras and uses 6,000 individual photographs. This stop-motion video is pretty cool!

We love this! Makes total sense. What could shelter you while you wait for a bus…? How about a bus! Rather then taking retired buses to the junk yard, Artist Christopher Fennell created this fun and functional sculpture in Athens, Georgia. Creative, unique and another example of being sustainable by thinking outside the box.

See more of Christopher’s work here including this ‘Canoe Wave’. Awesome!

This fun video emphasizes that although we all are not sitting next to you in a mall, there are many of us who applaud those who make the effort to recycle. It does not take much to effect us all -directly and indirectly. Cheers!

Today we speak with a AIA Minnesota’s Communication Director Jennifer Gilhoi about ‘What is the American Institute of Architects?’. A few questions discussed include:
-What is the American Institute of Architects?
-How does the National/State/Chapter arrangement work?
-Why (and who) should think about becoming a member?
-What are the benefits and opportunities?
-What sort of Public Outreach or Community Interaction does the AIA get involved with and encourage?
-Is there information or resources the organization provides to the general public for those interested in working with an Architect or for just learning about architecture?

AIA Minnesota web: www.aia-mn.org
Architecture Minnesota Magazine web: www.architecturemn.com
AIA National web: www.aia.org

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

We are still in the beginning design stages of this home remodeling and addition project. The video shows the first sketches that we presented to the clients after our initial meeting. A big chunk of this first part of work is understanding the existing home and site. The goal of these early meetings and presentations is to start with the ‘big picture’ and not get bogged down in the details -those will come later to reinforce the overall design concept. We start by loosely putting rooms and forms together so the client has something to look at and react to. We then discuss the ideas, doodle over the drawings and listen to the verbal (and non-verbal) reactions from the clients. Then we encourage them to take a couple days, let things soak in before we touch base and move forward with refinements. Stay tuned for more updates!

Architect: michael huber architects         Contractor: Cates Fine Homes

Our annual Fourth of July tradition led us to my parents place in beautiful Walker, Minnesota.  I instantly relax seeing the clear lake water, hearing the sound of the Loons and visiting the shops and events of  that quintessential small town.  All walks of life gather here.  Whether ‘a local’ or ‘a metro’, everyone is a citizen of Walker.  Besides the usual parade, fireworks, shopping…and garage sale signs stuck out everywhere, this Fourth of July, the town dedicated the ‘Circle of Time’.  The community had gathered together and commissioned 6 bronze sculptures dedicated to the history of the town.  They recognized that we all are quick to demolish the old in favor of the new.

With a backdrop of the County Museum, liquor store and Dairy Queen, Mayor Johnson stated that we need to ‘Look to the future while preserving the past’ and more sculptures will be added to the group as time marches on. A few more words by Reverend Olson and sculptor Joel Randell led to the unveiling -with the Foundation Chorale singing Battle Hymn of the Republic.  It doesn’t get much better then this!

The statues included: Early Man, Prehistoric Tribes, The Fur-Trader, The Lumberman, The Fisherman and The Family.  I told you, we ARE part of this community!

Several years ago, our office was fortunate enough to lead and create a Visioning Document for the entire 400 acre YMCA Camp St. Croix. This is different from a Master Plan such that it included not only recommendations of materials, forms, etc. but also philosophical goals. One of those goals was to be mindful of our environment and achieve LEED Certification with any new building project. This project will be the first on the campus to ‘go for the gold’!

After many discussions, design studies and cost estimates, we are at the point of moving forward with the construction drawings. The final layout, form, materials, etc. were derived from the desired program, associated budget, its site and adjacencies to other buildings along with guidelines indicated in the Visioning Document.

The next step is to coordinate the details and systems with all of the team members to ensure the building functions and hits our LEED target. Stay tuned for more posts on that process. Click on the images to enlarge.

Architect: Us!, Green Bldg Facilitator: EcoDEEP, Structural Eng: Mattson Macdonald Young, Mech/Elec Eng: Gausman & Moore, Civil Eng: Foth Infrastructure & Environment

I ran across this video and it reminded me of my days at the good old University of Minnesota. Crazy stuff was imagined, discussed and tried. It is important to maintain some of that creative care-free attitude as we develop our routines. A description of this particular project is below.

HEADSPACE 1 invites architecture students to take ideas from within their heads and place them, literally, on the outside. After three months of sketching with pencils and sculpting in clay, modeling in software and cutting from paper, unfolding and fabricating, more than 300 complex and extravagant structures have been completed. This short documentary invites you to see the makers and their unorthodox art at the end-of-term fashion parade… The HEADSPACE projects reside at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, University of Melbourne, Australia.

We were pretty fortunate to be introduced to our newest Client’s by a contractor we had worked with in the past. Jim and Marilyn are a great and fun couple who are wanting to turn their early 70’s cabin into a full time residence. Jim builds custom bicycles and will also move his creative shop space here as well. (We may need to incorporate some pedals, gears, chains, etc. into the design!)  I gave them a tour of  the Pine Lake Retreat which had similar features they were interested in and luckily for me we were hired!

The upper level of the cabin will be wiped clean and a new open floor plan will be developed making it the primary living area. Several additions will reshape the exterior along with a new bold roof form and a change in siding. I had my camera with to document the existing conditions and decided to film a bit as well. Check out the video below to get a feel of the current cabin then keep checking back and see how this project develops over the next several months!

Architect: michael huber architects         Contractor: Cates Fine Homes

Today we speak with a Real Estate Consultant Kris Jensen about what you need to know in searching for that perfect piece of property to build your new home or cabin. Kris is an Agent with Keller Williams Premier Realty. A few questions discussed include:
-What are the first/main things people need to be aware of when beginning the property search?
-What questions do you ask clients to get a better understanding of their goals?
-How do you present options?
-What information do you gather about a property to make sure it is a good fit/value?
-What typical costs are there associated with purchasing property?

Feel free to contact Kris via email at kjensen@kw.com
or phone 651-491-3030
Web: www.kjensen.com

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

Last fall, my wife and I had a discussion about raising a couple of chickens. It might be a fun hobby, provide fresh eggs and help teach our kids about where food comes from -let alone teach responsibility. I happen to be doing a Master Plan for some residential clients and yes, they have 5 chickens. It had to be karma. The local zoning ordanance for our property says we can have one ‘farm’ animal. That means one chicken or one cow! How does a cow equal a chicken? I made the case to the town that one cow should equal TWO chickens. They are in the process of evaluating a change to the zoning ordinance. I was on a roll!

This was going to be fun! Our chickens would have the coolest coop ever. Designs were spinning in my head and I was looking forward to those special bonding moments with my kids as we build this work of art together. My wife’s birthday was coming up and what a perfect gift to give someone you love (and who has everything). My youngest daughter and I made a little cardboard chicken coop complete with a walking chicken that laid gumball eggs. The big day came and we were excited to see my wife’s reaction.

We were shocked to see that our wonderful gift went over like a lead balloon. She didn’t recall our conversation and didn’t share in our excitement about raising chickens! I am still living with the ridicule from my wifes’s friends about my chicken birthday gift. Maybe I was more excited about designing and building a chicken coop then actually raising chickens anyway… It was still a ‘win’ for me -I never did have to get a different gift -maybe I will go golfing later today… Click on the images to enlarge.

Here are some links to what others have done:
Modern Chicken Coop in Seattle
Three Modern Chicken Coops by Studio H
All Cooped Up