Today we speak with Mike Langer from Langer Construction about the mysterious gas ‘Radon’. A few questions discussed include:

-What is Radon gas and where does it come from?
-How does Radon get into our homes and what are the health risks?
-What are a few misconceptions?
-How do you test for Radon and what do the various levels mean?
-What are the options for removing the gas from your home?

Feel free to contact Mike Langer at 651-261-1830
Dave Langer at 612-987-1878
or email Dave at langer427@gmail.com

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Ha!  I love looking at innovative furniture. Ran across these unique pieces and thought I would do a quick post to share.

Red cart by Ramon Coronado – other by Mike Bouchet

I am fascinated by the people and processes relating to the ‘tools’ of my architectural trade. Heidi Winge Strom is a textile designer that strives to create a multi-sensorial experience of our environment through her work. It’s great to get some ‘behind the scenes’ video to hear and see the care Heidi has for textiles and how they can enhance our projects.

Heidi W. Strom / Textile Designer from Jérôme de Gerlache on Vimeo.

Architect Hannes Zweifel with Studio Zimoun created this Sound Sculpture. They used simple cardboard squares and DC motors organized in a complex pattern to bridge static and kinetic art. Be sure to check out more of Studio Zimoun’s work by clicking the link above.

Zimoun + Hannes Zweifel : 200 prepared dc-motors, 2000 cardboard elements 70x70cm, 2011 from STUDIO ZIMOUN on Vimeo.

Source: Contemporist

Using standard heavy-duty warehouse shelving, Freeman Murray has created architecture. Jaaga, a Bangalore-based company, is using these ‘ pallet racks’ to be an economical structure to help developing countries. Take a look at the video to learn more.

Source: I Like Architecture

I love this video of Sam Weller using using every-day objects as sounding boards to create music. Inspired by street musicians, Sam collaborated with Yamaha and The Royal College of Art to develop a device that amplifies the natural resonance of the objects. Take a look… and listen!

Public Resonance from sam weller on Vimeo.

Berlin Architect Sigurd Larsen built a box to store all of his small treasures. Each drawer, door and compartment represents spaces in one’s personal environment. Check out the video below for the philosophy and construction of ‘The Shrine’.

Sigurd Larsen // The Shrine from Dario Natale on Vimeo.

The Shard Tower is the tallest skyscraper in the UK. Photographer Paul Raftery and director Dan Lowe teamed up to create a timelapse documenting the final weeks of construction. Looks like a great project… and who doesn’t like a good timelapse!

The Shard: A Timelapse Study – A Film by Paul Raftery and Dan Lowe from Paul Raftery and Dan Lowe on Vimeo.

The Environmental Landscape Management crew are working hard to provide a ‘level playing field’ for our kids. Regrading work and the building of stone retaining walls are underway. Here is a quick video showing some of the progress.

Backyard Construction from michael huber architects on Vimeo.

We feel real lucky to have a wooded back yard but like most people building a new home, the landscape work gets reduced for the greater good of the Architecture! Unfortunately, that is not always a good decision -setting and structure need to work with and enhance each other… and be functional for your needs. Though beautiful, our yard had a big crown in it that made it unusable for playing games. We decided to flatten a portion to make it more usable and to add a retaining wall around the fire pit -which will remain at its current elevation. The video below is a crew removing two trees… on a very windy day. Check back to see the final result.

Something fun for a Friday! Creativity comes in many shapes and sizes. I love these ‘Rube Goldberg-esque’ machines. Making the easy complex is part of the fun! Hey Hey Hey is a design group that had a bit of time on their hands to put this together. I am glad they did… Enjoy!

Melvin the Mini Machine from HEYHEYHEY on Vimeo.

If you have more time -hey, it’s Friday -of course there is time! Here is the first Melvin the Machine but on a much larger scale.