Music City

Greetings from Nashville! I am posting from The Perch, an adorable coffee shop near my hotel in the suburb of Brentwood. And as of right now, I am eyeing their extensive crepe menu. To be honest, Nashville was never high on my list of places to see. I figured I'd get to it eventually. Well, here I am. My boyfriend and I traversed the highways from Dallas to Music City last Sunday, and while that was a harrowing ride (a semi-truck tire tread did some major damage to my car), my time here has been smooth sailing and very relaxing. 

Since Chad is here for a history grant program, so that leaves me free during the day to peruse antique shops and explore neighborhoods at my leisure. He would be none too happy if I dragged him through as many furniture stores as I have been to. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much high design is here. Yesterday I stopped at Epiphany Design Studio on 8th Ave S. to encounter several fabulous pieces and some of the nicest people I have ever met. I also went into A La Maison, for some beautiful European imports. Both of these stores I found courtesy the article "Elle Decor Goes to Nashville." In the Berry Hill neighborhood, I stopped off at Gilchrist Gilchrist- two shops in side by side houses that boast an all white interior which evokes a 1920's beach house. They had some beautiful linens and decor, but it was all a bit girly to be on display on our bed or throughout the house. I sometimes have to remind myself that a boy lives in the house too. But, the one store which knocked me on my heels was Highbrow Furniture, which is actually inside the store Pre & Post Modern on 8th Ave S. They feature all furniture Mid Century Modern! I walked into my own personal Heaven. As I drooled over the Eames chairs & rockers, Saarinen tulip tables & swivel chairs, I sat down in a Herman Miller lounge chair only to look up and see a George Nelson Bubble Lamp. EEK! And the best part, everything was on sale! The Ghost Stool by Kartell 50% off! Too bad my furniture funds are non-existent right now (teardrops are falling on my keyboard as I type). They do have a website, but you have to specify that you want to buy from the showroom if you want a discounted item, and it's only if they are having a sale. 

Aside from shopping, I explored the Hillsboro Village area, which is my personal favourite. Early 1900's bungalows, some residential, some commercial businesses, a very college/hippy vibe on 21st Ave S. A lot of Nashville reminds me of Austin; this area definitely said "the Drag" and Hyde Park neighborhood to me. Belmont University is nearby, which probably is where the credit for the granola feel is due. Music Row is nearby, which is very cool and worth driving down. Monday evening we ate at Cabana (2 for 1 drafts and pizza). A very hip, young outpost with a nice patio. It was an added bonus to have such great specials going on. If you sit in one of the "cabanas," you can plug in your iPod and play your own mix- how hi-tech! We didn't get the pizza, but instead I had the Tennessee Sliders- chicken or pork on sweet potato biscuits with peach preserves. Tres bien! Fido is a great little coffee shop, ran in there to get out of the tornado like weather one afternoon. The Bookman was a small shop with many twists and turns, used books awesomely piled from floor to ceiling. The couple that own the shop are extremely knowledgeable. And despite books spilling out into piles on the floor, they know exactly where each one is. I was duly impressed! I finally bought the one and only Jonathan Lethem book that I have yet to read, Fortress of Solitude. Another eatery in the same area we tried was Mafioza's, an Italian joint that is PACKED during their Tuesday night special of 2 for 1 drinks (excluding wine) and pizza slices. Delicious pizza, even though the kitchen was turning out custom slices left and right. All I have to say is get there early. 

On Wednesday night we decided to be the ultimate tourists and hit the downtown Broadway area. Even though gift shops abound, it actually has a fairly authentic feel (if you can overlook your fellow tourists). We stopped at the famed Jack's BBQ for some delicious brisket and tried all three of their renowned sauces. After we got a belly full, we popped next door to Robert's Western Wear. It is astounding how many legends have set foot inside that hole in the wall- a few of my faves being King George and Merle. Chad's being BR-549. Robert's is not only known for playing traditional country music, but for the boots lined up on the wall for sale. Not sure how many boots are sold each year, but a neat idea. The band that played was greatness- they covered everyone from Cash to Merle to Stevie Ray Vaughn. Tonight we are venturing back over to the area to check out the band at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge the other very famous C&W bar. I plan to find out the meaning behind that name. Good thing I brought my boots! PS. Parking is something of a myth- we ended up parking at least a half a mile away. And they gouge you at the paid parking lots. The Broadway area absolutely reminded me of 6th St, including the parking situation, but a bit more country oriented and family friendly, and never a cover. I hate to constantly compare Nashville to Austin, but the similarities are undeniable! And I mean it as a compliment, as my heart is still in Austin. 

With only two more days to go, I'll be sad to leave Nashville, but plan to make the most of it. My car will be out of the body shop today- yay! There are a few more antique shops to hit and I will be meeting up with a long time friend this evening- can't wait to see her! The landscape is beautiful here. Now that I have been, I can only hope to return here soon. But, I am also looking forward to coming home. I can't wait to see my Boo-Boo (my dog, for those who don't listen to me talk about him on a daily basis)!

Have a beautiful weekend, and be sure to wish your dad a Happy Father's Day! 

Renzo Piano At It Again

(via DO)

I absolutely love the city of Chicago. My mother and her side of the family all hail from the Southside, so we have spent a great deal of time in the city. Well, over the past years Chicago has made some drastic improvements: see Millennium Park and rooftop gardens. There is always much to offer in regards to culture, and I make it a point to fit a stop into the Art Institute on each visit, to see the latest exhibit. I hold the Art Institute in very high esteem. Friends, it just moved up another notch. Perusing Design Observer, reading today's post about Renzo Piano's new Modern Wing, I squealed with delight! I adore Renzo's beautifully functional buildings. Always stunning. And I have the privilege to live in a city with a Piano design residing in it- The Nasher Scupture Center in Dallas, Texas. 

This new wing is expansive and yet delicate. Julie Lasky quoted Piano in her post and applauded him for succeeding at channelling Chicago: 

Piano noted, the new urban grid aligned with true compass points (“When you look north, north is exactly what you see”); Chicago’s architecture and its occupants related straightforwardly to their sites. Strength, delicacy, lightness, rationality: Piano sought all of these attributes for his new addition and largely succeeded in imposing them. 

All I can say, is Piano has done it again. And how did I not hear about this project beforehand?!? Go to the Design Observer site to see more photos and read some of the background. I absolutely cannot wait to see his work in person. It will be my first stop next time I'm in Chi-town! 

Just DO it!

(photo from site's title)

Last week, I added a new link to my favourites: Design Observer. A blog with a rotating staff of contributing writers, all about design and things cultural. Hmmm...sounds familiar. :) The writers that take part in this blog are extremely talented and do a fantastic job of drawing me in on the first paragraph. Today's post by Michael Erard called "Cedars" was simply beautiful. Then again, the guy has a writing fellowship, so he should be good. There was also a post by Ernest Beck reviewing the Bklyn Designs show that stimulated a very hot debate- certainly evidence for a well written article. My Google Reader is chock-full of design blogs, but they are more about interior decorating. This one is more about design as a whole, be it graphic, furniture, art, etc. Pop over for a good read. 

The BKNY

(photo via Flickr)

Skimming the New York Times yesterday evening, tired of reading about banks needing more money, GM needing more money, GMAC needing more money, guess what? I need more money! I saw a little article called Made In Brooklyn. This just made my heart sing! I love seeing good publicity about the arts and design coming out of Brooklyn. My short time living in Park Slope made me fall in love with the area and I can't help but support it. Starting today, the seventh annual Bkln Designs show kicks off in the Dumbo neighborhood's warehouses. Lots of local artists will be there selling one of kind pieces. A great experience to check out some cutting edge design. According to the NY Times, "A design scene is flourishing in Brooklyn." Duh! There are some great home furnishing shops (as well as fashion boutiques) everywhere from Carroll Gardens to Park Slope to Prospect Heights to Clinton Hill. To get an extensive list of shops as well as a background on the Bkln Designs show, check out the article here. And here are a couple of my personal recommendations: Linda & Harriett, they do beautiful letterpress stationary. They also have a cute little blog to check out. And the other is Scaredy Kat Cards & Gifts. Can you tell I have a thing for paper? They also have cute and unique gifts for that someone who has everything (or not). It's really exciting to see such a change of gears in the design world- fresh, young talent coming from Brooklyn instead of the City. 

For My Swedish Friend

Perusing Decor8's blog today; they were talking about this great design site called Style Room. It's an interactive site that lets you upload images and have a go at your own interior design. They have recently launched an UK site for English speakers, but it's a bit more rudimentary than the Swedish site. Check it out though for a fun, creative diversion. Sarah, this one's for you. :)

Charley Harper's Birds

If you love birds, or even if you don't, you'll appreciate the late Charley Harper's work. He invokes the mid-century modern design and blends it seamlessly into an organic subject. His colour palette is vivid and unique. I specifically love the geometric shapes he uses- there is something very mathematical about the birds. His work has recently been rediscovered and is seeing a new wave of exposure. I can't help but think that this is intrinsically tied to the resurgence in popularity of mid-century modern design and furniture. Below are few examples of his work (photos via ammobooks.com). Love the flamingo!

Selections from his work are currently on display at the The Public Trust at 2919 Commerce St. in Dallas. Make a point to get over there by tomorrow! This exhibit closes at the end of April. More info here. 

Architecture of Relevance

In a recent article, Cameron Sinclair of Architecture for Humanity comments on the recent shift from 'architecture of excess' to 'architecture of relevance' due to the economic status we are currently in. As Sinclair points out, AFH has been doing humanitarian work around the world for 10 years , but it has taken the economic recession to open people's eyes to the real crisis that has existed for too long. It's about time architects start focusing on the 5 billion people who live in inadequate living conditions and stop only servicing the elite and wealthy.
It's no surprise to me Ms. Zaha Hadid was not willing to debate Sinclair on the architect's role in the built environment. The architecture community is pretty familiar with her formidable persona. What a shame the leading female architect this world has to offer cannot be more in-tune with real problems this world faces and even 'pretend' to care.
I realize it is a challenge financially for architects to do pro-bono humanitarian work, but I think there is a balance that can be achieved in aiding the effort. Little by little we can put our services to good use and make a difference in the world!

The 404

Ever gotten the ever so frustrating 404 file not found message, when looking for a webpage? You may have seen this before, but I thought I would share some creativity with you. Here are a few clever ways to convey that pesky 404:

100 Best 404 Messages

Dwell: March Issue

The phone rings, it's my best friend. We're both gushing over Dwell's March issue. It's all about sustainable design in Australia and New Zealand. Two of our favourite topics!  They seem to have it pretty well figured out, and some of the innovations/design coming from the Land of Oz are just phenomenal. So, why are they leaps and bounds ahead of us? The magazine suggests it's out of an imminent necessity there, as opposed to a want to find other resources here. Along with other factors such as isolation, egalitarianism, economic prosperity, and an outdoor lifestyle. We should have the same sense of urgency here as they do Down Under. It's ridiculous for sustainable design to be a mere stamp on a blueprint, and not a true goal to be followed through with. JayRay's last post about the fallacies of LEED hits the nail on the head. This isn't something we should be cutting corners or only heeding so that you get the recognition for LEED design. All this had me revisiting the magazine articles. How is it another country is getting this right, when we are just as capable and have all the technology needed to do so? We, as citizens,  need to start asking ourselves some serious questions. 

If you're looking for a little more food for thought, here is the issue from Dwell that is dedicated entirely to this subject. 

Art & Architecture

My friend Sarah sent me a link from the Dallas Morning News chronicling the progress of the new Winspear Opera House and the Wyly Theatre. I am so happy to see, despite new build projects have come to a screeching halt practically across the board, that this one is still going through- and at a pretty rapid pace! Thanks, Sarah for showing me these pictures! Some of the technology going into these buildings is just amazing. Take a look at the slide show. 

Add A Little Sunshine To Your Life

I found out about this darling little blog, thank you Daily Candy, called The Bright Side Project. Every day in March the author Tristan Shout Brando posts a question (i.e. "Where is the most beautiful place you have visited?" Or "What is your favourite memory as a child before the age of 10?") and an item you can win from a designer. You have a week to answer the question by posting a comment. If you're picked, you win that day's giveaway and your comment is posted on the page! So not only can you get free stuff, but you can read about uplifting and happy moments in peoples' lives. As her motto says, "Sunshine delivered daily" right to your computer! What a sweet and joyful ray in such trying and cloudy days.

 The Bright Side Project

Thinking Outside the Architect Box

One of my favorite sites for connecting architects, Archinect, has been doing a series discussing architects who are branching out into other areas of design. Archinect features a team of ex-architects who started a studio fittingly called WeShouldDoItAll. They express their love for architecture but choose to work as designers not constrained by one path or expertise. They focus on many areas such as interiors, graphics, products and furniture design that will eventually lead to achieving well-rounded careers as designers. This is definitely not a new concept; architects have consistently followed alternative paths. But, it’s becoming more prevalent in the current economic crisis. Architects are losing their jobs everyday across the nation, leaving talented people looking for work that is non-existent. I, fortunately, am keeping my head out of the water but it may only be a matter of time before I become another victim. Therefore, I am starting to think of my options, both practical and idealistic. What dreams do I have for myself as an architect/designer, “ex-architect” or an architect on a hiatus?

First, let's look at one reason why countless architects are choosing to change direction. From my experience, it's partly due to the stifling nature of the typical corporate architecture firm. My colleagues and I work countless hours flushing out a concept design for developers who call all the shots. Architects are losing respect in the industry. We do all the grunt work coordinating with consultants striving to make our ideas realized while our developer client has the ability to stop production in an instant due to lack of funding, change in project scope, etc. And often we begin work on a project without a contract to receive payment. There is a lack of communication and mentorship between management and staff, leaving many young designers with unanswered questions and no clear direction. These circumstances among others have resulted in our failure to retain talented individuals. Many have changed their focus within the firm from concept designer to the technical/planning/programing side for job security. Being a concept designer is risky because it's easy to fall off the pedestal unless you stay on top of the trends.

On the brighter side, there are other options for people with architecture degrees. There is a trend in Austin of design-build firms that work as the developer and architect, allowing the firm to have control over decision-making on the project. But this is a route many architects avoid because of the financial risk. Also, I am interested in urban design and planning, focusing on the public policy side of the built environment. Areas tied to that are historic preservation and sustainability. These two concepts have been recently merged into one broad concept for the redevelopment of our aging communities. An exciting option is set design for movies or theatre, designing fantasy-like environments and only spending a couple months achieving results instead of a couple years. I too am interested in product design and would love to work here.

The list goes on and on...but whatever path I choose, I'm grateful to know I have options and that I won't be ostracized for following a path that isn't the typical architecture route. I, too, just like Jonathan Jackson from WSDIA, always wanted to be an architect growing up. And I wouldn't have endured 5 years to receive my degree if I didn't think I could make it. But the working world is different from architecture school. I don't aim to generalize all architecture firms, I have no doubt there are many places where architects feel they are on the right path. But it's apparent now more than ever that architects are choosing other paths because there is clearly something missing from the traditional role as architect.