Archive for April, 2011

Tweet Today’s post is by architect/urban planner/thought leader Kevin Kellogg, who, I feel lucky to say, is a regular contributor on the Blooming Rock blog. While the history of Phoenix points to low density, suburban sprawl as the continued norm, it is possible to grow both economically and accommodate more population in a sustainable way by focusing the future growth onto vacant land around light rail stations. Much as the 1985 highway plan has enabled sprawling subdivisions around freeway off-ramps, the light rail line presents a transformative investment that could shape new types of urban places for the Valley: a…

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April 20, 2011

At Stake: The Magic of Lux Coffee Bar

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet As you might know, Lux Coffee Bar is my “office” and hang out. I go there almost every morning to work and some times to relax. There are lots of great coffee shops in Central Phoenix, but I choose Lux as my home away from home because it has a certain unique energy to it. It’s not clean or pristine, it’s usually crowded and there isn’t much space to sit, if you’re lucky enough to find a seat. But this particular set of circumstances gives Lux a je ne sais quois appeal, not unlike a messy, busy, crowded city….

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Tweet Today’s post is a continuation of my interview with Diane Jacobs of Holly Street Studio Architects, the firm that is working on ASU’s new Student Engagement Center in the old Post Office in Downtown Phoenix. If you missed Part I of the interview, make sure to catch up here. Diane on the role of communication in architecture. Diane on the impact that the down economy has had on the profession of architecture: Diane on the new ASU Student Engagement Center in Downtown Phoenix her firm is working: Diane’s advice to up and coming architects: Diane will speaking at the…

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Tweet A few weeks ago, on March 31, I had the pleasure of speaking with Diane Jacobs, one of the principals behind a small firm in Downtown Phoenix called Holly Street Studio Architects that focuses on public work. Diane’s firm has done some remarkable public projects such as McCormick Ranch Railroad Park, Maryvale Poolhouse and the Core Collection at the Heard Museum.  Just recently, the firm was awarded ASU’s new Student Engagement Center tenant improvement project at the historic Post Office in Downtown. Below is part I of my video interview with Diane. Diane on the importance of officing out…

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Tweet Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the screening of Great Expectations: A Journey Through the History of Visionary Architecture by No Festival Required, a movie documenting the crazy, other-worldly, and incredibly imaginative ideas for cities by true visionaries. Alison King, the founder of Modern Phoenix, gave a fittingly inspiring and itself a visionary talk before the film which I feel should be shared with more people beyond those who attended the movie last Saturday. Here it is: “Thank you all so much for coming out for film today, and for helping us kick off Modern Phoenix Week….

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Tweet There’s something remarkable happening at the Lexington Hotel, a place that has sat rather unremarkably on our landscape for quite some time now. Recently, Habitat Metro got control of it and has big plans to revitalize it into a boutique hotel with a focus on the arts community. The Lexington hotel is located at an important crux point of our city.  It is between the Roosevelt neighborhood and the midtown museum area that includes the Phoenix Art Museum, Burton Barr and Margaret Hance Park.  If done well, it has the potential to act as a connector, catalyst and activator…

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April 12, 2011

Imperfection in Architecture?

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Recently I read a book called The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown that extols the virtues of being imperfect. This book gives us permission to be imperfect in the face of constant pressures from society, the media, and ourselves to in fact be perfect. Think about it, wouldn’t you love it if your life were perfect? If you had the perfect house, the perfect car, lived in the perfect city, had the perfect marriage, the perfect kids and the perfect social life? Everyone…

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April 11, 2011

A Different View on Shade

by: Mick Dalrymple

Tweet Today’s post is by Mick Dalrymple giving us multiple, holistic strategies to protect ourselves and our buildings from the upcoming summer heat! Mick Dalrymple, MIM, MBA, LEED AP BD+C and HOMES, BPI is the ASU project manager for Energize Phoenix, a $25MM federally-funded program to upgrade the downtown Phoenix core for significant energy efficiency savings. Dalrymple launched into the green building and sustainability movement in 2001 as a pro-active response to U.S. national security and energy supply issues. He co-founded the Arizona Chapter of the US Green Building Council and recently completed two terms on the national board. His…

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Tweet We are planning on using the brand new Phoenix Green Construction Code on the Castaway House. Today’s post is by Cavin Costello, the designer on Castaway House. He tells us about an important missing factor in this new code: Starting in July, the City of Phoenix will be implementing the new Phoenix Green Construction Code. This code will be voluntary and was created with the following intent: The purpose of this code is to safeguard the environment, public health, safety and general welfare through the establishment of requirements to reduce the negative potential impacts and increase the positive potential…

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