March 19, 2012

Urban Appropriation through Art

by: Kirby Hoyt

Tweet Today’s post is by Kirby Hoyt: Let’s face facts, cities are incomplete. They are never done. They’re either in a state of expansion, decline or repair. But they’re never complete. Phoenix is still developmentally infantile. At least you’d think that by studying the figure/ground relationship within its urban core. With all the recent discussions about “vacant” land, empty lots, and the like, you’d think Phoenix was some sort of ruin, a former urban battleground, with the remnants of the buildings swept away. One problem with our mass of urban lacuna is the deadness they promote. Reminiscent of larger urban…

March 14, 2012

The RO2 Lot: Beyond the Oatmeal, Beyond the Homogeneity

by: Mike Davis

Tweet Today’s post is by guest writer Mike Davis, founding principal at DAVIS architecture firm. Michael R. Davis, AIA is a second-generation Arizonan who has lived in Phoenix since 1973; when the population of Maricopa County was 1,157,000. He is an architect, artist, theologian and mountain climber currently in training for a January 2013 attempt of Mt. Aconcagua in South America. These are interesting days. Interesting to me, anyway, because they’re not too dissimilar from days past. Interesting because we’re in a pattern that we can’t seem to break. Bankers still rule development. Designers have become aestheticians at best, compliance…

March 12, 2012

Bow Ties and Boutique Business in Phoenix

by: Feliciano Vera

Tweet Today’s post is by a new contributing writer to Blooming Rock, Feliciano Vera, an entrepreneur in real estate and finance. Jim McPherson does not know how to tie a bow tie. Lingering over the antiqued wood display table at Mercantile, he brushes aside that fact and ushers us closer, in an almost conspiratorial manner. “Look,” flipping over one of the many bow ties. “This tie was originally made from another that was sold at the Broadway. And that one over there was a tie from Goldwaters.” Clutching a purple and white checked sample, my eye is drawn to another…

March 08, 2012

Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for an American Architecture

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet The story of Louis Sullivan isn’t just important for architecture, it’s an important part of American history. He was many years ahead of his time, he continually broke new ground and he was, undoubtedly, an original. His most ardent dream was to establish a decidedly American architecture. At the time he came on the scene as an architect in Chicago in the late 1800’s, the zeitgeist was to emulate European architecture. This young nation didn’t have a voice of its own yet when it came to the art of buildings and it still deferred to Europe to tell it…

March 07, 2012

Canstruction Phoenix: Giving Back to the Community Through Design

by: Andrew Johnson

Tweet Today’s post is by architecture graduate student Andrew Johnson: Dear design enthusiasts and Phoenix community champions! Phoenicians across our communities have certainly faced unique struggles with recent economic woes, and as a group of ASU graduate design students who frequently study community-scale social problems, we feel a sincere desire to help our community. In the architecture classroom, we consistently research and explore solutions to these big problems in an effort to create positive change, but we recognize that we rarely practice what has been preached. Now, in an effort to put this pedagogy to practice, a team of six…

March 06, 2012

Rainwater Harvesting at the Castaway House

by: Cavin Costello

Tweet Today’s post is by Cavin Costello, the designer of the Castaway House: The Castaway house is nearing completion and the central focus of the design, the landscape, is currently being installed. Jeremy Stapleton of Synergy Design Lab worked in collaboration with us from the very beginning to create a design that focused on desert indoor/outdoor living. The result was a beautiful and functional landscape design, which Jeremy describes as an “Edible, Medicinal, Sensory & Wildlife Garden.” This garden expands the interior of the house into nature and its neighborhood; all while being water efficient. There are numerous active and…

March 05, 2012

An Interview with Jon Talton about the Future of Phoenix

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Jon Talton, a Phoenix native and an Arizona Republic columnist at one time but now a resident of Seattle, doesn’t pull any punches on his blog Rogue Columnist. He is the author of the Phoenix-based David Mapstone Mysteries, The Pain Nurse, first of the Cincinnati Casebooks and the thriller Deadline Man. His new novel is South Phoenix Rules. Talton is often criticized for being too negative about Phoenix, but it is his underlying love for the city that drives him to expose this place’s reality as he sees it – complete with a rich history, misguided dreams of unlimited…

February 29, 2012

Pho and the Possibility of the City

by: Ferminio Diaz

Tweet Today’s post is by Ferminio Diaz. Mr. Diaz used to frequent a bar called Drumlins in Central Square. In some East Coast college town. When not getting tossed from the Turf (apologies to Andy and Frank), he can often be found at Giant Coffee or the Crescent Ballroom. And she, like the oasis of possibility that is Phoenix, is 100% Real. I woke up a few Saturdays ago, in the wee hours of the morning, dreaming of an imperfect facsimile of you, my 100% perfect girl. It was not April, and we were neither in Harajuku nor San Miguel…

February 28, 2012

Thanks from James Rojas

by: James Rojas

Tweet Below is a letter of thanks from James Rojas, who traveled here from LA to speak at the Latino Urban Form lecture last week. I thought his insights and perspective of our city were absolutely delightful so I decided to share his letter with you as a post on this blog. Thanks for your hospitality exploring Phoenix! I have only been to Phoenix a few times but the more I visit it the more in like the city. The casual positive vide reminds of my childhood LA. Phoenix is a great place because everyone cares about the place. In…

February 27, 2012

What is Your Vision for Lower Grand Avenue?

by: Lysistrata Hall

Tweet Today’s post is by Lyssa Hall and Leslie Dornfeld: What is your vision for Lower Grand Avenue? What are your short-term ideas for increasing vibrancy along Lower Grand Avenue? What are the challenges and barriers blocking sustainable urban development? What is the role of the community in developing a sustainable Phoenix? The city of Phoenix, Grand Avenue Merchants’ Association and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are interested in hearing your ideas and invite you to participate in a three day community design workshop focused on “Greening Lower Grand Avenue.” Starting with its birth in 1888 as a 100-foot wide roadway…