Archive for the ‘architecture’ Category

April 19, 2011

Interview with Diane Jacobs of Holly Street Studio Architects, Part II

by: Taz Loomans

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…

April 18, 2011

Interview with Diane Jacobs of Holly Street Studio Architects, Part I

by: Taz Loomans

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…

April 15, 2011

Alison King’s Visionary Introduction to a Film about Visionary Architecture

by: Taz Loomans

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….

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…

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…

April 06, 2011

The New Phoenix Green Construction Code Should Take Location More Seriously

by: Cavin Costello

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…

April 05, 2011

John Kane on Doing Quality Projects with Less Money and in Less Time

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Today’s post is a continuation of yesterday’s – a conversation with architect John Kane, the principal of Architekton who was behind the sustainable and beautiful Tempe Transportation Center and the audacious and amazing Tempe Center for the Arts. If you missed Part I, catch it here. Most big-name architects have a big ego and downplay collaboration. Not John Kane. This is what he has to say about it: “The idea of how to work collaboratively is a really fun one. How to include the consultants and the clients much earlier on in the process to do sustainable projects (is…

April 05, 2011

John Kane on Regional Architecture, His Local Heroes and Favorite Buildings

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet On the 24th of March, I spoke with Architekton principal, John Kane at his fabulous Downtown Tempe office. Below is part I of our conversation: The architect who’s influenced John most: “In the early days, Zaha Hadid was one of my heroes. She still is one of my heroes. But I think she’s the one, when I was in school, the profession was going one way and she kind of shook it all up. I think I’ve always admired that kind of panache and the excitement in the way she works and the art of the whole thing.” His…

April 04, 2011

John Kane on Regional Architecture, His Local Heroes and Favorite Buildings

by: Taz Loomans

March 23, 2011

Two Renderings of the Castaway House

by: Taz Loomans

Tweet Castaway House Update: The front, rendering by Cavin Costello The courtyard/garden, rendering by Cavin Costello