Below is the winner of the Archstorming competition. Here are some additional projects that placed - lots of strong ideas and clear graphics.
The Breeders - Band
Mostly a Kim Deal (from the Pixies) project. Last Splash was one of those albums, for me, that was in heavy rotation throughout the 90’s. Listen to Cannonball.
Writers’ Retreat
I like the idea of this simple structure dedicated to creating things. See more images here.
Walter Murch - Visual and Sound Editor
Murch edited (both sound and visuals) for more than 25 feature films, including: Apocalypse Now, The Godfather Trilogy, The Conversation, American Graffiti, The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley and so on. Read more here.
Cabin Fervor - Snøhetta (Norwegian Architects)
Snøhetta’s glue-lam super structure on their thoughtful little cabins is a nice touch. See more here.
Syd Mead - Artist (Visual Futurist)
Syd Mead is perhaps best known for the artwork that would shape the art direction for Blade Runner, Alien and Tron. He also worked on Blade Runner 2049 - the image below is from the original. Read more about Syd Mead here.
Plastic Palace - Architects Raffaella Rosselli & Callum Coombe
This thoughtfully designed project was commissioned to raise awareness around a recycling crisis in Australia. Read more here.
Jumpsuit - Band
Our good friends Nathan and Matthew Tolzmann (and Andrea, wife of Matthew) moved to Chicago years ago and among other things, started (or maybe continued) their band Jumpsuit (not with Andrea, but with their friend Grant). Nathan did the album cover artwork below and here’s a video (Chic-A-Go-Go) from an all ages cable access show - look for Batman.
Seattle Public Library - by OMA + LMN architects
Architecturally, one of the more stand-out new libraries in the country. It seems to represent the modern house of information. Read more here.
Solar Decathlon - Competition
The Solar Decathlon is a great idea for an architectural/engineering competition. Ten U.S. colleges/universities participate and have a year to conceive of and execute a zero energy house. Each project needs to be transported to and assembled on the mall in D.C. and awards are given out in various categories. Read more here.
p.s. There is also now an international competition.
Jennifer Siegal - Architect
I’m inspired by Jennifer Siegal’s organic re-use of materials with the blank canvas of an addition as backdrop. Check out more of her work here.
FormCard - moldable bio-plastic
My wife, Emily, got me this as a gift and I’ve mainly used it to wrap the weak-spot on cell phone charger cables…works like a charm. Here’s their short kickstarter video.
Movie Crush - Podcast
I’ve really been enjoying this podcast. One person is interviewed about a movie they love, host Chuck Bryant watches it and interesting conversation/analysis ensues. Listen here.
HyperLoop
Essentially, HyperLoop is a train in a tube that can go 600mph. Testing has begun and the plan would be to use this first for moving freight, then advance to moving people from city to city. Currently, it takes roughly 2hrs. to drive from Denver to Vail - HyperLoop would do it in 9mins. Read more here.
MoMA P.S. 1 - NYC
Modern experimental art and architecture venue. See more about this project by Pedro & Juana here.
Alexander Calder - Artist
Calder introduced movement into sculpture, and…some might argue, changed it forever. Love how his sense of proportion, form and the relationships between materials are so singularly identifiable as Calder-esque.
TED Talks
Here’s a TED Talk I’ve been referencing lately about how design matters.
Amy Hempel - Writer
Amy Hempel is one of those writers that understands how to structure her writing sparingly but with great power. Here’s a 3min. video of her reading two of her short stories.
Terry Gilliam - Director
Gilliam was the only american member of Monty Python (until he renounced his american citizenship in the 60’s). He primarily creating the absurd graphics for the show but eventually became a cast member. His films include - Brazil (shown below w/Gilliam or the right), Time Bandits, 12 Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, etc. Love is dark sense of humor and inventiveness.
Thomas Jefferson - Architect
TJ was not only the architect of the Declaration of Independence but designed some lasting works, including the University of Virginia, Charlottesville campus. Read an interesting NYTimes piece here.
