I love the idea of this and the outdoor shower is a nice touch.
Donald Judd - (June 3, 1928 - Feb. 12, 1994)
Minimalist artist Judd helped put Marfa, Texas on the map. His 3D pieces look like industrial artifacts peppering the bleak Texas landscape. Read more about him here.
Beverly Loraine Greene - Architect (Oct 4, 1915 – Aug 22, 1957)
Greene is credited with becoming the first African American woman licensed as an architect in the United States 1942. Read more about her here.
X- Shore - (solar powered) Electric Boat
This simple idea has taken a while to come together. It can cover a distance of 100 nautical miles on a single charge, making it suitable for leisure boating. Its top speed is 40 knots — although to keep cruising consistently for two hours, the consistent speed would have to be a lower 25 knots. Read more here.
Daniel Johnston - Musician (Jan. 22, 1961 - Sept. 11, 2019)
I became aware of Johnston and his eclectic and raw music mostly from the compassionate 2005 documentary about his life, The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Filmmaker Jeff Feuerzeig chronicled the life of the manic-depressive/schizophrenic artist, using a blend of home movies, Johnston's own audiotapes, vintage performances, animation and current footage.
Johnston recorded nearly a dozen albums and amassed thousands of sketches, and has among his supporters Matt Groening, David Bowie, Sonic Youth, Beck, and Tom Waits.
Watch the trailer for the documentary here which also gives a taste of his music.
Arne Jacobsen - Danish Designer (1902- 1971)
Best known as the guy who brought chair design up a notch in the 50’s, Jacobsen’s work has easily endured the test of time. Read more about him here.
Happy Bday Greta
We love you very much.
Casa Patios - Rama Estudio (Ecuador)
I really like the large green roofs and the interior plaster walls on this one. Check out more about this project here.
Cottonwood Cabins - Colorado Building Workshop (CU Denver)
Here’s another interesting project by the design/build class from CU Denver’s architecture program. Read/view more here.
The Soundtrack Show - Podcast
Okay, I recognize I’m a little obsessed with movies and soundtracks, so I feel like this podcast was made for me. That said, this is such fun analysis and an interesting lesson in music & sound that I think many people would enjoy what show creator/host David W. Collins does here. Listen to his excellent dissection of John Williams Raiders of the Lost Ark (Part ll) soundtrack.
Earthships
Typically, Earthships are made using natural and mostly discarded materials (tires, bottles, cans, etc.). Check out this short video demonstrating some of the principles and elements incorporated into many of these organically designed structures - the grey water/vegetable production system is especially smart.
Endurance (book) - Alfred Lansing
This is a non-fiction antarctic expedition account (assembled from many of the survivors diary entries) that is truly astounding. The captain, Ernest Shackleton, consistently demonstrates the delicate balance of making life or death decisions using wisdom, logic and gut-feelings. I started re-reading it as soon as I had finished because I was sure I missed too much at the beginning…and I had.
Harmony Korine - writer/director
Korine is best known for writing Kids (1995) and writing/directing Gummo (1997). His non-linear, fragmented style of storytelling and dark subject matter tends not to be for everyone, however, it’s hard to argue with his boundry-pushing experimentation of film. Read more here.
Robert Frank - Photographer/Documentary Filmmaker (94 years old) - Update: Frank died on Sept. 9
Nearly all of Frank’s images seem to be a commentary on race and class in the US. See more here.
Freakonomics - Book/Podcast
The book was a collaboration between by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and NYTimes journalist Stephen J. Dubner. It’s a fascinating look at the study of incentives. Here’s the podcast episode about The Future of Meat.
Richard Nickel - Architectural Photographer 1928-1972
Nickel spent much of his adult life, in Chicago, photographing buildings slated for demo. He was particularly obsessed with capturing Louis Sullivan works and would remove artifacts/details before complete destruction. He would ultimately meet his untimely death when Sullivan’s doomed Stock Exchange Building would collapse while Nickel was inside. See/read more about him here.
Upcycled Outhouse - Caukin Studio
Built from construction site scraps. Love the stacked bottles as windows. See more projects here from Caukin Studio.
Buddy Guy - Musician (83 yrs old)
He’s a blues legend and still playing. Listen.
ORA - architects
Off-the-shelf materials make for some of my favorite projects. See more from this Irish firm here.
Hubble Space Telescope
The image below is of a crab nebula. Here are more remarkable images from Hubble (plus some artist renderings snuck in).
