Quiet time is over

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Pollyanna

So quiet time is finally over for us. This has been a busy but honest winter. Busy because of things that we had to do. Honest because there were many things that changed and many that need to be changed. Any change starts with being honest…about the question and about the answer to that question.

Without further bombarding you with cryptic nonsense…we are Back (!) with many plans for spring!

First off- home renovations starting with the kids rooms, then the living space and finally the office. That should be taking up most of the time the next few months.

Kids start school- awesome and sad at the same time.

New projects- a new flyer design, some memorabilia and some consults which we are excited about.

Reporting on the Architectural Digest home show pickings this year (yes..I found time to go)

And a new start- up idea that has been in the works for a while. More about that in the next few weeks. In the meantime, enjoy springtime and the awesome sunshine.

And I’m back….Oh dear! Snow….

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Pollyanna

So I am back from my trip. There are many promises to my self that I did not keep and then others that I did a lot better on, than expected.

For instance- DID: Meet many people, Travel locally, Enjoy every moment, Just CHILL, Eat a LOT of good food, and Shop but only for myself (something I have not done in a while).

DID NOT: Blog as much as I would have hoped- but simply because some places did not have internet connectivity, or I was just too busy doing the “DID” List (see above). Sketch for my sketchbook project (ah shame, again the DID list is to blame). Meet my grandma one last time before I flew.

Of the DID NOT list, I apologize to myself and the readers for not keeping promises. But to my grandma- I am truly truly sorry. I wish I could duplicate myself, but I have wished for that many times these past two months.

Still, it may help you to know while you stay warm and toasty in that lovely room of yours- it is snowing here…!

Louis I Kahn: IIM Ahemdabad

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Pollyanna

Blast from the Past. In my recent (and ongoing trip in South Asia) I have been visiting many places. Ahmedabad, in Gujarat is one of them. It is the only city in India that can boast to having the works of two of the three Great Masters of Modern Architecture. Louis I Kahn and Le Corbusier. It is rumored that Frank Lloyd Wright was also supposed to have a commission here but that project fell through…Otherwise it would have been the ONLY city in the WORLD that has projects designed and built by all 3 great masters of Modern Architecture.

A bit about A’bad. It is HOT. Brutally. Even in the winter, the sun and glare is merciless. So Kahn has a peculiar challenge. How to make the buildings cool and stay cool without using power. And of course how to let the brick be itself!

(I’m sure you know that anecdote about Kahn. When asked for his inspiration for IIM and other marvelous brick buildings he built here and elsewhere, he has said, “I asked the brick what it wanted to be, and it said it wanted to be an arch.or something like that!!)

Without further ado. here is Indian Institute of Management (IIM), old and new campus. Fascinating sun protection, deep seated classrooms to keep them cool, marvelous brickwork- then and now of modern architecture and the best of Louis Kahn!

Sunshade (New campus. Not Kahn but very good all the same)

Sunshade Detail with concrete

Walk to the old campus

I am an arch today

LKP: Louis Khan Plaza

Deep windows mean less sunlight

A building in a building

Corridor

For more goodness visit my flickr photostream

Environs II

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Pollyanna

So as StyleSponge suggested, Good design does deserve good pictures. Here is an updated version of environs plus more gorgeous details.

My Blogging Nook: This room has undergone several iterations to become this space. In one of its previous “versions” the permanent fixtures in this room used to be a drafting table with a “tubelight” (an longish tubular light, about 3 feet in length, something that is mostly found in this part of the world), a drafting table and a house lizard. My constant companions through the nights of work. I think it looks much better now! Although the wall does transform into a writing desk…:)

Some accent detail and wall textures in the background.

Better? You bet.

Upcoming Plans

Posted on December 4, 2011 by Pollyanna

Silence on the Blog means that the non-blog life has been hectic beyond imagination! As it turns out, it is quite a lot of work to travel overseas if it involved more than one person…especially if that one person is doing most of the organizing!

We look forward to posting more regularly, of travel, of unique and fun design, and just musings over the next few weeks. In the meantime, you all have a great holiday season and you’ll hear from me much more regularly. I promise.

Torso in Japanese amongst other things

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Pollyanna

I have been coming across these 3-D puzzles and toys that are fascinating for kids and adults. Not only do they teach one to see in a non-linear manner, the craftmanship is amazing. I suppose 3-D computer modeling makes this kinda easy, still the idea is what is fascinating One example is the D-Torso range from Aki Corporation, Japan, these “toys”, or one of them, was awarded the Good Design Award in 2001.

Sketchbook Project 2012

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Pollyanna

So long ago, I signed up for the signed up for the 2012 sketchbook project. And then as all human being do, I sat on the project for a bit. And now the deadline draws closer, and nails are being bitten. So I are embarking on a frightful personal journey and starting work on my Sketchbook.

Although there are many things that people do with their sketchbooks-make them colorful, make them crafty and unique (Check our Natalie Malik, and Riyo’s books shaping up), I am going to do the plain thing. I’m going to treat my book like a sketchbook and just sketch. My theme is Monochromatic. My tools are below. And you can find the direct link to my progress here.

I plan to sketch one thing each day now until Jan 16th, 2012. It will be a thing that inspires me, or just makes me curious. I’ll try to write a little note on the location of the object. And maybe, just maybe, if you are lucky, I’ll post the Latitude and Longitude of the object. Just because I’m a geek like that.

Digital Fix

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Pollyanna

Check out Dijitalfix– this great digital products shop in Brooklyn. Although Brooklyn’s offerings are covered extensively by Design*Sponge Grace Bonney, we think we may have found something that has not featured on D*S yet ;).

It is the coolest store for the gadget-ally inclined, like myself. What draws you in are the custom chairs that the owner designs and builds. What keeps you there are the high end products that they carry.

And this cool suspended table–I went ga ga over it. The suspension detail is to die for-so simple and elegant! Check out the cool bamboo toothbrushes, and other paper goodies on it.

Space Pong

Posted on November 8, 2011 by Pollyanna

One of the really great things about New York city is the Public Space here. And one of the best things about the public space in NYC is that it can be appropriated to be anything. The streets become markets (NYC Streetfairs), the parks become theaters (Bryant Park Movies) and plazas become shanty towns that represent social discontent (Occupy Wall Street*).

Lately we witnessed the World Financial Centre become a sports arena, and an art gallery with Pongtopia. It was a public space, a sports event and an art auction all at the same time. This event was conceptualized and organized by SpinGalactic, NY’s answer to LA’s ping pong clubs, in collaboration with Brookfield Properties.

Public Space becomes tournament space

Tournament

Table Art

Designer Paddles Auction to benefit Operation Design

* More on OWS in the works

Comfy Chelsea

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Pollyanna

We met Chelsea Carle from Bethlehem PA recently. We love her interesting handmade bags and accessories! Selling under the name Comfy Cozy Chelsea, her work is for exhibition and sale at street fairs and markets in PA, but you can find her cool goods at her Etsy store here.

We love the Autumn Tote, the Vinyl Up-cycled products and her vintage Burlap/Jute collection!

Chelsea Carle