Conversations RE: Tacoma

Being "unemployed" as many consider me since I'm not working for someone else, I get a number of requests for my time - and time seems to be dwindling these days. While I'm reducing the number of yes' I do still work on some pro-bono projects. Above is a logo designed for a new lecture series which is being held in Tacoma.

The goal for the lecture series is to "provoke" and "stimulate." I'm not sure if this logo is achieving this in the way originally envisioned but do believe it is doing so in ways not originaly thought of such as:
Red color grabs, puts you a bit on edge
The inclusion of "regarding," "redefining," and "reinventing" stimulate your thoughts to work on what this might mean
The large RE: pulls you in
And while overall the text makes perfect sense, initially it seems perhaps a bit incongruous, which means you must do a little work to understand - something I often strive for in my work

When the text for each of the three lectures is finalized I'll add the poster and the final version of the logo.

Single Family Homes & Leavenworth

image courtesy of Sustainable Building Center

I'm in Leavenworth this week, visiting my family, hiking, and getting some work done. I'm also being inspired again by the landscape. The region has my favorite landscape - rolling dessert hills marking the boundary between mountain and dessert. It's truly amazing to see so many eco-systems in such a small area.

While Leavenworth itself requires a bavarian style for newer structures, the surrounding area provides incredible inspiration for architecture which sits more calmly in its environs.

Since first learning of rammed earth construction I've dreamed of using this building technique in an area with the climate of Leavenworth - hot in summer, cold in winter. The construction type has so many qualities to it which make it desirable, particulary in this era where owners are becoming more in tune with the environment and strive to tread as lightly as possible. First of all, a portion of the mixture typically comes directly from the site on which the structure is being built. Secondly, the construction of the walls are actually not that complicated and can be completed by the homeowners (and their friends!) if desired. Third is the fact that the structure acts as a trombe wall - collecting heat during the day and releasing it at night, a very desirable way to reduce electrical usage due to reduced need for heating and air conditioning. Finally, it's just produces a really beautiful wall, both on the exterior and the interior and it's been proven to be more resistant to water etc than our standard building materials.

Which brings up a good point - rammed earth is not easily damaged. I attended a lecture in Portland, Oregon a number of years ago and if I remember correctly, it's as structurally stable as concrete and resists corrosion from water very efficiently. In fact, I believe the lecturer had said they'd used a sprayer with the pressure set to 5,000 psi and still had no damage. If you take a jackhammer to it it creates holes but the wall does not crumble as concrete would. They had even used it in a bathroom for the shower walls. This area required a little extra waterproofing but over a few years had held up very well.

All this being said, I'm hoping to find the opportunity to use this construction at some point in the near future.

See the links above located within the body of the text and hopefully I'll get a quick rendering of a design up over the next couple of weeks.

Cheers!

Highline New York + Ideas for Tacoma

New York is not a place for the timid or the weary. It is a city which seems as though it has the entire world revolving around it, and those who live within the metropolis are often imaginitive and creative. They take hold of the environment in which they live and mold it to be what they see as their singular vision. A wonderful by-product of this is the dynamic nature of the city and the trendsetting which occurs because of it. Each resident seems to be vying for the next great idea to set them apart from the crowd. It's amazing, energizing, and inspiring.

I took the opportunity three years ago to live and work there and while it was perhaps one of the more difficult episodes of my adult life it is also something I will always be thankful for having the opportunity of doing.

One of the many events held each year is Open House New York. An incredible opportunity to tour parts of the built environment which you often only get to walk past/under/or in to the lobby if you even know they exist in the first place.

Lucky Lisa and I managed to get a spot on the Highline Tour a couple of years ago while the project was under construction. Having read about this project over the years and having heard Diller Scofidio + Renfro discuss the project at one of their lectures we were very excited to experience the city from a completely different vantage point and see if we too could imagine their vision.











Needless to say it was pretty amazing walking along this structure which had played such a significant role in Manhattan's early history.

Now, a portion of the Highline has been completed. I'm adding it to my list of places to visit when I head back for a vacation. If you head to New York, make sure you take a walk along the completed portion. To see images of the completed work and gather your enthusiasm take a look at this article on the Dwell website.

Which brings me to Tacoma. Perhaps you know about the old railroad tracks running through downtown. They cross through the University of Washington Tacoma campus, past Tollefson Plaza and the Tacoma Art Museum, and head down to the waterfront. There is a community group working on including the old tracks in to a county wide trail system. The opportunity for assisting in creating a new experience for residents and visitors of Tacoma is enticing and begs to be explored. As part of Jon and my submission for the Tacoma Art Museum Plaza Redesign (see last post), we're proposing TAM takes "ownership" of a portion of the trail to assist in some of the issues with their existing site but also to extend the fingers of the museum via a sculpture garden - or rather walk.

Enjoy the journey!

Tacoma Art Museum Submission

Okay, herein follows the image and design description submitted. Wish us luck!

A collaboration with Jonathan Denton

TAcoMa Connects


A Schematic, A Vision - The Connection
We are submitting a photograph of a painting as our sketch. Abstract art provides room for interpretation allowing for individuals to draw meaning from it as they see from their perspective. We are looking at Tacoma as a painting and asking the question what do you see? We believe that if an objective solution to the design problem is arrived at too quickly, that potential stakeholders in the project could be lost. Ideal solutions need the approval and support from direct stakeholders and the projects neighbors. Fundamentally, people are very attracted to opportunities which allow them to express their vision rather than a scenario were you give them little to no input. We have a few images in our mind which we would like to share with you. Hopefully this conversation will continue to generate more vision and support from Tacoma.
We start with the museum and the lower parking level. By installing video and light art in the parking area the issues of way finding and visibility from I-705 are addressed. These forms of art assist in creating life and lend an ephemeral quality to the space. They can also be changed as desired which sets up a scenario for creating a buzz as an “opening” can be held.
Moving up to the plaza and Pacific Avenue visibility is again addressed, as is placemaking. The “shed” transforms from a storage space to a kitchen for a café which is moved from inside the museum. Re-programming in this way sets up exciting opportunities such as cladding the piece in a glowing skin to signal “open,” adding a glass enclosure for seating, and a canopy reaching out to Pacific Avenue to provide protection from the elements and adding to the distinct “hello” begun by the kitchen. Installing light landscape and commissioned art pieces continue the sculptural path from the railroad tracks which ties back to the lower parking level.
Permeable pavers and native drought resistant landscape beginning at the railroad tracks, crossing the street, and running through the parking area would tie the parking and plaza areas together and extend fingers beyond the distinct line of the site. The landscaping becomes another layer of way finding and sets a scenario for a sculpture garden. As you walk the path from the tracks to the stairs and elevator a connection back to the context of Tacoma can be created by setting up views to Mt. Rainier, the Tacoma Dome, key downtown buildings etc.
The path would run through the parking lot to the existing elevator and Alan Liddle stairs and continue on to a new elevator and bridge. This piece of the vision would allow for another series of opportunities which crave exploration. The bridge would provide shelter for both the TAM plaza and Tollefson Plaza in addition to providing much needed accessibility and connections between each of the pieces. The proposed elevator and bridge would be the “coup de foudre” (a thunderbolt; love at first sight), finalizing TAM’s desire for a symbol and visibility yet respecting Antoine Predocks’ design. It is the final connection that would generate a significant presence along the Pacific Avenue Corridor and consider the neighborhood holistically.
Hopefully we can find common ground in our vision for the future site improvements of the TAM. We believe that a better solution is found through collaborations with the neighborhood and stakeholders and the multiple perspectives which may be taken from our painting. It would be great to continue the conversation and use this project as an opportunity to better connect Tacoma both objectively and emotionally.

Tacoma Art Museum

I'm not sure how many of you know but the Tacoma Art Museum has released a Request for Proposals for a redesign of the plaza at Pacific Avenue and their parking area. They've a few issues they'd like to have addressed and are requesting a very easy submission for the RFP. Thankfully, they're not requiring you be a licensed Architect and have left the competition open to all. An excellent opportunity for people like me who are starting a design firm, are not licensed but would love the opportunity to give back to their community and get some work in the process (note to self, quit volunteering your time away!).

The submissions are due today by 5:00 p.m.

I've been working with a friend - Jon Denton - on this submission. It's been an interesting experience and I do believe we're both a better for it. I've loaded the image and after 5:00 p.m. will add the design description. It's the first piece of work I'll be putting up and it's very exciting.

Chat soon.

ChaOs Hyperbole (hye-PER-buh-lee)

I'm making a commitment to update this blog regularly from this point forward. Much of it initially may be about the journey of starting my design firm. Heading out on my own has been sitting in the back of my mind for many years, this economy has provided the impetus. I'm excited and somewhat nervous but I think those are feelings all new business owners experience. You know you can do it, your gut is telling you it's time, it's getting the paying clients that seem to be the hardest part!

For those who don't know, I'll be focusing on set design for the theater, exhibit design, interior design, and furniture design. Once I get my license (the goal is within the next 12 months), I'll venture out in to the world of architecture. Until the point where I can actually call myself and Architect, I must stay with projects under 5,000 square feet.

I'm leaning towards the artistic realm for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, my mind works that way. I'm a concept designer, which means that I don't design just because something "looks good," my designs are based on a unique concept developed from the desires of the client and the context of the project. Decisions are made on how they reinforce that concept. It makes the design process smoother, cleaner and faster. Secondly it's because of the inspiration of the incredible artists I've had the opportunity to meet over the years and the belief in their craft. So many have the same attitude I have - nothing is impossible, you need only figure out how to do it. You ply your craft because you believe in the value it can bring to others who experience it.

Which brings me to the name of my design firm. Why ChaOs Hyperbole? Doesn't that seem like it might scare people off? Make them think the process or the product is going to be chaotic? What I'm actually saying with the name of the firm and trying to reinforce via the logo (an early version of it sits here with the post) is that life is chaotic, the built environment is chaotic, but it's a controlled chaos which should be embraced. The hyperbole is also a reinforcement that "chaos" is often an exaggeration, which is a fun play on the theme as a whole.

So I hope to keep you informed on this journey of starting a design firm and perhaps we can grow our aesthetics and experiences together.

If you'd like to stay posted please subscribe or follow me on Twitter @CarolineOLeary where I'll let you know when I update the blog.

Ciao

A Teaser

So many things to discuss lately but have been so busy there's been no time to synthesize the goings on. I've so much to write but just haven't been in the mood. Hopefully it will happen soon. Stay tuned for a history lesson on Mayors of Tacoma, an informational session on polished concrete, a lesson or two on local government, thoughts about Tacoma's potential, upcoming activities happening in the city, design ideas, and well, who knows :)

Have a wonderful day!

Materials - Puget Sound Region LEED Local

Courtesy of O'Brien & Company the following is a list of materials which may be useful for earning USGBC LEED® points for projects which occur in the Puget Sound region:


MR4.1/4.2 Recycled Content

Steel

· Rebar from Cascade Steel Rolling Mills with 71% Post –consumer and 24% Pre-consumer recycled content.

Roofboard:

· Dens Deck from Pacific Construction Systems with 90% Pre-consumer recycled content.

Cement Board

· Durock Cement Board by US Gypsum Company, with 20% Pre-consumer recycled content.

Gypsum Board

· ProRock gypsum board by CertainTeed, with 4% Post-consumer and 10% Pre-consumer recycled content.

· Gypsum board by BPB (also Regional) with 4% Post-consumer and 10% Pre-consumer recycled content.

Particleboard and MDF

· Roseburg Particleboard by Roseburg Forest Products, with 100% Pre-consumer recycled content. Also qualifies under Regional materials.

Insulation

· Sarna Therm Insulation by Sika Sarnafil, with 21% Pre-consumer recycled content.

· Unfaced Fiberglass Insulation and Sound Control Batts from Knauf, with 20% Post-consumer recycled content.

· Rigid Foam Insulation (R-tech) by Insulfoam, with 15% Pre-consumer recycled content. Also Regional.

· MDF by Sierra Pine, with 100% Pre-consumer recycled content.

Countertops, both qualify under Regional materials

· Paperstone with 100% Post-consumer recycled content.

· Squak Mountain with 2.5% Post-consumer and 49% Pre-consumer recycled content.



MR 5 Regional Materials

Wood

· Vancouver Door in Puyallup.

· FSC by FD Sterrit Lumber Company, also Rapidly Renewable.

Regional Steel Sources

· Infra-Metals, Inc; Cascade Steel; Pacific Stair Company; Dietrich; Harris Rebar; NuCor-Yamato Steel.

Asphalt

· Lakeside Industries



MR 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials

· Forbo Marmoleum Real, Johnsonite Rubber Base and Johnsonite Stair Treads by Gold Star.

· Acoustical Insulation, by Thermafiber

· Wood Framing FSC, by FD Sterrit Lumber Company. Also Regional.

· Wood Decking, by Lock Deck

· Wood, laminated, by Unadilla

· Radar Ceiling Tiles, Cornstarch, by USG.

Design - Found

This is my new favorite print ad.
It is subtle in its design and poignant in its words.

Design - Theater Sets

Just about done with the first set design experience. It's something I've wanted to get in to for years but haven't found an opportunity.

It's definately been quite the experience. Set design is very conceptual, which is something I really like, but like anything that you design, you can't fill in the gaps until you're building and to some degree using the design. In the case of the play, as we've finally got the major structures built we're realizing that we have gaps due to the ability of a few major things:
The desire of those with the knowledge to build to actually build the thing
The time
Not having worked closer with the Director and Assistant Director (due to the gathering of us so late in the game)
Struggle for control
Non-volunteer (meaning paying job) deadlines

I think the most frustrating and exciting part of the experience is thinking about how in future plays we might worker closer with the production team and really have the set be an integral part of the movement of the cast. This seems desirable b/c that way they wouldn't have to:
Close the curtain (particularly important when there are multiple quick scene changes
"Turn down the lights" which leads to the ability to see the set being changed

I'll follow this post with an image of a backdrop not being used in the play due to the theater not having available fly's in the places we need. The back drops are 32' long x 8' high (four panels each at 8'x8'). Once the play actually opens (Thursday) then I'll get some more photos of the set actually up. It's very minimal, abstract and at the same time Bauhaus, or at least that's how I see it.

Cheers!

Defining Yourself

I am a dancer.
I am a climber.
I am a designer.

Who are you?

Link of the Day - It's the Economy Stupid

Fake inflation numbers masked crisis

followed by the book:
Wall Street versus America by Gary Weiss

and for my friend Martin per your request...a photo of me :)

Christmas Entertainment

Only so much television can be watched in 24 hours before your brain starts to become mush and you find that time surfing on the internet may be a reprive prior to getting out of the house and actually doing something which requires thought and/or physical activity.

Here is your segway to the great outdoors...1 video, 3 versions much like a resume, current first:

Beyonce
Single Ladies
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g">


Unk
Walk It Out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjN-kvO_fLA

Gwen Verdon
Mexican Breakfast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2HmAnIk5Ug

Passing

I thought it would be days before I posted again but as I'm sitting here in an empty office (closed due to snow) news was given that the founder of our firm passed away. He was a wonderful man and was always supportive of our careers. He instilled the morals and values upon which this firm still functions today - honesty, integrity, solid design, community relations.

Since coming back to the office six months ago I've had the privilege of seeing him three times and again was inspired by him. He led me to push to achieve before I thought I would push. I know you may not know him but he's done great things for the architectural community and the community at large and I hope you'll spend two seconds and give a thank you.

He will be dearly missed.

Thank you Jim McGranahan for all you did - and for that knowing smile when you passed through the office.

A SMALL part of his legacy:

• McGranahan Architects
• WWII Veteran Memorial, Olympia, WA
• Tacoma Dome

Musings on Jealousy & Poop

It dawned on me again for the umpteenth time in the last who knows how long that I spend an awful lot of time comparing myself to others. In particular to others accomplishments, skills, experiences, etc. I've throughout my life thought that this was a good thing because it made me want to be better, try harder, do more. What I'm realizing as I get older is that what it accomplishes now is self-sabotage.

This thought occurred twice today for two reasons. The first was as I was reading through my friends blog and thinking, "Wow, she really is a wonderful writer. So engaging and personal without being TOO personal. I want to write like that!" The second was while reading Architectural Record (December 2008). The archrecord2 article focuses on Ammar Eloueini and his research based work. While reading the article I was thinking about another entry I'm working on about material research and thinking, "I want to do that! How can I start designing installations?" After a series of reminders about how "it takes years Caroline" and "calm down, you're just getting started," and "for f's sake Caroline - learn how to focus on something for longer than two minutes and you may actually accomplish something," I managed to flip through another seven pages and stopped again. William Morgan reviewed the book Seventy-nine Short Essays on Design by Michael Bierut, and he includes a quote, a quote so adequate for this ridiculous wining I've been subjecting my brain cells through that it actually made me stop - and write this entry. The quote you ask?

...the more things you are interested in, the better your work will be

Is it true? I think that yes, to a point it is, but there's something to be said about being able to zoom in on something and really follow it through. To have the patience to explore one thing, one thought, one - something. To be able to commit to truly understanding rather than throwing it out like the wrapping paper you use once and even though you know you've not developed it to its fullest potential there's that shiny new wallpaper over there waiting to be tried.

I enjoy knowing a little bit about alot of things, more so than I think I would knowing alot about a few things, but it seems that this way of thinking, of doing, of being, will place limitations on where I can go in my career and so perhaps what I need to do is figure out where I WANT to go and learn how to walk a gray line between committing and flitting.

Patience is finally occurring in my life, perhaps focus will too.

So perhaps the point of all this is that I'm going to try to quit comparing myself to others and focus on MY strengths - like the fact that I can hold a two minute conversation with anyone, that I can spend years making a decision and somehow get people to think it's spontaneous when I finally do something about it, that I can read AND follow 3, 4, 5 books at one time and that I'm an idea person. An idea person. THAT is what I like about me.

Now on to my favorite story about the built environment from the news this week:

PIGEON POOP BLAMED FOR AWNING COLLAPSE

Seriously, you've got to love the AP for some of the newsworthy items they cover, and believe it or not, it is newsworthy!

Think about this, it's a design issue. Was it a canopy such as this or an awning such as this? My hunch is the former (this post may lead to a future post on how irritating it is when people don't follow the definition of a word - I know I'll probably get called on this sometimes and PLEASE feel free to do it) is what they meant and while the article from the Associated Press tenders the idea that the collapse is due to 4-5 inches of pigeon poo collecting I've got to wonder if maybe its due more to the corrosive effects of bird waste than it is to the weight of it.

Either way, there are seem to be two design issues here (the world is occurring in two's today)

1. The "awning" was designed in such a way as to allow for birds to have their happy hour rather than taking in to account that a perch is a perch and if you're gonna provide it they're gonna use it so let's try to find a way to either NOT provide the perch or...


2. The "awning" was not designed in a way which allowed ease of maintenance (ooh, this gets me thinking about my current project at the office, I may have to think about that over my vacation)

I could continue to elaborate on this but it's late, I'm tired and even though the office is closed tomorrow (today) I don't get to stay away because well, it's difficult to say you can't get there because of the snow when you live across the street

The Leap

I suppose you can say I've made a number of these over the last 11 years or so. I guess we all do in the course of our lives. The significance is perhaps contextual - physical, psychological, etc.

This leap is into the - what's the word - "blogosphere." Really an annoying sort of word don't you think? It's like "starchitect." Some pop phrases just really shouldn't become mainstream.

Anyway, I've no idea how well I'll do keeping this up to date but I WILL tell you what I'm here for. I'm here to make sure I stay on top of what's happening in the world of design, to test ideas, share theories and I suppose through writing and researching, find my own little place in the world.

Topics I may cover are Architecture (I hear an "of course" from those of you who know me), urban living (public transportation, gardening, art, etc.), political theories, fashion, furniture making, sewing and who knows what else.

Cheers!