Authenticity and the Facade of Surface

http://www.flickr.com/photos/paniek/274823200/

What you see is not necessarily what you get! Images, information, fashion, media are all complicit in the surfaces that you see. The world of the flattened image is mistaken for reality. Much like the facades of Hollywood's old Western sets, the full view is determined by your vantage point. It looks great from the street but not so believable from the back.
In truth, as our lives become more complex and we are increasingly bombarded by information, it becomes more difficult to get three dimensional perspective. There is not enough time to explore anything in detail. Everything becomes a Wikipedia entry culminating in an increased quantity of information but with a distinct lack of awareness. Taste is subsumed in the flavour of the day. Last months fad is so dated compared to this months fad. At some point you have to ask, 'what is the value of this?"

I can see in the near future that  there is the potential for a backlash. One can already see it in the "slow movement" and other similar social movements that seek to question our current social situation. These movements stem initially from a crisis of authenticity. There is so much information that it clogs the drain and it becomes problematic to separate the wheat from the chaff. One has to step back, take a deep breath, establish what one values and throw the rest away. It is necessary to create subjective clarity as well as objective clarity.

I have used the notion of surface metaphorically but if you think of the reality, we are bombarded by the surface in its most literal sense. TV, computer, and even wall paper are all deceptions or masks of the reality. I was reading an article in an Interior Design magazine forecasting what the hot new colours are going to be this year. When you think about it, it is not quite like the weather! There is no legitimate fact to base an assumption on. Hot colours can only be analyzed after the fact as a cultural phenomenon. What is the weatherman of colour basing his analysis on?

The truth is lost in opinion. So lets collectively get up and  push a quantity of infomation aside and apply some quality judgement to our situation. Learn to appreciate what is important to you and follow your creed. Use that unlimited source of information wisely and try and do something positive with it!

Twitter As An Architectural Environment

Where are you when you spend all that time at the keyboard? Supposedly you are sitting in your chair but I have a hunch that you are somewhere else completely. Not unlike reading a book, Twitter is creating a world for you, that is not in the physical world. However, unlike a book, other people are in there with you, which means that you are being engaged in your imagination. This is a fairly sizeable leap of perception. Yet we are so used to being in our imagined realm that we hardly notice any distinction and overlook the difference.

Clearly we are at the beginning of Twitters history and technological advances. As much as I am a Twitter junkie and fanatic I have to say that the interface is very disappointing and limiting. I cannot really engage with people I meet all over the world because I am really in a glorified chat room. Being able to engage in other peoples ideas keeps me coming but I cannot actually engage them.

A number of years ago, "Second Life" had a brief surge in popularity and then promptly fizzled. The idea of  "Second Life" was that you as a person, had a digital avatar, that could enter into cyberspace and participate in digital environments. The avatars were simple and cartoon like and consequently were not that appealing. The environments were slow and complicated and difficult to use. However, from my architectural viewpoint the whole idea was exceedingly fascinating.

I can see that Twitter has power much beyond Facebook because it draws like minded people together as opposed to like people. There is a whole world out there that I didn't know existed and they didn't know mine. At some point there will be a requirement for people to meet in cyberspace to share ideas. There will be the opportunity to create environments, unlimited by any laws of physics, that we can explore. At some point they will mesh with our physical realms as part of our daily experience and Twitter and other social medias will have their own architectural environments. Welcome to the Twitterscape!

The Renovation project - How does it work ?

The Renovation Project - How does it all work?

The above graphic shows the typical process for a homeowner doing a major renovation. Although many of the professionals and subtrades may not be required for your particular project it is important to get a sense of the complexity of the project. Both the architect/designer and the general contractor are keys to the process for they have the resources and contacts required to provide all the professionals and the subtrades to make your project a success. For further information please see our website at www.penumbradesign.ca

Vancouver is getting ready for the big earthquake - are you?

Recent events in San Francisco and Seattle reinforce the need for awareness around earthquakes and being prepared is key. Efforts have been made in the community to provide a system of emergency services and preparing an adequate response in the case of emergency. However, these measures can only go so far to protecting you and your family. It is incumbent on all households to get a plan together because in the event of "the big one" , time will be up and where will that leave your family.

Earthquakes are happening all around us. Natural Resources Canada publishes a list of recent earthquake events and we can see that via their website (http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent/2010/index-eng.php.) how often they occur. Vancouver, with its position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes. Although it has been almost 300 years since the last cataclysmic earthquake in the area, Vancouver is now overdue.

Given its topography, the Lower Mainland's emergency response could be very limited. Although the provincial governments emergency response system has prepared and implemented a full strategy, it is possible that the results of a major earthquake would leave the infrastructure in Vancouver devastated. The main issue would revolve around the collapse of bridges and the inability of first responders to get to required locations. Many of the bridges that criss-cross our waterways would be devastated.

Consequently, it is even more important that households have a plan for themselves. As most of our homes are woodframe, this does help. Wood frame structures are much more effective in an earthquake than a concrete one. Concrete and masonry work great in compression (ie. when it is holding steady against gravity), however in tension and under lateral loads it is poor unless it is adequately reinforced with steel. Wood structures on the other hand have a certain flexibility that renders them safer in an earthquake.

When planning always remember that the majority of problems are caused by falling objects. This is why you should always try to get under a table to shield yourself from falling debris. Quite often the shaking will displace the furniture, so try and hold on to it and remain under it. Other things you should consider when coming up with a family plan.

1. Ensure that you have a family emergency plan with meeting points and out of town contact numbers.
2. Do you have an adequate emergency kit. 
3. Ensure your house is properly anchored to the foundation.
4. Ensure any utilities especially water heaters are anchored to the building.
5. Ensure that any tall furniture (bookcases, dinettes etc.) are anchored to the wall.
6. Know the evacuation routes out of your community and understand the community emergency plan.
7. Determine whether you are in a high risk area? Silt beds and river deltas pose particular risk due to silt liquefaction.
8. Do you have any first aid training in the house? If not get some.

What's not in your kitchen?

The stereotypical kitchen has a sink, range, dishwasher and fridge. However new influences are testing our traditional understanding of the kitchen. Our "mothers" kitchens were simple and the greatest advent was that of the microwave. Increased globalization as well as the immediate access to information has lead to an explosion of technology and ideas for the kitchen. Take a look at some different ideas and see if they are right for you.

Wok Kitchen

One of the major cultural add-ons especially in a market like Vancouver is the addition of the Wok Kitchen. Typically, this is a second room about 6'x8' with a 2 burner gas cooktop. Ideally the room will have a lot of ventilation through a mechanical hood vent and a small sink plumbed in. For families who do a lot of Asian style cooking, the Wok Kitchen provides a required buffer from the main kitchen so that there are not a lot of lingering odours and oils and grease are kept seperate from the main house.

Potfillers

If Italian is more your style, try adding a potfiller to your stove area. The potfiller is an accordion style elbowed tap that comes out of the wall above your stove. Large pasta pots and vegetable pots are easily filled with water at the stove and they make a very cool addition to your stove environment.

Wine fridges

When the pasta is done you may need some wine to complement the meal. Many more North Americans are making wine part of their meal routine. As wine is susceptible to variations in temperature a wine fridge makes an ideal complement to your kitchen. Many small undercounter models are available and can provide a new focus to the end of an island.

Fridge and Freezer drawers

"Fisher Paykal" came out with these drawers a number of years ago and most major appliance companies carry them these days. They provide an alternative to large bulky refrigerators and can be used to top up space for an existing refrigerator. Typically they do not have a lot of volume so they will not remove your fridge from your kitchen. Larger families can take advantage of these storage options by having a second prep centre for cereal etc. with dedicated dairy storage where family members can supply themselves from a subsidiary work station.

Plumbed in coffee makers and expresso machines

Get coffee built in to your cabinets with a plumbed in expresso machine or coffee maker.

Two is better than one

Many higher end homes are installing dedicated freezers and refrigerators. "Sub Zero" now makes seperate freezers and refrigerators which allows more specific space use when designing the kitchen as the freezer does not need to be front and centre. It also means your new kitchen will have to be larger to accomodate two 36" wide units instead of one.

For the bachelors in the crowd can I recommend two dishwashers. One for the clean and one for the dirty. If you take this thinking to its logical conclusion, who needs cabinets. "Kenmore" has come up with the mini version of this which is a two drawer dishwasher for the one person apartment. Again one dirty and one clean.

There are many options when it comes to the kitchen. No doubt our kitchens will keep getting larger and more expensive. The most important rule for the homeowner is that prior to designing your dream kitchen, make sure you are aware of the possibilities that will suit both your lifestyle and your budget and make your kitchen match your culinary requirements.

Terminal City-Vancouver as the model of the new global city - part I

Terminal City , the aptly provided moniker of Vancouver, is indicative of its edge status. Vancouver, throughout its history, has been the backwater of the dominant economic forces of the time. In its youth it battled with San Francisco for gold rush dollars. In its post war growth it succumbed to the influence of Eastern Canada. In its most recent incarnation it accepted its role as outpost to Hong Kong. Vancouver is like the stereotypical vacuous blonde supermodel that is beautiful but suffers from a lack of substance between the ears.

Consequently the economic structure of Vancouver is uninfluential. There are relatively few corporate head offices compared to "local" competitors like Seattle and Calgary. With corporate dominance low, Vancouver has thrived on a very different ethos in the way its citizens approach life and lifestyle. Small business is the predominant form of business and equality of citizens across the urban mosaic is the cultural norm. In fact, libertarian ideology (apolitical) is rampant in the city and forms a very different mindset than prototypical North American cities.

However, Vancouver's beauty and the attractiveness of its stable real estate (comparatively) makes it a good place for off-shore money to invest personal resources. The worldly libertarian view and Canadian Immigration policies have enhanced the large influx of immigrants largely from Hong Kong, mainland China, India and South Korea. In fact, visible minorities now form the majority in Vancouver and consequently the city has a large reach to the rest of the world.  Unlike many world metropolitan centres, Vancouver has achieved this with a relatively low threshold of racism.

With the rise of the information age, Vancouver's global reach is further enhanced while small business is empowered. Internet usage rates in British Columbia according to Statistics Canada are around 85% in 2010. The numbers are approaching 90% in the Greater Vancouver itself. These numbers are among the highest in North America.

Unencumbered by slow moving corporate behemoths and the associated political baggage, Vancouver has the ability to react with speed in its own interest and turn its smaller more nimble economic structure to its favour . It will be important that the political elites  federally, provincially, and municipally buy into the economic reincarnation. Individuals and companies are ready to establish business links with the rest of the world. with a larger professional and tertiary workforce perhaps the model will be smart as well as good looking.

Living Walls and Roofs and the Cult of Eco

Green is the new mantra of the age. Sometimes green ideas are wise while others are just passing fads. It is important to get the widest context possible and don't believe the hype unless they can prove it to you. Passion and philosophy will always work better than adhering to the green inventory checklist.

About 2 years ago, I was in Napa Valley sampling the local finery (vinery) while attending a trade show in San Francisco. Whenever I visit California, I am always amazed, how new ideas resonate with the public there. I always get the sense that they are less discriminating while more eager to embrace the "new." This stands in stark contrast to the reserved design ethos of Vancouver.

The group of architects that had joined me in Yountville, were all drawn to a new building that turned out to be a hotel called "Bardessono."(www.bardessono.com) We strolled in checking out all the newest in design. The idea behind the hotel was that it was energy neutral and LEED platinum (wow!). One of the things that interested me were the living walls. Not only did they minimize heat gain but provided a certain amount of air quality enhancement and were appealing to look at.

                                        

                                           Small example of the Bardessono Living Wall 

                                         Solar heated pool at Bardessono 
                                         (image credits - www.bardessono.com)

The firm I worked with at the time, Synthesis Design, had recently completed a green roof installation on our office in North Vancouver with NATS Nursery . We were all amazed with the effect this had in cooling our office without the aid of air conditioning. It was a logical solution to a dilemma and made for a really nice place to hang out in the summer . Seeing this reinterpretation on the walls of the hotel was interesting and the unending list of both green ideas and design were heartening.

Having returned to San Francisco the following day, the group attended a tour of green houses. We were picked up in Downtown San Francisco and drove for 1 hour to tract housing suburbia (my first clue). Many of the green amenities included such items as low VOC paints (o.k), bamboo floors (o.k), and double paned windows (so) and recycling bins (huh!). When recycling bins become a green feature, you have to scratch your head. It was clear that green in this development meant an itemized checklist of saleable features that you could repackage and put on a brochure.

Moral of the story: Do it right or don't do it at all.( I am sure the emissions of the one hour commute each day would far outweigh the benefit of the recycling bins)