Budget hotels are reaching out on a limb.
The new Linden hotel, designed by Lang Architecture is located in an industrial area of Brooklyn called the East New York neighborhood. The Architect’s Newspaper interviewed Drew Lang, the principal of Lang Architecture who stated, “I’d never thought of working in this section of Brooklyn, but if you share a vision with your client and your contractor, you can build good architecture almost anywhere.”
The design incorporates translucent materials like polycarbonate panels, clear glass, expanded metal mesh, as well as stucco cladding that is meant to create a varied composition that responds to the daylight and therefore changes over the course of the day.
The designer and developer hope these and the unique design make the 30-room, budget hotel stand out from the competiton which uses the usual ”loud roadside signage.”
Multiverse, the largest and most complex light sculpture created by American artist Leo Villareal has been unveiled between the East and West Buildings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Villareal’s work focuses on movement and light which is ideal for the concourse walkway that thousands of visitors pass through daily. The installation is on display until November 2009. Multiverse features approximately 41,000 computer-programmed LED (light-emitting diode) nodes that run through channels along the entire 200-foot-long space.
Once the appropriate hardware was installed in the existing architecture, the artist programmed sequences through his custom-designed software to create abstract configurations of light. His programming both instructs the lights and allows for an element of chance.
While it is possible that a pattern will repeat during a viewer’s experience, it is highly unlikely. Still, the eye will seek patterns in the motion, a perceptual effect of the hypnotic trailing lights.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/villarealinfo.shtm
Morgans Hotel Group will soon unveil its Modrian hotel in South Beach, FL designed by Marcel Wanders. The Dutch designer has designed what some are calling “a modern fantasy.” You can escape to an oasis of lush gardens with an outdoor pool bar, private cabanas enveloped by curtains of living vines, and even an adult sandbox.
In addition, Wanders incorporated original furnishings developed in his own design studio, including his iconic Knotted Chair and a custom designed reception desk; covered in mirrored Bisazza tiles for the Agua Spa.
The Modrian also features the latest Jeffrey Chodorow Asia de Cuba restaurant, complete with a royal communal table, crystal chandeliers set within golden bells above the tables, and private dining gardens.
http://www.mondriansouthbeach.com/hotel.html
Two talented architectural designers from R.S. Granoff Architects in Greenwich, CT have taken different approaches to homes in New York’s posh Hampton’s region.
Irene Ioffe designed an approximately 9,000 square foot shingle style vacation residence in Bridgehampton. The interiors are bright and open with clean, classic architectural detailing. The shingle style is a uniquely American building type with shingle surfaces, stone foundations and wide porches. It is an organic design, growing out of the landscape with dramatic rooflines and irregular footprints. It has become a standard for New England waterfront real estate.
Vote for Irene’s project in the Architectural Digest Magazine’s Open Audition here:
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/polls/week_2/open_audition
By contrast, Christian Calemmo has designed the NH2 residence in Northampton with aspirations to become a LEED certified home. NH2 is Christian’s take on a modern farmhouse. This beautiful design is luxury with an environmental agenda brought to life. LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes.
A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home.
For more information on how to have a green home, see The Green Home Guide: http://www.thegreenhomeguide.org/
The economic roller coaster never felt so wild. Even the dot com bust has a rather nostalgic feel to it, now. The upside of that ride, was that we knew technology wasn’t going away. We tasted the fruit and it was good. We were hooked on email and on-demand information. So, while many tech funds and stocks took a sharp turn south, we were confident that technology, as meausred by new product and service innovation, would survive and even thrive. And, it has.
However, the recent bailout actions and discussions of south bound financial and auto companies leaves the stomach flipping in the air while our cart steers into a dark abyss. The difference between these two rides, is that in the days of early consumer technology, even without blogging, podcasting, video on demand, and all the other Web 2.0 features and benefits, those with vision and product innovation understanding, could see brighter days ahead. Not so with business as usual banking and car manufacturing. While, admittedly technology is used extensively in both industries, at the core is a lack of innovation and creativity…and creative mortgage transactions and packaging, or multiple dvd players on seat backs don’t count. In their current state, these two industries don’t deserve additional, large sum investments. We need real investment in real innovation.
High tech economies are driven by research and development, and for the past 50 years total American R&D spending has remained flat. Industry funds about 4 percent of basic research costs, and that counts for 60 percent of total national research spending. Government spending on pure research is also declining. And while investment in pure research pays big for investors, it takes decades to reap the dividends. As THE ‘grab and go’ consumer society, our propensity for delayed gratification falls well on the short side.
We’re now paying the price. In 1997, the US exported $32 billion more in advanced technology products than we imported.
However, our export advantage took a hairpin turn and headed due south. By last year technology imports exceeded exports by a whopping $52 billion.
As a percentage of gross national product, the US ranks eighth in the world on R&D. Countries spending more on innovation research includes Israel, Sweden, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and Iceland. The current economic downtown has opened wide the door for more discussion of innovation investment. Some in the academic community are even creating their own buzz words to drive the importance and relevance of innovation investment. Dubbed ’stim-novation’ by Fred Block, UC Davis professor, the sharp focus could stimulate the economy. Block advocates seizing opportunity during this tumultuous time to invest in innovation, which will result in millions of new, sustainable, well paying jobs.
Some hurdles for innovation investment are a desire to lower taxes, a balanced budget, and spending on current infrastructure. Instant gratification. Americans hate to wait for anything….Oh, that’s right, that’s how we got to this mortgage crisis in the first place!
But, when considering that government investment aided the development of the mainframe computer and the Internet, leading to millions of well paying, interesting jobs, it’s up to us, who like those seeing brighter days ahead during the dot com bust, demand increased funding of innovation investment, increased support for risk assuming start ups, and public awareness of the need and benefits to next generation innovation. Daunting, but not impossible. Our competitive advantage and a brighter, healthier future count on it.
Below are inspired, innovative projects for you to consider while you define your role and strategy in moving stim-novation forward.
by Terrafugia of Woburn, MA (www.terrafugia.com)
(Photo courtesy of Popular Science; www.popsci.com)
Ooops! All the other innovative projects I want to show you are being developed in other countries! Well, below are the radical innovations that resulted from investment made outside the US.
The motorized disks collect solar rays and the energy is converted
to AC/DC power and transferred to the power grid.
(Photo courtesy of PhysOrg.Com)
The Prosolve 370E are decorative architectural tiles used to reduce
pollution and improve urban air quality.
The firm, Elegant Embellishments is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.
www.elegantembellishments.net
(Photo courtesy of popsci.com)