On Carmageddon...

With all the recent alerts, news, images and media attention focused on the 405 freeway closure in Los Angeles this weekend, the project truly seems to have earned its apocalyptic moniker, 'Carmageddon'.  In addition to the numerous online resources and 24-hour news coverage, there are even countdown and alert widgets to share on your own website, with a nifty graphic linking to a project information page.

The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project has its own site, facebook page, several twitter accounts and live camera feeds, some of which, granted, are probably of significance considering the hundreds of thousands of vehicles that use this portion of freeway on a daily basis.  However, the magnitude of the warnings and potential resulting impacts makes one pause to consider the critical role of infrastructure, transportation and urban planning in our daily lives.  It's a complex and complicated issue, but how to best implement effective public transportation systems is an important long-term dialogue and, unfortunately, is something often overlooked by many of us who are dependent on these access networks.

images:  metro.net

The reason for the demolition of the Mulholland Bridge is to enable the expansion of the 405 freeway, and it's one of three overpasses reconstructed in this effort.  While alleviating traffic congestion is a welcome change for most commuters, the counterargument- that more roads mean more cars, leading to further congestion- is one to consider when rethinking our public transit systems.  While improvements to infrastructure almost always benefit communities in terms of safety and accessibility, social and cultural factors should also be considered in the design and implementation of these systems.

The image above of the construction of the original bridge, completed in 1960, represents the context in which it was initially built- the freeway beneath wasn't constructed for another two years.

And now it's being expanded- how quickly things change! Ironically, Mulholland was named after the engineer who was instrumental in the creation of the aquaducts that led to population explosions that allowed for the rapid development of Southern California in the first half of the 20th century.  Now, the region enters another phase of growth and development, with the implementation of extensive road enhancement plans from the LA Transportation Authority and CalTrans.

For more details on the entire project as well as other regional road improvement plans in the works, visit this link from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Highway Program.  

So, even though we are pretty enthusiastic when it comes to construction (and demolition) in general, but we wonder, along with many planners and residents- once the dust settles, roads are widened and commuters are back in their cars, will the excitement and all the hype have been worth it?  

One of the stated intentions of the program, to promote ridesharing, is a step forward in terms of making LA's transit system more environmentally-friendly, but the addition of a high-occupancy lane will likely not resolve more critical issues that may arise in the future. If population growth and development have caused the type of change seen in only a few decades, it only makes sense to look ahead to prepare for further anticipated change as our cities continue to evolve, and, similarly, our values, lifestyles and needs. 

Only time will tell. But until then, anyone living in LA will have had the opportunity to enjoy a few extremely rare days of a virtually auto-free existence... and we'll all survive Carmaggedon without incident.

Through the (dual-pane) Looking Glass

We like learning how things are made- something that is partially motivated by the natural curiosity of human nature, but also by the pragmatic need to gain tools for an efficient, knowledge-based architectural process.

Knowing as much as possible about construction, in particular, is a critical component in making the most appropriate solutions for specific issues and conditions, determining alternatives and options, as well as innovative applications of materials, building technologies and design strategies.  We're also a nosy bunch who need an excuse to wrench ourselves away from the office every once in a while...

So, last week, MYD had a field trip to the manufacturing facility for Metal Window Corporation, who fabricated a custom window for a recent remodel a few weeks ago (more project details to come soon...)  It's an added benefit when manufacturing actually takes place in Southern California, not only so we can satisfy our curiosity, but to enable better coordination, collaboration and understanding, as well as to reduce the impact of transportation, shipping and travel.  

When it comes to standard doors and windows, one can typically know what to expect;  however, when designing custom products, it gets a bit more complicated.  That's when a thorough knowledge of process allows for creativity within the boundaries of what is possible, something especially important when you take into account the degrees of separation between architect and fabricator.

A brief overview on how it works: Depending on the type and size of a particular opening, as well as aesthetic considerations, the appropriate aluminum frame profile is selected, cut and welded to create the desired form in which the glass is inserted, which is then covered with a removable glazing bead. Below is a detail of a thermally-broken assembly, meaning the frame isn't welded at the corners (which is the standard process, as shown at the image on the right);  the purpose being to create a separation such that the metal cannot conduct heat between the interior and exterior.  This type of application is used in extreme climates, so we don't see it too often here in California, but it's still interesting to have a visual.

Before getting too far into the technical details of window fabrication, we thought we'd share a new product application we discovered during our visit- one that could definitely be utilized in a contemporary design, where large expanses of fixed glass occur that don't typically allow for natural ventilation.  The images below are of a large window wall, both closed and open.  A great solution for full-height windows, this design doesn't block views and maintains an open feel and allows for daylight and a visual connection to the exterior.  Hinges at both sides enable the smooth opening and closing of the panel, and because it doesn't swing out, like a typical casement window, the issue of lateral/wind forces isn't a problem.

 

So, we were pretty excited about it, and hope to use this in a project one of these days soon... 

That said, a commitment to hands-on education is essential to enhancing one's knowledge and awareness of new technologies and best practices.  It also gives us the chance to find new ways to approach design components, learn the ins and outs of how things are made, and, of course, get out of the office every now and again.  

A win-win all around.  Have a great week!

Virtual Architecture + Public Art

This weekend, one of the most unique architectural exhibits opened in New York's Omi International Art Center, a non-profit organization that provides arts residency and educational programs based on the central concept that 'artistic expression is a vehicle that transcends economic, political and cultural boundaries'.  Additionally, the Center also promotes community-oriented learning opportunities, coordinating exhibitions that encourage public engagement and discourse.

One venue for such efforts is the The Fields Sculpture Park, a swath of natural wetlands and forest that covers over 60 acres of land in the Hudson Valley.  Over 70 original contemporary installations are located throughout the site, as seen below.

images:  omiart.org

The Sculpture Park is also the site for the first virtual architecture exhibit, featuring work by such firms as Asymptote, Studio Daniel Libeskind, Cleater Studio, SHoP, Kol/Mac and SITE.  A concept that is in alignment with the Omi Center's mission, that values experimentation, collaboration, and innovation, Augmented Reality:  Peeling Layers of Space Out of Thin Air is an entirely digital exhibit, taking place in what would seem to be an empty field...  unless you had a smartphone equipped with the right app.

With the app Layar, users can have 'a truly immersive augmented reality experience' as they interact with virtual three-dimensional models and animations, all based on the latitude and longitude of each project's location.

For more links, video and further details on the exhibit, visit this link, and enjoy!

Moving into Construction...

As anyone who has been involved in the design and construction of a new home can attest, the process is a long and involved one, to say the least.  So, when a project gets approved, permitted and moves into construction, it's a pretty significant milestone.  MYD recently had a 'permit-packed' week, with two recently pulled for new construction out of state and an extensive remodel and addition here in Orange County, both of which we've been working on for over the past year.

The first project moving into construction is a new single-family residence in Waialua, Hawaii.  The remote nature of the site requires a self-sustaining renewable energy source (PV panels with backup storage), as well as its own septic and water systems, making it completely off-the-grid.  The site is zoned as agricultural, requiring a percentage of the area to be dedicated to crop production, which, not too surprisingly- given the climate conditions- will be coffee..  Should be interesting and we're looking forward to it!

Given the significant variation in the state application/architectural requirements, we've become fairly well-versed in Honalulu's municipal code, with the help of a local architect in Oahu, who has been a part of the support team representing MYD and our client with regard to different government authorities and local planning and building departments.  In the near future, we'll outline that process in a dedicated post, but check back soon for the latest project images, information and drawings, as we are in the currently updating our website and online project portfolio. 

The second project to achieve the 'building permit milestone' is a little closer to home, and its progress has been the result of many hours of design, collaboration, and communications with city staff, neighbors and other stakeholders.  The commitment, input and admirable patience of our clients, who experienced first-hand Design Review, a process truly unique to Laguna.  Again, something worthy of its own post, and perhaps that experience will be documented sometime soon, but in the meanwhile, we look forward to sharing more details on the iterative process and resulting design solutions.  

However, for now at least, in the midst of work, life, and projects, we're enjoying the anticipation of seeing our designs transform from schematic ideas, to drawings, to a tangible three-dimensional reality...

Cheers!  Lauren + Jason

Framing the View

A few recent construction images...

The Phoenix Art Museum

There’s something about museums that often lends the typology to well-articulated and engaging architecture…  Whether it’s the somewhat transitory nature of how users inhabit these civic institutions, or more specifically, the intrinsic relationship between the art and the spaces in which they are displayed, we often find ourselves admiring the building as much as the artwork inside!  

However, in some instances of well-known architecturally significant museums, the structure dominates and potentially distracts from its primary function of providing a space for paintings, sculpture and multimedia exhibits.  So, when we come across a contemporary museum whose design features are architecturally engaging, yet subtle enough to allow the art to stand on its own, it inevitably becomes the subject of a series of our own photographs, often inspired by what we experience inside.

The Phoenix Art Museum is one such space, and it not only performs its function well, but relates to the unique context of the Southwest desert through the incorporation of appropriate materials, shading devices, and landscape design.  An 10,000 square foot entry courtyard with a grid of sculptural trees provides the main access to the interior, with a deep overhang for solar protection and a linear water feature that creates movement and a sense of coolness in the Arizona heat.

Originally opened in 1959, the museum has undergone a series of renovations, the most recent by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, which included a site redesign and the inclusion of the entry court, as well as additional gallery spaces.  The resulting design tied the existing to the new to create ‘a series of interior experiences with art, enlivened by occasional visual connections to the landscape.’ 

For more information on the museum, the exhibits and how to get there, visit the Phoenix Art Museum's website.