The Sketches Behind the World's Most Magnificent Buildings | News | Archinect

'The inspiring recent release Architects' Sketchbooks celebrates the earliest traces of a building's coming into being, the ideas that pave the way for the precision of engineers' calculations or CAD renderings. Through the book's beautiful reproductions of original blots, jots, and scribbles, we can see that even the most awe-inspiring edifices begin as a line—as reassuring an insight into the creative process as any.'  -theatlantic.com

For the complete post and to see the sketchbooks, visit the original post at Archinect:
The Sketches Behind the World's Most Magnificent Buildings | News | Archinect

At the Portland Farmers Market

Just in cased you missed it yesterday, stop by Inspired Design Daily, and read a guest blog post on the Portland Farmers Market.

A follow-up to previous posts blog on recent travels through the Olympic Peninsula, Whidbey Island, and Seattle, Portland was the latest post topic and the last stop on our trip through the Pacific Northwest earlier this month.

However, in spite of our short time there, we had the opportunity to visit one of the greatest farmers markets in the country, and that alone was enough reason to plan a trip back!

Read more and view the rest of our photos at MYD's guest post at Inspired Design Daily, and hope you've been enjoying your local farmers market this summer!

Image Gallery: Rem Koolhaas' Seattle Central Library

MYD's image gallery of a recent visit to the Seattle Central Library by Rem Koolhaas

To view the complete gallery of full size images, visit our blog at:
At Koolhaas' Seattle Public Library - MYD blog - MYD studio:

Enjoy! Lauren + Jason

'via Blog this'

WikiHouse: Open-Sourced Housing

WikiHouse: Open-Sourced Housing

August 19, 2011

Machines such as 3D printers, CNC routers, and robot arms are changing our conceptions about production, bringing about a new industrial paradigm of mass customization. Such a dramatic change will propel all designers to be actively involved in the making of new tools, lest they risk being overtaken by techies, corporations, and zealous DIYers. But that’s beside the point. WikiHouse, a new Open Community project that hosts open-source home designs, should benefit all parties involved.
Details at the link: Architizer Blog » Blog Archive » WikiHouse: Open-Sourced Housing: WikiHouse: Open-Sourced HousingAugust 19, 2011

Craftsman Architecture in Washington State...

To follow up with our most recent posts, or our Pacific Northwest travel journal...  After a few days on Sequim Bay, we left the Peninsula via Port Townsend  moving onto our next stop, the beautiful Whidbey Island, for a couple of days of relaxation by the seaside.  

We left Sequim to embark on the next leg of the trip, starting with another ferry ride, this time across the water from Port Townsend to Whidbey Island, with more beautiful views to enjoy along the way.

During the drive up from the ferry through the island, we made a stop at the historic Deception Pass Bridge, s site offering breathtaking views of the steep cliffs down to the shore and the dense old-growth forests. 

Upon arriving at the Inn at Langley, we recognized the magnitude of the beauty of the space, right on the water and about as sublime as it could get...

There's nothing quite like the sight and sound of  the gentle waves of the rising tide just steps beyond your balcony, with the Cascade Mountains in the distance.

And, as usual, we were just as enthusiastic about the architectural detailing- a japanese-influenced Craftsman aesthetic that is contextually appropriate and well-executed.

Some Time Away...

Back in California... It's been a busy week catching up since returning from the beautiful Northwest not too long ago, but it was a great trip and wonderful source of inspiration and revitalization...  Or maybe it was the clean Washington state air.  Regardless, here are a few images from the initial few days of our travels.

The first part of our adventure began in Seattle and we then headed a few hours Northwest to the Olympic Peninsula for several days of visiting friends, taking in the views, and enjoying the coastal landscape.
Below are a selection of images from time spent on Sequim Bay, where the gorgeous weather made for picturesque vistas and perfect conditions for kayaking. With surroundings like these, some of the tastiest local delights at every meal, and good friends to share it all with, it was the ideal launching point for our time away...

An afternoon trip to Hurricane Ridge, at an elevation of 5,200 feet in the National Forest, offered stunning views of the Olympic Mountains and local wildflowers.

Back at sea level the next morning, the clear emerald water of Lake Cascade made for fantastic kayaking and even more stunning scenes of the Northwest.

But probably the most relaxing moments involved the simple pleasure of enjoying the sights with friends while surrounded by an array of vibrant flowers, glass of wine in hand and the water of the Bay only yards away. Perfect!