Meet Henry

Henry is a rescue dog, a proud ambassador for Project Blue Collar, and my most constant companion.

Read more here: http://architectstasy.tumblr.com/tagged/henry

I have to admit: I am firmly situated in the school of thought that, in religious architecture, more decoration is better.  Not so much for the contemplation of divinity or the exaltation of spirit, but because it's so incredibly beautiful.  I recently had the great pleasure of visiting the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, an active (active) Hindu temple in Chicago's West Suburbs.  Photography on the interior was prohibited, but here is a glimpse of the richness of both the space and the faith.  The only thing better would have been if I'd been able to capture some of the constant stream of devotees entering and exiting; the traditional dress of nearly every worshipper easily put the building in their shadows.

Slightly-Less-New Year News

The popular mode of journalism seems to be to use facts to plunge readers into a sort of gleeful self-flagellation. I have a different proposal: what if we take facts as cautionary tales, or even better, optimistic proposals for future action? For example, what if each reader picked up one or two new attitudes - more considered BOGO spending, less insistence on non-local (therefore always in season - therefore not needing to be grown for aesthetics) foods? What if we took the data presented, not as a reason to castigate those that have gone before us, but as a guidepost to the road ahead? 

“Up to 50% of all food produced is thrown away”  The Guardian

McDonald’s is fun to hate. Encouraging children to read is fun to get behind. Is that why this announcement feels so weird?
“The U.K.’s biggest distributor of children’s books is about to be…McDonald’s”  The Atlantic

Detroit, in all of its beautiful fractured multiplicity, has produced a magnum opus. With good data, input from those on the frontlines, and committed funding for the next five years, these vital and valuable projects finally have a fighting chance instead of being relegated to just a crying shame.
“Detroit initiative unveils recommendations for city’s renewal”  Architectural Record

From devastation to devastatingly romantic: I may not be a fan of the Big Apple, but it sure does do Valentine’s Day right.
“Time Square’s heart-shaped Valentine’s Day boardwalk will be made from Hurricane Sandy debris”  Inhabitat

I’m having a visceral reaction to this particular piece by my all-time favorite food writer. I’d like to think it’s more than that it’s essentially a love letter to potatoes, my favorite food.
“Culinary ennui: Garlic and parmesan bread”  Vanilla Garlic

The leap from concept to creation is rarely as elegantly executed as this exhibition. This elevates the already-exquisite tradition of Japanese textile exhibits.
“Akio Hirata’s exhibition of hats by Nendo”   Design Daily 

Forget the product: I lust after the tome-saturated space.
“Selecta by LEMA”  Architonic

The New Year So Far

There's really no bad time to find new ways to call architecture promiscuous.

"U.K. exhibition: Prototyping Architecture"  ArchDaily

Maybe we could seek out more market drivers to convert the prison experience into more of an opportunity and not just a holding cell.

"After 10 years of delay, the FCC begins to address unjust phone rates for prisoners"  The Atlantic

I like Avis and think this is a positive move, but I hope they keep the name Zipcar.

"Avis to buy car-sharing service Zipcar in deal worth nearly $500 million"  Inhabitat

Good things come out of Michigan (and we desperately need the money coming back into it)!

"Swim school idea leads to Goldfish growth"  AnnArbor.com

A requiem and implicit plea for the never-out-of-date intelligent curation of ideas.

"A writer looks back at the editor who shaped his books"  The Atlantic

I am going through the job application process right now, and I have no idea why it's so difficult not to sound like this.

"The world's first and only completely honest resume of a graphic designer"  McSweeney's

It's not like I need an excuse to buy wine, but when storing them is as delicious as tasting them...
"Toast the new year with 8 designer wine racks"  Design Bureau