CUSH DESIGN STUDIO

[Lighting] Surveillance Chandelier by Humans Since 1982

2012-02-05T15:59:00.000-05:00

The Surveillance chandelier is another lighting project by the guys at Humans Since 1982.

[Lighting] Collection of Light by Humans Since 1982

2012-02-04T19:39:00.000-05:00

This lighting project, called "Collection of Light" by the Stockholm based designers Humans Since 1982, displays a collection of 300 light emitting diodes (LED's) labelled by name, size, and color temperature. It is meant to resemble an insect display case, and also functions as a lamp itself.

I can't stop staring at it. It's so beautiful.

Adding this to the top of my once-I'm-rich-must-have-wishlist.

[Inspiration Examination] Triangle Skylight

2012-02-03T08:41:00.000-05:00

This reminds me of a project we worked on last year, we made some great models playing with light and shape. Somewhat James Turrell-ish. It's powerful because of its simplicity. The color, or lack of it, is peaceful and calming, nice for an office space. I am curious as to the view. Super old mac. Pleasing composition of the photo and the artwork, and the room itself. Successful architectural detail highlight.

[Life] Hinterlands Film

2012-01-10T05:37:00.001-05:00

Posting may be slow this month, I've taken a short hiatus from my design projects to play a roll in a new Sean Stiegemeier short film called 'Hinterlands'. Right now I'm posting from the small stormy town of Vík on the southern coast of Iceland where there is a crazy wind/ice storm raging outside our hotel. We will be shooting in some unbelievable locations from Iceland to Scotland to Chernobyl over the next month, so check back for updates on our journey.

You can find some more background info about the film on the Kickstarter website here: Hinterlands Kickstarter Page.

Also, we set up a Facebook page where we will post updates, photos, and behind the scenes footage as shooting progresses. You can find/like that page here, to follow our adventures: Hinterlands Facebook Page.

Life is an adventure.

[Portfolio] Cargo Portfolio

2012-01-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

I created a new site to host my portfolio on Cargo Collective. Click on the cush logo above to check it.

[Inspiration Examination] Less is More

2012-01-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

Dieter Rams! The living pioneer of quality and innovation, designed these electronics and the shelving systems back in the 60's. He rules because he comes from the less-is-more school of thought, and a lot of his designs from the past are still relevant and awesome by today's design standards. There are some real nugs of wisdom in Dieter Rams' ten principles of good design:

Good design:

Is innovative - The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Makes a product useful - A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Is aesthetic - The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products are used every day and have an effect on people and their well-being. Only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

Makes a product understandable - It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user's intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Is unobtrusive - Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user's self-expression.

Is honest - It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

Is long-lasting - It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today's throwaway society.

Is thorough down to the last detail - Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

Is environmentally friendly - Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Is as little design as possible - Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.

[Inspiration Examination] Whimsical Vine Tree

2012-01-01T22:06:00.000-05:00

Make 2012 about natural quality and substance. Dig deeper then surface level aesthetic, create new forms of thoughtful expression. Like the feelings provoked from this room. The standard space becomes whimsical through an imaginative use of nature. Suddenly you're swimming through watery green light, looking up to the surface from the bottom of a pond. (I really dislike those rocking chairs but whatev). We're still all looking up at that skylight and thinking ooo000ooohh!

[Video] Icelandic Rainbow Road in Denmark

2011-12-15T20:21:00.001-05:00

"Your Rainbow Panorama" is a magic pedestrian race track inspired by Mario Kart's Rainbow Road and designed by Icelandic Artist Olafur Eliasson on top of the ARoS Aarhus Kunstmuseum in Aarhus, Denmark.

[Architecture] From Warehouse to Warehome

2011-12-10T16:50:00.001-05:00

Man, there are so many awesome old warehouses in this city. This "Inverted Warehouse Townhouse" in TriBeCa was the work of Dean / Wolf Architects. They took a 10,500sf warehouse and created a pretty sweet loft out of it. I don't love every design choice they made, but I do like the liberal use of glass and steel to bring light into the huge, otherwise dark space. Here is an excerpt from the architect's website about the project:

"The Inverted Warehouse Townhouse is an addition and renovation of a Tribeca loft building. Conceived as an excavation of dissipating energy, three double story volumes are voided from the center of the building. Into this space are hung self structuring corten steel panels which are layered, shingle-style. The layering of the shingles allows for frameless burgundy wall art glass to float down through the walls. The downward dissipation culuminates in the double story book shelves which hang into the children's playroom. Countering the downward hanging of spaces is a courtyard layer of silicone glazed glass which delicately lifts to the skyline.

The main entry is onto the fifth floor where two sequences separate public and private routes: the upward route joins the public spaces while the downward route travels to bedrooms, playrooms, and study."

The huge glass atrium allows daylight to penetrate deep into the living spaces of the warehome. (Dog!) (did I say penetrate?)

Skylights on the floor of the atrium allow light to travel still further, helping to lighten up the dark warehouse vibe.

Huge walls of glass open up and blur the boundaries of indoor and outdoor space.

That handrail is pretty ugly. Not feelin' it.

But I like the long vertical pieces of steel here.

One of the greatest accomplishments of this warehome project, in my opinion, is how the architect created visible distinguished spaces from floor to floor. Where before, this view from the stairs would be of a huge empty warehouse floor below, it now looks more like a home with rooms and partitioned spaces with visual interest that makes you want to explore and see more.

[Model] 80's Purple winter 2011/2012

2011-11-30T18:02:00.001-05:00

Some new stuff up at 80sPurple.com

[Model] COA Fall/09

2011-11-28T22:59:00.000-05:00

Photos by Ben Cope

[Interior] Thanksgiving with the Cushinghams.

2011-11-25T04:44:00.001-05:00

A thanksgiving photo from our family living room, with a peek into the decorating style of my lovely mother Maryly. She knows how to make a sweet home. I love coming to visit my parents, they keep it so clean and nice. This room especially, is flooded with light and peace and good vibes. One of these days we will have to feature the rest of the house.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Now we begin a long weekend of hard work on the new loft project in downtown LA. Soon I will be updating with photos, and video of the progress.

[Architecture] A Grown Up's Tree House

2011-11-21T22:32:00.001-05:00

Notice how the pattern of the corrugated siding repeats the pattern of the cactus. Love the juxtaposition of the clean modern wall of glass on top of the rusty metal siding, I think it gives balance. Sparks interest in both old and new; modern and rustic. I like to imagine an underground lair hidden deep beneath this structure. With an elevator that comes up to the living quarters above ground. Batman's getaway.

[Model] Soho Reflections

2011-11-20T22:37:00.001-05:00

Sneak peak at today's shoot with Jac Martinez in Soho.

[Inspiration Examination] Wood Wall Headboard

2011-11-20T04:57:00.001-05:00

Interesting headboard idea. I like that the nightstands are floating right out of the wood wall. The horizontal lines and the muted shades make the space feel restful. I love the sconces as well.

[Inspiration Examination] Perfect Bedroom

2011-11-18T11:00:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite spaces of all time. The horizontal line of light seeping out from under the wood plank floor interrupted only by a beautiful wood burning fireplace- completes my world. Sure that fireplace is a fire hazard- a hazard worth having. Sure a little gust of wind would send ashes all over the room, but look at it - it's perfect. All this plus a huge window with a beautiful view. Rustic wood beams. Vaulted ceiling. Simple white bed. It's modern. It's rustic. It's serene. It's the whole package. I will sigh at this a thousand more times before I start to get sick of it. This is the stuff (my) dreams are made of.

[Inspiration Examination] A Wave of Cool Tones and Shades

2011-11-18T04:28:00.001-05:00

Reactions: Holy cow. The lighting = surreal. What a smooth ambiance. A wave of cool tones and shades. Brick columns? Incredible. Chiller whale vibes all over this perfect sanctuary of peace. The concrete and the brick have me drooling all over myself. God bless those skylights. Gosh how is the lighting so perfect? I wouldn't even be mad if there was no electricity. Who needs electricity with this perfect natural light? It's like living in a cloudy day. Consistant shades and shade, all on the same frequency, all bleeding into each other, parts of the whole. This one is top 10 in the natural lighting department.

[Furniture] Triangle Chair

2011-11-18T04:15:00.001-05:00

ROLU Studio's Triangle Chair. Simple. Geometric. Comfortable. Good.

[Architecture] An Australian Sleeper House

2011-11-17T15:10:00.000-05:00

Another Sleeper house, and an impressive one at that. This little beach house is located in Port Melbourne, Australia, and the architecture work was done by Matt Gibson. Let's talk about the cute and unassuming street view. Definitely in the same family as the Skylight House I posted recently. It looks like your grandmother's house; like the sweetest old lady lives inside, making wedding cakes all day.

But step inside...

SURPRISE!

It is HUGE. And modern. And totally unexpected.

Not much to say about the furniture and styling inside, maybe it was just set up for the photo shoot to sell the house (these photos are from the online listing of the house when it was for sale), but the interior architecture is impressive.

Another sweet surprise interior that you would never expect from your view of the outside. For more 'Sleeper Houses' like this one, with unassuming exteriors and radical interiors, check out the Chenchow Little Skylight House, and the Swedish Schoolhouse-house.

[Inspiration Examination] An Industrial Kitchen

2011-11-16T16:23:00.001-05:00

Reactions: Homey. Warm. Masculine. Feels honest, and lived in. Industrial. Natural colors, natural materials give it a nice natural palette. Surprises! Cool fridge on the left. Almost missed it. Cool steel framed doors in the foreground. I want to zoom out and see more of those doors. I wish the black hood vent cover went all the way to the ceiling. Great natural lighting in the space. I could spend all day in this kitchen!

[Inspiration Examination] Leather, Wood, and Bones.

2011-11-16T14:49:00.001-05:00

Reactions: Masculine. Dark. Cool. Almost scary, but not in a terrible way. My first reaction was very positive but the longer I stare at this picture the more bleak it looks. Interesting how things change the more you think about them. The darkness and lack of lighting lends itself to a feeling of abandon with a hint of drug-den. That's the vibe which makes this photo interesting though. The right interior lighting would change this from a bad ass photo, to warm living space. I could appreciate both.

[Architecture] Building a Building Inside of a Building

2011-11-08T21:36:00.000-05:00

This new building inhabits the ruins of an old dovecote building. Designed by Haworth Tompkins, it is part of an extension of the campus for Aldeburgh Music in Snape Maltings, on the east coast of England.

Plywood interior aside, this is sweet project! Sometimes, instead of 'dozing the remains of an old structure and starting from scratch, we ought to leave the remains intact, and build around them. Like an animal shedding its skin, the new form arises out of the old.

The juxtaposition of architecture, style, and age highlights the progress of an ever changing society by showing us where we came from. What once was sets the scene for what is now. The crumbling bricks give way to a cor-ten steel liner, shaped to display the interior volume of the original victorian structure. It feels natural, and I wouldn't mind seeing more of this happening.

[Interior] Grayscale Coordination

2011-11-06T20:19:00.000-05:00

A serious achromatic grayscale interior. Here we have the new offices of Coordination Asia, an architecture design and consulting company in Shanghai, China.

Sure, it's a hell of a lot of gray, but by washing everything in the same color, it helps to accentuate the architectural details. All of a sudden we notice the intricacy of forms of the wood paneling and crown molding; we become more aware of light and shadow and how it plays against the multidimensional forms of the space.

Then the few subtle indulgences of color come to life with a much more powerful impact. It may seem like it would get boring over time, always working in a world of gray, and I don't know, maybe it would. But I would dare say that it is precisely it's overwhelming grayness that will keep this office fun and interesting for awhile to come.

Would you want to work at this office? Love it, or hate it?

[Lighting] Coco's Thread (Vs. Tom's Cone)

2011-11-02T17:43:00.000-04:00

Apparently it's lighting week at cush design studio, so here is another lovely light for your viewing pleasure. This is the Thread Light, by the Australian designer Coco Reynolds of Marz Designs. The threaded rods are removable, allowing for adjustments in size, and the clamps are also adjustable giving versatility in height and direction of light.

In addition to the pleasing aesthetic design and functionality potential, this lamp is a sustainable product. The light shades are made of recycled spun aluminum and the base is composed of a green concrete composite called Lithistone, which is made up of a combination of ground minerals, recyclable and organic mineral pigments. Bonus points for Coco!

So, initial research revealed some interesting things about this Coco Reynolds. Hailing from Sydney Australia, her background is in industrial design and she also dabbles in graphic design. The interesting part for me, is that she is only one year older then myself, and she graduated college a year before I did. I am impressed! I'm always excited to discover other young talented people with an eye for design and the capacity to produce.

But, the plot thickens. As I was looking over the photos of the Thread Light, considering posting it to the site, I kept thinking that it looked strangely familiar. Aha! Sure enough, enter Tom Dixon's Tripod Cone Light for further review:

Ok, so since Tom's Cone Light was launched back in 2004, it seems as though he may have beat Coco to the punch on this guy. That having been said, I think the Thread Light is an awesome and legitimate version of this photography lighting style lamp, and I would be stoked to have one in my own home. (The Tom Dixon light can come too).

[Lighting] Cool lamp / creepy room.

2011-11-01T18:10:00.000-04:00

I love lamp. Especially the Eliz Lamp by Stall Collectief in Belgium. It is both large, and easy on the eyes (Get it? Because the big shade blocks the glare...). I dig that instead of shooting it in the predictable modern loft showroom setting, it was shot on the creepy set of Saw VII with hay and pipes stewn about floor and a rotten skeleton of a chair below.

[Life] Return to the Helm: A New Loft in LA

2011-10-27T09:23:00.000-04:00

Emerging from a healthy deuce-month hiatus from the hyper-productive world of the office job; I'm now ready to return to the helm. It's time to have a go at a new loft project in downtown LA. Much like the last loft project, we are working within a modest budget, which will afford us a few interesting opportunities to get creative with the space and the materials.

The current task-at-hand is to design a large sectional sofa for the open living area. We have a generous ten-feet of sofa space to work with. The client requests a pillowless but comfortably cushioned modern minimal style sofa with an open back on one end and a chaise wide enough for two. As it stands now, we are looking at something similar to the sofa below, floating over a recessed plinth base, with charcoal gray upholstery: (photo from the Apartment Therapy house tour of Justin Shaulis)

Of course, I'm also always keeping my eyes peeled for a decent Eames lounge chair and ottoman, so I can finally use it in a project and then move on with my life. Though I would love to get my hands on one of the 100 limited edition murdered out eames lounges, locating and affording one would likely require a small miracle, so I will settle for what I can get. Isn't this thing sexy though? Seriously. I dream about it.

Check back soon for photos, interviews and all new video updates chronicling the progress of this loft on it's path to glory.

[Inspiration] Candy Black, two things I love.

2011-10-21T17:05:00.000-04:00

Candy Black is a "boutique studio focussing on bringing the latest design concepts to their clients in all fields of graphic, creative direction and interior design", and I am in love with them. Unfortunately (for me), they are located in Poole, Dorset UK. This is the direction cush design studio is heading, just give it a few years. Here are a few samples of their work, from photography to graphic design, branding and interiors:

[Interior] Swedish Schoolhouse-house

2011-10-20T14:17:00.000-04:00

An abandoned former school house was purchased by Swedish glass designer Ingegerd Råman and her husband Claes Soderquist to convert into a home and studio space. Leaving the facade of the building generally unchanged, the interior was designed and renovated by Swedish design firm, Claesson Koivisto Rune, and an additional studio space was built adjacent to the schoolhouse.

It's the contrast of exterior and interior, old and new, traditional and contemporary that makes this project stand out. Like the Chenchow Little Skylight House, it's about the secret interior hiding behind the unassuming exterior facade. Paying respect to the original structure, repurposing an otherwise unwanted old schoolhouse, and giving it a beautiful new life. Another awesome sleeper house.

[Interior] Adee Phelan Salon by Ryan Mc Elhinney

2011-10-17T16:52:00.000-04:00

Ryan Mc Elhinney Creative, with the assistance of FCH Architects, designed this hair salon for Adee Phelan at The Cube in Birmingham, UK. Ryan Mc Elhinney pulls off a respectable balance of old and new; repurposing antique found furniture and objects with a modern style in the context of a new and unique contemporary space. This is more then just a salon, it's an experience. <--cheesy but true. The juxtaposition of old and new highlights the beauty and detail of the antique pieces while maintaining the feel of a modern high end salon slash gallery.

Ryan Mc Elhinney designed special artist easel work stations, turning clients into living works of art as they get their hair styled.

[Architecture] A Swiss Parking Garage

2011-10-12T12:26:00.000-04:00

Peter Kunz Architecture in Winterthur Switzerland created this awesome parking garage in Herdern way back in 1998! It is simple yet it has such a powerful visual impact. It creates a bold display of both the cars inside and the scenic view outside. Way to take something potentially boring like a parking garage and creatively turn it into something incredible. Every project is an opportunity to redefine what is expected by creating something new.

[Interior] The Selby - Abigail Ahern

2011-10-07T13:50:00.000-04:00

While perusing through one of the greatest websites, The Selby, I stumbled across this photo journey through the home of London based interior designer, Abigail Ahern. She's got an eclectic style, it's dark and quirky and light hearted all at once. I especially vibe with the gray living room-with the fireplace and the chesterfield. There is a dramatic feel that she achieves in the spaces, but shes able to maintain the comfort and warmth. And she drives an awesome old school Mercedes that I love. Check out TheSelby.com for more sneak peaks of creative people in their personal spaces.

[Interior] Man on the Boon - Seoul Korea

2011-10-05T04:03:00.000-04:00

Man on the Boon is a new men's store in Seoul dedicated to art, fashion and design. It is opened by South Korean department store Shinsegae and presents more than 50 brands including Acne, Band of Outsiders, Nanamica, Pendleton, Diet Butcher Slim Skin, Opening Ceremony, and Rag&Bone for the 2011 Fall/Winter season.

The store was designed by Masamichi Katayama of Wonderwall Inc. who created an elegant balance of refined and edgy, complimenting the nature of the brands they carry and attracting young and well-to-do design-savvy hipsters.

If you will be in the area, stop by the official store opening party on Friday, October 6th from 9pm - midnight at 19-3 banpo 1-dong, 6th floor [seocho-gu].

[Architecture] Chenchow Little - Skylight House

2011-10-03T17:32:00.000-04:00

A sleeper house is one that looks relatively standard from the street but hidden behind the facade lies something completely unexpected. Ok, the term in my vocabulary actually stems from street racing; a sleeper is a car that looks average from the outside but secretly houses an powerful racing engine. Not unlike the silver Impala from the intro for the movie Drive. This is a 'don't judge a book by its cover' house.

The Skylight House, designed by the husband and wife team of Chenchow Little Architects in Sydney, Australia, is part of a conservation streetscape which required them to maintain the Victorian façade. Step inside and you'll find the rest of the home to be a strikingly minimal, Scandinavian inspired dream home. Clean, open, airy, and overflowing with light from above. Wouldn't it be fun, owning a house like this? Knowing that you have a secret house on the block. Holding the power to blow the minds of all unassuming guests as they walk in the front door. It's like living a secret life, a life in disguise. Almost like your very own batcave, but hidden in plain sight. You're living a lie. A cool lie.

[Furniture] The Artest Chair

2011-09-13T15:16:00.000-04:00

Last year, while filming 'Design School' for HGTV, I had the opportunity to collaborate with designer/peer Marcia Prentice to design a chair for Ron Artest. Ron plays for the LA Lakers, and he is huge, so the chair had to be huge as well. He asked for something comfortable to lounge in at home, and after a considerable amount of discussion between Marcia and I, this is what we created for him.

To see photos of our progress from model through to conception, click below:

[Inspiration Examination] Loft

2011-09-13T12:45:00.000-04:00

I love tufty time sofas. This one compliments the grid of the windows; gives it even more purpose. We're off to a good start. There's enough light in the space to warrant a good amount of black inside, I wish such was the case more often. The murdered out wall on the right with the flat black door, frame, and hardware is dope. The hodgepodge of famous furniture styles in the living room is hard to diss because they are all beautiful, comfortable, famous pieces, but so much fame in one room makes for an excess of competition. An indicator that the furniture was probably just brought in to stage the shoot. Stager's love to use the most obvious furniture pieces. Or knock-off's of the most obvious furniture pieces. Hm, well that takes half the fun out of it if it's not a real place. I still love the windows, and I still get a good feeling right off the bat, so I'll leave it at that.

[Furniture] The Cardboard Shelf

2011-09-12T18:24:00.000-04:00

The Cardboard Shelf
Corrugated cardboard and plumbing pipe
Copyright Cush Design Studio, 2009

[Furniture] The Pipe Desk

2011-09-12T18:16:00.000-04:00

The Pipe Desk
Pipe, Wood, and Glass
Copyright Cush Design Studio, 2009

[Furniture] The Pallet Coffee Table

2011-09-12T17:58:00.000-04:00

The Pallet Coffee Table
100% recycled pallet wood
Copyright Cush Design Studio, 2008

[Furniture] Prouvé RAW

2011-09-07T04:35:00.000-04:00

Take French designer Jean Prouvé, mix in a little Vitra, and finish it with G-Star RAW, and this is what you get: An industrially stunning special edition collection of reinterpreted Jean Prouvé classics. Prouvé was one of the greatest French designers of the 20th century. What I admire most about Prouvé was that he was a true hands-on constructor. His designs stemmed from a functional knowledge of the materials and the manufacturing process, and that functionality shined through to form the final product.

An excerpt from the Vitra website describes Prouvé as, "...a prolific inventor, a passionate teacher and engineer, an architect, a hands-on workman and a visionary manufacturer. His great enthusiasm for construction was catholic in its reach, including large-scale industrial machines, the inside of photo cameras or the logics of Bach, which he couldn’t resist listening to at highest volume. He was a pilot of airplanes as well as automobiles, whose engines he could spend hours tinkering with. He liked his cars fast and his convertible tops down: “He didn’t even put the top up when it started to rain,” according to his daughter. “He made us kids believe that if he went fast enough, the rain would just shoot over our heads.”

What a badass.

Now check out the results of this epic collaboration:

[Interior] Chiara Ferrari's Clink Street Apartment

2011-09-06T12:35:00.000-04:00

This warehouse conversion in London Bridge was designed by Chiara Ferrari. An awesome example of functional minimalism. There isn't a lot going on in this space, just a handful of alluring vignettes with excellent composition, thoughtful lighting and remarkable attention to detail. I keep saying, good design is simple, and this is what I mean.

You can rent this flat for only (cough) £2,250 per week through Hamptons International. NBD.

[Inspiration Examination] Colorful Balustrade

2011-09-02T12:08:00.000-04:00

Reactions: Fun. A simple idea, with a strong visual impact. Great shade fade! The colors make me spring-cheerful happy. This is a good example of how dramatically paint colors can change the feeling of a space. Makes me want cake.

[Inspiration Examination] White Media Room

2011-09-01T03:42:00.001-04:00

Reactions: Pleasing. Peaceful. I like the achromatic color scheme, and the horizontal line of light along the ceiling edge. That light transforms the whole room. Without the light along the ceiling, the room would look empty and unfinished. This looks clean. And sleepable. I could take an excellent nap in this room. I would be pretty excited to stay here as a guest room. Simple. Effortless. A reminder that great design doesn't require much.

[Inspiration Examination] Wooden Spiral Staircase

2011-09-01T03:37:00.000-04:00

Reactions: I notice the richness of the wood. It's dark and strong. It feels masculine but the shape is unexpectedly elegant. Reminds me of a deck of cards fanned out by a magician, or a spinning ballerina or ice skater. The spiral movement is emphasized by the offset of the axis of the staircase. The tall ceilings and wide open space feel cold but peaceful.

[Inspiration Examination] Loft Library

2011-09-01T03:23:00.000-04:00

I have this giant overflowing archive of inspirational images that I add to daily. Once every month or so, I look through the archive, rediscover all the lost gems that I forgot I ever saved, and then I feel compelled to share. This is my outlet for these mysterious gold nuggets of goodness, that would otherwise be lost and lonely in my archive folder. I try not to hog all the goodz.

Reactions: Knowledge. Books. Library. Antique. Spiral staircase. Army. Canvas. Metal. Cold. Smart. Messy. Books! I immediately equate books with knowledge and intelligence. Good start. It's a little imperfect and a little cluttered, but it feels right in context. The staircase is gorgeous and looks like its antique. It adds character. The army canvas is masculine. Something about this reminds me of my old loft in LA. A reminder that sometimes messy is good.

[Life] Great Gatsby Lawn Party on Governor's Island

2011-08-23T21:19:00.000-04:00

I had a dapper Sunday afternoon in a bow-tie with some good friends at Governor's Island Jazz Age Lawn Party. We lounged, mingled, sipped champagne, and tried to figure out how to dance to twenties music without looking like sleazy hipsters. At the end of the day, a crack of thunder sent a wild screaming crowd of flappers running for cover as a torrential down pour swept across the lawn. My friend Jeff Allen snapped a few photos during the calm before the storm.

The bearded Bon Iver-ish world-traveler stud to my right, Marcus Eby, just returned to NY from backpacking across South America to begin his second year of med-school. Fun Fact: In your first year of med-school, you get your own personal cadaver to skin and you give prostate exams to your professors.

Click here to see more photos and read about the bi-annual Gatsby party.

[Architecture] XTEN - Nakkahouse

2011-08-17T13:52:00.000-04:00

As per usual, the black and white-ness has me feelin' pretty good about this XTEN home in Hollywood Hills. Although the styling is lacking, it's the architecture that were looking at. I dig the clean calm white interior framing the natural green views of the Hollywood Hills and the observatory. It feels peaceful inside. Although, the more I look at it, the more things I see that I would have done differently so I'm going to go head and post this before I change my mind. Let me know what you think about this house...

FAB private invites

2011-07-10T12:59:00.000-04:00

So FAB.com is like the new Gilt Groupe for Home furnishings and accessories. It's an invite only discounted retail site. They have special sales scheduled every day where you can pick up some cool designer things at a heavy discount. Everything from bikes, jewelry, furniture to books and art. It's still really new, so if you haven't registered yet, here is a link to a private invite:

Fab invite from cushdesignstudio

Enjoy!

Fab.com is Design Online

Fab.com features daily design inspirations and sales at up to 70% off retail.

Great design is a lifestyle

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[Architecture] William O'Brien Jr. - Twins

2011-06-18T22:57:00.000-04:00

I'm equally as impressed with the visualizations as I am the architectural design. From the makers of the Allendale House, I present: Twins. Another project from William O'brien Jr. with renderings by Peter Guthrie. They killed it from the design fully through to the renderings and presentation. I would frame these images and hang them on the wall, they are just beautiful. Nxtlvl quality. We should all hope to achieve such quality in our own projects.

The following text is taken from William O'Brien Jr.'s website.

Twins: Houses in Five Parts

Upstate New York, 2009-2011

This design proposal for two vacation homes for two brothers and their families on one plot of land in upstate New York represents an examination of a curious part to whole relationship. The mathematical principle of “dissection” states that any two regular polygons with equal areas can be divided into sets of similar shapes; “minimal dissection” is the pursuit of the fewest number of subdivisions in each polygon. This scheme appropriates this principle as a solution to (1) general similarities in the programmatic requirements, and (2) distinctions in the desired relationships to the site, voiced by the two brothers for each of their homes.

A regular six-sided polygon and a regular four-sided polygon contain the same five shapes—each are made up of the same four trapezoids and one triangle. The adjacencies between the five shapes are different within each of the regular polygons, as are their orientations relative to the outer perimeters of the polygons. Translated into spatial divisions in an architectural plan, these static, fixed arrangements prompt sectional-flexibility. Conceptually, in section, the floor planes and the roof planes are configured in order to accommodate strategic micro-topographic continuities and discontinuities across the collective surfaces.

Flows in circulation of residents and water govern possible configurations of the floor-scapes and roof-scapes respectively. An overall articulation of the five volumes as discrete parts acts as a second ambition which directs the possible formal outcomes of the houses. Programmatically, the pairs of parts are used similarly between the two houses, although each programmatic piece utilizes its unique adjacencies; the triangular space is used as a vertically-oriented, sun room/ open-air courtyard in the center of the square house, and as a landscape-oriented, screened-in porch in the hexagonal house. Siting of the houses privilege the visual linkage between each of the main living spaces and unique scenes of the upstate New York landscape; in the case of the square house, a wooded wetland frequented by many species of birds, and in the case of the hexagonal house, an open pasture bordered by a distant grove of trees.

Proximity of houses relative to one another is calibrated through the development of the agricultural usage of the interstitial land. Water collection from the two roofs is directed to a subterranean piping system between the houses. The agricultural development of the land between the two houses separates them visually (to varying degrees depending on season) while linking them inextricably, both infrastructurally and communally. Water dispersal stems from two pairs of “water channels” embedded in two walls in each house. The planometric dovetailing of four different crops, which oscillate in harvest seasons, accommodates different proximities of crops to each of the houses. Leaf vegetables, berries, wheat and corn are braided together in order to provide each house immediate access to each food type.

Materially, the houses remain abstract, to offer a reading of the forms as packages of discrete volumes with orientational differences made possible by the large apertures. There is a rubber roofing system that is used for the tops of the houses and dark, thick stucco that coats the sides and underbellies of the houses.

Project Team: Bhujon Kang

Visualization: Peter Guthrie

[Video] I lived on the moon

2011-06-12T14:36:00.000-04:00

This is still one of the best videos <3

Kwoon - I Lived on the Moon on Vimeo.

[Interior] 47 squaremeters of Fresh

2011-06-09T12:55:00.000-04:00

I found this posted on The Cube Theory this morning and thought I would help extend it's reach. This apartment is fresh. On top of the clean and peaceful interior design they pulled off, its the light quality that makes this space so attractive. I wouldn't mind coming home to this (if I could ever get out of the office while it's still light outside :). dig-it.

[Furniture] Theeee International Contemporary Furniture Fair

2011-06-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

Here are some things I thought were photoworthy at ICFF.

Trip out forever (.)(o)

God knows I have a thing for pipes.

And cardboard.

Paper Tiles.

This fire was my favorite thing all day (not including the cheesy doughball rocks). It's a water vapor fire that lets off spurts of mist that are lit up from below. It looks just like fire moving in slow motion. Who doesn't want slowmotion fire?

[Video] Woodkid - Iron

2011-05-26T11:06:00.000-04:00

Epic video.

Woodkid - Iron from WOODKID on Vimeo.

[Video] Matta - Release the Freq

2011-05-06T17:13:00.000-04:00

[Inspiration] Drug Chamber

2011-04-27T15:37:00.000-04:00

(coming to a school near you) (if you are in france)

Text from: CONTEMPORIST:

CCPP – Chantier créatif de prévention partagée – Space, light, sound and drugs

CCPP is a design collaboration between the Collectifs Cochenko and Quatorze. It was carried out by Butong together with the two collectives. The installation will travel to schools and institutions in a drug awareness campaign commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture and MILDT.
Through the creation of a hallucinogenic space, chance is given to discuss drugs with the visitor. Space, light and sound is interacting with the visitor, giving a personal experience created by the visitors movement and mindset. Only one person is allowed inside at a time and may stay for as long as he/she wants to.

The installation contains three continuously linked spaces – pleasure, repetition and awakening. Entering the first space, the door is shut behind the visitor, who is given beauty and tranquillity. Soft, crystalline music and subtle light phenomenons, bring peace and pleasure.
Sliding into the second space, the surroundings are closing in around the visitor. A harsh sound- and light environment is brought on the person, who is deprived of direction and is given heaven and hell in a quick rhythm.

In the last space the visitor starts to reach for reality and a numbing bass is growing through the body, giving a will to leave for solid ground.

This truly collaborative installation was initiated through a series of idea-generating seminars, organized by Cochenko at the ENSAPB School of Architecture in Paris. The students wanted to work with light and sculptural space to illustrate different aspects of drug use.

A group of students and young architects, known as Quatorze got deeply involved and contacted the newly started Butong France to realize their bold organic concept. Drawings for wooden boxes were extracted from a 3Dmodel. Every box is unique and draped with concrete panels using a special technique developed by Butong giving translucent panels of free-form using only concrete.

The wooden floor hide triggers that activate different scenes manipulating the subjects experience of the journey through the container. Thus reflections on drug use and abuse are raised.

There are no pamphlets or brochures in the installation, no pointing fingers, only a mind-opening experience and a chance to reach people coming for the installation. An opportunity to talk to people lured by architecture.

Credits:
French Ministry of Culture
MILDT
Cochenko
Quatorze team: Sylvain Gaufillier (chichou), Damien Beslot, Joachim Bolanos, Antoine Demarest, Romain Minod,
Butong team: Benjamin Levy, Augustin Brisedou Sagot
Photographs: Per Lundström, Lucas Haegeli"

[Installation] Dig

2011-04-01T10:40:00.000-04:00

March 1 - April 23, 2011

Storefront for Art and Architecture
97 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012

Storefront for Art and Architecture & OHWOW present:

Dig.

A Performance Installation by Daniel Arsham / Snarkitecture

NEW YORK - Dig is an installation and performance by Daniel Arsham/Snarkitecture at Storefront for Art and Architecture and made possible by OHWOW that explores the architecture of excavation. Storefront’s distinctive gallery space will be filled with a solid volume of EPS architectural foam, engulfing the existing interior in an unyielding flood of white. The volume will then be excavated using simple tools – hammers, picks and chisels – to transform a stock industrial material into a strange, unexpected cavern for both work and play.

Daniel Arsham/Snarkitecture will both create and inhabit Dig for the duration of the subsequent month-long installation, carving spaces from solid infill in a performance open to public view. The facade of Storefront will act as a human ant farm, framing the work occurring within for outside passerby. Inside the remaining gallery space, a cave-like entrance will open into the solid form, inviting viewers to watch the excavation of an unreal space in real time.

Dig is an experiment between the precision of the architectural plan and the looseness of the unknown. The installation and performance explore an intersection of primitivism and contemporary architecture; the complexity of the final surfaces and form suggests a Digital origin and conceals the simplicity of a space made entirely by hand. The solid volume is excavated and inhabited by basic necessity, but also engages in careful play with the existing architecture of Storefront. Dig uncovers the inconceivable within the conceivable.

As of March 29th, track Dig’s daily progress at www.oh-wow.com:

Exhibition. Preceding the installation, a month long exhibition of studies and conceptual models will document an ongoing dialogue between ideas of notational precision and fabricated looseness. This negotiation of design logic with sculptural intuition sets the stage for the interaction between the artist and viewer. (March 1 – March 28)

Installation. The gallery will be filled almost in its totality, transforming the entire space into a deep facade. (March 29 – April 4)

Performance. In the final stage, Arsham/Snarkitecture will both create and inhabit Dig for the duration of the installation. They will first carve out spaces for inhabitation with tunnels, crevices and peepholes providing views from both the interior of Storefront and the gallery space of the street. In the second stage, collective gatherings will be held as a performance open to public view. To experience the sense of play incited by Dig and its quest for moments of architectural reinvention and surprise, invitation only excursions and encounters will take place inside the work in progress. (April 5 – 22)

Schedule. Performances:

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays April 5 – 22, 2011, 7 – 8pm
By invitation only, limited access

Closing Reception:
April 23, 2011, 7pm

[Model] Nortwick Spring/09

2011-03-29T12:56:00.000-04:00

Photos by Ben Cope

[Architecture] Designer Tree House

2011-03-04T12:55:00.000-05:00

Slovenian's know how to make a dope tree house. The firm Ravnikar Potokar created this little guy. Growing up I knew two kids with tree houses. One had a fireman's pole and rifle laser-tag guns (so naturally that was my favorite) but both were special retreats from the adult world that I remember fondly. I hope to be the kind of dad to build something like this if I ever have kids (aaand a lot of free time and space).

[Furniture] abgc Lego Table

2011-02-26T16:23:00.000-05:00

I love legos. I will make something awesome with them one day soon. In the mean time, here's some legospiration: Lego Table by abgc Architecture & Design

[Video] A regal landscape of atomic proportion

2011-02-21T02:19:00.000-05:00

macro kingdom from clemento on Vimeo.

macro kingdom II from clemento on Vimeo.

macro kingdom III from clemento on Vimeo.

[Video] Instruments of Mass Destruction

2011-02-19T11:39:00.000-05:00

Complicated technical solutions to aid in simple acts of vandalism.

A beautiful balance of intelligence, creativity, humor, and heartwarming criminality. I hope we find more videos like "Robo-Rainbow" from Mudlevel in the future!

[Travel] Honey I shrunk the designer

2011-02-09T23:56:00.000-05:00

This is our current renovation project in New Orleans. I am typing from that room on the left, it'll be my home for the next week at least, or until I've measured this entire hotel (forever). I feel like I'm walking around a doll house that I built. I squint my eyes and pretend the walls are made out of foam core, and I look at the sky half expecting to see the inside of our office, now that I live inside the model.

and Honey I Shrunk the Kids was on the other day.

[Architecture] KWK Promes: Zombie Bunker

2011-01-25T16:55:00.000-05:00

A home that transforms into a fortress; ideal for zombie attacks, alien invasions, nuclear war, and other apocalyptic events. I believe everyone should have one. This "Safe House" was designed by Polish Architecture Firm, KWK Promes.

[Architecture] Todd Saunders - Fogo Island Studio

2011-01-24T11:56:00.000-05:00

This studio in Fogo Island, Canada was designed by Saunders Architecture

[Architecture] Family House In Pavilniai Regional Park

2011-01-19T20:18:00.000-05:00

This house was built around an ancient brick structure in Vilnius, Lithuania. Designed by Architectural Bureau G.Natkevicius & Partners.

[Interior] Grupo Habita - Distrito Capital

2011-01-19T16:20:00.000-05:00

Black and White and Grey. Boutique hotel in San Jose, Mexico DF.

[Architecture] William O'Brien Jr. - Allandale House

2010-12-26T01:18:00.000-05:00

I'm on vacation for the Holidays in Tennessee, taking a moment to catch my breath from the gogogo of city life in New York. Something about the fresh air and the wide open spaces that I've been able to enjoy the last few days brought this "Cabin of Curiosities" to mind. I get a sense of wonder about this particular project, promoting reverence for it's whimsical location. The Allandale A-frame vacation house in Mountain West was designed by William O'Brien Jr., an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning.

What a privilege to be able to get away every now and then to enjoy the leaves and the sky, and what a bonus it is when your tent in the woods is about as beautiful as the surroundings.

[Inspiration] Bed With a View

2010-12-25T01:58:00.000-05:00

I love New York, but I definitely miss the west coast:

[Work] nemaworkshop goes viral

2010-12-21T11:04:00.000-05:00

Blogs love nemaworkshop. A google image search returns thousands of the same few photos of the D'Espresso project our company finished recently. I can't believe how many websites and blogs have reposted these!

[Interior] bldgs Window Wall

2010-12-21T02:01:00.000-05:00

A simple project that I love so much, by bldgs. Makes me want to start blasting holes into walls left and right.

/////////////////////////////////WATCH THE PROGRESSION SLIDE SHOW

[Architecture] Triangle Window

2010-12-12T04:36:00.000-05:00

[Architecture] From The Inspiration Archive

2010-12-10T01:07:00.000-05:00

A random selection from the inspiration archives:

[Work] Elle Decor Italia - D'Espresso

2010-12-10T00:53:00.000-05:00

That's us!

[Work] More Modeling? -yes plz.

2010-12-10T00:48:00.000-05:00

I could do this all day.
I did do this all day.
I love my job.

[Work] Hotel Modeling

2010-12-10T00:31:00.000-05:00

I come from a puzzle family and I remember when 3d puzzles first became popular when I was a kid, they were the ultimate. Now I'm all grown up and guess what? More 3d puzzles. Some things never change. This one is a work in progress for a new project we are working on in Louisiana:

[Life] Morning Blues

2010-12-10T00:15:00.000-05:00

I may have slept in pants and a jacket last night.

[Life] Wake Up Call

2010-12-02T02:35:00.001-05:00

Excuse me for going off topic on this one, I couldn't not share this. I was out of the country without a computer when this video first leaked, and I've never even heard about it until now. Forgive me if this is old news, but I just watched it for the first time. If you haven't seen these videos, I highly recommend watching them all the way through.

Now imagine the fear and hate the regular everyday people in Iraq must have toward American Soldiers. We are marching through their neighborhoods with machine guns having shoot outs, killing innocent people for the hell of it. Of course they hate us. We are sitting behind cannons in helicopters blowing innocent people away and laughing about it as the dust settles.

This whole leak may have been cleverly planned to get a certain reaction out of people, or, it may have been a real leak "they" didn't want us to see, I don't know. Either way it's hard to watch this and see an example of what our military is actually doing over there.

I remember learning about the Holocaust in history class growing up and wondering how a whole country of Germans could stand by and let it happen. They say the majority of the Germans didn't know what was actually going on at the time. I know this doesn't compare to the devastation of the Holocaust, but similarly, I think most Americans don't actually know whats going on in Iraq. Personally, I never cared to know. After watching this video though, I am beyond ashamed. I am horrified. This has to stop, right? We need to shed light on things if we want them to change.

[Architecture] Rotterdam's Black Pearl

2010-11-29T14:06:00.000-05:00

Inspired again. Studio Rolf.fr and Zecc Architects did a fine job renovating the hell out of this 100 year old building in Rotterdam. Take something old and neglected and turn it into the coolest building on the block; I dig it. The exterior is blacked out entirely, windows and all, and punctured by a set of curiously placed modern steel framed windows. Inside, it's a whole new world (& a new fantastic point of view). The scars are still visible from where the old stairs and floors once met the walls but the layout and contents of this black pearl have been creatively re-imagined from the ground up.

Having just arrived in New York, my new city, I've been spending the last couple days wandering the streets looking for place to live. I'd like to just skip ahead to the time when I can afford to buy a building and transform it into my own black pearl.

[Portfolio]: Chase Hotel Renderings

2010-11-14T14:20:00.000-05:00

Images from our proposal of the Chase Hotel renovations for HGTV's Design School. The renderings aren't perfect but this is what I was able to produce while working with a team of four designers trying to collaborate, agree on the design, and whip up a presentation all in a matter of a few days.

[Furniture] Asher Israelow

2010-11-12T05:58:00.000-05:00

Last weekend, at a party for the opening of Workstead's new office in Brooklyn, I met partners Robert Highsmith and Stefanie Brechbuehler. They were very warm and welcoming and they introduced me some wonderful people. I felt comfortable and at home, surrounded by creative designers and architects. My people! One person in particular, who's furniture designs left a lasting impression on me was Asher Israelow. Asher and I got to talking and I was excited to learn that some of the furniture pieces I had been eying in the office were actually products of his handiwork. I was even more excited when he mentioned he has a workshop in the area, because I've been dying to find someone to teach me more about making furniture. Up until this point, I've been self taught when it comes to furniture design, and to be honest, I didn't think I was half bad. But after seeing the work of a real craftsman, I realized just how much I have to learn.

Take a look, his work speaks for itself:

I'm looking forward to spending more time with Asher when I get back to NY. Keep your eyes peeled for some asher+cush collaborations in the future!

[Life] NYC: The next chapter

2010-11-11T03:17:00.001-05:00

One of my Dad's reoccurring themes he likes to talk about is 'life as a series of milestones'. The idea that life is composed of a sequence of pivotal events/decisions/moments that alter the direction of your life course. Sometimes there is a fork in the road and you have to chose direction you want to go; sometimes the path you are on takes an unexpected turn leading you somewhere new; sometimes you get fed up with the "path" altogether and decide to venture off into uncharted territory. Either way, these events become milestones in life; markers that can be traced back, recalling how you got from where you started, to where you are now.

Looking back at my life, there are about a dozen major milestones that spring to mind: My first kiss. When I moved to Idaho after high school. When we got busted for climbing the building in Boise. My first lighting design class. Choosing a college. The road trip to Canada with Jon. When I moved to LA. My first apartment on my own. My first love. The reality show. The Europe trip.

As of this last weekend, my life has revealed the next big milestone. Since my sophomore year of college, it has been my plan that after I graduated, I would move to New York City to work for a cool design firm. I flew to New York last week to meet with some people and inquire about potential job opportunities. By the end of my trip I had met a handful of amazingly talented and inspiring designers and I was offered a position at a really cool design firm. I am excited now for my latest milestone:

When I moved to New York.

I now have about two weeks or so to pack up my belongings, find a place to live, say goodbye to my friends in LA, and start the next chapter of my life. The new job is at NemaWorkshop, the design firm from my last post. I got to go in and work there for a day before I left town and I can tell it's going to be a great place to work, I can't wait to get back out there. My blog should get more interesting. After this last week alone I already have a million new things I want to share.

Thank you for all of your love and support. Wish me luck!

[Inspiration] Nemaworkshop

2010-11-01T16:58:00.000-04:00

Nemaworkshop: NYC. "Ultimately, the designs challenge architectural typologies, demonstrate acute cultural awareness, and propose original spatial concepts". Check out their design for the coffee shop D'espresso. Located in Midtown East (Manhattan), the whole place is turned on one side. The design leaves a lasting impression, and can be easily played with and replicated for future locations. Word on the street is the third location may wind up completely upside down?

I gathered a handful of some of my favorite photos from other nemaworkshop projects:

[Inspiration] Workstead

2010-10-26T21:11:00.000-04:00

Workstead is a New York based collaborative between Stefanie Brechbuehler and Robert Andrew Highsmith that specializes in sustainable architecture and design. I just stumbled across their site and fell in love. Here are a few photos from their "333" project, and be sure to check out the rest of their site, it is ALL AMAZING. The black pipes, the window shades, the custom lamps and oh God that jointed table. The warmth and comfort achieved in this space is inspiring.

[Inspiration]: Ghislaine Viñas - TriBeCa Fun House

2010-10-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Good design should evoke an instant emotional response. This 15,500-sf warehouse turned home designed by Ghislaine Viñas has been making a huge splash across the internet and shelter magazines recently and I can't stop looking at it. Love it or hate it, the emotional response factor was powerfully achieved. What a fun house to grow up in!

Photos from Interior Design

[Featured]: "Urbanites" SOMA Magazine

2010-09-23T03:48:00.000-04:00

Fall Fashion Issue, September 2010