Who we are, what we care about, why we do what we do and how we do it. Need we say more? Please check out our new “About Us” page @
Friday, July 22, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Plaza Centro Art Project: Panel Installation!
Installation on the Plaza Centro screens has begun! The first art panels have been installed - they are inserted into a larger screen of metal mesh that will support climbing vines - eventually the art panels will float like medallions in a wall of green. We worked with Tucson based Landscape Architect Lisa Ribes and consulted with various other local experts to ensure that the selected plants will withstand the intense Arizona summers.
The flowers of Yellow Orchid Vines and Tangerine Trumpet Creeper will reflect and complement the paint accents of the projects color scheme. Check back soon to see pictures of the main art piece on the corner of Congress Street and the new 4th Street underpass.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Plaza Centro Art Project: Teaser...
What makes a public art and architecture project successful?
We feel that both elements have to become integrally connected - ideally picking up on inherent qualities of the other that would have previously gone unnoticed or have been merely a byproduct and turn it into something transcendent.
When we first started the artist selection process on the Plaza Centro Garage, we were told to give the artists 3 optional areas to address. We suggested a) the facade b) the public spaces (The Arcade and the Paseo) or c) a light installation.
Daniel Martin Diaz said that he wanted to do all three - which the selection committee at the time met with some scepticism based on the budget allocation - but as we have been working with him and seen the installation come together we realized that we will really pull it off.
We promised last week that Daniels Art panels would be up by now - it will take a few more days but we don’t want to leave anyone hanging.. And since one of the most exciting things about architecture is the step from paper to reality, we’ll let you be part of that transition. Above are some concept images of the artwork. More soon...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Construction Countdown: Plaza Centro Garage, Tucson, AZ
Just a quick update from our Plaza Centro Construction Site: The Garage is nearing completion, steel for the Arcade and the two big GreenScreens / Art installations is now going in. The screen on the southwest corner is going to be transformed by a large scale public art installation by local Tucson artist Daniel Martin Diaz - the piece will stand as a widely visible focus point and frame the historic downtown entertainment district at the north end of Congress street.
Check back next week for a sneak preview of Daniel’s work when the pieces go up!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Wearable Architecture?
Our favorite Museum has just announced their next foray beyond the boundaries of architecture:
A+D Museum’s 2011 Fundraising Gala will be themed “The Wearable” and will be a “runway event featuring wearable creations by the best and the brightest in our creative community. Designers are invited to interpret “wearable” in the broadest sense. There are no limits to design or materials; the possibilities are exponential.”
We want to know: where do we sign up?
www.aplusd.org
www.aplusd.org
Friday, June 17, 2011
The path to Zero Net Energy – Part One: Seeing the whole system
The first step in our green masterplan for St Elmo was one we take very deliberately in all our projects:
It is to carefully analyze the existing conditions and identify ALL opportunities for improvement - making it a point to look beyond the requests immediately put in front of us by the client.
In this case, we knew there was more to this project than the call for a solar system. The underlying, far more complex desire of the Village was to become a model for a sustainable community.
Consequently, our analysis included all the ways in which we humans affect our environment, and determine how sustainable our existence really is:
- Water Use (domestic and landscaping),
- Energy Use (for machinery and daily use),
- Material Use (resources),
- Climate (heating+cooling),
- Food (production and surplus),
- Waste (treated as a resource),
- Community Dynamics (teaching, learning and sharing)
“You can’t just look at one aspect of anything and really get a true understanding of it. You need to look at all aspects.”
Scott Pittman, Founder of the Permaculture Institute
[ to be continued ]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)