PWAP Post Office mural. Ever since visiting the famous Coit Tower in San Francisco for the first time almost thirty years ago, I fell in love with modern murals.
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About Folk art snakes
About folk art snakes. Had I only known when I left a bustling New York City architecture practice to enter academia with my first teaching position at the College of Architecture, University of Kentucky, that decades later, I would fondly reminisce on my nineteen years spent in Lexington. I say this as many of my friends at that time wondered why a move to Kentucky.
Continue reading About Folk art snakesCollection of men’s scarves
Collection of men’s scarves. Now that we are in the midst of snow and ice, it is again time to dress appropriately by wearing warm clothes when venturing in the below freezing cold. While we all have in mind what our favorite winter clothing is, I love wearing scarves. I own a collection that I wear on a daily basis—and may I say, also inside as I keep the temperature of my home rather low.
Continue reading Collection of men’s scarvesAntique primitive pie safe
Antique primitive pie safe. Following up on a previous blog on two pieces of furniture, I wanted to present an additional primitive cupboard that I purchased decades ago in Kentucky. It is also emblematic of a kitchen space but has a very distinct function.
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Antique primitive sideboards. There is something ironic about collecting furniture when, as an architect—in particular when a loft renovation is in order—I design built-in cabinetwork as much as possible.
Continue reading Antique primitive sideboardsSwisscom telephone booth in Zürich
Swisscom telephone booth in Zürich. Following up on a recent blog describing a barometer pavilion in Gratz, Austria, I concluded by mentioning that “Happily, much urban furniture has survived as design problems, and I am pleased to see that many of those artifacts have been reborn through the talent of some of the most notable contemporary architects.” I included photographs of one of my favorite public telephone booths in Zürich, Switzerland, thus this blog to describe more in depth about this particular artifact.
Continue reading Swisscom telephone booth in ZürichBarometer pavilion in Graz, Austria
Barometer pavilion in Graz, Austria. When planning a stopover with students in the Austrian city of Gratz, I had made sure that our sightseeing intentions for the day were well laid out.
Continue reading Barometer pavilion in Graz, AustriaRevisiting Hans Hollein Schullin 2
Revisiting Hans Hollein Schullin 2. In 1982, Herbert Schullin moved his store Schullin 1 (see blog) from the Graben to the Kohlmarkt, and commissioned Hollein to design the new store’s exotic façade, and luxurious salesroom interior (Schullin 2).
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Revisiting Hans Hollein Schullin 1. During a recent trip to Vienna, Austria, I rekindled my connection with two iconic retail projects by Austrian architect Hans Hollein (1934-2014; 1985 Pritzker Prize laureate). I have always admired Hollein’s talent and deeply Viennese approach to the design of these early stores; projects which rapidly became signature interventions in the city center of Vienna in the mid 1970s and gave him the international notoriety that would carry throughout his entire life.
Continue reading Revisiting Hans Hollein Schullin 1Miniature diecast airplanes
Miniature diecast airplanes. When rekindling memories of childhood, one might have in mind what were considered boy’s toys versus girl’s toys. This blue versus pink connotation was ever present when I grew up. Marketing data and research had much to say when inflecting distinctions. For example, “girls” toys were seen as more aesthetic, domestic and nurturing, while “boys” toys often underscored action-oriented play and an interest in construction.
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