Design Think Tank

The Oakland Riviera

2007-02-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

San Francisco is a great bohemian city that I have long considered to be my capitol. Recently I came across an article written in 1999 that explores the demise of S.F. as a destination for poorly funded individuals and organizations of the creative class. It is possible that Oakland is the garage workshop of the Bay Area, and the new bohemian destination.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/28/internet/index.html

http://www.designenvelope.com/blog.htm

Darwinian Processes and Memes in Architecture

2007-01-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

The conversation about the durability of the modern esthetic has been going on for some time. Modernism can be understood as meme, this provides a very reasonable explanation for its longstanding popularity. Modernism is great, but new ideas are welcome.
http://cfpm.org/jom-emit/2002/vol6/salingaros_na&mikiten_tm.html

2007-01-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

Serial Renovators

2007-01-19T16:59:00.000-08:00

SFGate, the online version of the "San Francisco Chronical" newspaper recently Featured a column by Carol Lloyd that explores the phenomenon of rich serial renovators. Some of our projects are included in the article. It might bring a laugh:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2006/08/18/carollloyd.DTL

Mobile Shipping Container Facility Increases Food Security

2007-01-19T14:16:00.000-08:00

One of our current projects is a mobile food processing facility, built from three shipping containers. It is designed for use by small farmers who are seeking to add value to their produce easily and inexpensively. A concern of many small farmers is storage of large harvests, this building allows for a wide range of food products to be easily and inexpensively processed on site. Another feature of this facility is that is can be quickly disassembled and relocated. With weather becoming more unpredictable the need for local food security is more important than ever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_security

Disaster Resistant Buildings

2007-01-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

One of the most difficult to understand developments in the reconstruction of New Orleans is the lack of attention to disaster resistant building techniques. A relatively slight shift in construction standards has the potential for making small buildings much safer. The interview of luxury residential designer William Summers on "The Weather Network", a nationwide Canadian cable channel, provides a quick overview of disaster resistant building techniques.

http://www.designenvelope.com/television.htm
http://www.designenvelope.com/disaster_resistant_buildings.htm