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16 Sep 15:02

Single Family House in Molino de la Hoz / Mariano Molina Iniesta

by Karen Valenzuela
Earl Parson

Not sharing because I think it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but I do really dig the cantilevers and quirkiness here.

© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán
  • Architects: Mariano Molina Iniesta
  • Location: Las Rozas, Madrid, Spain
  • Area: 459.0 sqm
  • Project Year: 2015
  • Photographs: Miguel de Guzmán

© Miguel de Guzmán © Miguel de Guzmán © Miguel de Guzmán © Miguel de Guzmán

  • Collaborators: José Luis Zabala de Lope, Enrique Sánchez Vázquez
  • Quantity Surveying And Health And Safety Project: Juan José Herranz Calleja
  • Construction Chief Architect: Mariano Molina Iniesta
  • Construction Supervisor And Health And Safety Coordinator: Juan José Herranz Calleja
  • Builder: IE Sodelor
  • Construction Manager: Francisco Hernández
  • Construction Foreman: Ignacio Bellón
  • Aluminum Framing: Technal (Aluminios San Nicolás)
  • Brick Manufacturer: Cerámicas Manuel Torres
© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán

From the architect. On a sloping plot with privileged views, we were asked to build a house essentially on one level, in which the kitchen had to be an outstanding element.

© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán

With these premises, along with the desire to capture, as far as possible, the surrounding open space, the house was organized around two courts: one called the sun patio, oriented towards east and south, where the pool is located, and the shadow patio, facing north, more intimate and informal; the kitchen serves as a connecting element, participating simultaneously from both of them.

Upper Floor Plan
Upper Floor Plan

The pool, transformed into a pond, extends right to its edge and aims to enliven it with a constant play of reflections.

© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán

The living area, which occupies the central position of the scheme, opens towards the sun patio and revolves around a huge hanging fireplace, which defines two distinct areas. Surrounded by a skylight and an impluvium shaped roof, at noon the fireplace becomes a large lantern that illuminates the whole central area. Finally, the bedrooms are grouped into two volumes which soar over the lower part of the site and dominate the landscape as watchtowers.

Longitudinal Section 1
Longitudinal Section 1
© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán
Cross Section 2
Cross Section 2

Constructively, rough textures and presence of matter were sought: the dominant materials are a slightly granulated concrete below ground level and masonry of handmade bricks above it. From the street, the latter appears as a substantially continuous skin, punctuated only occasionally by lattices made of the same kind of brick.

© Miguel de Guzmán
© Miguel de Guzmán
08 Apr 15:12

Get Lost in 'Monument Valley,' the M.C. Escher of iPad Games

MonumentValley-Lead.jpg

There can't be a more perfect setting for a mystical, digital playland than M.C. Escher's dizzying artwork. Monument Valley an iPad app by ustwo has the player interacting with surreal architecture and solving sculptural puzzles in an attempt to help a damsel in distress—Princess Ida, in this case. (Because what game would be complete without a princess in need?)

MonumentValley-Teal.jpg

MonumentValley-Sketches.jpg

While most of our other time-consuming guilty pleasure apps focus more on timed completions than pretty scenery (I'm looking at you, Bejeweled/Fruit Ninja), the scenes found in Monument Valley encourage a bit of dilly-dallying. As one of the designers rightly puts it: "Every screenshot can be printed and hung on a wall." Check out a behind-the-scenes walk-through with the game's designers:

(more...)
19 May 18:45

The Periodic Table Song

by Joe
Earl Parson

This is pretty great.

I would have totally memorized this in middle school.

RELATED: Dr. Jeff suggests memorizing this one too.
28 Mar 15:05

Urban Ruins: 1950s LA Petroleum Club Mural Unearthed at Wilshire Grand

by Adrian Glick Kudler
Earl Parson

How cool is this?!?!

2013.03_lapetrolclub.jpg
[Image via Mosaic Art Now]

Right now, Downtown's Wilshire Grand is undergoing a lengthy demolition so that it can one day be rebuilt into the West Coast's new tallest tower. But before it peaced out forever, the hotel offered up a little treasure: a 15-foot-long, mid-century mosaic mural showing "the Port of Los Angeles, and scenes of oil refineries, oil derricks and ships." The Wilshire Grand opened as the Statler Hotel in 1952 and its early days the Los Angeles Petroleum Club "maintained a posh member's suite at the hotel" adorned with a mural by an artist named John Smith, according to Mosaic Art Now (via History, Los Angeles County): "The handmade mosaic done in a classic modernist abstract style appeared to be squarely a product of the 1950s."

But the Petroleum Club was converted into a storage area in the '80s (or before) and the mural was covered over with wood panels right up until last year's big liquidation sale, when a local interior designer named Gregory Johnson unearthed it--"the staff knew nothing about it" and the "glass tiles were covered with layers of cigarette smoke and years of yellowed funk." The 6'10" by 15" mural was mounted on a plywood backing, so Johnson was able to buy it and move it into his house, lucky him.
· Black Gold: Thar's Oil In Them Thar Walls [Mosaic Art Now]

25 Mar 20:40

Chalk-it-to-me Piggy Bank

by Gessato - GBlog
Earl Parson

Fun idea!

Chalk-it-to-me-piggy-bank-m
23 Mar 03:15

New Wood Molded Eames Chairs From Herman Miller

by laura sweet
Earl Parson

Sexy!

New-wood-molded-eames-chairs-from-herman-miller-m
23 Mar 03:12

Chess Set made by armed services personnel during WW II

by RoundedOff
Chess-set-made-by-armed-services-personnel-during-ww-ii-m
22 Mar 15:52

Tama Art University Library / Toyo Ito by Iwan Baan

by Nico Saieh
Earl Parson

I'm not in love with all his buildings but I quite like this one by the latest Pritzker laureate, Toyo Ito.

Once again, Iwan Baan shared with us another impresive photoset. This time, we are presenting the Tama Art University Library in Tokyo, Japan, by Toyo Ito.

1549940021_tama-library-9862 1549940021_tama-library-9862 668874338_tama-library-9749 668874338_tama-library-9749 1062165781_tama-library-9691 1062165781_tama-library-9691 548796271_tama-library-9573 548796271_tama-library-9573 167357658_tama-library-9495 167357658_tama-library-9495 1478275204_tama-library-9393 1478275204_tama-library-9393 440313285_tama-library-9366 440313285_tama-library-9366 516369251_tama-library-9354 516369251_tama-library-9354 49226198_tama-library-9116 49226198_tama-library-9116 751974769_tama-library-9007 751974769_tama-library-9007 1652118276_tama-library-8980 1652118276_tama-library-8980 1688893480_tama-library-8945 1688893480_tama-library-8945 178851288_tama-library-8916 178851288_tama-library-8916 2036267847_tama-library-8870 2036267847_tama-library-8870 477194960_tama-library-8841 477194960_tama-library-8841 696111450_tama-library-8792 696111450_tama-library-8792 1550974920_tama-library-8775 1550974920_tama-library-8775 1378954807_tama-library-8699 1378954807_tama-library-8699 2095588902_tama-library-8648 2095588902_tama-library-8648 830845750_tama-library-0233 830845750_tama-library-0233 250017006_tama-library-0184 250017006_tama-library-0184 243570705_tama-library-0154 243570705_tama-library-0154 2094366868_tama-library-0138 2094366868_tama-library-0138 527376173_tama-library-0114 527376173_tama-library-0114 773513126_tama-library-0068 773513126_tama-library-0068 1697031246_tama-library-0063 1697031246_tama-library-0063

Tama Art University Library / Toyo Ito by Iwan Baan originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 17 Mar 2013.

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22 Mar 15:49

New to Market: Historic Teats Cottage By Hebbard & Gill in San Diego

by Pauline O'Connor
Earl Parson

I love it when they describe something with 2,700 square feet on a quarter acre as a "cottage"!


Via Lotta Living comes word that a historic cottage designed by William Sterling Hebbard and Irving J. Gill, adjacent to San Diego's Balboa Park, is now up for sale. Known as the Teats Cottage, the Prairie-style house was built in 1905 for Katherine Teats, the domestic partner of prominent San Diego socialite Alice Lee. Originally part of a compound with three residences sharing a garden designed by noted botanist/landscape architect Kate Sessions, the 2,751-square-foot cottage features three bedrooms, three and a half baths, hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace, and a two-car garage. Sited on a .24-acre lot, the property, which the listing notes is "partially restored/not completed," is asking $1.395 million.
· 3560 7th Ave [Realtor.com]

22 Mar 15:46

Street Life: Downtown Section of CicLAvia to the Sea Route Has Shifted

by Adrian Glick Kudler
Earl Parson

Gah. I wonder if I can manage to get out of town that weekend.

2013.03_ciclaviadt.jpg

CicLAvia's first route to the beach has been changed around a little, but it will still mostly head down Venice and still, you know, hit the beach. The linear block party, which closes down miles and miles of streets to auto traffic, returns on April 21 and will run from Downtown to the ocean; however, as Streetsblog notes, it will not head south from Downtown on Figueroa. Instead, it'll head down Spring Main to Seventh as planned, then "go west on 7th all the way until McArthur Park at Alvarado Street. From there it will cut south until it hits Venice Boulevard."
· CicLAvia Updates Map for April 21…No Figueroa, but McArthur Park Is Back [Streetsblog LA]
· Here's the Map For CicLAvia's First Route to the Beach [Curbed LA]

22 Mar 13:04

What It Sold For: Mid-Century Frank Sinatra/Marilyn Monroe Compound Sells

by Adrian Glick Kudler
Earl Parson

Pretty swank but the furnishings are a bit much.


The sexy 1952 triplex in West Hollywood that housed both Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe has sold; the LA Times reports that the seller was Beverly Coburn, first wife of actor James Coburn. Part of the property originally went up for lease last summer, then the whole thing hit the market in the fall asking $4.75 million. The compound has a main house with a 100-foot-long living room, five fireplaces, and two bedrooms, plus courtyards and patios connecting it to the other two units--a studio above the garage with its own fireplace and terrace and a one-bedroom/one-bathroom built around an atrium. And while we'd originally thought Monroe and Sinatra living there at the same time would be too mad to imagine, apparently their "tenancies overlapped in 1961. She lived in her apartment, and he used his as a getaway ...." Coburn bought the building in 1989 for $1.643 million; she's just sold for $3.72 million.
· WeHo Compound Where Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe Once Lived [Curbed LA]

19 Mar 02:45

5787 Valley Oak Drive In Hollywood Hills

by Rob
Earl Parson

Love the woodsy living room on this one!

5787 Valley Oak Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068
3 BR, 2 BA
$995,000

Built in 1951, this classic California ranch house most closely resembles architect Cliff May’s designs. It is located in the gated section of lower Valley Oak Drive in the Hollywood Hills.

The 1,508 square foot residence features an open-beamed living room/dining room with a wide-hearth brick fireplace.


The dining room opens to an updated kitchen with a pro-style range and adjoining breakfast area.

The master bedroom includes a recently completed master bath. There are two additional bedrooms sharing a period bathroom.

The home is sited on a 7,558 square foot lot with two patio areas, yard, teahouse retreat, and a two-car garage.

It’s conveniently located within walking distance to Griffith Park and the shopping and restaurants on Franklin Avenue in Hollywood.

See This House In Person!

Listing courtesy of J.R. Davidson and Nina Chea, Keller Williams-Larchmont.

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18 Mar 05:37

17061 Strawberry Drive In Encino

by Rob
Earl Parson

Just lovely.

17061 Strawberry Drive
Encino, CA 91436
4 BR, 4 BA
$1,549,000

Built in 1964 by architect Benton Park, this mid-century modern view home features floor to ceiling walls of glass, light-filled rooms, and an indoor/outdoor flow.

The 3,368 square foot architectural has an open floor plan with a ‘museum style’ hallways with plenty of wall space for art.

The 4-bedroom, 4-bath home includes a family room.

Gorgeous terrazzo coupled with pebble finished floors run throughout the house.

The home is sited on a 15,758 square foot lot with plenty of outdoor space, gorgeous pool, and incredible  mountain and city light views.


See This House In Person!

Listing courtesy of JB An Fung and Brian K. Courville, John Aaroe Group.

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18 Mar 05:09

A two-minute version of the L.A. Marathon

by The Eastsider
Earl Parson

Congrats to everyone who ran in the L.A. Marathon this morning!

From her vantage point in Angeleno Heights, Laura Birek aimed her camera at Elysian Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevard this morning to capture the flood of runners that poured out of Dodger Stadium and down the street near the start of today’s L.A. Marathon. Here are the details of the time-lapse, two-minute video Birek posted on YouTube:

This time lapse is 932 frames taken over 62 minutes (from 7:29 to 8:32 am), and should show every single runner in the race, except the wheelchair racers and the elite women (sorry, I didn’t get it set up in time for those!). The first group you see is the elite men, followed by 24,000 runners.

Equally impressive as the throng of runners is the fleet of street sweepers that clean up in the marathoner’s wake.

16 Mar 07:48

Any Kind Of Speech Is RACISM! (When Convenient)

by Amy Alkon

Any Kind Of Speech Is RACISM! (When Convenient)
Witness the Twitter exchange. I was searching for something on Twitter, and came upon a tweet from @mehreenkasana. She's since deleted it, so I'll describe it.

Mehreen Kasana tweeted a link to a photo of a woman (I think in Pakistan or some other primitive-istan) getting flowers for some ridiculous International Women's Day.

Kasana noted how wunnnnderful it was that she was getting a flower, failing to take note of the most obvious thing in the picture: The woman was covered head-to-toe in a blue burka -- effectively erasing the identity, individualism, and visibility she would have as a human being with a face.

It rendered the woman what Islam sees women as -- possessions of men, with half the rights of a man.

I tweeted:

@amyalkon
@mehreenkasana What's not beautiful is the woman with a tablecloth over her head to prevent her from being seen as rape fodder - or a person

And got this loveliness back:

@mehreenkasana
@amyalkon White woman injects her unwanted racist opinion to look "progressive." Heard this reductive shit before 100 times. Shoo, laanti.

What's racist, of course, is the notion that I am for individualism and human rights for Muslim women because I am white.

Is it "reductive" to think Islam is appalling -- Islam, which stones women for "adultery," allots a woman half the rights of a man, vaginally mutilates them against their will, and allows men to beat them if they don't leave visible bruises?

What I'd call anyone who would oppose me for being opposed to this is one sick fuck.

You?

UPDATE: Turns out I was able to tweet to her. And this is what I tweeted:

@amyalkon
@mehreenkasana I oppose Muslim stonings of women, beatings by husbands, & giving them half rights of men because I'm white -- or civilized?

Here's her website -- where I actually found the tweet:

@mehreenkasana
This is so beautiful. 1000 flowers were distributed around Kabul to celebrate Women's Day. afghanistaninphotos.tumblr.com/post/449306199... #Afghanistan

And the photo:

Screen Shot 2013-03-15 at 5.08.15 PM.png

Guess what, lady: It'll be "women's day" when they aren't forced to go around with a blue tablecloth over their head, lest the Muslim men around them throw acid on them, rape them, or worse.

16 Mar 00:39

Lego Patent

by sam tanis
Earl Parson

My first share!

From Mrs. Easton.