The Maddening, Rewarding World of Design People

When I first saw the house that is now my home, it was hardly in an appealing state. Every window was obscured layers of screens, shutters and (amateur) stained glass. The bathroom was encrusted in pink-orange Mexican tiles, with trim to match. The living room walls looked like they were covered in moldy cork, actually wallpaper. I saw a man walk in, blanch, and walk out the front door of the open house. Maybe it is only natural that, from the moment I entered, I wanted the furniture more than I wanted the house.
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PLACES : CENTER FOR URBAN PEDAGOGY

The Water Underground

You turn on the tap and the water flows. You press the lever and the toilet flushes. But where does your drinking water come from? And where does the wastewater go? A team of staff and students from the Brooklyn-based Center for Urban Pedagogy set out to answer these most basic of urban questions, and the result is The Water Underground. The 24-minute video tracks the complex — and aging and sometimes contested — systems of water supply, treatment and waste that serve New York City. Continuing our affiliation with CUP, which began with Bodega Down Bronx, we are pleased to feature the video.
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OBSERVATORY : HELEN CHANG

Jugendstil: The Youth Style of Viennese Book Art

Turn-of-the-century Vienna was a magical, infectious brew. Take any city tourist brochure, and names from Vienna's years as an apogee of art and culture spill out: Klimt, Freud, Schoenberg, Wittgenstein, Loos, the list goes on. Viennese children's book illustrations at the time were no exception.
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PLACES : UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation Selects New Dean

The University of Maryland has selected David Cronrath as the new dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Cronrath brings to the school experience in the post-Katrina restoration of Louisiana and a commitment to building a sustainable future.

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PLACES : BETH WEINSTEIN

Self-Fab House

"Throughout the global architectural community there is a concern and interest, if not obsession, with the development of compact, self-sustaining dwellings," writes architect Beth Weinstein in her review of Self-Fab House, a compilation of the results of a competition sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Weinstein questions the preponderance of schemes that feature lone houses in the wilderness — the self-fab primitive hut — yet commends the optimism of many of the proposals, and also their openness to new materials, ranging from algae to nanogel, inner tubes to biodegradable plastic.
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OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER

Today, 05.15.10

Here are Today's videos.
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AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE

Bad Boys of Design IV

Designers Marc Alt, Mike Essl, Alberto Rigau and others.
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CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE

Peepoobag

Report on Peepoobag, a new self-sanitizing, single-use, biodegradable container for human waste.
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Renzo Piano's Modern Wing

Design Thinking?

Bodies & Fonts

PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 1983

In No Order Whatsoever

Just before his death in 1984, the influential urban planner Kevin Lynch compiled a list of topics he thought important for the future of cities. The list is as relevant as ever.
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RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED

I Wish I Worked There!
Kursty Groves & Will Knight

100 Visual Packaging & Labels
Ann Ford

Granta 110: Sex
John Freeman, editor


WEEKLY EMAIL: MAY 20, 2010
FEATURED THIS WEEK : ALEXANDRA LANGE The Maddening, Rewarding World of Design People When I first saw the house that is now my home, it was hardly in an appealing state. Every window was obscured layers of screens, shutters and (amateur) stained glass. The bathroom was encrusted in pink-orange Mexican tiles, with trim to match. The living room walls looked like they were covered in moldy cork, actually wallpaper. I saw a man walk in, blanch, and walk out the front door of the open house. Maybe it is only natural that, from the moment I entered, I wanted the furniture more than I wanted the house. READ MORE
PLACES : CENTER FOR URBAN PEDAGOGY The Water Underground You turn on the tap and the water flows. You press the lever and the toilet flushes. But where does your drinking water come from? And where does the wastewater go? A team of staff and students from the Brooklyn-based Center for Urban Pedagogy set out to answer these most basic of urban questions, and the result is The Water Underground. The 24-minute video tracks the complex — and aging and sometimes contested — systems of water supply, treatment and waste that serve New York City. Continuing our affiliation with CUP, which began with Bodega Down Bronx, we are pleased to feature the video. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : HELEN CHANG Jugendstil: The Youth Style of Viennese Book Art Turn-of-the-century Vienna was a magical, infectious brew. Take any city tourist brochure, and names from Vienna's years as an apogee of art and culture spill out: Klimt, Freud, Schoenberg, Wittgenstein, Loos, the list goes on. Viennese children's book illustrations at the time were no exception. READ MORE PLACES : UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation Selects New Dean The University of Maryland has selected David Cronrath as the new dean of the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Cronrath brings to the school experience in the post-Katrina restoration of Louisiana and a commitment to building a sustainable future. More Information READ MORE PLACES : BETH WEINSTEIN Self-Fab House "Throughout the global architectural community there is a concern and interest, if not obsession, with the development of compact, self-sustaining dwellings," writes architect Beth Weinstein in her review of Self-Fab House, a compilation of the results of a competition sponsored by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Weinstein questions the preponderance of schemes that feature lone houses in the wilderness — the self-fab primitive hut — yet commends the optimism of many of the proposals, and also their openness to new materials, ranging from algae to nanogel, inner tubes to biodegradable plastic. READ MORE OBSERVATORY : ERIC BAKER Today, 05.15.10 Here are Today's videos. READ MORE		BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK \| FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AUDIO: DESIGN MATTERS ARCHIVE Bad Boys of Design IV Designers Marc Alt, Mike Essl, Alberto Rigau and others. Listen >> More Design Matters Archive >> CHANGE OBSERVER: PROJECT ARCHIVE Peepoobag Report on Peepoobag, a new self-sanitizing, single-use, biodegradable container for human waste. READ MORE OBSERVATORY ARCHIVE Renzo Piano's Modern Wing Design Thinking? Bodies & Fonts PLACES ARCHIVE: WINTER 1983 In No Order Whatsoever Just before his death in 1984, the influential urban planner Kevin Lynch compiled a list of topics he thought important for the future of cities. The list is as relevant as ever. READ MORE CHANGE OBSERVER: RESOURCES Academic Programs >> Competitions >> Conferences & Events >> Fellowships & Prizes >> Organizations >> Programs & Initiatives >> Publications & Websites >> Social Networks >> RECENT BOOKS RECEIVED I Wish I Worked There! Kursty Groves & Will Knight 100 Visual Packaging & Labels Ann Ford Granta 110: Sex John Freeman, editor
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