Saturday, September 25, 2010

Wall Flowering

A series of vignettes of cross-pollination featuring flower pin-ups and petal-like chairs.








The rigid orderliness of the furnishings interplay with the explosion of organic form on the wall.







Ambius is an Australian company that uses plants to create interior environments. These wall pieces are part of a service called Art for Hire.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Ephemeral Beauty of James Denevan

James Denevan creates visual events in the sand. His work is a study of the impermanent nature of the environment, matter, and life itself.




These sand drawings were created on the beaches near Denevan's home in Santa Cruz.





His tools are a large stick, a quiver of various rakes, and a zen like patience.











The ephemeral has been as much a part of Denevan's life as it is his work (he also works in other earth environments and ice):
His father died when Denevan was five leaving behind a family of nine children; His mother, a mathematician by training who wrote on the Fibonacci Numbers, would later suffer from Alzheimer's; Three of his brothers suffered from schizophrenia; Denevan is a divorced father; He's also a life-long surfer. And then, there's the beach...





More on James Denevan here.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

The Spa of Shangri-la


This spa is made from natural, on-site materials and features feral stone edging and an assembled stone fire pit. No water heater required. Also, spectacular and unobstructed views of the surrounding no-maintenance landscape. Access may be limited during cold months and active volcanoes.






Thursday, September 9, 2010

Erectile Function

Sansevieria, more commonly known as Snake Plant. Also know as Mother-in-law's, Devil's, or Djinn's Tongue is so named for the blade-like shape of its leaves.









The erect, up growing leaves make an excellent sharp punctuation or dramatic contrast to billowing mounds of soft grasses, low growing succulents, etc. It also provides shape to pots and planters.










When NASA was looking for plants best suited for purifying the air of long-term manned space missions, Sansevieria proved nearly ideal. Research proved it could absorb 107 different air pollutants including monoxides of carbon and nitrogen.

For those with a predisposition for flora abuse Sansevieria is nearly ideal again: It's drought and low light tolerant, durable, compatible with a variety of soil conditions, and handles neglect like a monk.






Because of the upwards growth of the leaves, it's also an optimal as a feng shui enhancer. This from the Wiki page:
Some believe that having Sansevieria near children (such as in the study room) helps reduce coarseness, while others recommend placing pots near the toilet tank to counter the drain-down vibrations.





Sansevieria comes in a variety of color variations including light and dark greens, with yellow "snaking," and bluish silver. Well suited for an exotic, tropical accent.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Toy Lofts Roof Garden pt 1


Location: An island oasis in downtown Los Angeles.

A Knibb Design project completed in 2008.








A combination
meditation and entertainment space utilizing custom made fixtures and re-purposed industrial materials. Plants include low maintenance and drought tolerant ornamental grasses and succulents; the palette is serene and soft, the feel is billowy and lush.











The space now transformed, flexible for mixed-use and completely re-configurable.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Room Without Walls

Notice how with each situation below space finds a sanctuary between indoor and outdoor, intimate and infinite.




There's a tension between the oppositional forces of coverage and openness; Think of it as a sensual wrestling match between positive and negative space: More hot oil that WWF.




Stone offers a resolute border; the screen of a tree is slightly more ambiguous.





A tree's canopy and the hard white walls of the house, cushioned on its flank with shrubbery and a tree, create soft yet determined boundaries.




Above, the abrupt stone contrasts with the spatial fluidity of glass and an open slider. The wood in between provides a soft transition.





The perfect room welcomes you both in and out.