Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Twin Cities: Two Much of a Good Thing

So I mentioned I"m up in the Great White North as I jokingly call this place. I'm up in Minneapolis, Minnesota- a city I moved to after I graduated grad school. While I'm thrilled to be out of the cold (mostly) and back South, I have very fond memories of this place. First of all, it represented my first big move by myself and some sense of my claim for independence. (Of course, I then left my city and my job to move to Atlanta for Mr. Southern, so there goes my whole Independent Woman schpiel. But, I did make the choice and am happy I did.)


For those who have never ventured to Minneapolis or St. Paul, you may be recalling movies like Fargo (which was actually filmed, in part, in Minneapolis). Or perhaps Grumpy Old Men. While there's a nugget of truth in these films, the reality is a much more diverse- and engaging- cultured town. With so many large companies based in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, the Twin Cities are rather cosmopolitan. Great dining, great art (including theatre), and great shopping.


For example, when you think outdoor sculpture, do you envision the Spoon Bridge and Cherry? That's here in Minneapolis.
Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen at the Walker Art Museum (a fabulous museum, by the way).




Tonight, I took my team to the first Coal Fired Pizza joint in Minneapolis- Black Sheep Pizza- and got to walk through my old stomping grounds, The Warehouse District (aka North Loop). I, in fact, lived on the third floor of the building of The Black Sheep (side note: so glad they were not there when I lived in the building, or I would have gained 20 pounds, easily.)

With the cities' Midwest "sensibilties" you might be quick to assume much of the Design in this area is bungalow or craftsman style. And there is a good bit of that around town (and I LOVE it! Especially when envisioning a warm and cozy home in the cold cold winter. )


Bungalow Club

Minneapolis Real Estate





Minneapolis Real Estate


But there are some very sleek loft spaces here too. For example, Andrew Flesher's Minneapolis loft, featured in Loft Living and Apartment Therapy.



Others, like these:




They also have some "crazy" Modern updates too, similar to what we see in Atlanta (and I do not mean this in a pejorative way at all).





So I can't say "Twin Cities" and omit St. Paul, though I don't know St. Paul as well. What I can tell you is that I would ADORE a house on Summit Avenue, reportedly a site of refuge for some of the Chicago gangsters of the early 1900s. Regardless, let's take a look.... (photos from real estate listings).




295 Summit

266 Summit


476 Summit

251 Summit


807 Summit


955 Summit


For more great homes, and the source of the photos from Jennifer Kirby, please visit Minneapolis- St. Paul Luxury Real Estate.

And I have to give a shout-out to my relatives, though we've sadly lost touch over the years- at The Grethen House- (visit their blog here) THE source for cutting edge, quality fashion. The company was started by my Grandmother's sister, Greta, and is run by my grandmother's niece (Greta's daughter). HUGE honor.

And lastly, a personal note. I mentioned leaving my job and heading South for Mr. Southern. I know that once one gets married, all the other little anniversaries fall by the wayside, but I had to mention that two years ago tonight, Mr. Southern asked me to marry him (after he asked for the blessing of my mom and stepdad, as well as daddy and stepmom). I love him so much and am so thankful he's a part of my life. I miss you sweetie and can't wait to see you Thursday! :-)

-Emmie

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Vieux San Juan

Puerto Rico was a fascinating territory to explore. I know several folks from Puerto Rico and have always been impressed with their sense of pride for their country. There is a ton of natural beauty in Puerto Rico- particularly as you move outside of San Juan. On the other hand, there is also a lot of poverty in the country.




One of my favorite parts was touring Old San Juan. While discovered in the mid 1400s, the city was first "settled" by the Spanish in the early 1500s. Old San Juan has maintained much of the colonial Spanish Architecture.










This is the city wall built around Old San Juan. Love the contrast of the wall and the newer bank building.

Can't show old San Juan and miss the San Jose church, which hopefully will be undergoing renovation. I LOVE the lines of this building... and see the quatrafoil!





More quatrafoil.. and fantastic arches.





And look at the beautiful mosaic and intricate detailing here.



Can a doorway get any better than this?




And this is the view through the doorway. I love the plaster walls, dark wood bannister, tiled stairwell. Gorgeous.




And THESE are shutters.



Love the varied bright colors and all the balconies.








My dream house includes a bedroom with a balcony like this-- love the idea of opening the doors and having sheer drapes billowing about.






And just beyond these beautiful buildings is the sea...




Hope you enjoyed the mini-tour. Have a great week!

Emmie



Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Herzog & de Meuron, VitraHaus

Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, VitraHaus is a multi-layered structure that recently opened at the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein, Germany.

Designed to display the furniture brand’s Home Collection, the five-story building consists of stacked volumes with pitched roofs covered in charcoal stucco. Each end is glazed and shoots outwards up to 16 feet (5 meters), creating the impression of a pile of houses.
Herzog & de Meuron, VitraHaus

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Johnston Marklee Architects

The Hill House is designed under conditions generated by modern problems of building on the hillside. The site, an irregular shaped lot situated on an uneven downhill slope, offers panoramic views of Santa Monica Canyon. The design of the house utilizes the restriction of hillside and zoning ordinance to create a spatial and structural opportunity – adopting the zoning envelope as a building form. The dynamic form minimizes distinction between roof and wall planes while maximizing the distinction between interior and exterior.
The Hill House by Johnston Marklee Architects

busan cinema centre by coop himmelb(l)au

Saturday, January 23, 2010

loft bed and storage system

Small bedrooms for children can be difficult to furnish. Built-in solutions are often the only way to get the most out of a small space.
Frederic Collette also designs custom made interior solutions,
Københavns Møbelsnedkeri

 

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