Britta's Sustainabode

Hotel Lighting

A few days without wi-fi and trying to conserve on international data usage and I'm now behind on blogging. Sorry folks. Time away from iPhone hasn't been that bad though either! We are now in Georgioupolis, Crete and enjoying the infinite shades of aqua, teal, and blue of the Mediterranean.

Here's an example of lighting I'm seeing in a number of the hotels we've visited. Combination of low voltage sconces and recessed using fluorescent lamps - shown here around cool wood paneled "alcove" headboard. When turned on the recessed fluorescents display the light source right at ceiling surface, kind of like under cabinet button lights, but they manage to keep room lit in a trendy fashion, while using very little energy.

Ancient Art

Pictured are bronze Anthemia from the upper ends of tripods. 6th - 1st half of 5th c. BC. These are pieces of votive offerings by the pilgrims found at the Sanctuary of Olympia and now on display in the museum at Ancient Olympia.

Beautiful design created thousands of years ago, remains inspirational today. This scalloped motif is repeated today in terra-cotta on traditional tile rooftops throughout Greece.

I love bathrooms...

Many know that I have a thing about taking pictures of bathrooms all over the world. Why should Greece be any different? Isn't this beautiful?! Love the use of pebbles on the wall instead of floor. Much less work to maintain all that grout. Lovely combination of materials, contrasts and textures.

Integration & Collaboration

Our local Massachusetts chapter of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) is hosting a presentation being held this week: How Integrated Design Enables and Inspires High Performance Building Systems. It highlights the importance of architects, engineers, and contractors collaborating during design process for better integration of systems and construction methods. Objectives: better performing systems, more efficient use of resources, smart economics.

I do not work in the commercial design world where the above ideals are most often mentioned and sometimes put into practice. In the residential design field, we are largely still operating much more independently - each doing our own specialized segment of a project and then turning it over to the next specialist in line and then to a contractor whose subcontracting team addresses each part of the project in isolation. This fractured way of designing and constructing results in inefficiency and less than optimal construction. Incorporating ad-hoc green-labelled items like "Energy Star" appliances and bamboo do not qualify on their own as truly breaking the mold of conventional design and construction.

Residential architects, designers, and builders: we need to speak up and find our voice for the benefit of our community, our earth, and our business. Let's educate our clients to the merits of integrating all facets of design and construction up front. It's a difficult method to sell since the costs are front-loaded, but early planning and integration of all components can result in reduced construction costs and ultimately long term operating costs of a home. It makes sense environmentally and economically.

 

 

Quiet Charm in Chatham

Here are just a few informal snap shots of a project I completed on the Cape and recently visited. We should all be so lucky to follow up with our clients and see how it all worked out for them! Got a great feeling of success as well as an opportunity to learn from the project.

Blending old and new to retain the charm of a little cape house while refreshing with clean lines and crisp color....

....new slate tile floor from Vermont Structural Slate in entry with antique closet door and latch inside.

 

...an old reclaimed beam from Longleaf Lumber mounted onto slate surround of a newly constructed rumford fireplace.

...new red oak flooring is carefully selected to look like it's been in the beach house for generations and just recently refinished.

 

...working with existing space and old roof lines to turn an awkward bathroom into a cozy spa-like retreat.

...installing natural maple on the wall instead of relying on plaster and tile make this bathroom warm.

...an unexpected window works great!

STEP Workshop for Interior Designers

For all you interior designers out there considering taking the NCIDQ exam, this STEP workshop is excellent!!! 

I just finished the grueling 2 1/2 day workshop at the BAC taught by wonderful Mark Karlen, PhD, AIA, ASID, currently the Graduate Interior Design Program Manager at the Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia. 

Most significant this year with NCIDQ exam are changes and increased demands on what you must know in order to pass. Are you familiar with Egress, Systems Integration, and Accessibility? Also important to note is that there is no longer a residential component to the exam - it is primarily focused on commercial design and construction. And codes, codes, codes. Get familiar with them and learn them.

This workshop was terrific for challenging us with practicum exercises, followed by valuable crits, and highlighting our strengths and weaknesses - so by the end of the weekend, we had a pretty good idea of what we need to work on to prepare for the various parts of the 2-day, 15-hour NCIDQ exam.

My next step? Join a study group. This was strongly recommended by our instructor for anyone preparing for the exam. Contact your local ASID chapter to learn more about STEP and workshops/study groups set up in your area.