Eminem aside: Maybe you missed the statement by singer/songwriter/actor/8-miler Eminem, but he hates techno.  Techno, prog, indy, rap, country, classical, metal -it is all music to someone.  Just not Eminem.  So what does this have to do with architecture?  Or with California for that matter?  (California???) Well, frozen music lovers, Moby, yes Moby, has a new architecture blog.  So, Eminem aside, let’s take a look at this new entry into the blogosphere. 

A decade or so ago, we remember being in certain studios and hearing tracks off of 18 wafting through the air.  And, Moby has made a lot of music before and after that album.  For some strange reason, that album sticks in our minds a decade or so later.  Now instead of listening to the music, or in addition to it, we can read about Moby’s interest in Los Angeles architecture on his new blog:  http://mobylosangelesarchitecture.com/ 

This is the guy who proved that one guy alone could make music.  And, after making the music, sell it to millions of people worldwide.  This is the guy who was part of an episode on a nationally syndicated sit-com:  How I Met Your Mother. (Moby shares a limo with part of the cast on the way to a party.)  And this is the guy who has restored Hollywood Hills houses.  And now Moby is writing about Los Angeles Architecture? 

Once the Moby-part of the equation sinks in, we suggest that you take some time, visit the blog and read through the entries.  At the end of the day, this guy is not only an internationally known music artist, but he is also someone who loves architecture.  It comes across in his writing, which is humorous, eclectic and sometimes esoteric. Here is one tidbit from Moby’s blog:   

 i can imagine the prison conversation:
‘hey what are you guys in for?’
guy 1 – ‘i was smuggling ar-15’s from turkmenistan to newark’.
guy 2 – ‘i blew up a bank in arkansas.’
guy 3 – ‘i ran 10 crystal meth labs in dominica’.
me – ‘i was taking pictures of mid century architecture in l.a’.

We think that many architecture fans can identify with the feelings behind this blurb, as well as the actions that resulted in imprisonment.  Um… at least the architecture reference.  (Hopefully not the gun/bank/meth references.)  This blog, like his music itself,  is fun, unexpected, and all over the board.  Eminem aside (not that we don’t or can’t dig Eminem), we recommend it. Enjoy -VM

Source: www.zincsense.com

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Get continuing education units (CEUs) in Umicore’s one page Elemental Awareness article. Find out how to make the most of element number 30 and receive sustainable design, health, safety, and welfare credits by taking a VMZINC CEU course.

I never thought I would see a bridge clad in zinc, but here it is. It does look stunning. OZ Architecture has chosen the right material to elevate this project from “just a bridge” to a “beautiful bridge”. Black roofing installed the flatlock panels.

The designers at Kallman, McKinnell and Wood of the Boston World Trade Center appropriately eschewed pared-down modernism for a more multi-cultural approach. Decorative elements were employed but made modern. Fin-like brackets, clad in GKD’s Futura 3110, appear to support deep Polynesian overhangs. Photography copyright 2004, Robert Benson.

This Amphitheatre is in Pornic, France. The building is used as a theater, for concerts, lectures and conferences, for the general public as well as high school students. It caught my eye because of the beautiful zinc panels designed by Rachdi Parent Architects. The blue-grey of the zinc has been archived by coloring the zinc with a slight blue tinted organic coating

For many years acoustical products provided needed absorption or diffusion and did not contribute to the decor. RPG has changed all that with its Shape Optimized diffusors and decorative absorbers . Now the design community can have both acoustics and aesthetics. The Deamp microslit sound absorbers offer the possibility of high resolution art or signage with the accompanying benefit of controlling excessive reverberation to provide a comfortable and effective work place environment. If transparent panels are needed, Deamp is also available transparent or translucent.

Day Three and Day Four:

Friday and Saturday were great days for us as well.  The show was more than we had hoped for and a great opportunity for us to talk with new and old friends. 

A number of very talented architects attended the show.  Among them, were some of the more famous in the field and we did get a chance to have Daniel Libeskind (photo above) autograph one of his books.  It may seem strange at first blush, however, at the end of the day, we are architecture fans.  It was an honor to shake his hand. 

On Friday night we held a small party at the convention center for anyone who wanted to attend.  A three man band played jazz, we served light food & drinks, and everyone had a nice time. 

We have to be honest and say that we thought Saturday would be more of a non-event than actual work.  We are happy to say that we were wrong.  We had quite a few people stopping by the VMZINC Lounge, talking, have a drink and relaxing. 

Overall it was a great show and we look forward to next year in Denver! -VM

Source: www.zincsense.com

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The United Nations Auditorium in Geneva Switzerland was designed by architect Daniel Starrenberg. This project stands out with its unique ceilings as well as its excellent seating. Figueras seating has provided the 730 Bonamusa chair as well as all the millwork for the tables.

Terminal 3 will stretch almost half a mile across the desert, providing Las Vegas with a full-service, stand-alone International Terminal that will also connect with existing Terminals 1 and 2. A column-free ticketing hall and concourses will provide flexible open spaces that will accommodate large flows of passengers. The metal roof is made out of VM Zinc ZipRib panels ensuring that the roof will last longer than Las Vegas. The Architect is PGAL

project of the month -02.12 -hooked on phonics:

pronunciations vary for non-locals, but for those living in and around northwest washington state, puyallup is a city located south of seattle.  or southeast of tacoma, if you prefer.  (don’t worry, locals will tell you which one, if any, is correct).  either way, our hearing is going due to too much rock and roll in our youth at the tacoma dome,  so we are have trouble nailing it down.  no worries. 

the name comes from the native american puyallup tribe.  “puyallup” means the generous people.  we can see that.  nice people, nice city and nice architectural sensibilities. 

take the puyallup city hall, for instance.  designed by the mighty mithun firm on the great alaskan way in nearby seattle, this building absolutely sings with massing and materiality.  we say “mighty” for a reason.  mithun architects provided the architectural, interior design, and landscaping services for this private-public stunner.  (http://mithun.com/projects/project_detail/puyallup_city_hall_block/)

the team at mithun has managed to join the public and private realms with a project that accommodates shops on the main street front and a public plaza + courtyard + landscape to be enjoyed by all.  moreover, the mixing of a material pallet that includes concrete, brick, glass, wood, plants, lights and zinc, could have been a disaster in less skilled hands.  mithun makes it happen with an ease that doesn’t shout for or demand attention.  instead, it has a subtle and sweet finesse that sneaks up on you. 

The only thing we’re concerned about is that drivers passing this building too fast will suddenly slam on their breaks and cause accidents! (“whoa!  what was that?”)  closer inspection (of the zinc first, of course) reveals zinc panel sizes intentionally rendered so that the reveals line up with the mullions.  sounds easy.  hard to do once paper meets the reality of construction.  by the way, the zinc was expertly installed by locals:  architectural sheet metal of puyallup.  (www.architecturalsheetmetal.com)

we believe that the installers’ local pride, combined with their craftsmanship, speaks for itself.  but, because this is a blog, we will mention that the vertical interlocking wall panels were drawn in such a way that they create texture as they draw the eye to the sky. the vertical columns above the brick massing at the street front intensify this effort. wrapping the zinc around to the nearby fascia brings the eye back to the other elements, including the glass and the wood soffit. the brick base box anchors the ensemble to the lively street.

everywhere you turn, the materiality of this building plays out like a small symphony.  quiet and confident — not like great grandma cranking out show tunes on her 1970s hi-fi at full volume in the room down the hall.  no, this building is more like a drive along the ocean on a sunday afternoon, or a windswept field on an open prairie.  calm with an element of the uncontrolled.  and yet, somehow, it is being controlled.  generous in it’s own way.  enough said.

we hope you go by this project. get off i-5 for a few moments and take a look.  if you dig architecture, you’ll be glad that you did.  on the way, you can practice non-local variations of the name: “pju-AWL-ep” … “pew-owl-up”   …”pew-awl-ap”   ”hello? hooked on phonics?” 

enjoy -vm

photos by gilbertson photography.  (www.gilbertsonphotography.com)

editorial contributions by bryan ninneman

Source: www.zincsense.com

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