“Suspension House” preserves all the charms of this very special setting but lessens the home’s impact on the creek. The project presented an engineering problem at the outset: how would the architects expand and modernize the home without changing its outline? Their solution was to stack a whole new level on top of the two existing ones and modify the structural supports so they could accommodate the extra weight.

The original 1970s version of the home was built on columns driven into the creek bed. The new structural system uses steel supports under the floors to anchor the home to the bedrock so that no part of it is touching the water. The tranquil flow is unimpeded, and nearly every living space inside the 2,500-square-foot dwelling enjoys a beautiful view. Each level has its own glass-enclosed balcony, and a spacious deck (also following the contours of an existing structure) spills out onto the hillside. From inside, massive new floor-to-ceiling windows create an immersive experience.

Set at a 90-degree angle to the two original floors, the new addition contains the home’s primary suite, bedroom, and flex room. The shared spaces like the kitchen, dining area, and living room are on the middle level, and the spaces closest to the water include a guest room and utility room. The pale zinc cladding and black steel framework coupled with the stacked rectilinear shapes preserve the original home’s modernist feel.

“Transparent materials and carefully considered sight lines merge the home with this dramatic landscape,” say the architects. “The two lower floors stay studiously within the confines of the original building; yet the minimal glass volumes, steeped in the surrounding beauty, feel more expansive than ever. A third floor addition strikes a more slender profile facing east to engage the breadth of the site. The experience is one of being in nature and also humbled by it.”

Of course, the project calls to mind the famous Fallingwater by Frank Lloyd Wright, a 1935 home in southwest Pennsylvania built partly over a waterfall on the Bear Run creek. But that’s not the only beautiful home that enjoys such unusual surroundings. “Bridge House” by architect Dan Brunn hovers above a small natural stream in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles, using lightweight modular steel for a low impact on the natural site. And in rural Australia, architect Max Pritchard built a similarly bridge-like home with recycled corrugated metal siding, set across a seasonal winter creek that divides the property.

The post Modernist Suspension House Spans a Creek Between Two California Hillsides first appeared on Dornob.

“Everyone thinks of the desert as monochromatic,” says Schweitzer. “But when you look carefully, there are all these amazing colors: a vivid green lichen growing on a rock, a bright red flower, and the impossibly blue sky. This compound takes those colors and builds them at the scale of man, which is bigger than the flower, but a lot smaller than the rocks.”

The Monument House is one of many multicolored homes in the park. “Following in the footsteps of Lloyd Wright’s nearby New City of Mentalphysics, this home continues a rich tradition of experimental and radical architecture in the California high desert,” says the website for Homestead Modern, the Joshua Tree rental firm currently managing the property.

The listing follows a recent renovation of the Monument House. The home’s moss-colored building features an open plan living room with comfy but modern furniture and a bright orange fireplace, with views of the desert landscape framed by trapezoidal windows and doors on all sides. These playful geometric openings are meant to mirror the shapes of the large boulders in the surrounding park. While there’s no TV here, there are plenty of books, games, and internet access to provide entertainment.

In the blue structure, a canary yellow “chef style” kitchen has all the essentials for small gathering meal prep. The dining room is equally sunny, with a table by Roy McMakin and chairs designed by Schweitzer himself. If you’d rather eat outside, you’ll have no problem dining al fresco in the home’s red-colored outdoor gazebo, complete with a propane barbecue grill.

Come nighttime, visitors to the Monument House can stargaze around the outdoor firepit before heading inside to the solo bedroom with its plush mint king-size mattress from Tuft & Needle. Or they take a dip in the outdoor hot tub (hidden in a deck) to enjoy 360-degree views of the five-acre estate and beyond. The home also includes an electric vehicle charger for any EV-driving guests.

The property location is idyllic. Located just one mile from the entrance to Joshua Tree Nation Park, the house is easily accessible while retaining a secluded feel, standing alone against a rocky hill in a valley of boulders. It’s important to note that guests are not permitted to use the rental for any photo or film shoots without advance permission. Bookings at the historic Monument House start at $299 for a two-night minimum stay.

The post Colorful Joshua Tree Monument House is Now Available to Rent first appeared on Dornob.

The Pudding Creek route takes riders on a seven-mile round trip experience in an area of the redwood forests that most tourists never see. Departing from Fort Bragg, a city on California’s Mendocino Coast, the tour zooms through the Noyo River Canyon. You’ll pass deep into the old-growth redwood groves, home to trees that are up to 2,000 years old, as well as Douglas firs, alders, berry bushes, lush ferns, wooden trestle bridges, and an abundance of other wildlife.

A certified guide leads the “train” of riders on the tour, and you can even pay extra to tow your dog friend behind you on a trailer. Passengers disembark at Glen Blair Junction for a 50-minute layover to have a picnic or take a walk along a loop trail dotted with wildflowers.

You don’t have to be a seasoned biking enthusiast or even in particularly good shape to enjoy this trip. Though you’ll be pedaling for most of the tour, the two-person, custom-built railbikes feature electric assist to carry you effortlessly through the forest. Since they follow the railroad tracks, you don’t even have to steer, which means you’re free to spend the entire tour gazing around at the scenery and taking photos if you like. Each railbike has four wheels and is made of lightweight upcycled materials.

The train tracks were originally laid by a 19th-century logging company that needed to get trees from the forest to sawmills and shipping facilities on the coast. The Fort Bragg Railroad grew to 40 miles by 1925, stretching inland to Willits. The less-than-pleasant fumes of the trains’ pot-bellied stoves and gas engines gave the route its “Skunk Train” nickname (now the name of the company operating the railbikes).

Within a few decades, the railroad was used more for passenger trains than lumber, and then landslides closed a 1,122-foot-long section. Skunk Train made use of these sections by offering two short train rides from either end, and of course, the Redwood Route Railbike tour.

The Pudding Creek Railbikes tour runs daily, and rates are $250 per bike for the two-hour ride. Children age 6 and older are allowed to ride. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, there’s now a harder and longer option available: a 25-mile trip along a remote stretch beyond the closed tunnel that takes about four hours. The Railbikes on the Noyo package costs $495 for a two-person bike, lunch included. Get details on the Skunk Train website, and check out lots of fun footage on the company’s Instagram.

The post Railbikes: Take a Pedal-Powered Tour Through California’s Ancient Redwood Forests first appeared on Dornob.

The mixed-media art installation explores how COVID-19 has impacted children and young adults around the world, expressed through commissioned pieces by composers, songwriters, and poets and recorded by the Young People’s Chorus.

A wide array of art forms come together in this project: video, sculpture, music, film, poetry, and spoken word. 500 singers with the Young People’s Chorus join the 15 composers and songwriters, seven poets, three choreographers, and two filmmakers to bring the stories to life. The exhibition aims to provide a powerful and intimate portrayal of the emotional strength, resilience, and joy these young choristers have faced since the pandemic first began in the spring of 2020.

“It was important to us to help our youth process their emotions — from confusion to fear to hope — through art while allowing listeners and viewers a glimpse into their hearts and minds during this time,” says curator Francisco J. Núñez, artistic director and founder of Young People’s Chorus.

Just like the rest of us, the members of the youth chorus have gone through a whirlwind of emotions throughout the pandemic. Pieces in the exhibit include songs like “Cabin Fever,” expressing what it felt like to suddenly be alone at home with stressed family members and no access to friends and old routines. “My Rainbow in the Window” is about finding small joys even during quarantine. “Power to the People” says “Just because we’re stuck at home doesn’t mean we’re stuck in our minds; just because we can’t hold each other doesn’t mean we stop the smiles. Fifty states protesting together, look at that a strong celebration. They won’t die in vain, we’re gonna fight, it’s time to save our nation.”

Participating artists include composers Samuel Adler, Derek Bermel, Thomas Cabaniss, Paquito D’Rivera, Aneesa Folds, Gordon Getty, Michael Gordon, Michael Harrison, Ted Hearne, Yuka C. Honda, David Lang, Elizabeth Núñez, Francisco J. Núñez, Jim Papoulis, and Paola Prestini. The exhibit is free and open to the public daily at the CIA at Copia, 500 1st St, Napa, California.

“We are thrilled that the public response to our AloneTogether installation at The CIA at Copia has been so positive that we have been asked to extend the exhibit through September,” says Núñez. “AloneTogether is a dynamic multimedia project that will give viewers a powerful and intimate portrayal of the range of emotions YPC choristers faced during the early days of the pandemic, from fear and loneliness to hope and joy. Art has given our youth a powerful vehicle through which they can process these complicated emotions and share them with the world. This is the power and beauty of art and what we do at YPC.”

The post The Young People’s Chorus of New York City Gives Voice to All Our Complicated COVID Emotions first appeared on Dornob.

Painted black on the outside, the shipping container pool is level with an elevated wooden deck that offers just enough room for a pair of lounge chairs. Measuring the standard 8 feet wide, 8.5 feet high, and 20 feet long, the pool has been fitted with a waterproof liner, built-in bench seating, and underwater lighting. It was professionally made by Modpools, a company that sells shipping container pools all over the United States and Canada, and features an automation system by Pentair that lets you control the lights, pH, and sanitizer performance via smartphone.

Modpools are self-contained portable units, so once you have one, you can take it with you when you move, if you want. All you need is a crane and a flat deck truck. They can be installed above ground, in-ground, or somewhere in between, and they come with an optional lightweight divider wall that turns half of the pool into a hot tub on demand. If you want to try one in person, check out the Casa Cosmos Airbnb in Desert Hot Springs, California, which has a nearly-identical pool to the one at this Joshua Tree residence.

The rest of the home is nothing to sneeze at, either. The renovation was spearheaded by Karen McAloon, former host of the television shows Find Your Style and Design Remix on HGTV and co-founder of design firm X8 Property & Design. McAlool has turned a number of Joshua Tree homes from drab and dated to vacation rental-worthy, and her work on 636 Valencia Drive will have you dreaming of warm arid nights with sage and pinyon pine in the air. The home boasts a Morso fireplace, 26-foot hand-plastered bench, handmade white oak cabinets in the kitchen, and a 45-square-foot white quartz island.

The primary bedroom, which opens onto a private Saltillo tiled patio, features a generously sized en-suite bathroom with a dual walk-in shower. Two guest rooms open to the front patio and share a bathroom with a Roman clay wall treatment. An adjacent garage has been converted to a one bedroom, one bathroom guest casita for even more hosting capabilities.

If you love the idea of a shipping container pool but want to save some cash, it is possible to DIY this project. It can be as cheap and simple as adding a pond liner to a clean, watertight container or more high-end and durable with a fiberglass liner insert. Check out our guide to shipping container pools for more details. For even more of a fun DIY spirit, you can even transform an old dumpster into a swimming pool.

The post You’re Going to Want to Copy This Modern Shipping Container Pool in Joshua Tree first appeared on Dornob.

Considering that the minimum wage hasn’t kept pace with inflation since 1968, what’s the average resident to do? An unprecedented number of unhoused people have no choice but to sleep on the streets. While some city governments are simply sweeping the houseless population from one park to the next like a game of whack-a-mole, groups like DignityMoves are focusing on building communities of tiny homes as a temporary measure until more permanent housing can be secured.

DignityMoves announced two inaugural communities in San Francisco and Santa Barbara last month, which cost about $30,000 per room (including all communal spaces) and took just a few months to build. Architecture firm Gensler joined tiny home builder Boss Homes to design prefabricated panel systems that could be assembled on sites secured by DignityMoves – typically vacant land or sparkling lots. Each project offers 70 rooms as well as shared bathroom and shower facilities, dining buildings, computer labs, clinics, and community spaces. The 33 Gough Street community in San Francisco has already begun welcoming residents.

“Central to DignityMoves’ vision is that everyone receives a private room with a door that locks,” the group explained in a press release. “Many experiencing homelessness are reluctant to accept beds in traditional group shelters. DignityMoves believes offering this sense of security will make clients more willing to engage in the critical supportive services needed to address the barriers to stable housing. One resident shared, ‘When I was living in my tent, I felt like I was constantly in survival mode, worried about my safety and where I might find my next meal. Now I am warm and dry and can lock my door at night.’”

These temporary, portable tiny homes are designed to last about 20 years. For structures that need a longer lifespan, DignityMoves partners with other manufacturers like Connect Homes, who built a 60-room community on city-owned land in the city of Rohnert Park. The group also collaborates with local agencies who provide supportive services like case management, mental and behavioral healthcare, job placement, and housing placement support. Private philanthropy and impact investors provide the funding.

San Francisco’s tiny home village will replace a city-sanctioned “safe sleeping village” full of tents. Though not exactly luxurious, the tiny houses are certainly an improvement over fabric shelters, especially in winter.

Crucially, DignityMoves sees them as just one tool in a toolkit for addressing homelessness; they’re not an all-in-one solution. What comes next is much more important. Organizers need only look to the spectacular failure of another recent attempt at offering temporary-to-permanent shelter to see why.

After authorities cleared an encampment at Echo Park in Los Angeles and provided transitional housing under a state program called Project Roomkey, only 17 people received long-term housing out of 183 displaced campers. Some of those people reported being placed in a prison-like environment with strict curfews, no-visitor policies, and requirements that they come with no personal belongings. Some rules, like mandatory daily room checks, made it hard for people to find work. Some got kicked out, some chose to leave, and only a few ever received housing vouchers. Those who did reported being unable to find landlords who would take them.

Ultimately, the project demonstrates that automatically treating unhoused people like criminals isn’t the answer to the homelessness crisis. Housing needs to be more affordable for everyone, and achieving that is going to require massive systemic changes in the way we monetize real estate, compensate employees, and structure wealth in this country.

The post Can a New Tiny Home Village Help Address California’s Homelessness Crisis? first appeared on Dornob.

The beauty of design is that it isn’t confined by a set of rules. Trends are often a mish-mash of popular styles that blend perfectly to create a new style all their own.

One look that’s definitely having a moment right now is the “California Cool” trend, itself a conglomerate of hip, distinctive, and ever-so-popular design choices. Think laidback, coastal vibes, bohemian chic, marvelous midcentury touches, and a bit of Scandinavian influence, all combining to create muted, eclectic interiors full of character. While this may sound a bit incongruous, it definitely works.

Below are some of the most important characteristics of the uber-cool trend that’s taking the design world by storm:

Start with a Muted (Yet Sophisticated) Color Palette

While all-white minimalist interiors may be on their way out, incorporating white with a muted, neutral color palette is a cornerstone of the California Cool aesthetic. Think neutrals like creamy beige and low-key primary colors like subtle blues, with the occasional orange or brown tone peppered in by way of warm wood or leather accents. Black can even make an appearance here, as long as it’s used as an understated way to accentuate the more subdued palette. The result? A perfect combination between warm and cool tones that draws the eye but doesn’t overwhelm the senses.

Work in Tons of Texture

The beauty of California Cool is the ability to play with other design aspects like texture. Because the trend’s overall color palette is neutral, a space’s depth and dimension can be defined with a variety of textures. Creating a layered and mixed perspective are smatterings of wool side by side with softer velvets, rough rattan accented by curved, smooth decor pieces, and rustic timber tempered by airy linen. These contrasting textures amplify the streamlined, modern look of a room’s palette in interesting ways to create a dynamic and stylish space that defines this trend perfectly.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

One of the main tenets of California Cool is a thoughtfully curated feel. Built up over time, a California Cool space is dynamic, rather than static, ever-evolving to continuously update itself with added depth and interest. A mix of styles is key to achieving this look, so feel free to mix signature, one-of-a-kind pieces with vintage finds and personal touches like family heirlooms or travel mementos. Most importantly, create a space that tells a story and leaves itself open to changing over time, even in the subtlest of ways.

Embrace the Imperfect

The California Cool trend prides itself on its quirkiness. Anything but stodgy, it’s a style that tends to embrace a bit of weirdness, and hints of out-there touches that may not seem to fit, but add character and an eclectic flair to the space. Think mismatched patterns, vintage, imperfect furniture, or deviations from standard room layouts. Symmetry is optional, formality is passé. The feel is lived in, relaxed, and sometimes even playful.

With a muted color palette as its backdrop, California Cool opens a world of possibilities, embracing eclectic, laidback vibes that are anything but boring. Seeming to break with convention, the trend makes for spaces that are thoughtful, chic, and most importantly, homey. Its fluid and flexible nature is sure to give it staying power in the world of interior design for years to come.

The post 4 Ways to Make Your Home California Cool first appeared on Dornob.

The design for the Rady Shell began with the award-winning temporary Soundforms Mobile Acoustic Performance Shell (MAPS) the firm created for the London Olympics in 2012. Soundforms reinterpreted that project into a customized, upscaled, and permanent version that’s able to accommodate the entire San Diego Symphony Orchestra, a chorus, and soloists. It also contains a backstage artist support space, three professional kitchens, underground restrooms, and a sloped seating area for up to 10,000 guests. The shell opens up to a public park with views of the bay in one direction, and the San Diego skyline in the other.

The shell-shaped performance venue reaches a peak of 57 feet and measures 92 feet in width at the front of the stage. Australia-based Fabritecture oversaw the design, fabrication, and installation of the tensile structure, while Brooklyn-based Meyer Sound installed special acoustic panels that create a similar sound experience for the performers as indoor concert halls. San Francisco-based sound engineering and audiovisual company Salter added their own acoustic panels that are both reflective and absorptive, lining the inside and outside of the shell. All of that translucent tensile material gives the shell an ethereal appearance, with sunlight shining through to the stage by day and built-in lighting glowing softly after dark.

“It’s an amazing, spectacular outdoor venue,” says Maestro Rafael Payare, Music Director and Conductor of the San Diego Symphony. “We can hear each other wonderfully and you feel like you are in one of the top-notch concert halls in the world. The Shell has a mind-blowing organic quality…you actually can hear all the (different sound) balances and perform the way you would in a concert hall, not an outdoor venue.”

“Local San Diegans and visitors to San Diego will be able to attend world-class music performances by The San Diego Symphony and other events when the San Diego Symphony isn’t performing,” says Greg Mueller, CEO and Design Principal of Tucker Sadler Architecture. “The Rady Shell with state-of-the-art acoustic technology, lighting effects, and architectural design elements, as well as the San Diego Bay as a backdrop, creates a unique concert experience.”

In progress for five years, the Rady Shell finally opened to the public in August. When concerts aren’t in session, the venue serves as a landmark for the city’s revitalized downtown area, and its terraced guest seating transforms into steps from which to watch the sunset. Jutting out over the water on a peninsula, this unusual venue is postcard-ready, looking especially majestic when illuminated at night.

The post Seashell-Shaped Concert Hall Hosts Thousands by the San Diego Seashore first appeared on Dornob.

Imagine a device that could suppress these fires before they blossomed out of control, actively fighting them and preventing them from spreading. Such a device could act as an important stopgap measure for homes and businesses and proactively address fires at their source.

Enter high school student Arul Mathur, a New Jersey transplant who moved to California and witnessed firsthand the devastation of the fires, with his family nearly having to evacuate their own home in 2019. As Mathur says, that made it “personal.”

Inspired to come up with some sort of solution, Mather designed “F.A.C.E.,” or the Fire Activated Canister Extinguisher. A new type of firefighting equipment, F.A.C.E. is a completely self-contained device; i.e. no human is necessary to operate it. It’s also heat-activated, akin to a fire alarm, albeit activated with a rise in temperature instead of the presence of smoke. Think of it as a fire alarm version 2.0: easily portable, easily installable, and containing its own fire suppression materials like a super-charged sprinkler.

However, it’s not water that comes from F.A.C.E. when it’s activated, its an eco-friendly fire retardant called Cold Fire that sprays the surrounding area (in a 5-6 foot radius) with the help of a built-in a sprinkler. When F.A.C.E.’s temperature hits 155 degrees Fahrenheit, this glycerin bulb sprinkler is activated, and its little metal canister springs into action like an inorganic mini firefighter. The response is quick, making it an effective way to stop combustion at its source, and prevent potential spreading.

The only human element involved in F.A.C.E. is its simple installation along a home or business’ outdoor wall or fence, and the easy refilling of the fire retardant (if necessary). Once it’s installed, F.A.C.E. is ready to go – you can set it and forget it.

Mathur says the device is meant to give individuals more agency in preventing the spread of wildfires, causing them to be “[less] reliant on the fire department to save their home. Firefighters could [instead] focus on containing the fire, while we, as residents, could control the fate of our property.”

Though F.A.C.E. is still in the early stages of development, and the prototype needs to undergo more extensive testing before mass production and distribution, the news is encouraging, with Mathur’s Kickstarter campaign well exceeding its $10,000 goal. The estimated retail on each F.A.C.E. unit would be around $120.

https://youtu.be/AOnjjaqIMx8

While not meant to be the end-all solution to wildfires, F.A.C.E. could efficiently and actively delay a fire, giving residents and the community at large time to evacuate or extinguish it before it grows. It could also make small brushfires easier to contain. After learning about the devastating effects of wildfires, student Arul Mathur “knew that [he] needed to do something about it.” And with a blend of creativity, ingenuity, and enthusiasm, it certainly looks like he has succeeded with his design for F.A.C.E.

The post In Your F.A.C.E: Student Develops Supercharged Extinguisher in Response to California Wildfires first appeared on Dornob.

It’s easy enough to see where Spanifornia comes from: a portmanteau of sorts, the term is meant to combine the laid-back California vibes of clean, simple lines and the Spanish feel of things like terracotta, handmade pottery, and other rustic touches like rough-hewn, under-finished wood. The combo evokes the perfect marriage of modern neutrals and down to earth, more natural materials that lend any space a touch of the Golden State’s airy aesthetic.

The result is a brightened-up look that stays fresh and balanced as well as bright and comfortable. Below are some tips from the pros about how to introduce this style into your home — and some of our fave products for making the best Spanifornia statement you can.

Down to Earth Neutrals

A simple way to embrace the Spanifornia trend is to choose a palette that evokes a dazzling airy vibe. What better way to keep it light than to keep the colors bright and neutral in shades of white? Add in some furniture with subtle rustic touches and you’re well on your way to Spanifornia dreamin.’

This Heathered Basketweave Wool Rug from West Elm adds texture to any room. Now just $110.50.

This Alysa Square Pillow Cover and Insert from Wayfair comes in off-white and beige to add both softness and contrast to any couch or comfy chair. Available for just $46.99.

A reclaimed wood bench like this one from Amazon adds a rustic touch to any home’s gathering areas. Available for $183.99.

Accent Shapes and Pretty Pottery

Accentuating your home’s natural arches and shapes is a great way to tackle the Spanifornia trend. Not lucky enough to have built-in architectural arches? Just recreate their effect with a couple clever design choices. And don’t forget the pottery — contrasting shapes and colors in the form of a bright bowl or handmade vase help make a room shine like the California sun.

Add dimension and shape to your space with this Solid Wood Corner Bookcase from Wayfair. $129.99.

This handcrafted vase from Pottery Barn is a win-win with its weathered look and neutral colors. $59.00.

These handmade bowls from Etsy add a pop of color to muted surroundings. $34.50.

Terracotta Twists

One design element that’s sure to elevate your interiors from regular-old California style to full-fledged Spanifornia is terracotta. While terracotta floors are great choices for both indoor and outdoor spaces, you can also integrate it more subtly with a few choice design pieces.

This planter from Crate & Barrel adds a terrific terracotta touch to any indoor or outdoor space. $119.00.

A table lamp is a great way to add a subtle terracotta accent while maintaining that stylishly neutral palette. Grab this one from Amazon for just $48.46.

Bright Whites

While muted, neutral tones are a cornerstone of the Spanifornia look, nothing says bright, airy, and classic like a palette of bright whites. If you’re nervous about trying an all-white palette, take a cue from the experts and try it only in your kitchen first. An all-white kitchen never goes out of style, and when it’s paired with simple design elements and small, colorful accents, it always looks good.

Add a hint of neutral color to an all white space with these elegant stoneware kitchen canisters from Pottery Barn. $49.00.

This reclaimed wood knife block from Viva Terra gives a rustic air to any cookspace. $99.00.

Add a midcentury modern touch to the home with this hanging white pendant light from Kichler Lighting. $179.99.

Spanifornia interior design is here to stay, and it’s the perfect design trend to update your space this summer. Whether you’re looking for a top-down refresh or just want to add some chic, on-trend elements to your current decor, take a hint from Instagram and get on the Spanifornia train for a clean, laidback look that epitomizes coastal relaxation.

The post Spice Things Up With “Spanifornia,” the Internet’s New Favorite Design Trend first appeared on Dornob.

Working in a style uniquely suited to the local climate, with flat roofs covered in solar panels, Mighty Buildings will use robotic automation to build what it says will be the first 3D-printed zero net energy neighborhood in the United States. The 1,450-square-foot, single-story homes will be extrusion printed using an ultra-strong stone composite material that’s termite-proof, fire-resistant, and water-resistant. The homes can be built twice as quickly as conventional constructions, too, with 95 percent less labor hours and 10 times less waste.

The $15 million collaboration with sustainability-focused developers Palari Group uses Mighty Buildings’ “Cinco” housing unit and will be built with the company’s panelized Mighty Kit system, which features 3D printed polymer composite panels prefabricated and shipped from Oakland. The panels are pre-assembled with framing, insulation, finishing, weatherproofing, and the stone-like exterior surface. Each Cinco kit features a customizable floor plan with an attached garage capable of charging an electric vehicle. The homes will feature photovoltaic panels from Tesla Solar and Powerwall.

The Mighty Buildings team says of the project: “Featuring textured exterior stone walls and floor-to-ceiling windows, each property will complement its natural surroundings with midcentury modern architecture and will consist of a primary residence of 1,450 square feet, comprising 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a secondary residence of 700 square feet comprising 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Situated on a large 10,000-square-foot lot, each backyard will feature a swimming pool with deck and views of the surrounding mountains with plenty of space for lounging and desert star-gazing.”

“Homes will integrate DARWIN by Delos, a state-of-the-art wellness intelligence solution to help enhance human health and well-being by improving indoor air quality, and implement localized water filtration and circadian lighting. Other upgrade options include backyard amenities such as pergola decking, cabanas, hot tubs, fire pits, and outdoor showers.”

Since the Mighty Buildings system is pre-approved at the state level, getting this type of home approved and permitted through California’s strict standards is easier than average. The system can be built on just about any site and offers high thermal resistance and low maintenance. 80 percent of the production process is automated in a controlled environment within the company’s warehouses for high-quality results. In fact, the 3D printers are often set up to build the components overnight while the employees are asleep.

The company has already built a number of models in a range of sizes throughout the state, including its 350-square-foot studio and its 700-square-foot “Duo B” model. Two-story models with living space over a garage are also available. Each model has a clean, modern appearance.

“We could not be more excited for this groundbreaking collaboration with Palari and to be a part of the creation of the world’s first 3D-printed zero net energy community,” says Alexey Dubov, COO of Mighty Buildings. “This will be the first on-the-ground actualization of our vision for the future of housing – able to be deployed rapidly, affordably, sustainably, and able to augment surrounding communities with a positive dynamic.”

The post America’s First 3D-Printed Neighborhood to Pop Up in the California Desert first appeared on Dornob.

Not long after that, the San Francisco-based OPA Architects was commissioned to soften it up. Specializing in designs that impact our perceptions and emotions, OPA wanted to give the house a more personal touch that enhanced its harmony with nature while leaving its modernist spirit intact. Infusing the space with organic shapes completely changes the way it feels, starting with the new front steps, which ooze out from beneath the entrance like fluid. From there, your experience of the home is something like merging with the sky.

Throughout the home, spaces like the living areas, bathrooms, corridors, and bedrooms are enveloped in sculptural white masses that surround you like a hazy embrace. Painted stark white, these forms create new voids and alcoves, softly connecting from floor to ceiling like pillowy stalactites. When you gaze out the floor-to-ceiling glass facing the bay from the higher levels, these spaces feel like an extension of the region’s signature moody fog. Outside, the theme continues with a new cloud-like canopy installed over a second-floor terrace.

The architects ask: “Why can’t architecture be more like nature – changeable, varied, and uninhibited? Our client wanted to return home and feel a sense of private freedom, a release from the conformity of the world outside. In this project, we softened her existing modernist house by infusing it with an atmosphere of clouds. The clouds scatter freely throughout the house, and dissolve and soften it in different ways. The clouds erode and blur the order of the rational modernist grid, creating a sense of space that floats and drifts.”

“Moments of softness are encountered unexpectedly – the interventions are like a mist that has settled unevenly. The softness dissolves the entry, melts the stairs, wafts through the house on all three floors, and a lonely cloud is trapped above a sheltered terrace.”

The result is a home that looks normal (albeit luxurious) from the street and neighboring houses, but offers a sense of release and relaxation as soon as you step inside. The unexpected nature of the renovation is a big part of its charm. The design is reminiscent of the sculptural traditional houses of Greece or the “landscape houses” of 20th century architect Jacques Couëlle, all of which use rounded forms resembling natural shapes.

But you’d never guess that the interiors of “Softie,” as OPA calls it, looked like this if you weren’t invited in for a visit. Couëlle’s cave-like creations embrace irregularity and softness as a whole, looking just as strange and unusual outside as they do within. Maybe what “Softie” shows us most is that no matter what a space looks and feels like originally, it can always be completely transformed.

Does it make you long for a softened-up space of your own?

The post Modernist House Softened with Cloud-Like Interiors by OPA Architects first appeared on Dornob.

In an effort to promote more eco-friendly building practices and reduce the risk of annual wildfires, California has opened the doors to a new competition encouraging the creative use of mass timber products.

Well established in Europe and increasingly accepted in Canada as a viable building material, mass timber most commonly comes in the form of structural panels, posts, and beams made by using glue or nails to press several layers together. For extra strength, the wood grain of each layer is stacked perpendicular to those next to it. California is the largest consumer of engineered wood products west of the Mississippi River for a variety of reasons, yet none of the materials are made in-state. Now planners and developers are looking at ways mass timber might help solve other state problems such as limited housing, pollution, and wildfires.

Another benefit of mass timber construction is a lower rate of carbon emissions. The production of mass timber yields less CO2 than steel or concrete, and perhaps even better, the finished product helps store carbon within buildings, keeping it from ever spilling out into the atmosphere. Andrew Ruff from Gray Organschi Architecture, a leading proponent of the laminated wood revolution, explains that “the typical steel and concrete building has an emissions profile of 2,000 metric tons of CO2. With mass timber you can easily invert so you are sequestering 2,000 tons of CO2. Instead of adding to climate change, you are mitigating climate change. That’s the goal.”

Mass timber is produced using a variety of materials, many of which have traditionally been less desirable by building materials production companies, including the wood from relatively small-diameter trees and trees that are dead or dying due to insects or disease. For California, this creates an opportunity to clear out underbrush that could potentially contribute to future wildfires — an increasing problem within the state.

In short, mass timber is super strong, fire-resistant, aesthetically pleasing, and able to work both alone and alongside other materials as a structural element.

With this information in mind, the WoodWorks Wood Products Council recently sparked a competition offering designers and architects an opportunity to present their best mass timber projects. With $500,000 on the line, four projects ended up receiving funding, while two others were acknowledged through honorable mentions.

“Increased use of mass timber can benefit forest health and rural economic development while reducing carbon emissions related to construction in California,” says Jennifer Cover, president and CEO of WoodWorks. “The winning projects further highlight the design possibilities of timber and encourage wider adoption of its use throughout the state and across the country.”

The California College of the Arts Campus Unification Project in San Francisco, presented by Studio Gang Architects, received $200,000 for their campus expansion plan that fit neatly with the larger project goals for remaining carbon neutral.

The Skid Row Housing Trust also received $200,000 for a multi-housing structure intended to house low-income groups in Los Angeles. Michael Maltzan Architecture designed the 77,190-square-foot, 14-story building, which will include 150 studio apartments in a project called “The Fifth.” In the past, building codes across the country have been a major contributing factor in the slow acceptance of mass timber, with many requiring significantly more expensive steel or concrete materials for buildings over six stories high. But in places like L.A. where land is sparse and expensive, cost-effective construction has become key.

Another $40,000 was awarded for the new headquarters at the Orange County Sanitation District — a 109,000-square-foot hybrid building that will also rely on steel for some structural elements. Naturally, the mass timber in this project will be left highly visible as an inspiration for other builders.

The fourth award went to the Sunnydale Development Company, who was awarded $40,000 for a community center within San Francisco’s Sunnydale and Visitacion Valley neighborhoods. The space will provide family programs and recreation services for youth in an area known for being economically distressed in recent years.

An honorable mention went to the Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation’s 75,000-square-foot freeform mass timber building, with a design set in the forest and intended for indoor and outdoor performances, exhibitions, and festivals.

A second honorable mention went to WRNS Studio’s 640,000-square-foot two-story mass timber project on Microsoft’s Silicon Valley campus, which also includes a living roof.

The post California Competition Highlights Potential for Mass Timber in Architectural Design first appeared on Dornob.

If you have a gas-powered stove, furnace, or water heater at home, you might want to take a look at a recent study by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, which points to some pretty concerning potential health effects that could worsen COVID-19 outcomes.

The study found that gas appliances emit a wide range of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and formaldehyde, all of which have been linked to acute and chronic conditions like respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature death.

“Under a hypothetical cooking scenario where a stove and oven are used simultaneously for one hour, peak concentrations of NO2 [nitrous dioxide] from cooking with gas appliances exceed the levels of acute national and California-based ambient air quality thresholds in more than 90 percent of modeled emission scenarios,” states the report. “Concentrations of CO [carbon monoxide] and NO2 resulting from gas cooking are the highest for apartments, due to smaller residence size. This presents an additional risk for renters, who are often low-income.”

These concentrations are often amplified by poor ventilation, as many homes in California and the rest of the U.S. lack range hoods or any proper type of ventilation system. Old and unmaintained appliances, small residences where air pollution can reach higher concentrations, and the use of kitchen appliances as supplemental heating by people who can’t afford more conventional heating sources in winter (or lack them altogether) also worsen the effects.

The study also looked at outdoor air quality. Assuming all indoor emissions are transported outside, it found that about 12,000 tons of carbon monoxide and 15,900 tons of nitrogen oxides were emitted into the air through the use of residential gas appliances in California in 2018. But if all of these gas appliances were immediately replaced with clean electric alternatives, the ensuing reduction in outdoor air pollution would result in 354 fewer deaths, 304 fewer cases of chronic bronchitis, and 596 fewer cases of acute bronchitis annually in California.

Natural gas, a fossil fuel, is currently one of California’s primary energy sources, used to fuel power plants and industrial processes, heat buildings, and power appliances. The state is set to implement recent legislation calling for 100-percent carbon-free electricity, but there’s no current statewide policy to address the gas burned inside homes and commercial buildings.

Considering how severe the respiratory effects of COVID-19 can be, indoor air quality is more important than ever. People who have the ability to do so might want to switch to electric appliances as soon as possible, and investigate other potential sources of indoor air pollution in their homes like mold, scented candles, and formaldehyde off-gassed by furniture, paint, and textiles.

The post New UCLA Study Suggests Gas-Powered Kitchen Appliances Might Be Harming Your Health first appeared on Dornob.

Champion’s Burning Man art installation, called “Homage au Dalí,” was a meticulous sculptural reproduction of Salvador Dalí’s painting “Los Elefantes,” which features two elephants with long, slender legs. Champion’s replica was enclosed in an outsized, elaborate picture frame with Dalí’s iconic signature in the upper righthand corner. When complete, Champion’s elephants would have stood 32 feet tall and sported saddles decked out in LED lights.

A Futile Rescue Attempt

Champion had been creating his statues over the last 10 months, so he was understandably frantic to recover them from the thief. He even ran after the departing truck, grasping the roof rack above the driver’s head and shouting, “Don’t do this! Don’t do this!” After being dragged for two blocks, the robber slammed on the brakes, throwing Champion to the ground before speeding off into the night.

Champion’s “Murder” Sensation

Champion started attending Burning Man a decade ago. In 2016, he decided to present his first solo art piece at the festival. “Murder” was the name of that installation, which featured five crows made from resin. Champion later recreated the gigantic birds in bronze for presentation at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

The inspiration for “Murder” came from a fondness for crows passed on to him by his grandmother, who herself had a pet crow when he was five years old. Spectators were filled with awe when it was unveiled at the festival, as the desert setting perspective made the sculptures look small when viewed from a distance and grow in size to over 10 feet as they came closer to them.

Catching the Culprit

Champion’s body and spirit were too injured to attend this year’s festival. After being dragged for two blocks whilst clinging to his stolen truck, he decided to sit out this year’s Burning Man celebration. His community has since rallied to find his truck, posting pictures of both it and the artwork on the street and social media.

“I poured my heart and soul into this,” Champion told a reporter. “It was all brutally taken away in an instant. I’m pretty much lost right now.” His truck was previously stolen in 2018 and later recovered, but this latest incident has Champion anxious to sell his studio and home and move out of Oakland.

The robbery took place around 1 AM on Sunday, August 18th at the intersection of 32nd and Hannah Streets in West Oakland. The stolen truck is a 2006 Silver Ford F-250 with license plate 8E11419. Make sure to contact the Oakland Police Department with any information you might have to help bring Champion’s elephants home.

The post Burning Man Dalí Replicas Stolen in Oakland Truck Heist first appeared on Dornob.

California wine country is one of the most visually breathtaking regions in all the United States. There, miles of vineyards disappear into the horizon, stately tasting rooms reflect both the region’s rich history and the presence of trailblazing newcomers, and a sense of contentment and calm makes every visitor lightheaded before experiencing their first taste of those glorious grapes transformed into a nectar of the gods.

As if all that weren’t enough, wine country just got even better thanks to the artistic genius of Bruce Munro, who recently collaborated with Sensorio to develop a unique garden paradise in Paso Robles.

Initial Spark

Munro is famous for his sweeping light-based art shows. Inspired by a 1992 trip he took with his wife to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Sydney, Australia, the artist has been using the power of light to create living landscapes ever since. Audiences describe his installations as mind-altering experiences that make them ponder the mysteries of the world around them and show them that artificial light and nature can exist in harmony.

The Path to Paso Robles

Munro’s first light exhibit was held back in 2004 in his own field in Wiltshire, England. After that, he created similar installations on waterfronts, stony bluffs, and in forests, as well as on rooftops and in city squares. He first premiered Field of Light for Harvey Nichols, a prestigious London department store, before taking it to the U.S.’ own Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford, Illinois.

In 2016, Munro finally returned to Uluru, the birthplace of his vision, and was gladly given permission to create his masterpiece there by the people in charge. So far, over 200,000 visitors have viewed that installation, which will run until December 2020.

Bigger and Bolder

Covering a 15-acre space in Sensorio’s massive development and described by owner/developer Ken Hunter as a “playground for the mind,” Munro’s new California exhibit is his largest show to date at any location, as well as his first American exhibit run solely on solar energy. It consists of 58,800 glistening round lights illuminated by fiber optics. These lights shine in a rainbow of colors and transform the site into delicate blossoms of transforming hues.

Field of Light also provides an ideal way to introduce Sensorio to the world. Slated to open in 2021, the Hunters describe it as a “destination for entertainment, exploration, meditation, adventure, and delight,” all of which sound like perfect complements to Munro’s mind-expanding show.

A Little Help From His Friends

It took five weeks to install the 50,000-plus lights for the installation, all done by volunteers who worked eight hours a day, five days a week to finish the job. Munro gave the team free reign on where to place the fiber optic lamps, ultimately trusting their vision and intuition. He says of this decision: “It’s like planting — improvising, not me dictating. I’ve learned that the more I try to control things the worse it is.”

If you’re visiting California anytime between now and January 5, 2020, you’ve got to check out this attraction. Paso Robles, located on the Central Coast off Highway 46, is famous for its seemingly endless olive groves, hot springs, and bounty of wineries, so you’ll have no problem finding stuff to do after you’ve seen the light.

The post Bruce Munro’s Field Of Light Shines in California Wine Country first appeared on Dornob.