Archive for the 'Architecture' Category
Architectural Digest and Me
Yesterday I received my first issue of Architectural Digest. Rob Lowe was peeking out over the other (junk) mail, inviting me into his newly designed home. And the cover noted that we would also be visiting a host of other well-known celebrities. Exciting! I had flipped through issues at the library before, but never truly read the magazine … what would I find inside?
Before even reaching the table of contents, it was already clear that I am not in their target market. The advertising was a dead giveaway. Cadillac, Breguet (appears to be a watch brand, though may also be a jewelry boutique that has their own brand of watch), Restoration Hardware (the new updated version that I completely don’t understand), Chanel #5, Clive Christian (furniture), David Yurman (watches), American Airlines, and GIA (Gemological Institute of America). Luxury brands, and not my usual fare.
So that’s kinda disappointing – not a good start for my new subscription. We like to try out new magazines periodically and know that there are going to be both hits and misses. And since they all come for free, well, using random airline points that will never add up to a free ticket, it’s really not a big deal when one fails. This one was not off to a good start.
Moving further into the magazine, the photography really stood out. We have a real appreciation for quality pictures of homes (as most buyers do too after looking through listings for any length of time), and the Architectural Digest pictures are exceptional. The photographers framed the shots well, properly lit the scenes, and paid attention to the details that can really help a picture. The homeowners also deserve some credit since the Editor-In-Chief noted that they don’t do any staging on the shoots – it’s just the photographer.
The articles were well written, but I struggled to stay engaged. They’re a mix of insight into the lives of people you may (or may not) know and discussion of the design process. I found myself skimming through the prose to get a sense of the subjects’ human side, while skipping over portions about their design aesthetic. In thinking about why, I decided that design is so personal that it’s really difficult to get me (and others?) interested in someone’s process. Even though I’ve only gone through a design exercise and project on a much smaller scale than these people, I feel like I understand how it works and am most interested in the result. Perhaps if I had not had an experience of my own I would have read the stories more closely in hopes of gleaning some insight.
The photos are definitely the highlight of the magazine for me. I’ll look forward to seeing the architecture and decorating ideas that arrive on my front porch in the coming year, even if it does mean flipping through page after page of luxury items that I don’t aspire to ever own. Well, maybe I could be convinced to invest in some Bang & Olufsen speakers one day … just don’t tell Amy.
A New Home for Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs, Apple CEO and technology visionary, has a gift for designing things. People have been going bananas over Apple’s various portable devices for the past decade, and he is credited with many of their important design principles.
Although gadgets are fun, we’re more about the real estate on this site. And this news piece definitely caught our attention – Steve Jobs is going to be building a new home! And the site plans are available on the internet!
The story of this property is too long and complicated for us to fully understand the details, but there seems to be two interesting themes – historic preservation and design.
Jobs bought the estate in 1984, lived in it for a while, rented it for a while, and let it sit vacant for a while. The existing structure is a 30 room Spanish Colonial Revival mansion with 14 bedrooms and 13.5 baths over multiple structures on 6 acres. Although Jobs has wanted to demolish the home for years, local preservationists have successfully intervened on the property’s behalf, working to either save the structure or move the home to a different site. In 2006 someone made their way onto the vacant property and took these pictures, which show significant neglect. There seems to have been rulings in favor of each side, with the most recent victory being for Jobs when the preservationists dropped their lawsuit seeking to prevent demolition. At this point, the demolition is on.
The other interesting subplot is about what the new home will look like. Jobs has the resources to build anything he wants, so what will it be? Conceptual plans for the new home were submitted to the Woodside Town Council, and they have reached the interwebs. I haven’t found images that I can zoom in on (please post a link in the comments if you find some), but these small images and the accompanying commentary give a good flavor for the space. The basic conclusions of those who have studied the plans in detail are that Jobs is sticking with the clean, simplified aesthetic popularized by Apple products. Also, that he won’t be throwing large parties at his house, it’s designed more as a peaceful retreat than a showpiece property.
Jobs has won the most recent battle with the preservationists, but will it be the end of the war? And if he actually follows through with his plan, will the final product truly be as restrained as the current plans? Only time will tell.
David Panagore and Downtown Hartford
On Monday, September 27th, Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE) is hosting an event focused on Downtown Hartford, and featuring David Panagore, COO and Director of Development Services for the City of Hartford.
Mr. Panagore is a strong advocate for Hartford. He is leading the charge to encourage development in the capital city, and seems comfortable sharing information about projects that are under discussion, but by no means finalized. For example, just last week he was quoted in the Hartford Business Journal as saying the City is once again actively working on redeveloping both 101 and 111 Pearl Street. For much of the first half of 2010 he was prominently involved in the One City, One Plan effort to engage the community in the update of Hartford’s Plan of Conservation and Development.
Before coming to Hartford in late 2008, Mr. Panagore worked for Springfield, MA, and he has additional municipal experience from time in San Jose, Boston, and Chelsea, MA. Urban Compass, a local blog that covers both Hartford and Springfield, interviewed Mr. Panagore back in 2005 (Part 1, Part 2). It also covered the Hartford City Council’s session with Mr. Panagore before he was hired.
The goal of the HYPE event is to keep the session relatively low key, so that we can have an interesting and inclusive conversation about Downtown Hartford – both its current state and its future prospects. Although we’ll definitely get Mr. Panagore’s views on a variety of topics, we’ll also encourage attendees to share their ideas so that we can have a constructive conversation about where Hartford should be going.
If this sounds like it might be interesting to you, HYPE would love to see you there. It is free to both members and non-members, though registration is required, and seating is limited to 25. This is our opportunity to pick the brains of one of our City leaders in a positive and energetic environment.
HYPEd on Downtown Development
Monday, September 27, 2010
89 Arch
89 Arch Street, Hartford
5:30 – 8:00
Register on the HYPE Website
Buh-Bye Butt Ugly?
Yesterday, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra announced the City’s intention to acquire and demolish the building on corner of Main and Trumbull. He noted that it is a “critically important project” and is “an economic development priority for a number of reasons.” David Panagore, Hartford COO and Director of Development Services, said that they expect to have a purchase agreement in place by Thursday and are prepared to begin eminent domain action if needed.
Exciting news, but we’ve heard this before. The Butt Ugly building is a landmark building in Hartford – it desperately needs to be taken down. Visible from the highway, the dilapidated structure says something about the capital city to everyone who drives by, and especially those never get off the highway.
We were surprised by the announcement and are hopeful that this time it will happen. Thanks for getting the ball rolling, Mayor Segarra!
Downtown Sights and Sites
There is a lot going on in Downtown Hartford these days. Here are just a few of the activities and projects currently scheduled and underway.
The PGA Tour comes to Greater Hartford in a couple weeks for the Travelers Championship. One fantastic way to get involved is to check out the Tee It Up for Charity event on Thursday the 24th. It’s basically a big party with live music, a silent auction, and a mini-tournament on the practice facility. All money raised goes to The First Tee Connecticut.
Abul Islam and AI Engineers is building a green office building at the site of the former Broadcast House on Constitution Plaza, to be called the AI Tech Center. At this point the old building has come down, and they are reported to be looking for tenants in order to secure construction financing. Interested in meeting and talking with Mr. Islam? Sign up for the HYPE Entrepreneur Success Stories event on June 22nd in which he is the featured guest.
Front Street continues to plug along, though leasing is lagging construction. They have the exteriors of the buildings in good shape and the sidewalks down. Who will sign up to be the first tenants?
Finally, the Wadsworth Atheneum is undergoing some renovations, which includes some work on the roof.
