so, you can build with what what?

now that ronald has caught you up with our lives, i guess i have to post about something other than that. so, i will tell you about what one of our great friends is doing out in Moab, Utah. i will be going out there to see her in April, but our friend Jodi, is there now until the end of May working with Community Rebuilds. ever the worldsaver, she will be building a strawbale house for a family in need from the foundation up. their start date has been pushed back because of the weather [go figure], but i am excited to see how the strawbale construction techniques work.

go girl!

strawbale construction is obviously a green building method [well, duh, you use straw and mud?] that the interns get to learn about before the build, and then get the hands-on experience while on site as they make it happen! it gets back to natural building techniques. who knew straw was not ULTRA flammable....[not me]. apparently, the walls in this type of construction are actually fairly fire resistant, in comparison with a standard stud wall. unbelievable? yes. because my guess would be, since its straw, it would light up like a christmas tree. au contraire.

isn't it beautiful.

in times like now, sustainability cant just be a fad. i'm so tired of everyone trying to be all "eco". less talking, more action! don't drive a Prius and then flick your cigarette butt out of your window towards my car. that's LITTERING you ID. [sorry, had to let that out.]

but, really, it needs to permeate everything we do, including how we build and design. and groups like Community Rebuilds are making a step in the right direction. and i love that one of our friends is being proactive about it. she would. and will always.



i meant to post this article awhile ago, but i guess i just forgot. so, for people out of work, there is no need to lose hope. there are plenty of things designers can do while out of a job. we designers have such a broad skill set. you just have to get creative, which luckily, is what we do. just put those skillz to use. my personal favourite alternative from the article is the tricked out ice cream truck, though i would have to refrain from getting the "Frank Behry" and opt for the "Mies Vanilla Rohe". i would hope they would have one named after my fave, Scarpa.

too cute!

i am also jelly toast [translation: totes jealous] of the lady who is doing pottery in a converted barn. i have been meaning to find a place in rva to start throwing again. because i miss it very much. there is just nothing like ellen's studio.



oh wait, and one last thing. i love this idea. the best part is the girl suggests digging a hole to plant these seed bombs with a stiletto. can you GET any more fabulous that than? you can save the world in your stilettos. but of course. [thanks jodes!]




ciao,
larry