by Daniel Flahiff

“It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is
a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible
thing we know as life.”

- Kakuzo Okakura
The Book of Tea

via Whisky River

In art school we called it Wabi Sabi, in reference to objects that are imperfect, decaying or in various states of entropy. Picture an old barn, a rusty shovel, or even a rock worn smooth by rushing water, but be sure to leave out the romanticism. Wabi Sabi embraces and celebrates decay, acknowledging it as an essential part of life. The movement of all matter in the universe from order to chaos, from organization to disorganization.

just found this in my inbox:

It’s official. After almost 3 years and 6 competitions to gather innovative new ideas, Re:Vision is proud to announce the winners of the Re:Vision Dallas Competition. Taken together, the winning designs prove once and for all the viability of building an urban community based on The Urban Re:Vision Framework™. In fact, these tremendous re-visionaries have shown that it can be done economically, using forms and materials in ways never seen before.

“When the lion bleeds, the jackals take back courage.” –Author Unknown

According to CNN, the UN is reporting that at least 10 million new jobs could be created by employing “sustainable forest management” in developing countries.

“The report does not mention any countries but is aimed at “mainly regions with substantial rural unemployment and degraded land areas,” said C.T.S. Nair, chief economist in the U.N. Forestry Department and one of the authors of the report.”

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back– Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless   ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. –Goethe

“In all the cities of the world, it is the same. The universal and modern man is the man in a rush (i.e. a rhinoceros), a man who has no time, who is a prisoner of necessity, who cannot understand that a thing might perhaps be without usefulness; nor does he understand that, at bottom, it is the useful that may be a useless and backbreaking burden. If one does not understand the usefulness of the useless and the uselessness of the useful, one cannot understand art. And a country where art is not understood is a country of slaves and robots.”

- Notes et Contre Notes, Eugene Ionesco, pg. 129.

Just found  this great project on design boom and had to reblog. I particularly like the use of local materials and building methods, a topic that is not discussed enough in LEED circles. In this case local materials are used out of necessity, but I think we should all be incorporating more local building materials in our projects. Why should I build a house in the Pacific Northwest with lumber from South America!

This idea is a home-run: rent storage containers for your next move instead of buying/borrowing/scavanging boxes and save up to 50% on your move.

Big claim, true. But have a look at the concept: “Rent-a-Green box is America’s first, comprehensive, zero-waste pack and move solution made entirely from post consumer recycled trash mined from local landfills. Our mission is to provide relocating business and residences with an authentic and genuine earth friendly packing and moving alternative that will save time, money and Earth.”

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. This is something we should have been doing years ago. But no need to beat ourselves up about it, just grab one now!

we are going to be changing servers tonight and will be down for about an hour.

thanks for your patience!

d.

Just found this terrific lighting collection by designer Chiara Lampugnani. I’d include this in ANY project I was working on; contemporary or traditional. If you’re in Paris for Maison et Objet, check these out for sure!