A simple statement that stemmed from a simple desire...the desire to create something better. The ModFire is a simple, eye-cathcing, hand-crafted, 14 gauge rolled steel outdoor fireplace imagined by a custom metal artist in Phoenix named Brandon Williams. They're finished to offer multiple, modern colors, including a Natural Steel model (pictured) that acquires a beautiful patina through bluing. Fuel options are also available including propane and wood-burning. Although they are now considered to be mass-produced, each ModFire is individually handled by a single artisan to ensure quality and continuity during the entire process. With the cool nights of fall here, I can see myself huddled around the ModFire with my family taking it all in. http://modfire.com/
Boneyard brick
In my search for an ideal commericial product for outdoor installments that was also sustainable, I stumbled upon Boneyard Brick by Trikeenan http://www.trikeenan.com/ourTile/products.php?product=28. Boneyard Brick is a line of glazed brick that is manufactured from 95% reclaimed materials and in a facility that uses a closed loop system so that no glaze leaves the factory with a "clean water in, clean water out" approach. A wide-range of colors is available in natural and varied body color that reflect the recylced nature of the product. They also have a similar tile product called "Reclamation Tile" that boasts the same credentials as a responsible, recycled product, with a focus on interior instsallments. Looking forward to trying it out to see how it compares to traditionally made thin-brick products with the advantage of utilizing a socially responsible, and beautiful, product.
Controlled chaos
My attention was immediately captured upon viewing The Loft Tower in Lima, Peru by XTe a+d. A study in "controlled chaos". Continuous, minimal living plans repeated on each floor with a vertical green space spanning the entire structure, both inside and out. The front facade expresses an individual, but familiar character for each unit with outdoor terraces that comprises a green wall from top to bottom. The front views are framed and visually expressive, both by means of the expansive floor to ceiling glazed forms and the interior partitions that spatially guide and inform the flow of living space from the entry to the front of house. The dual-unit plan allows for sequential flow from one end to the other, providing views from the front and back, as well as visual access to the interior green courtyard. The broken down elements for each unit combined with the vertical garden wall bring the scale down to a more personal level and softens the effect of a high-rise building making it a much more effective companion with the growing and eccentric fabric that is Lima.