SKYWAY OPEN part2: 1st place design!

as i mentioned, each hole in the SKYWAY OPEN was designed and built by local architecture and design firms. that includes silvercocoon & feyereisen studios. souliyahn and boB and susi collaborated on the design & fabrication of hole #13 -(tia had nothing to do with it - except talking it up to the judges)-

the theme this year was MINNEAPOLIS 2050

hole #13 was designed based on a couple key ideas/concepts looking head to 2050. --> the hole was designed to be a left-handed hole (they actually requested that only left-handed putters be provided at the hole) -not because either of them are left-handed -but because they wanted the hole to be slightly uncomfortable to golf - because the decisions that need to be made (environmentally, socially etc.) going forward are going to be more difficult than they've been and will require extra effort given the challenges we face. figuratively, the hole is also based on the concept of "cradle to cradle" - you start the hole in the same place where it ends (the ball actually returns to the starting point, once you make it into the hole.) - the hole itself is made from strips plywood that were "dumpster-dived" from a local wood-fabricater - and were, themselves, recycled. it is virtually impossible to get a hole in one on the hole - but was almost more exciting when a select-few made a hole-in-two, simply because the hole was difficult to play and truly required people to strategize and engage the intricacies of the hole in order to get it in in two strokes.

because of the design-aspect of the event - there was a design-jury that visited each hole and reviewed the design based on certain criteria. at the after-party (or 19th hole - as they say in golf) the event organizers and the mayor (rt rybak) announced the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place holes and presented silver cups and generous gift certificate awards to each firm. images of the winning holes can be seen on the official website here - but we were pretty excited when they announced that hole #13 had won the 1st place award! yeah! way to go bob & souliyahn!!!

SKYWAY OPEN part1: golfing

nearly 2 weeks ago (already!) souliyahn, silo and i were invited by boB (feyereisen studios) and susi to go golfing downtown in the skyways for the SKYWAY OPEN- a fundraiser for the boys & girls club. the event was great fun - and comprised of mini-golf holes that were designed by local architecture & design firms . our t-time was at 12:00-noon and it took us 2 hours to golf all 18 holes that were placed throughout the skyway in the heart of downtown minneapolis. i'm including images of the holes we rememberd to take photograph (there was a point in time, when we were slightly pre-occupied with getting silo to fall asleep in the stroller and forgot to take a couple shots...) the coolest part was that the game was played as a "scramble" - each stroke was played off of the best shot of each player so that the final score was literally the best possible scenario. we got a handful of hole-in-ones and ened-up many strokes under par. super fun game!

happy new year

modern tannenbaum - decorated 02

here is the symetrically-decorated tree i mentioned in previous post - decorated with our red ball & white flake ornaments with some draped sheer ribbon to add a little softness to it ...... the image is grouped with a close-up of the ornaments tia has been making & selling on etsy.

modern tannenbaum - decorated 01

we filled a special order for some blue ball ornaments (& white flakes) to go on one of our modern tannenbaums. the owners live in a new condo building in minneapolis called COBALT lofts -- thus the desire for blue. i just love the way the blue balls flow around the tree - particularly in contrast to the symetrical approach we've taken with ours. it is also great to see our ornaments mixed with other more ornate ones and to see that our design-piece is flexible and capable of reflecting the individual taste and personality of other people!

ETSY SHOP OPEN!

our ETSY shop is open - including our modern tannenbaum, some ornaments and some of tia's jewelry (more will be added day by day)(if there is a special piece that you've seen but do not see on ETSY, please don't hesitate don't hesitate to email/call us to inquire about it.)

Thanks for your interest and support!

WOMEN IN ARCHITECTURE lecture

OPEN DOOR home loans - installation

these images were taken today. installation is about 75% complete. they hope to move-in in about a week & a half. more dramatic things to come ... keep posted.

OPEN DOOR home loans - construction

these images were taken after demolition of the space and during construction - where the tin ceiling was patched, walls were repaired and evened out, new ductwork installed and a new plywood subfloor was laid (amoung many other things)

OPEN DOOR home loans - existing

here is an interior-project we've been working on for a one of our loyal clients. (this is the second office we've done for them in addition to several projects at their home.) these before pictures try to capture the very chopped-up space with several different drop ceilings at different heights, as it used to exist (as a chiropractor's office.)

the space is to house up to 5 loan officers and a receptionist, a waiting "room", a conference room that can also function as a break room & space for classes, and provide loads of storage (for normal office supplies as well as for private documents.) the space is to feel warm, inclusive, inviting and representative of the market they are serving and the neighborhood (uptown) they now belong to.