James Hubbell, House & Studio in Julian

Pictures today from my personal stash that were taken at the home and studio of architect James Hubbell in Julian, CA.  James Hubbell and his wife open up their home each year to the public on Father's Day, register for tours at their website.

The Hubbell home was mostly burned to the ground in the Cedar Fire of 2003, only the Boy's House remained unscathed. The studio and home have been rebuilt since then and improved upon. These pictures are all post-fire and there are plenty more to come in future posts.

James Hubbell Design Studio Julian, CA

James Hubbell home in Julian, CA

The Boy's House, James Hubbell

More of the Hubbell Studios in Julian

Helix Bridge - Singapore

The Helix Bridge in Singapore is our choice for some eye candy on a quiet Sunday morning. Apparently, Singapore is where all the really cool architecture is happening these days!  The other day I mentioned the Gardens by the Bay, and today we have this combination of groovy design and fabulous lighting on the Helix Bridge.

The Gardens by the Bay are just on the other side of the Marina Channel in Singapore, so there's yet another reason for a visit to tour more structures that are as beautiful by day as they are by night.

Helix Bridge, Singapore, Marina Bay

Helix Bridge, Singapore, Marina Bay

Helix Bridge, Singapore, Marina Bay

Supertrees in Singapore - Vertical Gardens Go High Tech

I think we've well established by now that I love a vertical garden! I also love the flat land kind, so you can imagine how enthralled I am about the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. The installation is set to become the "botanical capital of the world" which means that I'm going to have to put my tukas on a plane and go see it.

I'll blog the gardens at a later point, right now I want to oooh and ahhh over the Supertrees. These structures range from 9 to 16 stories tall and some of them have been outfitted with solar panels to power night lighting. The Supertrees also harvest rainwater to re-use on the plantings.

Bonus points for beautiful night lighting and projection. These remind me of the Boston Treepods I blogged a few weeks ago.

Supertrees under construction in Singapore

Designer rendering of night lighting effects

Supertree bromeliads and ferns

Supertrees lit up at night - lovely!

Art Photography - Kristy Mitchell

Being as I love some eye candy, these photographs by Kristy Mitchell leave me oohing and ahhing something fierce.  Posted recently by Beautiful Life, this whole series called Wonderland is rich in color and fantasy.

Below are 3 of my favorites of the series, but be sure to click over to Kristy Mitchell's website and see the whole Wonderland series - a worthy few minutes of your time!

Kristy Mitchell Photography - Wonderland

Kristy Mitchell Photography - Wonderland

Kristy Mitchell Photography - Wonderland

High Desert House - Kendrick Kellogg, Architect

The High Desert House designed by Architect Ken Kellogg is another of those structures that I find so visually arresting that I can't take my eyes off it. I have to admit that I'm less of a fan of the interior pictures that I've seen, it's the exterior shapes that my eyes caress lovingly. It might be that the interior just doesn't photograph well, as can be the case in organic structures.

The house is constructed of 26 concrete "wings" designed to capture energy from thermal mass. The wings are separated by glass that provides natural daylighting for the interior.

I simply love the shower rock work and cast fixtures of what I assume is the master bath. The house is near Palm Springs, so I have hope of one day getting to see it in person!

High Desert House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

High Desert House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

High Desert House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

High Desert House - Ken Kellogg, Architect

Architect website here. 

Art Lighting Fixture "Fragile Future" - StudioDRIFT designer

Today I'm posting another groovy art lighting fixture from Studio DRIFT.  This one is titled "Fragile Future" and like the piece that I featured previously - Flylight - this one can be reconfigured almost endlessly to suit. I particularly like it tumbling over things and down walls. The creative possibilities are everywhere for designers and artists since Fragile Future comes in modules that can be installed in multiple configurations.

Like Flylight, Fragile Future is a vision of the combination of nature and technology. The works are created using real dandelions integrated with an electrical system. For each "head" in the module, real dandelion seeds are glued to LED lights.

Fragile Future Lighting Art - Studio DRIFT

Fragile Future Lighting Art - Studio DRIFT

Fragile Future Lighting Art - Studio DRIFT

Fragile Future Lighting Art - Studio DRIFT

Designer website here.

A Hobbit House in Wales

The images of this hobbit house built in Wales just make me salivate. The construction, not so much. There are better and more sustainable ways to build organically and green while creating a dwelling that is comfortable to live in. I think the world of people who like to "rough it" with nature, but it's not a lifestyle for me. I did all the camping I'm interested in doing when I was a kid ;)

Sustainable doesn't have to mean uncomfortable, that's all i'm sayin'!

Anywhoo, this looks like a lovely place to live and kudos to the designers.

Hobbit House in Wales

Hobbit House in Wales

Hobbit House in Wales

Hobbit House in Wales

Website for the project here.