EcoOffice: Material Research

I thought I would just take the opportunity to share with you all some images I have been collecting for my current project.

The areas I have been directing my research towards include renovation, loft and warehouse apartment conversions, old freight elevator cages (mostly wooden), factory conversions, reclaimed wooden railway sleepers, industrial renovations and a lot of other stuff down the more technical route, such as smartglass and various eco-insulation brands. 

factory conversion

although these are eco friendly, I'm not sure I could take any more pallets!

this is one of my favourites so far, although I had more space in mind!

incorporating 'living spaces' within the office I think will prove valuable, as not only
will it increase the feel good factor having an impact on staff morale, but it will reduce the
carbon emissions

Terramac is an ingenious product from Japan which is essentially an indoor
living carpet

Kubala-Washatko Architects in Wisconsin, USA have converted an old
factory for their sustainable offices

the open plan space keeps the air circulating, exactly what is needed in a
communal area such as a reception and waiting space

this type of structure on show is how I envision the offices to be, although
with more platforms creating partial floors

bringing nature indoors serves as a reminder to protect the environment

Further to this research, I looked at freight elevators to provide disabled access. I want to keep the industrial factory-esque theme, and a salvaged fright elevator would be ideal. These are commonly seen in loft or warehouse apartment conversions, seem most often in the likes of Boston, New York, San Francisco, and London. 

these old industrial freight cage elevators are highly sought after
for warehouse conversions, and can be salvaged from old
factories and warehouses

We are set to visit the site on Thursday, however as it is close to my house I took a wander there this morning armed with my DSLR. Unfortunately however, aside from the rather overcast sky, it is right next to the stadium for Dundee United Football Club - and today happened to be a day where they are playing at home. Aside from police cones along the road, the road being blocked off, a man from Sky Sports wandering around, and a coach in the way, the Hibs coach turned up - so I decided to call it a day. Hopefully Thursday will be more successful - and at least we will get a look inside the building as well, as it is currently under lock and key. 

I Love Tea!

I love tea.

Seriously, I can't get enough of it right now! Twinings particularly appeals to me because Stephen Fry was on the advert, so it must be good for the brain. I also really like the new one where they make a scenic image out of different shades of tea in the cups!

These are my favourites:

Also, if you go on the Twinings website you can select two free samples if there is any you would like to try (I highly recommend the Cranberry & Sanguinello Orange!).

I'm not even sure why I'm posting about tea, it's just after my particularly long day in the studio I have come home to a cup of Lemon & Lime. Ahh! Just what the doctor ordered! Now, I am going to continue with my research, as our briefs were issued today, explaining the project we will be undertaking over the next 12 weeks.

I will post about our brief and my plans shortly.

Design Studies: Through The Keyhole

As part of our second semester coursework for Design Studies, we are required to select a variety of photographs of either ourselves over the past 10 years, or our homes. I couldn't find enough pictures of me ranging through that period so have decided to put my soul on the line and expose my life and home to the digital realm of the internet.

I have a sneaky suspicion that it is to do with our set text "Snoop" by Sam Gosling - which is coincidently mentioned in the other book I'm reading at the moment as well; Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell. Snooping about my belongings apparently tells those who do not know me a lot about my personality traits. Not surprising really. 

Cue Loyd Grossman's irritating mid atlantic accent:


"So, who lives in a house like this?" - well, me. Obviously.

Ding Dong, My Books Are Here!

Malcolm Gladwell - Genius! (In my metaphorical book, anyway)

Well, I have been having a busy week indeed. 

Several things seem to have been slowed up by what appears to be almost no snow, but alas there is not much I can do about it. 

a book aiming to convince industry
to convert to an eco alternative 

Included in the slowed progress was the delivery of several items I bought online - 5 of which were books for class. We were required to purchase Snoop by Sam Gosling, Change By Design by Tim Brown, and The Back of the Napkin by Dan Roam, the latter of which was an optional read. I also ordered Cradle to Cradle by Michael Braungart and William McDonough, and another Malcolm Gladwell book - entitled Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. Finally the remaining 4 were delivered today, awakening me from my deep slumber after a hard shift on the bar in our Student's Union. God, do students make a mess/drink a lot/are generally unpleasant! But, I must not wallow in self pity - I have books to read and things to do.

Aside from trying to keep on top of class related things, I have received permission from my landlord to paint/decorate my flat - what a silly, silly, thing to allow me to do! They will regret this I'm sure. I enlisted the help of Kirsty, a jewellery student, on the promise of pizza and a pint after work (the aforementioned hell hole of endless intoxicated students). 
Currently, I am sitting writing this post while looking at a wall that calls itself "Intensely Olive". It's not as bad as it sounds, I swear. The hall however, is purple. And when I say purple I don't mean lilac, or like purple heather, it's purple. E4 purple. Barney purple. PURPLE PURPLE, and I love it! 

In the purple hall, there will be baroque style frames all along the wall, finishing it off nicely, I hope. Finally, a house that's exactly how I want it. Not a grubby student flat, no dishes piled up and pizza boxes, no unclaimed socks in the living room, no mess, and no non-matching furniture. I may sound like a freak, but I have waited so long for this! 

I am nothing short of a real Monica Geller. And, in true Monica style, my work is never complete, so I am off to my Cath Kidston themed bathroom to continue painting! Concrete grey is next on my list for the kitchen, and lastly "Palm Springs" as a feature wall in my bedroom - that's just a fancy title for turquoise. 

All the above has just made me realise that when I read Snoop, I'm sure I will discover something about myself - as it's about as the name suggests, snooping around peoples houses to determine things about them! 

maybe it was Amazonian kittykats that caused teh book delays?