Being an architect isn’t all glamour, bottle service and groupies, sometimes there is work that actually happens. The work is grueling and unrelenting at times so I thought I would show you how I spent my lunch hour the other day. I’d like to call it “Trying to keep up with all the cool product, materials and technologies that are out there” but that name is ponderous and kinda sucks. Although it implies that there is work going on (with just a dash of suffering), let’s be honest – I was looking at magazines. While this isn’t billable time (which is why I tend to do it over my lunch break or whenever I am talking to boring engineers), it actually is important that I keep up with emerging technologies, best practices, new construction techniques, and design trends.
This is a new and hopefully reoccurring segment I am trying to introduce here on Life of an Architect – Lunchtime Architectural Products – where once or maybe twice a month show you what I think is the best handful of products I discover or review. Who knows what will show up, but these will just be snippets of images with a brief explanation of why I am singling it out.
Here is some of the stuff I discovered:
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Very clean, very functional uncomplicated design. This particular basin is a single cast piece made from solid surface material – that means crisp edges and modern forms that are perfect for the types of contemporary projects I work on. There are also base cabinets available that match the size of this basin. (Also available in a double sink version)
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blu stone BT0102 Freestanding bathtub I am always on the lookout for modern freestanding tubs, partially because I might be in the market for one in my own house – you’ve all seen my current shower/tub area yeah? (.. shudder ..) – but also because freestanding tubs are more commonly found in the traditional style. The entire product line (which includes really nice faucets as well as sinks, toilets and tubs) offered by blu bathworks is very modern. Short version, it passes the “I want it for myself” test.
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RIFRA modular furniture – ZERO This was a trend that I have been paying attention to for the last 2 years – modular furniture for bathrooms and other accessory type spaces. Thin counter top profile, integrated handle, high gloss finish (also available in matte finish) … what’s not to love? Of course, this is definitely European lifestyle type mentality on how space is used but I am seeing it creep into more and more western projects.
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It’s hard to be wowed by a mailbox but this one definitely got a wow out of me. I must confess that I did not find this in a magazine but saw it when I was visiting a vendor showroom last week. Created by Arkitema Design, it is delightfully simple in its appearance but is pulling off all sorts of tricks. It locks, it keeps water out, its available in an array of standard RAL colors … this also passes the “I want it for myself” test. For the record, I have been trying to write a post on modern mailboxes for almost 18 months and still haven’t found enough of them good enough to warrant a dedicated “mailbox” post. Don’t let the simple shape fool you – if you want a modern mailbox that actually works and keeps your letters and magazines dry, you won’t be disappointed.
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That’s it for this round of Lunchtime Architectural Products, if you think this might be a worthwhile series for me to continue, please let me know. I’m not really interested in doing this if nobody cares, I’ll go back to writing posts on urinals or talk about Girl Scout Cookies and what I watched on TV last night.
ps – special thanks to Scott Taylor for coming up with the logo I will be using for this series. Starbucks on me!
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