Private Courtyards

I am incredibly fond of private courtyards in residential housing design. They seem to work especially well in hot and windy climates, where they offer protection from the elements. If you are lucky enough to have the prevailing wind blowing in the right direction, the ideal placement of the courtyard would be to face southwest so that you would get the late afternoon sun and sunset.

Courtyards are a perfect way to add privacy and to subtly extend the interior space outside. I have posted two contemporary examples of courtyards here designed by Spanish architect Alberto Baeza which I found inspiring. I would personally add more plantings to these courtyards, as part of the joy of owning a private courtyard is the ability to look out into your own secret garden.

Industrial Facility

Sam Hecht and Kim Colin founded Industrial Facility in London in 2002 with a goal to bring fresh and functional modern design to everyday objects. I love the balanced blend of simplicity and utility in their designs, especially in their work for Muji, Epsom and Whirlpool.

The variety of objects that they work on is also refreshing. Checkout this mini-kitchen from Whirlpool, printer from Epsom and cookie cutter from Muji.

The Launch

Design is my passion. I see it as a place where fine art, practicality, craftsmanship, theory, functionality and beauty intersect.

I begin this blog today to establish an online portfolio of my work as an Interior Designer, and to create a forum for my tastes and opinions on design in general.

Currently, I love interiors with surrealist touches, where the juxtaposition of ordinary objects in an unusual context can give new meaning to familiar things. A good example of this can be seen in the work of Seattle architect and furniture designer Roy McMakin. (see photos) When these touches are added in subtle ways, the result is a refreshing jolt from the hum drum of overly stylized interiors and jars the observer into questioning what is the meaning behind it.

Another good example of this are the rocking chairs at the Boston Logan Airport. (Also at San Diego, Dallas and Charlotte, NC) The rather bleak contemporary international waiting lounge is lined with over sized white rocking chairs that look as if they were robbed from a Norman Rockwell painting. They are so out of place in the context of that building, that they demand responses from the individual. Who put me here? and why? Instead of the usual painful task of setting your jet lagged self on an uncomfortable vinyl placemat, you sink into an enormous rocking chair and watch planes take off. Kind of strange, kind of fun and very practical.