HAPPY HOLIDAYS

FULL CIRCLE - From Idea to Synthesis to Production

We're exploring the idea of starting a new series of posts here at the TRPinc:::Blog:::. From time-to-time, we will all be sharing the things we do away from the office, that feed into our collective thoughts, influences, creativity and desire to "make" things in general. This series would be more about the individuals of TRP rather than TRP as a team. We see it as an opportunity to further share who we are and what we're about as a company.


As architects, the notion that an idea must end with its fabrication is second-nature to us.  Well published and highly acclaimed Swiss architect Peter Zumthor wrote:

"A plan, a project drawn on paper is not architecture but merely a more or less inadequate representation of architecture, comparable to sheet music.  Music needs to be performed.  Architecture needs to be executed.  Then its body can come into being."

Chase Wheeler, one of TRP's job captains, has offered to open this series with one of his recent projects, an entertainment console.

Independence Day 2011 - FIREWORKS!!!

Just in case you haven't noticed...Summer is here!  The 110 degree thermometer reading should have been your first clue.  The upcoming 4th of July festivities are a pretty good 2nd clue.

Sahara...lost in the land of giants

Last month the world-famous Sahara Hotel and Casino closed. It's a bittersweet moment in the history of Las Vegas each time a treasured part of our city's past is removed from its future. Having lived here for several decades, many of us are used to this and understand that it is part of what makes The Strip environment as unique as it is. It is almost expected to be dynamic and never the same when you visit it.

As architects, a view like this one evokes several emotions. The hotel tower, constructed in the 1960s as the tallest building in Las Vegas, no longer fits the scale of its peers. An eclectic mix of scale, use and style in most other metropolises creates an urban fabric that is rich, but it is evident that in the case of the Las Vegas Strip, David doesn't face the same fate against Goliath.

So, we look at this image and imagine the possibilities that the future holds, however far off it may be. Does a Goliath belong at this corner? What form should the north Strip take as it transitions into a blossoming Downtown LV, where the scale is very different and more diverse and independent stake-holders are beginning to flourish?

Reflections on Spring Lighting

There are two times of the year when I think I am truly amazed by light – both natural and artificial light.  Right now, I’m in love with the natural light of the spring equinox that casts a bit brighter of a hue, both white and yellow, and shines at an angle that seemingly makes everything look better, or more important, or just pretty.

 

The BEAUTY Series: An Ongoing Discussion

We recently came across an intriguing article titled What Happened to Modernism? authored by Eric Corey Freed on the GreenExpo365.com blog.  The article coincided with Modernism Week, held in Palm Springs every year, this event spotlights the array of Mid-Century Modern buildings that Palm Springs has to offer.  You'll recall, Caron made a recent trip to PS that ended up being the same weekend as Modernism Week.  Needless to say, several of us are interested in attending next year.

Lest I digress...

The article, along with Caron's tales, got us discussing more about the role of modern, contemporary, non-traditional architectural form in buildings today and how it was so prevalent in the 50's and 60's both in Palm Springs and Las Vegas.  Housing tracts built during that era were unique reflections of the architecture of the time; clean, light-weight and well-connected with its surroundings.  The housing tracts of today don't even come close to making the same connection to current architectural trends.  At one time, even common, "everyday architecture" had pizazz.  Now everything attempts to look like a Tuscan-Villa-Spanish-Mission-stucco-and-concrete tile-hybrid-mashup of nonsense!

So, what happened to Modernism, or even modern-ism, or even being modern?

Going With The Grain: Hardwood Flooring Inspired By Nature

Why does hardwood flooring have to look like a machined product?

Why does does a machined natural product have to lose its connection to its organic roots?

Trees aren't straight, so why do wood floors have to be?

TRPinc 'Going Green' Clay-mation Video

Showing our diverse creativity, some time ago the team here at TRPinc got together and self-produced this little gem of a clay-mation video as part of our TRPinc, 'Going Green' corporate initiative. 

Recycled-Content Rubber Bands!

Architect's all seem to have some kind of interesting relationship with rubber bands.  There must be something in our DNA that attracts us to them.  Here at TRPinc, we're no different.  From Alex's 5" diameter rubber band ball to Steve's uncanny ability to shoot a rubber band at velocities approaching the speed of sound with the accuracy of a laser beam, our hearts are clearly bound by these little rubber hoops.

Last week we came across these little jewels out of Switzerland...rubber bands made from recycled bicycle innertubes!  The product, called Plattfuss, is beautiful, no matter what you're appreciation level is for rubber bands.  The packaging is well designed and the idea itself is simply brilliant.  Designed by Brigitta and Benedikt Martig-Imhof of SEED Peoples Market for tät-tat

 

{images courtesy of notcot.org}

Design Within [our] Reach...

This blog entry comes from Caron, sharing her tales of a recent trip to the Palm Springs area...

TRPinc celebrates new location Grand Opening

On February 11th, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate our Grand Opening at our new location with a lunchtime ribbon-cutting ceremony.  We are honored that so many of our chamber peers and our friends were able to join us in the celebration.  Thanks to all who participated!

If you were not able to make it, you haven't missed your chance for a free tour!  Give us a call and let us know when you'd like to stop by and check out or new home & we'd love to show you around!

UV Self-Sanitizing Door Levers

COME ALL YE GERMAPHOBES!!!

Recently we came across this blog post describing an award winning product design by Choi Bomi for red dot. In a nutshell, it's a door lever equipped with a UV light that sanitizes the door lever when its not in use. Genius, right?

Sustainability Through Urban Agriculture

This week’s blog post may be a bit of a departure at first glance. It doesn’t directly discuss the typical topics of architecture, building design or building products. Instead, we are taking more of a macro view of the built environment and its sustainability.

One of the side discussions of sustainability and your ‘carbon footprint’ has returned us to a discussion on local food versus food that is shipped thousands of miles to end up on your plate. All those miles that produce are trucked/shipped expands your carbon footprint incredibly and also makes for produce that is harvested too early to prevent spoilage and product loss for the produce distributors. So now we’re seeing restaurants that tout local food, farmer’s markets, food co-ops, community gardens and in some areas of the country, community supported agriculture (or CSAs).