For a guy who started out as a truck driver in Los Angeles, Architect Frank Gehry has continued to drive.  But instead of trucks, it’s the deconstructivism bus he steers in new directions, redefining modern architecture. Gehry’s curved windows in buildings like New York’s IAC building are what help to make him stand out amongst these famous architects.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, Downtown Los Angeles

Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain

www.adfilmfest.com/films/detail.asp?filmID=11

www.livingwithwhite.com/vitra-design-museum/

The Vitra Design Museum in Germany is an all-white labyrinth of sharp angles and free-flowing curves. One element that makes this building so striking is the minimalist use of windows. What few windows there are have been placed high on the structure, bringing the complex architectural shapes to the immediate foreground.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

Good old Frankie himself

http://www.santamonicapropertyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/window.jpg

http://thisisadesignblog.com/tag/frank-lloyd-wright/

You may recognize Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House from a number of movies that have featured the unusual Mayan-inspired design. From Deckard’s apartment in Ridley Scott’s Blade Runnerto The Replacement Killers and even Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this registered California State Landmark high in the hills of Los Angeles provides the visual backdrop to their stories. The stunning lead-etched and beveled-glass cathedral window is just one of dozens of amazing custom Wright windows in the Ennis House, which by the way, Christi’s has on the market for $30 million. That’s $15 million for the home and $15 million for the renovation, in case you’re interested.

Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Antoni_Gaudi_1878.jpg

The belittling term “gaudy,” which is defined as “garish, flashy or extravagant,” is actually rooted in the surname of the famous Spanish architect, Antonio Gaudi. A more accurate definition of his work should be “magical, organic and visionary.” From his still unfinished masterwork, Sagrada Familia, to the extraordinary Park Güell, Gaudi’s work continues to draw tourists from all over the world to Barcelona to revel in the shadows of some of the most beautiful architecture ever created by man.

http://noreenkobf66800.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!DBA9ED702A5ADD26!115.entry

The Sagrada Familia was Gaudi’s most ambitious project. He began the project in 1883, but left it unfinished when he died in 1926.

http://www.lagprisflyg.nu/tag/antoni-gaudi/

The famous Casa Batlló, which literally translates to “House of Bones,” is highlighted by distinct, oval-shaped windows and an almost skeletal design. The façade is decorated with broken tiles, creating a dazzling mosaic and a roof fashioned after the spine of a medieval dragon.

Park Güell, Barcelona

http://blog.isango.com/2009/07/27/barcelona

Kevin Roche

http://www.skyscraperimages.com/stock_photography_images/skyscraper-architects-roche-pedersen-burgee-childs/

Irish architect Kevin Roche has designed or collaborated on some of the most recognized buildings in the world, including the United Nations Plaza in New York, The Ritz Carlton Hotel in Singapore and even the Securities and Exchange Commission Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The common denominator in these structures, as well as the majority of Roche’s designs, is simply Glass, Glorious Glass! New York Times architecture critic Paul Goldberger once called Roche “one of the most creative designers in glass that the 20th century has produced.” And at the age of 87, Roche continues to push the glass envelope with his latest project, the new National Conference Centre in his hometown of Dublin, Ireland, set to open in 2010.

www.bc.edu/…/avp/cas/fnart/fa267/pyramids.html

Pyramids, Indianapolis, 1972

http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/national-conference-centre-boosts-green-tourism-in-dublin/

The National Conference Center on the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland

Michael Graves

www.cfstinson.com/promo/

From tea kettles for Target to the Dolphin and Swan Resorts at Disney World in Orlando, Architect Michael Graves’ work continues to influence and inspire, even after a life-threatening illness a few years ago confined him to a wheelchair. Graves avoids the trendy “Window-Walls” and prefers windows that are distinct elements reflecting the size of the human form and framing the divergence between inside and outside.

wirednewyork.com/real_estate/425-fifth-avenue/

425 Fifth Avenue is a mixed residential skyscraper in NYC. Towering at 617 feet, the building has 54 stories and 197 units.

http://www.archicentral.com/st-coletta-school-washington-dc-usa-michael-graves-associates-6373/

The St. Coletta School of Greater Washington serves children with severe and multiple disabilities.

Le Corbusier (1887-1965)

http://www.worshipworthy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/lecorbusier.jpg

In 1920, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris adopted the moniker Le Corbusier, which loosely translates to,”the crow-like one.” He was one of the founders of the “Purist” movement, which was a reaction to the “Cubist” and “Surrealist” movements of the 1920s – movements that were all the rage at the time. His vast talents also included painting, urban planning, sculpting, writing and modern furniture design.

As with most of his “Purist” theories, Le Corbusier had a very pure philosophy when it came to windows. In his book, Towards a New Architecture, he put it in simple terms: “Windows serve to admit a little light, a little much or not at all, and to see outside.” This is reflected in the small, selective windows in his now-famous Ronchamp Chapel, Located on a high plateau in the Vosges, above Belfort, northern France.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2007/oct/18/architecture3

The Ronchamp Chapel

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Windows play a much larger role in our lives than we ever truly think about. They provide everything from natural light for our homes, to views of fantastic environments safe from the elements, to perfect analogies and perspectives. The word window has come to mean so much more than just a piece of glass to fill a hole in the wall.

And photography is yet another way to capture the world through glass. Window photography is used to inspire people, much in the way the very concept of a window does – the eyes of the home that have come to symbolize so much more. Some window images are so beautiful or unique that you can’t help but admire the eye and miniature lens that imagined such a creative way to show a piece of glass. So here is a list of 50 beautiful window images and their sources in case you want to check out more like them!

1) At Twilight

2) Wikipedia Commons

3) James Muzza

4) BHCC

5) Integrity Studio

6) Digital Photography School

7) Cloud Files

Integrity Studio

9) Integrity Studio

10) Tiny-Vessels

11) Apple Store

12) Gallery Photo

13) Gallery Photo

14) Digital Photography School

15) Integrity Studio

16) Integrity Studio

17) Digital Photography School

18) Integrity Studio

19) Digital Photography School

20) api.ning

21) Tickled By Life

22) Red Bubble

23) Window To Her Soul

24) Red Bubble

25) Ferenc

26) Xavier Ho

27) Frida Kahlo with Fawn

28) Photo Credit

29) Aaron Brown Photo

30) Photo Credit

31) Abandoned Factory Window

32) From the Hubble Repair Mission

33) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

34) http://weblogs.marylandweather.com/cool_pictures/

35) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

36) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

37) http://s3.images.com/huge.24.123398.JPG

38) http://sowmyashistory.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!7EF8880BAEC84E87!322.entry

39) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3512792862_c56eacf048.jpg

40) http://blog.magnumphotos.com/images/NYC8019.jpg

41) http://www2.hawaii.edu/~omalley/Window.jpg

42) http://lizzyc.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/hmoon_1208_458.jpg

43) http://vi.sualize.us/tag/translucent/

44) http://www.20×200.com/blog/blogimages/keith_taylor_at_mpls_photo_center/windows-chelsea.jpg

45) http://lh5.ggpht.com/abramsv/SOhsPwLta-I/AAAAAAAAgeo/FRKgNRC6moQ/s640/w45yerhdfnbcv.jpg

46) http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/.a/6a00d8341c2c7653ef0115710a9ade970b-800wi

47) http://carolsmojo.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/Goodtimes2007_042.112105738_std.jpg

48) http://www.hanger43.com/images/photo/urban/16.jpg

49) http://www.loupiote.com/photos_m/18323082-graffiti-shadow-broken-window-abandoned-hospital-presidio-san-francisco-phsh.jpg

50) http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2620/3858209639_db966eb6a5.jpg

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Yes, this product is genius. And yes, it’s long overdue. Think of the future hassles you could prevent with a rotating U-shape drain pipe – no more toxic chemicals down the sink, no more fallen valuables lost forever, and best of all, you get the strange pleasure of seeing creepy gunk without ever having to touch it.

The PermaFLOW drain pipe comes with a 10-year warranty and retails for about $30. It features a Universal Easy Install Design to fit most kitchen and bath sinks.

If only the toilet had a transparent – wait, oh God, no, I take that back.

Get your ticket to plumbing paradise here.

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Everywhere you look, you see tweeters who are interested in all sorts of things from hobbies and sports to celebrity gossip. Heck, even celebrities are in on Twitter, and some are the most followed twirps out there! In the remodeling industry, there are certainly celebs and top tweeters as well, but drill down into each individual niche, interest or market, and you’ll find there are all kinds of people tweeting relative information to their space.

We put together a list of the 25 coolest windows installers on Twitter. We posted them as a lunch list where you can check out just what makes each member of the top 25 list so cool. Below, we’ll focus on the merits of the top five.

1. @larsonbuilders No mystery as to why Larson Builders scores the number one spot. Tons of followers and tons of tweets on window installation make this window installer numero uno. Larson tweets on all sorts of remodeling stuff. Plus, they’re into green causes as well, so look for retweets about cool green articles.
2. @Iosa Earned the number two spot solely based on their growing followship. Couple that with the fact that the tweets aren’t all about shameless self-promotion (they like to brag about their favorite college football team being ranked #1), and you have a great window installer to add to your Twitter friends.
3. @AKRenovations It was hard for me to put these guys at #3 and not #1. They are by far the best at interacting out of everyone on this list. They always RT great tweets with great content, they never leave an @reply unanswered and they generally know their stuff when it comes to window installation.
4. @JELDWEN Another great interacting tweep. The top-rated window production company in the list, (really, it was a tie with @Pella_News below), Jeld Wen gets the nod for a sizable number of followers. Another great tweep that responds to questions when you ask.
5. @Pella_News Rounding out the top five is Kathy Pella’s twitter account. Great interaction, tons of relevant tweets on window installation and frequent posting. The notable difference between Pella and Andersen is that many Pella reps and installers have taken Kathy’s lead to make Pella a dominant force in the twitter nest! Like I said, it’s a virtual tie for the final two spots in the top five and these two window companies easily take the cake.
6. @theglassguy
7. @championwindows
8. @CA_Window
9. @KCCompany
10. @windowsnmore
11. @RenewalKC
12. @replacewindows
13. @MarvinWindows
14. @rapidglass
15. @woodwindowstain
16. @NM_Pella_Fella
17. @GorellWindows
18. @westcoastvinyl
19. @LoewenOfBoulder
20. @beewindow
21. @NEWPROwindows
22. @PellaFellaTN
23. @GlassBlockTx
24. @suburbanwindows
25. @GuntonCorp

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Depending on your needs, you may decide to add onto your home, but you may also want to consider adding a detached structure to your property. There are several advantages to both.

The cost of either type of addition is comparable. While it may cost a bit less to build more rooms onto your existing house, the project will also entail deconstructing portions of the homes in order to tie the new addition in, which will add costs. An attached addition may also mean constructing a whole new roof. And even though your new detached structure will come with the cost of laying new footings, so might your attached addition if you’ve decided to build out, as opposed to up.

The Attached Addition

Some of the benefits to adding onto your current home include the ability to enlarge certain rooms, making them more spacious and comfortable, as well as the capacity for bringing additional bathrooms or bedrooms to your dwelling.

Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to the attached addition, too. What drives many homeowners a bit bonkers is having to live in a mess during the construction phase. You may have your roof torn off, an exterior wall missing, and tools, materials and dust strewn about for months. And then there’s the noise. Especially if you work from home, the construction phase will cut into your productivity. Another disadvantage is that you’ll need to modify your plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems to accommodate the extra space and rooms.

The Detached Addition

A detached addition, however, nicely masks the mess and noise, because it’s all taking place OUT and away from your house, even if just by a few feet. The extra space you’re adding outside of your home can give you lots of options for multi-use areas. You can run your small business outside of your home while keeping your non-commute luxury, and during special occasions, your office can become a guest house with a private bedroom and bathroom for visitors.

If you have hobbies that are noisy or dirty, a detached addition can give you the extra space you need to enjoy yourself without tracking mud through the house or blasting awake the napping babies. Gardeners and woodworkers can once again pursue their passions without getting their spouse’s panties in a bunch.

A drawback may be your local zoning laws. You’ll need to check with your city or county before making any firm plans. Be sure you can have a detached addition at all, and see what restrictions they have on those types of projects.

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It seems too ironic to be true. But as our friends at the Little Green Blog point out, the green technology’s there – we need only take advantage of it. LEDs can long outlast your old incandescent or CFL light bulbs, and with comparable lighting quality for less energy use.

This post is incredibly informative. I feel like I’m sneaking around behind the government’s back by sharing this with you. All LEDs only require 3-4 volts DC, but nearly every home in America pumps out 110-120 volts per electrical outlet. Where does that excess energy go? It’s lost in the conversion. We shouldn’t be tied to a high-voltage energy grid. As solar power and more LED products become available, I hope that we’ll do away with dirty energy once and for all.

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If you want to seal up your house so tight that winter drafts will screech and run away in terror, you’ll want the most energy efficient windows money can buy. That window will be an amalgamation of several energy efficient technologies. The most energy efficient windows will have all of the attributes listed below:

The Frame

Wood, vinyl and fiberglass window frames are all fairly efficient frame types. Aluminum frames are cheaper but very inefficient. However, fiberglass and vinyl have one advantage over wood. Their air cavities can be filled with insulation to provide the absolute highest window frame efficiency available today.

Okay, so the most energy efficient window will have an insulated fiberglass or vinyl frame. Next…

The Glazing

The most inefficient windows have clear single-pane glass. Double-pane windows are fast becoming the standard in efficient upgrades, typically with a low-e coating. But the most efficient windows in use today are triple-glazed, with three panes of glass each separated by a pocket of sealed-in air or gas.

So now, we have an insulated fiberglass window frame with triple-pane glass.

Argon, Low-E Coating and Spacers

Clear glass alone just doesn’t cut it. A low emissivity (low-e) coating should be applied to the glass to control heat transfer in either direction. Low-e coatings reduce energy loss by as much as 50%. Because the window is triple-paned, the manufacturer will apply a soft low-e coating between two panes of glass. Soft low-e coatings are slightly less durable when exposed to air than hard coatings, but are more energy efficient and will not degrade if installed between glass panes.

That space between panes can also be filled with Krypton gas instead of air. Krypton and its more commonly used cousin, Argon, are inert gases, which are more resistant to heat flow than air. Argon is more common because it is much cheaper than Krypton. Krypton, however, can take down Superman and has a better thermal performance, so it will be the gas of choice in the most energy efficient windows.

The best windows also have thermally-improved or low-conductance spacers between the glass panes at the edges of the window. These spacers are necessary in any insulated glass (multi-pane) window. Low-conductance spacers are part of Warm-Edge Technology (WET), which basically just means that they’re made from materials with low thermal conductivity rather than the traditional metal.

Type of Window

How the window operates also affects energy efficiency. Certain types of windows have different air leakage rates. Fixed windows with panes that do not open obviously have the lowest air leakage rates, but are not very practical for ventilation or fire escape.

Single- and double-hung windows, as well as sliding windows, have higher air leakage rates. Awning, casement and hopper windows tend to have lower air leakage rates because unlike their sliding counterparts, their sashes are hinged, providing a better air seal.

Installation

Poor installation can also cause wind and water damage to the siding, trim, and inside the house, all of which will affect the energy efficiency of the home in general. So be sure to have your energy efficient windows installed by a pre-approved window contractor.

Low Energy House.com

eCo Times

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Did you know the Grand Canyon has a glass Skywalk for the daredevil sightseer in all of us? If only I’d known that when I was scaling the treacherous hiking trails without a mule or water bottle to my name. You’ve got to read this blog before your next trip. Trust me.

We’re even more impressed with this eco-friendly glass house. It has no walls or closed rooms! What kind of exhibitionist mayhem goes on in this place? Props to SEHBAC for showing us the light.

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With winter right around the corner, it’s a good idea to start thinking about a heating solution. Radiators work well but they’ve always been industrial-grade and made from aluminum or cast iron. They’re clunky-looking and hard to conceal. Luckily, the future is now and the days of ugly radiators are hereby deceased.

Radiators have come a long way, as evidenced by the sleek and meticulously designed units from Antrax. There’s a product for all design categories from the whimsical Sole above to the low-key Dune radiator below.

It’s refreshing to see such headway in the radiator market. Designers are solving heating problems with creative solutions that fashionably serve as art rather than bulky, obsolete eyesores. Today’s radiators are becoming pieces of furniture, combining function and heat.

Take, for instance, the beauty pictured above. Called Treo, it heats the bathroom while providing a towel warmer in the winter and towel rack in the summer.

Scudi actually looks like an art piece hung on the gallery wall. Who would have guessed that this is a radiator? Scudi would look incredible in a large bathroom, spa or living room. And it makes me crave hot chocolate.

Your radiator can even masquerade as a decorative wall panel. I love its simple modern approach to home heating. The tactile possibilities are endless and although I never thought I would say these words about a radiator, I can hardly wait to see next year’s models.

This contemporary radiator is called Moon and brings a calm, Zen feel to the bathroom. Talk about a win-win – it brightens up the walls with a cool design while literally warming the whole space.

Heating a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or living room doesn’t have to be a gloomy chore. You’ll be showing off your radiator instead of hiding it behind the curtains. You’re now equipped with just a few design ideas that can change the way you enjoy cozy warmth on a cold winter day.

Related Links:

Antrax

Loop radiator

Elegant modern radiators

Totally chic radiator

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If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s the cookie-cutter lifestyle, where there are ticky-tacky houses in a row and they all look just the same – as do their interiors and residents. Standing out like a sore thumb is starting to grow on society; conformity and sameness are out, uniqueness and singularity are in. Not only is this development happening in society, but it’s dominating the marketplace as well.

Melia Design, for instance, makes furniture that is out-of-this-world. There are chests of drawers that look like they should be on the launch pad, benches that have you wondering if they’ll eject you because of their crouching, ready to pounce, appearance, and tables that look like they might be used as hardware on vehicles for fifty-foot tall people.

It’s amazing what can come from innovative people with big imaginations. What’s even more amazing is that they can mass-produce the creative pieces they’ve designed, while still maintaining a small design firm’s service-oriented practices. This allows for genuinely one-of-a-kind pieces if you hire them privately.

The British company has only a few designs for several different furniture categories, but each one is so unique and can be custom-colored to match or complement your existing décor. They really pride themselves on the lacquered finish, which is sanded smooth between each layer of lacquer, then buffed and polished for a perfect sheen, which unfortunately, will last all of a second and a half at my house.

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