That Time I Checked out a Dating App.

Now, I'm a relic. I started dating my partner when social media was only message boards of text and mobile phone where not smart.

But I admit that my interest was peaked when friend who knows me all to well, sent me a link today. It seems that according to Huppn, Oliver Wainwright is London's most lovliest man.



I have to agree he has an exceptionally sexy brain. Don't tell Mr P else he'll get all jell...

Shhhh....  read it here.

Hot Desk News!

This may be the truest thing I have ever read...

I MOVED HOUSE

In a break to the normal program, I have to tell you that me, Mr P and our two fur babies, took all the money we had and some we didn't, and put it all down on a house in South Croydon.

Please send care packages and house warming gifts as we are now broke forever. 

thanksiloveyoubyeeeeee

Brick is Back!

You better believe it baby!

Here are some drool educing photos, go see it now. Tate Modern Linky

What do you Need to Work?

I have been reading about this event that happened just past. It was talking about the general trend of more understanding of the role of choice in office design. Retaining happy employees is the ultimate goal of any company but some how its more difficult than ever before and understandably there is a clambering to this third wave in workplace design to pin down a transient workforce.

This show was a slick, obvious cluck-fest about how companies need to make an investment in understanding their workers needs and wants, then try to balance that choice and empowerment with comfort and security. 

I feel like this show fell down a bit because while it's almost a given now that a choice in working environments is essential for our present day knowledge based economy, there's only a slight nod to the elevation of choice in to the company culture. Showing it's okay to make choices through leadership and mentorship make for happier more productive employees but existing attitudes about such dumb stuff as the correct time and place to take a personal phone call, still prevail as forcefully as ever. 

Is it likely the full potential of workplace design be realized if the users are stifled by perpetuated outmoded Taylorist doctrine? I don't know anything anymore.

Here's some chat from some people who attended the event. What do you need to work? I think I need a walk, best check with the boss. 

Yellow Brick Road

Fancy going on a road trip?

I want to go here and see this spectacular place.Three kilometres of saffron coloured pathways temporarily connect the shore of Italy's Lake Iseo to islands at its centre.  This installation by Bulgarian artist Christo  



The Floating Piers was first conceived by Christo and Jeanne-Claude together in 1970. The Floating Piers is funded entirely through the sale of Christo’s original works of art. 

The intention is that the light and water will transform the bright yellow fabric to shades of red and gold throughout the sixteen days.



After the 16-day exhibition, all components will be removed and industrially recycled like the installation never existing. Except a stunning realization like this will be eternally emblazoned in design books and rendered with in the minds of anyone luck enough to experience it first hand.




More picture and read more about it here.

Boring Buildings Cost More Than You Think...

On this months wish list is Cognitive Architecture: Designing for how we respond to the built environment, by Tufts urban policy professor Justin Hollander and architect Ann Sussman. 

These guys are studying the effects of our built environments on our lives and linking a visual buzz — whether architectural or natural — with the ability to change our frame of mind, making modern-day life more satisfying and interactive.

I mean, I know shit buildings are the easiest, simplest and cheapest to build. These buildings are the product of an abusive relationship between callus developers, self centered clients and broken architects producing an environment that is substantially meh. Perpetuating the cycle of depressed city workers in slick pretty but entirely non stimulating world.

New architecture can achieve the optimal level of cacophony and beauty in order to uplift society and feed peoples curious minds.

Read the whole article and go down the linky rabbit hole here.