Monthly Archives: December 2010

December 30, 2010 · 1:16 pm

The Phoenix Commotion

I believe I need to start a new “Heroes” category to file some posts under.

I found this guy the other day while browsing through some TED talks and was greatly encouraged not only by his use of sustainable design principles, but more so by his utilization of salvaged materials, or garbage.  Perhaps this could be the outlet for which I gain validation for my obscure collections and unique accumulations.

All photos come from The Phoenix Commotion website and Flickr photo stream

Dan Phillips created The Phoenix Commotion in Huntsville, Texas as a way of proving that recycled and salvaged materials are a viable option in the construction industry.  The homes they construct are impressive, especially considering the labor is provided almost exclusively by unskilled laborers and volunteers, but more impressive are the design principles and their relation to human psychology.  It wasn’t  until about half-way through the TED talk that I realized Dan Phillips had a remarkable perspective on building homes.

Cross-cut wood counter top

Storybook House

It seems, through his lectures and text, that the primary design parti while using salvaged materials is that pattern and texture create beauty.  Bone, bottles and bottle caps, corks, broken tile, discarded tires, warped and bent lumber all can be used to create repetition and texture and therefore, according to Dan Phillips, beauty.  Using simple physics lessons like “gravity pulls down” and “water runs downhill” Dan has reverted back to a more primal way of viewing home building.  Fully complying with the local building code, a powerful distinction from others with similar ideals, Dan manages to construct beautiful, logical, and healthy homes for low-income owners.

My favorite application of these sustainable concepts is the natural wood banisters and the wine cork floor

Tree House

The Phoenix Commotion uses apprentice labor to keep costs down, and although there are no positions currently available, I am extremely interested in contributing my services, and hopefully learning a bit about myself and this process or looking at materials with all their potential.

What I take away from this: collecting cast-off material is fine, as long as I can use it to create pattern, repetition, texture, and beauty.

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Filed under Architecture, Building, Construction, Design, Heroes, Houses, People, Sustainability

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December 29, 2010 · 12:55 pm

The Bathroom we are still working on…

Yes, we are still working on it, and no I haven’t been talking about it because I am ashamed.

Although we have taken a sort of construction hiatus during the holiday season, we did managed to assemble the room into something resembling a modern washroom before we set down our tools.  In its current state it remains unusable due to a leaky fixture on the sink and the general absence of any sort of door, but the floor is down, the walls are painted, the toilet and sink are installed, the lights are on.  We still have a deceptively long way to go, and some complications to rectify but I am certain all parties involved have learned a great deal, both about current construction standards, and efficient project management techniques.

Here are some photos during the painting process and the current state of affairs.

Between mud and paint

Paint supplies

Toilet and Sink in fully painted bathroom

Sink with vanity light, not-yet-installed oval mirror rests aginst the wall below

Let there be artificial light

Our largest hurdle left to overcome, other than purchasing new sink and shower fixtures, is the construction of the door frame.  Due largely to an abundance of inexperience, we have managed to frame the door opening without consideration of side trim pieces to cover the ends of the drywall.  We have a plan to work around this issue, we just need to gather the motivation to pull the project to a close.

A visiting, and very optimistic, friend even brought us a sort of “grand opening” gift to be placed in the new bathroom upon its completion, and hand crafted soap and towel stand built from reclaimed materials.

Toilet with "Grand Opening" gift

Track the progress: Walls and Halls, Tight Squeeze, Reverse Progression, Bathroom Update, How to Move Back in with your Parents

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Filed under Bathroom Project, Building, Construction

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December 28, 2010 · 12:56 pm

Christmas Cookies and Holiday Parties

As I sit at my desk, filling the gap between Christmas and New Years weekends with busy work, I can’t help but reflect on how much more I would be rather playing with my new toys.

Of course I am exaggerating the insignificance of this week, in fact, this is crunch time and the last chance for our firm to get applications for building permits to government agencies before the building code revisions take effect at the beginning of the new year.  But for some reason the 4-day week between Christmas and New Years doesn’t feel like we should be at work.  Strangely though, it does seem to feel like a pause between the busy weekends.  Last weekend there were Christmas gifts, family parties, social obligations, and brightly colored cookies, next weekend there will be traveling, friends, champagne, and catching up on all the things that have been neglected in lieu of shopping for gifts.

One of my favorite parts of this time of year, (aside from catching up with family and spreading good will and cheer through the commercial stimulation of the economy via secular traditions fabricated by the retail sector,) is the abundance of sugary desserts.  It is as if everyone tries to prepare enough so that if there were never another cookie or chocolate-covered-whatever made then there would still be a surplus.  There seem to be cookie trays and candy dishes everywhere.  I don’t mind the least bit though.  Here is a sampling of some snacks and treats that have crossed my path during this past weekend:

It’s worth noting that this selection of delicacies is only a small sampling of the bounty available, as my wife and I visited and additional two houses full of colorful morsels that I failed to capture photographically. I did not commit the same error during the process of ingesting these additional treats.

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Filed under Family, Misc.

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