“I believe through creativity and design we can make anything beautiful. Beauty isn’t the material sitting fallow in a warehouse somewhere. The beauty is when you start using repetition, and function, and purpose, and light and shadow”…”giving new life to these materials and give them a reason to be in this world again,… and that energy you feel when you’re in the spaces, and its very positive, and it feels progressive and it feels right to me.” ~ Mike Moore

In launching a new direction for my design firm, Analog Design Studio, we collaborated with Mike Moore to create a video that would help express his firm’s message while crafting our visual language in the medium of film. We have put a lot of creative passion into creating this biopsy of Tres Birds Workshop. The documentary uncovers the passion and desire of their firm to create beautiful spaces and experiences through the reuse of objects to create healthy desirable spaces that take on a new life while expressing the past. The workshop explains their use of light, materials, and function making their work both contemporary and timeless. We hope you love this piece as much as we do, enjoy!

production co. – Analog Design Studio [www]
documentary subject – Tres Birds Workshop [www]
music provided by – Mind Things [www]

Wednesday Window Shoppe is a weekly series put together by fashion designer Gretchen Jones NYC.
3 Outfits: online store – INTERMIX

To view all of this weeks outfits go here: (Read More)

[+] click image to enlarge – Outfits arranged by designer Gretchen Jones 1. Rag and Bone Sand Leather Biker Jacket 2. Rag and Bone Sheer Feather Print Top 3. Alexis Bittar Abstract Tier Snake Chain Necklace 4. J Brand Bette Wonderama Wide Leg Jeans 5. SUPER Sunglasses Lucia Summer Safari Puma 6. Joie Windy Crisscross Leather Platform Sandals

[+] click image to enlarge – Outfits arranged by designer Gretchen Jones 1. Tucker Silk Wrap Jumpsuit 2. Minnie Rose Cashmere Fringe Poncho 3. Alexis Bittar Modernist Encased Oval Earrings 4. Alexis Bittar Bead and Stone Necklace 5. Theodora & Callum Biarritz Linen Platform Wedge Pastel Ikat

[+] click image to enlarge – Outfits arranged by designer Gretchen Jones 1. Fallon Multi-Chain Rose Bib Necklace 2. Topsecret Double Agent Lace Bralet 3. Rag and Bone Skinny Stretch Wax Denim (Midnight) 4. Helmut Lang Wisp Button-Down 5. Sergio Rossi T-Strap Open Toe Leather Stilettos

Time-lapse video has definitely been overdone and when done well still struggles to keep one’s attention. While Mindrelic’s video of Manhattan can lose you at points, I feel it is overall well done and entertaining. The use of panning, crane shots and car mounts really takes the normal time-lapse shot to another level of depth. Using the busy subject of Manhattan is a no-brainer, but the quality and quantity of shots throughout the city really steals the show. I look forward to seeing where Mindrelic’s next video will take us. Meanwhile, enjoy!

Check out Mindrelic’s website here [www]

Mindrelic – Manhattan in motion from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

[+] Image via Mindrelic

Gretchen Jones just announced today that her e-commerce element to her site is now live and she is proud to announce the opportunity for you to purchase signature GJ Jewelry pieces starting today. Her jewelry is made to order, hand crafted, and domestically produced.
Check out her website here: [www].

Artist and Zeitgeist author Erin Donnelly has put out this new series of paintings in an astonishingly short 4 months timespan. Her new work is focused on her childhood memories at Pinecrest Lake in Northern California. Her show is being held at the Arts Council of the Valley – Smith House in Harrisonburg, VA. So if your on the east coast this is your rare chance to see this west coast girls talent in the flesh. More on the gallery details here: [www]

Check out more of Erin’s work here [www] and her blog here [blog]

[+] Image © Erin Donnelly

[+] Image © Erin Donnelly

[+] Image © Erin Donnelly

Everynone, a New York film team, has produced another video based on one simple word, Symmetry. Their videos continue to be visually enjoyable to watch, and leaving most of us with the thought of, “Why didn’t I think of that”. If you have time check out all of their videos. Enjoy Everynone’s website here [www]

Symmetry from Everynone on Vimeo.

[+] Image via Everynone.com

[+] Image via Everynone.com

Jon Totel has out done himself. His latest work titled The Forgotten City, based on a poem by William Carlos William, is by far my favorite series of his. This latest series is imaginative, architectural, narrative and most of all rich with visual bliss. Keep up the great work Jon, we look forward to what next. If you wish to check out more work from Totel here is site: [jontotel.com]

[+] Images via Jon Totel

This month we are giving away a print from our recent Spotlight Series Photographer – Matthias Heiderich. Matthias has graciously agreed to giveaway a 20in X 20in print to one lucky winner from our facebook or twitter fan pages.

To Enter:

1. Simply join our Facebook or Twitter page to be eligible, existing members are already entered.

2. To double your chances, comment on or share this post with others thru facebook or twitter. Every original shout out you give us we will put your name in the hat again.

Winners will be selected at random from our Facebook and Twitter fan pages…and the winner will be announced on March 26th. Tell your friends about this Photo Giveaway! Remember to comment and post away for more chances to win!

*Fineprint – This prize can only be sent to locations within the Continental US or the EU countries. Limit 25 entries per person. Photo quality will vary based on photo lab equipment. Only one winner will be selected.

Need a quick, colorful look to your studio walls while giving them a bit of sound proofing? Well, Träullit Dekor, based in Sweden, has developed a ad-hoc product that combines function, form and eco-smarts. Here is a bit from their website:

“Wood wool of spruce, a fascinating material, sprung from our nature, joined together with pure cement, provides unique features to any building.

Features that provide sound absorption, excellent thermal insulation capacity, high thermal storage capacity, proven highly resistant to fire, mold and rot, mechanically strong and good plaster base.”

Check out their site for more information and images here [traullitdekor.se]

[+] Image via Traullit Dekor

[+] Image via Traullit Dekor

Spotlight is a series highlighting talented artists and designers in brief interviews and displays of their work. In this article we look at the work of Matthias Heiderich [ www.matthias-heiderich.de ], currently residing in Berlin, Germany. Matthias is self-taught photographer who’s imagery reads uniquely architectural with a minimalist graphic style. Here’s what he had to say-

(Zeitgeist Studios) – You have stated that you’re not a professional photographer, so what do you do for a living?

(Matthais Heiderich) – Yes, true, I am not a professional photographer. But I will try to make it my living this year. There will be more exhibitions, in and outside Germany, and more places to buy prints. I will also try to work on more commissioned projects. So far I have spent my time studying computational linguistics and phonetics. I have a university degree but realized that this is not what I want to do in the coming years.

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

(ZS) – Your subjects seem to be primarily landscapes. Asta, a portrait series, is a stark departure from this. What was the motivation for this subject change?

(MH) – Asta is a friend of mine and I took many photos of her in the last two years, so I decided to upload a small selection, too. If you look at my Flickr site, you can see that my photography is pretty diverse. I just like to take pictures of whatever I think is beautiful – landscapes, industry, cityscapes, nature, people.

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

(ZS) – What challenges did you face shifting to a live subject?

(MH) – Whenever I take pictures of people, I realize that I am not a good portrait-photographer. I am not good at giving directions and making people feel comfortable. Also I prefer to be alone when being creative, alone with music and whatever is going on inside my brain.

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

[+] Image via Matthias Heiderich

Last month we featured a small space addition by Tom Young. This time the scale is even smaller. Submitted for a local dog competition, Tom’s dog house concept is quite interesting. It’s not only an aesthetically pleasing object for the back yard, but a sustainable one as well. It collects and stores water for consumption, and is made of 100% recyclable materials. Not sure about Tom’s plans to mass produce these but we’ll keep our eyes open.

[+] Image via Tom Young

I asked our fellow Zeitgeist Studios member Bryan Bowen to give us a synopsis of his latest net-zero project to share with the readers. It’s a stunning house that raises the bar for what is possible in the future of sustainable building. Here is what they had to say:

Designers: Bryan Bowen and Kristen Uitto of Bryan Bowen Architects based in Boulder, CO
Location: Fraser, CO

[+] Image via Bryan Bowen Architects

“Recognizing the beautiful, but extremely harsh environment, this year round residence applies a host of passive and active building technologies with real time monitoring devices to ensure an inviting and inspiring home. With a 17 kilowatt PV system and an evacuated tube solar thermal array, the 5,232 square foot home is grid-tied and all electric, powering two all electric, plug-in vehicles, while using no fossil fuels. In addition to the main living spaces, the home includes a guesthouse wing and home gym, which can be shut down when not in use.“

[+] Image via Bryan Bowen Architects

“The design for the home was put through extensive energy modeling to guide the design of the building. As a result of the home is extremely energy efficient with a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score of -22. For reference, a typical home built to building code is a HERS 100; a home built to Energy-Star requirements is a HERS 85.“

See Green Materials List Below.

[+] Image via Bryan Bowen Architects

As a low-budget case study in design/build Tom Young designed a 60sqft addition onto the back of his house to make room for a home office. Total materials cost was a mere $2500. His approach was to introduce a cost effective modern design using standard materials. I found the result to be both stunning and well thought out. I asked Tom to share with us his process and thoughts on the project. Read what he had to say below.

[+] Images via Tom Young

“Our home office addition was designed to relate to the existing structure through form and spatial relationships.

By creating a parapet wall/façade, I chose not to mimic the slope of the existing roof to, but oppose it gracefully to create an interlaced relationship. The existing fascia appears to disappear behind the parapet edge allowing the paneled wall to become the primary feature of this residence’s secondary façade. The office mass itself, appears to cantilever precariously over the recessed basement entry below. The main level entry stair was designed to reinforce this move by be being appearing delicate/ transparent.

The rain screen’s panel design/orientation was governed by several principles: 1) break up the façade mass into smaller, more relatable pieces 2) to create only rectangular panels for ease of construction/installation 3) to maximize the yield of the eleven 4 x 8 sheets purchased.”

[+] Images via Tom Young

Materials: Steel, Hardie Board Siding, Vaproshield, 2x Wood Framing, Plywood, Cedar

You can contact Tom at his Linkedin Profile.

As architects and designers we are all guilty of staring at or touching odd, new materials that we see on various products or buildings wondering where the designer got it and how you can get your hands on it.

Transmaterial is a three book series that catalogs, or at least attempts to capture the current advanced material availability for the built environment. The chapters of each book are divided by the key properties of each material, such as wood, concrete and so on. Going deeper into each material they classify it by its Contents, Applications, Sizes, Environmental Impacts, Limitations as well as the Contact Information to obtain the product. The books are essential for any student or professional that participates in the built environment. And really, you have always wanted to know where to get Electrified Preformed Wood, or spec out a LED Signage Woven into Flexible Fabric into your next project.

[+] Buy Here

[+] Found via Bryan Bowen Architects’ office library.

[+] Image via zeitgeistudios.com

[+] Image via zeitgeistudios.com

Monday Mood Board is a weekly series, put together by designer Gretchen Jones at Mothlove, of sample imagery meant to inspire.  All individual images are the works of others and we have made every attempt of notating the original artist.  

[+] click photo to enlarge – Collage by Zeitgeist Studios

[+] Image via Stefany-Alves

[+] Image via Nickle Cobalt

[+] Image via Monika-S

[+] Image via Madewell-LookBook

[+] Image via Lauren-Manoogian

[+] Image via KINGA-BURZA

[+] Image via July Stars

[+] Image via Jill-Willcott

[+] Image via Art-Pixie

[+] Image via Ann-He