breathe.

Stress melts

Wooo–sahh.

I have been feeling a little overwhelmed lately and I know that just about everyone else is feeling it too. If you’re not, share your secret! Whatever the reason may be, I was enlightened by the recent issue of Body+Soul Magazine and thought I’d share it here… (Ice cream is part of the plan.)

“Ten Thoughts on Whole Living”:

• Some of the most amazing moments in your life will take you by surprise. Let them.
• Live sustainably. Fix rather than replace things in your home.
• Don’t discount the value of simple pleasures.
• Try not to let the lure of electronics strip away your ability to be here now.
• Eating does more than quiet hunger. It allows you to thrive.
• Consider traveling solo for a day, or longer. Give yourself the gift of time alone.
• Ease your sugar intake. Look for the alternative ways to bring sweetness into your life.
• See criticism as a lesson in disguise.
• Everyone has an inner child. Be kinder to yours, and compassionate toward others’.
• Don’t be too quick to close doors on your future. Instead, find more to open.

For a moment there, I thought they had written my manifesto for me. But in all honesty, I feel like those 10 things sum up the past year for me.

I lost my mother to skin cancer a year ago, all the while thinking she would outlive me with her energy and smarts. Skin cancer can be prevented and I can’t even imagine I or anyone of my friends or other family members having this cancer. “Too much, too young..”

From the American Cancer Society website:

How many people are affected by skin cancer? Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. It accounts for nearly half of all cancers in the United States. More than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are found in this country each year. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 59,940 new melanomas will be diagnosed in the United States during 2007.

The Skin Cancer Foundation has started touring the country, doing free full body skin cancer screenings. Check out when they are in your town here.

Now go get your lycopene...

SPUR!

If you haven’t heard of this organization yet, now is a very good time! For 50 years, the San Francisco Planning + Urban Research Association (SPUR) has been “promoting good planning and good government through research, analysis, public eduaction, and advocacy.” And this month the “public-policy think tank” has moved into a gorgeous, new building and will be hosting grand opening events in May! So if you are not a member yet, perfect timing!

Personally, I’m excited because the forums can only get bigger and better with the amazing new space. And the location, as well as the new building itself, is so connected to the San Francisco community. AND the building is awaiting LEED Certification! Check out the exterior:

 

I’ve only been an intern there since February, but there are some that have been waiting for the grand opening for years and it’s almost here! We’re also looking for volunteers each day during the opening week to help welcome guests:

Thursday, May 28th, 3:00 – 10:00: Ribbon-Cutting + All Member Party
Friday, May 29th, 10:00 – 5:00: Open House
Saturday, May 30th, 10:00 – 5:00: Community Day

If you’re free one of those days or part of the time and would like to volunteer and check out the new building, contact:

Jordan Salinger Intern and Volunteer Coordinator   jsalinger@spur.org

rebuild, baby, rebuild!

I hope everyone had a successful Earth Day and that you did something extra special this week! If you haven’t gotten to it yet (1) what are you waiting for? and (2) go put a jug of water or pebbles in your toilet tank! Yes, a bit random, but the water that can be saved is incredible. Check out this video:
Plumbing: The Toilet Tank Trick

As for the title of this post, I volunteered with Rebuilding Together Oakland this past weekend and got to meet some great people, but mainly helped out with some much-needed yardwork. The project was in West Oakland, helping a family get their backyard back and sprucing up the interior of the house with some fresh paint after years of wallpaper. We removed an unusable shed in the backyard and added some garden beds. Now there’s plenty of space for some organic gardening!

Awesome volunteers!

A big congrats to Architecture for Humanity! 10 years of good deeds!

AFH - SF first meeting

The Architecture for Humanity – San Francisco Chapter was recently started up and they constantly have projects going on around the Bay Area. They can always use more volunteers and if you’re unsure, come check out one of the monthly meetings! Our meeting today included plans for building “FUNiture” at Farmer’s Markets and talks about bringing the People’s Grocery to West Oakland.

conserve our most valuable resource.

Happy World Water Day and Week everybody!!

Then again, I don’t know how happy we can get about this topic. The water crisis is now being called a “bigger threat than the financial crisis.”

And if you don’t believe that it’s a crisis, step out of your little bubble and go do some research and read an article or two. While everyone is panicking over the unemployment rate (which is less than half of what it was during the depression), we have droughts in at least 15 states. And we in the US don’t have it half as bad as other countries.

From the World Water Day website,

The world water crisis is one of the largest public health issues of our time. Nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world’s population) lack access to safe drinking water. The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day. In fact, out of the 2.2 million unsafe drinking water deaths in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five. Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children.

The websites, facts, articles, books, etc. can all be daunting, but everyone should be informed, especially since we’re already fighting over water. I’m privileged to be working on a presentation with Matt from EBS Consultants and a few other like-minded people from the USGBC and Emerging Green Builders in the Bay Area. With that comes an influx of information that is scary, but motivating at the same time. The facts are everywhere, why is it so hard to start making changes? Just to give you an idea:
My pretty little chart here shows that we’re using 32% of water… for our toilets… to flush our… you get the idea! And 12% of this water is being wasted through leaks! Information like this can be found through the EPA and publications from ARUP. I even found some really simple tips through this random site from Utility Services of Alaska.

I have been wanting to change my bathroom sink to use greywater for a while now, but being a renter I’m sure my landlords wouldn’t like the idea of me drilling holes into the cabinetry. So I opted for a much simpler solution:

Waste not!

Although not high-tech or anything special, I can do my part this way. Basically now I just dump that into the toilet bowl. So simple. If you want to learn more about these systems, primarily for residential use, check out the Greywater Guerillas. They have more resources and facts than I can fit on this page. 

If you’re thinking about heading out to dinner soon, support some local restaurants that have joined up with UNICEF for the Tap Project!

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, watch FLOW the film! If you don’t want to change yet, you’ll want to change your ways after you see this documentary!

fear over-consumption.

OK, maybe I’m being a little dramatic. Or am I?

And no, I’m not talking about eating too many cupcakes in one sitting.

I was sitting here listening to some music and the lyrics got me thinking: why do I have so much crap? I could do with a few less magzines and all the stuff I have leftover from art school is scary. What’s been bothering me more and more everyday is how overly packaged our food is, but that’s another topic. Anyway, here are those lyrics, since that’s where my thoughts began today…

I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them

I’ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless
‘Cuz everyone knows that’s how you get famous
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

Chorus:
I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore
I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore
When we think it will all become clear
‘Cuz I’m being taken over by The Fear

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers
It’s all about fast cars and passing each other
But it doesn’t matter cause I’m packing plastic
And that’s what makes my life so fucking fantastic

And I am a weapon of massive consumption
And it’s not my fault it’s how I’m program to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner

Bridge:
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything is cool as long as I’m getting thinner

staying long?

I have been reading another incredible book with tons of info and research. In You Are Here, Thomas M. Kostigen talks about “what we do and what that does for our planet.” An interesting fact he found was that a typical US household has an average of ten thousand items.

“We are contributing to our own demise and health hazards by the products we buy and the choices we make,” Kostigen wrote.

We criticize China for causing too much pollution and emissions, when they wouldn’t have as much of a problem if it was not for Americans shopping at Wal-Mart, etc. This is another endless topic, but I really recommend reading this book and seeing how our actions affect our planet.

60Bag

As a side note and the last part of this already long post I wanted to share a new design off of Dezeen.com. Check it out:

From the blog post on Dezeen: “Polish designer Katarzyna Okinczyc and photographer Remigiusz Truchanowicz have designed the 60Bag, a carrier-bag that degrades in 60 days.”

I think people may wonder: why not just keep making durable bags? Someone posted a good comment on the site about how bags are usually made out of polythylene, which can be recycled, but take centuries to biodegrade. I could talk about this horrible product forever, but the fact that it was a complete accident makes me cringe.

stay hopeful.

IIDA LEED Gold HQ

As a student member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), I’m inspired by how much they help out students and those already in the field, whether it be through events, competitions or just simply staying in touch with informative emails. Their student blog is another place I tend to find great resources and information as well.

They recently held an essay competition on the topic of  “2010 is being touted as the Decade of Design. Why do you think this is and what will you contribute to this decade?” I’m sure they received some amazing essays and I wanted to share mine here…

Now, more than ever, we are seeing furniture that off-gases toxic chemicals, plastics filling up our land fills and cars and buildings producing more carbon dioxide than we can imagine. What has happened to the design industry that made us go down this road in the first place? Alan Weisman, the author of The World Without Us, said “Without us, Earth will abide and endure; without her, however, we could not even be.” The next decade is being met with a state of urgency: change our ways or be changed for the worse. We can all agree that designers are up for the challenge.

The “green” movement has become increasingly popular over the past decade, but there are other ways of building that encompass sustainability. As of late, biomimicry has become more widely known, although it has been accepted in the architecture and planning fields for some time now.  Recently, I have noticed more talk about biomimicry as it relates to interiors and finishes. Whether it is a carpet that mimics a forest floor, the shape of a room or colors that are brought in from the outdoors, it has been proven that we can live more comfortably when something is in tune with nature.

By 2010, we will start moving beyond “green.” Why should we have to choose between organic or not and fair trade or factory made? Everyday items are being made more sustainable and that should be the standard. Over the next few years, it would be great to see LEED accreditation become the norm and health hazardous products become unacceptable. Reading articles and books lately, it’s clear to see that most designers are taking it upon themselves to join this movement. 

 The next Decade of Design will surely be 2010. We have begun making changes to our overconsumption and although it may be contradictory, designers have already followed suit. Following the five R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink and regenerate) we have been coming up with amazing designs. We see innovative designs everyday and I can hardly list the types here: bamboo is being used to make buildings and products, plastic bottles are recycled to make fabric and a chair can now be made to biodegrade within months. The list goes on and on and each day brings a new thing that surprises and excites the design industry. It can only get better from here. 

 As for me, the best thing I can do is participate and volunteer my time to making sure we all continue toward a vision of a healthy industry. As a recent graduate from an interior architecture and design program, I have heard countless times about how buildings in general produce forty percent of our solid waste and carbon emissions. I find it important to participate in programs such as the USGBC, which help in promoting sustainable design. In the future, I can’t imagine working on a project that isn’t doing its part for the community and the environment. I want to keep myself educated on what else can be done in the design industry and I plan on participating with groups like the Biomimicry Institute and Arcosanti because I believe in what they promote. I think it is also important to spread this knowledge to those outside of this industry and we’ve seen programs such as Habitat for Humanity do an amazing job so far.

We possess all the tools to change the way we design. We can remake a piece of furniture, make biodegradable materials and create healthier environments, both indoors and outdoors. I’m truly excited for what is to come and I believe that we have a whole new way of thinking ahead us. The next decade, like those of the past, will change design forever.

stop with the plastic!

I just watched FLOW, a documentary about the world water crisis and whoever described it as “infuriating” was on point.

FLOW investigates the privatization of the world’s fresh water supply. Yup, companies such as Nestle or huge corporations like World Bank, making millions by selling water. The documentary delves into other topics as well. Imagine someone telling you that the rainwater you harvested is not yours. How about the fact that bottled water is not any safer than tap water? Let’s not forget all the known water contaminants that aren’t regulated by the EPA!

As far as plastic goes (no pun intended) we’re addicted to it, but I believe that’s changing everday. I first checked out the American Chemistry Council and found a statement using “plastic” and “reducing environmental impact” in the same sentence. Yea, check it out. A great source for truthful information on plastic is Green America. I received an email update from them today stating that #5 plastics are being recycled by Preserve and you can drop those plastics off at most Whole Foods locations! Along with #1, 2, 4 and bio-based plastics in #7 (the little numbers in the triangle on the bottom of containers) #5 is considered a “safe” plastic made of low-density polyethylene, but many cities won’t recycle #3-7. I found some good questions and answers on their site here.

Honestly, if you’re going to re-use the plastic then great, but know that they can leach chemicals and they can have harmful bacteria from a previous use (this goes mainly for food storage). The best thing we can do is to not use it in the first place. Do you need that plastic bag if you just bought one or two items? Why not bring a bag to the store instead? Yay for San Francisco for taking the first step, but when will everyone else follow?

Anyway, just wanted to share this with you all and feel free to comment or share ideas. After that bit of research, I’ll stick with my trusty canvas tote and klean kanteen, thank you.

be sweet.

It’s here again and since we can’t get rid of the holiday, I figured I might as well embrace it. For the cards I made this year I was inspired by a post on Apartment Therapy, although mine aren’t as impressive. I used up some scraps of paper saved from art school and since I was intent on using my owl stamp, came up with a corny line (hoot=heart, don’t ask how I came up with that one). Hey, it’s the thought that counts!

And I got myself into a little trouble the other day. Made a stop at Miette in San Francisco for a few treats and walked out with this beauty:

Gingerbread cupcake from Miette Confiserie

And look how pretty these projects are. Maybe I’ll attempt that next year…

Until then, Happy Valentine’s Day!!

feel at peace.

 

Whenever I want to enjoy a beautiful Bay Area day and get away from a little chaos, I head to the Albany Bulb, camera in hand.

With so many other spots being affected by sprawl, this park is truly a treasure. The whole plot of land is just open, which is hard to come by around here. There’s a parking area, but walking around the Bulb it feels as though there’s nothing for miles. Just the gorgeous views and some interesting artwork to check out.

Checking out the web, I found a ton of info and history on the Bulb. There are a few blogs out there that talk about the artists and any plans the city has for the site. The Culture Blog was quite informative when I first went out there.

I did a photo essay for a photography class and still enjoy capturing the artwork, since there’s a chance it may not be there the next day. I’ve posted some of the photos here. Feel free to share your experiences or if you know of any other places worth checking out, I would love to hear about them!

fall in love.

With a poem, that is.

L’infinito by Giacomo Leopardi

Sempre caro mi fu quest’ermo colle
E questa siepe che da tanta parte
De’ll ultimo orrizonte il guarde esclude.
Ma sedendo e mirando interminati
Spazi di là da quella, e sovrumani
Silenzi, e profondissima quiete,
Io nel pensier mi fingo, ove per poco
Il cor non si spaura. E come il vento
Odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello
Infinito silenzio a questa voce
Vo comparando; e mi sovvien l’eterno,
E le morte stagioni, e la presente
E viva, e’l suon di lei. Così tra questa
Immensità s’annega il pensier mio:
E’l naufragar m’è dolce in questo mare.

I wish the English translation was as fluid as the original Italian piece, but then again…

The Infinite

Always dear to me was this lonely hill,
And this hedge, which from so great a part
Of the farthest horizon excludes the gaze.
But as I sit and watch, I invent in my mind
Endless spaces beyond, and superhuman
Silences, and profoundest quiet;
Wherefore my heart
Almost loses itself in fear. And as I hear the wind
Rustle through these plants, I compare
That infinite silence to this voice:
And I recall to mind eternity,
And the dead seasons, and the one present
And alive, and the sound of it. So in this
Immensity my thinking drowns:
And to shipwreck is sweet for me in this sea.