TACKLEBOX

Aesop University

2011-12-17T14:55:00.010-05:00

Photo: Juliana Sohn for Aesop

Photo: TACKELBOX Architecture

Located in Greenwich Village, Aesop University Place is defined by a series of horizontal oak shelves that overlap and frame an industrial felt surface beyond, a subtle reference to the oak wrapper and felt-like newspaper surface of the walls at Aesop Elizabeth Street.

The process of design began with a system of horizontal shelves stacked vertically from floor to ceiling. Through a process of subtraction and shifting, individual shelves were playfully aligned and misaligned, revealing the industrial felt surface beyond and defining recesses that correspond to the varying sizes of product held within.

This space references concrete, oak and industrial felt in its design, inspired by the work of German artist Joseph Beuys. Together, these elements, along with the acoustic qualities of the wool felt, define a place of calm with a sense of familiarity – a welcome respite from the activity of the street.

The store’s sink was salvaged from Bethlehem Steel’s 140-year-old plant in Pennsylvania. In a nod of respect to a company largely responsible for laying the steel foundations of modern New York, this sink will serve as the point of introduction for customers experiencing Aesop for the first time.

Aesop Nolita

2011-12-17T14:39:00.001-05:00

Photo: Gianluca Fellini for Aesop

Photo: TACKLEBOX Architecture

Time for a little holiday break. 2011 has been a fantastic year and we feel very lucky to have met and worked with so many great clients, collaborators and builders. The following two posts include images from the final two projects (of the three) that we designed for Aesop. If you haven't been by yet, please stop in and say hi. Their products make incredible holiday gifts.

Beginning with an idea initiated in the Aesop Kiosk – which uses text in the form of a newspaper to mark a place of information and orientation – the design for Elizabeth Street turns the text of the newspaper inward and focuses on its materiality, creating newsprint walls that will age over time.

Here 2,800 New York Times newspapers have been torn into 400,000 strips which were then stacked to create a soft, felt-like surface held within a continuous oak wrapper. Just as oak is commonly used to store and age wine and spirits, so too will the newspaper age, turning a light tan, thus marking the passing of time. In this way, the history of Aesop North America will be recorded within the very walls of this first store.

Oak Mantle Pt.1

2011-11-27T15:05:00.001-05:00

Back in NY after a week in the woods of Virginia. After finishing 3 fast paced projects here in the city, it was nice to slow down for a bit and spend time with family. While there, we took on the task of felling a dying oak that has been looming over the cabin. A recent wind storm brought down large dead limbs from the top, though the bottom was surprisingly solid.

We typically cut firewood only from trees that have already fallen so I wanted to make something special from this oak. Using an axe and a draw knife, I spent the week squaring up the trunk into a mantle that will be installed over the fireplace. Stay tuned for finishing and installation photos after Christmas.

Aesop Grand Central Fabrication - Pt. 3

2011-09-11T16:48:00.000-04:00

Aesop Grand Central from Tacklebox | NY on Vimeo.

TACKLEBOX Retreat

2011-08-07T15:39:00.000-04:00

Images from our recent TACKLEBOX retreat. Four days of hiking, home cooking, wildlife and cabin living in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Aesop Grand Central Fabrication - Pt. 2

2011-07-13T12:05:00.000-04:00

Here are some more images of the fabrication process for the Grand Central Kiosk for Aesop. Construction is about to start on the Elizabeth Street store and we're finalizing drawings for University Place! Also, check out our recent press in New York Magazine.

Aesop Grand Central Fabrication - Pt. 1

2011-07-09T16:55:00.001-04:00

Our latest project - a temporary kiosk for Aesop at Grand Central Terminal - is opening this week. Constructed from 1,800 New York Times news papers and powdered-coated steel. Here's a peek at the fabrication process. Final photos coming soon.

Scholar's Garden Pattern

2011-06-06T10:30:00.001-04:00

TACKLEBOX Talk Tonight at Center For Architecture

2011-04-07T13:23:00.000-04:00

We'll be giving a talk at the Center for Architecture. TONIGHT, Thursday, April 7, 6pm. Drinks and snacks to start with the talk beginning at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Down Under

2011-03-13T04:06:00.000-04:00

Down Under

2011-03-12T18:38:00.002-05:00

Thank You

2011-01-22T18:30:00.003-05:00

Upon completing our most recent project, we received this incredible axe as a thank you gift from the clients. My Finnish professor, Pia, once told me that it is a great honor to receive a knife (or in this case an axe!) as a gift from someone. The gift giver not only cares about your well-being, but also places a great deal of trust in you. Either way, I'm extremely grateful.

I think most folks probably hang these on the wall, but you can bet this one is going to be put to good use.

Thomas Sires

2011-01-09T14:21:00.003-05:00

[All Images by TACKLEBOX]

Located on burgeoning Elizabeth Street in NoLita, Thomas Sires is a 900 sq.ft. fashion and lifestyle boutique founded by Fiona Thomas and Allison Sires. The store is defined by a curated collection of crafted design objects for the everyday alongside their eponymous clothing line.

In the design we sought to create a space that is defined by the juxtaposition of a continuous white shell inserted into the existing space - a refined counterpoint to the coarseness of the dark wood paneling and existing brick outer walls. The gap between this inner shell and the outer walls is maintained throughout, allowing the shell to Independently float within. Along the south wall of the showroom, two sets of white lacquered boxes are set into the shell creating a place for a multi-colored assortment of wares.

At the far end of the showroom, the wood paneling pushes forward into the main space. This wall houses the dressing rooms, storage and the cashwrap and creates a threshold between the office and main showroom. Here white lacquered doors open to reveal two dressing rooms that occupy the thickness of the wall. White and black malachite-patterned wallpaper line these two rooms and mimic the subtle grain of the doors.

White-washed brick walls and oak flooring paired with tongue and groove wood paneling, bring forth a subtle material presence throughout the space without overshadowing the clothing in the foreground. Custom pendant lights, by iacoli & mcallister, are formed from white powder-coated steel that have been hand-wrapped in bands of colored thread. At the storefront, milled oak planks, reclaimed from sherry barrels, are set within a blackened steel frame and greet the visitor as the handles of the entry doors.

Happy New Year!

2010-12-31T19:05:00.001-05:00

After spending what felt like most of the summer and fall stuck behind a computer, it was so nice to head home for the holidays and get out of the city for a bit. There is nothing like a week of splitting wood, drinking Old Fashioneds and reading by the fire to get you back to normal.

All in all, it was a pretty special year. We finished some great projects and we were lucky to have worked with some very special clients who have since become great friends. Thanks to everyone who came together to make it happen!

Stay tuned...we've got some exciting projects on the horizon and we're charging forward into the new year. Happy New Year!

Thomas Sires

2010-12-14T19:57:00.001-05:00

screenshot via refinery29

For recent press on latest Tacklebox project Thomas Sires check out
Refinery29
W Magazine
Party Pics at BillyFarrellAgency

Opened

2010-12-10T17:50:00.000-05:00

Latest Tacklebox project Thomas Sires opened last night on Elizabeth Street with a great crowd full of old and new friends. More here at Blackbook. Congratulations to Allison and Fiona and thanks again for the opportunity to work together.

Coming Soon

2010-11-16T18:44:00.002-05:00

We have been working on a new project set to open soon... We're working with Al and Mike from Amorphous Studios on a custom storefront. Check out the reclaimed oak handles from old sherry barrels. Stay tuned.

Recently Published

2010-11-13T12:01:00.002-05:00

We're please to announce that our project for Saipua is featured in the forthcoming book Shopping Architecture Now! published by Taschen. Special thanks to Eric and Sarah for making this collaborative project a huge success.

Vermont Part 2

2010-09-26T12:58:00.000-04:00

Incredible drive from Montpelier to North Adams, MA to visit our friend Mary and her amazing loft in a former textile mill. Briefly passed through Mass MoCA to see the Sol LeWitt retrospective...planning to head back when we can commit a full weekend to just this show.
Along the way we ran across a truck-pull at a local high school. Unbelievable.

Vermont Part 1

2010-09-23T10:34:00.003-04:00

This time last week we were headed up to Vermont where I gave a lecture on the work of Tacklebox. While there, we hit the Tunbridge World's Fair and stayed and ate well in Montpelier.

Ordinary and Overlooked

2010-08-13T12:02:00.002-04:00

Started "collecting" textures in Denmark12 years ago. An ongoing catalog and a reminder to stop and look.

2010 New Practices New York - Exhibition Opening

2010-07-14T10:24:00.006-04:00

Tacklebox from Tacklebox | NY on Vimeo.

A teaser for what you'll see tomorrow night (Thursday, July 15th) when you join us for the opening of our exhibition at the Center for Architecture as part of the AIA New Practices New York 2010.

July 15th, 2010, 6-8pm
CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE
536 LaGuardia Place, NYC

Jack

2010-07-10T18:43:00.000-04:00

Our good friend Jack (and the apartment we designed for him) was recently featured in Free and Easy Magazine!

Work And Play

2010-06-21T19:13:00.005-04:00

We've been working(and playing) pretty hard the last few weeks in preparation for the upcoming AIA exhibition for NPNY 2010. We've got a great crew here this summer, and we're about to add another member this week. Also, just started a new and exciting storefront project today! Stay tuned...

New Practices New York 2010

2010-05-13T12:16:00.008-04:00

We are pleased to announce that TACKLEBOX has been selected as one of the winners for New Practices New York 2010! We are honored to be included among such a talented group of firms...especially our good friends SoftLAB! For more, check out this article from The Architects Newspaper.

Thanks to all the collaborators, both in and out of the studio, whose hard work and enthusiasm has contributed to the ongoing dialogue that defines our work.

Mitchell Snyder, Jerome Hord, Carrie McKnelly, An Hoang, Lauren Adams, Andrew Woodrum, Alessandro Ayuso, Eric Famisan, Hiroshi Teramae, Kenneth Amoah

Shoot the Moon

2010-04-21T15:19:00.004-04:00

Don't miss Shoot The Moon: Mikael Kennedy at the Chelsea Hotel.
500 Polaroids from "Passport to Trespass"

Shoot The Moon will be on exhibit at
The Chelsea Hotel, Suite 524
14 April – 2 May.
Mondays thru Saturdays 12 noon – 8 PM,
Sundays 12 noon – 6 PM

Highwheels

2010-04-09T08:11:00.009-04:00

Check out these Highweels from the late 1800's. Graceful profile, moustache handlebars, simple, beautiful details. Bid on these and check out more at Copake Auction. Thanks Russell for sharing the link.

Happy Birthday to...

2010-03-28T22:48:00.005-04:00

An amazing end to an already amazing birthday week. Regin is in town and will be giving a lecture to my students at Parsons tomorrow at 12 noon.

Today...celebrating four birthdays: Chris, Andy, Misty, and Me...Home crafted beer, home cooked food, and hula hoop...you know, for kids.

Spring Thaw

2010-03-21T15:34:00.008-04:00

Just got back from the most amazing 10 days in the woods at my folks' cabin in Virginia. With all of the snow-melt and a little rain, the two creeks on either side of the cabin were fully flowing. This piece of property really couldn't be any more spectacular. There are two creeks on either side of the cabin which join downstream with three 6' waterfalls.

They are mostly done with the few, necessary, interior improvements: new floors, potbelly stove, minor kitchen work. Up next: replacing the old asphalt shingle roof with a proper tin roof. This is the more expensive option, but if you've ever slept under a tin roof during a rain at night, you know it's the right choice.

I'm already counting the upcoming long weekends and stocking up on old grand-dad.

Cabin

2010-03-09T18:02:00.002-05:00

this week i'm heading down to virginia to spend a little time with my folks in their new cabin. their land is surrounded on three sides by Jefferson National Forest and has two spring fed creeks that join just below a waterfall in front of the cabin. what more could you ask for?! potbelly stove and bourbon here i come.

Atlantic Tunnel

2010-02-14T21:14:00.011-05:00

Bob in the pre-excavated crawl space back in 1981.

Bob today. On the other side of the concrete wall he busted through 30 years ago.

Just finished what had to be one of the best weekends in a long while. What more romantic way to spend Valentine's Day than under the streets of Brooklyn, in the once-lost-then-found (indiana jones-style) Atlantic Ave Tunnel?!

From BHRA website: The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel is officially the world's oldest subway tunnel. This tunnel was built in 1844, under a City of Brooklyn Street... Bob Diamond(in b&w above) rediscovered the long forgotten Atlantic Avenue Tunnel in 1980.

This is honestly one of the best experiences we've had in the city. The tour is lead by Bob Diamond, who tirelessly hunted for and re-discovered the tunnel back when he was 19. He fills in all the historic information gaps with amazing tales of brawling Manhattan vs. Brooklyn cops, east river pirates, and the on-going effort to find the resources to excavate the remainder of the tunnel beyond the filled-in stone wall (above) where they believe lies a buried but fully intact wood burning steam locomotive.

After crawling back out of the tunnel, we headed over to Stan's for the best beignets and fried oyster po-boys.

Stitch Wall

2010-02-10T11:07:00.008-05:00

Just finished up a couple of deadlines and spending way too much time in the studio, but the work has been super exciting, we've been getting some new press (our buds at softlab are loading up the press section as we speak)and there is more to come soon.

Check out these wall proposals. These are 2 options of a set of 4 that probably aren't going to get built, but we've been talking with the great Regin Schwaen, who just fabric cast a 110' X 8' concrete wall for his cloud house in Fargo, ND and who was excited enough about our design, that we just about convinced him to fly out to collaborate. Most of my experience in precision casting comes from the time I spent with Regin casting ferro-cement dormers for Villa-S (b&w photo by Regin.) and I'd love to work with him again.

I'm starting to think we might put this particular design up on ebay. What do you think? Anybody out there want to buy a wall? Sarah - i know you guys already have a box, Jenni? Pia? Grace? Love to get your feedback.

Reset

2010-01-26T11:01:00.003-05:00

Two tracks we can't get enough of this week.

Just finished an awesome 15hour-a-day, week long charette with the Tacklebox crew. Can't wait to share the new projects. Saw Peter Zumthor speak at the Guggenheim last Thursday. School started back yesterday: Peter and I are teaching the third installment of our course Analysis Through Representation. Came home exhausted to find a completely re-arranged apartment and tried to sit where the sofa used to be.

Holiday

2010-01-04T20:00:00.007-05:00

Back from a much needed break at home in VA. It was great to spend time with family including my two nephews Ryland and Griffin. Between visits with my family and An's, we ate way too much. I just can't help myself when I'm around country ham and eggs with biscuits and sausage gravy...and more than a few banh cuon.

I'll post more later, but for now: the sky that greeted us as we rolled into town, a moo friend, and a road leading to a secret getaway (more on that soon.)

Mikael...get ready for a road trip.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T14:18:00.002-05:00

Inspiration for 2010

Winter Light

2009-12-18T17:07:00.008-05:00

Having held the final review, documented work and submitted grades, today I am finished with the Fall Semester! This was a tough semester but in the end, the work was really impressive. These kids are going to change the world.

With the end of the semester comes more free time to get out and wander around the city again. This morning I walked along the HighLine and found that it's just as beautiful in the winter as it was this autumn. The flowers have given way to beautiful winter grasses and I love how they hold the low angled sunlight.

Just under the highline at 19th street, I found light of a different sort. If you haven't been by David Zwirner Gallery for this Dan Flavin exhibit, GO NOW! The show comes down tomorrow. I don't usually take photos in a gallery, but at this show, I had so much fun photographing the overlapping layers of color at the threshold of each room.

Lined

2009-12-06T21:14:00.003-05:00

Rail lines. The Hague.

Fantastic Fox

2009-12-04T07:47:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we saw Fantastic Mr. Fox. I loved the movie and was even more impressed after I saw the windows at Bergdorf which feature the actual sets from Wes Anderson's film. The details are unbelievable.

Daniel Rowen Architect

2009-11-24T15:27:00.006-05:00

A couple of weekends ago, I went out to East Hampton to pay my respects to Dan Rowen, who sadly passed away at the age of 56.

I am lucky to have worked under Dan at his firm Daniel Rowen Architect, in my first job as an architect; a job that brought me from Virginia to NYC...10 years ago.

Dan was passionate about architecture and loved his family more than anything. I'm grateful to have known him as a generous mentor from whom I learned most of what I know about running an office.

Dan, you'll be greatly missed by all of us.

Artwalk NY

2009-11-17T15:12:00.003-05:00

Tonight we're heading to ARTWALK NY Benefiting Coalition for the Homeless. An's painting "Lavender Light" (pictured above) is available in the Silent Auction from 6:30-8pm, with the Live Auction beginning at 8pm. Come support if you can!

The Neighborhood Seems Quiet

2009-11-11T12:32:00.005-05:00

Sabbatical

2009-11-04T09:26:00.003-05:00

Had two great conversations this week about working hard, having pride in what you do, and the power of taking time off. While having dinner with Lisa and Jeff [two incredibly talented individuals], I was reminded of how important that last item [taking time off] can be. The more I think about it, the more I realize that this "down time" might be one of the most essential parts of the design process.

Then this past weekend An and I took a little time to cheer on the nyc marathon runners and to grab a quick brunch at the rabbit hole with James and Jen. Later, they came by for a studio visit and the next day James sent me a link to this TED talk by Stefan Sagmeister, titled "The Power of Time Off." I particularly liked the part [at 1:30 mark] where he shows a time line of a life that includes learning, working, and retirement and talks about the decision to cut off 5 of the retirement years and embed them into the working years at 7 year intervals. I think for me, the learning part also needs to be represented in those later years, but it is nice to see the success they are having in spite of and as a result of taking a year off for every seven.

I travel all the time for work and to teach, but I think the last time An and I really got away was for our honeymoon five years ago. Here we are at a secret spot in Costa Rica where the rain forest runs right down to the beach and which just happened to be one of the best [at least most consistent] hidden surf spots in the world. There is no phone, no internet and minimal electricity. Your internal clock is reset to the rising and setting of the sun and you wake up to this view every morning at 5 am.

As I've found my calling in teaching and practicing architecture, I know that I couldn't live there permanently [at least for now], but it is reassuring to know that when the time comes, such a place exists...maybe in 3 more years at Tacklebox's 7 year mark.

Fall Review

2009-10-13T17:42:00.007-04:00

Sorry for the lag between posts, but it has been a busy busy time. Between getting the Box & Flea lookbook ready for mailings and getting my fall studio students ready for their Midterm review, there hasn't been a moment to rest.

The midterm was yesterday, and I'm happy to say I couldn't be more pleased with the results of the students hard work. Also, a big thanks goes out to guest critics Soo-in Yang and Alessandro Ayuso for joining us for the day.

Truth be told, after a long last week of desk crits, I decided the best thing for me to do was to give the students their work space while I slipped off to the country for a couple of days of rehabilitation.

An and I headed off to NW Connecticut for a weekend of fresh farm veggies, paddling on the lake, and bourbon by the fire. The leaves were changing and the night temps were in the 30's, making both the fire and the bourbon even more cozy.

I thought it would be hard to leave all that behind and head back to the city on Monday morning, but the minute I stepped into the school and saw the work pinned on the wall, all was right.

Tacklebox Update

2009-09-24T10:36:00.005-04:00

If you get a chance, head on over to the recently updated TACKLEBOX website designed by our talented friends at Softlab.

Recently added: photos from our latest projects including SAIPUA, Pleatscape, L.A. residence, and also some fresh photos of the 3.1 Phillip Lim boutique we did a while back.

Virginia Woods

2009-09-11T13:01:00.003-04:00

Photos from a camping trip in the mountains of Virginia. It's nice to wake up in the trees, in a thick fog, and to make your coffee over a fire. I'm happy that fall is nearly here.

Ryland's Farm

2009-08-30T17:24:00.006-04:00

Just returned from Southwest Virginia, where we enjoyed a much needed break from city life. We spent a lot of time walking around in the woods, visiting with family, and enjoying some fine country cooking...banana puddin' - I miss you already.

We spent part of our time on my great aunt and uncle, Jan and Ryland's [pictured here as a boy] 100 acre tobacco farm. Tobacco is no longer grown here and it's amazing to climb through the old log houses where the leaves were hung to cure. This is where my dad brought us to hunt with Ryland when we were kids.

I no longer hunt, but I still get very nostalgic and long to be out in the country around this time of year. After seeing these old buildings again, I realized how much growing up in this environment has influenced my work.

SAIPUA

2009-08-16T20:03:00.011-04:00

Located in the industrial neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn, this is a project we recently designed and built for Saipua - a small, family-run business dedicated to small batch production of handmade soaps and unique floral arrangements.

As their business evolved, and having outgrown their original storefront space, owners Sarah and Eric sought to relocate their shop in a new facility that could house both production and retail under one roof, without compromising the unique identity that is Saipua.

This identity is more of a spirit than an aesthetic which emerges from the ever-changing juxtaposition between the handmade and the found object. Here, vintage everyday objects meet hand-wrapped soap and delicate, rugged floral arrangements in a way which evokes a sense of familiarity and fosters an intimate connection with the visitor.

With this in mind, one could not merely reproduce the old shop in a new location; rather we sought to create a new timeless space that simultaneously serves as a quiet backdrop and as an active participant in the ongoing act of making that defines Saipua.

See more below.

SAIPUA

2009-08-16T19:46:00.008-04:00

There is a life and beauty that exists in an old dressmakers sewing box. That life lies not in the wood and brass hinges from which the box is made, rather it is found within the multi-colored jumble of spools of thread and the assortment of pins placed at random in the pincushion. This is an arrangement that could only emerge from use - the result of an ongoing act between the dressmaker, the dressmaker’s tools, and the thing being made.

For Saipua's new location, situated in an existing warehouse, we sought to create a freestanding, inhabitable box that, like the sewing box, provides a timeless place for making - timeless in the sense that this place is only "complete" when occupied and filled with the life and beauty that results from the ongoing act of making.

Here a silver skin of weathered barn siding wraps to enclose two box-like rooms - one nested within the other. In the smaller interior volume, rows of siding seem to slide back, revealing an assortment of wood box vessels - nooks, primed to receive Saipua's wares. With a stage-like street facade the box mediates the space between the life of the street and the workshop at the back of the warehouse.

This space functions much like the front porch of a house, serving as a place of gathering and performance: a stage where visitors take on the interchanging roles of performer and audience set against an ever-changing backdrop provided by both the interior life of the shop and the life of the street.

Curtain rises at noon on Saturday August 22nd. Please visit Saipua's blog for more photos

School's Out...

2009-08-15T10:05:00.010-04:00

Just finished teaching the summer Intro to Architecture Program at Columbia...I can't believe it's over already. It was an intense 5 weeks with one of the best studio groups I have ever worked with.

Maybe it had something to do with the wide range of backgrounds of the individuals who made up the group. From what I remember we had:

a real estate developer, a skateboarding student from TN, a national rowing champion, a student of economics, a structural engineer, a lifelong student with a phd in poly-sci [getting ready to start his next [3rd?] degree in arch], a paralegal with a background in psychology, a musician/inventor...

A four hour design studio, 4 days a week [during the summer] is a lot to ask of anyone...but this group dove right in and embraced [and mostly exceeded] the expectations of the studio.

Congrats to everyone in the program and a special thanks to my t.a. Jordan!

In the News

2009-08-05T07:14:00.003-04:00

A big thanks goes out to Ingrid Spencer for putting together such a nice piece and getting us into Architectural Record2! Read it here online or pick up a copy at the newsstand!

Sorry for the lag in posts...in the middle of a crazy busy week. Final review for the studio is this coming Thursday. Have a stellar group of critics lined up and the students' work is looking very promising.

We shot Saipua last weekend, and Sarah and I are meeting at a secret subterranean location on Thursday morning to pick the winners. I promise we'll both be posting those images soon!

Nearly There

2009-07-12T17:15:00.005-04:00

We're dangerously close to being done with Saipua. We're still waiting to properly photograph the new space, but here are a few teasers I snapped this weekend. We couldn't be happier with how everything is turning out!

Weekend in Cornwall

2009-07-10T16:52:00.010-04:00

Thanks to Frederieke we spent the fourth out in Cornwall. It's incredible there. Long rambling walks, swimming in the lake, homemade zucchini pear soup, visits from neighbors like Jeff [pictured - the nicest guy with the craziest hair], and afternoon drinks while watching red squirrels from the Garmey's porch [see bird cages.] An and I had fun with the Polaroid. Enjoy!

After a weekend like this, it becomes very clear that the only way I'm going to survive living and working in NYC, is to find a place like this that we can call our own.

Photographing at Saipua tomorrow, so stay tuned for some new photos.

Midnight Rider

2009-07-01T18:38:00.005-04:00

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge a little before midnight after finishing the new shop for Saipua. That's right, I said finishing!

Well, almost. As Sarah said, we are 99% done. We still need to design and install the actual storefront, finish up a few minor details, but for the most part, Saipua 2.0 [or the Deuce, as we like to call it] is ready for action!

I think the official opening date is July 11th so stay tuned. I promise to post photos soon!

Sky and Muscle

2009-06-27T09:51:00.003-04:00

We were out in Williamsburg last night for an opening at Pierogi and a closing at The Boiler: "The Slow Inevitable Death of American Muscle" a live, head-on collision which takes place in slow-motion over the course of the exhibition.

The main event of the evening, however, was this traffic stopping, crowd gathering sky that took over the city for about 20 minutes at sunset. Whoa...

2009-06-25T20:01:00.002-04:00

Saipua Front

2009-06-19T17:28:00.005-04:00

We're taking a little break from construction this week in order to give Sarah and the gang the space they need to handle the big wedding weekend they are tackling.

In the meantime, you can see that we have closed in the front of the store and we have started with the last layer of barn siding which will close up the backside of the boxes. We'll be back in there first thing next week to finish the remainder of the siding, hang the rear warehouse door and to find a suitable solution for an operable storefront. Until then, I'm heading to the RabbitHole for happy hour and then on to the Highline.

Porcelain Pea Shooter

2009-06-17T12:44:00.009-04:00

When leaving Amsterdam, Pauline [the artist we stayed with and pictured in overalls in the last post] gave An one of her beautiful art pieces, a porcelain revolver, to congratulate her on her first solo exhibition.

While An couldn't have been more pleased, airport security was not as enthusiastic. Believe it or not, after much discussion, a phone call to the head of security, and a heavy frisk, we made it through Amsterdam security [a feat I attribute to the Dutch appreciation for art.] However, our transfer to a connecting flight and subsequent security screening in Dublin wasn't as successful.

To their credit, the screeners in the Dublin airport couldn't have been any nicer, but for reasons I completely understand the porcelain revolver couldn't be carried on. With very little time between flights, and my refusal to check luggage, Brian [the security screener] offered to take it with him and mail it to us after he got off of work!

I think An was a little hesitant, but I've always heard stories about Irish pride in their mail service [i.e. successfully delivering a package with as little info as a name] so we gave him our address and hoped for the best. Happy to say, we got a package this week and the gun is now hanging on the wall. Thanks Brian! Thanks Pauline!

Amsterdam Pt. 2

2009-06-11T23:00:00.007-04:00

I'm fighting a bit of jet lag and we're busy making the final push on the new store, so my posts are lagging a bit behind. So in the meantime, here are a few pics to whet your appetite.

As you can see, the Dutch light really is spectacular. The sun didn't go down until 10pm or so and the evenings just seemed like long 5 hour sunsets [which if you have been following this blog at all, you know I like.] Also, check out our buds Ron and Pauline in their matching OshKosh overalls! We were lucky enough to stay with these guys and meet all of their wonderful artist friends.

For more photos of our trip to Amsterdam click here.

For pics from An's show click here.

Heading to bed. We have the last load of barnwood showing up tomorrow. The store is looking nearly complete now. I promise to post new photos right soon!

Opening Night

2009-06-07T18:43:00.004-04:00

amsterdam

2009-06-06T17:10:00.003-04:00

It's Saturday and this is the first time I've had a chance to sit down and look at a computer. Kind of nice really.

We've been here since last Wednesday and for the first four days we have been staying with our wonderful friends Ron and Pauline in their beautiful loft in and old hospital that has been converted into artist studios.

There is too much to cover in one post, so for now I will just throw out a sampling. Tomorrow morning we head over to visit our new friend Pia and then on to The Hague for An's opening!

An Hoang Exhibition

2009-06-02T15:12:00.006-04:00

Tonight we leave for the Netherlands for 7 days to attend the opening of An's first solo exhibition of her work! The upcoming show has been generating a bit of interest in the Netherlands art press, but we were most excited to see this nice post by Pia.

If you or anyone you know will be in the Hague this Sunday, please come on by Livingstone Gallery .

As excited as I am about An's opening, I'm also pretty excited about trying this

[almost] Saipua!

2009-06-02T14:11:00.003-04:00

We're not quite there yet, but we're getting very close and everyone is super excited...including Nea.

With our deadline fast approaching, it seems untimely to be boarding a plane tonight and heading to the Netherlands for 7 days. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't a little stressed about leaving in the middle of a project, however, this is not the first time I have had to leave during a deadline*, and there are some things in life that you should never miss. This week, I am lucky enough to have two good reasons to take some time off:

1. An and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday [we've actually been together for 11 years!]
2. An has her first solo exhibition in her new gallery in the Hague! [more to come in the next post]

This really has been an amazing project to work on, and I think in the end the new Saipua will be the project we're most proud to have been a part of. Keep an eye out for a July 1st opening!

*while finishing the 3.1 Phillip Lim Boutique in Soho, I had to leave for a prior teaching commitment in Shanghai and Beijing for two weeks at a time over 6 weeks. With the help of a high speed internet connection, an amazing crew in my office and our trustworthy contractors [yes they do exist] we managed to not only finish 1 week early, but under budget as well.

Closing In

2009-05-24T13:38:00.011-04:00

If you haven't figured it out yet, we are currently building out a new storefront space for our old friends at Saipua!

As exciting as this is, we're facing a tough task here for two reasons:
1. we are physically building out the space with only two people [eric and myself]
2. I really love the old Saipua - a space that could never be duplicated (which is good, because that's not how i work anyway.)

I just wanted to share a couple of early conceptual sketches and some progress pics to let you know where we were, where we are, and where we are going.

From the beginning, I have wanted to work within the language of Saipua which I feel is defined by the ongoing juxtaposition of meticulously wrapped handmade soaps, an assortment of found objects [mostly vintage], and of course the ever-changing layers [both living and dead] that make up Sarah's beautiful floral arrangements.

I hope for the new space to simultaneously be a quiet backdrop and an active participant in this conversation between the handmade, the found and the delicate, rugged beauty that is Saipua. Here a silver skin of weathered barn siding is wrapped to enclose two box like rooms - one nested within the other. In the smaller interior volume, rows of siding seem to slide back, revealing an assortment of wood box vessels - nooks, primed to receive Saipua's wares.

I've been thinking about the life and beauty that exists in an old dressmakers sewing box. That life lies not in the wood and brass hinges from which the box is made, rather it is found within the multi-colored jumble of spools of thread and the assortment of pins placed at random in the pin-cushion. This is an arrangement that could only emerge from use - the result of an ongoing act between the dressmaker, the dressmakers tools, and the thing being made.

With this in mind, one could not merely reproduce the old Saipua in a new space, rather I'm hoping that the new space will be timeless - timeless in the sense that this place will only be "complete" when occupied and filled with the life and beauty that results from the ongoing act of making.

Box

2009-05-07T12:06:00.007-04:00

A few weeks back we took a trip up to one of my favorite places - Rosenzweig Lumber - to pick up the cabinet grade plywood that will serve as the box sleeves that will hold all of Saipua's handmade goodies. [more on the design concept in next post] If you're trying to head up to the Bronx to check it out yourself, be forewarned, Robert Moses did a number on that borough, and google maps has got it all wrong.

After picking out our material - no easy task when faced with such a large and varied selection - we headed upstate to Sarah's folks' place to rip down the plywood into 8" strips. Back in Redhook, we spent a day going through various finishing options before settling on a gorgeous chocolatey wood stain that works well with the weather worn silver finish of the barn siding.

next: final framing of the space, siding layout, box layout, warehouse door, storefront construction, floor

Frame

2009-05-07T11:43:00.003-04:00

I'm a little behind in posting our progress on the shop out in Redhook, but as you can see, the framing for the main walls, ceiling and storefront are all in place.

Still to come, the free-standing interior walls that will house a playful series of boxes for flowers and soap. That next step is tricky, as we will let the varying widths of the barn siding determine the layout and placement of the interior boxes and framing. Like solving or designing a big 3-dimensional puzzle. May need a few more trips to the ice-house for a pint before we figure this one out.

Mel Chin

2009-04-29T19:35:00.007-04:00

This past Monday we stopped by MOMA to catch a screening of Mel Chin's animated film 9-11/9-11, in which he interweaves the stories of September 11, 2001 New York City and September 11, 1973 Santiago. It was dark and powerful and I have been thinking about it for the last two days.

Mel is an amazing artist, with a huge heart and southern drawl that makes me a little homesick. Check out his other work including the Fundred Dollar Bill project.

Afterwards, we all headed over to Frederieke's place to eat empenadas and to take in this view from the terrace. Mel was there along with Brooke Gladstone, Fred Kaplan, and Lili Taylor - who is the voice for one of the main characters in the film.

From left to right in pic above: Friend of Paul H-O, Mel Chin, Frederieke Taylor, An Hoang, Paul H-O

Lines and Towers

2009-04-26T18:58:00.001-04:00

An says I should rename my blog "Sunsets"

I realize that all of my posts are starting to look the same with photos taken at dusk...but that tends to be the only time I'm not working and have some time to walk around.

These days I'm spending an awful lot of time commuting on the train to the bus to the job site and even more time sitting on the sidewalk waiting for said bus. The thing that I've noticed, is that the city that you come to know is really defined by your daily commute. My "bike to work everyday" city [from 3 years ago] is much different than my "walk to work in 10 minutes" city [of last year] which is drastically different than my "1 hour train to bus" city of today.

Actually, this time waiting for the bus has been well spent; it's been nice to have some time to quietly sit and look...I mean really look. Lately I've become obsessed with the graphic qualities of these lines and towers against the sky...at sunset of course.

Ben Degen Open Studio

2009-04-19T17:42:00.006-04:00

Last night Frederieke, An, Snakes and I ventured out to Long Island City for Ben Degen's open studio. Upon arrival, we were rewarded with this view [from the neighboring brownfield] of sunset silhouetted skyscrapers.

Back inside the studio, it was great to see Ben's new paintings...really beautiful and nice to see together as a set. The rest of the evening was dedicated to drinking on the roof, stories of scuba diving, and watching Daisy the dog scarf down hotdogs.

Ben just curated a group show, titled Off The Books, currently showing in the viewing room at Frederieke Taylor Gallery.

Great Surround

2009-04-15T07:45:00.004-04:00

Finally. Our good friends The Fatales have released their long awaited new album Great Surround. It is truly beautiful and well worth the wait!

Stream the entire album on their website and buy a copy from the folks at Monopsone Records.

Easter Evening Redhook

2009-04-13T13:32:00.001-04:00

Box & Flea at Smith & Butler

2009-04-07T21:14:00.005-04:00

Check out our side project: Box & Flea . [blog coming soon] Now available at Smith & Butler! You'll find our hand crafted bandanas and bags at the Smith Street location and at the super cool Smith & Butler Pop-Up at Sol Moscot.

Crop and Bind

2009-04-01T19:16:00.003-04:00

I have an interview for another teaching position tomorrow. I actually enjoy the process of interviewing and I always put a lot of time into the production of portfolios. This time around is no different, except this is the first time that I'm making a portfolio that is based solely on my students' work.

It's a little unsettling to know that you are about to walk into an important interview during which you will be judged by the quality of someone else's work. To be honest, I have had some incredible students over the last 3 years and I feel very fortunate to be able to show their work in my portfolio.

Wish me luck.

Ice Man

2009-03-31T18:38:00.010-04:00

I've been thinking a lot today about my dear friend and mentor Regin Schwaen, who happens to live very close to the Red River in Fargo, North Dakota. I've been following the incredible flooding that is taking place there, and was happy to hear that their house and 1963 Chrysler Newport was spared.

As you can see by his photos here, Regin is an architect, builder and adventurer, who always seems to find a way to place himself in extreme conditions...consistently at the edge.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with him on his first house in Denmark. Here we are constructing a wood mould for the casting of large ferro-cement dormers, which would later be lifted into place, onto the roof, and serve as the childrens' rooms in the house.

Everytime I visit his beautiful website, I get a little restless and want to either travel or build.

Barn Stack

2009-03-29T19:41:00.009-04:00

Though we spend most of our time living here in the city, we're always trying to find new ways to get our hands dirty. Since moving here nine years ago, I have spent a lot of time teaching and practicing architecture, designing and building furniture...and recently started an accessory line with our ol' buddy FLEAHEART called BOX & FLEA. Still there is nothing quite as exciting as finding a big stack of weathered, hand-hewn barn siding...sitting there, full of unrealized potential.

We spent yesterday morning unloading 1,100 sq.ft. of siding for a new project we're working on in Brooklyn. Though we can't reveal who the project is for quite yet, I can say they're old friends and we're super excited to be helping them out. Anyone that will get us a big ol' bunch of wood to play with, is fine by me.