Bruno Cals: "Horizons"- A Captivating New Perspective

Showing at 1500, a gallery in New York City devoted to Brazilian photography, the series "Horizons" from 2008 by Bruno Cals, appear to depict abstract landscape images. I ponder these dreamy, starkly architectural places and wonder where they could possibly be located.

I am fascinated as I learn the images are of facades of buildings in the cities of Sao Paulo, Toyko and Buenos Aires.  By looking up the facades toward the sky, a captivating new perspective is created by the shifting of the horizon line.

Above, Hermes

The building above is Maison Hermes, Toyko, Japan by Renzo Piano, 2001.  The glass brick facade is transformed into an endless landscape of gridded watery pools.

Above, Prada

The building above is the Prada Store, Toyko, Japan by Herzog and de Meuron, 2003. 
The diamond shaped curved glass panels of the facade become an open sea with enormous swells.

Above, Quartier

Above, Safra

Above, Largo Sao Francisco

Above, Avenida Paulista 01

Above, Avenida Paulista 02

Above, Avenida Paulista 03


Duck Link:"Horizons" by Bruno Cals at 1500 Gallery

Duck Link: Archinizer

Chase Me Down

 It seems more and more often, banks are the only commercial tenants who can afford to rent storefront leases in the city.

We live on DeKalb Avenue on the edge of the Fort Greene and Downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods.
While we see bank branches and atms everywhere, not one seems more prominent in our neighborhood than Chase Bank.  I can walk out my door, one block down to Flatbush Avenue and am inundated with Chase Bank.

 Below, Chase at 20 Flatbush Avenue:

  Below, Chase (formerly the Dime Savings Bank) at 9 DeKalb Avenue:

Below, Chase at Metrotech Center, looming in distance:

While I do not feel lucky to be flooded with the Chase brand, physically and visually, I do feel fortunate to be able to partake in beautiful architecture within walking distance.

The Chase branch at 9 DeKalb Avenue at Albee Square is a magnificent piece of architecture and almost every time I walk down to Fulton Street, I walk though it as if I am just walking down the block.  It is ALWAYS a pleasure and that's what architecture should be, always opening one's senses.

Alas, I was only able to take one photo of the interior before being told it was not allowed by security, but I am happy, happy that I can experience the grandeur of this space in my neighborhood.

Below, as luck would have it, a short walk over to Brooklyn Heights, at the Chase Branch (formerly the Brooklyn Trust) at 177 Montague, another architectural beauty, inside and out:

For more information and vintage photos of the former Dime Savings Bank at 9 DeKalb Avenue at Albee Square:
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2010/03/walkabout_photo.php

For more information on former Brooklyn Trust at 177 Montague: http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2010/03/building_of_the_3.php

Pop in for a peek and be happy.

Knockdowned But Not Out

I have always had a fascination with campaign furniture, also known as knockdown furniture, furniture specifically designed to travel during military campaigns. The essence of campaign furniture lies in the inherent duality to be folded and portable yet be elegant and functional.  Traveling and living in tents did not deter the wealthy from continuing to reside in luxury.

This article briefly describes the knockdown furniture of the British campaigns: 

http://www.forbes.com/2001/08/15/0815connguide.html

Alas, our cardboard boxes as dining table and computer table lasted less than a week and an immediate trip to the Target store at the Atlantic Terminal Mall was in order.

With the echo of my new motto, Keep it Simple, Keep it Clean, thumping through my head, I seek out our own campaign furniture: affordable and portable, cheap and chic.

I return triumphant with two tables in tow and set up in a matter of minutes, assured we are Knockdowned but Not Out.

Indoor Camping :

My favorite spot is in the corner:

The Greening of Our View:

Also check out these examples of contemporary and cool Flat Pack furniture:

http://weburbanist.com/2008/01/13/more-creative-furniture-for-cramped-urban-living-20-pieces-of-ingenious-flat-pack-urban-furniture/

Home Sweet Home

Move in day was quick and painless.  It was a quick trip over the Brooklyn Bridge from the West Village on a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning.

My husband is THE expert in packing any vehicle, truck, pick up or in this case, a Scion xB. I still can't figure out how he does it, but like magic, it is packed it to the gills with 10 plus boxes and our one piece of "furniture", our full size raised inflatable bed that we use for our "luxury" camping out West.  Two trips up the elevator and we are done.

A trip to Ikea Red Hook is in order, as we agree, we need a least two chairs and a small table.  As thoughts of Swedish meatballs dance in my head, we zip though the donut floor layout that is Ikea. I am trying to find my husband, surprised that he, who doen't like to shop, finds some of the displays mesmerizing. I need to nudge him along to the warehouse area to find the table and chairs that we have so carefully chosen in the last half hour.  The glass and chrome table is sold out, but we do find the 2 swivel chairs with wheels and the 2 folding chairs for our future guests.  As time is running out before our little Scion xB turns into a pumpkin, I begrudgingly eliminate the meatball and lingon berry pit stop and anxiously head toward the cashiers, hoping that the lines are shorter than a city block. To my surprise, we breeze right through. 

Move-in Day with our inflatable bed, swivel chairs and 2 makeshift tables from the chair boxes :

We celebrate our first night with Chinese take-out and a bottle of delicious bubbly, courtesy of our good friends:

We couldn't ask for a more perfect day.

The Starting Line in Brooklyn

My husband and I are not young nor inexperienced, yet we find ourselves   
Starting Out Starting Over and once again at the starting line.

Why, you ask?  Why not, I say. It may not be by choice, but I say it is fortuitous.

We find ourselves with not more than a few boxes of belongings beside us, most of our worldly goods freshly out from a long stay in a storage facility and currently tucked away out West.

From living in a wonderful apartment in Chelsea in New York, to out of our luggage out in California,  in a cottage in the Carribean, in a cabin in Northern California, out of our luggage in New York, we have gradually adapted to living without much, both monetary and material.

Take a quick look, a single spin is all that is required, around the studio apartment:

Before even looking at any apartments, we chose the studio plan as an economic choice, period.

After seeing this apartment and its location, we knew instantly it would offer far more than its modest square footage and its gritty neighborhood belies.

I am ALWAYS the first to advise another that change is good and I am now the happy recipient of my own advise.