Going Green in an Urban Jungle

June gardens are in full bloom with purple flowers bursting from Jacaranda trees, roses spilling over fences and star jasmine perfume filling the air. But not everyone has the luxury of spacious front and back yards. Cities are becoming denser with outdoor space at a premium.  Enter the rise of the living roof industry of green roofs and rooftop gardens. From quiet meditation spots to sensory and herb gardens to stargazing spaces, green roofs provide precious outdoor spaces in the concrete jungle.

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“You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat”

Who can forget Roy Scheider’s famous line from the movie Jaws? This June, the iconic summer thriller turns 50. This got us thinking about boats and boat design, specifically large, luxury boat design. And wow, they sure are big!

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Spotlight of the Month:  A Recipe for a Sumptuous Kitchen

You don’t need to be a “Top Chef” to enjoy this kitchen recently designed by SweisKloss.  Light and airy, the space perfectly balances style and function.

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Back to the Future

A robot with a giant arm, smoothly and methodically twisting and turning, concrete oozing out of its nozzle. This isn’t a Buck Rogers sci-fi episode; it’s 3D printing. Since its inception in the early 1980’s, 3D printing has been used in a variety of industries from healthcare to automotive, and it is on the rise in construction.

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Where The Wild Things Are

“In nature, there is no landfill. Nature is circular, everything has a meaning and everything is recycled,” explains Danish recycle artist, activist and Troll creator, Thomas Dambo (nwtroll.com).

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Honoring a Mentor: SK’s Anthony Aguilar Pays Tribute

Teaching goes beyond facts and figures, numbers and textbooks. Weather in the classroom or on the job, our teachers, employers and mentors can have a meaningful impact on our outlook that transcends our professions and shapes our humanity. In celebration of teacher appreciation week, SweisKloss’ Anthony Aguilar pays tribute to a professor that inspired him professionally and personally.

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Building Bridges…

From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge, bridges from coast-to-coast showcase advancements in engineering, innovative design and striking architecture. Weather they are transforming a city’s skyline or blending effortlessly into nature, these US bridges push the boundaries in terms of scale, materials and aesthetics.

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Black Gold

In celebration of Earth Month, we are highlighting the importance of composting organic waste. Organic waste consists of “material that comes from living organisms such as, … food, food scraps, … yard or green waste, wood, waste manure,” according to FightFoodWatse.com. Composted organic waste, often referred to as “black gold,” gets its colorful name from the dark brown or black nutrient rich soil that is as valuable as gold to gardeners, farmers and vintners.

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Sustainable Spring Cleaning

From the backs of closets to hidden shelves in the panty to junk drawers in the kitchen, spring cleaning season is upon us. This year don’t just discard your unwanted items in the trash. Plenty of recycling options and locations make donating and rehoming easier than ever.

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Topsy Turvy Designs

A tiny flowerpot house, a spaceship rental and a home in the shape of a shoe. We thought theses designs were April Fool’s jokes. But these topsy turvy designs are actual properties.

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Biophilic Design

After months of cooler temperatures, we’re all craving a taste of nature.  The solutions: head outdoors or take on a little biophilic design.

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Spotlight of the Month:  A Fireplace with Flair

Today may be the first official day of Spring, but we still love getting cozy in front of this fireplace in a Spanish Colonial Revival recently remodeled by SweisKloss.                 

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Celebrating Women in Construction: SK’s Cynthia Salah Kraus

Women comprise nearly 47% of the national workforce according to the US Chamber of Commerce, yet they make up only 10% of the construction industry (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). This means that “for every 10 people in a construction-related role, [only] one of them is a woman.” But those numbers are on the rise! In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate one of our own.

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Brutally Honest Architecture

Critic’s choice, fan favorite, and BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar winner, “The Brutalist” is a fictional story about a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to America where he is commissioned to design a monumental modernist project for a wealthy industrialist.  While the film delves into a variety of themes including art, capitalism, and the complexities of the American Dream, among other topics, it has sparked an interest in Brutalist architecture. But what is Brutalist architecture?

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Celebrating Midcentury Modernism

A sideboard, an Eames chair, a Noguchi coffee table…  Icons of Midcentury Modernism design.                                                        

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Rammed Earth

Rammed earth is a timeless construction method that offers a modern solution to fire resistance. The ancient technique utilizes raw natural materials such as earth, chalk, sand, gravel, etc. which are compacted to form the building’s structure including the foundation, floors, and walls.

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Lighting Trends We Love

From jewel inspired chandeliers to organic shaped floor lamps, lighting can really set the mood. Whether you’re planning a dinner party with friends or a romantic evening, this Valentine’s Day consider some of these lighting trends that are lighting up 2025.

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Stadium Design Scores a Touchdown

This coming Sunday is Super Bowl LIX.  While fans will be scrutinizing the Chief’s passes and analyzing the Eagles’ defensive line, here at SweisKloss we’ll be checking out New Orleans’ newly renovated stadium. In the last few years, stadium design has evolved to incorporate advances in technology, sustainability, and above all improvements to enhance the fan experience.

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2025 Design Trends

New Year, new trends.  Stark white is out, earth tones are in. Minimalism is out, layered is in. The design trends for 2025 cultivate a sense a well-being, create a connection to nature, and reflect the homeowner’s personality.

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Designer Year in Review

From sunken bathtubs to seamless corner windows, SweisKloss has designed challenging and exciting builds throughout 2024.  The team has tackled strategies for energy efficient systems and sustainable homes, incorporated a “part water slide - part statement piece in the shape of a high heel shoe” into a backyard and aced designs for a kindergarten.

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