The scent of pine needles, twinkling lights, dangling ornaments – for many, the Christmas tree is the hallmark of the holidays. We joyfully found some sustainable Christmas tree options that are environmentally friendly and festive.
Read MoreThis year let’s make Black Friday a Green Friday by supporting local shops and purchasing sustainable gifts. To that end, we have some suggestions:
Read MoreWith the abundance of e-zines, online newspapers, and e-readers, there is still something magical about wandering the aisles of a bookstore, sliding into a cozy chair and holding a book in your hands. Los Angeles has an abundance of eclectic and independent bookstores that offer readers everything from the latest bestsellers to rare finds and are also architecturally intriguing. In this article we highlight some of LA’s coolest independent bookstores.
Read MoreStanding approximately 45 feet high on the hills overlooking the city, the iconic Hollywood Sign is recognized around the world. Those nine white letters have become a symbol of the entertainment industry and evoke images of the glamourous lifestyles associated with it.
Read MoreDesign exerts a monumental influence over our well-being. We spend most of our time inside buildings that have been designed; designed with important physical life safety and comfort features such as smoke and fire detection, heating and cooling, and adequate egress. But what about mental health safety?
Read MoreSouthern California is known for its abundant sunshine, beautiful landscapes, and mild climate. The region has emerged as a hub for environmentally friendly architecture and planning. Among the most efficient methods in this pursuit is passive solar design. In this article, we'll explore some tailored passive solar design ideas for the Southern California climate, ensuring year-round comfort and a reduced carbon footprint in your home.
Read MoreIn today's rapidly evolving world, architecture stands as a testament to both our history and our future. Recent years have seen the emergence of design trends that reflect our changing lifestyles, technological advancements, and commitment to sustainability. This post will delve into some of the most significant architectural design trends currently shaping our built environment.
Read MoreIn the heart of the arid Jordanian desert lies a breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site known as Petra, often referred to as the "Rose City." Its iconic rock-cut architecture and intricate carvings evoke a sense of wonder and amazement. Yet, beyond its artistic and historical significance, Petra also stands as a remarkable example of how ancient civilizations mastered the art of water preservation and sustainability in an unforgiving environment.
Read MoreFraming. It is the infrastructure, the skeleton, or the bones, of most residential and low rise construction in the United States, and it has been made of wood for a long long time. An exhibit currently at the Palm Springs Art Museum's Architecture and Design Center examines what the curator's refer to as "one of the country's most overlooked yet common construction systems." They refer to framing as "underappreciated."
Read MoreIf there were an election, I would vote for birds as Earth Day’s mascot. We have food because birds are pollinators and seed spreaders, we are not entirely overrun by insects because birds are predators, the forest and the fields are clean because birds are scavengers, and music fills the air because birds are musicians. Birds are amazing creatures we should be enjoying more and protecting better. To do this we need to be encouraging bird-friendly design.
Read MoreOur design team has proven that many materials that are non-combustible can be warm, inviting and still feel like home. We have made beautiful use of stucco, tempered glass, aluminum, steel, fire rated wood and native landscapes to create environments that are both fire-resistant and aesthetically stunning.
Read MoreLast week we discussed making fire resistant building envelopes.
This week we share a few things that involve the home surroundings.
Building for fire resistance is about safeguarding your home and buying time. Time to gather loved ones and pets, time to get out of the space and to safety, and time for firefighters to respond and protect our homes and businesses. The following are key for structures to remain standing, and at a minimum, hold together for hours rather than minutes during a fire. In the next 4 weeks we will share with you some of the things that must be considered when designing a new home. Some of the items shared can also be done to retrofit an existing home and grounds.
Read MoreWhat inspires one to become an architect? Ask Abeer Sweis, and she’ll tell you about a time when she was nine years old. On a Sunday afternoon drive with her family through the countryside of her native Amman, Jordan, she noticed a building unlike anything she’d ever seen. Set into the side of a hill with nothing but a glass front looking out at the world, it seemed as though the roof was built into the hill and nature had been undisturbed—as if it were meant to be and belonged.
Read MoreThe scarcity of water in California and many other regions around the world is a serious issue. We have all heard of ways that we can change our daily habits to save water and while we can certainly implement all of those, there are many other things that can be done beyond our waterwise behavior.
Read MoreLast night the Kiwanis Club of Santa Monica held our 73rd Annual Music Awards Ceremony at the Santa Monica Bay Women’s Club.
Awards were presented to 28 incredibly talented music students for various categories from the Santa Monica middle school and high school choruses, bands, and orchestras. The first-place recipients from each division and instrument category then performed for the audience.
Read MoreWe are constantly talking about ways to reduce and eventually eliminate the use of plastic. Plastic has to go, but while companies and people are beginning to cut down, it is not disappearing anytime soon. Plastic is not biodegradable; it just keeps breaking into smaller and smaller bits and pollutes our oceans and rivers.
Read MoreEven if you're not an architect, designer, or student, you may have heard of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), a respected organization founded in 1857 and now has more than 90,000 members of licensed architects, emerging professionals, and aligned partners who are committed to the excellence of our built environments. AIA is a membership-driven institution, but there's one event that is a real gem and is…
Read MoreTatiana Ukvatkina, Designer + Assistant Project Manager at SweisKloss, has been with us for just over a year now, and we have really enjoyed having her on our team. She brings a positive energy that fits in perfectly with our group, and her design approach is thoughtful and concise. When we caught up with her to see how it has been working on SK projects, she said, “The design process with the SweisKloss team is…
Read MoreWhat’s up with feng shui these days? Is it still a thing? Maybe you remember when it was quite the interior design buzz in the 90s, which is a bit amusing considering feng shui has been around for over 6000 years. Nevertheless, at the time, a flood of companies, retailers, restauranteurs, and residents got busy arranging their spaces to achieve better energy flow. Some people call feng shui superstitious. But there are design experts who say…
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