Chance Encounter in the Windy City

I've been a fan of Frank Gehry for a long time. I've been a fan of West Side Story longer. When the two combine, it's magical!

I made a trip to Chicago for an Interior Design leadership conference and had some free time one day, so I decided to walk to Millennium Park from my hotel on Michigan Ave. It was a bit farther than I thought, but what I encountered there was well worth the blisters.

When I first got to the park, I saw the infamous "Bean" and took a photo with me in the reflection. I thought there must be more to the park than that and started to wander around. I heard some music drifting from the innards of the park and felt compelled to follow it - like one of those kids following a pied piper. As I walked up the steps, the clouds parted, the Soprano sang a high C and I came face to face with the Pritzker Pavilion.

Frank Gehry has always been a controversial architect. I agree that his work is more sculptural and expressionistic than classic functional architecture. The sweeping, dramatic curves and grand scale of drama is what makes Gehry's pieces unique.  Some people don't care for this form of artistic gesture, but I find it intriguing. There is nothing quite like experiencing a Gehry for the first time.

I stumbled upon the Pavilion accidentally, a chance encounter in the Windy City. I wasn't even aware of his existence until that moment, and that he was featuring the music of West Side Story was like he knew I would be there. I felt directed by fate.  I was amazed at his ability to exude elegance and machismo at the same time. His grand scale, yet seemingly delicate composition seemed to work so seamlessly.

The curved metal bangs enveloping his smooth wooden interior were playful, yet compulsory. Music needs to flow over a warm, somewhat soft surface like wood, however, the curves help shape and carry the sound for the many spectators gathered to admire his composure in presenting the classic songs.

I was enchanted by the classic songs about struggling in an urban environment and love and the poetic vision of his structure. His elements were raw in form, yet sculpted to highlight the versatility. In a city with many architectural landmarks, he stands out while at the same time complimenting the modern and classical pieces that comprise the landscape. I truly felt inspired in his presence.

My Island Lovah

While celebrating my best friend's wedding in St. Lucia, I found a little love of my own...

We arrived in the Hewanorra airport at 1:30pm on Wednesday and after traveling since 3:30am all I wanted was a dip in the pool and a nap. However, that's not what I got. The trip to the resort was grueling. It was way too hot for the jeans and sweater I was wearing (appropriate for April in New York City) and the roads were like driving along a Chinese paper fan. When we finally arrived after an hour we were greeted with the infamous Rum Punch and a gift beach bag from the Bride and Groom. It took us about two hours to check in, but once we took the shuttle bus up to our villa we arrived in heaven.

He was the most magnificent villa I'd ever seen! He welcomed the bridesmaids with open arms and promised to make our time together enjoyable. We opened the door to a beautiful spire of poured concrete stairs. That's always been my favorite accent of a building and upon going down the first flight, he opened up into a large kitchen and outdoor living room/dining room. I ran my hands along his smooth stucco walls as I descended the steps to the bedroom and immediately changed into my bathing suit.

While in St. Lucia for 5 nights, we didn't spend an exorbitant amount of time together, but we had some lovely breakfasts together on the veranda and we took some dips in the plunge pool a few times. The fact he overlooked the shore below and had lovely mango trees for shade was enough to make a girl want to stay forever.

The night of the wedding, everyone got to meet him as we lounged in the pool and enjoyed some light appetizers. It was nice that he was so accommodating and I will always remember the lovely time spent on the island in the sun.

Dating in your mid-20's

A girl gets tired of dating sometimes. Especially when all that shows up are some Mr. Right-nows. Naturally your emotions need a break, but you can only stay down for so long before the pull to coupledom looks enticing again.
Therefore, after my few months off, I'm back in the scene. Thanks for sticking around and get ready for some new posts! The first one will disclose the fling with my Island Lovah...

To Choose Between Brothers...

I went the distance for these two. Both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and still residing so close to each other after all these years, I was drawn to both. Coming from the same father, they are both so different just like true siblings. One lives for the spotlight - Falling Water - and one is much shyer - Kentuck Knob.

I met the younger Kentuck Knob first and was impressed by his exterior detailing. There is carpentry just below the cantilevered roof line that alludes to the heritage of Pennsylvania by resembling Native American tribal designs. He's built from materials that would be found naturally in that area, sandstone and tidewater red cypress, so he blends in nicely with the surrounding landscape. He rests on the hill and as you walk along below it almost feels as though you're walking on the outside of a fort. The overhang above the veranda has octagonal cutouts that allow light to move about the porch and interior while the day progresses. His natural elegance and calm demeanor made him very easy to be around.

His interior centers around the round, stainless steel kitchen which is rumored to be the first ever. The idea came from the dairy farm - that the stainless steel is naturally antimicrobial and therefore easy to clean. Also, the staple FLW style of narrow, low-ceiling hallways opening into not so spacious rooms to give the illusion of space was well practiced. Overall I was drawn to him while touring his facilities (thank you, CAKE) and enjoyed our pleasant experience together.

Falling Water on the other hand was flashier and a bit more boisterous. Made to entertain, he had large common areas and space for live-in help. I like a man that knows the essentials of entertaining guests, so this was an immediate turn-off. He had an extensive collection of sculpture and art on the grounds, so that was definitely a redeeming quality. I was pleasantly surprised when I entered the living room area and found a stairway that led directly into the water - very clever. Overall he was a very well rounded site; weaving the interior and exterior together in a seamless fashion.

He was much larger than his younger brother and more grandiose with the number of bedrooms and the guest house in the back. He obviously had been much more successful in making friends and networking because there were a lot of people there. What interested me the most was his daring sense of defiance. The fact that he cantilevered out above the water and defied the traditional limits of engineering. His father had instilled in him the sense of adventure, where as Kentuck Knob had played it a little safer, nestling himself into the hill.

Overall I enjoyed hanging out with both of them, but I feel more drawn to the peaceful, less gregarious of the two. There is something to be said about someone that relaxes into their surroundings as opposed to trying to make it more than it is. The acceptance that Kentuck Knob had of his limitations was refreshing to see - he was comfortable with what he had. Falling Water obviously enjoyed his surroundings, but his triumph over the limitations seems so stressed. There were future predictions that he would fail, so he always has to be on guard. It's important to try new things and be adventurous, but it's also important to be greatful and respectful of what you have. There were so many positive qualities in both, so I decided not to choose either - I'd always be thinking "what if" about the other!

The Elusive Mr. Hearst

The first time I saw him I was standing at the Top of the Rock (which I might say has a better view than the Empire State Building - for all those tourists out there, which I once was). Looking out over the sea of facades he stood out, brightest of all. The light was glimmering through the New York City smog and reflected off his triangular glazing. I was instantly hooked, love at first sight.

Since then it's only been admiring from afar. I catch glimpses and stories here and there. Hearst is like my Mr. Big. He's much older - over 80 - and he's got class a top that classic foundation. I know the story. That site was always meant to be a grand building towering over 8th Ave, but in 1927 they couldn't have dreamt up this stud.

Six-stories of grandiose entrance space - a shell of something that once stood as an icon - is the seam that binds the old with the new. The large structural steel elements that inhabit the atrium like pillars of determination combined with the enormous amount of natural light and subtle burble of the water feature are enough to melt a girl's heart.

I've always tried to stay away from such private men, ahem, buildings, it's too hard to get inside and know what they're really made of. But, I can't help myself, I'm infatuated. I long to see what offices are hidden in such a pristine exterior, but it's just not meant to be at this time in our lives. I had my chance once, but I missed it.

Every year there's an event in New York that opens private buildings, such as Hearst Tower, to the public. Some have guided tours, some you can wander through yourself, but it's the best way to see what gems are hidden in the big city. About two years ago I thought I was in. Open House New York would be my chance, my true chance to get close, see him for myself. I could finally see if there was more to love beyond the polished exterior. But, before the time slots were even announced it was fully booked - that's how indemand he is!

Now, when I catch myself around Columbus Circle, sometimes I'll deliberately take the long route to the Blue line. I'll wander past and as I look up in wonder at such a handsome building my heart skips a beat. Sometimes I'll even catch his reflection on buildings unexpectedly - there's one on 57th between 8th and Broadway that reflects him just at dusk on a clear night.

So, I'm forced to keep my fingers crossed that someday I'll get my chance to see what he's really like. Unitl then our love affair continues, Mr. Hearst...

My Date with the Opera House

There he was, waiting so magnificently and patiently on the edge of the harbour. It was a breakfast date - 10:30AM to be precise. I was so excited that I got there a half hour early, but he didn't seem to mind. We started chatting and he told me about how he was in a contest and was really ahead of his time with his ideas - that when everyone else was a square box, he pushed boundaries and created repetitious curves. He said that engineers didn't think it could be built, but there he stands today. It was fascinating!

He had such depth and contrast. There was a language he spoke - oh the accent - where elements of his story just came together so perfectly. The glass, concrete and steel beams work in harmony to create such a memorable, breath taking experience. I felt so small in his presence, but also at times comfortable. He made sure that where there was a lot of action going on that we were close, intimate in nature - the smaller theaters don't seat as many as the large Opera theater and musical performance hall.

He was very proud of his exterior, but like many men, or buildings, he had a few shy moments. Syd, I'll call him for short, refused to let me capture the magnificent musical performance hall. It was the only theater space where the wood was completely exposed in its natural finish. The wood cascaded from the ceiling down the walls and enveloped the space like a giant wave - reminiscent, I thought, of the ocean rolling into the harbour. He was slightly insecure of my interest in his insides, so I tried to ask more questions about his shell.

The shells on the exterior can be seen from many different angles and he tried to explain how each shell is a sliver of a circle fit one behind the other - or something like that. When he went into details, my eyes kind of glazed over. But, the aesthetic appeal and engineering marvel is there - that's why it's one of the most famously recognized buildings of the 20th century! I did learn that the exposed shell is not concrete, but thousands of tiles, special ordered - talk about having an expensive taste!



As our date drew to a close, I realized he had some flaws. His lounge areas tried to be too opulent with plush solid color upholstery in blue and red. He really just should have used light, unobtrusive finishes that complimented the natural wood and concrete materials. I felt like he was trying to impress me with the expensive looking fabric, but all it really did was make me feel fake - like he was trying too hard. Really, at the end, though we both realized the distance thing was going to be a huge problem, so we decided to leave it at our great morning date and appreciate it for what it was - a fabulous date with the Opera House!

For the love of...ARCHITECTURE

Just because I'm a single girl doesn't mean I haven't found the love of my life yet. I certainly have - it's Architecture! The lines, the curves, the substance and form - what beauty!

When they say love makes you do crazy things, they really mean it. I'm living in New York City, currently job hunting, hoping the economy doesn't destroy my industry and trying to survive so I can find my next real relationship - hopefully with an Architectural firm.

After contemplating what love means to me, to figure out why I'm not willing to just date any man, I realized that it's deeper than an experience - I was just whisked away to Australia for two weeks by a great guy - it's a feeling that you can't fake. It's that rush of energy that makes you feel like whatever argument you get in or however many people you want to beat on the subway, is all worth it to be in the presence of the one, or the building you love. To be a part of the most creative and influential A&D community in the world, struggling in New York City is worth it.