Simhan

As we pack up our stuff, we’ve been finding some great...

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:04:00 -0500

As we pack up our stuff, we’ve been finding some great stuff including this picture. This was New Year’s 2001, I think. Brian and Ellen had only been dating for a few months when he sprung this outfit on her. The fact that she didn’t rush for the exits was a clear sign that they were meant to be together.

I’m coming close to the end of a great 12 years in New York. What made it great was not only the city and all that it offers but having such a fantastic group of friends to share it with. I hope you all move to the Bay area over the next few years!

One of the highlights of our recent trip to San Francisco,...

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:55:52 -0500

One of the highlights of our recent trip to San Francisco, besides finding an apartment, was seeing the Martin Puryear exhibit at the SFMoMa. Martin Puryear is modern sculptor who creates semi-abstract works in natural materials that are influenced by indigenous cultures. Now that doesn’t sound very fun but his works are truly spectacular. Brilliantly crafted, beautiful and fascinatingly constructed. If you’re in SF or ever have the opportunity to see his work, I highly recommend it!

Very cool and context-sensitive renovation in Greenwood Heights...

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:22:50 -0500

Very cool and context-sensitive renovation in Greenwood Heights Brooklyn. The story in the NYT is well worth reading for a story about how everything can go wrong in a home purchase.

[Apartment Therapy]

Daniel Liebiskind called. He wants his over-wrought, arbitrary...

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:57:37 -0500

Daniel Liebiskind called. He wants his over-wrought, arbitrary style of architecture back.

[Dezeen]

Very interesting looking new building from Toyo Ito. Compared...

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:25:47 -0500

Very interesting looking new building from Toyo Ito. Compared to the other Starchitects, he gets very little publicity but he consistently turns out rigorous, interesting and innovative architecture. One of my favorites.

[NYT]

Frank Gehry’s renovation of the Art Gallery in his...

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:27:39 -0500

Frank Gehry’s renovation of the Art Gallery in his hometown looks like his best work in a few years. He very subtly creates a dialog between the old and the new buildings. The fantastic staircase that connects the older building to the newer galleries is a great example of this. Just when I thought he’d become the architectural equivalent of Al Pacino, he’s re-asserted his greatness. Even the typically dour Ouroussoff is quite taken with the work.

[NYT]

Very cool art from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. He also is an...

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:41:18 -0500

Very cool art from Chinese artist Ai Weiwei. He also is an architect of sorts and collaborated on the Bird’s Nest stadium.

[Dezeen]

I am thrilled that Barack Obama won the presidency yesterday. ...

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:14:57 -0500

I am thrilled that Barack Obama won the presidency yesterday. My faith in this country has been restored and hopefully it will have the same effect across the world. I think President Obama will do a lot to right the mistakes of the past eight years. It’s inspiring to have such a smart, accomplished, self-made and fundamentally decent man as our President. A HUGE step up from George W. Bush.

My only concern is that he comes to the job at an exteremely challenging time and the entire nation and perhaps world has pinned its hopes on him. It’s a lot to live up to but this man has performed beyond everyone’s expectations every single time, so I am sure he’ll do it again. I am also looking forward to 4 years of Biden gaffes, which should provide plenty of fodder for Jon Stewart and others.

I was seriously considering moving back to India if Ms. Palin had been elected Vice-President, so, I am glad that I can continue living here. I also hope John McCain goes back to being himself. He tarnished his record with this ugly campaign and flip-flops on major positions but he’s a great American who has given his life to service and I hope he makes us remember that in the years to come.

Interesting design idea. Packaging that turns into the...

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:21:57 -0500

Interesting design idea. Packaging that turns into the product.

[ApartmentTherapy]

The NYT has a very cool set of New York City cheat sheets from...

Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:47:59 -0400

The NYT has a very cool set of New York City cheat sheets from artist Christoph Niemann.

Very cool Japanese beachfront home featured in the NYT. The...

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:42:21 -0400

Very cool Japanese beachfront home featured in the NYT. The home is very spare and has a limited palate of wood and concrete, which creates a very serene feeling. I’m becoming more of a fan of concrete these days.

Very cool picture of Coney Island. [RubysHost]

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 13:17:13 -0400

Very cool picture of Coney Island.

[RubysHost]

The new Pentagon memorial looks pretty cool. The shapes of the...

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:44:00 -0400

The new Pentagon memorial looks pretty cool. The shapes of the seats relate nicely aircraft wings and the pools of water below each bench should make a striking visual, especially at night.

[DailyDoseOfArchitecture]

Very cool freehand drawings from Sam Messenger. [Art MoCo]

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:09:04 -0400

Very cool freehand drawings from Sam Messenger.

[Art MoCo]

Muji makes homes! If this serene space is any indication, they...

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:08:34 -0400

Muji makes homes! If this serene space is any indication, they do it really well. Here’s hoping they start selling these in the US.

[Dwell]

These Japanese paper plates are fabulous. They take disposable...

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:06:35 -0400

These Japanese paper plates are fabulous. They take disposable stuff to whole new level.

[DesignBoom]

The NYT has a profile on an old Belgian home that has been...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:08:06 -0400

The NYT has a profile on an old Belgian home that has been impeccably renovated. I really like the combination of neutral colors, mid-century furniture and historical details.

This is a beautiful design from Brad Cloepfil. He’s the...

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:36:11 -0400

This is a beautiful design from Brad Cloepfil. He’s the guy who handled the botched renovation of the Edward Durrell Stone building at Columbus Circle but, this is a far more successful effort. It’s a modern but warm design that beautifully integrates the outdoors.

[ApartmentTherapy]

Another interesting one from Herzog and DeMeuron. I’m not...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:41:48 -0400

Another interesting one from Herzog and DeMeuron. I’m not sure I like the triangular structure and it looks a bit massive, but it has the same fractured quality as their new building in Tribeca, which I find interesting.

[Dezeen]

This is another awesome impression from Tina Fey. Sadly, much...

Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:44:24 -0400

This is another awesome impression from Tina Fey. Sadly, much of the answers are almost verbatim. The thing that strikes me after thinking about this a bit is that Palin has been placed in a pretty unfortunate position. She’s clearly unqualified and is being scorned by all sides, which must be tough for her and her family.

Frankly, McCain is the one to blame for yet another cynical and reckless move. I think I used to buy into the principled McCain image but it’s clear that that’s all it is at this point. He’s reversed himself on every major position (gay marriage, women’s rights, supporting the religious extremes, running a principled campaign, etc.) and will clearly do almost anything to get himself elected. Not to say that Obama isn’t political but he’s shown a lot more class thusfar.