CONTENT has been asked to assist with the renovation of a building on Sunset Boulevard in California. We have teamed up with the exciting development group of New MGMT to renovate the existing concrete building shell into 16 condominiums with patios overlooking the water. CONTENT has been charged with the interior detailing, millwork and material coordination. We're looking forward seeing the fantastic finish combinations and detailing breathe new life into this project.

<< Arctic Architecture: Svalbard. Credit: Wes Milholen    >> Svalbard Global Seed Vault (aka the "Doomsday Vault") in Longyearbyen. Credit: Mari Tefre

Wes is currently raising funds to support three weeks of Arctic exploration as a partipant in The Arctic Circle residency program. His research will will become the foundation of his new book, Arctic Architecture: Svalbard:

The book will focus on the impact of more than 400 years of human activity on the Spitsbergen archipelago, and explore how future human settlement  — an inevitable consequence of climate change and intensified resource extraction in the Arctic — can be carried out in ways that cause the least environmental harm. In addition to maps, diagrams, written documentation, and photography of the landscape and existing settlements, the book will outline best practices for building in this climate and include proposals for new construction or rehabilitation of existing sites in the archipelago.

Want to someday own a copy of this book like we do?!  You can help make it possible by visiting the Arctic Architecture Kickstarter page and making a contribution. 

The event will take place on Saturday, May 5th and will coincide with the Sustainable Living Fest in Market Square Park. 

The Houston Loft is located in the historic Hermann Lofts building, originally built in 1917. The unit has spectacular views of the city to the South, West, and North.

A few aspects of this project you shouldn't miss: The kitchen cabinets are laminated with a thin porcelain tile veneer called Lammax, and the owner commissioned Bob Card to create several beautiful reclaimed wood furniture pieces. 

For tickets, visit The Houston Downtown Alliance's event page. Hope to see everyone downtown this Cinco de Mayo!

                  

On Saturday, CONTENT teamed up with Bailey Architects to repair and paint Ollie Logan's house in Houston's 5th ward as part of a record-setting workday organized by Rebuilding Together Houston. Our team was tasked with replacing Ollie's rotting siding and trim and giving the whole house a fresh coat of paint.

In total, Rebuilding Together Houston mobilized 56 work crews, over 1,000 private sector volunteers, to repair and revitalize homes in Houston's fourth and fifth wards Saturday. We're so happy to have been a part of this great work and thank Bailey Architects for letting us join their crew.

For more on Saturdays acheivements, check out this Houston Chronicle write-up on the event. 

SHoP Architects, Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis, Neil Denari Architects, Interloop—Architecture and Snøhetta

More impressive than the proposals to our eyes was the obvious interest in the next opportunity to bring noteworthy architecture to Houston as evidenced by the crowd that gathered. We had our differing opinions about the merits of the designs but our friend Ben Koush published his own opinions humorously and succinctly here.

Metro is soliciting public opinion so follow this link to cast your own vote before Feb 15th, 2012

...And as if this wasn't excitement enough shortly after the event the Museum of Fine Arts Houston announced that Steven Holl would be designing the new museum wing. Mr Holl will be joining a campus with buildings by Mies van der Rohe, Rafael Moneo and our own Carlos Jimenez. Move over Columbus, watch your back Chicago, Houston is on the move!

Linoleum, first manufactured in 1863, is made from natural materials including linseed oil, resins, recycled wood flour, cork dust, limestone and mineral pigments, and is typically mounted on a jute backing. The finished product has natural bactericidal and anti-static properties that reduce the presence of dust and dirt and the subsequent growth of household mites and bacteria.  It is fully biodegradable and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.  

Be careful to not confuse linoleum with vinyl composition tile (VCT), a widely available tile manufactured from petrochemical products. Vinyl flooring products gained popularity in the early 30s as a less expensive and relatively less flammable alternative to linoleum. Unfortunately the fire retardant chemicals used to protect VCT release toxic compounds in the event of a fire.  

Another drawback to VCT is that its color or pattern is limited to the top layer of the tile. If that top layer is scuffed or damaged, the tile will most likely need to be replaced. On the other hand, Linoleum is a homogenous product with pigment that runs throughout the thickness of the tile making it much more resistant to daily wear.

Vinyl products are flexible and relatively easy to install while the rigidity of linoleum sheets and tile products make installation more difficult. Most manufacturers recommend that linoleum be installed by a trained professional, possibly increasing your cost per square foot.  However, Forbo, the largest manufacturer of linoleum in the world, recently developed Marmoleum Click,  a linoleum tile mounted on high density fiberboard. Click tiles are great becuase they eliminate the need for adhesives and are easy enough for a DIYer to install. 

At an install cost of around $6/sf and lifespan of several decades, linoleum is one of the least expensive, longest lasting sustainable building products on the market. It is easy to clean and appropriate in wet or high traffic areas. We know you're imagining your grandma's kitchen, but we think linoleum deserves a second look!

To purchase Marmoleum in Houston, visit New Living in Rice Village. Other linoleum manufacturers to consider include Armstrong and Johnsonite.  

CONTENT will be closed December 26 + 27. 

Newspaper Wood by Vij5 is created by gluing many layers of newspaper together and rolling them into a Newspaper wood log. The finished product behaves much like real wood in that it can be cut, milled, and sanded. We love that the layered cross-section appears similar to wood grain or tree rings. 

Paper-wood by Drill Design adds distinction to traditional plywood by alternating wood veneers with brightly colored paper.