Showing posts with label Architecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Architecture. Show all posts

Oct 31, 2012

A Machine for Driving


I’m going to let you in on a little secret about the dreams and desires of architects: the building types that we find the most pleasure in designing are not the ones you would suspect.  Of course, we all have our own individual passions and talents, but for many of us, I can think of one building type that gives us particular satisfaction: the automobile showroom.


So much of our work is (rightly) focused on the comfort and cultivation of people, that perhaps the chance to design a structure solely dedicated to the celebration of machines is a welcome change.


A good example of this is a building that TruexCullins just completed and is now open in South Burlington: the Audi Showroom at 1325 Shelburne Road.  You may have seen this ad recently in the Sunday Burlington Free Press:
 

German cars are known for their superior engineering, but the Audi brand today is just as much about beautiful design as anything else.  And the architecture of the automobile showroom is there to serve one function: to showcase these beautifully designed machines.

The Audi showroom in South Burlington is a pure glass box, with sharp lines and crisp edges that contrast fittingly against the sinuous curves of the automobile. Smooth, rectilinear metal panels wrap a pure geometric form. Large expanses of glass extend all the way to the ground, with no horizontal mullions to obstruct the view into the showroom.  In fact, the mullions are placed on the inside face of the glass to minimize any break in the transparent cube.

The roof passes overhead as a clear horizontal form, floating effortlessly over the glassy showroom, with no need for heavy columns.  This is repeated at the roof of the service bay, where customers take the experience one step further: by driving into the building, their own car becomes the one on display.


Architects’ fascination with cars is nothing new.  The man who started the love affair and introduced architecture to automobiles was the early modernist master Le Corbusier.
 

Corbu claimed that the house was a “machine for living”, and he liked to photograph his buildings with a modern automobile parked in the foreground, such as this famous shot of the 1927 Casa Weissen:


Today, automobile manufacturers themselves are pushing this marriage between architecture and cars, evident by a slew of ads that combine the two.  A good collection of these can be found on a blog by Donnie Silberman, such as this ad for Buick with the car parked in front of David Chipperfield’s World Cup Building in Valencia, Spain:

Or this one with a Nissan Altima at the Diamond Ranch High School by Morphosis:
 

In these ads, the architecture is always modern and linear, portraying a rigid sense of strength.  The buildings set up a sharp contrast with the fluid form of the cars, emphasizing motion and speed.  The architecture here is used to sell cars in print, just as the Audi showroom in South Burlington achieves the same goals in glass and steel.

Oct 16, 2012

A Shaggy Dog Story: The Roland Batten Memorial Lecture 2012


Once again TruexCullins is pleased to be supporting the a
nnual Roland Batten Memorial Lecture on Architecture and Design. This year's event will be held this Wednesday, October 17 at 6:00 pm at 301 Williams Hall on the University of Vermont Campus.  All are welcome to attend.


The guest speaker this year is Architect Louis Mannie Lionni, who will be giving a lecture on the story of our hometown of Burlington, Vermont"Heresies: Cultural Criticism in the Context of the Commercialization, Privatization and Militarization of a Small New England City.  A Shaggy Dog Story."

Louis Mannie Lionni is the Editor and Publisher of 05401, a small town magazine that is "committed to promoting an integrative, multidisciplinary dialogue in the public realm."

In Lionni's Own Words:
Architecture can be thought of as a sub-set of the great synthesizing categories: art, science, politics, sociology, philosophy. But architecture, in its built form, ultimately gives material being to all of these, and preserves and expresses their conflicts and contradictions over time.

Architectural criticism attempts to describe the relationship of the built environment to the existential environment. In formal terms ; in functional terms.

The subject of architectural criticism can range from the structure of poetry to the poetry of structure, from graphic design to urban and regional planning.

05401 ostensibly deals with architecture, planning, food and romance in Burlington, Vermont, on the east coast of Lake Champlain. The thing about it is that I often meet friends who tell me how much they enjoyed (liked) the most recent issue and then ask me without a trace of sarcasm what it’s about. I find that puzzling.

In any case, it would be irresponsible to overlook – in this context – the militarization of our environment, its privatization and commercialization, the F35 controversy and PlanBTV.

The lecture and reception are sponsored by the Roland Batten Memorial Fund, TruexCullins Architecture & Interior Design, and The University of Vermont’s Visiting Artists, Art Critics and Art Historian’s Lecture Series. The events are free and open to the public.


For more information call the UVM Art Department, 802-656-2014.

Sep 13, 2012

Celebrating the work of Rolf Kielman


In the early 1970s, Rolf Kielman joined fellow classmate Terry Jacobs and designed a series of cutting-edge houses that utilized an air panel system for the collection of warm air and a rock box for thermal storage. The Sunpower homes, as they were called, adhered to the design principals of reduced size, improved thermal envelopes and effective siting and orientation. Four of these were built around Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

It is now 40 years later, and Rolf’s portfolio of projects has steadily grown to include numerous energy-positive homes, hotels and resorts that are naturally wedded to their environment, and cultural and civic buildings that galvanize communities. His work includes creatively branded workspaces, custom designed furniture and architectural follies. His urban planning projects are instantly recognizable as some of our most notable public spaces.

Please join us on Friday September 21st to celebrate this 40 year span of impressive work by Rolf Kielman. We are hosting a reception from 5 to 8pm with an exhibit of his architecture in our office on Battery Street.

If you stopped by last week during the Art Hop, you were able to catch a sneak preview of the show. Throughout the exhibit, the thoughtful and artful communication of each design is clearly evident, from beautifully drawn sketches and original watercolors to handmade wood models, including some specifically commissioned for this event.

While we may marvel at his craft, anyone who knows Rolf can attest that his “living legacy” reaches beyond just the architectural work he produces. Much of his energy today directly touches people’s lives through his work with local community organizations such as the Committee on Temporary Shelter, the King Street Youth Center, the 52 Kids Foundation, the Howard Center, and many more.

Rolf continues to be a creative designer, inspiring leader and gracious mentor for all of us at TruexCullins. And next Friday we do hope you’ll join us to recognize his talents and celebrate his 40 years (and counting!) of architecture and craft.



 

Aug 29, 2012

20 Years of Art Hop / 40 Years of Rolf


We love this time of year in Vermont. The air turns cooler, students return to their classes, and we ready ourselves for the busy fall season. And the big event in Burlington that always kicks things off is the South End Art Hop.

Once again, TruexCullins is pleased to be participating in this year's Art Hop, with an exhibit in our office on Battery Street on Friday Sept 7 and Saturday Sept 8. We are site # 50 on your Art Hop map, so please stop by when you're out enjoying the festivities on Friday night.
 

This is a big year for the Art Hop, and it's a big year for us. 2012 is the 20th year for the Art Hop, and for the occasion we are celebrating 40 years of architecture by Rolf Kielman. 

On display in our office will be an exhibit of drawings, photographs and models that span the 40 years of Rolf's work, from 1972 to the present. Our office will be open Friday night for the opening reception from 5 to 8pm. Then on Saturday, our doors will be open again for public viewing from 10am to 3pm.


If you miss the events this weekend, fear not. The exhibit will be up throughout the month of September and can be seen any time during regular office hours. More exciting events are also in store for later in the month, so stay tuned.

Aug 9, 2012

Respecting Victorian Design


This summer we are working on the interior design for the renovation of a Victorian mansion dating from 1885.  This has sparked our interest in the history of this British-born architectural style.

Most people associate Victorian design with a grand excess of ornament, an arbitrary over-abundance of decoration.  But the real story of Victorian design is much broader and deeper than most people probably realize.  Some even attribute the Victorian era with being the first chapter (or perhaps prologue) to today’s modern design.

The Victorian period is named for Queen Victoria, and coincides with her tenure from when she was crowned in 1837 until her death in 1901.  This was a time of great upheaval, as the industrial revolution brought about major changes to just about every aspect of British life.

If you watched the opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics from London last week, you probably caught the tribute to the Industrial Revolution, which started in the United Kingdom and eventually spread to the rest of the world.  This was a time of remarkable inventions and engineering marvels.  Architecturally, this technological revolution was evident in structures such as the glass roof of the Crystal Palace in 1854, or the iron spire of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.

Crystal Palace, Joseph Paxton, 1854
But the speed of change during this time is best illustrated by the arrival of the steam train, which gave people the ability to suddenly travel great distances.  As people were exposed to new worlds they borrowed pieces of new and different architectural styles.  This was a period of eclectic design.  Historic styles were mixed with foreign influences, such as neoGothic, Romanesque, Japanese and Egyptian.

Trinity Church, H.H. Richardson, 1872-1877
These imported styles were used to rebel against industrialization.  With change comes resistance to change, and the resistance to the Industrial Revolution was expressed in romantic or “picturesque” design.  It is this tension between the practical and the ideal which led to some of the best examples of architecture and design of the Victorian era.

The structure that best symbolized this tension between practical, efficient engineering and the romantic ideal of picturesque design was perhaps the Brooklyn Bridge, built from 1870 to 1883.  Its arcing cables speak the language of utility:  machine-made, functional, and efficient.  The neo-Gothic brick piers speak the language of ideal beauty: hand-laid bricks forming lofty arches that evoke Old World cathedrals.

Brooklyn Bridge, John Roebling, 1883

These themes in Victorian architecture applied to all aspects of design: industrial design, furniture, graphic design …  even fashion.  Technological advances in fabrication combined with romantic notions of design in the bentwood chairs by Michael Thonet.


The Victorian curve showed up on everything from typefaces to teaspoons and women’s corsets.  Some of this still lives with us today: the classic Coca-Cola bottle came later, in 1915, but the design was based on this ideal curve from the Victorian age.

The Victorian era eventually led to the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, and early modern design. (evident in such pieces as the bentwood furniture of Charles and Ray Eames.)  Even today, when we pick up our iPhone, we are reminded of the marriage between technology and ideal humanist design.  And it was during the reign of a British queen over a century ago that these themes were first born.

May 8, 2012

Coming Events: Architecture and Design 2012


There are some exciting events coming up for our architecture and design community in Burlington and beyond. Here's a look ahead to some of them:

May 10: PKN-BTV Vol. 7

The next PechaKucha event is this Thursday at the Fleming Museum. If you've been to one of these before, you know that it is a fun, energetic night of wildly divergent and interesting presentations. This is volume 7 of the Burlington event, with another great line-up planned.


For the uninitiated, here's the official scoop: PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. It has turned into a massive celebration, with events happening in hundreds of cities around the world, inspiring creatives worldwide. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of conversation ("chit chat"), it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It's a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace.

More info at:  http://pecha-kucha.org/night/burlington-vt/


May 24: Bennington College Campus Tour
Our local AIA branches in Vermont, New Hampshire and Western Massachusetts are presenting an afternoon of presentations and tours at one of the country's highest rated colleges in terms of building and campus design.  Building tours on the Bennington College campus include projects by Tod Williams + Billie Tsien, Robertson Ward, Kyu Sung Woo, and Edward Larrabee Barnes.


The event occurs from 3:30 to 7:45pm and is good for 3 AIA HSW SD learning units. To register, visit: http://aiavtnhwm.eventbrite.com/  For more details, click to enlarge the poster below:




October 19-21: AIA New England Conference & Design Awards

Finally, we have a look forward to this fall's big event for AIA Vermont: the AIA New England Conference & Design Awards Program on Oct. 19-21, 2012 at the Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Burlington. For us Burlingtonians, we are not only looking forward to the great workshops, lectures, and tours planned, but also to the opportunity to show off our award-winning city to our friends from across New England.

T
his will be the height of the fall foliage season in Vermont, so if you're planning on attending from out of state, make your hotel reservations now and lock in the conference rate.

For more details, visit: 
http://www.aiavt.org/aiane_conf/




May 4, 2012

Chelsea Street Ribbon Cutting


The Vermont Law School has just announced that
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, Gov. Peter Shumlin, Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber and other officials will attend the ribbon cutting of VLS's new Center for Legal Services at 11:30 a.m., Friday, May 18.

The historic building at 190 Chelsea St. underwent a $3.5 million renovation to convert it into the new home for the South Royalton Legal Clinic and the Environmental
and Natural Resources Law Clinic. The two clinics provide millions of dollars of free legal services to needy families, community groups and others in the name of environmental stewardship, social justice and public interest.

The ribbon cutting and a tour of the building are free and open to the public.
 


You can find a brief description of our work on this project on our website.  You can also read about the new center for legal services and the story of the Legal Clinic in an article posted on the VLS website.


Apr 10, 2012

The Architecture of Happiness

posted by Matthew Bushey


There is one book that has been making the rounds at our office, adopted as a sort of unofficial guide to architectural style and beauty. It has been recommended at office gatherings, shared between coworkers, and gifted to interns when they leave our firm to prepare for the next stage in their design career.

This is The Architecture of Happiness, by the Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton.


The book is built on the premise that our moods are directly affected by the nature of the furniture, buildings and streets that surround us. In fact, we are influenced so much so by our built environment that it actually shapes us into the person we become.


You may recognize The Architecture of Happiness from the feature role it played in the 2009 boy-meets-girl movie 500 Days of Summer. The book was favored by the film’s protagonist, a young architect-in-training who eventually gives it to his elusive love interest, the quirky hipster played by Zooey Deschanel.


Just as these two were searching for true happiness in life, De Botton sets out on his own search in the pages of this book, exploring the history of architectural style and uncovering what it is that makes a building beautiful. The answer comes into focus about a third of the way in, when De Botton quotes the 19th-century French writer Stendhal in saying, “Beauty is the promise of happiness”:


His aphorism has the virtue of differentiating our love of beauty from an academic preoccupation with aesthetics, and integrating it instead with the qualities we need to prosper as whole human beings. If the search for happiness is the underlying quest of our lives, it seems only natural that it should simultaneously be the essential theme to which beauty alludes. … To call a work of architecture or design beautiful is to recognize it as a rendition of values critical to our flourishing, a transubstantiation of our individual ideals in a material medium.
This is the main argument of the book.  When we think of a building – or a chair, or a door, or a fence post – as beautiful, it is because we see in it the promise of happiness.  Or to put it another way: the promise of living the good life.

So how is a set of human ideals translated into the abstract artform of architecture? In the past, it was easy. You would follow one of the classical orders, with precisely tapered columns and carefully proportioned pediments. It was all thoroughly prescribed in the widely accepted books of architecture by masters such as Vitruvius, Alberti and Palladio.


Later, in the 20th century, the science of engineering eclipsed the master Architect. Minimalism and functionality ruled the day. A bridge was seen as beautiful if it made a graceful span with the lightest of materials, without any extraneous ornament or decoration. The prevailing belief was that for a structure to be honest, it would perform its mechanical functions efficiently. This philosophy was promoted by the Godfather of modernism, Le Corbusier, and epitomized by his most notable residence, Villa Savoye. The fact that the roof leaked incessantly and rendered the place inhabitable did little to affect the architect who famously professed that a building was a machine for living.

Le Corbusier, living room, Villa Savoye, Poissy, 1931
From here, De Botton presents a different perspective which is not restricted to the tenets of classicism or modernism. His argument is that the beauty of architecture manifests itself when a building communicates the idea of happiness. But how does this happen?

It may be anthropometric – when buildings exhibit an often literal representation of a living form – or psychological – when the human spirit itself is interpreted in bricks and mortar. Examples abound. The rounded arches of a Roman loggia convey serenity and poise, while the pointed arches of Gothic cathedral speak of ardour and intensity. “We can be moved by a column that meets a roof with grace, by worn stone steps that hint at wisdom and by a Georgian doorway that demonstrates playfulness and courtesy in its fanlight window.” De Botton goes on to describe the virtues of buildings that facilitate this conversation: order, balance, elegance and coherence.
Ducal Palace, Urbino
Thomas Leverton, fanlight window, Bedford Square, 1783
The Architecture of Happiness is organized as a sequence of ideas which eventually build into a recipe for reading our built environment. In the end, De Botton presents examples of contemporary architecture from Japan, Switzerland and the Netherlands that embody many of these characteristics. These buildings succeed in carrying the valuable lessons of the past while leading us into a “restless, global future”. They respond to the past without being nostalgic. They adapt to the local vernacular while exhibiting a universal appeal. And now I know why they make me happy.

Peter Zumthor, Gugalun House, Versam, 1994

Mar 21, 2012

Two Vermont Schools gear up for Solar Decathlon 2013


As a dedicated reader of the TruexCullins Blog, you must know we are big fans of the Solar Decathlon, the biennial competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy that pits 20 collegiate teams against each other to design and build a fully self-sufficient solar powered home.  After all, we wrote about the event here, here, herehere, and, oh... here.

Last year was the fifth Solar Decathlon competition since its inaugural run in 2002.  And last year a Vermont school was admitted for the first time: Middlebury College, a small liberal arts school that has no professional architecture program to speak of.  In fact, since the Solar Decathlon began 10 years ago, Middlebury was the first liberal arts college to ever enter alone, without teaming up with a larger architecture or engineering University program.  Despite this underdog status, Middlebury managed to come in an impressive fourth place overall. And of the 10 competitions, they scored first in 3 of them: Market Appeal; Communications; and Home Entertainment (which was partially based on a dinner party featuring a home-cooked Vermont meal).

The plans are being drawn up now for the next Solar Decathlon, being held October 3-13, 2013.  For the first time, the event is moving away from the National Mall and heading west, where it will make a new home in California, at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, just south of Los Angeles.

The 20 student teams chosen to participate have just been announced, and we are happy to see that two Vermont schools will be competing this time.  Middlebury College will be returning to build on their successes from last year, and they will be joined by Norwich University. Norwich has a bachelor’s and Master’s program in Architecture, and we know they have been planning for the Solar Decathlon for a while now.

It will be exciting to see Vermont so well represented in the field of renewables on this national stage, and we wish the best of luck to both schools!




Feb 28, 2012

Stowe Home featured in Vermont Magazine


One of our recent residential projects has just been published in the latest issue of Vermont Magazine. 

“At Home in Vermont” tells the story of how this family’s home began from the small-house plans that Lee and Rolf developed during the depths of the housing crash in 2008.  The design was then tailored to the site and personalized for this client, who wanted an energy-efficient home that could support an active lifestyle.

Designed To Be Tops,
  from the Bottom Up
The concept for this home was one of a small, energy-efficient house that blended in with the land.

Lee Grutchfield likes to think that the path that led to his becoming an architect, and Principal with TruexCullins Architecture in Burlington, might be part of a tradition steeped in New England craftsmanship: apprenticeship, in which a potential architect learns to make a building from the ground up. Through hands-on experience, he believes an architect learns to intuitively understand acoustics, structural principles, mathematics, and the workings of natural light. Lee should know; he spent 14 years working as a carpenter prior to studying architecture at Norwich University, where he earned his master’s degree.








To read the rest of the article, pick up the March/April 2012 issue of Vermont Magazine at a newsstand near you!

Feb 22, 2012

Working Fireplaces


Yesterday we looked at some of our favorite fireplaces from a few of our recent residential projects. At this time of year, we are reminded that a fireplace can be both the physical and emotional center of a home, providing warmth for the building and the soul.

But our fireplace designs show up in our other studios as well: workplace, education and resort projects. 

You wouldn't normally expect to see a large custom fireplace in an office space, but at many of the workspaces we've designed, you would see just that. The fireplace provides an opportunity to set a company apart from the rest. It can reinforce a brand identity that – especially in Vermont - may be focused on a natural, outdoor lifestyle. Or it may simply be a way to promote more social interaction, both internally among employees but also with customers and guests.

At the Burton headquarters here in Burlington, a curved stone fireplace with an integrated tall stack of firewood is the dominant feature in the main entrance lobby, wrapping the entire side of the room. This is what guests experience when they first enter the space. The fireplace instantly sets the mood for this edgy company that fully celebrates winter.

Our biggest custom fireplace project in recent history is probably the Lake Placid Lodge. The original lodge was built in 1882 and was destroyed (ironically, by fire) in 2005. TruexCullins designed a new lodge in a style true to the original Adirondack heritage. There are 35 guest suites in the main Inn, each one with a unique stone fireplace that adds to the rustic elegance and mountain feel. Exterior fireplaces also occupy spaces around the building, at sitting areas that overlook the Lake, such as this one:

Notice the impressive stonework, all laid by hand. We were very pleased with the work of the local craftspeople on the job. Each of the fireplaces were finished with uniquely designed stone surrounds, mantles and hearths. Our design drawings –also individually crafted by hand – communicated this design intent to the builders in fairly specific detail.


The last project we want to share is a completely different aesthetic than the rustic Adirondack feel of the Lake Placid Lodge. Our Interiors department designed these fireplaces for the Portland Harbor Hotel in a soothing contemporary style befitting this oceanside property.

Six new suites were added to the hotel in a four-story contemporary wing served by a private elevator. In the Executive King Suite, the room is split into separate sitting and sleeping zones with a see-thru double-sided glass fireplace. This is a gas fireplace by Town and Country, with the "Tranquility Burner" of river rocks and white sand for a very clean and contemporary look. The fireplace is built into a custom wood casepiece of golden walnut wood paneling.


Downstairs, the in-house restaurant Eve's on the Garden was completely reconfigured to improve service for all three meals of the day. Our design for the new dining room included the addition of another new fireplace in the center of the space. This is also a double-sided, see-thru unit, facing the entrance to the restaurant, with the main bar behind. Similar wood paneling was used at the surround, but with more traditional detailing and a nod to the nautical spirit of the Portland coast. Here, the surround is tiled with a tumbled mosaic Mexican limestone, and a replica Schooner is perched on the mantle to complete the look.


A proper fireplace does more than just provide heat. It is often the physical and indeed, spiritual center of the home (or business). A warm fire brings people together, but can also be a vehicle for personal reflection. A well-designed fireplace provides comfort, therapy and peace.

Feb 21, 2012

Home is Where the Hearth Is


There may not be much snow on the ground this year, but there is still a chill in the air that reminds us of one reason we love winter so much: this is the time of year that we enjoy gathering around the fireplace.

As architects and designers working in a northern climate, we have designed many custom fireplaces that occupy a prominent place in our projects. We thought it would be fun to take a look at some of our favorites:



This is one of our newest projects: a home in Stowe that was just recently completed, built by Grist Mill Builders.  The Owner's son is an avid rockclimber and is practiving his moves on the face of the exterior fireplace at the covered patio.

This is a double-sided indoor-outdoor fireplace. On the opposite side, the fireplace faces the living room, with the same stonework rising to the exposed wood timbers at the ceiling.


The combination of stone and wood is a theme we often return to. In this next example, the stone fireplace is flanked by custom wood casework with dedicated space for firewood storage. A copper-lined box incorporated into the base of the wall provides a functional need – with logs close at hand – and becomes a prominent design feature of its own.


Sometimes it is desirable to close off the firebox opening when it is not in use. In this home in Jeffersonville, these fire doors are engineered for easy operation, and are designed to be a beautiful addition to the composition, even when closed. 


A mechanical fire gate closes off the opening with the turn of a crank handle set into the stone surround. The operation is assisted by a pulley system with concealed counterweights. The doors are faced with annealed copper, in a design that mirrors the view of the mountain range visible from this Great Room.


Not all of the residential fireplaces we design consist of a traditional stone surround. This is one residence that was recently mentioned on the popular website Houzz.com for the contemporary wood stove that terminates the main living space:



The author noted the location of this fireplace within the seating arrangement and pointed out that we made the modern stove the focal point of the living area by centering it, creating a dark, dramatic wall shield and flanking it with bookshelves.

Whether traditional, contemporary, or Classic Vermont, these fireplaces all serve as the heart of the home. But the fireplace is not confined to our residential work. Come back tomorrow and we'll continue this winter theme with a look at some of our favorite fireplace designs in our workplace, education and resort studio projects.


Dec 14, 2011

Unassisted Living


One of our residential projects has just been published in a book on homes that support the active lifestyles of the aging Baby Boomers generation. Unassisted Living, Ageless Homes for Later Life is a collection of homes that offer an alternative to traditional senior housing.

The Shelburne residence by TruexCullins is included as one of the examples in the book, and is featured on the book’s cover.

This multi-generational residence was the recipient of the 2009 Award for Excellence in Architecture by the Vermont chapter of the AIA.  It is a home for three generations, with a common entry that provides separate access to private living spaces for the grandparents and children.


From the publisher:
Unassisted Living documents the shift away from the senior housing that promoted disengagement toward architecture and design that promote active aging. The book is organized in six sections, corresponding to the concerns and special interests of Boomers—those who intend to remain in an urban setting, those concerned with sustainability, those with complex families and non-traditional households, and those who seek a community based on spirituality or shared interests.

Boomers are perhaps the largest generational cohort the United States has ever seen. Numbering some 78 million people born between 1946 and 1964, Boomers are not accepting traditional retirement or “senior housing” and are instead determined to remain active and engaged professionally and socially.

The 240-page hardcover book is written by Jeffrey Rosenfeld and Wid Chapman, and published by Monacelli Press.  You can purchase it online thru amazon.com or at your favorite local bookseller!