Hotel Vermont Attracting International Attention

We were pleased to see a wonderful review of the recently opened Hotel Vermont in this past weekend's Montreal Gazette. The hotel is gaining national and international attention as more people experience this unique, independent, Very Vermont hotel.

The Montreal Gazette calls it a "woodsy and trendy" hip venue. "An artisan project from furniture to food." The author was a guest of the hotel and goes on to write: "Burlington’s first contemporary boutique property, the Hotel Vermont opened this year with a singular dedication to regional products, individual craftsmanship and eco-consciousness."

You can read the whole Montreal Gazette article online.

Hotel Vermont was also earlier previewed in Lodging Magazine, the official magazine of the American Hotel + Lodging Association.

The May 2013 issue featured a rendering of the Deluxe King guestroom, released before the hotel opened. "A Vermont Vignette" provided a sneak peak of the guestroom with its custom bed and casework furnishings, overlooking Lake Champlain.

A longer article was published on the Lodging Magazine website: Hotel Vermont Opens as Burlington's First Independent Hotel.

Furnishings for Introverts Revealed at Neocon 2013

by Matt Bushey

At NeoCon 2013 in Chicago last week, the contract furniture industry rolled out their latest products, and I noticed one major recurring theme: furnishings that create private spaces for individuals and small group meetings, free from the distractions of the open office:

These plush booths by the contemporary Swiss furniture company Vitra are perfect for a cozy meeting with colleagues when a little more privacy is called for.  Named the Alcove Cabin, this high-backed booth creates a room of its own that wraps around you on all sides.  This is one line in what Vitra refers to as "Meet and Retreat" spaces in the modern office.

In the Business section of today's Burlington Free Press, I talk about the need to design workspaces like this that are appropriate for both extroverts and introverts.  And based on what I saw in Chicago, many of the furniture manufacturers are getting the message.

Read on for the full story, with more examples of furniture for introverts and extroverts at the end of the article:


Space for Introverts and Extroverts
Workspaces increasingly strive to provide a balance between collaboration and concentration 

Every company is comprised of individuals, each with their own personalities, work styles, and preferences. So how do we craft one space that meets the needs of such a diverse group?

At the recent Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility spring conference, I led a workshop on designing workspaces to provide a balance between collaboration and concentration, and one of the most compelling questions we heard was how to provide space that is effective for both introverts and extroverts.

True extroverts are gregarious, social, and assertive. Extroverts are outgoing and comfortable expressing themselves, and they tend to be good at multitasking and handling large amounts of information at once.

However, an estimated 30- 50% of the people we work with are introverts. In general, introverts prefer one-on-one conversations to group activities, tend to think before they speak, and work best focused on a single task with few interruptions.

In business, as in life, we need both types of people: those who speak freely and those who think deeply. Studies have shown that the most productive teams are those that combine both introverts and extroverts, and the most effective leaders are those who can bring out the talents of all.

The modern office has become more open and fluid to promote teamwork and collaboration but this has introduced challenges for meeting individual’s needs since introverts and extroverts exhibit different work styles and react differently to their physical surroundings.

How do these differences manifest themselves in the workplace? One theory is that extroverts excel in the open plan because they thrive from the multiple interactions within one space. They draw creative energy from chance encounters and group collaboration. Introverts, on the other hand, prefer to retreat to a secluded space where they can focus on individual tasks without distraction.

An opposing theory claims the exact opposite: that introverts actually work better in an open plan because they have an innate ability to block out noise and distractions. They can shut out their surroundings and look into themselves to accomplish their work. According to this theory, extroverts are at a disadvantage because they are more easily distracted by all of the activity surrounding them.

Whichever may be the case, I am increasingly recommending "flexible", open plans with a mix of spaces to support different tasks and personalities. This concept was evident last week in Chicago at NeoCon World Trade Fair, North America's largest design expo for commercial interiors. Here, more than 700 manufacturers release their new products each year, much of it based on research related to ergonomics, human psychology, and work styles.

In past years, the emphasis was on ‘benching’, long open tables where rows of workers sit side-by-side with no separation. This year, however, the focus was on furnishings and systems that provide greater individual privacy, such as 4-person booths with tall panels that wrap around three sides, and chairs with felt-lined canopies that can muffle a private phone call.

Some of these solutions are practical and some are playful, but they all aim to create peaceful spaces that offer visual and acoustical privacy within a louder open plan. This is a clear acknowledgement that workers have varying space needs as they perform different tasks throughout the day, and people perform better in different environments depending on their personality type: introvert, extrovert, or something in between.



Coalesse, a division of Steelcase, released the Massaud Lounge chair at NeoCon this year.  This "privacy pod" features a flip-down hood that masks your vision and voice.  Inside, an iPad mounts to the felted canopy for some private facetime or Skype sessions.

Another example of space-making for introverts: This high-backed booth by Bretford, where 4 people can meet in relative privacy.  The furniture is embedded with power and USB ports for charging your mobile devices.

A Refined Vermont Office Interior

We recently completed this office fitup for a local asset management firm in Burlington, and we're happy to share these new photos of the completed space. We spent all day with Jim Westphalen, our go-to photographer, who captured these beautiful images of the space as the sunlight streamed in over the lake.

The space looks out over the Burlington waterfront, with views of the horizon over Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks beyond. Our design was therefore inspired by the surrounding landscape of the Lake Champlain basin and is a celebration of our Vermont culture and local community. Natural, local materials were used to give the space a true Vermont flavor, local craftspeople were engaged in the production of furnishings and casegoods, and the workplace was designed to support one of Vermont's strongest values: teamwork.

The reception area features hardwood Butternut flooring by Vermont Wildwoods which was salvaged from the Vermont forest floor and re-milled into an engineered product. The custom casework and reception desk flanking the reception area are faced with panels of Champlain Marble, quarried from the Lake Champlain Basin. A billowing ceiling of cloth panels provides a contrasting softness to the space and alludes to the gentle sailboats on Lake Champlain.

Much of the custom furniture and casegoods were made by Lyndon Furniture, a Vermont company that we have worked with on other projects of ours. The reception desk and lobby shelves are made from FSC-certified Red Birch which matches the beams above. Other tables and case pieces in the adjoining spaces are made of solid Walnut.

The space is also a good example of a design that promotes collaboration in the workplace, with open work areas and shared meeting and lounge spaces located in prime locations for adhoc team work. The library provides a quiet area for focused, concentrated work or small group meetings, and the War Room supports teams of 8 to 10 with interactive technology that fosters group discussion and out-of-the-box problem solving.

This project is on track to receive LEED certification under the LEED for Commercial Interiors program.

Three Perfect Tables for the Home

Are you looking for the perfect table? In the Perspectives column of the latest issue of New England Home magazine, Kim Deetjen was asked to share her recommendations for tables in three different rooms of the house: the entry, dining room and living room.

For the entry table and coffee table, Kim picked two pieces by Maxine Snider that have classic detailing with a slight modern or whimsical touch.

For the dining room, Kim picked a round table by the Martin Group with pie-shaped veneers and ebonized inlays. This table expands concentrically, with leaves that attach to the perimeter, so the table is just as beautiful when you need to expand your surface to accommodate the extra guests at your holiday meal.

Read more in the March/April 2012 issue of New England Home, or visit them on their website. The Perspectives column can be found under "Designer Picks" in the Art & Style section.

Collaboration in the Workplace

The biggest buzzword in workplace design these days is collaboration.  And for good reason: the nature of the workplace is changing, with an increased focus on teamwork and informal interaction.

There are many factors driving this change. Younger Gen X and Gen Y workers tend to be more social, and more comfortable working in groups. Advancements in technology have eliminated some of the traditional constraints of space use, such as being tethered to a desk. And organizations everywhere are dealing with an economy that begs for a more productive use of real estate.

Collaboration is not the same thing as attending a formal meeting. The kind of workplace collaboration that we are talking about is the spontaneous, informal interaction that occurs between coworkers at unplanned moments. There is an increased recognition that the most creative problem-solving does not occur by an individual behind closed doors, but rather by a group effort of people putting their heads together.

Private space for concentrated work is still needed, but the traditional office and meeting room are increasingly being supplemented by more flexible, open spaces that allow for spontaneous collaboration.

Here are three examples from some recent projects of ours that we designed to facilitate collaboration in the workplace. For these examples, we will look at three different space types: an open office area; an employee cafeteria; and a pair of nontraditional meeting rooms.

AN ORGANIC PLAN

The conventional office cubicle is not very conducive to group work. Partitions are too high for interacting with your neighbor in any meaningful way, and the repetitive rows of desks and panels stifle individuality and creativity.

At the Institute for Sustainable Communities, we designed a workplace environment that breaks out of the “cubicles” box and promotes collaboration through the creation of “in-between” spaces. (click to enlarge)

The ISC is a global non-profit organization that helps communities around the world address environmental, economic and social challenges. At their headquarters in Montpelier, we designed an office landscape using new and reused components in a seemingly random pattern. Unlike a conventional plan, where rows of workstations mean everyone sits facing the same direction, at the ISC the desks are arranged so that each workstation is spatially unique. 

This layout accomplishes a few things. By breaking the line of sight and giving each person a unique perspective, a certain sense of privacy is achieved, without having to resort to 60” high panels.

The scattered layout also creates plenty of “in-between” spaces that welcome collaboration. Here, it is not necessary to walk into someone’s personal space to speak with them. And conversely, the spaces in-between do not feel like a regular hallway that says “keep walking”. The in-between spaces are welcoming to someone who’d like to pull up a chair or simply ask a question.

The ISC is a non-profit organization, so maximizing their space was very important. According to conventional logic, any plan that varies from a regular grid of cubicles will automatically be less efficient. This plan proves that this need not be the case. The “irregular” layout here actually provided more seating than what they previously had. This is partly due to a more efficient use of circulation space. By blurring the edges around the workstations, we were able to “steal” the adjoining circulation space and claim it for dedicated workspace.

I also love how organic this plan seems, a fitting attribute for a group that at its most basic level is helping communities grow. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Collaboration doesn’t have to occur at your desk or in a meeting room. In fact, the interactions that often yield the most creative results are those that happen unexpectedly, when two or more people exchange ideas while in a social setting such as a café or cafeteria.

It can also be most beneficial when people collaborate with others outside of their own working group. Coming together with people from different areas of a company can lead to a more complete and thought-out solution to a problem. (We see this also in educational institutions with the rise of interdisciplinary studies.)

TruexCullins recently served as the design architects for the new company headquarters of the Sabra Dipping Company. Their new LEED Silver-certified headquarters in Colonial Heights, Virginia employs 260 people in administration, research and development, and manufacturing. The facility includes office space, manufacturing and packaging, and a kitchen lab where they test new flavors of hummus, salsa, and dips.

So where is the one place that everyone can come together, regardless of whether they work in the offices, the labs, or on the factory floor? The company cafeteria.

The Sabra cafeteria is designed to be welcoming. There is no door. The layout of the corridor and the design of the materials on the floor and walls naturally lead you in to the space.

In fact, the cafeteria beckons you as soon as you enter the building. When entering the front reception area, guests and employees are met with a filtered view into the café through a glass display wall. These shelves are lined with canisters of colorful ingredients that are used in Sabra products.

Once inside the cafeteria, a variety of seating options allow for different kinds of casual meetings. The space is flooded with natural light, and the colors and forms make this a lively, engaging space. The curves inscribed into the marmoleum floor are a reference to the curves in the Sabra logo, reinforcing the company’s brand.

A curved bar with seating is located at the head of the room, which doubles as a presentation counter. This was designed to accommodate cooking demonstrations which would be televised. Lighting, background materials, and camera angles were all considered. Overall, it is an active, engaging, multi-purpose space that promotes collaboration among all Sabra employees and their guests.

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

The most valuable real estate in a commercial building has traditionally been the corner office. With views in two directions, this is a space that has status, prestige, and is usually beyond the reach of all but the top executives in a company.

The last of our three examples of workplace collaboration is from a tenant fit-up project for a local financial management firm. Their new offices are currently under construction in a downtown building on the top floor. The best real estate in this building is along the western side, with floor-to-ceiling storefront glazing that overlooks Lake Champlain. And of these spaces facing the lake, the best of the best are at the two corners, with sweeping panoramic views and direct access to outdoor rooftop terraces.  

But instead of reserving these rooms for private offices, both corners are made available for everyone to use, consciously designed to foster collaboration, where people can be free and unburdened to work together dynamically.

At the northwest corner, the Library is a room for both private concentration and small group meetings. This is a casual space with comfortable seating, dimmable lighting, and a stone fireplace with built-in wood casework on each side for books and reference materials.  It is a quiet space that offers a retreat from the main office. And with an all-glass façade and doors that open out to a rooftop terrace, it will surely become a destination for everyone who works here.

Rooms like this are important for informal meetings, where workers may feel they can discuss things more freely than in a formal meeting. And because it is a non-scheduled space, people can come together in a relaxed environment at a moment’s notice.

The counterpoint to this space is the “team room” at the southwest corner of the building. In this room, eight people work together around a peninsula-shaped table. A large LCD display is mounted to the wall at the head of the table.  Through the use of special A/V equipment that is built into the table, each person can take the contents of their laptop or tablet and flip it up on to the big screen to share with the group. There is not a single moderator or presenter here. Rather, everyone comes to the table with an equal voice, made possible through both the technology and the physical design of the room and furniture.

There are a couple good off-the-shelf options available that provide systems like this. For this project, we brought together a Vermont furniture maker – Lyndon Furniture – with a local audio/visual company – Geer Sound – to come up with a custom solution.

A NEW WORKPLACE

All three of these examples deal with workplace collaboration in their own way, but they are all reflections of how the workplace today is changing. As a result of worker demographics, advancements in technology, and ongoing economic challenges, the office landscape is evolving to allow for more unencumbered and productive group collaboration.

Solar Decathlon Review, day 3: Our Favorites

This Sunday, October 2nd is the final day for public viewing of the 19 student-built solar-powered homes of the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall.  The excitement is building as the points are adding up and a winner is coming into focus.  Tomorrow, Saturday Oct 1st, the winner will be announced, the team that has accrued the most points across the 10 categories in fields such as architecture, engineering, energy and affordability.

Many of the houses incorporate some of the technologies and green design strategies that I described in yesterday’s post, but the best houses are the ones that bring it all together beautifully.  Here are 3 of our favorites:

LIVING LIGHT by the University of Tennessee

This house is based on the cantilever barns of Southern Appalachia, with an open plan anchored by a dense core at each end.  But the real intelligence is in the envelope.

The all-glass north and south elevations consist of a 16” thick double-façade system, with a fixed plane of glass on the exterior, alternating fixed glass and full-height casement windows on the interior, and internal blinds.  In the winter, the air space within the south-facing façade collects heat that is directed to an ERV, supplying the home with preheated air.  In the summer months, the system works in reverse, drawing fresh air from the north façade by the ERV and pre-cooling it before it hits the ductless mini-split units.  Exhaust air is directed through the south façade to cool the cavity and reduce heat gain.

Energy is generated from a 10.9 kW rooftop array of cylindrical PV panels.  Look closely: those are cylindrical tubes that make up the canopy over the south façade.  Thin-film PVs are wrapped around these tubes, collecting sunlight from any angle.  There is no need to worry about the correct angle of the panels here, since the cylinders absorb sunlight from all directions.

You can get more info on the University of Tennessee solar house from the project website, livinglightutk.com, including some great detailed descriptions and explanations of the smart façade, roof top array, and more, at: livinglightutk.com/smartsystems/

WATERSHED by the University of Maryland

This house is all about the conservation and management of our water resources.  Coming from the Chesapeake Bay area, the students of the University of Maryland drew inspiration from the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed and have designed a house that addresses the storm water issues that threaten this fragile ecosystem.

The form of the house is defined by two rectangular modules with a split-butterfly roof.  A 9.2 kW solar PV array covers one side, and a green roof tops the other.  Rainwater is captured from the roof and directed to a series of captured wetlands, where the water is naturally filtered by plants until it can be pumped out for reuse as irrigation water.  Greywater from the shower is also directed to the constructed wetlands for reuse.

 

 

Finishes include thermo-treated exterior wood siding of poplar and ash, and recycled concrete countertops.

This is the 4th time the University of Maryland has competed in the Solar Decathlon, and their experience is paying off: as of this writing, they are currently in 1st place.

More information on WaterShed can be found at the University of Maryland project website, 2011.solarteam.org.










 

SELF RELIANCE by Middlebury College

This is the first year that a Vermont school is competing in the Solar Decathlon, and as a Vermont architect, I’m happy to say that Middlebury College has put up an impressive first showing.

The Middlebury house, dubbed Self Reliance, is a modern take on the traditional Vermont farmhouse.  It hits so many of the themes we all associate with the Vermont lifestyle: natural materials, sustainable food production, and family-friendly spaces.

Wood floors were harvested from Sugar Maple trees on the Middlebury campus.   The kitchen floor and island countertop is made of local Vermont slate.  And the children’s bedroom furniture is made by our friend Lincoln Brown of Modern Vermont.

While most of the other houses on the Mall covered every possible surface with spray foam insulation, Middlebury came out firmly against the stuff and instead went with a completely cellulose-insulated envelope. They explained their approach this way:  “Conventional insulations such as fiberglass or spray-in foam contain particles hazardous to all forms of life. They are also non-biodegradable and require tremendous amounts of oil and energy to process.  On the other hand … Cellulose insulation is safe, low-energy, cheap, and – most importantly – natural.”

Self Reliance is focused on personal, sustainable food production.  A greenhouse wall in the kitchen is not much more than a system of shelves for growing potted vegetables and herbs, but it is centrally located and promotes home-grown healthy eating. By making this such a prominent feature of the house, the students are trying to highlight the connection between local food production and energy use.

This is a very family-friendly house, designed for a family of four, with a division of public and private spaces.  Most of the other schools seem to struggle with the space constraints of the competition, designing homes under 1,000 square feet with murphy beds, movable walls, and multi-purpose spaces.  Many don’t even have real bedrooms.  The Middlebury house actually has TWO bedrooms, and a play loft accessible by a metal ladder.

Middlebury is doing very well for this being their first time in the Solar Decathlon.  They scored 4th in the prominent Architecture category, and came in 1st place for “Home Entertainment”.  This is one of those categories that aims to show that these are real, livable homes, so the students had to throw a movie night and 2 dinner parties.  They probably won due to the delicious localvore meal they prepared, which their guests praised as being very “Vermonty”.

On Wednesday, Metropolis Magazine called Self-Reliance one of “the two most striking projects at the Decathlon”.  They described it as “a warm and straightforward modern version of a traditional New England home that beautifully uses native Vermont materials.”

You can read more about Self Reliance on the Middlebury College project website, solardecathlon.middlebury.edu

Congratulations to the Middlebury team and to all the teams at the Solar Decathlon, and good luck tomorrow as the grand prize winner is announced!

Casa Madrona Cottages Now Open

TruexCullins Interiors has been working with the Terra Resort Group on the complete interior renovation of this historic resort in Sausalito, California.  This winter, the Casa Madrona opened their new street-level lobby, expanded and reconfigured to better welcome guests and introduce them to all the rich flavors of the property.  (See photos of the Lobby in our January blog post)

Now, the Casa Madrona is celebrating their next major milestone with the grand opening of the 22 renovated cottage rooms and suites, situated along the hillside overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Previously, each of the individual cottages had been decorated in wildly divergent themes:  an impressive array of styles including the “Renoir Room”, “Lilac and Lace”, “Bridgeway to Hollywood”, and “Kathmandu” (complete with Indian elephants and tribal patterns). While there was certainly never an argument for lack of character, our charge with the renovations was to provide a more consistent overall experience for the guest, no matter what part of the property they were staying in.  At the same time, the design allows for the celebration of the individual moments that occur within each of the uniquely positioned cottages. 

We wanted to refocus attention on the things that really make this resort special: the amazing hillside location with panoramic views of San Francisco Bay; the creative and independent spirit of the community of Sausalito, with its rich nautical history; and the historic significance of the resort itself, anchored by a grand Victorian mansion dating to 1885.

And now we have new photos to share of the completed cottages, thanks to photographer Cameron Neilson:

The beds are a prime feature in the rooms, with mahogany posts and decorative glass inlays.  Each suite also typically includes a casual seating area, a work desk, a fireplace, and an exterior terrace.  Unique elements from the cottages’ previous life such as stained glass windows were retained and integrated into the new design.

The guest bathrooms in each of the 22 cottages are all unique in their size and configuration, but they are each finished with the same palette of materials and finishes.  A glass shelf continues from behind the vanity into the shower, with alternating bands of matte and polished porcelain tile.  The vanities pick up on the seaside influence with nautical pull and rod details, and they are uniquely scaled to fit into each bathroom, maximizing the space available.

All of the guestroom furniture pieces and bathroom vanities are custom designed by TruexCullins Interiors and built by Sorrentino Marriani.  The beds, tables, desks and vanities establish a consistent, coordinated palette that includes mahogany wood with English dove tails, contrasting painted crème surfaces, and clear glass knobs.  It is a classic urban look with a distinctively nautical influence.  You can see the entire “Sausalito Collection” at smfurniture.com

The full-service spa was also completely overhauled with new finishes, furnishings, and lighting.  In this view, one of the showers is visible on the left, and the steam room is on the right, with porcelain tile and LED lighting:

The new Casa Madrona is beginning to attract some good attention.  The popular Bay Area blog 7x7.com was so impressed with the makeover that they recently implored its readers to “Take a Staycation at the Revamped Casa Madrona in Sausalito”.

TruexCullins continues to work with the Terra Resort Group on the remaining Upper Cottages, with construction planned imminently.  And then, we look forward to the grand finale of the renovation project: the 125-year-old Victorian mansion which will be refreshed and renewed as a fitting focal point to the resort.

Bent plywood and QR codes

When we were at the NeoCon trade show earlier this month in Chicago, we noticed a number of recurring themes emerging at many of the furniture showrooms.

Furniture designs were geared more toward casual interactions and ad-hoc group collaboration.  Fabrics were especially plush, with a lot of felt used for seating and upholstery.  There was an emphasis on efficiency of materials, with a broad use of bent plywood and thin structural frames.  And new and innovative forms were being developed in seating for both aesthetics and ergonomics.

The most notable example of many of these themes – the piece that best seemed to have its finger on the pulse of furniture design today - was the Ginkgo chair by Davis Furniture.

The designers of the Ginkgo sought to create an iconic chair with an instantly recognizable form.  It is influenced by the classic Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen.  (You may remember this video we shared with you in February that tells the story of its graceful construction.)  But the Gingko provides a very new form, with a provocative silhouette that differentiates it from other plywood shell chairs.

Another recurring theme in the product presentations this year was the use of technology.  From free iPad offers to customized smartphone apps, everyone seemed to be trotting out the latest hi-tech gadgets.  And of all these technology trends, the biggest one by far was the use of QR codes, those little bar codes that you now see with more and more frequency in magazine ads, on real estate signs, and even on bags of potato chips.  NeoCon verified for me that the ubiquitous little bar code has now found its place into the world of Interior Design as well.

For those who still need a little tutoring, one showroom offered this primer on what these codes are and how to use them:

When any piece of new technology rises so rapidly, it’s almost inevitable that it makes its way into some very unrelated facets of our cultural life.  Here, for example, is some QR-code "art" that found a prominent place on the wall of one showroom:

Look closely: in the bottom-right corner of each piece of QR-code-art is: a QR code.  You can presumably scan the artwork for more information.

The QR code was evident throughout NeoCon on much of the tradeshow literature, painted onto the sides of the furniture delivery trucks parked out front, and integrated into the furniture itself.  This brings us back to the bent plywood:  one company, FurnitureLab, was showcasing these chairs with a large QR code imprinted right onto the back.

The idea is that customers can scan their seat before taking their seat to get valuable info from their school or hotel.  Here’s the card that explains the concept:

But what happens when the technology changes – as it will surely do – and is replaced with the next big thing?  Then I suppose you will be left with a room full of chairs adorned with yesterday’s brand. 

You can always call it art.