Treetop Living

You must admit there is something very whimsical about tree houses. I am yet to find someone who doesn't respond in an excited, almost childlike way when I bring the subject up. I have been thinking about tree houses a lot lately, even more since my mother has been promising to build one in the garden behind the house for as long as we've had the house, approximately 10 years. As I decided to give into my curiosity and sniff around I came across some pretty cool stuff.

First of all I was delighted to see that there are plenty of options should you decide to stay in a tree house hotel. Don't we all? Below are some lodging examples. Not sure what the comfort level is for adults, but fun is guaranteed for kids (of all ages), it even has a giant zip line!

For more information check out http://www.treehouses.com/treehouse/treesort/prclst.html.

Tree houses have also become restaurants.

This beautiful tree top restaurant in Auckland, New Zealand, was created by Peter Eising and Lucy Gauntlett from Pacific Environments Architects.

And then there is the rest of those crazy creations whose sole purpose is to amuse.

Beach Rock Treehouse, Okinawa, Japan. By Kobayashi Takashi

Germany. By Bauraum Architects

JApan. By Takashi Kobayashi.

Free Spirit Sphere. British Columbia, Canada.

Hotel Concept by Swedish Architects Tham and Videgard Hansson.

Lantern House, Santa Monica, CA. By Roderick Romero

O2 Sustainability Treehouse, by Dustin Feider of O2 Architecture.

Now here's to hoping that one day I'll have my very own treehouse to retire to.

FPM Design - Gift Guide

As we're in full swing of the holidays I thought I'd share some great gifts I have come across in my browsing. These gifts are of all price ranges and the only thing they have in common is that they caught my eye for their look, their ingeniousness or simply because they made me smile and that is really the point behind a gift.

For Him:

Chemex Classic Coffee Maker & Filter

The inside story of NYC Highline

Ice Tube Decanter

John Houshmand Coffee Table

Keiji Ashizawa Drawer Shelf

Restoration Hardware wood watch

Clue board game

Window Farm 

For Her:

Notecards by Castle on the Hill (Available on Etsy)

Claus Porto soap set

Dean Harris ring

Kobo Candles

'Louis Vuitton: Architecture and Interiors' Book (available at Rizzoli) 

Natalie Chanin Ceramics

For the Kids:

Batik print - by Anakijo (Available on Etsy)

Custom correspondance kits - (available at http://thompsonfamily.typepad.com)

Lego Architecture - Fansworth House

Lego Architecture - Taj Mahal

'I Love Wind' print by Montse Miquel (Available on Etsy)

Felt Tea Set by Pixiekids (Available on Etsy)

Faux fur hats by Restoration Hardware

Unless otherwise stated these gifts can be searched for online.

A pocketful of New York

The holidays always bring amazing things to the city. One I haven't experienced before is the Holiday Train Show at the Botanical Gardens in the Bronx. Apparently I am the only one in my family interested in seeing it so I will have to live vicariously through photographs until my daughter is at least the right height to see the train. But if you are anything like me and love all things miniature, you should go. The gist of it is that you follow a train through New York's signature buildings and landmarks and appreciate the pure genius of it.
For more information on this and other exhibits on at this time visit http://www.nybg.org/

The Apollo Theatre

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Park Avenue Armory

Brooklyn Bridge

New York Brownstones

Cityscape 

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Bamboo

Once again two of my favorite things come together to make for one fabulous project. Here, Big Tree Farms build a chocolate factory in Bali made almost entirely out of bamboo. Surreal in its intricacy and stunning to look at. Not to mention that bamboo is a lot cheaper than steel-frame construction and way more sustainable.

Exterior view of the chocolate factory

Close up of construction elements

Ibuku Design who spearheaded the project also had a hand in building the Green School in Bali. A campus made largely from bamboo.

School under construction

Two classrooms at the Green School

A nearby village called Green Village was also taken on by architect Pete Celovsky. I read the living conditions are not quite reflective of the peaceful and graceful architecture, but that it is slowly getting better. Here is to hoping that all issues will be solved so that more and more projects can be inspired by this weaving technique of bamboo and save some of those much needed resources the earth has to offer. For more information and stunning photographs visit http://greenvillagebali.com/gallery/

Around the world

I am slowly but surely starting to catch up on my magazine reading. What good timing too, as I pick up an old(ish) copy of the New York magazine to discover that it is mostly about design. I always read it cover to cover, but this particular issue was devoured in an hour. Below are some of what I deem to be the most brilliant, beautiful or just darn bizzarre (read interesting) designs featured.

8 House by Bjarke Ingels Group, Copenhagen

Normally I would get dizzy at the idea of being in such a complex, (I get vertigo only looking at cruise ships), but the green roof, water proximity and interior courtyard might just convince me to move in.

Harmonia 57 by Tryptyque, Sao Paulo, Brazil

This is probably one of my favorite designs to date. Not only is it eco friendly but also stunning to look at. The plants are watered using recycled and rain water carried through those very architectural yellow water pipes which contrast so beautifully with the vibrant green of the fauna.

House N by Sou Fujimoto, Oita Japan 

This open box, which incorporated both the interior and exterior garden is such a breath of fresh air it just exudes relaxation, and the patterns created by the shifting light make such unique and interesting patterns throughout the space.

Cheonggyecheon Stream, Seoul, Korea

Isn't it exciting to see how throughout the world architecture and landscape are getting closer together? This beautiful space was created by tearing down the elevated highway that was blocking the stream. Not unlike our very own Highline in NYC.

Keret House by Centrala, Warsaw, Poland

I had to add this because to me it summarizes the great thing about architecture, as with beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder. An art installation for now (I rest my case) it will eventually be a writer's hideaway. Although I'm not sure how many creative juices one can get going in such tight quarters.

Ring Around a Tree by Tezuka Architects, Tokyo Japan

The Fuji Kindergarten classroom makes me want to go back to school. Resembling a tree house it has evolved immensely from what I remember as a classroom, no wonder the kids can't wait to go to school.