MsUnreliable's Profile

Yes, there's something really authentic about cutting down a tree and sticking it in your living room, isn't there? I just don't understand how anyone could handle something as 'fake' as a tree that hasn't consumed countless gallons of water and been sprayed with toxic insecticides and chemicals just to be cut down and ditched a month later.

Ahh, always a fun debate. Coming from a part of the world where conifers etc aren't locally available at any time of year, I have to point out that the carbon footprint of buying a real tree in many parts of the world is therefore significantly higher than that of a faux tree, especially when said faux tree is used over the course of a decade or two. My parents' tree is 30 years and going strong...and no, it may not smell like pine needles, but it still has a soul because it's the very same piece of plastic that three generations of family have gathered around and grown up with.

Christmas doesn't smell like pine needles everywhere either - my Christmas usually smells like sunscreen and fresh berries and the beach, and I wouldn't trade that for the world.

soonerscotty, perhaps it's just the fact that as TVs get larger and larger, they tend to dominate a room and detract from everything else. You're right, they're an appliance...that's exactly why many people, myself included, don't want them to take pride of place in my home.

A very, very belated response to whytephoenix - if the US is anything like Australia, architects are responsible for around 1-2% of housing design. The rest is the work of developers and building designers. So I'm still sticking by my point. Any architect that doesn't respond to site, context, climate and community is in the minority.

This looks like more than a paint job to me. It's hard to tell from a tiny render, but if it actually ends up being THAT silver, I'm going to suggest that the glazing is being replaced, mainly because that would have a far greater aesthetic affect than just painting the mullions. So if the proposed glazing is more efficient than the existing glazing, go for it. A largely glazed building like the Sears Tower could benefit massively from the latest in thermally efficient glazing.

The glare factor however should definitely be considered, but there are plenty of lighter glazing options that don't reflect, especially when compared to older bronze glazing that currently clads the Sears Tower.

I have an aversion to brick left as is - perhaps because it's the "cheap" material to use here in Australia, it just doesn't appeal to me at all. Painting bricks can look great, but it can also look absolutely terrible if not maintained properly.

That being said though, my apartment backs on to a brick warehouse - the bricks were painted white only two years ago, the paint has already worn...and it looks fantastic.

I'd reupholster - it looks good in its setting, but it could look great.

Definite binge cleaner. Even when I try to clean daily, my partner just won't have a bar of it. Resistance is futile!

Invite them along and get them boozed :D

My parents have owned their plastic Christmas tree for around 20 years. It would now be considered suitably retro to make it fashionable. My very own little plastic Christmas tree is only 3 years old, but I suspect he'll be around for many more years to come. If people actually want to delude themselves and think that a single plastic tree used for years on end is somehow more energy intensive than farming new trees every year, then we certainly have an issue.

I agree that the survey is a nice concept but nearly impossible to execute well. And let's be honest, there would be very few architects who don't strive for great design, healthy vibrant communities and environmental sustainability, it's hardly a new movement, it's just good design.