Recasting the Line: A Call For Projects And Ideas

Recently, with a heavy workload outside of blogging, I haven't been able to spend as much time as I'd like searching for new projects and designers to feature here. Story ideas are a writer's subsistence, and sometimes I forget that my greatest asset in finding about and then passing on such things is all of you who read this blog.

I always hope this goes without saying, but it's also a good exercise, I think, to reiterate it from time to time: anyone who would like to share their project is encouraged to email me. Ideally, if it involves a project, I'd ultimately want/need at least one rendering (if it's unbuilt) or photograph to go with it before posting something.

Many times when I talk to architects and firms about possibly posting news/images about their projects, they want to meet face to face or talk over the phone to tell their story before going ahead with my writing a post. And they're right to want that, because the more communication that takes place, the better I'll be able to understand and articulate what they're trying to do. At the same time, this process is also what keeps my writing about certain projects on hold for a long time or, in some cases, leads to a post dying on the vine. If you have a project you'd like to have considered for fast-tracking as a potential blog post, just email me a few words about it along with some images - I love communicating over email.

In terms of criteria, I can't tell you exactly what I'll post and what I won't, but my intention is to be open to everything and to favor diversity of sizes and scales, both in terms of the projects and the firms. Projects outside Portland are up for consideration, particularly if there is some connection that can be made, such as it coming from a local firm or even just one key person.

So far in the couple years I've been blogging here, I don't think I've done enough to encourage open-ended discussions about sustainability. Green design is the movement of our time, and I'm continually fascinated by how buildings increasingly act as living machines or even quasi-organic systems. What are some of the conversations I should be starting here about sustainability? At the same time, I don't want green design to be an overly-dominant theme, city or blog-wise. I'd be disappointed by a LEED Platinum-rated building, or a carbon-neutral or net-zero-energy building, if it was ugly. Is that so wrong?

I'd also like to feature more small projects - not necessarily kitchen remodels, per se, but single-family homes are OK, as are small retail, office or other projects. If there are sole practitioners and other small firms out there doing good work with a storefront or streetscape or even the wayfinding, I'm as happy to share that with readers as a ginormous condo. I also love featuring the architecture schools, be they with a student or faculty focus. The work of engineers (all the different kinds), landscape architects, contractors, and other kinds of design is also welcome.

Beyond projects, I'm also always looking for information and stories about people and social/political goings on. If you're trying to save a greenspace or an old building or a school like the Brady Bunch did with Woodland Park, let's hear about that too.

Although I'm the only one who has ever blogged here, I'm also open to the idea of occasional guest bloggers, be it for one post or ongoing.

Oh, and did I mention we love sponsors here at Portland Architecture? The extra special blue-ribbon group you see the logos of at right: AIA/Portland, Boneyard NW and Portland Modern. For just pennies a day (preferably a few hundred), you too can be part of this esteemed group of savvy advertisers and benefactors.

Meanwhile, thanks again and keep in touch.

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[John Sole]

Much of my work involves connecting educational facilities design to students and curriculum via Project Based Service Learning. I have made my blog, www.guerillaeducators.typepad.com a repository for some of my compelling videos that demonstrates the power of PBSL.