“Don’t worry about the plumbing or HVAC, we can figure that out later.”

I just noticed that one of Alexander Girard's carpets at the Miller house has an abstraction of the floor plan. cc: @langealexandra.bsky.social

Wild account of design review process for Highpoint Two by Lubetkin/Tecton (John Winter, Modern Buildings)

I'm becoming slightly obsessed with Napoleon III as a patron of architecture. Here's a fascinating interpretation (Irene Earls, 1975).

Haven't seen this before - fun!

Is this, from 1935, the first architectural shading diagram? Maybe! I discuss here: solarhousehistory.com/blog/2025/7/...

$100m building; gravel parking lot

When you have a headcold and care-taking international colleagues…

Visited the Kauffman Center (Moshe Safdie) last evening

I've been reading 70's solar house stuff. This is a perfect Forward. Masterclass. (The book is Casa del Sol by William Lumpkins, 1981)

I hope Top Secret! is not being overlooked in the Val Kilmer retrospectives.

Really great reporting by @mslaurabliss.bsky.social It seems the Park Planned homeowners intend to rebuild en masse fairly close to Ain's original plans. This will be amazing.

Here's another #Altadena #EatonFire article in which I'm a very minor character www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

I'm quoted in this thoughtful piece about Gregory Ain and Park Planned Homes, Altadena. Still heartbroken about the loss of this important neighborhood. lareviewofbooks.org/article/lear...

Excited to be spending a week at Cardiff Uni/Welsh School of Architecture, March 17-21.

Just said 'no' to an (unpaid) editorial position with an Elsevier journal.

What is the history/philosophy around presidential pardons? It seems very un-democratic. (both sides)

AI is gonna be great, because without it, restaurant workers might make Matthew McConaughey sit outside in a downpour, and he'll just sit there.

For those of you who want to help, here are some local Altadena organizations who were impacted. These are all groups I have worked with personally and can vouch for the good work they do. Thread. #EatonFire

On Gregory Ain's Park Planned Homes #Altadena #EatonFire

I made a Google map of some significant #Altadena #architecture. Please suggest others with a street address if possible. www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...

Common University practice: 1. President or Provost says "we're not doing enough x!" 2. Create new Vice President of x. 3. This person surveys the Department Heads about x. 4. Turns out we are doing a ton of x and are very good at it.

I made a Google map of some significant #Altadena #architecture. Please suggest others with a street address if possible. www.google.com/maps/d/edit?...

With sadness, sharing this today: President Carter's legacy in solar energy.

With sadness, sharing this today: President Carter's legacy in solar energy.

NEW: Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, has died at the age of 100. He was elected in the 1976 presidential election for a single term. He enjoyed a remarkable post-presidency, based on philanthropy. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

If your spouse or partner is assembling IKEA-type furniture, it’s super helpful to ask: “Are you sure that’s right?”

Galeries Lafayette 2024 Christmas display

The Kaufmann houses (from lecture)

Restrooms at Disneyland - California Adventure

Outbox: "I'm sorry but I will decline. I am focusing my service work on non-profit groups rather than for-profit corporations."

Excellent news! @c20society.bsky.social is here! The big guns are moving onto Bluesky. Please welcome them with a follow if you're interested in C20 #architecture, #heritage and #history.

Today’s project

Huge turnout in Laramie, Wyoming (whatever that might mean)

In my office listening to music, and "Essence" by Wizkid and Tems came on. One of our grad students, passing by, rushed in to say "this is from my country!" He was so proud. youtu.be/m77FDcKg96Q?...

If you think inflation is bad: Between 1962 & 1966 Frank Sinatra changed the lyrics from "put another nickel in the machine" to "put another quarter in the machine."

I'm giving a short talk on African-Am architect James Garrott for the Santa Monica Conservancy next Sunday smconservancy.org/event/mosaic...

Semisonic was such a great bar band. Saw them at the Bottleneck in Lawrence in ~1997 with about 100 other people.

Is it true that there is no Complete Works of Anton Chekhov in English in print?

Something about childhood memories is that a thing probably happened once or twice, but you remember it as happening frequently. In baseball I got a big hit once (probably in practice) and I remember myself as Mr. October.

I think the takeaway from today is that you used to be able to cruise freely on the 405 on a Friday evening.

Heavy times at #uwyo

It's amazing that Ackman is such a clear writer, because he's such an unclear thinker.

New acquisitions

It was better when Bill Ackman wasn't a main character in this drama.

Old guy, with vigor: “I’m still on the right side of the dirt.”

Merry Christmas! Galeries Lafayette, Paris (not my photo)

Wish there was a Radiohead Christmas album

My HR department regularly sends me "Action Required" emails Friday at 5PM, with automatic reminders Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 5PM. 😐

Soapbox: Andre Braugher died this week. Richard Belzer also died recently. Homicide: Life on the Street is generally regarded (by me) as the greatest series ever. Seriously. It is not on any streaming service, plus this: