American Institute of Architects – The Top 10 Buildings of 2006

Public Poll Ranks America’s Favorite Architecture

A public poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) ranked the top 150 best works of architecture. Here are the top 10 –

1. Empire State Building
2. The White House
3. Washington National Cathedral
4. Jefferson Memorial
5. Golden Gate Bridge
6. U.S. Capitol
7. Lincoln Memorial
8. Biltmore Estate / Vanderbilt Mansion
9. Chrysler Building
10. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Reply to our blog and rate YOUR FAVORITE work of architecture!

DYAMI will post these results in our upcoming newsletter.

Rockland County Architecture – Stony Point Lighthouse

If you are a fan of historic architecture, consider visiting the Stony Point Lighthouse – the oldest on the Hudson. The lighthouse was built in 1826, and is located at the Stony Point Battlefield National Historic Site in Rockland County.

You can also tour the Battlefield grounds, have picnic, get some exercise and enjoy the views.

Visitor’s Information:
The Stony Point Lighthouse is open to the public during the times that the Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site is in operation. Tours of the lighthouse are available on a regular basis on weekends. Stony Point Battlefield State Historic Site is open April 15 to October 21 on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am until 5pm, Sundays from 1pm till 5pm.

Location:
Park Road, off Route 9W,
Stony Point, NY 10980.
845/786-2521

New York City Building Department Update – Home Improvement Contractors Require License

In order to further protect the Health, Safety and Welfare of homeowners, on 11/15/05, the Department of Buildings issued Operations Policy & Procedure Notice 03/05 requiring home improvement contractors to possess a Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Home Improvement Contractor’s (HIC) License.

This has been established to ensure that all home improvement work is being performed
by licensed contractors. The license requirement will apply to work performed in 1, 2, 3, or 4 family dwellings, individual co-ops, condos, or rented apartments if the person hiring the contractor is the owner or tenant of the dwelling or unit. An HIC license is not required when the work is being performed by a licensed tradesperson and the work is exclusively within their craft for which they are currently licensed.

By using licensed contractors, the homeowner has a greater degree of assurance that the work being performed will be according to the best practices of the industry. If a contractor carries a license, any complaints with the Better Business Bureau will be easier to track since the contractor must use the business name that is licensed – rather than changing the name of the company often to avoid liability.

If you are performing a major improvement project, consider retaining an Architect who can not only recommend quality contractors, but will oversee the project to be sure the work is being performed according to code.

Combine ideas to have fun with Wine!

Hotels Magazine recently featured a new concept that just might establish a trend. With younger clientelle becoming increasingly curious about fine wine, Strategic Hotels and Resorts, Chicago, is currently combining their stagnant tea rooms with a wine tasting experience to generate interest and revenue.

A visitor can sample over 500 varieties of wine, handmade chocolates, cheeses, and of course, tea. This interactive and hip model is expressed through design as a combination of Northern California meets the Far East (see photo).

Classes are offered, educating the consumer about the history of wine, and practical applications such as pairings with cheese and chocolates.

Creative Cue: Are you experiencing a challenge in your business that can be addressed by combining your original concept with a new concept to create a totally different result or experience? As designers, we address issues like this on a daily basis, and have found much success with this technique. Try it!

What is Design. For Life.?

As architects and interior designers we design buildings and spaces for people every day – spaces that affect the quality of life for individuals as well as groups of people. Therefore, it is only natural that our focus be on designing places that positively affect the lives of those that experience our buildings. This is the core of our mission, and can be summed up simply as: Design. For Life.

Design. For Life. encompasses many ideas and related topics that are not limited strictly to the design of buildings. Design affects everything we do from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed. The home we live in, the products we use, the food we eat, the cars we drive, the places we work, the restaurants we eat in, the stores where we shop, and the environments in which we relax were all “designed” by someone. Do they inspire us? Do they comfort us? Are they functional? Are they awful? It is clear that “Design” can bring about either positive or negative experiences and emotions.

Our goal, through the use of our blog, is to provide a look into the creative world of “Design.” and create a resource “For Life.”