black to the future

the best thing about flying to los angeles for a quick weekend with the
man behind the black scale curtain was that within two hours of walking
through the new space with the one and only mega, we were able to
hash out a design and get it on the record later that night.

now that's a trip worth taking.

thanks to mega and alfred for having such a clear vision and sharing it
with the form3 crew.

now we're ready to kill it.

...and i mean kill it.

norwegian wood

in 2005, norway initiated a massive 15-year agenda to generate
more tourism. The government turned to architects and designers
to conceive and build tourist routes and architectural rest stops to
enhance the experience of the stunning norwegian landscape.

the projects span from the southern town of jaeren to the northern
tip of varenger. visitors ( and norwegian natives alike) are afforded the
luxury of safe roads and reveling in clean and relaxing architecturally
inspired viewpoints.

the ongoing project has been aptly named, the national tourist routes
in norway, and features an array of architects including margrete friis,
peter zumthor, pushak arkitekter, code arkitektur, manthey kula,
snøhetta as, and jensen + skodvin to name a few.

the big muddy

having grown up on the banks of the mississippi river, for fun
as a kid, we used to ironically cheer the barges along their way
as they plodded toward their final destination.

dreams of st. louis, memphis and new orleans used to dance in
my head while watching these mammoth workhorses do what
they did so deceptively well.

all our thoughts go out to the people from illinois to louisiana
dealing with the overflowing muddy banks of the mighty mississippi.

-greg

our northern neighbors

gh3 architects, based in toronto, created this remarkable
photographer's studio on stony lake, ontario in 2007.

every time we visit their body of work, which is incredible and
quite substantial, we always find ourselves contemplating this
unique gem.

they did a near perfect job of merging the compelling qualities
of simple, open spaces and the natural world. interior and

exterior unity and material clarity are transformed to enhance

the environmental and programmatic performance of the building

seamlessly.

we say near perfect for only one reason.

no form3 designed commissions sitting center stage to give
the interior a warmth only we know how to do?

the high life

of all the small joints in sonoma county to have a cold one and
relax with your friends, volpi's, in petaluma, is one of our favorites.

it's authentic to the core. family-owned for nearly a full century,
they've see it all and lived to tell the story. (this back room was a
speakeasy during prohibition.)

and if it's sunday night, you can always bet on three things: harry
behind the bar, john playing his accordion and $1.75 bottles of
miller high life.

does it get any better?

we think not.

in with the new

a few weeks ago we had a sit down with the brains behind the
one and only undefeated: eddie cruz and james bond.

they're ready to hit the streets of SF with all the style and grace
one expects from such an established brand as they prepare to
open their first store in northern cali.

these sketch up drawings show where the form3 crew would like
to see the project go. using reclaimed gym bleachers from an old
sonoma county middle school, raw metal and clean white display
shelving to show off the fresh graphics UNDFTD is known for, we
feel this would bring the project to life with a strong, singular
vision that would leave an impression hard to forget. add brent
rollins mural work and this store would truly be hard to contend
with...

portrait in gold

the benny gold opening was this past saturday. a rousing success
by almost any standard.

we're proud to have created a space that showcases benny's work
so distinctly.

this photo was taken by mackey saturday as the day was about to
get underway.

news of the world

not much to say that hasn't already been said and, we're sure, will
continue to be said throughout the day and the rest of the week,
month, year...