Unhappy Hipsters

If it isn't obvious by some of my posts here, I'm a huge fan of modern residential architecture and design. Must be my 4 years of architecture and environmental design from high school that I did nothing with...

Anyway, ever since I bought my little, old, drafty, creaky, 1940's era fixer-upper I've been obsessed with one day re-modeling it into an awesome, sleek, modern haven like the "architecture porn" featured on the pages of Dwell magazine. Then last year reality finally, and rather abruptly, slammed me upside the head. I cancelled my Dwell subscription and pretty much shoved my dream aside. Oh well, pipe dreams come and pipe dreams go right?

Today I discovered a blog called Unhappy Hipsters that helps me to put it all in perspective. As far as I can tell it is produced anonymously and features little hilarious deadpan captions underneath photos from Dwell & other publications that show couples living not-so-happily-ever-after in their sleek, modern homes. In a typical scenario a woman sits on a beautiful modern sofa while a man stands off to the side gazing out a window, quietly reflecting on his depressing life while plotting his escape.

There are many fun little dramas being played out in these ironic photo/caption combos and they help me to realize that, as with all dreams, you need to be careful what you wish for. Check it out for yourself and enjoy...

Majora Carter's tale of urban renewal

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/majora_carter_s_tale_of_urban_renewal.html

At first glance you may wonder what this video has to do with design. The quick answer is that it's about designing a new way of life for communities and people that otherwise may not have the ways and/or the means to do it themselves. With the economic realities of today, that tends to describe more and more of us every day and in my humble opinion that makes this design of the highest order.

It's also about being inspired to go beyond what you ever thought you could possibly do and having the tenacity to not let any barriers keep you from accomplishing your dream, whatever it may be.

Majora Carter fought for, and won, environmental justice in her hometown of New York's South Bronx. She worked not just to hold back the corporate polluters who target low-income neighborhoods like hers, but to bring back the green – and created green jobs in the process. She has now formed the economic consulting and planning firm the Majora Carter Group, to bring her pioneering approach to places far outside the South Bronx. Carter is working within the cities of New Orleans, Detroit and the small coastal towns of northeastern North Carolina. Her group is putting the green economy and green economic tools to use, unlocking the hidden potential in every place – from urban and rural communities, to universities, government projects, businesses and corporations – and everywhere else in between.

This is someone we all should know about and listen to... her vision and her story makes her one truly inspiring individual. Please check out this video and learn more about Majora and her work... I'd love to hear what anyone else out there thinks of what she's up to.