So as an architect with a young child, a treehouse has to be on the list, right? The first image here is a tree house I designed with Henry at my side.   All he wanted was a door, a  window, and a roof.   

I sent it to Bart and he was not impressed. He said, "You're an architect.   Come on, think outside the box!"

Fine. Whatever.  I go back to the drawing board.  Version 2.0:

Speaking again of repurposing warehouses, here is one which Bart and I have had a crush on for what seems like a year. This photo was taken before the fire. From what we can tell, it's been burned out and boarded up since the late nineties--it needs some serious attention.

However, the fact that it's in our neighborhood and the perfect size for Bart's shop, we find it very attractive. I can imagine ten years from now Hank riding his bike over to his dad's shop for his after school job. How cute would that be, right?

That being said, the pictures I have to share are of the airport.  Seems I only have time to shoot photos while waiting for a plane.  I'm not usually one to note aviation design, but when you have the time, you take notice.  The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport is in the middle of a $200 million modernization project to improve passenger convenience and efficiency while keeping the eye on sustainability.

Here's a photo of one of several canopy structures sheltering the walk from the parking garage to the terminal.  They are in the middle of roofing the one shown.  See where the canopy meets the garage?  I'm interested to see just how they plan to flash it-looks like a mess.  It makes me think someone set the angle incorrectly. 

Above are some shots of the interior.  Though I never saw the state of the concourse prior to renovations, the architect - KPS Group - seems to have done a great job with opening up the interior to natural daylighting.  Light flows in from the curtainwalls looking out onto the air field as well as from above in the form of skylights, bringing light all the way to the back wall.  There is also evidence of LED lighting throughout which is a technology which is finally becoming affordable for the rest of us.

I really like the materials despite that thy are typical of an airport; it must be all the natural light with the the shades of white.  It would be interesting to come back in ten years to see how the white, cast stone tile is holding up.  It could get really dirty--a dust catcher as my mother would say.  I LOVE the over-sized white tiles on the wall.  From far away, I thought they were perfectly polished metal panels.  Perfect installation job by the way.  You'll be seeing this finish again in a modern home with tall, double volume spaces...perhaps a town home!

Another great thing about the Birmingham airport: I'm certain that is Morgan Freeman's voice on the overhead speaker telling you to stay away from unattended baggage.  Sweet.

Got a new sketch book this weekend and I'm excited to be away from the computer and simply sketching & coloring.  Above is a design I've been trying to flesh out...a two bedroom town home with a loft-like feel.  How many stairs are too many?