Watch out Boomers & X/Y gens. Millennials are entering the workforce and ready to make a positive impact.
Follow the link below to read a great article about the greenest generation: the Millennials and how they intend to transform the planet for the better.
With over 77 million Baby Boomers nearing retirement age, all industries are working on making their designs more accessible to the aging population. Interior Design and architecture are no exception. More and more seniors are choosing to age in place, rather than move to a retirement or assisted living facility.
And if they chose to move to a community, the "old folks home" no longer
exists. In it's place are vibrant communities of seniors, that rival
some of the nicest resorts. Amenities may include salons, golf course,
gourmet dining, and a variety of exercise and social gatherings for
active adults.
Regardless of where your client decides to age, a supportive interior environment should not only be
combination the knowledge of the aging process, durable materials, and
residential appeal, it should also reflect compassion and
understanding.
There is no skill more valuable to a designer than the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. Which is why I am sharing this speech given by Mary Maxwell at the 2009 Home Instead Senior Care. It seems like a prayer at the start, but stick with it, Mary gives some funny insight on what it's like to become a senior citizen.
If there is one thing you should remember from this speech, it is statement, "This is the first time I've ever been old... and it just sort of crept up on me."
Also check out this link to see how GE, Boeing, MIT & Volvo are learning to Design for the Retirement Boom.
Showing some product love to the Lamellux Collection of Wood & Resin and Carved Wood Panels distributed by Architectural Systems Inc. The wall panels combine translucent or opaque resins, in a variety of colors, with
exotic and domestic wood species, which can be backlit.
Applications include tabletops, doors, walls, partitions, furniture, and bar fronts and customized to your specifications. Custom capabilities on all patterns, additional thickness available.Variations in color and texture may occur due to the nature of the material
There are 3 sub-collections: Inclusion: combining honeycomb, resins and wood
Quertec: linear patterns of bold colors and texture Vibrato: 11 groups of abstract, kinetic designs (a selection from this collection shown below)
Griffe
Gouge
Alveole
Cric
City
Wave
Mini-Parrot
I can't wait to get my hands on a sample! But this new product is so popular, they are currently out of samples. Le sigh.
Solid surfacing is great for commercial applications, especially healthcare and food industry, because 1) it's non-porous, 2) With proper maintenance, it does not
promote the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria, 3) it meets all of the 18
preferred characteristics outlined in the 2006 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Hospital and Health Care Facilities as an ideal
healthcare surface to help facilitate improved infection control, and 4) it's Class Ι (A) fire rated.
When you think of solid surface, you probably think about countertops, restroom vanities and partitions, and wainscoting and wall
cladding. Zodiaq is nonporous and when properly cleaned does not promote
the growth of mold, mildew or bacteria.
And you'd be correct, but you're a designer, why limit yourself?
Solid surface can be thermoformed into custom shapes and contours, sandblasted, routed, carved, and laser etched. CNC machines can be used to engrave solid surfacing to the most intricate detail. It can be thermoplastically molded to create raised textures and patterns and three-dimensional shapes. Certain colors and thicknesses of solid surfacing become translucent when exposed to light.
With a little imagination and a great fabricator (the fabricator is key
here), solid surfacing has nearly limitless applications.
Check out these amazing projects that prove solid surfacing isn't just for countertops:
