Tag Archives: Design

The Joy of Modern Houses

Posted on September 25, 2015 by Genetics of Design

The first time I toured a modern house, it was love at first sight. Heart racing. Pulse pounding. Face flushing. Love. Or maybe lust. Either way, once I met a house with cathedral ceilings, I never went back. Humongous windows. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Design, Health | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Architecture that Calls to Us

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Genetics of Design

I was heading to the beach the other day when I saw this barn at a nearby local orchard, and I knew I’d have to stop by. The barn seemed to have wide eyes that met my gaze and called … Continue reading →

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The Allure of Repeated Patterns

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Genetics of Design

The main draw of the new Broad Museum slated to open in Los Angeles on September 22 is the eye-catching pattern on the building’s skin. Humans are captivated by repeating patterns: dots, diamonds, circles, cross hatches, ovals, stripes, spirals, scallops, … Continue reading →

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No Faces – We’ll Affix That!

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Genetics of Design

How We Add Faces to Blank Places Humans are drawn to faces. Our brains are built to see them. Indeed, more of our brain is engaged in facial recognition than the recognition of any other visual object, says neuroscientist Eric … Continue reading →

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Following Fractals

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Genetics of Design

“God is in the details.” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe As New England emerged from a record-breaking snowy winter, I watched trees blossom overnight into intricate patterns against a blue sky. Without thinking, I grabbed my iPhone and pointed … Continue reading →

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Planning for People

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Genetics of Design

“First life, then spaces, then buildings–the other way around never works.” Jan Gehl While Boston celebrated the start of the American Revolution on Patriot’s Day this week, the city of Somerville, two miles west, started a different kind of rebellion … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Design, Health, People-centric Design | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

People Need Green Space

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Genetics of Design

In 1970, Joni Mitchell sang “they paved paradise to put up a parking lot” to decry the lack of green space in the built environment. Since then, architects, planners and builders have expanded parking lots, widened highways and removed green … Continue reading →

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Choosing Copenhagen.

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Genetics of Design

Whenever Mark and I travel, we keep one eye open for that perfect place. Too many vacation spots feel like a nice place to visit, but we wouldn’t want to live there. Many of our empty nester friends have already … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Planning, Cycling, Exercise, Health | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments