art & architecture

Art and Website Design

2010-06-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

I've got something to say about website design!

The world is full of folks who say they are web designers. It seems that every time I turn around, someone or their uncle is now a web designer. Of course I have been designing web sites since 2003 so I've seen a lot of changes but mostly I've seen the advent of template web design sites where anyone can become a "web designer."

I really question the validity of such sites as I know that a template is rigid and unlikely to help business owners reach their goals.

The complexity of custom web site design means it is not for the part time designer – it is very important to have a cleanly designed site that not only attracts the search engines but one where traffic flows logically and allows not only visitors but search engine spiders to move through the site easily. Template websites impede the flow of traffic.

Search engine optimization is also important in web design. Given that most visitors use a search engine to find what they're looking for, a website must be designed with SEO in mind.

Given that my business name is Art Guy Creative, it follows that I incorporate ART in the design of all my websites. That's what's missing in website design today – artfully designed websites that are both creative and easy to navigate. When you marry art and science, you get

Did you know that you have 4 seconds to get the attention of website visitors or they will click away?

Website development is more than slapping together a few pages and taking the site live. It's about creating visually exciting web pages - custom websites with original artwork and visually artistic compositions.

I'm not complaining – I just would like to see more thoughtful and artistic website design. After all – I am the Art Guy!

Dana Ball

Art Guy Creative

Sustainable Vision Roundtable 5/28/09

2009-06-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

We had our second Sustainable Vision Roundtable on Thursday May 28th, 2009. Twenty members shared their views on positive economic signs from real estate to finance.

We had quite a few speakers:

Glenn Schulke – http://www.gosolarlife.com/ - demonstrated his line of portable solar photo voltaic products which are designed to recharge cell phones, digital cameras, laptops and even car batteries. He indicated that he's receiving a great deal of interest from military, the forest service, and outdoors men.

Helen Pugh – offered information regarding senate bill SB 1403 which is being supported by her friend and Arizona state senator Barbara Leff. The bill is geared toward job creation in the green industry.

Linda Sloan – enlightened us to the potential dangers of electromagnetic fields which are prevalent in our everyday life. She then offered several products which can help to mitigate potential harm.

Lee Lewis – offered a passionate monologue regarding the need for more common sense approach to energy use and energy resources. Furthermore he discussed energy sources such as wave energy, geothermal energy, heat siphoning, magnetic, and hydrogen in relation to an individual's common sense use of these resources.

Dana Ball and Laura Orsini discussed forming a website that would serve as a clearing house for information and a referral source for quality professionals in the sustainable field. Helen Pugh also suggested forming a Speakers Bureau for those interested in speaking about their specialty.

In general there was a great deal of knowledge shared – done so with vim and vigor and a good deal of humor.

Next meeting: Thursday June 25th, 2009 4pm to 6pm

Sustainable Vision Roundtable

2009-05-01T13:37:00.000-07:00

We had our first Sustainable Vision Roundtable yesterday. It was a big success!! Over eighteen interested parties where in attendance.

If you are interested in Sustainable Living, please feel free to attend the next event.

What: Sustainable Vision Roundtable
Who: Discussion group for those interested in Sustainable Living, Green Home Design, Simple Living, Eco Design and anything related to intelligent living.
Where: 6350 N. 78th St Unit 259, Scottsdale AZ 85250 (cross streets McDonald and 78th St)
When: 4th Thursday of every month 4pm to 6pm
Cost: Free, refreshments provided

The meeting is an opportunity to learn more about what's going on in the industry, to begin to lay the foundation for further relationships, and to learn what we can do to promote and further intelligent living.

In future meetings we will begin a conversation about the opportunities that will very soon avail themselves to those of us who are open to the possibilities.

To be sure, there is going to be more than enough opportunity for everyone allied to this industry once the recovery begins in earnest. Though this is NOT a networking event, bring plenty of business cards.

Please email me if you would like to attend: dana@artguydesign.com
Dana Ball, Art Guy Design
480-235-4532

Priming the Pump for Sustainability

2009-03-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

There is a lot of talk about the stimulus plan. Is it stimulus? Is it spending?
Pick your terms, define them as you will.
Here's what we know:
The massive growth (building, transportation, infrastructure) occurring in many parts of the globe - China, India, petroleum-producing countries, etc. - is based on the same template on which the US has been built. There is no leapfrog in technology or in choice of energy resources being used. Europe has been much more forward thinking than the rest of us (Germany accounts for 40% of the total global solar energy use, France gets 78% of its electricity from nuclear energy, Denmark is the world's leading exporter of wind turbines and has an unemployment rate of about 2% - in part because the way it has taxed energy has helped to stimulate a whole new clean-tech industry.) There are presently not enough known traditional resources (petroleum, coal, natural gas) to support this growth. It is estimated we would need up to three earths to meet the need. The green industry (I really don't think the term "green" does justice to the scope and importance of the industry) is one that is absolutely on he brink of bursting in this country. We will almost literally need to rebuild the vast majority of our built environments to adjust to a new reality. ("In the year 2035, three-quarters of the built environments in the US will be either new or renovated." Green Building A-Z by Jerry Yudelson) If we, as a country, can position ourselves on the vanguard of this movement, the rest of the world will be knocking on our door. That translates into jobs - millions of jobs - because virtually every aspect of our way of life will be affected.
To be clear, this is a paradigm shift. (As a point of reference, it was a mere 500 years ago that we thought the earth was flat.)
Solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and biomass energies will be the new petroleum of our post-paradigm shift world. (Hot, Flat and Crowded, by Thomas Friedman)
Interesting Statistic: Every 20 minutes enough solar energy falls on the United State to power the entire country for a year.
Here's what I foresee:
We will soon discover that a common sense approach to energy will cease to be a trend of choice, and become the standard out of necessity.
There is a good chunk of change in the "stimulus" plan allocated to green technology.
Mark my words on this - The multiplier effect from this investment will be astounding.
There is opportunity in the solving of the problems that ail us.
These solutions will require a non-linear thought process.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Solar Basics, Part 2

2008-10-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, our sun offers an energy source that is virtually inexhaustible, plentiful, and relatively easy to harness. Solar energy should and will be a huge part of our overall energy solution. Following is what I consider to be the Basics of Solar.

As I see it, solar energy is harnessed by three means – Passive, Thermal and Photovoltaic. In my previous post, I addressed Passive and Thermal Solar.

Photovoltaic Solar
Technology becomes the harnessing mechanism here. The photovoltaic process is a simple transference of the suns radiation into electricity. Specifically, silicon chips (similar to those used in computer technology) absorb the suns rays, photons from the sun force electrons into a state of high energy, which then creates direct current electricity. This electricity can be stored in rechargeable batteries, or run through an inverter to be converted into alternating current for home use.
At present, a photovoltaic system in a residential application should be considered supplemental to grid-supplied power, not a substitute for. The inefficiencies and technological realities do not yet allow this system to afford its user energy independence. The addition of an array of batteries to store energy does add a certain degree of grid independence, not total, but also adds a significant cost to the system.
The future of Photovoltaic Solar technology (pun alert) is bright. Many of the brightest minds that helped shape the PC revolution have started to shift over to PV. It seems certain that the technology will become more efficient and cheaper over time. Even now, there exist significant tax breaks and other incentives for those willing to venture headfirst into our energy future. For those who make the commitment now, they do so out of an understanding of a societal need to shift our energy resource perspective, not out of a desire to save money. In time, we will all be able to realize the advantages of PV for all the right reasons.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Solar Basics, Part 1

2008-10-21T14:34:00.000-07:00

In my opinion, our sun offers an energy source that is virtually inexhaustible, plentiful, and relatively easy to harness. Solar energy should and will be a huge part of our overall energy solution. So, you might ask: How do we harness the sun’s energy? I’m glad you asked. Following is what I consider to be the Basics of Solar.

As I see it, solar energy is harnessed by three means – Passive, Thermal and Photovoltaic. Following is a quick overview of Passive and Thermal.

Passive Solar
This is the direct interaction of our environment & us with the sun. There is no physical mechanism that serves to harness the energy. Instead, there is an intellectual mechanism – common sense.
We are a witness of and participant in Passive Solar every day. It is the warmth of the sun’s rays on our skin or the movement of air as it warms and shifts. Common sense serves to remind us to use sunscreen when exposed for prolonged periods of time. Common sense should also afford us the knowledge to take advantage of Passive Solar energy in our homes.
Given the opportunity, a home should be oriented on an east/west line, exposing it to the travels of the sun in the south. With a proper overhang, the suns heat can be blocked during the warm summer months when it travels high, and allowed inside during the cooler winter months when its warmth is welcome. Light can be allowed in through the use of clerestory windows configured in a way such that the light is forced to reflect and diffuse before entering the interior spaces, which also serves to eliminate the damaging UV rays.

Thermal Solar
This is the harnessing of the sun’s heat. Generally, it is used for the purposes of heating water. Most commonly, it used to heat pools or to supplement the task of a water heater.
The harnessing mechanism here is a heat-absorbing element through which water is pumped and subsequently distributed. In its most simplistic form, this mechanism is comprised of black, or dark, pipes or tubing enclosed in box with a glass panel. The heat is trapped and absorbed by the pipes or tubing and transmitted to the water as it passes through. Of course, it’s not a perfect system, as more energy is required to pump the water through the somewhat larger network.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

The End of Oil

2008-10-17T15:04:00.000-07:00

So, apparently, we as a species are facing the end of an age that has defined our time on earth, perhaps more than any previous period of time. We are on the precipice of the end of oil. Within the big picture of the entire history of the universe, our love/hate relationship with the age of oil will be merely a blip in the continuum. We will find ourselves on the other side either living more as we did 200 years ago, or thriving in a new age of technological innovation and global enlightenment. I’m hopeful for the latter.
I’m confident that we, as the dominant species of this relatively small rock, can and will overcome greed, hunger for power, and lack of foresight to unite in a common goal to explore for and harness new sources for energy.
The dialog is presently at a fever pitch. The question I would put forward is this: Why didn’t this dialog, once begun, continue on to its conclusion over 30 years ago during the energy crisis? The cynical answer is obvious: Big Oil wasn’t prepared to take control of whatever new technology or resources might emerge, and thus, began the process of squelching and/or buying up these new technologies and resources as they emerged (“Who Killed the Electric Car?) Another explanation might be that we, as consumers, weren’t ready or eager to make the necessary sacrifices that such a large-scale shift in life-style and perspective would require.
In any case, here we are. Myriad possible energy sources are being investigated, and, over time, the most feasible and effective will filter out and vie for the position of successor to oil. I’m betting on solar, though I think the final solution will be a combination of several energy sources and technologies. So, it is now incumbent upon me to become more educated about these energy sources and technologies and how they will impact the spaces where we live and work, and then to subsequently share the knowledge.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

CAD vs. Design

2008-06-29T15:37:00.000-07:00

“CAD drawings are the worst. I just can’t get a grasp on how a space looks and feels from a CAD drawing.”

That sentiment was expressed to me recently by a client while in the midst of a discussion about the renovation of her front entry and living room. She made the statement very matter-of-factly. It wasn’t surprising to hear it from her. Over the period of time that I have been working with her, she has gained a great appreciation for the ability to view her home 3-dimensionally. I always have my laptop nearby when meeting with her, just in case.

It’s an interesting challenge to convey the value of a design process that does not necessarily begin with the production of working drawings. There seems to be universal consensus that working drawings are the design process.

To me, a good set of working drawings/construction documents have a distinct purpose. They present a detailed description of a project written in a language that is understood by everyone involved (designer, client, contractors, craftsmen, inspectors, et al), and they offer tangible details regarding dimensions, connections, materials, etc. But as a design tool they are, at best, adequate.

Working drawings do not provide a profile of the shade patterns as the sun interacts with a structure during various times of the day and various months of the year. They do not afford unlimited, visual relative comparisons of materials and colors. And they cannot begin to afford important intangible information that allows one to achieve a sense of flow between spaces, or to attain an awareness of the qualities a space may offer to those interacting within it such as comfort, contentment and ease. Solutions to issues such as these need to be explored and established during the design phase that occurs before commencement of working drawings.

With my clients, I utilize 3D software to design their projects. This allows them to bridge the gap between concept and reality while at the same time revealing possible issues that might not otherwise become known until the construction phase.

Unfortunately, the importance of this phase has been minimized with the emergence of the phenomena of the big builder offering generally out-dated, impractical and inefficient floor plans, leaving the homeowner with few options. This approach has very little thought or energy dedicated to design. And, as a result, we now have an over-standardization of materials, homes that do not reflect the lifestyle of the homeowner, and a quality of construction that is suspect. What’s worse, we, as a culture, have accepted it.

I gleaned a small measure of satisfaction from my clients comment. Though, for most, making such a statement would require a small epiphany.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Too Many Castles, Not Enough Homes

2008-05-31T15:28:00.000-07:00

If you've driven through North Scottsdale or Paradise Valley lately, you most likely have witnessed a good deal of home construction. The Luxury Home market has not suffered from the same downturn as the more median-priced home market. What the high-end housing market is suffering from is a lack of creative and common-sense design, and the inability to grasp the concept that the vast majority of us do not need and cannot fully utilize a 10,000 square foot home.
It seems most builders find it easier and more profitable to reuse floor plans and offer minor alterations to consumers as options. Often the only recognizable difference between homes on the same street is color and choice of stone veneer. But the consumer is not a victim, but, rather, an accomplice because they are eager to add their voice to the vanity-driven "bigger is better" mantra.
The exterior details on these McMansions (super-size it please!) consist mainly of eye candy that has become cliché and ubiquitous - arches that serve no purpose, ostentatious front entries, and cultured stone veneers applied in away that offer no hint of the structural functionality that their natural stone cousins once offered.
The interiors of these behemoths - at least those I have been in - are impersonal, offer an inefficient, wasteful layout, and feel more like a castle in need of defending rather than a home that offers shelter, comfort and functionality.
My wife and I, along with two cats and a dog, live in a 1550 square foot home and have never pined for more living space. Additionally, I would venture a guess that our 30 year old home is better built than the McMansions sprouting up like weeds today.
Recently, a very well-known architect made the following statement regarding these same weeds - "In twenty years, they will all be gone."
When that does happen, perhaps, as a society, we will be enlightened enough to appreciate a new mantra - "less is more."

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Building Green is Oh So Trendy... But What is Green?

2008-05-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

The Green Bandwagon is getting full. Instead of blindly diving onto it, I've decided to take a more contemplative, deliberate and cautious approach. What is Green? Myriad people and organizations define green. The National Association of Home Builders has their Official Guidelines, The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has their Green Building Rating System™, here in Arizona we have organizations such as AKA Green offering green products and educational resources to the public and the building community, as well as the City of Scottsdale which has put in place a Green Building Program to service both the public and the building industry. And, on top of that, we all have our own opinions and philosophies.

Green can be applied to design and construction of a home in several ways:

Use of Technology such as photovoltaic solar cells, high SEER heating and cooling units, CFLs and thermal pane, low-E windows

Choice of Materials such as permeable material for driveways and e-crete block which is infused with air and insulative materials and can potentially serve as a final finish

Consideration of Resources by using passive solar cells to absorb heat from the sun, water reclamation and gray water irrigation, and use of local materials

Use of Common Sense as applied to structure orientation, placing the return air below ground, installing duct work within the insulated building envelope, allowing for cross ventilation, use of passive heating and natural lighting, and installing natural landscape that requires little or no maintenance.

Over time, we will, as a culture, define and re-define what Green is and how best to implement Green strategies. Technology will change quickly, and the cost of going Green will, most likely, come down. Until then it's wise to become educated consumers so as to best be able to utilize all possible means by which to save our environment. For more, visit my Green Home Design Page.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Architectural Commentary - Build it Right the First Time

2007-12-26T17:23:00.001-08:00

One of my neighbors in our quiet little community noticed water seeping out through the cracks of her driveway slab. Actually, it wasn't so much seeping as bursting out through any crevice it could find. I checked her meter and found it spinning like a top on steroids. (A claim which the meter later denied.) I shut the valve and the bursting ceased.

The owner opted to remove the entire slab section, which was in disrepair anyway, find and fix the leak in the water line, then pour a new slab. Makes sense.

What I found interesting was the nature of the leak. I am always fascinated at the discoveries made during the demolition phase of any project. The thought processes of the framers, plumbers, rockers, etc. at the time of construction become evident. In this case, I believe I can accurately deduce the events as they unfolded some thirty years prior and ultimately lead to the leaking pipe I am a witness to now.

Two meters are installed in-line off the main water line to service two homes.
A 'T' coupling is installed between the meters for a line to service home #1.
Three 90 degree elbow couplings are used to redirect this line around the corner of the garage and to the house. Thus, in the path of the yet-to-be-installed water line for home #2.
The water line for home #2 is installed coming straight out from it's meter and right over the line for home #1, then is redirected using a 90 degree elbow coupling making it parallel with the line for home #1 as they travel to their ultimate destination.

So far, from a let's-do-a-barely-adequate-job-and-save-a-few-pennies perspective, everything is progressing nicely. Aside from the fact that PVC pipe - which is destined to fail at some point in the future - is being installed under a concrete slab. A slab which will have no rebar.

A supervisor comes upon the scene, assesses the plumbers work, realizes the water line for home #2 is not deep enough because it is resting on top of the line for home #1, and orders the plumber to fix it.
Here's where it all goes wrong. The water line for home #2 is rerun from the meter under the water line for home #1. The issue now becomes how to connect two lines at different levels where once a single 90 degree coupling sufficed to redirect the line to the house.
For some reason, at the time, some thirty years ago, the solution was to use two 90 degree couplings and two straight line couplings, at the same time making sure there was undo stress on the entire configuration.
Also, it became apparent later, this fix did not include the use of PVC glue on all the connections.

Thirty years later I find myself standing at the scene talking with the plumber who was brought in to do the repair. The slab is gone. The poorly installed pipe lay before us, having fulfilled its destiny of failure. The plumber is lamenting, in response to my inquiry, how ubiquitous this type of poor workmanship is even today.

"Builders put up houses so fast and with more concern about the bottom than with quality of construction. I see it everyday." he says. "The best option is to run copper line from the meter to the house. But that option is dismissed before consideration because of cost. The very least these guys could do is to avoid joints under the slab. But they don't even do that."

He tells me he only works on custom homes. He couldn't force himself to do the shoddy work required by builders of large home developments.

Personally, I am astonished by the way we as a society build for failure. We want everything as cheap as possible without concern for quality. You get what you pay for, and the cheapest price is rarely the best value.

So, we have PVC pipe under our slabs, slabs without rebar, cracking stucco, sinking foundations, and untold hidden pre-determined failures waiting to burst.

I think we can do better. Build it right the first time.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright - Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright's First Los Angeles Project

2007-11-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

Recently I accompanied my wife, Suzanne Muusers, to a coaching conference in Long Beach, CA. I found myself with time on my hands during the day, and, as anyone who appreciates the Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, planned an excursion to see as many of his LA projects as possible. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that both the Ennis and Freeman homes were closed to the public - possibly permanently. I assuaged my disappointment with a visit to Hollyhock House.

Aline Barnsdall commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright to design Hollyhock House. It was Wright’s first Los Angeles project, built between 1919 and 1923. Wright’s approach was to design and build a home with consideration to the environment. Thus, the design incorporates a central courtyard, generous access to the outdoors, roof top terraces, and a proposed (but never completed) water system which would allow for circulation of water between a man-made lake, two outdoor ponds, and an indoor mote in front of the fireplace.

The home was to be part of a larger complex which would have served as an artists colony. Though the main house and two guests homes were built, the project was abandoned before completion of the entire complex and Aline lived there with her young daughter for only a few years. Part of Wright’s genius was his amazing attention to detail. As with all of his projects, every square inch appears to have been given consideration. Though aesthetically impressive, this detail-oriented approach most likely contributed to the project going over budget. Also contributing to the cancellation was Wright’s lack of attention as he spent most of his time on the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. He left Hollyhock to Rudolph Schindler, and his son, Lloyd Wright.

In 1927, Aline Barnsdall gave Hollyhock House and eleven surrounding acres to the city of Los Angeles for use as a public art park in memory of her father, Theodore Barnsdall.

(As always, please click on images to enlarge.)

Aline requested that the design of the home incorporate her favorite flower, the Hollyhock. Wright produced a geometric graphical representation of the flower, as seen here on this monolith near the front entrance. Wright, of course, was as famous for his graphic imagery as he was for his architecture. Part of his genius was his ability to apply artful aesthetics to every aspect of life.

The front doors are believed to have been designed by Mr. Schindler. They are quite amazing both in beauty and function. Made of concrete, they are understandably quite heavy. The pivot system allows for a surprising ease of use. So much so that one can no longer use them to enter or exit, as most visitors assumed a great deal of effort must be necessary. This repeated unnecessary force caused damage to the doors upon impact with the interior walls.

Evidence of Wright's attention to detail is exibited by the lamp posts around the exterior. Close examination allows one the ability to decifer the use of commonplace fabrication techniques to achieve uncommonly artistic results.

The interior courtyard was accessed from three sides. This became the heart of the home, even though a trademark, magnificent fireplace resided within. All stairways were marked with the signature Hollyhock symbol set in concrete pillars.

The fourth side of the courtyard is defined using an elevated hallway connecting the master and daughter's bedroom's on one side to the guest room on the other. Note the circular pond in a theater-like setting. It was to be part of the water circulation system.

This sun room is an extension of the master, offering warmth on chilly days, but no egress.

A window detail off the master bedroom. Stunning.

View of the Hollywood hills from Hollyhock House.

And, of course, no trip to Long Beach would be complete without the requisite visit to The Queen Mary.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Custom Cabin Design - Peggy's Tree House

2007-10-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

This client had assembled an extensive and specific list of the characteristics that would comprise her custom cabin design. She needed that list translated into an image she could frame and keep in front of her on her desk as a motivational tool. Following is a summary of those characteristics taken from dialog:

• Single level structure on a gentle slope in the woods near water
• Integration of structure into and minimal disturbance of the existing landscape
• Three bedrooms (one master, two guest)
• Master to have an office incorporated into it
• Porch is to be a focal point
• Open floor plan maximizing use of windows to offer views from every room in the house
• A view from the entry through the house to the porch and beyond
• Kitchen opens into a great room
• Fireplace
• Wood, wood, wood
• Wide plank wood floors
• Board & Batten style exterior siding (horizontal)
• Blur the distinction between interior spaces and outdoor spaces
• Cozy, small
• Sun through the trees
• Earthy green colors on the exterior
• Natural, earthy but not country
• Boulders
• TREE HOUSE!!!

Here are the initial sketches for her dream home (she was ecstatic):
(Click on images to enlarge.)

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Custom Patio Design, Making the Most of a Small Outdoor Space

2007-05-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

Phoenix Home & Garden is very interested in showcasing our finally finished patio in their magazine. They are impressed with the way we made the most of a small outdoor space and have, in fact, already taken some photos, and want to return for some evening sitting-around-the-fire-pit-and-watching-the-salmon-sear-on-the-grill photos. Just two years after the project commenced we can, at last, proclaim that it is virtually complete. What started as a "Honey, can you make some kinda little water feature thingy for the patio with this old, tiny desktop fountain pump?" was quickly injected with the "How can I make this project more than what it is, bigger and more time-consuming than it should be, and more expensive than we can afford?" steroids of my creative thought process. We are pleased.
Cool evenings find us mesmerized by the fire in the fire pit as it dances amongst the black bits of glass. The soothing sounds of the seven waterfalls are constant therapy. And when the desert heat settles mercilessly in the three-digit range, every evening finds us in the refreshing pool water never too far from a glass of wine. We are very pleased. And, I truly believe, our fish are the happiest in the world. We have nine in the 800 gallon pond - two Koi, four fan-tailed goldfish, and three shubunkin - and room for more. It's a lot for a 350 sf patio - pool, pond, fire pit, seating area, built-in BBQ, landscape, and all the equipment to run it. The reality is quite loyal to our original design, and all the work seems worth it. I still have the tiny desktop fountain pump. Hmmmm.
(Click on images to enlarge.)

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Documenting the Disappearing Desert with Creative Photography

2007-05-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

The desert in North Scottsdale can no longer fight off the inevitable. The signs of sprawl are there - literally. Where the asphalt gives way to the desert clay stands a huge, obscene, billboard-like monolith announcing lots for sale. Already, white pvc pipes stick out of the ground as far as the eye can see - seemingly almost to Four Peaks some thirteen miles beyond at the horizon. While there a few weeks ago, and having just completed a short creative photography expedition, I was greeted by two gentlemen as they stepped out of a car that, I am sure, cost one of them enough money to prove he has more money than sense. "Do you know how much these lots are going to sell for?" one of them yelled loud enough to wake any one of the nearby long-dead skeletal remains of the once proud Saguaros. "No, sorry."
Lots? That's all they see here? Lots? Unsatisfied with my response, they straightaway sought the comfort of their vehicle and sped back onto the more familiar asphalt.
Whatever man-made structures may soon occupy this raw, honest terrain, they can never match the grace, splendor, or elegance of those that have lived here for hundreds of years - saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, palo verde, prickly pear and barrel cacti, fairy duster, and the wooly daisy to name a few. I can predict, with a great deal of certainty, the characteristics these new houses will possess - enough square footage to justify a separate zip code; a large and pretentious foyer; dead spaces at the entry, in the bedrooms, baths, and the ubiquitous rarely-used second living room; cultured stone veneers; and multiple garages.
I'll have to drive a little further on my next expedition.
(Click on images to enlarge.)

This lone sentinal remains on guard.

The natural architecture of the saguaro accounts for it's longevity.

Beautiful white rock serves as a natural foundation for this saguaro.

Natural ground cover.

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com

Architecture of Mexico - Images from Guanajuato, Mexico, Summer 2006

2007-01-03T15:02:00.000-08:00

Guanajuato is a charming and historical town in the interior of Mexico. It rests in a valley, where, in the center of town, access is limited to foot traffic, as cars are relegated to the old tunnels criss-crossing below. Architecturally, Guanajuato is fascinating. Structures are built one on top of another, side by side. Homes and businesses intermingle up and down the callejones (alleys) which offer passage for the souls of one's shoes, but not to the rubber of one's car tires. Building codes would seem to be non-existent here. Yet, structural integrity is sound. Lawyers also seem to be pleasantly rare. Fall into a hole in the street where the sewer is under renovation, it's your fault. Aesthetically speaking, it is also every man for himself. Pick a color... any color, paint your house. It's wonderfully refreshing.
(Click on images to enlarge.)

Bascilica de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato near the city center... accross from Dominos

Callejon Casulidad

People here seem to have no ambition for perfection, a quality which adds to the character and charm of the environment. Instead, they direct their energies to the tasks involved in day-to-day survival.

Typical street leading to a tunnel (at left)

An interior courtyard

A fresh coat of paint on a home

Typical front door

A public works project

Tunnels

Guanajuato

Dana W. Ball

Architectural Designer / General Contractor
Art Guy Design, LLC
http://www.artguydesign.com