European-based cultures stress predictability, planning, insurance for the future; a single truth , in the absence of which is fear of the unknown.  Statistically, we can only arrive at answers with rounded errors.  E an unknown, unpredictable, messy estimate characterized by a gravitational force which encodes the constant act of becoming something else. 

Urbanity is E-volving

BLINK!s results are a process examining boundaries of conventional thinking and practice.   Today's global economic network and cultural over-rides demand this. Digital technology is adopted as a tool for establishing language. The work addresses the “city” fabric especially as it is evolves towards the 22nd century.

BLINK! is attracted to projects with a public component - the urban environment and public mind.

TYPICAL URBAN-SCALE SOLUTIONS - STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING + URBAN ANALYSIS . URBAN DEVELOPMENT  . HOUSING . EDUCATION.

there is a universe of discovery open to those who seek it.  At blink!lab we are interested in the future of design.                    

SAN FRANCISCO  -

ECHEGUREN SLATE + STONE YARD, Bay View Hunters Point Redevelopment

The 3rd Street Improvement efforts had resulted in higher lease rates along its corridor.  Working with the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency, Echeguren Slate was able to locate a vacant lot with greater access and storage capacity.  As an industrial facility in close proximity to the residential district, California plants and Echeguren stones were used to integrate the building's facade with the desire for a sustainable and attractive streetscape.

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SAN FRANCISCO - WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTER / Tsao Design Group

One of the most successfully launched new-concept "Lifestyle" shopping centers

Construction Design and Project Coordination for all Glass and Ceramic Tile Flooring, Stairs, Escalators and Stainless Steel and Glass Handrail designs.

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OAKLAND - Infill /Office/Tasting Room 

Often businesses lease predetermined spaces which have no relation to their unique genetic code of operation.  As such, this results in excess asset capacity with high overhead leading to low profits and, for some, eventual closure.  The lab became interested in the 2-for-1 deal, the open-an-account-get-a-toaster sale gimmick as an urban renewal strategy. 

What happens to an ignored community when two distinctly different tenants occupy the same host.

A thorough programmatic investigation of both the existing architect's office and its new office-mate, the coffee tasting room  revealed a need for extensive storage needs by both tenants.  The more fertile ground, was investigating visitor behavior and restricting the design to only their area of movement.    Space limitations and movement patterns resulted in a duo-structure which allows extensive storage capacity, and dynamic spatial vocabulary which creates street interest. 

The structure is the design. Typical wood-framing sliding by planar plywood sheathing results in a space of playful opacity/transparency.

Status - under construction

CLEVELAND - Irish Town Bend / Urban Study

Among several challenges presented by the site, a few are:

- Identify design solutions or methods to address a rapidly shifting hillside at the edge of a navigable freight channel. 

The current instability of the soils suggests invasive solutions as well as adaptive responses.

- Connect historic Ohio City and neighboring communities to the river’s edge. Consider modes and means to connect individuals to and through the site as well as important visual associations.

- Explore the memory of the site’s vantage that witnessed Cleveland’s growth and decline, and offer an informed perspective to observe the next chapter of Cleveland’s urban story.

- Consider the natural regeneration of abandoned urban landscapes and what role it might play in defining the Cuyahoga Valley’s future. Status - in progress

For this low-budget facade upgrade, the approach was to replace the thin skin thinly.  Yes, rather than stuff the facade

with physicality, why not occupy that sliver called a 'facade' with nothingness, light, experience.  A facade of nothing/something.

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WALLAWALLA - City Parking Lot Architecture as a Continuation of the City Proposal  

Many cities are littered with grade level parking - at first approach, these are harsh windswept urbanscape.  In actuality, some of these locations are successful operative structures.  WallaWalla's is currently a well-used open-air civic nexus - car park, bus transit station, farmers' market, music venue - at the steps of City Hall.  This proposal understands the site as the location at which occurs a co-mingling of forces in a porous petri dish type environment.  Occupants exhibit constant moving dynamic activities.  Accommodating existing activities is a literal lift and bulge of the surface to arrive at new sheltered spaces and retained urbanized context.

existing summer weekend . aerial site/roof plan . site axon . cars, buses, waiting, storage . indoor cafe, great lawn .  sketch model photo . wire mesh of great lawn . primary structural walls .  great lawn apertures .  composite diagram . sketch model 

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BLINK!LABarchitecture, inc

4228 martin luther king, jr. way
oakland, ca 94609
t 510.326.2176  

jgrant@blink-lab.com