Material, Process, Product - On Mushrooms, Part 1: Mycelium Lessons

 detail of "Unimaginable Proof" Jim Toia

Architecture has a lot to learn from the intricacies of our natural world: from scientific thermal properties to all scales of biomimicry, nature is full of lessons in form, structure, and beauty. Mushrooms, as one of the oldest life forms on the planet, have some of the deepest lessons to teach: while they are traditionally known for their nutritional and medicinal benefits, we continue to discover the mysteries kept by this ancient species. The mycelium structure of mushrooms is pound for pound stronger than concrete,[i] and engineers are beginning to explore its characteristics to create biodegradable foam packaging[ii] and eco-friendly car parts such as dashboards and bumpers.[iii] When spread over disturbed soil, mycelium can act as a binder, holding new soil in place and preventing erosion until woody plants can take hold.[iv] Additionally, Paul Stamets, author of Mycelium Running cites this vegetative component to fungus as having potential as a biological filter, removing chemicals and microorganisms from soil and water.[v]

"Metablossom" Jim Toia

Nature-based artist Jim Toia is fascinated with mushrooms. Toia is currently the Director of Community-based Teaching at Lafayette College, and his art is focused on mushrooms and their unique mycelium structure. Jim’s works are produced in a scientific, “spore drop” fashion, but with a far less traditional, less clinical approach: his production relies on a careful choreography and manipulation of nature in documenting spore patterns.  He acts as a maestro of sorts, conducting environmental conditions and various mushroom species by directing air currents around a carefully-positioned mushroom composition.  He also layers different species, moving the mushrooms around to activate the full potential of the canvas. Unlike the recording of brush strokes on canvas, Toia’s medium is invisible. The mushroom’s spores are microscopic and impossible to detect until they have landed in large quantity on the paper. In this way, Jim literally works blindly; he waits patiently, relying solely on his experience and knowledge of spore behavior.  The end result is both deliberate and surprising; a work of art is created through a dance between nature and the human hand. As a result, Jim’s works are a delicate balance of form, light, texture, and depth that could transcend a traditional abstract masterwork.

Jim Toia at work

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[i] Stamets, Paul (Speaker) (2008). Six ways mushrooms can save the world. TED Talks. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html

[ii] Bayer, Eben (Speaker) (2010). Are mushrooms the new plastic? TED Talks. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/eben_bayer_are_mushrooms_the_new_plastic.html

[iii] Alsever, Jennifer (2011). Innovation Nation: Car parts made of mushrooms. CNN Money. Retrieved from http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/01/technology/ecovative/

[iv] Stamets, Paul and David Sumerlin (2003). Mycorestoration of Abandoned Logging Roads. Fungi Perfecti. Retrieved from http://www.fungi.com/blog/items/mycorestoration-of-abandoned-logging-roads.html

[v] Stamets, Paul (2006). Mycelium Running: How mushrooms can help save the world. (1 ed.) Ten Speed Press, USA.

All photos courtesy Jim Toia and jimtoia.com

Speaking of Architecture - Symbol of Progress 2013

Some timeless thinking about design and the civic heart of a city by Bob Spillman from 1967 to round out an excellent 2013 at Spillman Farmer Architects.  Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for 2014 from all of us at SFA.

Features Of New Library: Make It Leader Of Design

By ROBERT A. SPILLMAN - City Center Associate Architect

The Bethlehem Globe-Times – July 15, 1967

Construction of the new Bethlehem Public Library is on schedule for dedication in early October with the entire City Center project.

Painters are busy painting the exterior columns and windows, plasterers are working on the colonnade ceilings, and glaziers are completing the glass installation, while on the interior, workers are installing flooring materials, plaster walls, acoustical ceilings and ceiling light fixtures.

A new Public Library for Bethlehem will soon be a reality.

body of article found here, small excerpt about the art below (the entire article is worth the read!)

Place For Art

By contrast, the Children's Room will feature brighter colors and smaller scale furniture, while the Bethlehem Room will have wood stacks and walnut paneling to convey a sense of restful security.

Art will be used in the Library as elsewhere throughout the Center to represent the best of both traditional and contemporary artistic expression. The sixty-foot high sculpture by Joseph Greenberg, located on the plaza and constructed of welded steel, is said to represent the fusion and integration of the nationalities comprising our citizenry.

The wall sculpture by Joseph Cantieni in the Library stair hall is intended to represent three interconnected trees of knowledge beginning in the basement with the beginnings of life and cumulating at the top with man's exploration of space.

In contrast to the rough welded reinforcing bars of weathering steel in the exterior Greenberg sculpture, the playful Centieni wall sculpture will feature bright metals, polychrome, and colorful plastic forms.

And don't be too surprised in walking through the Library to find a simple woodcut here, and etching there, and a colored lithograph elsewhere. There will be ample room for additional works of art as the City's collection grows.

Now that the Library is reaching completion it is almost impossible to visualize the City Center without it. It is the cornerstone of the composition and the balance in both mass and function to the taller government buildings on the east side of the plaza.

It has become a reality only because the citizens of Bethlehem wanted it badly enough to personally subscribe to pay over one-third of its cost. An enlightened City Government with the power of veto resting in either political party chose to respond to this need by providing one-third of the cost from tax monies and by securing the balance needed through State and Federal funds.

All that remains is for the first bright-eyed youngster to walk through the main entrance door on Oct. 11 and officially open the Library that the citizens of Bethlehem made possible.”

Brief Notes on Joseph J. Greenberg – Sculptor of “Symbol of Progress”

“Joseph J. Greenberg, the sculptor of the black granite Bear and Cub at the Philadelphia Zoo and many other public sculptures.  Mr. Greenberg, a versatile and prolific artist, produced works ranging from realistic stone carvings of animals to stylized Fiberglas figures and abstract bronzes.

Many of his public sculptures are in Philadelphia, but he said one of his favorites was the 60-foot-high welded steel Symbol of Progress he made in 1967 for the Civic Center in Bethlehem, Pa.”

NYTimes  - 1991 – AP Obituary

Material Process Product - AIA Pennsylvania Firm Award

We are filled with gratitude this month, as we give thanks for a very special kind of Material Process Product: the Spillman Farmer team, collaborators and clients. In this case, the material is our team of critical thinkers, the process is our unending curiosity in finding unique solutions to problems, and the product is the inspiring environments we strive to make.

Our identity is tied to our state, its history, and the industrial roots that continue to influence our practice to this day. Our Firm Award application, much like our buildings, focused on material sensibilities and the human experience. At our core, we are regionalists: we believe that great place-making is reflective of the intricate history, materials, human emotions, and experiences of its site. Our practice, informed by the community we live in, is dedicated to reflecting these details in every site we approach. We have been shaped by the story of our region, and we seek to find those stories in every project.  

We are deeply humbled by the honor AIA Pennsylvania has bestowed on us. The inaugural Firm Award represents an affirmation of nearly a century of achievement. It also represents our continued commitment to growth, improvement, and exploration in the years to come. Today we stand as an 86-year-old startup company with boundless enthusiasm for the clients and projects (past, present, and future) that have enabled us to receive this award.

If you have ever worked with us, thank you. If you have ever criticized, pushed, argued, cheered, supported, or encouraged us, thanks to you too; without our fantastic team of collaborators, we would have no history to honor. This recognition is a testament to the way you continually entrust your resources to us, and that commitment to us is just one more reason to say thanks.

Speaking of Architecture - SlatHouse

Special Guest blog by Elliot Nolter, Intern Architect at Spillman Farmer Architects and Team Leader for the AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter Playhouse Competition & Design Showcase


As some of you know, Spillman Farmer recently completed work on SlatHouse, a full-size children's playhouse for the AIA Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter's Playhouse Competition & Design Showcase. The experience was a great one, and we're happy to use our passion for design to help out the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley. You can read more about the competition here: wfmz.com

We wanted the playhouse to be something kids not only play in, but on, under, and around as well.  It has the elements of a house, but isn’t.  It has the materials of a pirate ship, without the scurvy crew.  And it has the protection of a fort, but can be invaded by Mom when it’s time for dinner.  The simple, yet versatile design of the SlatHouse allows for the child’s imagination to fill the voids, creating infinite opportunities for play.  The flexibility of the fabric adds another element to the otherwise static enclosure of the frame.  On a daily basis, or as a child ages, the playhouse may take on new forms and new uses by simply “dressing” it in a new way.  The durable fabric can provide protection from rain, a drawing surface for washable markers, or a picnic blanket when laid on the grass. 

Keeping the material palette simple is something Spillman Farmer prides itself on, and being able to do more with less is a valuable lesson to teach children of all ages.  The wood is thermally modified yellow pine - a common material for outdoor use because of its resistance to rot and insect damage.  No chemicals are used in the process, making the wood safe to touch, smell, and for some kids, even taste.  The fabric pieces are heavy-duty vinyl that will provide a bright color and durability that will withstand harsh winters and destructive children, alike.  Our hope is that children will use the SlatHouse in ways we (as adult designers who know what a house "should" look like) cannot imagine.  

SlatHouse is on display at Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem starting today! Head over before December 22 to bid for a chance to take this playhouse home.  All proceeds from the auction benefit the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley. 

The Spillman Farmer SlatHouse was built by Spillman and sponsored by:

PODS

3 Cubed Studio

EcoVantage Lumber

Stofanak Custon Cabinetry

Mann & Parker Lumber Company

SFA News - AIA Pennsylvania Citation of Merit

In addition to the Firm Award we announced last week, we’re honored to announce that the AIA Pennsylvania 2013 Awards Jury has selected the Lafayette College Arts Plaza to receive a Citation of Merit.

The Arts Plaza is a raw, open-air space for the arts at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. The structure transformed a former auto-repair facility into a dynamic outdoor teaching space that responds to its natural environment and built context.  The Arts Plaza is an urban “unfill” project; its formerly solid walls were removed to create an open, inviting place in Easton’s urban core. 

The Arts Plaza was selected among 93 project entries by 37 architectural firms in the state of Pennsylvania. Jury Chairman Victor F. Trahan III, FAIA of Trahan Architects said that the jury selected Arts Plaza to receive a Citation of Merit because they felt the idea of an urban unfill project was refreshing and compelling. “The power is in the restraint” Trahan said.

The jury, made of a group of colleagues from the New Orleans area, also commented on the project’s applicability to a variety of low-road urban cores in their home state. Their comments on the project’s humility and restrained vocabulary further contributed to the project’s recognition.

The AIA Pennsylvania Awards Jury:

Victor F. Trahan III, FAIA – Trahan Architects (Jury Chairman)

F. Macnaughton Ball, Jr., FAIA – Waggonner & Ball Architects

Wayne Troyer, AIA – StudioWTA

Cordula Roser Gray, AIA – crgarchitecture

Ammar Eloueini, International Associate AIA – AEDS

SFA News - AIA Pennsylvania Firm Award

Spillman Farmer Architects is proud to announce that the American Institute of Architects Pennsylvania Chapter has selected our firm to receive the 2013 Architectural Firm Award. This was the inaugural year for the award, which honors an architectural firm that has consistently demonstrated a commitment to design excellence and has made outstanding contributions to the profession of architecture for a period of at least 10 years.

Lafayette College Arts Plaza, AIA Pennsylvania Citation of Merit 2013

“Winning the first AIA Pennsylvania Firm Award is truly an honor.  We feel privileged to practice architecture, a profession that we love and which allows us to positively impact the lives of those who work, live, learn and play in the buildings we have designed since 1927,” said Daniel Harrigan, AIA, Spillman Farmer President and one of the firm’s six principals. 

ArtsQuest Center, AIA Pennsylvania Silver Medal 2012

The AIA Pennsylvania Board of Directors served as the jury for this year’s Architectural Firm Award. The Board, representing firms from each AIA Pennsylvania branch chapter, reviewed more than 20 entries before selecting Spillman Farmer Architects.

 Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society Sigal Museum, AIA Pennsylvania Award of Merit 2011

“[Spillman Farmer’s] body of work represents an imaginative approach to difficult problems, a curiosity about materials, and a strong sense of purpose,” said Jules Dingle, AIA, Awards Chairman for the AIA Pennsylvania and Principal of DIGSAU.  “The thoughtful presentation of their work conveyed a commitment to the value of architecture as a profession, an understanding of the challenges facing contemporary practice, a long history of design excellence, and a palpable ambition to achieve even greater success in the future.”

 Bryn Athyn College Doering Center for Science, AIA Pennsylvania Award of Merit 2011

SFA News - Muhlenberg East Hall Phase 1

SFA worked with Muhlenberg College to repurpose East Hall into a memorable and meaningful living/learning environment for students. East Hall includes warm, inviting interiors with thoughtful historic detailing that respects the original architecture. Large and small social spaces foster a sense of community, and are located strategically to minimize circulation zones and provide visual and physical connectivity to the greater campus.

 

The project was a collaboration with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company and NRB-USA. East Hall deploys both off-site and pre-fabricated construction strategies. This system of construction minimizes site disruption and shortens construction time. Fabricating the addition in this way allows for a timely juxtaposition of construction methods. Ultimately, the building respects its early 20th century fabric while exploiting a 21st-century construction model. This time lapse shows construction progress from May 20-August 14, 2013. As you'll see, the entire new construction portion of the project was completed during this time. Students moved in to the East Hall addition and into a renovated portion of the existing building at the start of Muhlenberg's academic semester on August 15th.

Though the building is over a century old, SFA's renovations and additions modernize East Hall into a desirable residence hall for Muhlenberg students. Through multiple programming sessions and design alternatives, SFA's interventions are transforming the hall with a delicate hand.

YouTube Video Footage courtesy of Robert Mahar.
Initial Photograph by Matt Wargo.