It’s been a good summer thus far—it hasn’t been THAT hot, and we’ve got enough work on our plates to keep us fully occupied. Though we’re saddened by the loss of some stalwart American Icons in the last month, (including Kansas City native Walter Cronkite) our spirits remain high. We’re not sure about Michael and Farrah, but we know that Walter wouldn’t want us to fret too much. So we’re going to move on and keep working hard…and that’s the way it is.

 

We just completed a week-long collaboration with Sans façon, a duo of artists who came over from Scotland for the occasion. Our team was shortlisted for public art project in Arlington, VA. We like these guys a lot-- their name translates to “without fuss”, a sentiment we agree with wholeheartedly. Check out their website: www.sansfacon.co.uk

Six weeks into our first foray into social media, we’re finally getting the hang of it. Case in point: Dan no longer makes “air quotes” every time he says “tweet.” twitter.com/eldoradoinc.

We’re designing a cool 4,000 square foot house for the Greenamyres in Lansing, Kansas—the only non-traditional house in a traditional subdivision. It has a partial green roof and the slickest 3 car garage we’ve ever pulled off, in our humble opinion. The design process has given rise to a new entry in the eldo lexicon: the Modified Blackwell (denoting the existence of a large bar-shaped form or forms, with at least one of them whanging out in space for a good bit.)

Look at us there on the cover of the June edition of Architect Magazine! We were thoroughly humbled by all the attention—good recognition for us as well as for the Kansas City design scene in general. (although it looks like we’re unhappy, that’s not the case—its just that they happened to snap the pic seconds after Josh told one of his “animal jokes.”)

We're off to New Orleans for the 3rd time this year - this time to complete a design/build project we're doing in conjunction with the Make It Right Foundation. We're working on simple improvements - planted house screens, comfortable public benches and, very soon, the first edible bus stop we know of.  It's the least we can do for the good folks of the lower 9th Ward and we look forward to a long, fruitful relationship.

Gavin Snider is the first guy named Gavin we’ve ever hired--a significant milestone for el dorado. Standing nearly nine feet tall, Gavin, he is a talented designer, writer and musician. His band, Midnight Vinyl, is very popular with the younger folks. We like Gavin for many reasons, not the least of which is that he’s not afraid to draw with an actual, old-school pencil.

Barry Anderson’s video installation (There and Back Again) at Drug Free Sport Phase II just got a gold certification from the AIA’s Art Through Architecture program. We really like this program—it encourages private entities to collect art through architectural projects. So hat’s off to Barry. Check out what he’s currently working on at www.barryanderson.com.
 

Our four partners have been asked to serve on a number of vital KC area organizations this year: Doug is chair of the Downtown Council Greenspace Committee; Josh is on the Board of Directors for Arts Commission of Johnson County; Dan is on the Board for the Charlotte Street Foundation and David is serving a term on the Nelson Atkins Friends of Art Leadership Council and the Manheim Park “Green Team.”

We completed a comprehensive furniture package for Missouri Bank’s Crossroads branch in Kansas City, and we look forward to providing a similar packages for upcoming branches. Thanks to MOBANK for their dedication to hiring local artists and fabricators (including a recent large scale outdoor commission to Scott Gobber—another Art Through Architecture project.)

We just completed teaching a six week class at Lawrence Tech in Detroit, wrapping up a busy year of architectural instruction for the eldo. We really hope to spend more time in Detroit. It’s facing some big challenges, but we became enamored with the density of its urban-scape and its unique spirit.