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Dancing on the Dirt Roads in Hawaii6/18/2012 Two bills passed on Friday that allow farmers in Hawaii to sell agricultural products from their farms, and another to build ag buildings (small ones) without a building permit.
Previous to June 15, one could go to a farm, and only find a roadside stand of fruit or vegetables on the side of the road. Now, we have opened the door to full on retail of fresh and processed goods, even restaurants, serving local farm-based foods and other goods. Logo wear also acceptable! This is huge - we can finally create our own Napa-style diversified agriculture businesses right here in Hawaii. Okay, so you don't believe me: here are the bills Uncle Neil just signed: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB2375_CD1_.htm http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2012/bills/SB2646_CD1_.htm How's this good for Hawaii? Oh, come on! we can make, sell and retail off of farm lands! You can buy goat milk at the goat farm on Maui, or eat at a restaurant right on the farm! huge for agri-tourism, and small farmers, landowners, and people who want to make products from things we grow right here in Hawaii-nei! Huge, huge, huge! Of course it will take some time for farmers and land owners to consider their entrepreneurial nature. But once it catches on, watch for AG lands to jump in value! Big land owners like Mr. Murdoch trying to sell lanai should be very happy.... or maybe he'll start to reconsider trying to sell off all of his lands... Or maybe the banks will reconsider the true appraised values of AG land here in Hawaii. The effects will ripple throughout the Hawaiian economy - just a matter of time, and a chance for all our unemployed to start working the farms again! things are looking up!
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A close friend from Japan has a rental in Waikiki, and he was wondering about renovations. Timing, Styles, etc. I'm sure a lot of you may have some investment in Waikiki, so here's my thoughts on it! His questions were, is it a good time to renovate, and what styles work? Everyone has their opinion on this, but i do know that construction workers are at 50% unemployment in Hawaii, and the yen is strong. Most of the projects going on in town are to cater to the Japanese yen. new restaurants, and other japanese focused stores. the local shops who sell to Japanese are going gang-busters. so for now, the Japanese (and Koreans) rule waikiki, and everyone is hoping for the chinese visas and flights to open up. As an investment for a condo, it's probably best to update with lighter colors, and it is true that people love the nostalgia of "waikiki". I think the future trend will probably head more to that nostalgia from the early 20th century waikiki - with some touches of the 50's. Add in Polynesia, and here's why: the Bali style is living strong among designers for residential - mostly because they can get cheap goods from southeast asia, and it looks sort of tropical... but it clashes with the stereotype of "waikiki" that was branded years ago with the kodak hula show, and the like. it's still a powerful brand, and I don't think the state has any plans to influence or change that brand anytime soon, particularly since they are getting massive cuts this year and next over at the Hawaii Tourism Authority, and the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. With the off-kalakaua ave hotels, the experimentation continues, but the best ideas i've seen or heard about are the moves toward a more miami, festive styling with a retro waikiki flavor. this will probably work because everyone wants to be out of this depression (so the trend will move to happier colors and flair), and it still fits the old "waikiki" brand. all the attention will shift to Disney in KoOlina, and when it reveals itself, waikiki will most likely follow suit. I expect designers will focus on "polynesia" after it's debut. Now Hawaii designers are getting a little more "akamai" about using southeast asian labor - so expect to see more decorative and carved "bali" styles, but using Hawaiian or Polynesian motifs. Same goes for fixtures, and accessories. Since we do very little manufacturing in the US, look to Asia, and Mexico for specialty products that are affordable. Also check into Vietnam - good quality at affordable pricing! Well, that's it for design in Waikiki, and I hope it starts to get your mind motors going!
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Design - "Wonderwall"12/9/2010 working on a project that not only has the typical logistical component, but also a wonderful design component. the music to inspire the design is wonderwall a remake of the oasis hit by Ryan Adams. here are the adjectives that were generated from this song by my clients and what came to me:
soulful, clean, smooth. i get the impression of a light rain on a sunny day where the drips reflect the light as it drips from fresh leaves. light, and warm. encouraging, enclosing, haunting (in a good way), and continuing. the lyrics and words seem to imply strength, security, and a soft-strong spirit. something that is always there, always interesting, and always surrounding, engulfing and besides me to lean on. the song really matches my clients. really amazing. most of the song is smooth, clean and full of a refreshing spirit. but there is a hint of feisty-ness in the song... just a touch. and the architecture will have the same feeling. how to translate adjectives, feeling into brick and mortar? the literal solution for "wonderwall" would be to start with a wall scheme. the parti will have a wall in it. the music, the lyrics, and the site all point to this feeling of strength, solidity, security, and timelessness. the wall in most of my designs will show itself more as a solid "zone" where functions like stairs, closets, and other small tight parts of the home will be concentrated. carving holes and openings in the wall is the fun part, so it will most likely have some of this too! after all, the song wonderwall was inspired by a movie from the 60's about poking holes in a wall... i won't say why here. but let's just say it laid the groundwork for love and untiring interest and devotion. based on this, a language of architecture is beginning to show itself: stone walls, thin poles, warm woods, and all types of wall penetrations. my clients like clean lines, so we'll keep it looking more contemporary. a good connection to a well developed out door garden is really important to bring about the feelings evoked by "wonderwall". so we'll need to focus on that outdoor "room" which will be connected to the main living room. stone is a must: it holds spirit and soulfulness wood is a must: it brings warmth metals: will have some of this - not sure if stainless steel is what i'm feeling, though... maybe copper and bronze in accents will be more appropriate. glass: only in accents... unless the feng shui master clarence lau tells me to use more in certain areas. there will be alot of it as the architecture needs to connect to the outdoor context in a major way light: will bring this by lifting the roof off the stone walls where possible. should give a floating roof effect, and thin vertical members will help this. will post up the parti as soon as i can swing it!
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Animals of the Zodiac - Tiger 20108/12/2010 Tiger is strong, powerful, and decisive. Naturally drawn to the stripes... the very thing that makes tiger interesting makes him invisible. The architecture is a reflection of that inspiration and also creating a strong, -cisive feeling in the experience.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Rat 20108/12/2010 Rat is enterprising, lucky, and optimist and will take risks. Qualities of a great entrepreneur. Feelings and thoughts came as a language of ribbons - strong, but pliable and flexible.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Ox 20108/12/2010 Ox is solid, steady, reliable, and responsible. I chose curves to emphasize Ox's reliability, but it may be too graceful. I think strength and solidity is more of an important impression so adjusting the architectural language to have more stone-like strength is in order.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Boar 20108/12/2010 Boar is steady, determined, prepared and honest. I got a feeling of strength and bristles, with strong protrusions and connections to the earth. The architecture incorporates earth roofs, and protruding forms held together with stone and other solid forms.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Ram 20108/12/2010 Sheep or ram - is peaceful, prosperous, graceful, careful, and balanced. I got a sense similar to Ox, except smoother, and more graceful. Working out sections that show multiple levels and opportunities for light.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Rabbit 20107/21/2010 Rabbit is wise, merciful, beautiful, and empathetic. This characterization has a partial glass roof, and partial earth roof. This house provides a sense of secure comfort.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Snake 20107/21/2010 Snake is coiled and ready. Almost like stone, but fast and flexible. Highly cultured and very intelligent. I love this sketch because it reminds me of early stealth fighters, full of facets and interesting forms. As you can tell, it's important to have the plan look like the elevation.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Dragon 20107/21/2010 Wise, intelligent, filled with vitality and great strength. Dragon truly is "Invincible", so I did another one to Pat Benetar's song as well. This one feels like dragon for some reason.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Rooster 20107/21/2010 Rooster is proud, strong, aggressive. A house for rooster is flamboyant, and fun. Sketched while listening to Pat Benetar's "Invincible" which for me characterizes the rooster. This house's roof does not shed water, but catches it instead. Still needs work on the solar fins concept. I think it needs to be more flamboyant in the vertical direction. Next stage of development will probably develop this "crest" a little further.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Horse 20107/21/2010 Initial sketches for a home with a horse characterization. Full of energy, and joyful. Self reliance, sophistication, resilient, confident. It has physical and emotional characterizations of "horse". Elevation top, plan at bottom. My goal is to finish early sketches for each animal, and then work them into a format for exhibition. It is a discovery of taking human traits that embody the animals, and then translating these intangible qualities into a stage for living and personal expression.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Dog 20107/21/2010 Initial character sketches for a "dog" personality. Ideas stem from a dog at rest, loyalty, determination, solidity, faith, inclusion. top is an elevation, bottom is a plan.
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Animals of the Zodiac - Monkey 20107/21/2010 Initial sketches for a house that characterizes "monkey". Lots of movement, complexity and fun! Monkey 2010 - initial characterization sketches.
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what does Hale mean?7/7/2010 I get a lot of questions about my name. Yes it is strange, and rare - particularly for a first name. People often ask what my name means. Here in Hawaii, people often call me " ha le" pronounced ha lay. My mother gave me the name as pronounced "hayle" Here's the strangest thing, though.. and there really are no accidents - Hale in hawaiian means "house". yes, my mother is very wise.
Most dictionaries will say it means health, or hero. But after searching and reading about how the word hale was used in old english, it was used more as a reference to "life force". I don't think it is too much of a stretch to jump from hero to health to life force. They are really all connected. The spirit within the body that connects to life itself. In Greek, hale means breath. The ancients probably needed a definition for the life force within us, and "Hale" seems to come the closest. The Chinese came up with a different term - "chi" or "ki" in Japanese. So when people ask me what my name means, I usually tell them it's old English for "chi". And if they don't know what chi is, then that's when I ask if they've seen star wars. btw, i do practice tai-chi chuan. here's the kicker... what is the relationship between "house" and "life force"? Maybe it all is coming full circle. by the way, "ha" in hawaiian means breath.
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Hale Takazawa's Philosophy of Design7/7/2010 About my work. I'll soon be posting sketches of current schemes on the boards. All of my work is done freehand. I sometimes will use sketchup for the next stage of design, or then go straight to revit. however, all creative development is done free-hand. It is a direct connection to creativity, and it will always be this way. The first moves in anything make all the difference! Like a game of chess.
"you are legendary" say it to yourself, "I am legendary!" Of course we don't like to talk this way of ourselves, but you must believe it, and surround yourself with that belief. Because it really is the truth. It will be sad if you don't take my word for it until you stand at heaven's gate. It's better to be alive and realize this! If you are to be my client, you must believe this of yourself. I expect it - or the inspiration that derives from it will only be as strong as the belief in yourself. Creativity doesn't flow in a medium of self-doubt. the architecture that flows through my hands shows my clients a reflection of their power, strength, radiance, and beauty (which by the way, is a by-product of the first 3). It says of them, " I am an individual, and this work is my story." My work is about formality and rebellion. Complex but controlled. tension and breaking through. rationalization and then moving away from it. it has to be fun, and smart out of the box, and away from mainstream. but still rooted in the mature building traditions of architecture, sculpture, jewelry, craftsmanship, and engineering - just pushing it to the limit at times... when appropriate. alot like american Jazz, and Rock. in fact it is the American way! Sometimes the work has a personality - like Ghandi - peaceful yet explosive. Mature and thoughtful, yet full of action and strength. Volatile, but calm on the exterior. Kind of like Tai-chi or Yoga. If you don't know what the last statement means, try practicing it for a few sessions...
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The architect6/30/2010 Currently reading about the social and psychological variables of luxury. And this is the first time I am finally reading a book about the business of luxury and how different it is from all other business...
the following is a quote from The Luxury Strategy by Kapferer and Bastien.: "Historically, luxury was the creation of a talented craftsmen, using the very rarest materials, who accepted commissions from a client or patron. These craftsmen were known in their day, but their fame did not endure. That is how castles and private mansions were built and furnished. In France, everything changed when at the end of the 18th century craftsmen stopped accepting private commissions after someone came up with the ideas of making models, before they too were sold. What we were witnessing at that time was a radical reversal of the relationship between omnipotent client and craftsman. No longer was the craftsman prepared to go cap-in-hand to visit the client; instead, people went to them to see their latest collection, their new creations. The age of the nameless craftsman was now long gone - enter now on stage the creative designer and their retinue, their followers. Not to mention the reputation of their name." This is an interesting statement considering that we architects behave primarily like craftsmen because our clientèle(Patrons) who commission one-of-a kind works. We are truly an ancient profession. This architect however chooses to behave more like the modern day designer. I will take on commissions, but my primary work will be to provide designs each year based on the individual stories of people that I can recreate into modern myth and legend.
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About this blog6/20/2010 This blog is about the world, wealth, and the future. It is a perspective or window on how I see the world.
As an architect, entrepreneur, and person who is trained to see the big picture: - in time frames longer than 1 or 2 generations, -in terms of civilization building, - in the push for human creativity expressed through our environment, art, and human activities. My time is spent visualizing, and communicating those visions. happy reading! -hale Blog Rules: 1. I will relate my thoughts with the following bias: the world is never in a state of destruction, or in heavy competition, but rather in a state of creation - so much that there is enough for all. My bias is toward the world becoming rich. 2. The second bias in this blog assumes: Wealth in all its forms is good. And that seeking wealth is seeking to expand life itself - a fuller expression. 3. The third bias in this blog: Death, destruction and failure is merely a new beginning. All thoughts and fear of these demons will appear only as re-birth, resurrection, and opportunity. |