Recently I visited San Francisco and stopped by Golden Gate Park to check out the De Young Museum.

The building was very impressive, designed by the renowned Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron and Fong & Chan Architects in San Francisco.

The most notable elements were:

the dimpled copper cladding,

the dramatic overhang,

and the tower.

I didn’t pay much attention to the building across the way, but apparently I should have. Here’s a photo of the state of the construction during my visit (June):

Check out this story – California Academy of Science Green Roof – at Inhabitat.

Judging by the drawings it should be pretty spectacular when complete.

Of course, the common counterpoint to a fancy new green roof is ‘consumption/construction is inherently not green.’

Hopefully aspects of this green building can serve as an example for future builders/remodelers for how to efficiently integrate green ideas into their projects, thus maximizing the return on the consumption investment.

For more info click on over to The New California Academy of Sciences Building website.

A few weeks back I included a Speed link about architect Philip Johnson’s Glass House opening to the (limited) public:

Saturday Speedlinks 7-7-07

Travel blogger Alena Kerins was fortunate enough to visit the home recently and took lots of great photos. Check out the report & photo gallery on her blog: FollowAlena.com – Philip Johnson Glass House, Connecticut.

It’s definitely on my list of places to visit. Now I just need to get on their list of people to admit!

Some interesting links for your viewing pleasure:

• To honor the former First Lady and her work to create & beautify Town Lake, Lady Bird Lake is Town Lake’s new moniker.
• A San Francisco renter got fed up searching for a new apartment and built his own rent mapping program: CraigStatsSF. Be sure to check out the Heatmap links, using GeoIQ Software. Do you find these heatmaps useful? What kind would you want to see for Austin?
• Here’s a unique listing for you home shoppers: Dracula’s Castle for Sale.
• In the spirit of warm summer nights spent enjoying the outdoors (in places where it hasn’t rained for 40 days), here is some beautiful Belgian outdoor furniture on Veerle’s blog.
• In the travel destinations department – Here is a nice story about Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Definitely on my list of places to visit.

Enjoy your weekend!

There are many benefits of living in an area where you can walk to restaurants, shopping, parks, and other amenities. Walking not only improves your heath but also reduces your transportation expenses (all you need is a decent pair of shoes).

How can you measure the walkable amenities of an area? First hand experience will provide the most information – simply walk around the area. Second to that – talking to area residents can provide great insights. Third – Check out this new website: Walkscore.com.

Here’s an example Walk Score map of downtown Austin:

Other scores: (0-100)
• 7th & Congress (Downtown) = 95
• 43rd & Avenue F (Hyde Park) = 71
• 1200 Old Mill (Cedar Park) = 23

Walk Score works by looking at the distances from an address to the nearest restaurants, parks, grocery stores, schools, etc. Locations with many nearby amenities will have high walk scores (like downtown Austin). Locations that require cars to get to any amenities will have low walk scores (like some suburban neighborhoods).

It is important to note that today Walk Score only considers distances. Other Walkability factors include the presence of sidewalks, street lights, public transit options, and natural barriers like highways or rivers.

Even so, it’s a good tool which allows quick evaluation and comparison of different areas.

What’s your Walk Score? Find out here.

I was reading this news today about another new development near Bee Cave:

Tennessee developer plans condos in Bee Cave

By M.B. Taboada
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Bee Cave will be getting a taste of Tuscany.

A Tennessee developer is scheduled to break ground in August on Cielo, a $160 million residential development with 400 luxury flats, condominiums and townhomes.

Cielo, which means heaven or sky in Spanish, will be nestled in rolling hills and surrounded by the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, which provides habitat for endangered plant and animal species, including the golden-cheeked warbler.

Franklin, Tenn.-based Southern Land Co. hopes to emulate a Tuscan hillside village near RM 620 and Texas 71. The Hill Country views were the inspiration for the 78-acre project, which will have about 28 acres reserved for green space.

More detail can be found on the Cielo Development website.

It sounds like the developers are considering the surroundings in their landscape & siteplan design, and the community will have no shortage of ammenities.

My question: What makes ‘Tuscan’ or ‘Mediterranean’ style projects so popular? Peruse listings for newer homes in the Hill Country and you’ll find a disproportionate number of homes built in this style. Here’s a link to a search on my website for homes priced above $1 million and built in 2002 or later: Inspired Austin Search Results

Don’t get me wrong, Tuscany is a beautiful region of Italy, and I appreciate the style. But what makes this style so popular in the Texas Hill Country? Do you think Italians build Texas Hill Country style homes in Tuscany?

Share your thoughts on Hill Country Architecture in the comments.