Born in the Dominican Republic, Rafael Alvarez is an accomplished architect, graphic designer and painter whose work can be found around the world. A visual arts graduate from the School of Arts Apec (EDA) and Architecture at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena (UNPHU), he was an Artist in Residence, Art and Design Director and instructor for the Foundation Altos de Chavon - an affiliate of Parson’s School of Design in New York City.
Nestled in the heart of California wine country is Ramekins Culinary School, Events & Inn, which opened its doors in June of 1998. Established as Sonoma Valley’s only learning facility dedicated to the education of the home cook, the 12,000-square-foot, two-story building is characterized by European style and Old World charm.
In designing the Cribbs Causeway shopping mall in Bristol, England, Tait Design sought to use materials that would convey a high-quality image, but would also withstand the demanding conditions of a busy retail center. Ultimately, both needs were satisfied with a thoughtful blend of domestic slate and German limestone.
With the rugged peaks of the Rocky Mountains and an equally impressive landscape, Sun Valley, ID, is a majestic place that is steeped in history. Often referred to as the “American Shangri-La,” the area has become a thriving resort community - offering visitors a wealth of hotels and restaurants, outdoor activities and entertainment.
Located on the oldest north-south main road in New York City, Bloomingdale Properties’ 1385 Broadway has undergone lobby and common area renovations as part of a substantial capital improvement and modernization program. Corporate space planning and interior design firm MKDA contributed to the redesign by modernizing the building’s entrance, lobby, elevator cabs, corridors and restrooms with a selection of natural stone.
Set in the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square - one of the most historic tourist districts in America - the Alaska Building, which is now a division of Courtyard by the Marriott Brand, recently went through an interior reconstruction and renovation.
Located on Madison Avenue in the heart of New York City, D’Espresso offers its customers an out of the ordinary environment as they grab their daily coffee.
After more than a decade of planning, L.A. LIVE - a 4 million-square-foot, pedestrian-oriented entertainment and retail district in downtown Los Angeles, CA that sits adjacent to the Staples Center - has become a reality.
Design of dimensional stone veneer is a straightforward process when the stone sizes are similar, utilize the same material and are connected to an appropriately framed structural backup. However, if stone panels of different sizes and shapes are part of the architectural vision and the existing backup wall limits the location of anchors, the designer must be creative and meticulous in the cladding design.
The “Marmomacc Meets Design” (MMD) project again generated some of the more innovative booth designs. MMD 2010 paired leading international designers with stone processors. The pairings focused on this year’s theme - “irregular and exceptional” - in developing everything from objects to entire booth designs.