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Bil’ak collaborated with Mark Thomson, art director at HarperCollins, on a new set of dictionaries that exclusively employ the Bil’ak-designed font Fedra.
Bil’ak collaborated with Mark Thomson, art director at HarperCollins, on a new set of dictionaries that exclusively employ the Bil’ak-designed font Fedra.
This garage space uses iconic checkerboard floor tiles to contrast the rustic barn door that provides entry to the rest of The Barn.
This garage space uses iconic checkerboard floor tiles to contrast the rustic barn door that provides entry to the rest of The Barn.
Another view of the garage reveals its extensive space to house vehicles and protect them from the elements.
Another view of the garage reveals its extensive space to house vehicles and protect them from the elements.
A little Scandinavia in SoCal: AK Restaurant + Bar in Venice, CA
A little Scandinavia in SoCal: AK Restaurant + Bar in Venice, CA
Along with creative craft cocktails coming from the bar, the on-site restaurant serves Pacific Rim and American comfort food. Jewelry designer Anne Korte of AK Studio made the custom curtain for the project.
Along with creative craft cocktails coming from the bar, the on-site restaurant serves Pacific Rim and American comfort food. Jewelry designer Anne Korte of AK Studio made the custom curtain for the project.
A couple enlist Butler Armsden Architects and Leverone Design to reimagine their home as a multigenerational meeting point. In 1963, landscape designer Lawrence Halprin devised a master plan for a community that would live in harmony with the natural environment. The resulting Sea Ranch, which stretches 10 miles along the Pacific coastline in Sonoma County, California, is characterized by timber-frame, wood-clad structures that are in dialogue with the local climate and terrain. Sited on a bluff within this pioneering community is the vacation home of a lawyer couple. After purchasing the residence in 2007, they lived in the home as it was for four years, even keeping the previous owners’ furniture. Envisioning a retreat that would accommodate their extended family and guests, they then recruited Butler Armsden Architects and Leverone Design to help guide the project.
A couple enlist Butler Armsden Architects and Leverone Design to reimagine their home as a multigenerational meeting point. In 1963, landscape designer Lawrence Halprin devised a master plan for a community that would live in harmony with the natural environment. The resulting Sea Ranch, which stretches 10 miles along the Pacific coastline in Sonoma County, California, is characterized by timber-frame, wood-clad structures that are in dialogue with the local climate and terrain. Sited on a bluff within this pioneering community is the vacation home of a lawyer couple. After purchasing the residence in 2007, they lived in the home as it was for four years, even keeping the previous owners’ furniture. Envisioning a retreat that would accommodate their extended family and guests, they then recruited Butler Armsden Architects and Leverone Design to help guide the project.
Sleeping nooks that look like the grooves in a block of cheese.
Sleeping nooks that look like the grooves in a block of cheese.
“A building can have far greater impact than the space it stands in.”—William Carpenter, architect and resident
“A building can have far greater impact than the space it stands in.”—William Carpenter, architect and resident
The Jorgensen's Menlo Park home is a model of green design with features that are smart for everyone to consider. "Every project is different, but there are some universal things that will apply from project to project," says Feldman about designing a green home. "The first—and most obvious thing—is to always try to build less, to have a smaller house and be smart about how the rooms are designed and oriented so that you can get by with less space. Smart design will lead to a smaller building, but it won't feel smaller."
The Jorgensen's Menlo Park home is a model of green design with features that are smart for everyone to consider. "Every project is different, but there are some universal things that will apply from project to project," says Feldman about designing a green home. "The first—and most obvious thing—is to always try to build less, to have a smaller house and be smart about how the rooms are designed and oriented so that you can get by with less space. Smart design will lead to a smaller building, but it won't feel smaller."
New zoning allowed for a zero-lot-line structure, but required a public storefront, which Carpenter uses as an art gallery.
New zoning allowed for a zero-lot-line structure, but required a public storefront, which Carpenter uses as an art gallery.
Bil’ak’s designs for the 39- and 78-eurocent stamps were inspired by the patchwork of the Dutch landscape as seen from the air. The width of each letter, set in Bil’ak’s Fedra Serif, determines the width of the surrounding color block, echoing the centuries-old art of metal typesetting. Bil’ak sees the stamps as an homage to Dutch traditions.
Bil’ak’s designs for the 39- and 78-eurocent stamps were inspired by the patchwork of the Dutch landscape as seen from the air. The width of each letter, set in Bil’ak’s Fedra Serif, determines the width of the surrounding color block, echoing the centuries-old art of metal typesetting. Bil’ak sees the stamps as an homage to Dutch traditions.
A passage between the walls for hide and seek.
A passage between the walls for hide and seek.
Bil’ak designed the NDT Choreography Workshop poster using dancers to spell out “workshop.”
Bil’ak designed the NDT Choreography Workshop poster using dancers to spell out “workshop.”
Beyerdynamic AK T8iE in-ear headphones
Beyerdynamic AK T8iE in-ear headphones
Peter Bil’ak started the type foundry Typotheque with his wife and business partner Johanna in 1999.
Peter Bil’ak started the type foundry Typotheque with his wife and business partner Johanna in 1999.
Rian and Melissa Jorgensen's 2 Bar House in Menlo Park boasts all the usual green design suspects: energy-efficient lighting, good insulation, renewable material finishes, radiant heat, and the roof is pre-wired for future PV panels. Executed by Feldman Architecture, the house requires only natural lighting during the day which keeps energy costs way down. Still, the most stunning aspect of the green design is the living roof planted with succulents, aloe, viviums, and ice plants. "I'm absolutely glad that we did it," says Melissa. "It turned out so well and I really enjoy sitting up there and taking advantage of it as much as I can. It's very peaceful." Read more about this total remodel here.
Rian and Melissa Jorgensen's 2 Bar House in Menlo Park boasts all the usual green design suspects: energy-efficient lighting, good insulation, renewable material finishes, radiant heat, and the roof is pre-wired for future PV panels. Executed by Feldman Architecture, the house requires only natural lighting during the day which keeps energy costs way down. Still, the most stunning aspect of the green design is the living roof planted with succulents, aloe, viviums, and ice plants. "I'm absolutely glad that we did it," says Melissa. "It turned out so well and I really enjoy sitting up there and taking advantage of it as much as I can. It's very peaceful." Read more about this total remodel here.
Inspirational spaces
Inspirational spaces
In Bil’ak’s studio, he and his staff assemble and hand-draw the cover for issue #7.
In Bil’ak’s studio, he and his staff assemble and hand-draw the cover for issue #7.
Bil’ak takes a meticulous approach to Arabic type design, although he is unaware of the words’ meaning.
Bil’ak takes a meticulous approach to Arabic type design, although he is unaware of the words’ meaning.
The countertops in the kitchen are a mix of quartz surfaces and custom and salvaged stainless steel. "We use the kitchen all of the time, it turned out really nice," says Melissa. "It's very open, certainly one of the central focuses of the house, and is fun for entertaining."
The countertops in the kitchen are a mix of quartz surfaces and custom and salvaged stainless steel. "We use the kitchen all of the time, it turned out really nice," says Melissa. "It's very open, certainly one of the central focuses of the house, and is fun for entertaining."
The living room, dining room and kitchen are in one open space. The flooring is bamboo. The cabinetry is a mix of bamboo, walnut, and maple, and was fabricated by City Cabinetmakers out of San Francisco.
The living room, dining room and kitchen are in one open space. The flooring is bamboo. The cabinetry is a mix of bamboo, walnut, and maple, and was fabricated by City Cabinetmakers out of San Francisco.
➤Website: usabuysmm.com ➤Telegram: @usabuysmm ➤WhatsApp: +19292439320 ➤Email: usabuysmm@gmail.com
➤Website: usabuysmm.com ➤Telegram: @usabuysmm ➤WhatsApp: +19292439320 ➤Email: usabuysmm@gmail.com
This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.
This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.
Bil’ak takes a meticulous approach to Arabic type design, although he is unaware of the words’ meaning.
Bil’ak takes a meticulous approach to Arabic type design, although he is unaware of the words’ meaning.

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