... or how to get around the McMansion ordinance and its hatred towards much needed duplexes and still have cool design.

Notice how the articulation makes the building seem to move and how the shared wall is broken to prevent a massive look.

We have the best neighbors, this was a few pics I took at their house on July 4th, 2009.

Lucia, the Austin dancer who died Aug. 2009. You were beauty personified, Lucia, a gorgeous artist.

Session for Toni Bravo

The Umlauf Session for Toni Bravo!

Just perfect.

MJ Neal, AIA and Viviane Vives taught a graduate advanced design studio at the University of Texas, Arlington. This video explores how their use of film as a research tool in architecture informed the students' projects and changed them.

The students achieved a completely different relationship to the site by the use of documentary filmmaking.

Film was also used as a creative expression medium and a presentation element but the emphasis was on it's use as a knowledge base tool.

All students shared a p

The house is really fleshing out and I think these shots reflect how the house is starting to feel! We are excited about how this project is turning out.

This is the result of two photo shoots by MJ and me. We had to pare it down to 25 shots for the moment. We will post a wider selection soon. Enjoy, let us know your thoughts!

BTW, the project has won its first award. Well, the vanity did. MJ and John Newbold collaborated to create this fantastic piece.

Long ago, MJ and I visited Port O'Connor. Kilean was little and was afraid of going to the water. I just go wild by the water. We just went back last weekend. As an aside, we may collaborate with our friend Toni Bravo with her production design for her apocalyptic piece at the Umlauf. We may be hanging some pictures. A couple of them may come from this shoot.

Two years ago, now. My father still alive, barely, I visit my friends; I've known them since I was nineteen. My brothers, really. I wish I was there with you.