Hacin + Associates [architecture + design in boston]

Design New England: Working Overtime

David Hacin is a man on the move. We often find him scurrying in and out of the H+A office from one appointment to the next [taking an occasional break to feed Oscar!]. Even at home, David can be found working away from a comfortable spot in his loft. Design New England recently interviewed David in their March / April 2012 publication about the space he uses to 'set up shop' when at home in their article 'Working Overtime.' We hope you pick up a copy and enjoy the behind-the-scenes look yourself!

H+A at home: Christine Rankin at RISD

Christine Rankin is currently taking a sabbatical in Providence to earn her Master of Interior Architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). In the break between fall and spring semesters, Christine had an opportunity to experiment working with a variety of materials during a six week long winter session course entitled 'Material Potential'. The goal of the course was to explore how materials might be utilized beyond their original intent and how the manipulation of these materials can create new ideas in furniture.

We've posted a photo album that shows one of these projects: a seat, which Christine designed and produced herself. Check out the photos and description of her process here. 

Although we miss her around the office, we are continually excited to hear about Christine's creative ventures at RISD!

H+A at Home: Vintage-modern tabletop

Jennifer's dining room, with a mix of mid-century and cafe chairs and a George Nelson pendant; colorful embroidered napkins soften the clean lines of round felt placemats and sleek modern china [photos by Natalie Wi].

Jennifer Clapp, H+A designer, was recently featured in a new online magazine titled 'Nesting Newbies'. The magazine focuses on newlyweds, providing tips for entertaining and cooking. Jennifer’s mission was to design a ‘tablescape’ that would be affordable and easy for readers to replicate in their own homes. Pulling from her fascination with contrasting styles, Jennifer paired modern tableware from Teroforma and LSA with antique chintz and Depression-era glass and silver unearthed from the cabinets of family members. The concept was to repurpose these old-fashioned items as decorative centerpieces framed by crisp, contemporary pieces. Click here for a pdf of the article.

The magazine also asked Jennifer for her favorite tableware source in Boston, and it was an easy answer. Lekker, located in Boston’s South End and owned by Natalie van Dijk Carpenter, houses some of the world’s most beautifully designed pieces from manufacturers such as Stelton, Royal Copenhagen, LSA, and Teroforma. For a pdf of the Lekker article, click here.

 

Graphic wallpaper and wood accessories at Lekker [photo by Natalie Wi]

H+A at home: David Tabenken

Consistently on the top of David Tabenken's 'To-Do List' is "Make time to paint!" David started watercolor painting at the age of eight, in his hometown of Bangor, Maine. As an aspiring young artist he entered his works in local exhibits and competitions, garnering numerous awards. With these ribbons stashed away in a cardboard box at home, David continues to pursue his passion for paint, focusing on buildings, cities, and landscapes.

When drawing on CAD isn't fulfilling his artistic aspirations, he turns to his prized box of watercolors to create a new piece and hone his craft. Though most of his work has been executed as gifts for family and friends, the occasional commissioned piece keeps him wondering if he could ever make it as a full-time artist. Fortunately for H+A, his love of architecture and a monthly mortgage payment keeps David happily at the office, his workstation clad with miniature reproductions of his work, seen here.

H+A at home: Glass artist Hillary Faccio

'Red Tile 9', photographed by Joel Benjamin

Hillary Faccio is a sculptor as well as H+A’s Accounting Department Manager. Her primary artistic medium is glass. She has been working with glass for the past nine years. Hillary also works as a teaching assistant in the Glass Department at Massachusetts College of Art + Design in Boston.

Below, Hillary is pouring a ladle of molten glass (2300 degrees F) into a mold made out of sand. Once the poured glass has filled out the mold and has cooled to a semi-solid state, it will be removed from the sand and placed into a kiln to slowly cool over a 5 day period. Her piece, Red Tile 9 [above], is sand cast glass with copper inclusions of wire, mesh and found objects. The coloration of the tiles is from red glass powder that is sifted into the sand mold before the glass is poured. The copper objects protruding from the tiles are also placed into the sand mold prior to the glass pour. In the detail photos [below], one can see Hillary’s signature use of vivid color combined with a collage of textures and patterns.

Hillary recommends classes through Boston's Diablo Glass School. And for the hub of the glass world, the Corning Museum of Glass is definitely worth a visit to New York state. 
 

'Red Tile 9', detail photo by Joel Benjamin, and a picture of Hillary at work