In the Loop: June 2023
We Built This City on Grammar and Style
Architecture is the perfect mix of creativity, attention to detail, technical focus, collaboration, and problem solving. Just like writing (and editing)! Plus, buildings = pretty. Why do you think they keep making so many Batman movies? It's because people can't get enough of watching the Dark Knight brooding among the art deco and art nouveau details and gothic architecture.
We love stories (and also stories haha!). But do you secretly have an idea for an upcoming newsletter theme? Are you hoping to see something in particular? Rainbows, television, dogs, Chicago, twins—we're pretty open-minded. Drop us a line and tell us what you think!
Editing Q & A: Did You Know?
Generic terms for buildings are usually lowercased when used alone but capitalized when used as part of a plural name. Buildings and monuments with specific names are generally capitalized. If a name is preceded by the (even as part of the official title), it is lowercased in running text.
the Empire State Building
Bailey Building and Loan
London House
Ray and Hart Schools
but
Christie’s house
the building next to the bank
Official names of rooms and offices are capitalized.
von Kuster Hall
John F. Kennedy Conference Room
the Situation Room
A Monumental Playlist
What's the Diff?
There are a lot of sneaky words out there—words with similar spellings, similar sounds, or just similar vibes. Here’s the lowdown on some of those commonly swapped-by-accident words.
Concrete (n.) is a very strong building material composed of cement, sand, and aggregate materials. It fills whatever mold it is poured into and quickly hardens into a solid (rock-like) form. It is the most widely used building material on the planet. It is used to make sidewalks, driveways, and buildings.
Cement (n.) is not the same thing and the terms are not interchangeable. In fact, cement is a powdered ingredient used to make concrete (and mortar and stucco and grout). It is a fine binding powder that is pretty useless on its own, but is super nifty when mixed with water and an aggregate like sand.
Cool Guide
Stuff We Like
Do you even know what an architect does? If not, the Storybots can tell you.
This fella thinks he would be a good architect for no good reason.
Have you ever been inside a Sears “catalog house”? They are proof that amazing stuff can come from a kit.
European architects give tours of their micro apartments (under 40 square meters, my dudes).
They say browsing houses on Zillow is the “new sex.” And sometimes it goes absolutely wild.
Some of the best houses are spite houses.
The Citadel and the Palace of Sans Souci, two 19th-century monuments in Haiti, serve as emblems of the country’s independence. Plus, they were even declared world heritage sites by UNESCO.
Revisit the 1972 classic Learning from Las Vegas, a book that revolutionized contemporary architecture and helped usher in the postmodern style.
Check out pics of Paris before and after the city was completely redesigned in the late 19th century by Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann.
Sometimes life looks like it accidentally spilled out of a Wes Anderson movie.
What the world needs now: Sustainable design and architecture of the future.
There is absolutely no way that “The Love Shack” is up to code.
These Japanese buildings are shaped like what they sell.
Meet California’s first female architect, Julia Morgan. And while you’re at it, meet Aline Louchheim, the woman behind architect Eero Saarinen.
These doll houses were designed by architects. Which one is your favorite?
Pay It Forward: Meet Jack Curtis
Jack Curtis is an architect, artist, and motorcycle enthusiast who lives and works in New York City. He knows all the best places to get a good cup of coffee in Manhattan and is surprisingly good at canoeing. You would be exhausted just thinking about how many marathons he has completed. He also likes the Fast and Furious series for some reason and bakes a mean loaf of bread.
Jack will be exhibiting some of his haunting watercolors way up north later this summer, but we convinced him to share his work here first.
Pretty amazing, right? Click over to the blog, where Jack provides some insights on his artistic process and shares a peek at some of his watercolors.
You can see Jack's work online on his website: johncurtiswatercolor.com. Or if you're feeling adventurous, you can see his work in person in Haliburton.
