Remembering Julia My Way

I’m certain many of you have seen the recent release of Julie & Julia, an immensely entertaining and engaging film recounting the very amusing and real life tale of blogger “Julie” and the renowned life of the late, great Gourmand, Julia Child.

The movie poster for Julie & Julia

Reaching into the cobwebs of my mind, I can still recall the day in New York when I purchased my very own copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking and certain at that time, that in my role as “new bride”, I would prepare each and every recipe for my new and adoring husband. Alas, that dream did not come to fruition...life did. Unfortunately for me, it was only too quickly I was immersed in schoolwork, salaried work, and too little time.

Mastering The Art Of French Cooking.

This past week I received a lovely gift from dear old Dad – a case of Frog Hollow peaches. He knows peaches are my undoing and I was thrilled beyond words to receive such a gift. Being unfamiliar with Frog Hollow I decided to investigate further, only to find that Julia Child was herself a follower and a great fan of the perfect peach. In fact, one of her dear friends had sent her a box of same for her birthday in 2004, sadly arriving just hours after her death. On the day that Julia’s friends and family immortalized her life, it is said that they incorporated the peaches into a terrific birthday cake.

The incomparable Julia Child.

Fast forward to August 13, 2009. It’s early Sunday morning, and as usual, I’m up early to run down the cold stone steps to grab the Times. Hours later, as I flipped through the Magazine section, there it was… a recipe for Brandied Peaches. This has to mean something.

I’m sure you can surmise the rest of the story. I can now state that I have “canned peaches”; and not easily I might add, but definitely enthusiastically. It was certainly more work that I had imagined, and messier too.

Brandied Peaches, my homage to Julia.
But now as I see these vessels of color sitting on the counter, I have a sense of accomplishment. Truth be told, I feel even better when I think about tasting them hot, poured over homemade vanilla bean ice cream on a cold winter night. I just know I’ll think of Julia.

Barbara Ashfield

Pompidou Part Deux

On my last trip to Paris there was a destination at the top of the list: The Centre Georges Pompidou. I’m crazy for contemporary art, and this is what might one call a “temple”.

The Centre Georges Pompidou-Paris from the entrance and courtyard.

The building, which opened in 1977 re-defined architecture and it’s relation to public buildings, especially museums. Done in an Industrial style which displayed its internal systems and structural elements, it was less about grandeur and monument and more about public interaction and accessibility. The building along with the adjoining square (Place Georges Pompidou) became a destination not only for tourists, but locals and street performers.

A Black and White shot I took in of the Center Georges Pompidou-Paris looking from Place Georges Pompidou.

The “ Musée National d'Art Moderne”, housed in the Centre Pompidou is considered one of the largest contemporary collections in Europe. The exhibitions presented over the years are a literal who’s who of contemporary art from Salvador Dali to Cy Twombly. The building also houses a national library and an acoustic research center.

An elevation view of the Centre Georges Pompidou- Paris.

A new Centre Pompidou has been planned, and began construction in 2006. The new museum will be located in Metz, France on the banks of the Seille River in the Lorraine region. The museum is a collaboration of The Centre Pompidou and the Metz Mètropole urban area, and will be located near the local TGV train station.

An artist's rendering of the new Centre Pompidou-Metz.

An architectural model of the new Centre Pompidou-Metz.

The museum’s architecture was inspired by a traditional Chinese hat. The primary form was constructed from an armature of laminated timber forming a mesh and will be coated in fiberglass. The building’s design is as stunning as the original, but for different reasons. The design of the new building speaks more to organic forms currently celebrated in popular architecture. It’s amazing that the original Pompidou could have look so “avant-garde” just 30 years ago. The building still seems fresh, but with less edge, as it has become part of the global architectural vernacular.

The laminated timber mesh creating the structure of the "hat".

The Centre Pompidou-Metz under construction.

The Centre Pompidou-Metz is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010, and will feature pieces from the collection of the Centre Pompidou’s Paris. The new museum’s inaugural exhibition, devoted to masterpieces will feature works by Henri Matisse, Man Ray and Jean Prouvè.

A rendering of the interior space near the center of the "hat".

This destination has now jumped to the top of my list for my return to Europe! I’m eager to see the Pompidou’s next generation first hand.

David Hansen

Paris Blooms

Over the years I’ve done a fair amount of traveling and I have to say that I always make a point of seeking out notable florists in the big cities. They give me a sense of place, (no pun intended) of artistry, and a visual memory that lingers long after I have returned to San Francisco.


A beautiful Winter display in a shoppe around the corner from our hotel.

I included my cousin Wendy in the shot for scale.

On a trip to Paris last winter I made a point of visiting some of the famed florists there. They were glorious, as glorious as I had imagined them to be, and when I entered the threshold of each shop I felt as though I had been enveloped in a beautiful blanket of color. The shops are like little Faberge eggs, each one bejeweled and sparkling. They reminded me of the old Podesta Baldocchi on Grant Avenue in the 1960s. Now that was a florist!

Beauty en masse as seen in the shop around the corner from our hotel.

A few of my favorites from the City of Lights are Christian Tortu in the 6th, Marianne Robin in the 7th, and Flamant in the 8th.

The window display at Christian Tortu.

Mares eat oats, and Does eat oats, but little lambs eat daffodils at Christian Tortu.

Beautiful Ranunculus at Christian Tortu.

I am looking forward my next adventure – destination as yet unknown, but I do know that the great florists of THAT city will be on my list of things to see.

Barbara Ashfield

Stone Cold Inspiration - Marble Busts

Barbara and I have been hunting for some finishing touches on a project we’ve been working on and decided a marble bust would be the perfect element for this predominantly classic space.

The ideal! A "Baroque voodoo" sculpture by Bernini, thought to be his lover.

After a (disappointing) look at a few local antique dealers, I decided to scour the internet for inspiration. We find in our work that it’s best to find the piece you aspire to and work from there. Many of the more favorable examples I found were by Bernini, the famed Italian sculptor who did work for the Vatican, and was originally patronized by Pope Paul V’s nephew Cardinal Borghese. I somehow doubt that we will end up with a Bernini in our client’s home, but this is where the aspiration comes in.

Imperial Roman bust of Marcus Aurelius from the Ephesus Museum in Turkey.

A screen shot from the film "Auntie Mame" during her "Neoclassical" period.

A bust of "Lucifer" atop coiled snakes.

I thought I would share some images I found online. After immersing myself, I think a bust of a feminine subject is better for the space, as it seems “softer” and we don’t want the piece to dominate the room.

From Christies a bust of Aphrodite from the Hellenistic period.

A Nineteenth Century bust, possibly of Marie Antoinette.

One of the more interesting pieces I found in my research is a Pre-Hellenistic piece that reads as incredibly modern. It reminded me of a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The piece is available as a reproduction, but I think its modernity is not right for this project.

Aegean Islands Cycladic Head bust sculpture (Pre-Hellenistic) from the Metropolitan Museum.

Isamu Noguchi sculpture entitled "Mother & Child" from 1944.

We’ll keep looking, and hope that the “Marble gods” will grace us with the perfect piece.

David Hansen

My Faience, Tut, Tut, Tut

King Tut has descended on Baghdad By The Bay and, in all its glory, the show still goes on. I first saw the King Tut exhibit at the “original” De Young when it was here in the 1970s. I also spent numerous evenings in the Egyptian Wing at the Metropolitan Museum in New York, albeit more for the swanky cocktail parties than for the culture at hand, but that’s another story. Tut has always been fabulous – centuries ago, decades ago, and even now.


An Egyptian "Lotus-form" Cup in Faience from The Metropolitan Museum web site

Moving right along…As time goes by; many of us realize that we somehow have this ability to connect the dots in our lives. Mind you, these dots are small, but who would have thought that when I fell in love with Faience in France last year that I would suddenly realize, in the midst of an afternoon at the DeYoung, that my Faience, my beautiful white pottery, was made in the same manner, with the same materials, as many of these ancient Egyptian artifacts on display; amulets, tiles and small statues.

A statue of Isis & Horus in Faience from the Metropolitan Museum web site

My Faience is the real deal –fired in ateliers just outside the village of Moustiers-Saint-Marie in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. I was there on a visit with friend, who had moved with hubby to Provence just weeks before, and my terribly chic cousin, herself a Decorator in London. Shopping simplified itself as one of us (not me, alas) spoke beautiful French - so much more comfortable doing business in the native language!

A "Cherry Leaf" bowl in Faience Blanche.

The three of us spent a spectacular day attending a local truffle festival, exploring the Gorges deVerdon, and arriving in Moustiers mid-afternoon. It is a beautiful place; magical really, steeped in history and the center of the pottery trade, especially faience, for centuries. They say that there is a pink light there at twilight that I would have loved to have seen, but Moi missed it. Next time.

The reverse side of the "Cherry Leaf" bowl in Faience Blanche.

We poked our heads in and out of shops, had a drink in an odd little establishment and settled on a small shop with an exquisite window displaying gorgeous pottery. I was immediately drawn in and found myself lingering over the beautiful hand made pieces, each one more interesting than the other. Initially I decided to purchase one piece, and then I added another, and then, I decided that I wanted it all. I purchased many place settings and some small decorative plates and had it shipped home. Done. Fabulous.

A set of the Faience Blanche plates with Salt and Pepper vessels.

My beautiful Faience Blanche. I love it every day. I love the way it looks, the way it’s made, the history of the pottery, and, most importantly, the history of the purchase, with my dearest friends, on a wonderful day in France that I most probably will never forget.

Barbara Ashfield

I Love the “Nightlife”

The new California Academy of Sciences opened last fall to much fanfaire here in the Bay area, and rightly so because it is San Francisco’s new must-see spot that’s been over a decade in the making। I’ve stayed away from the new facility due to the overwhelming crowds for the better part of a year, but I was anxious to go in person and see what all the hoopla was about.

The Rainforest dome looking up to the “Living Roof”

The new building serves the same functions the old building did as a natural history museum, planetarium and research facility except it has shed it’s Beaux Arts shell (mostly) in favor of a new, innovative and “green” building that has become world renowned.

The path through the Rainforest dome with “Nightlife” revelers.

Looking down from the Rainforest dome into the aquarium.

A few months ago the Academy started a weekly event called “Nightlife” every Thursday evening. The idea is simple: Re-open the facility at 6pm, sell food and cocktails, let local DJs play music and allow those 21 and older to enjoy the museum in a lively setting (sorry no kids allowed). Tickets are a very reasonable at $10 for the general public and $8 for members (much less than a normal admission). As with most events, VIP tickets are also available.

A DJ spinning in the midst of the Evolution exhibit.

There has been a huge amount of buzz about “Nightlife” with people exclaiming: “THIS is the way to see a museum!” I dropped in last Thursday and I was blown away। The event was fantastic! I couldn’t believe all the people, but the Academy staff somehow managed to make it quite civilized. Since it was my first time at the new museum we managed to see all the big attractions with the exception of the planetarium (they were having technical difficulties) and hear some great music! Seeing the new “Living Roof” at dusk was a definite highlight.

The “Living Roof” observation deck at dusk.
We capped off the night with a meal at the Moss room, which is a beautiful, world class restaurant just downstairs from the museum। The food was amazing and it was the perfect ending to a delightful evening.

The Moss Room restaurant downstairs from the museum.

I strongly encourage everyone in San Francisco to check out “Nightlife” first hand। You can buy tickets in advance online and it makes a great venue for large groups।

The “Africa Hall” which is housed in a part of the former Beaux Arts shell with the original animal habitat dioramas was host to a chocolate tasting.

Learn more about the California Academy of Sciences here.
Buy tickets to Nightlife click here.
Learn more about the Moss room here.

David Hansen

Local Treasure Part 1: Allied Arts Guild

A sign welcoming you to Allied Arts Guild

As David and I embark on our latest “Local Treasure” series, I am compelled to share with you a place that holds a warm place in my heart…. and that is Allied Arts Guild. Allied Arts Guild, on Arbor Road at the edge of Menlo Park, is a visual palette of landscape and architecture steeped in history adorned by the local flora and fauna so abundant there.

The front Arched entrance to Allied Arts Guild with sign in Spanish tiles.

The Guild itself, once a parcel of a much larger property, was developed in the late 1920’s by Mr. and Mrs. Werner, both of whom were aficionados of the Spanish inspired garden and accompanying colonial architecture. The couple, both devout followers of the craftsmen and artisans of that period, had a dream of constructing a place where these artists could work in an environment dedicated solely to beauty and serenity, a place to which their inspiration and work might be inspired.

The fountain in the "Courtyard of Abundance"

A view looking into the "Courtyard of Abundance".

From the moment you arrive at the ornamental iron gates emblazoned with the capital letter “A”, you have arrived at “Zanzibar”. This beautiful property, once photographed in its entirety by famed California photographer Ansel Adams, you immediately recognize the sense of calm that the Werners sought to achieve. It is a sanctuary steeped in another era, and each time I visit, I am continually drawn to another time and place, that of early California and the elegance of Spanish culture.

A beautiful mailbox handcrafted in metal emblazoned with "AA".

My first experience of Allied Arts came in the mid 1960s as a little girl when I made frequent visits with my mother and grandparents’ annual sojourn from Vancouver. The highlight of our visit was always having tea on the patio, and in my mind’s eye, I can still see the blue tables and hear the trickle of the little fountain in the courtyard. I will never forget the repertoire of toast soldiers smothered in butter and jam, of cucumber and nasturtium sandwiches and the assortment of sweets that accompanied such events. The highlight was always the tall sugar rimmed glasses filled with iced tea with the proverbial mint garnish. My Grandfather later recaptured the gardens in watercolour, although sorry to say, those pieces were lost along the way.

Detail of a metal grate covering a window.

I was at Allied Arts just this past weekend, and now, some 45 years later, the place still evokes a memory of sunny afternoons with my mother. How warm those memories still are.

One of the many walkways on the property...Consumate California!

To learn more about Allied Arts Guild visit their web site here.

Barbara Ashfield

Introducing...Local Treasure!

The San Francisco Bay area as seen from space from nasa.gov

Barbara and I would like to introduce a new series here at Design Squared entitled “Local Treasure” which will profile places or organizations that promote creativity here in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are fortunate to have so many unique resources at our disposal. Look for profiles on some of our favorite haunts. Enjoy, and thank you for reading Design Squared.

David Hansen


An interesting take on the Bay area from a 1938 Cartoon Guide to California by Reg Manning.