Inspiring People: Alison Brooks

Congratulations to Alison Brooks for being named Woman Architect of the Year by The Architects' Journal.  A fellow University of Waterloo grad, Brooks moved to the UK and started Alison Brooks Architects in 1996.  The firm jointly won the the RIBA Stirling Prize in 2008 for Accordia, a high density housing project in Cambridge, UK.

She has spoken out about the need for better support for woman and childcare, an essential component for any working mother, especially in the competitive, and male dominated world of architecture!  

Her buildings have a subtle elegance and she strives for quality and craftsmanship no matter what the budget.  She is praised for bringing beautiful housing to everyone, not just the rich!

Photos: here, here, here, and here
Video: here

Solange, Sapeurs and the Summer Sun

When this video for Solange Knowles single, 'Losing You', came out last year, I was immediately drawn to the colours, style and fashion of both the singer and those around her.  Shot in the township of Langa, in Cape Town, South Africa, the video reveals its vibrant culture and community.  For me, though, the main stars are the Sapeurs, the fashion dandy men of Brazzaville, the capital city of the Republic of the Congo.  Supposedly the video was inspired by the book,  Gentlemen of Bacongo by Daniele Tamagni, who photographed members of the Le Sape Society, or 'Society for the Advancement of People of Elegance'!!!  Now doesn't that sound like something you'd want to join!!

I've been really into West African fabrics recently, from kanga to wax cloth.  My mom, on a recent trip to South Africa, brought me back some different patterns and sizes of fabric and I can't wait to figure out what to do with them.  Love these bags from Lalesso x Pichulik and these huge floor pillows from Tamara Magal in Lonny magazine.  Oh the endless possibilities!  It doesn't hurt that these colours fill me with longing for the summer sun and keep these dark winter days from being too gloomy!!

Photos from here & here.