I also checked web standard...
I also checked web standards adherence by running the page through the W3C validator (see link below). This gave 267 errors and 105 warnings, which probably sounds worse than it is and may not be such a big deal in practice (though one would have to analyse the errors and their consequences to say for sure). There is of course a risk that non-valid pages do not show up as intended in all browsers, or that they are less visible to search engines. Also, coding to standards have other benefits, but this is just a sidenote in this context.
In summary, I think there is some potential for improvement of the source code, but nothing to loose sleep over. Unless of course you are paying your web designers big money, or, well, paying them any money at all :).
Finally, please note that I am far from an expert, and this is all just nitpicking anyway. It does not make my user experience any less valuable. I simply mention it because you have set the standards for the site so high that I think it deserves to be as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. A shaker website, I guess 🙂
http://validator.w3.org/
One of the ...
nicest thing I remember from visiting the Everaert home are the people living in it...but aside from that it has all kind of interesting features that I could share with you. First of all it is hardly noticeable from the street/road, which in Belgium is always a challenge; Belgium is after all the most densely populated country in the world. When arriving at the right address one slowly discovers the house when going up the hill. As mentioned in the blog Louis Everaert was influenced by some of the best Scandinavian contemporaries. One detail that reminded me right away of Poul Kjaerholm's home are the visible wooden beams that rest on the outside walls and continue to support a cantilevered roof. The spaces above the wall and between the beams are windows. It gives the roof a very light appearance and keeps the geometry of the crossing architectural elements very clear and understandable. But the Everaert home is much more than the rectangular volume of the Kjaerholm home. I liked the sculptural brick element of the entrance that gives you the sensation of entering a large sculpture. The bricks have a deep colour that is typical for a few clays that are extracted along the Meuse/Maas in Belgium. It is a dark brown with almost metallic nuances and it gives that curved wall an archaic character that is difficult to forget. If my memory serves me well the Belgian Embassy in Helsinki by a colleague of Patrick's father, the talented architect Roger Bastin, uses the same bricks but in large flat surfaces, which does not look as appropriate once you have seen this curved application. The rather narrow spaces of the entrance open up into the larger living quarters. Not unlike some FLW homes where larger spaces are introduced by smaller ones (sometimes in order to make the removal of some furniture impossible, the furniture was moved in before the building was finished). Unlike most Modernist north American homes, the spaces are rather small but the way one space introduces the next one is very much in line with the organic architecture of FLW more than with the modernist examples. I would love to be able to describe the feelingof these spaces in proper English, but I can't. The closest I can come is that the spaces are not spaces you live in but you live with; a kind of third skin-if clothing is the second one. It has a very humane feel that is characteristic for the modest man, Louis Everaert seem to be....but as I said, the most impressive are the people living in it.
Gustaf
Thank you very much for taking the time to do all these check ups. Your technical comments are relevant. The explanation is quite simple. The second version of DA with the structure that you can see today dates from 2001. Techniques have evolved since then, we know this and so does the company that works on our web development.
But, as you know, we are working with a minimum of finances. The conversion of the site to the actual standards would not bring us much in terms of navigation (except for the speed) and it would be very expensive with no return on investment. We prefer to finance small modules on the 'old' existing structure and to bring new functionalities rather than a clean and up to date code 😉
We hope that the quality of the design and the ergonomy of the site compensate the small inconveniences related to the age of the site. It works well on all contemporary navigators, which is the most important to us.
Thanks Koen for this too...
Thanks Koen for this too kind comment about our house. Your description is incredibly correct (except for your first and last sentences) for somebody who (unfortunately) only came once to our home.
The house is indeed relatively modest in its size, material, etc. It is the result of my father's modesty, he is a very discreet man, it is also one of the reasons why the house is almost hidden. For me, one of the strong elements of the architecture is the quality and variety of the light. It is impossible to describe, one must live it with the evolution of the days and seasons. In addition to the orientation of the house, the variety of the shape of the windows, sometimes very wide or very narrow, plays an important role as well as the choice of material that subtly colors the light.
Hudsonhonu,
Yes the bedrooms and bathrooms are in the upper level which is built entirely in wood (structure, boarding, interior walls and ceiling). Yes we still have the model (not in very good condition) and all the blueprints.
Stephen,
You are right the different levels are very pleasant to live with.
The ground floor: entrance and professional spaces (today design addict office)
Four steps higher: living room prolonged by a large covered terrasse, a fire place, dining room and kitchen with a small terrasse.
Upstairs: bedrooms and bathrooms.
My father doesn't understand English, he therefore cannot communicate here but I have translated your comments and he has asked me to thank you all for your kind comments about his work.
Patrick and Alix, thanks...
Patrick and Alix, thanks for taking the time to digest my dcwilson-esque posts (in terms of quantity, I can never match the quality). In that case I think you are making the right priorities.
To expand on my initial impressions, I have, in the short time since your announcement, come to appreciate the radar not just as a place for commerce but also as a complimentary and very handy source of additional knowledge on design.
I would also like to take the opportunity to express an interest in ads from dealers specializing in prints and artwork.
Edit: I found the info and write-ups on your house very interesting. Thanks to you and koen for sharing.
.
Excellent Radar
Now we know what the radar was! excellent!
The new presentation is also great.
It's sure a great improvement since will benefit almost everybody, sellers, buyers, P&A, to people how it's interested and then know where to find it or for those that just want to see. Stuff looks much more attractive.
And it's seems to be quite affordable.
Design Addict Building
I'm anxious to share my excellent experience with all, but I don't find time now or an available Internet connexion at the moment. I'll be back soon. Koen is not exaggerating at all, the kindness of the users of the house it's not less important that the house, that means a lot.
DA-house
It's really difficult to explain only how the house is. To me was all mixed in a nice relaxed warm experience, that mixed the architecture, with the kindness of the people, the PA collection, and more, all in one: Just to tell that was a nice dialogue surrounded by great architecture, excellent coffee and wine in a wonderful glass or cup (a collection piece),while having an interesting relaxed dialogue, while perceiving the designs, an on and on and on.
Anyway, said that, I'll run the risk of dividing that in some points, although provably missing much in the transcription.
Building
It's true that if someone pass in front of the street doesn't see the house, as Koen said, but a the cute sign (see picture) tell us we are at right place.
What impressed me more was that was full of details that could be discovered or enjoyed one by one, many, many, but they were,"soft" ones, and light ones, because saying that can somebody can think that could be excessive, all the contrary they were there to be discover, one by one, at your own time. Surely I could saw some of them, and provably left many undiscovered, only living there could completely enjoy and discover hidden details.
Some of them:
The small windows between the wooden beams gives light and different and unusual perspectives.
The central bricked curved wall gives a special textural sensation, that hides the bathroom, and the toilet is "outside" the house (¡?).
Most proportions are slightly unusual, the roof a bit lower, and spaces a bit wider. All of them contributes to give an "air" and spacious sensation.
The wash-hand basin made from a Belgian ceramist.
The staircase with woods almost floating on a steel structure.
An internal wall detail, in some walls, you can see all the constructive layers: one finish one side, the structural wood in the middle, and two or three layers for the finish at the bathroom with the tiles, always the architectural elements very clear.
It was said "it´s not a big house" and "it was made with not expensive materials". I didn't thought it that way, About the size: the house it's like a suit that fits very well in the people who lives and work there, some extra space just to feel comfortable, I'd think that much bigger would be uncomfortable. About "not expensive materials" you don't realize about that at all, all the contrary, or if you think it in that way, you like it more.
The spirit of the house fits so well with P&Afamily...
It's very clear that Louis Everaert transmitted in the house he made, his own way to see things, way of life, etc.; that's reflected in the house in an excellent way. And it's interesting that Patrick and family (that didn't made it themselves and live there since not much than some years ago) inherited the same spirit, so again there is a harmony between the people living and the house.
cont.
This house is like good wine improves through the years. And now that we have the possibility of tell something to Lois, tell him that please.
The Kindness of the people!!!
I've already commented that, if it's necessary to say more about it... I couldn't find the words...
The Collection
Another unexpected interesting thing was the P&A collection, can be read somewhere that they have a 1500 pieces collection, so I could expect to find some kind of museum, with lots of display cabinets, full of objects, or something like that, but very far from that, and much more connected with the owners' spirit the collection was in the place souring our friendly and relaxed conversation, the chair where was somebody seated, the armchair was other-one seated, the cup of coffee we had, each one of them had a story, some a rich story, some a simple story, some classics but not too many, some pieces by a renamed old designer, other the last piece of a young designer, even some beautiful pieces with no sticker or renown history but really interesting, that some of them later will appear in some magazine as the ,,last discover,, and others that will remain as an undercover beauty until who knows when, but who cares? all had some cleverness in some point: I identified some, other was explained by Patrick (i.e: some new Dutch excellent designs), but many were there with quiet, silent, with the story to tell, if somebody asked. Many of those that were quit, some days later I saw them again this time visiting some galleries, or in a museums, or in shops and expositions; so I could recall some of the pieces that was there so quiet, but now with a written explanation.
One of the upper rooms is the a real designer paradise, The "60's 70's Designer-land paradise", was full of 60,s 70's pieces, many plastic and some POP pieces. Later Alix told us that if somebody is "boring" goes to the storage and pick some pieces to change temporary the mood, just a designer land paradise!
Patrick work
And hidden between some objects, the work of Patrick, he is a wonderful artist!
enigmatic art pieces made through a kind of photographic photo-montage, as I understood, I wanted to made an opinion on some of them, but was interrupted, over there a huge artifact: three wood tanks in different levels, with water interconnecting them as an ecological-ecosystem machine, that was made for some exposition... He sells his work in some galleries through Europe, and was chosen to be at the Venice art Biennial!!
I asked my-self why we never know nothing or almost nothing about it. Would be really interesting for many of us if we could see more about his work.
About Alix work, we see it every day! (a real work of art,(we know that, we help to shape this masterpiece, as in some corners as in this forum, or anybody doubt it?))
Or does she also has another secret work hidden?
cont.
On the other hand, it's no more, no less, than what can be expected or imagine on-line. Just confirmed in place, what can we read at DesignAddict. Just DAhouse, the collection, Patrick work and how kind they are, is just the spirit that we can breath daily at DA.
RADAR:
By the way, I visit it more often, Of course the pictures helps a lot, and because of that, plus links, and other info it's much more nice and interesting.
I think/hope it's being useful to other parts of DA as is to me. I heard is going well?
Well, what can one do face...
Well, what can one do face to such an amount of kindness?
The moments when we are the most happy for having created Design Addict are the precious moments when we have the opportunity of meeting some of you. To be able to easily exchange ideas with people who share the same passion is certainly one of the most interesting benefits due to the invention of the Internet. When these virtual exchanges can be prolonged by meetings in the real-world, it's the occasion of memorable meetings. To have Gustavo, his wife Laura and their lovely small Ignacio at our place was a great pleasure for us. It was like a blast of hot Argentinian air that came to break our frozen winter, that we are not ready to forget.
You are all welcome, if you come to Belgium! Just drop us an email a few days before to be sure that we are at home.
During the day spent together and in his post above, Gustavo, nicely scolded me for remaining so discrete in the forum concerning my artistic work. I am not trying to hide my work but I am not an adept of self promotion. If there are contemporary art amateurs among you, I invite them to visit my website (link below). I regularly exhibit in Europe but unfortunately I don't have a gallery that represents me in the United States yet (if you know a good gallery that could be interested?). But I am not the only one to remain discrete about my work. Am I, Gustavo? When are you going to show on the forum all the great lamps that you design and produce in Buenos Aires?
http://www.patrickeveraert.info/
To me one of the more...
To me one of the more interesting things on DA community is the positive synergy that we generate.
After this invitation, I also remember an invitation to knock a door in Canada, and another similar to London.
I also want to include in the list Buenos Aires.
So I invite everyone to see the lamps here. I don't know if you will like them, but the "asado" (a kind of local barbecue) and wine you'll try won't forget in your life.
I'll open a thread to post my lamps, asking opinions, in a couple of weeks. (Not now, cause preparing for a fair, and after holidays, there is much work 🙂 ).
But sorry, for the asado and wine, Internet must improve more, It's not available by now.
On Patrick's work, perhaps one day open a thread. The most remarkable thing I see, is that seeing the pictures is difficult to see them as photography/photomontage. Looks much more as a painting. Really work of art. Hard to believe it's photography in the end.
That shows also how much he had worked on it, and how much sentiments and feelings each picture transmits, showing us the intellectual process he had, from the ended work to the beginning, or up to when we want to read.
If you need any help, please contact us at – info@designaddict.com