If you have flooring you dont like whether its carpet, vinyl or unappealing wood it can feel like theres no way to escape it, no matter how many rugs you pile on top. But if you have floors you love, walking across them can be a daily pleasure.

Thats because the floor is the base upon which all other decorating decisions are built. Change your floors, and you change the character of your home. Its as simple as that.

So its no surprise that new floors specifically, hardwood floors are at the top of many renovation wish lists. Not all wood floors, however, are equally appealing or appropriate for every space.

We look at a building holistically, so the walls and windows, and the environment that were in, all feed into the decision-making about the floors, said Paul Bertelli, the design principal of JLF Architects in Bozeman, Mont., whose firm chooses a different wood floor for almost every project.

The wood flooring industry has evolved considerably in recent years, as wider planks have increased in popularity and finish and installation options have expanded. Given all the choices now available, we asked architects and flooring professionals for advice on how to pick the right one.

Browsing through flooring samples to choose a type of wood and a color for your new floor is probably the most enjoyable part of the process. At this stage, much depends on personal preference and your overall vision for your home.

One of the most popular species is white oak, a classic, durable and widely available wood. It can also take stain very well, said Chris Sy, the president of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. That means it can be customized for a wide variety of aesthetics, from bleached off-white to ebony.

Other types of wood offer different looks. Hickory has a lot of color variation, from light tones to dark tones, Mr. Sy said.

Those who want a rich, darker brown usually select walnut, while those who prefer blonder wood may opt for maple or birch.

As for choosing a stain, the current trend is toward subtle colors that leave the wood with a natural look. Some designers even eschew stain altogether.

We dont ever recommend staining floors, said Elizabeth Roberts, an architect in Brooklyn, though she does occasionally use oak darkened by a process called fuming.

If youre having trouble deciding which species and color is best for your home, consider the other wood elements in the room, Mr. Bertelli suggested. If you have walnut cabinetry, for instance, a walnut floor is an easy match; if you have oak doors, oak floors are a natural choice.

Limit the palette, he said, to make it more tranquil and serene.

The way that logs are sawed into boards has a big effect on the grain pattern thats visible in the floor.

With flat-sawn (or plain-sawn) boards, the grain has a wavy appearance. The defining feature is this arching cathedral, said Jamie Hammel, using the industry name for the pattern.

Mr. Hammel, the owner of the Hudson Company, a supplier of wood flooring and paneling, noted that quarter-sawn boards offer a more linear appearance, with faint striping: The prized feature are these medullary rays, which some people call tiger stripes.

Rift-sawn boards offer the straightest, cleanest grain, whereas live-sawn boards may include all types of grain patterns.

A floor can use one cut exclusively, or can incorporate various types of cuts. A mix of quarter- and rift-sawn boards, for instance, is a popular option for flooring with understated grain patterns. For a warm, woodsy appearance, using only flat-sawn boards might be the best option.

In addition to the way the wood is cut, you can choose how many knots and other distinguishing marks you want to see.

We call it character, Mr. Hammel said, noting that options include clear (no knots), light character (a few smaller knots) and character-grade (the most, and largest, knots).

Reclaimed wood is another option. Many flooring companies offer wood salvaged from barns, factories and other structures, which can have even more character with nail holes, cracks and saw-blade marks.

You can find oak siding off a 150-year-old building thats been weathered beautifully and use that for flooring, Mr. Bertelli said, adding that his firm frequently does just that. We want character in the floor, and our philosophy is that there are perfect imperfections.

Another major decision is whether to buy prefinished flooring, sold with its final color and topcoat in place, or unfinished flooring that can be stained and finished by an installer after its put down.

One of the advantages of prefinished flooring is that it can be installed very quickly, usually in a single day.

When floors are finished on site, the home has to be vacated to allow for sanding, staining and finishing, including drying time.

Its very messy work, and its very important that nobody step on it for days, or weeks, at a time, Ms. Roberts said. It really alters the construction schedule.

Because prefinished flooring is made in a factory, companies can also produce it with a wide range of exotic finishes that might be difficult for an installer to recreate on-site and with great consistency.

You know what youre going to get, said Jane Kim, an architect in New York. Some installers who do their own finishing, she noted, may not have the experience to get the color you want, especially if you want shades of gray or a really pale finish.

A key difference, however, is that prefinished boards usually have beveled edges to allow for slight irregularities, which creates more pronounced lines between the boards after installation.

Because unfinished flooring is sanded flat after it is installed, the finished floor typically looks more like a solid plane, without gaps.

Most hardwood floors today have a finishing coat of clear polyurethane. Polyurethane essentially sits on top of the wood, protecting it from moisture, wear and staining, Mr. Hammel said.

Water-based polyurethanes have grown in popularity in recent years, and the finishing sheen can range from matte to glossy.

A polyurethane finish is very durable, but once damaged or worn, it can be difficult to repair, Mr. Hammel said, because it typically requires refinishing an entire board, if not the whole floor.

An alternative is an oil-based finish. Oil penetrates into the wood and therefore tends to make it look a bit richer, he said. And because it doesnt leave a film on top of the wood, it allows for relatively easy spot repairs.

The downside to an oil finish is that it requires more regular maintenance. An oil floor will dry out over time, Mr. Hammel said. But it can be easily refreshed, with more oil.

Solid wood is just what it sounds like: a plank of your chosen wood, cut from a log. An engineered wood floor is composed of a thinner layer of your chosen wood on top of a manufactured base of layered wood, like plywood.

Engineered wood has a number of benefits. Its built to be more dimensionally stable, Mr. Hammel said. It will expand and contract less, reducing the chance that the boards will warp or shrink over time.

Engineered flooring is especially good in basements, in high humidity areas and over radiant heating systems, he said.

And in homes with concrete subfloors, like many high-rise apartments, engineered flooring can be glued directly to the slab, whereas solid wood usually requires a plywood subfloor so it can be nailed in place.

If your ceiling height is low, saving that extra bit of space by using engineered flooring can be important, Ms. Kim said: Some clients are really obsessed with getting the highest ceiling possible, so if they can save an inch on the floor, theyre going to go with engineered flooring.

But it isnt always the best option. Some people simply like the idea of solid hardwood better, and in extremely dry areas, solid wood may perform better.

Engineered floors are made to work best in environments that stay above 30 percent relative humidity, Mr. Sy said. If the environment is going to be consistently below that, engineered floors may experience slight cracking in the wear layer.

Also, depending on the thickness of that top layer, engineered floors may allow for sanding and refinishing only once or twice or perhaps not at all while solid wood can be refinished many times. (To avoid this limitation when buying engineered flooring, look for a product with a thick top layer.)

Narrow boards with widths of about two to three inches were once standard for hardwood flooring. Not anymore. Five- to eight-inch widths are now commonplace, and some homeowners opt to go even wider, with broad planks measuring up to a foot wide and beyond.

We make floors up to 20 inches wide, Mr. Sy said.

In general, the wider the boards, the higher the cost. And the wider it gets, the less stable it gets, because the wood wants to move, Ms. Roberts said. When we get into really wide flooring, we almost always recommend an engineered floor, because that prevents it from cupping and warping.

Most floors are installed with the boards in straight lines, but there are many alternative installation patterns, including herringbone and chevron, which are enjoying renewed popularity.

More complicated installation patterns also tend to increase the overall cost of the floor, as they require additional labor for installation and result in more wasted wood from the multitude of cuts.

How do you decide which board width and installation pattern is best? Consider the proportions of your space, and the style you want: Bigger rooms tend to look better with wider boards, and a herringbone or chevron pattern adds a touch of tradition.

You can also mix it up. Ms. Roberts sometimes uses wider boards and complicated installation patterns in the primary living spaces, and narrower boards in a straightforward arrangement in secondary spaces, like hallways and bedrooms.

This approach has been favored for centuries as a way to save money, but it can also prevent extravagant flooring choices from overpowering smaller rooms.

Remember, Ms. Roberts said, the goal is to create something timeless not to make your entire home look like its three boards wide.

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

The rest is here:
How Hard Can It Be to Choose a Hardwood Floor? - The New York Times

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release) -- The Greene County Commission will officially adopt the 2020 County budget on Thursday, Jan. 9.

Each year everyone at the County works very hard to develop a budget that best uses taxpayer funds all while providing the services required in our community, said Presiding Commissioner Bob Dixon. This year, like all years, there were items that had to be cut from the budget, but I commend the judges, officeholders and directors for looking ahead, making the most of the resources available and working collaboratively to make this years budget possible.

In all, the Greene County Commission held 31 public meetings to reach the final budget. Department directors are originally asked to submit needs requests in September each year. That information is then compiled and line item reviewed before determining what areas will be funded. More than $14.8 million was cut this year from these original need requests.

For 2020, budgeted expenses for all funds total $233,745,400. Total budgeted revenues for General Revenue I (considered the general operating fund for the County) and General Revenue II (funds from the sales tax revenue approved by voters in 2017) equal $71,253,289. In General Revenue I, salaries and benefits comprise 72.4 percent of that overall budget. It is important to note, collections for General Revenue II began in 2018 and actual collections were very close to budget. Specific obligations were made to voters in regard to how that money will be spent, and that commitment was honored throughout the budget decision process. Finally, it is the fiscal policy of Greene County to maintain 90 days of general revenue operating expenses in cash reserve. The County projects the 2020 cash reserve balance to be $22,988,231.

The 2020 Greene County budget will be available at: greenecountymo.gov/budget/.

2020 budget highlights:

An increase of $1,050,971 toward election expenses. The 1% annual cost of living adjustment and mid-year service based 1.5% salary structure increase were preserved for County employees. Building operations:o $30,000 toward new SMMS software to effectively schedule, track and prioritize maintenance activities on County-owned equipment.o $75,000 toward new HVAC equipment to be funded out of General Revenue I.

Courthouse special projects:o $57,500 to replace carpet in the Treasurer and Assessors Office; replace HVAC units, install new AC and heat in bathrooms, and convert storage to office space.

Judicial Courts special projects:o $233,112 in General Revenue II to replace hot water pumps, change out chiller, change out carpet in courtrooms, change out VA boxes in courtrooms, install sound-reducing materials in courtrooms, paint and replace trim.

$150,000 ankle monitoring services for Pre Trial. Cost is split between General Revenue I and General Revenue II.

Family Justice Center:o $34,000 toward contract services such as security alarm monitoring, building and grounds maintenance and janitorial service. $44,000 toward wraparound services such as assistance with medical, mental health and housing, victim transportation assistance and public outreach.o $715,000 has been allocated toward construction, capital and equipment for the recently acquired Tefft building.

$150,000 has been set aside for the potential cost for the external state audit. Over $470,000 budgeted for network supplies, wireless, telecommunication, upgrades and replacements. $604,180 in LEST II funds toward replacing end-of-life vehicles for the Sheriff's Office, which includes equipment to outfit the vehicles. With focus on Mental Health, Greene County is collaborating with various community groups to develop a drop-in center to benefit the citizens of Greene County. In addition, the program will hire community health advocates. In total, the county has set aside $1.25 million toward these efforts as well as to provide assistance to specialty courts and it will be funded out of General Revenue II. More than $45 million will be spent toward the jail expansion project.

Critical needs that still need to be addressed:

Ongoing replacement of vehicles and upgrading of software and aging equipment throughout the County. Space being rented for several Greene County offices and departments. There is still a long-term need to provide proper square footage to meet those departmental needs, which would save the County $400,000 a year in rent.

Read more from the original source:
Greene County reveals what's in, what's out in the 2020 budget - KY3

My girlfriend and I are apartment hunting. We browse listings online, tour neighborhoods and compare floor plans. Our ideal apartment is within walking distance of work, groceries and public transportation. Wed prefer an airy and clean space with good ventilation.

Goals are easier to set than achieve. In urban Honolulu, rents are high and housing stock is decades old. Many units were built in the 1970s and havent been substantially renovated since. This is unfortunate, as poor design decisions were made long ago.

For instance, many older units are stuffy and require air conditioning. Some designers installed wall-to-wall carpeting in these units, ignoring the humid climate. Now, 40 years later, these units are host to toxic mold.

Zoom out, and poor design is repeated at the metropolitan level. Zoning rules designed to separate commercial from residential areas have created automobile dependence and permanent traffic.

Design decisions are durable; they affect people long after architects and urban planners are dead. As developers and politicians make workforce housing a priority, they should be careful to avoid the short-sightedness of designers past.

Rents are high in downtown Honolulu, seen here along Honolulu Harbor with Aloha Tower.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

This week, Im in Bangkok on vacation. Bangkok is a bustling and sprawling metropolis, yet it feels more vibrant than Honolulu, even in outlying neighborhoods.

In Bangkok, theres no hard line between commercial and residential space. Even Silom and Sukhumvit, the commercial centers of the city, are peppered with residences. Towers rise out of indoor malls, with a dense population able to support an array of businesses below.

Bangkok began operating its first rapid transit system in 1999. Twenty years later, the BTS skytrain and MRT train lines crisscross the city.

Bangkoks investment in public transportation has allowed the city to transcend car-dependent design.

Commercial spaces in Bangkok arent required to build gigantic parking lots. Instead, most people rely on public transportation and ubiquitous taxi service. The result is an efficient use of commercial space and a relatively convenient and affordable transportation system.

True, traffic can sometimes turn bad, but the same is true of Honolulu. The difference is that most people in Bangkok dont need cars to manage their daily commute and errands. And the elevated rail lines arent affected by the traffic below.

The infrastructure has shaped the environment for the better.

City official are hoping rail helps alleviate congestion and opens up new housing opportunities for Honolulu residents.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Rail may help Honolulu enter a new age of transportation, but its not enough. Rather than relying on rail to bring workers in from the west side, we should strive for increased density within the urban core.

Kakaako is developing; Kapalama is next. This area is adjacent to the central business district. Government can aid in the development of Kapalama by reconsidering zoning, investing in infrastructure and streamlining the permitting process.

Zoning regulations are invisible infrastructure, and they shape development. If we dont like the neighborhoods we live in, we should think first of the rules that govern building decisions.

A central error in our current design paradigm is the emphasis on single-use zoning, with rigid separation of commercial and residential space. Drive through Kapalama now, and you can see this segregation. Vast swaths of warehouses and strip malls. Clusters of apartment buildings and houses. No overlap.

As we proceed, we should strive for mixed-use development.

In his book, The Geography of Nowhere, James Howard Kunstler argued against single-use development. His TED Talk provides a succinct version of the argument, as he notes that single-use development results in places not worth caring about. In Kunstlers mind, the strip malls and office parks of Honolulu are design disasters and should not be repeated.

The architect Christopher Alexander made a positive argument for mixed-use design in his books, The Timeless Way of Building and A Pattern Language. Alexander advocated for an organic blend of commercial and residential space. This is the pattern of great European cities like Paris and Rome, London and Amsterdam. But building regulations arent construction. For that construction, we need tangible infrastructure.

Right now, the only profitable developments are luxury condos.

Anthony Quintano/Civil Beat

Some people argue that developers dont pay their fair share for access to infrastructure. I think this concern is narrow.

Making development more profitable means more development. Given our current housing shortage and the aging of our housing stock, new construction is necessary. Thus, government should invest more in infrastructure.

Of course, people will object that this is a giveaway for developers. Thats the point. Right now, the only profitable developments are luxury condos because infrastructure costs are added to already high land, labor and material costs. In order to incentivize mid-market construction, one of these four expenses has to be reduced. Otherwise, well keep getting the $36 million penthouse at Waiea.

Returns on infrastructure investment are delayed but substantial. And infrastructure projects can prop up the construction industry in times of cyclical downturn. According to state economist Eugene Tian, we are in a period of slowing growth. Now is a good time to build.

Finally, government can reform the permitting process.

A recent audit indicated that Honolulus Department of Planning and Permitting is slow.

Slow processing doesnt only add cost to construction. In some cases, it means that projects arent conceived. If investors sense that slow permitting will tie up resources for years, theyre likely to favor other options.

Our next mayor should make reforming the department a priority. Systems should be refined to allow speedy permit processing. And the department should favor mixed-use projects.

We need housing development around the rail stops, especially in the urban core. To help meet this need, state and county governments should coordinate to change zoning regulations, invest in infrastructure, and reform permitting.

The decisions that officials make now will determine the future of Hawaii.

Thirty years from now, will young professionals struggle to find apartments in the urban core?

Will they wonder why their parents and grandparents decided it was a good idea to maintain bankrupt policies favoring single-use development and automobile dependence?

Or will they take an elevator from their apartment down to the adjacent mall and rail station, ride to work in air-conditioned comfort, and pretend to understand when grandpa repeats his stories of traffic?

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Sterling Higa: Why Can't I Find An Apartment To Rent In Honolulu? - Honolulu Civil Beat

This week the Main Street contractor began installing street trees that will line both sides of 236th St SW between I-5 and 56th Ave W. The trees are being planted in tree pits that are covered by a metal grate. Ultimately 20 trees will be installed on the project.

The type of tree is called the Autumn Blaze Maple, which is a hybrid of the silver maple and the red maple. The Autumn Blaze Maple is a fast growing species that has leaves that turn a raspberry-red color during the fall. The Autumn Blaze Maple does not produce the helicopter seed pods that many other maple trees produce.

In addition to the 20 street trees the project will install over 1,200 more plants, a combination of shrubs, groundcover and perennials. Shrub species include blue mist dwarf fothergilla, birchleaf spirea, white azalea, blush pink heavenly bamboo, purple gem dwarf rhododendron, concorde Japanese barberry, magic carpet spirea and Himalayan blueberry. Groundcovers include archers gold lemon thyme and waterperry blue speedwell. Perennials are purple de oro daylily. The majority of these plants will be located in ground-level planting areas.

At key locations there will also be concrete planters that will have some Town Center neighborhood branding features.

This post on Strong Towns describes why street trees are so essential to our communities:

Street trees provideplenty of pragmatic benefitsin terms of urban planning and environmental wellness, such as shade from heat and relief from humidity, making streets more walkable and bikable andlowering the average electricity bills of surrounding households. They alsolower the average driving speed,making roadways safer for pedestrians and drivers alike. Theres even evidence that theyimprove the health of nearby residents,lower crime rates, and drastically increase property valuesin an area.

More here:
Street Trees Planted Along 236th St SW for Main Street Project - nextmlt.com

As the official trailer/motorcoach dealer of Dragzine, Flying A Motorsports extensive lineup of new and used motorhomes and toterhomes, race car trailers, stacker trailers, car haulers, and cargo trailers will be highlighted here in a monthly feature, Rig Of The Month.

For the new year, Flying A Motorsports is highlighting a 32-foot Auto Master SS model from Continental Cargo Trailers. Continentals background is building solid and fully customizable trailers. Cape notes their Auto Master trailers are a well-built no-nonsense line with plenty of options for every level of customer.

Inside the heavy aluminum cabinetry, the concealed electrical service is located beside a winch plate with cable access opening. A Boss stereo system and provisions for electronics charging are also wired within.

The Master SS line has very good bones with the same axles, wall thicknesses, and frame layout as models from higher-end manufacturers, Alan Cape from Flying A explains. It is a more mass-produced trailer compared to some other manufacturers who build their trailer on a one-by-one basis. Relate this to a reliable Chevy Caprice, but not a BMW (laughs).

This brand new trailer has screwless aluminum side walls made from .040-inch thick aluminum. It also features a one-piece aluminum roof. The aluminum walls are insulated for comfortable work in all weather.

LED light technology is used throughout the interior and exterior. The new lighting technology makes working on your car at night easier in the pits. The trailer is also braced and wired, ready for installation of a roof air conditioning system.

The industry-standard Dexter axles are 6,000-pound models set-up in a spread axle layout. Options such as Aluminum wheels are featured on this unit along with a 5-foot extended tongue that combines with the spread axles for improved pulling stability.

Continental's own upper and base L-shaped cabinets use heavy hinges and corner bracing and are matched with a bright aluminum workbench surface. The floor span and ramp door are covered in rubber coin flooring while all of the interior walls are carpet-lined.

Black rubber coin flooring is utilized on this trailer, and protective carpeting protects the interior walls around the entire interior perimeter. The carpet extends three-feet up the walls.

As you can see by the list, these Continental Cargo Trailers have a long list of equipment features within them, Cape continues. These are affordable and ideal for the 99-percent of racers who arent running a national tour. For the racer who competes within a couple of state area, you can have a good, cost-effective workhorse.

Features found in more expensive trailers are included in Flying A's inventory of Continental Cargo trailers. An extended tongue, triple 6,000-pound axles featuring a spread layout along with LED lighting and an insulated generator area are just a part of this loaded options list.

A 24- x 24-inch drivers closet extends up to the ceiling height for storing all your personal items and safety equipment. The Boss brand stereo system also features an amplified subwoofer built into the base of the drivers closet.

For power, this trailer has a 50-amp electrical service installed. The trailer is prepped for a generator with an insulated generator compartment covered by a 36- x 36-inch vented generator door along with a generator slide-out for easy access.

The Auto Master line is a sturdy standard trailer that can handle the miles regionally, Cape describes. If you want to travel within a couple of hundred-mile radius regularly, this will be a great option for a sportsman racer. Continental stands behind its products and services them very well for their customers.

Trailer Specs:

Continue reading here:
Rig of the Month: 2020 Continental Cargo 32-Foot SS Race Trailer - Dragzine.com

The branding has been led by Manchester-based True North and positions the new museum with all the charm, appeal and entertainment value of a top-bill seaside attraction.

Dedicated to the towns historic and continued contribution to the UKs entertainment landscape, next year will see the opening of Blackpools first ever museum. Showtown will celebrate the comedians, dancers, circuses, performers and characters that have propelled the seaside towns narrative.

As part of the museums offering, a playful, flexible brand has been created by Manchester-based studio True North. The team got involved with the project via competitive pitch, with managing director Ady Bibby commenting it was an ideal brief for the studio.

A number of us in the studio actually did our formal professional training in Blackpool, and so have personal interest in the area, he adds.

The brand identity for Showtown revolves around a series of brand blocks which have been designed to represent the range of experiences visitors can have inside the museum. The blocks have been given a modular design featuring bright and contrasting colours, taking inspiration from the town itself, according to Steve Royle, creative director at True North.

We knew whatever we created needed to reflect the vibrancy of Blackpool, he says, The town is an assault on the senses, where everything is vying for your attention and Showtown needed a brand that could compete with that.

The blocks feature in the Showtown logo and further applications of the system aim to tell stories in playful and engaging ways. These include depictions of seaside entertainment staples like clowns, ice cream and circus characters, all built out of the block system.

Crucially, says Royle, the system isnt set in stone. True North has worked with exhibition designers Casson Mann and designers at Why Not Associates and Studio Treble to further extend the branding across wayfinding, digital and interiors.

The system should be as fluid and playful as the stories it helps tell, Royle says.

A large part of Showtowns identity will be its position alongside Blackpools other attractions, Royle says. In the context of Blackpools famous promenade, the museum needed to feel as much an attraction as the rollercoasters and rides he adds.

This is echoed by senior designer Victoria Pinnington: The museum essentially has to function as a hybrid there will be the objects and artifacts that you would expect to see in a museum, but there will also be plenty of hands-on experiences to be had.

To effectively marry these two ideas, she says the team decided on something that appears fun, but that also evoked a sense of nostalgia. Its a brand that will get older generations reminiscing, and younger generations discovering.

The Showtime museum is projected to open in 2021. The project represents a 13 million investment from both the government and external sources. It follows the installation of the Blackpool Comedy Carpet along the towns seafront in 2011, which was designed by Gordon Young and Why Not Associates.

Though construction to the space is ongoing, exhibitions scheduled for its opening as reported by the Live Blackpool website include Beside the Seaside, which explores Britons love for the beach; Wonderland, a look into Blackpools Golden Mile sideshows and its role in the development of magic; and Everybody Dance Now, which celebrates the town as the spiritual home of ballroom dancing.

The rest is here:
Showtown: Blackpool's first museum inspired by joy and whimsy of city - Design Week

Sabine Marcelis wins Wallpaper* Designer of the Year 2020

Between fountains for Fendi, donut-shaped rugs, and a takeover of Mies van der Rohes Barcelona Pavilion, Dutch-Kiwi designer Sabine Marcelis has widened the spectrum of what light, glass and resin can do

It is fitting that Sabine Marcelis experimental focus is the diffusion of light: few other forms of energy translate into such a wide spectrum of colour, shape and unpredictable phenomena. And indeed, in the past year the work of the Netherlands-based New Zealand-born designer has widened the spectrum of what light, glass and resin alongside more unexpected materials can do.

Take, for example, the stretch between two projects produced in quick chronological order: there was the serene and flowing elegance of Fendis The Shapes of Water for 2018s Design Miami and then the childlike abandon of the Donuts rug conceived for Carpet Sign, presented during last years Milan Design Week. The former pushed the conceptual boundaries of what Marcelis does best: the 10 fountains devised for the Italian fashion house showed an intricate pas de deux between light and water, but used architectural references to transport the installations beyond the context of their glass and resin containers for instance, one of the fountains referenced the arches of the Palazzo della Civilt Italiana, Fendis Roman HQ. The latter was a 12x12 grid made up of ring-shaped confections, but created by robotic tufting machines with wool. It was as comically earnest as it was carefully constructed, and revealed a willingness to present complex manufacturing in straightforward packages. In fact, that approach extended to one of her more recent projects, the Xmas Donuts. The pieces, meant to be used as Christmas tree ornaments, were cast from leftover resin in her Rotterdam studio. As the designer joked on her Instagram account, twas indeed the year of the donut.

Sabine Marcelis amid materials and works in progress in her Rotterdam studio, as seen in the March 2017 issue of Wallpaper*.Photography: Marlene Sleeuwits

Or, more broadly: it was the year Marcelis expanded her field of material and conceptual experimentation with exciting results. Her Dawn lights and Candy Cubes now sit next to onyx tables and ghost mirrors; pixelated cubic tapestries that reveal stereoscopic layers; award trophies that snap like chocolate bars; and soap-like columns and furniture that trick the hand and the eye. And, of course, there are donuts.

Since opening her studio in 2011, her practice has mainly been based on capturing the wide-ranging effects of light hitting curiously diverse types of mass. Her pieces have thus become an intellectually hearty and chromatically thrilling condensation of large-scale natural happenstances, such as the moment sunlight converses with the mountains and the sea, into functional objects and compact installations brought down to their essence. We understand how challenging that process can be: weve attempted to condense the superb creative streak and the aesthetic impact shes had into a compact gesture: our Designer of the Year award for 2020.

Go here to see the original:
Sabine Marcelis wins Wallpaper* Designer of the Year 2020 - Wallpaper*

MutualArt spoke to Vernon Ah Kee as his exhibition Vernon Ah Kee: The Island opened at Campbelltown Arts Centre in Australia.

Vernon Ah Kee, survive the ocean, 2018, Installation view, Vernon Ah Kee The Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020, Gloss red vinyl 340cm x 200cm. Photo: Document Photograph

Vernon Ah Kee: The Island, opened at Campbelltown Art Centre on January 2, as Australia was (and still is) burning from over 10.7 million hectares of unprecedented bushfires. Globally, and at home, the consensus accepts the link between the scale of fires and human-made climate change. However, inaction from the government to target the unfolding ecological crisis reverberates throughout other divisions of Australian attitudes. One of the most frustrating aspects of the bush fires is the decision to ignore the traditional custodians practice of land management.

The way the government treats Aboriginal knowledge is underpinned, for Vernon Ah Kee, by the denial circuiting around the extremely racist context of Australia. In a conversation with the artist about his exhibition, Ah Kee likens the denial to a fire burning behind your back, but adds, you can turn your back on it, but someone's got to deal with that fire. Ah Kee cannot shy away from these attitudes, and in turn creates art that is jarring, confronting, and causes discomfort, because for himself, and many others in Australia, this is what they face every day.

(Left work) Vernon Ah Kee, Belief Suspension, 2007-2009 Installation view, Vernon Ah Kee The Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020 Single channel digital video, colour, stereo sound 04:47 minutes, Director and Editor Suzanne Howard, Sound David M Thomas Regards David M Thomas (Right work) Vernon Ah Kee, cantchant (series), 2009, Installation view, Vernon Ah Kee The Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020 Digital Print 120cm x 70cm each Photo: Document Photography

Vernon Ah Kee: The Island is the second exhibition Ah Kee has presented with Sydney Festival, the first being at the National Art School two years ago that presented his drawing works. In 2020, this exhibition returns to text-based works alongside installations that are all enhanced by the video works they left out of the first exhibition. The artist has known Sydney Festival Director, Wesley Enoch, since the early 90s in Brisbane; "when we were both just young blackfellas in Brisbane just starting out, he shares. Because we've known each other for so long I think there's a comfort there between us, a shorthand.

The artist has worked collectively throughout his career, which spans over two decades. He was one of the founding members of the proppaNOW collective, a Brisbane art collective that focused on urban Aboriginal art. Working in this way has helped shape the art industry in Australia as we know it, tackling confronting issues through the medium of contemporary art. As Ah Kee shares, "in the work that we make... it's okay to say these things, or it's okay if you don't want to say these things, if it's too hard for you we understand why it's too hard.

Vernon Ah Kee: The Island reflects this mentality in the largest survey of Ah Kee's video works. Campbelltown Arts Centre's walls have been painted black and black carpet fitted in a conducive space for the light and sound of the video, transforming the gallery into a black box, reverberating an intimate atmosphere. The exhibition features a mix of existing works and new commissions, such as Lullaby (2019) and, title work, The Island (2018). As well as older works like tall man (2010), which follows the Palm Island Riots, and Belief Suspension (2007-2009), which hones in of surfing culture in Australia.

Vernon Ah Kee, The Island, 2018, Installation view, Vernon Ah Kee The Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020, Three channel digital video, colour, stereo sound, 10:16 minutes, Commissioned by Griffith University Art Museum, 2018. Photo: Document Photograph

The Island is a three-channel work that reflects the brutality within the immigration system, drawing parallels between the treatment of Aboriginal people. I think things have gotten worse, Ah Kee shares on reflection of racism. The progression in Australia's immigration policy [has shifted] towards brutality, he continues, what we've seen are endless racist platforms [within] politicians campaigns. In the artwork, the artist recounted the experience of an Afghani couples journey to Australia; their subsequent treatment [after] fleeing quite dire circumstances from there in their homeland.

The artist's familiar motif of text feeds into the new exhibition, and for The Island, due to legal advice, they couldn't share the faces of the couple and instead used visual elements to tell their journey. The video work also lights up the text piece opposite the installation, creating a personal and touching retelling of the experience that is unique to the viewer. I've always been interested in font, and the way alphabets are designed, Ah Kee explains. [I realised] the way advertising uses fonts and text and that words have a weight and power to them.

Vernon Ah Kee, kick the dust, 2019, Installation view, Vernon Ah Kee The Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020, Rocks, acrylic riot shield fragments. Photo: Document Photograph

Text and language also play in Lullaby, the new commission by Campbelltown Arts Centre. I wanted to make something to commemorate 2019 being the year of indigenous languages, Ah Kee shares. Visually, it's simple, it's a mother playing with her child, and it's called Lullaby because she sings a lullaby to put [her son] to sleep. The artist decided to have the entire video in Farsi, the Iranian mothers language, and so for the none-Farsi speaking audience, the artwork becomes about the different types of communication that we employ. From the way we breathe, the tone we use, the vocalization, the pronunciation of certain words all these are informed by cultural background.

Ah Kee decided to use Farsi as he believes, it is probably the most loaded language in this country right now because of Australia's immigration policies and racism against the Muslim community. The treatment of refugees in Australia pulls on familiar strings for the artist when he began to draw on the parallels between the judgement and confinement in detention centers to the 1920s and 30s in Queensland, in places like Palm Island where the artists mother is from. For me, it's fairly obvious the parallel between Manus and Nauru and Palm Island, being island communities and places of hopeless confinement, Ah Kee continues. Plus, the cruel processing systems that they have in place.

Vernon Ah Kee, scratch the surface (riot shields), 2019, Installation view, Vernon Ah KeeThe Island, Campbelltown Arts Centre, 2020, Acrylic riot shields, charcoal, Dimensions vary. Photo: Document Photography

All of this comes together when the Kuku Yalandji, Waanji, Yidindji, Koko Berrin and Gugu Yimithirr artist reflects on his status in Australia. He was born in far north Queensland just before the 1967 referendum that allowed the Australian public to vote whether to include Aborigines as citizens of Australia. When I was born, I wasn't a citizen in any way as an Aborigine, Ah Kee shares. Blackfellas could be citizens, but you had to promise to be a white man, and by promising to be a white man, that meant not associating with Aborigines. Because of this, the artist believes that Aboriginal people should be speaking to and for refugees, we should be the chief advocates for refugees because we know what we're talking about.

In the artwork born in this skin, Ah Kee is displaying the historic Yuendumu Doors which feature traditional ochre ground painting, reflective of the Warlpiri peoples Dreaming symbols that rarely leave the South Australian Museum. In the installations, juxtaposing the beautiful hand-painted doors are another series of (now infamous) doors taken from Cockatoo Island on Sydney's harbor, from the dockworkers' toilets which are vulgar with racist slurs graffiti across them. However, hanging over the exhibition is the violence that continues today as the recent death of Yuendumu resident, 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, in November 2019 at the hands of a police officer adds another layer of sensitivity to the Yuendumu doors. (In a rare event, the police officer has actually been charged with murder). As Ah Kee muses, "it's so easy to shine a light on things that it's almost too arbitrary, but you have to do it because that denial overrides everything over and over and over again.

Vernon Ah Kee: The IslandJanuary 2 - February 23, 2020Campbelltown Arts Centre

Following Campbelltown Arts Centre, Vernon Ah Kee: The Island will be touring around NSW by Museum and Galleries NSW.

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Vernon Ah Kee's The Island: "Someone's Got to Deal With That Fire - MutualArt.com

Tommy Joyce is no cinephile. The last movie he saw in a theater was the remake of True Grit nearly a decade ago. Id rather watch squirrels run in the woods than sit through most of what appears on the big screen, he said.

But theres a film that opened Dec. 5 at the Regal Cinemas at Grand Central Mall thats attracting a lot of attention in his community. Dark Waters a legal thriller starring Mark Ruffalo, with a script inspired by a 2016 New York Times article tells the epic story of the DuPont corporations failure to inform residents of the Mid-Ohio Valley of the considerable health risks of a perfluoroalkyl substance [PFAS] called perfluorooctanoic acid, or C8, for its chain of eight carbons.

The chemical was used in DuPonts production of Teflon and other household products at its Washington Works facility just outside Parkersburg, along the Ohio River. C8 is found in nonstick pans, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets, microwave popcorn bags, fast-food wrappers and hundreds of other products. According to a 2007 study, C8 is in the blood of 99.7% of Americans. Its called a forever chemical because it never fully degrades.

DuPont had been aware since at least the 1960s that C8 was toxic in animals and since the 1970s that there were high concentrations of it in the blood of its factory workers. DuPont scientists were aware in the early 1990s of links to cancerous tumors from C8 exposure. But company executives failed to inform the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] or the public.

Weathered signage on the Point Park floodwall greets passersby in downtown Parkersburg, West Virginia. Photo: Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

Joyce graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1992, went off and earned three degrees and came home. He now serves as mayor of the city of Parkersburg population: 30,000.

Joyce said hes heard more about his communitys long struggle with corporate environmental malfeasance in the past few weeks than in his previous two and a half years in office. He attributes this to the release of Dark Waters.

Even David-and-Goliath tales often have complicated backstories, and Joyce knows well that such is the case with Parkersburg and DuPont. DuPont has been in the Ohio Valley for 70-plus years, and has been a tremendous employer, he said. Without question, DuPont was the place to work in the Mid-Ohio Valley for a lot of years. Many of his classmates grew up in DuPont families.Though Chemours, a spinoff company of DuPont, now operates the Washington Works plant, DuPont maintains a presence in the community. A DuPont spokesperson provided an overview of its financial and volunteer support initiatives and wrote that the company supports programs and organizations focused on revitalizing neighborhoods and enhancing quality of life; STEM-related initiatives in local schools; and initiatives that help protect the environment through clean-up or restoration efforts and allow for DuPont Washington Works to show we are a leader in minimizing our environmental footprint within the community.

A probable link between C8 and six conditions: testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension and high cholesterol.

Parkersburg, said Doug Higgs, is the kind of town where everybody knows everybody. Higgs graduated from Parkersburg High a year after Joyce, and Joyces mother, Barbara, taught him Sunday school.

Everybody knows everybodys business, Higgs said, but nobody talked about C8. It was a matter of not wanting to bite the hand that fed you.

Well-paying jobs, great benefits, Little League sponsorships, investments in the arts but at a cost. The hand that fed did clench.

Higgs, now an emergency room physician living in Richmond, Virginia, recalls returning from road trips with his family asleep in the back seat, awakened as they approached home by the familiar waft of chemicals.

Two of the Higgs most immediate neighbors died in their early 50s of renal cell cancer. Higgs father has ulcerative colitis, and his brother received treatment for polycystic kidney disease in high school.

We all have stories of friends and family, neighbors, dying too young or being diagnosed with various medical problems, Higgs said.

He knows, of course, the distinction between correlation and causation. But the high incidence of a range of diseases has staggered this community. Its unfair, Higgs said, that a community should have to perpetually ask what exactly it has been exposed to, and where and when the consequences will end.

An aerial view of Parkersburg, West Virginia, taken from Fort Boreman Park. Photo: Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

A vehicle slows down at the corner of Fourth and Market streets in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Photo: Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

DuPonts own documentation specified that C8 was not to be flushed into surface waters, but the company did so for decades. The chemical seeped into the water supplies of the communities of Lubeck and Little Hocking, immediately west of Parkersburg, and the city of Belpre, Ohio, just across the river; and three other water systems.

In 2004, DuPont paid $70 million in a class-action lawsuit and agreed to install filtration plants in the affected water districts. In 2005, it reached a $16.5 million settlement with the EPA for violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Ohio River Communities are Still Coping with Teflons Toxic Legacy

A collective decision was made to use the money won in the class-action suit to conduct an epidemiological study in which nearly 70,000 of the 80,000 plaintiffs stopped into one of six clinics set up throughout the community, provided their medical histories and offered their blood. They were each paid $400.

A science panel, comprised of public health scientists appointed by DuPont and lawyers representing the community, was convened to examine the immense database. In 2012, after seven years of study, the panel released a report documenting a probable link between C8 and six conditions: testicular cancer, kidney cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension and high cholesterol.

In 2015, DuPont spun off its chemical division into a new company called Chemours, which now occupies the Washington Works facility on the Ohio. In 2017, DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $671 million to settle some 3,500 pending lawsuits.

The Washington Works facility, formerly of DuPont, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, is seen from across the Ohio River. Photo by Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

You grew up with the fear of DuPont leaving town, said Ben Hawkins. Hawkins was student body president of the Parkersburg High class of 1993. He remembers DuPonts participation in his schools Partners in Education program and riding in parades on DuPont-sponsored floats.

Among Hawkins classmates who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer was Mike Cox, a local dentist. Cox, Hawkins and Higgs were among a pack of guys who ran together in high school and stayed close after. Cox was a big Ozzy Osbourne fan, and after a grueling regimen of chemo, Hawkins helped arrange backstage passes to a concert, where Osbourne pulled Cox near and shared his own familys experience with cancer. Post-diagnosis, Cox had begun performing stand-up comedy routines that incorporated flute solos. He died Jan. 28, 2017, at the age of 41, a father of three.

Hawkins, who now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, views his Partners in Education experiences somewhat differently today: It wasnt a partnership; it was a page from a public relations playbook. It was the old hey-look-over-here! move to keep the Teflon dollars flowing into their bank account.

His classmate Beth Radmanesh has similar cynical recollections of DuPonts role in her childhood. Radmanesh grew up less than a mile from the Washington Works plant. Today, she has high cholesterol. Her dad suffers from discoid lupus, causing sores the size of 50-cent pieces on his forehead. Her brother has lupus and had colon cancer, and her sister-in-law has also been diagnosed with lupus.

But Radmanesh said her mom is a proponent of bringing another controversial industry to the valley: fracking for natural gas. I said to her, Weve already had our water contaminated once. Do you want your water [to be] flammable? Because thats what will happen. Her moms response was, Oh, Beth. Thats it. Oh, Beth.

Joe and Darlene Kiger live just a few miles from where Radmanesh grew up. Joe, a physical education teacher, is now quite well known in the community for having raised awareness of the dangers of C8 called the devils piss by some in local water supplies. He and his wife, Darlene, joined the class-action suit that was settled in 2004.

Darlene said that when she and Joe are out around town, there are a lot of whispers behind your back. They dont know what to say. The experience has taken a toll these people all looking at you as bringing this on them, Joe said but theyve never considered leaving. Why would you leave the fight? he said. What would it look like if we packed up?

Theres a lot, Joe said, that DuPont hasnt yet been held accountable for. Earlier this year, Chemours was cited by the EPA for the unregulated release of new chemical compounds from its West Virginia and North Carolina facilities. Im not done yet, Joe said.

Joe Kiger and his wife Darlene Kiger are photographed at their residence in Washington, West Virginia. The Kigers have spent the last two decades working to uncover the impacts and effects of C8 exposure in the region. Weve been through hell over the last 20 years, Joe Kiger said. Photo: Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

Attorney Harry Deitzler poses for a portrait in his office at Hill, Peterson, Carper, Bee and Deitzler, PLLC, in Charleston, West Virginia. Deitzler was involved in settling the C8 groundwater contamination suit against DuPont in Parkersburg, WV. Photo: Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

Harry Deitzler served as a lead attorney, among others, in representing the Kigers and tens of thousands of others in the class-action suit. Deitzler was the architect of the decision to use the $70 million to conduct the study.

Parkersburg adopted me in 1975, Deitzler said of his arrival in town. Hed come for a summer internship in the prosecuting attorneys office. The position didnt pay enough to cover his room and board, so he took a job in a bar called Friar Tucks.

By the end of the summer, the community was my family, Deitzler said. I asked the prosecutor if hed hire me as an assistant the next year, and he said, Sure; youll get $6,000 a year. And I said, Thatll be great.

Most people thought I was a recovering alcoholic because I never drank a beer, because I couldnt afford to buy one. Three years later, at 27, he was appointed as prosecuting attorney. Such a wonderful, accepting community.

But, some three decades later, there was a price to pay for taking on DuPont.

There was a misperception that we were trying to put DuPont out of business, and, of course, that was created intentionally by the people in Wilmington, Deitzler said, referring to DuPonts Delaware headquarters. When you have a community of that size, and youve got several thousand people employed there, and multiply that by the families and their relatives its very upsetting. Some folks were unsure of what to make of Deitzler.

Longtime resident Nancy Roettger characterizes the communitys reaction to the revelation of what DuPont had done as a weird mix.

There were women that immediately went out and changed their frying pans, Roettger said. But a lot of those same people decided that Harry Deitzler is a horrible person for his role in exposing DuPont.

Its like, they dont want that frying pan anymore, she said, but they dont want anything negative, and theyre very resentful of the people that stirred up the trouble.

Candace Jones, a neighbor and longtime friend of Roettgers, said she hates the perception that the community has been divided between the DuPonters and everyone else.

Were a community and we all need each other, Jones said. I think its terrible, absolutely horrendous what happened because of decisions made for monetary gain. But I dont believe we can blame the everyday worker. Her father-in-law worked in the Teflon division. He just went to work every day; he provided for [his family].

Candace Jones, a native of Vienna, WV, is photographed downtown. Jones, who has lived in the area for most of her life, recalled DuPonts heavy involvement in the community, from sponsoring community activities and education to employing a great deal of the areas residents. (Photo by Lexi Browning/100 Days in Appalachia

Tracy Danzey grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but now lives on the opposite side of the state in its Eastern Panhandle. Danzey was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer that led to the amputation of her leg. Doctors couldnt trace the cause of the cancer, but Danzey believes it was caused by exposure to industrial waste in the waters of Parkersburg that she drank and swam in. Photo courtesy of Seth Freeman Photography

Jones friend Janet Rays husband passed away 16 years ago from pancreatic cancer. He worked for BorgWarner, a manufacturing company on the river. There are about a dozen houses along Rays street in Vienna, a Parkersburg suburb, and I think just about every house during the time Ive lived on the street has been affected by cancer.

Ray said she sometimes feels guilty, thinking that perhaps the livelihood her family has enjoyed as a result of her husbands employment might have caused health problems for others. I certainly hope it didnt.

Tracy Danzey was raised in the quiet of Vienna, there with the Rays, the Joneses, the Higgs family. She now lives on the other side of the state, in West Virginias Eastern Panhandle. Danzey was a competitive swimmer growing up. When not competing, we were on the river we were playing in the creeks. I was always in the water.

Its hard to look back at that time now and see it as idyllic, Danzey said.

At age 20, her thyroid began malfunctioning. Five years later, the socket of her hip shattered while running with her husband. She was diagnosed with an atypical form of bone cancer in her right hip. Her hip and leg had to be amputated; she underwent 18 months of high-dose chemotherapy.

Six leading pathologists from across the country were unable to identify the specific type of cancer. They said its very pathologically unusual. Research has indicated to Danzey, whos a nurse, that pathologically unusual cancers are not uncommonly associated with industrial poisonings.

Danzeys stepfather is retired from DuPont and her stepbrother works on the Teflon line. Yes, it is complicated, her mother, Carolyn Tracewell, said. When her kids were growing up, when someone was hired at DuPont, therewas a celebration the good pay, the benefits, and they did treat their employees well.

But my heart hurts, Tracewell said, to think that her daughters illnesses might be a consequence of all that.

Danzey said her mom mostly just feels pain for me, worries about her stepson and is anxious about the future. Her stepfather wonders if one day his pension check will no longer arrive as a result of all the financial fallout.

None of them argue with Tracy about the source of her illnesses. They know what happened. They allow her to sit in this truth regardless of how it affects them. That means a lot.

Danzey is among those who believe that in regard to perceptions of DuPont in the Parkersburg community, theres a generational divide: Those in their 40s and younger tend to hold a less charitable view than baby boomers and their parents.

There likewise appears to be a generational divide in willingness to drink the water, despite the filtration installed as a result of the settlement.

On the September Saturday afternoon of the annual Parkersburg Paddlefest, kayaker Travis Hewitt, 31, stood ashore of the point where the Ohio meets the Little Kanawha and said that few people he knows truly believe the waters safe. Sure, he paddles in it, but I try not to get it on me and never swims in it. He has a filter installed in his kitchen.

Tommy Joyce, the mayor of Parkersburg, is bullish on West Virginia: Weve got enough coal to light the world, gas to heat the world and brains to run the world.

Fellow Parkersburg High grad Brian Flinn, an engineer, worked for DuPont for eight and a half years; he worked with the raw materials of Teflon. Hes seen both sides. Hes heard, If DuPont leaves, were done. This area will be like most other towns in West Virginia; itll collapse. Hes also aware of the inherent dangers in living within the shadow of the chemical industry. So the sentiment goes, he said, You take the good with the bad, right?

But Danzey is unwilling. I love West Virginia, she said. I really do. I love this state. I dont want to be anywhere else. But she wants better for West Virginians. Industries come into their communities, do well for a while, screw up the environment and then leave.

Its time for something new in West Virginia, she said. Its time for us to expect more.

Tracking the Health Impacts of C8 Exposure

Pondering that future keeps Ben Hawkins up at night. Whats next? Whats next for the community, and where does this end? Or does it? What sort of positivity can come to that community? They need it and they deserve it.

Hawkins asks this: Think about how loyal the people of the Parkersburg community have been to DuPont. What if they had the opportunity to extend that same loyalty to a company thats equally invested in the economic, physical and emotional health of the community?

Thats home and always will be home, Hawkins said of Parkersburg. We came from that community and that community did a lot to shape us. We all want the best for that community whatever form that can take.

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Top photo: Tracy Danzey grew up in Parkersburg, West Virginia, but now lives on the opposite side of the state in its Eastern Panhandle. Danzey was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer that led to the amputation of her leg. Doctors couldnt trace the cause of the cancer, but Danzey believes it was caused by exposure to industrial waste in the waters of Parkersburg that she drank and swam in. Photo courtesy of Seth Freeman Photography

Good River: Stories of the Ohio is a series about the environment, economy and culture of the Ohio River watershed, produced by seven nonprofit newsrooms. To see more, please visit ohiowatershed.org.

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A Lasting Legacy: DuPont, C8 Contamination and the Community Left to Grapple With the Consequences - alleghenyfront.org

There is a good reason why the word Roomba has become synonymous with robot vacuum cleaners. Although we continue to see that capable competitors come to market at ever lower prices, the Roomba line of iRobot remains the brand to be defeated.

We have reviewed dozens of Roomba models to find out which perform best: our current favorite is the Roomba S9 +, which is almost as perfect as perfect, but also pricey. If you are looking for something more affordable, we have included our favorite iRobot models in every price range. We have even added our favorite non-vacuum robots from iRobot!

The latest addition to the iRobot line-up, the Roomba S9 +, builds on the innovations introduced in the Roomba i7 + last year. The S9 + received an Editors Choice Award from Digital Trends. Just like the i7 +, the S9 series is available with or without iRobots cool Clean Base charging station and self-draining garbage can. There is also a new D-shaped housing and an improved brush design that promises better edge and corner cleaning, while the suction is increased 40 times compared to the Roomba 600 series. You also benefit from smart cards that allow you to select individual rooms for cleaning (as well as entire floors) and a unique anti-allergen system a scoop for robot vacuum cleaners, according to iRobot designed to collect dust and pollen.

The Roomba 960 model stands in the middle between the functions of Roomba and the prices of Roomba, so you can get an intelligent cleaning bone at medium prices (well, middle class for Roombas). The model includes iRobots three-stage suction and brush system, equipped with rubber brushes designed to clean both hard floors and low carpets. The brushes bend to ensure that they are always at ground level and the extraction system is five times more powerful than older Roomba models. In the meantime, the filter retains 99% dust and allergens (although it is smart to always have a number of replacement filters on hand if you use your Roomba regularly).

Although the Roomba includes many smart features to navigate, including automatic charging for the 75-minute battery, it also comes with a virtual wall barrier that you can set to partition specific spaces if there is somewhere where you dont want the bot to Go . The planning via the advanced Roomba app is excellent, but you can also choose to give your Roomba a voice command if you have an Echo device at home.

The Roomba i7 + of 2018 won an Editors Choice Award from Digital Trends and remains a wonderful choice, despite the introduction of this years Roomba S9 +. It was the first robotic vacuum cleaner with a self-draining dustbin in addition to smart space mapping, an advanced motor with improved suction, durable brushes and an improved processor. Choose the Clean Base charging station and you must add iRobots replaceable dust bags to your shopping list every few months. But the i7 + is a valuable investment for those who want to fully automate vacuuming.

If you like the idea that Roomba roams your house but doesnt like the price of the leading iRobot models, dont worry theres a robot vacuum cleaner for you! The Roomba 614 costs more than $ 300 and offers a solid suite of functions. Keep an eye on the deals and you might be able to collect it for less than $ 200. Of course there are some compromises. Two multi-surface brushes and sensor navigation help this cost-effective model to autonomously clean your home, but suction is considerably reduced, which means that this bone may not be the best choice for thicker carpets or rugs. The entry level vacuum also lacks app control and Alexa / Google Assistant integration.

The Roomba 980 is no longer available, but it is possible that you can still find the store in certain stores. It is a more advanced version of the 960 with improved functions. At the launch, the price was considerably higher, but has fallen since our assessment. The extra large battery in this model lasts up to 120 minutes, making it well suited for larger spaces, and the cleaning system has twice the power compared to the 960 ideal for cleaning up larger spilled liquids or messy pets. Otherwise, the model includes the first-line smart features that you can expect from a Roomba bot, including speech detection, detailed app control, and dirt detection technology that helps Roomba spend more time in high-traffic areas.

The Roomba e5 is a solid mid-range pick. It is particularly good at picking up pet hair, with a combination of powerful suction and double rubber brushes that can work equally well on carpet or hardwood floors. It is equipped with a selection of innovative Roomba functions, including automatic charging, a full set of sensors and compatibility with both Alexa and Google Assistant. This is all the more impressive when you consider that it is very reasonably priced for a Roomba model. The battery will last approximately 90 minutes on a hard surface. If you have pets and lots of hardwood that you want to keep clean and free of dust hair with animal hair this is a great and affordable model to use.

The Braava 380t and entry-level Braava Jet 240 were iRobots first trip to autonomous mop and were positive additions, despite the need for regular fillings with cleaning solution and a little extra work to set up the corresponding NorthStar navigation blocks.

The Braava Jet m6 solves a number of problems and inconveniences that stopped these first-generation lines. There is a new design, improved maps and navigation technology with individual room selection, plus improved edge and corner cleaning. The Braava Jet m6 also detects when the battery is empty, returns to the charger and then resumes mopping from the same point. App control and support for both Alexa and Google Assistant are also included in the update, and if you also have a Roomba i7 or S9, you can set your robot army to vacuum and mop in order. Although the new model supports both wet mopping and dry sweeping, you still need to invest regularly in iRobots disposable cleaning pads for the best performance.

Although this guide focuses primarily on floor cleaning robots, we found this iRobot robotic lawnmower worth mentioning. The Terra Mower is easy to install and operate, using wireless beacons and Imprint Smart Mapping to teach your garden and then mow your grass in an efficient back and forth pattern.

It can avoid obstacles and you can create a boundary system without cables. This means that you can tell the mower where to mow and where not, without digging up your yard to install wire or boundary line systems. The Terra Robot Mower was for sale in 2019 as part of a beta program in the US and Germany, but you should (hopefully) be able to buy the robotic lawnmower later this year.

Recommendations from the editors

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The best Roomba Robovacs of 2020 - Mash Viral