the foreign take on life at H&dM

Yes, life in Basel can be more exciting; you just have to know when to jump into the water.

Our favorite trainee/practicant/intern or whatever you want to call her (since we all do the same thing anyway) went back home to finish up her studies. We’re all sure she’ll be back next year since she’ll miss us so dearly, but in the meantime we decided to fashion her some accessories and send her off to diploma-project-land in style. Inspired by our current project, we took some leftover pieces from one of our 1:500 models and constructed a very wearable little string bikini.

She will be greatly missed! xoxoxox

After a two week vacation we came back to find that our quiet Basel office had been targeted by an axe-wielding vandal. Apparently the window of the Garage (in green) had also been broken—twice in the past week, even. Some are speculating that it might have been a disgruntled employee, or perhaps human-rights activists protesting our building in China. But there were no notes scrawled on the walls, and no equipment was stolen. What we find most interesting in the end is the fact that there was no intra-office email announcement about the incident, not even to encourage us to be extra aware of suspicious people or activity…is there something they’re not telling us?

Summer Party 2009

the venue: better than last year’s

the food: slightly better than last year’s but still not good

the music: as bad as last year’s

the crowd: larger than last year’s

the looks: not too shabby, easy on the eyes for sure

the jacques and pierre: dapper as always

Rumor has it, the Schaulager opening this past Friday was Basel’s biggest party of the year (after Art Basel). We were told we had to go…the only reasons we were glad we did, though, were being able to see our Hero a bit tipsy (just one more…just one more…) and seeing all the cute babies from the office! Highlights included Ascan’s dashing boy, Raymond’s darling girls (in matching dresses, no less), Christoph’s doll-faced daughter, Tobias and Claudia’s sweet redheaded tot, and of course, that feisty son of Agustin and Valerie (he squeals when you pick him up and put him face-to-face with the giant rats downstairs). The babies definitely made the night a lot more fun, but I’m not sure if that says more about me or more about Basel. Next party, we’ll post pictures of the babies as proof of their superior cuteness. That is, unless Brad Pitt comes back for Art Basel…

Is this an architecture office or a biohazard site? I’ve been interested in getting someone to track the incidence of cancer in those who work on architectural models…apparently foam cut via hotwire is the worst, probably followed by spraypaint, methylene, acetone, and plexi cut on the laser (listed in no ‘particulate’ order). Are we being too whiny when we ask that there be proper ventilation, or is it going to take another bout of spontaneous nosebleeds to make someone pay some attention?

The other day there was a rainbow. There were some who noticed it and exclaimed, “how beautiful!” Others turned their heads briefly and then promptly returned to work. I think instead of coffee break there should be rainbow (or Regenbogen) break. And instead of tea and fruit (which always disappears so quickly, btw), they should serve chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Wouldn’t that be sweet?