Friday night MOVIE on us! These wild urban dudes (and chicks) make Spiderman feel a little threatened. Now we know what team Cirque du Soleil does in their spare time.

A blog post that contains discussion on urban architecture and Cirque du Soleil?! Never saw it comin’! This eclectic intersection of concepts is exactly what makes this film so awesome. Our team fell “head over feet” with this video and after watching you’ll see why. Can’t wait for the full-length deal. Enjoy!

MY PLAYGROUND
A documentary film by Kaspar Astrup Schröder about movement in urban space.

The film explores the way Parkour and Freerunning is changing the perception of urban space and how the space is changing the traceurs and freerunners.

Mainly set in Copenhagen the film follows the making of the first dedicated parkour park in the world, designed by the Danish team, Team JiYo.

The film also travels around the world to Japan, United States, United Kingdom, and China to explore the common understanding of exploring the urban space seen from a traceur and freerunners perspective.

Founding architect of B.I.G. Architects, Bjarke Ingels in participating in exploring an untraditional path in perceiving a new approach to urban architecture and together with Team Jiyo he travels to Shanghai and Shenzhen to meet with a different people and culture. Does travel to the other end of the world change our understanding of movement in the urban space that surrounds us?

Featuring
Freerunners, traceurs, Architects, Urban Planners, Politicians and Philosophers from Japan, China, United States, United Kingdom and Denmark.
Premiere at Shenzhen & Hong Kong Biennale of Urbanism/Architecture on the 6th of December 2009. Released on dvd in the end of January 2010. The film will be approximately 30 minutes long.

[via kasparworks.com]

For over 15 years Good Millwork has manufactured exterior wooden shutters for coastal applications. From the Gulf coast to the Atlantic seaboard, we are consistently specified for commercial and residential properties including new construction and historic restoration. Whether you’re an architect, builder or homeowner, our craftsmen can engineer and manufacture a wood shutter solution to fit your needs.

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New Library in Baton Rouge, LA to be center of human interaction — a space bringing people together for information dialogue and exchange.

Louisiana based Trahan Architects, a firm with expertise in institutional design and religious architecture (check the Holy Rosary Church Complex, remarkable project), recently unveiled conceptual design for the renovation and expansion of the River Center Branch Library.

The project stands at the intersection between civic buildings and the city’s arts and entertainment district, overlooking a new town square. This new building becomes an urban piece, exposing the interior activity to the outside with a rippled translucent skin. But also the library takes care of the exterior, with reading areas and a urban patio.

As with changes on how people consume information, the typical library approach as a storage/reading facility gets obsolete. In response to this, the project is a public place for gathering and sharing around information, with circulation patterns that place stationary structures in the center of the floors and create space for staff and patron interaction, with movable parts and multiple paths along the perimeter.

During these days, the changes of information through technology challenge library designs, while offering an opportunity to become important public spaces among our cities. In this way, I think this concept has a good start.

[via Arch Daily courtesy David Basulto, images courtesy Trahan Architects]

Instruments for architectural geodesy drafting from "Catalogue modèle de l'architecte 1913" (Paris, France)

How to sell to architects – Part 2 – Architect’s workflow: 6 Pointers to help you sell those creative types what they need…PS, just in case you’re running a little behind…don’t forget to checkout How to Sell Architects – Part 1 – Introduction.

If you wish to sell to architects you should probably first know a little about their work flow and when is the right time to approach them and offer your services or products.

What is it that they do?

“Now regard this pure white sheet of paper! It is ready for recording the logic of the plan. T-square, triangle, scale – seductive invitation lying upon the spotless surface. Temptation!

“Boy! Go tell Black Kelly to make a blaze there in the work-room fireplace! Ask Brown Sadie if it’s too late to have Baked Bermudas for supper! Then go ask your Mother – I shall hear her in here – To play something – Bach prefered, or Beethoven if she prefers.”

Now comes to brood – to suffer doubt, hesitate yet burn with eagerness. To test bearings and prove ground already assumed by putting all together in definite scale on paper. Preferably small scale study at first. then larger. Finally still larger scale detail studies of parts.”

Frank Lloyd Wright – An Autobiography- P. 156 – (Published 1932)

Replace the T-Square, triangle and scale by CAD software, telemeter and a digital camera and you pretty much have the same methods today. Practicing architecture is all about proportions and scales, Architects start with an idea, a concept and they just keep on “zooming in” until the full picture comes to full effect in their imagination and of course, on their plans.

There are many methods, concepts, and “schools” to CREATE architecture, but what remains almost the same is that “coming and going” process; those constant cycles of analysis and synthesis. That, and the very final outcome: A universally readable drawing with strict rules – the execution plan.

How exactly do they do it?

Here are the most common phases of architectural work:

First validation by client: 1/200 – 1/100 scale. This is where things start to “get hot”… The first validation of a project’s design is always a bit stressful for the designing team. This is where the architect needs to “re-seduce” the client in some sort. In most architecture practices, this is done with plain, traditional 2D plans sections and elevations and… lots of verbal explanations. Then there are those who are more “technique savvy” – In order to make sure the client properly understands the project they use computer generated imagery like this:

CGI of a mezzanine (archservice.fr 2009 - Click to enlarge)

Or more complex “X-Ray” constructive views like that:

X-Ray constructive axonometric view of the mezzanine (archservice.fr 2009 - Click to enlarge)

Over the past few years, we’ve been witnessing a genuine increase both in the performance of 3D CAD software and in the skill and talent of young architects. Computer generated imagery is becoming more and more abundant in today’s architectural design market. This is also partly due to the fact that clients tend to demand this kind of high-end service more frequently. Those images could be easily sent by email to friends and family for them to give their opinion.

Second client validation and construction permit: 1/100 – 1/50 scale. No architect dares to hope that his client will be 100% satisfied of his initial design. Often, there are many modifications and changes, but the path is clearer and the team is reassured once the concept has been accepted. Now is the time to get “down to business” The design team’s work now, is to get the project approved by the authorities for construction. In most western countries, the construction permit drawings are handed in 1/50 scale with an “in-site” integration of the building (CGI again…) Like the following example:

In-Site CGI insertion (archservice.fr 2009 - click to enlarge)

Although in the first client validation phase, CGI is not mandatory, most competent authorities demand one, so that they could make an idea of the project’s integration impact on its surrounding environment.
• Execution plans: Detailed 1/50 scale and some parts in 1/20 or 1/10. Finally! The project was approved by both client and the authorities now comes the final part of architectural designing where “all hell breaks loose” – This is usually where our poor design team discovers that the plumbing doesn’t perfectly fit with the foundations and that the window they chose for the hallway is no longer manufactured because the draftsman used an outdated catalog from 1988… The plans are sent back and forth to the contractors and engineers for review and there is much rejoice. It’s during this phase that most of the materials and architectural elements are specified. In some places, plans are not enough and architects actually write down – for every room and corridor – a full detailed textual description of all of the amounts and materials. At this point, the client tends to develop nostalgic feelings towards his initial budget and the days his local bank manger actually smiled at him…
• Construction. Oh dear, now we actually have to build all that??

IMPORTANT NOTE: These 6 phases are generalized. There are lots of variations. The process I described fits the description of building for a private client. Building for governmental or other institutions is somewhat different then the described above. I’ll be happy to detail it in the comments or future posts if there’ll be a demand.

Where do YOU come in?

Well, it depends what you are manufacturing:

• If it’s software for architects you probably want to find a time somewhere before phase 3 and after phase 5 – Architects will be much more receptive to new technologies when they are not on a tight deadline.
• If it’s design furniture, your golden hour is during phase 2 when the architect aims to seduce his client.
• If you’re a manufacturer of moldings doors, windows, flooring, or any other parametric object – It’s probably best to intervene during the 5th phase. Actually, if architects know of you – they’re most likely to contact you themselves.

Usually architects work on several projects at the same time, and their phases do not overlap, how can you make sure you are reaching the designing team at the appropriate moment? Who should be your contact person? How do you find him or her? – All that and much more – in the following chapters. If you’re not already, now is the time to stay tuned.

[via Polygons Atlantis]

MINIMALIST CHAPEL Photos… Architecture Students craft an elegant and unlikely place of reflection. The Field Chapel is a project designed and executed by the students of an Advanced De-sign/Build Studio at the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture in Chicago for a ecumenical church co-operative in Boedigheim, Germany.

Led by Professor Frank Flury, the project was assisted on a pro bono basis by the firm of Ecker Architekten (Buchen, Germany) with the craftsmen, volunteer workers and townspeople of the Odenwald/Bauland, a rural region in northern Baden-Württemberg.

Program
The task of the design was to create a place of spirituality. Professor Flury defined the project for the twelve students who come from Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Tennessee and China, as “an interdenominational chapel, a space for people who are in a search for God – a place for quiet reflection, but also one that welcomes hikers and cyclists who appreciate a rest stop that has a sense of beauty. ”

Background and Participants
In January of 2008, the Reverend Moser-Feesche contacted Ecker Architekten with the intent to build a chapel. He had no funding, held no property, and did not have the support of his congregation. He did however, have a specific idea about what this building should be and where it should be located.
Dea Ecker received her Master degree in Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Her long-time friend and former school colleague, Frank Flury, is a Professor at IIT, and teaches an Advanced Studio for Design-Build Projects at the College of Architecture in Chicago. After discussing the potential of a Design-Build project with the Reverend, Ms. Ecker contacted Prof. Flury. The project constellation seemed to fit. Flury’s studio has designed and built diverse projects in the U.S. that have had a positive social impact. This was the first viable possibility for the students at IIT to execute an international project.

In December of 2008, Prof. Flury visited Boedigheim to examine the site and to discuss the project with the Reverend. After this initial meeting project responsibilities were agreed upon: Flury would guide the design and construction of the building, Ecker Architekten would work with local officials and obtain necessary building permits, and Reverend Moser-Feesche would secure property rights and assemble the community for the volunteer work necessary to complete the project.

In January 2009 Flury introduced the project to the Design-Build curriculum and received an enthusiastic response. Over the next 3 months, 12 students developed three design alternatives. In March 2009, these projects were personally presented to the governing municipality of Buchen and the citizens of Boedigheim. After lengthy discussions two projects were chosen for further development, with Prof. Flury ultimately responsible for the feasibility of a final proposal. Armed with a donation of lumber from the city of Buchen, the “Professor from Chicago” and the “Reverend with an idea” asked for the trust and help of the townspeople to realize the project. With commitments from the local blacksmith, carpenter, sawmill owner, and the farmer (whose field the chapel was to be built upon), the town of Boedigheim agreed to implement the project.

Tasks were subsequently delegated. Prof. Flury developed the design with his students to ensure completed construction in a single summer semester. From March through May, the Design-Build Studio and Ecker Architekten were in constant contact. E-mail, AutoCAD, and Skype teleconferencing were the tools used to translate a student project designed in an American university into a set of working documents that met or exceeded German construction standards. Dea Ecker contacted the local officials and prepared drawings to obtain the necessary permits in time for the groundbreaking scheduled for early June. The Reverend Moser-Feesche and the community were responsible for the acquisition of property rights and for the collection and coordination of accomodations for the students during the construction phase.

The student group arrived in Germany during the first week of June. Despite an unusually rainy summer, the project progressed smoothly. With the help of countless volunteers, the chapel was constructed in just 8 weeks. Over 400 people witnessed the official benediction on 25 July, 2009.

Design
The ecumenical chapel stands on a hill between the villages of Boedigheim, Seckach and Großeicholzheim.

The structure is visible from afar but can only reached by foot or by bicycle via a steep country lane. The students developed outdoor facilities and space as a logical consequence of interaction: when arriving at the site, a narrow footpath leads between an existing hedge and the blank tower facade to a small gravel forecourt, which is bounded on 2 sides with massive benches made of local limestone. This forecourt represents the secular realm. A brick platform rises from this forecourt, upon which visitors enter a closed patio and ultimately the sanctuary. This platform traverses the profane to the divine.

Surrounded by 4 closed walls, views are limited to the sky and the tower, which encloses the chapel sanctuary. “The courtyard and chapel are situated in a sea of faith,” according to the students. “The Secular and the Sacred touch each other, they are connected with one another.”

Fabrication
From the onset of the project development, assembly details were designed to ensure the chapel could be completed by students without construction skills.

The entire wooden structure was cut on a CNC machine according to the student’s drawings. The receiving slots in the four main columns of the tower for the louvers were subsequently hand routed. Not a single plank was sawn on site. The students developed the drawings in various CAD programs and produced the individual components with hand tools and computer-assisted machinery.

Aspects of Sustainability
The project is in the truest sense of the word sustainable:
The chapel design was based upon utilizing donated, renewable and local materials.

The wood comes from the municipal forests in Buchen and in Boedigheim and was dried and cut at the sawmill less than 2 km from the chapel site. The high sap content of Larch allowed a construction without any handling or weatherproofing of the wood surfaces. This surface will eventually weather to a silver-grey patina. Bricks used in paving the tower platform were left over from a nearby building site and donated to the project. The gravel used for the forecourt is dredged from the Main River, and Limestone blocks are quarried within walking distance from the chapel. All the components were either fabricated by the students in the carpenters’ shop or made by local craftsmen. With the exception of the steel used to in the fastening screws and column anchors, all materials come from locations within 40 km from the building site.

The Dematerialization of Traditional Construction
Apart from the architectural filigree of the tower enclosure, the building appears traditional in its construction. It has a simple shape, and is formally related to both the Biblical Temple of Solomon and to vernacular tobacco-drying barns still found in the region.

The entire wooden construction rests on 8 steel moment-frame anchors, which are sized to expose a thin gap between the massive brick platform and the timber structure. This articulated joint makes the heavy building appear to hover weightlessly above the ground plane. The 3-meter high building base seems monolithic, and the full-timber diagonal bracing that lends the structure its stiffness is hidden from view – initially by diagonal planking that is an integral part of the structural system, then ultimately by the 50 mm wood siding that clads the entire first level.

The base braces the entire construction, and allows the four main columns to cantilever vertically for the next six meters without additional bracing. Despite the massiveness of these columns, structural calculations indicate that the roof of the chapel could sway up to 5 cm in a 100-year storm.

The 9-meter high chapel tower, as seen from the exterior, appears diaphanous and permeable. Louvers cladding the upper portion of the tower are mounted incrementally further from one another as they rise in relation to the solid, enveloping base. This calibration of enclosure makes the tower appear to be expanding in height, and results in an remarkable play of light and shadow as one moves around the building. A parabolic geometry appears though a moiré effect the louvers make when the tower is seen diagonally. This openness, however, is not perceptible from the interior of the chapel. From inside, the distance between the louvers appears to be identical, collapsing the perspective space. The volume of the tower appears as a completely closed volume – an introverted space of reflection and silence, occupied only by an ever-changing body of light. The distortion of perspective transforms the volume into an abstract body that is simultaneously intimate and limitless.

Epilogue
In many U.S. universities, an apprenticeship is not required for a diploma in Architecture. The pedagogical approach of the IIT Advanced Design/Build Studio attempts to connect the head and hand. The confrontation with the entire architectural process – from the design sketch to the ribbon-cutting ceremony – provides students with a practical experience that both parallels and contrasts their acquired academic knowledge.

The project has found positive resonance in the all of the participating municipalities. It has also achieved all desired goals. Diverse groups have collaborated to create something not possible separately. Cultural and religious differences were bridged, new friendships were forged, and a chapel was built.

Architects: Students of the College of Architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, led by Professor Frank Flury
Local architect: Ecker Architekten
Location: Boedigheim, Germany
Client: Protestant Church of Bödigheim
Project year: 2009
Photographs: Robert Piotrowski, Dea Ecker, Klaus Hilger & John Ruffalo, Brigida Gonzalez
Website: Flurkapelle Buchen/Bödigheim

[via Arch Daily, photos courtesy Brigida Gonzalez, Robert Piotrowski, Dea Ecker, Klaus Hilger & John Ruffalo]

Can we INSTALL it? Yes, We CAN!

It’s either in the water or just that time of year but every other customer conversation ends with, “Can you…?” Can you manufacture? Can you finish? Can you install? Can you travel? Here’s the deal, the team is currently licensed in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina (PS – they even have security clearances for those black ops jobs).

The team has covered the gambit from commercial storefronts at Pier Park Mall, hand scraped fumed antique oak flooring in WaterColor and custom ipe shutters for the Private Residence Club in Rosemary Beach. Most recently we wrapped up the renovation of the Legendary Yacht Club as designed by DAG Architects in Destin, FL. Curious? Take a peek at our handiwork…nice work TEAM!
Take a Peek

A project this beautiful doesn’t come often and it doesn’t come without a visionary designer and awesome client to support such an undertaking. Having recently posted an image online of the kitchen, the buzz has been quite overwhelming and much of the credit should be attributed to Phillip Sides – the designer responsible for this amazing work of art in WaterColor, Florida.

Hand hewn salvaged beams from Louisiana, antique fumed white oak plank flooring from South Carolina, pecky cypress reclaimed from the swamps of the Apalachicola River in the big bend of Florida…the list goes on as does the adjectives. Where words come up short, the photography excels. Again, our thanks to our customer and the opportunity to work with a truly gifted designer - Phillip Sides.

Good Millwork: Crown Molding Collection, originally uploaded by Good Millwork.

Crown molding encapsulates a large family of moldings which are designed to gracefully flare out to a finished top edge; generally used for capping walls, pilasters, cabinets; used extensively in the creation of interior and exterior cornice assemblies and door and window hoods.

In recent times, crown moldings have generally made their appearance as mostly decorated plaster or wooden trim where walls meet ceilings.

All crown moldings are available for full scale preview along with downloadable CAD files in our wood trim profile database. We’ve also made our most popular crown moldings available in one CAD file…architectural crown molding (be patient…it’s a big one). Matching existing, historic or napkin sketch? Send it to us at sales@goodmillwork.com and we’ll match it for you in 24 hours.

See Wikipedia, Crown molding, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_molding (crown molding definition) (as of Apr. 9, 2009, 11:50 GMT).

American actress Julianne Moore (remember movies like The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Far From Heaven, The Hours?) has won many accolades throughout her career for her superb acting skills which include nominations for the Oscar, Golden Globe, and the Screen Actors Guild Award.

But it seems acting is just one of her talents. Going by the snaps of her self decorated West Village Townhouse in New York, I would say she has excellent taste in interior design as well. Her style seems to be rustic with an eclectic flair and it appears she particularly favors the color gray.

She has listed this home up for sale now. Guess it’s time to move on.

Built in the late 1800’s, this house has been meticulously renovated with an eye on retaining the original architectural detail, such as crown moldings and wide plank pine floors, while introducing modern amenities such as central air, high speed computer lines and a security system.

The house has five floors complete with a fully landscaped beautiful garden. Every floor is dedicated to utmost luxury with a master bedroom suite, spa like bath, large children bedrooms, and laundry room. The large eat-in kitchen at the rear of the house leads to the garden. The fifth floor has been turned into a home office at the rear and a large recreational media room in the front.

This is not the first house associated with a movies star (or movie) that we have featured on Home-Designing. Check out the Twilight House, and the Lance Armstrong’s House that we have featured before.

[via Home-Designing.com, courtesy CasaSugar]

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TOP 12 Tools Men must have! Make your grandfather proud by starting with these basics out of the box…

Your girlfriend needs help putting some furniture together. Your wife asks you to install a ceiling fan. Your kid needs her bike fixed. Of course you have the
tools to take on these jobs, right? For many younger men these days, owning a well equipped toolbox is something that only their dads do. Often when these men have a project, they have to go to someone else to take care of their handyman needs. But a man should be self-reliant. He should have the tools and know-how to tackle basic projects around the house.

If you’re one of those younger gents who just never got around to stocking a toolbox, below we’ve included a list 12 basic tools that we think every toolbox should have.

Claw Hammer
A good, solid hammer can be used for driving nails into wood as well as small demolition jobs. My old man would use his hammer for damn near everything, much to the chagrin of my mother. Go for the classic 16 ounce hammer. It’s heavy enough for most basic home repair needs, but light enough for you to carry around without it being a nuisance. While your grandpa probably used a hammer with a wooden handle, you shouldn’t. Wood handles break easily. Go with something that has a long-lasting synthetic handle. Also, when picking out a hammer, you want one that has a good balance in your hand and isn’t head heavy. It’s a lot like picking out a golf club or a baseball bat. So go to the hardware store and try a few out before making your selection.

Flathead Screwdriver
A flathead screwdriver has a single blade that fits into the single slot of a flathead screw. Flathead screws have been around for a l o n g time, so it’s likely your great-great grandpa had a few flathead screwdrivers in his tool chest. While the Phillips screw has quickly taken the place of flathead screws in most projects, it’s still a good idea to have a few flathead drivers in your tool arsenal. In addition to driving in screws, flatheads can also be improvised for different uses like light prying, scrapping, and nudging. Quick tip: make sure the electricity is turned off BEFORE you start sticking a screwdriver in a light socket to pry out a broken bulb. Trust me.

Phillips Screwdriver
Invented by Henry F. Phillips in 1936, the Phillips head screw has quickly replaced the flathead screw in most projects. A Phillips head screwdriver has a four star point at the end that fits into the corresponding screw’s shallow, cross-shaped depression. This design allows a user to apply more torque than is possible with a flathead screwdriver. The depression forces the blades of the Phillips screwdriver to slip out before any damaging over-torquing can occur. As mentioned above, Phillips screws have pretty much replaced flathead screws, so make sure you have a good set of Phillips screwdrivers in varying sizes.

Tape Measure
Whether you’re building a gun cabinet or measuring to see if that flat screen TV will fit in your den, a dependable 25? retractable metal measuring tape is a must. Plus, they’re fun for your kids. I remember my brother and I would take my dad’s measuring tape and extend the tape all the way out, lock it, and then watch it retract. It was double fun when the end would accidently pinch my brother’s finger, and he would start crying.

Crescent Wrench

Of all your tools, this baby will probably see the most action. It’s like having 50 wrenches in one. The crescent wrench is an adjustable wrench with a sliding jaw that changes the width of the wrench. So you can use the same tool on different size nuts and bolts. Remember, when you’re using a crescent wrench, the movable jaw is located on the side towards which the rotation is to be performed. This reduces the chance of backlash.

Socket Wrench
When you have a large project that requires you to tighten and loosen a bunch of nuts and bolts, it’s time to put aside the crescent wrench and reach for its more efficient brother. The socket wrench’s ratcheting mechanism allows you to tighten a nut without having to remove and refit the wrench after each and every turn. This can make your life a whole lot easier when you’re taking on larger projects. A 3/8-inch socket wrench with a couple of extenders and a set of sockets should do the trick.

Vise Grip Pliers
Vise grip pliers come in handy when you need an extra hand but only have your own two mitts to work with. Vise grip pliers are pliers that can lock in place. Some locking pliers use a mechanism that allows one- handed release of the locking mechanism; others require two hands to disengage. They are versatile tools that can be used as pliers, a pipe wrench, an adjustable wrench, wire cutters, a ratchet, or a clamp. Standard 5-10WR pliers are good for most stuff around the house and garage.

Needle Nose Pliers
An essential electrician’s tool, needle nose pliers are good for any household project which requires you to cut, bend, grip, or strip wire. Because of their long and skinny shape, they’re particularly useful for getting into small cavities. You can also use them to pinch your younger brother with.

Cordless Drill
A good cordless drill is an essential tool to have in your toolbox. It can be used for drilling holes into sheetrock or driving screws into a 2×4. When choosing a cordless drill, you want one with lots of power, which is measured by the amount of voltage in its battery. You can get drills that have batteries that go up to 18v. But when you increase voltage, you increase weight. That 18 volt bad boy weighs 10 pounds. 12 volts is a good size. It’s enough power to do most stuff around the house but isn’t too heavy. Also, make sure the drill you get has multiple speeds and is reversible. The reversible feature will come in handy if you need to take some screws out when your treehouse goes awry.

Crosscut Saw
The image of a fine handsaw has long been the emblem of a craftsman at work. A good general purpose handsaw is useful for trimming branches off your tree or cutting lumber for a project around the house. Crosscut saws are used to cut against the grain on a piece of wood. That’s exactly what you do when you trim a branch or shorten a 2×4. If you think you’ll be doing work that requires you to cut along the wood’s grain, get a rip saw as well.

Level

Whether you’re hanging up pictures or putting a mantle over your fireplace, a straight line is absolutely crucial. You don’t want to put a bunch of nails in the wall, only to step back and see that’s it’s crooked. To get the job done right the first time, you need to use a level. There are some sophisticated laser levels available these days, but you can’t beat the satisfaction of finally nudging that bubble into place. Of course if you have the iphone level app, you’re all set.

Utility Knife
While it may not be the most exciting of the tools, your utility knife will never be found gathering dust at the bottom of your toolbox. Every project always provides plenty of things to cut and scrape, hundreds of tasks that cry out for the utility knife’s super sharp blade.

[via The Art of Manliness]