I’ve been searching lately for a good example of clean, fresh design that really perfects the simplicity and complexity of whitespace.  Believe it or not, this is a very hard balance to achieve.  Although I wouldn’t call Healdsburg’s new tourist information site perfect, it does represent this style I’ve fallen in love with lately. I’d like to call it "modern basics".

I know, I know…"modern basics" sounds like a bedding line at K-Mart (in fact, now that I think about it - it very well might be).  But, it really encompasses that look of beautiful typography and crisp open pages.  It combines that feeling of the old school basics with some modern touches.  You have to really take a look at the entire site up close.  This small image doesn’t do it justice. 

Sometimes I get so sick and tired at looking at all of the over-designed, over-colored, and quite frankly,  over-whelming sites that populate the web today.  To come across this website for The American Institute of Architects was extremely refreshing.  It’s an example of the perfect mix between a "cut and paste" style and modern simplicity. I love the hard edges mixed with highlights and reflections.

I also admire how the space seems to appear so open and free of boundries…especially since it represents nothing but structures and walls!

To see for yourself what I’m talking about visit www.favoritearchitecture.org.