MOST COMMENTED
The museum in New York has reopened to the public following a two and a half year renovation
The Isamu Noguchi Museum, designed by the artist before his death, has been renovated and reopened. The museum features a comprehensive collection of Noguchi's works and also features exhibitions on other artist and designers. The museum is located in Long Island City, Queens.
Noguchi was a sculptor of all materials: stone, light, sound, paper, wood, metal, water, etc. creating wonderful objects, landscapes, spaces and experiences.
Visit: Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum
Photo tour of residence in Poissy, France designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Janneret
Saphenia features a very nice photo tour of this 1931 Corbu masterwork... the most comprehensive collection of photos I have seen of the Villa Savoye anywhere.
The Villa is a physical manifesto of Le Corbusier's "five points of the new architecture" with its grid of supporting pilotis, horizontal window bands, free facade, open interior plan and roof terraces. The articulated circulation system also exemplifies Corbu's idea of the "architectural promenade."
Link: Saphenia - Villa Savoye
Via: Things Magazine
Experiment in environmentally sensitive erosion control
Designed by architect Marcelo Spina of Los Angeles based firm Patterns, Land.Tiles is a system composed of 118 different CNC milled and vacuum formed textured concrete blocks.
Every tile has similar sectional characteristics derived from a process of double pleating a continuous surface. The inherent complexity of the terrain's contours originates a dimensional logic of construction that through a process of subdivision, allow every tile to adjust to its site specific condition while maintaining its prototypic geometry and morphological qualities.
Designer: Patterns
Dual Zone Alarm Clock by Sebastian Conran
The design of this funky alarm clock is both Jetsons-retro and iPod fresh. Part of the Equilibrium collection designed by British designer Sebastian Conran exclusively for Bliss (though it can be found all over the web it you care to look), the clock is chrome-plated die-cast zinc with a duel time display allowing two time zones to be displayed simultaneously.
Link: Bliss
Via: Urban Spy
Minimalist metal artwork
Miya Ando Stanoff is a minimalist metal artist who creates artwork on metal canvases. She utilizes traditional metalworking techniques such as grinding, sanding, and the application of heat, along with acids, solvents and metal-based pigments to create varied textures on her canvases. In the right setting, her work will really stand out.
Miya Ando Stanoff is a minimalist metalworker; employing steel and pigment to create quiet, meditative environments. Working solely in two-dimensional metal panels, she is ultimately interested in the study of subtraction to the point of purity, simplicity and refinement.
Update: Her work is on display at Zinc Details in San Francisco through February 28th.
Update II: Received a Ligne Roset SF installation shot from Miya today (2/25), thanks! (see below)
Link: Miya Ando Stanoff [Thanks, Miya!]
Link: MocoLoco San Francisco
Link: Zinc Details
The Purist Hatbox Toilet from Kohler
Toilets haven't changed too much since they evolved from the outhouse... the shape and parts are fairly standard and predictable. But this is different from anything we've seen.
Conventional cues of the traditional toilet are removed as the minimalist inspired electric toilet offers a clean aesthetic both visually and physically with its innovative tankless design. The result is a utilitarian product which provides tremendous performance yet offers unexpected beauty by turning common perceptions of what the traditional American toilet should look like upside down.
The form is nice and simple... hopefully the technology is simple enough that it won't be a maintenance nightmare. But then again, if you can afford the $2890 price tag...
The real wonder of it all is that the same company that can produce a toilet as sleek and straightforward as the Purist Hatbox also made this.
Link: Kohler Purist Hatbox
Via: MSNBC
Give me burbs or give me death
Sometimes it doesn't matter what opinion I may hold when I read gibberish spewed by someone feigning authority. Mind you, I am not a journalist (most traditional journalists would be quick to point out that journalistic shortcoming of blogs), but I am an educated professional with experience, opinions and knowledge that give me some background from which to judge the worthiness of an argument within my field. I have read the opinions of many educated opponents of New Urbanism that I can respect, but an article published Sunday in The Orange County Register written by Steven Greenhut is not among them.
Now, I do not consider myself an expert in New Urban theory, but I do think that Mr. Greenhut is grossly misinformed. Or perhaps he just enjoys lighting a fire and fanning the flames. At any rate, he misses the concept that New Urbanism promotes a mix of housing types and income levels and that the principles can be applied to lower density situations. Mr. Greenhut has bitten off more than he can chew... and indeed more than can even be responded to in this format. Never the less, let's take an abbreviated look, shall we?
Article: Orange County Register - City planning by Those Who Know Best (reg required)
Link: BugMeNot.com (get a username/pwd here)
Link: Congress for New Urbanism
Link: NewUrbanism.org
A nice place to plant your seed.
Serralunga makes flowerpots. Small pots, ginormous pots, and every size pot in-between. One of the interesting tidbits we found is that some of the designers, while sketching their pots, sketched them with specific plants in mind. While some pots might be approriate for your orchids, alocasias, and cannas, others are much better suited for your agaves and cactii. The Hole Pot (featured at right) features.....get this, Holes!....allowing you to see the plant inside. Genius!
Link: Serralunga
British Columbian Modernism
We’ve always been impressed with this well known Canadian firm based in Vancouver. A partnership between David Battersby and Heather Howat, the collaborative practice draws on backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design to create a distinctive modern vocabulary all their own.
There is a certain "look" to their work which comes from a rigorous design philosophy. Each project is a unique representation and expression of their quiet yet meticulously conceived design language.
We highly recomend that you browse through the project images on their website... truly outstanding work. Go... now!
Firm: BattersbyHowat
Understanding the process of design
We live in an age where people have grown accustomed to instant gratification. Fast food, fast lanes, fast news - you want it and you want it NOW!
I had a client come to me in April with a vague idea of how they wanted to remodel their home... and they wanted to break ground by the end of May! Uh... yeah. Most people have no concept of what it takes to design a building.
Design takes time; architect Arrol Gellner wrote an article published yesterday in the San Francisco Chronicle explaining the process of design. But he doesn't even begin to talk about dealing with government agencies to gain approvals and permits or the actual construction process.
Article: SF Gate - Rome (or your bathroom) wasn't designed in a day
Architects as gamers
I used to work with a couple of guys who were pretty hardcore gamers. They'd spend all hours of the night playing online games such as Half-Life and Unreal Tournament. One of the cool things about these games is that end-users can modify the "worlds" in which these games are played. With that in mind, here's what happens when you have a few gamers that also happen to know how to create an architectural rendering or two. Ah, now just imagine being able to take a sniper position in Pierre Koenig's Case Study No. 22 House.
Link: PushPullBar
Images of Brazil's architecture, urban landscape, etc.
I have a penchant for this kind of photo documentation... it reminds me of architecture school (thank you, Mary Ann Ray).
Photo blogger Thomas Locke Hobbs features some very interesting and beautiful photos of his travels and experiences in Brazil; everything from buildings and urban vistas to culinary delights and signage/graffiti. There are also photos of men in drag and tighty-whities, not that there’s anything wrong with that...
Link: Thomas Locke Hobbs
Via: Cityrag
Thumbnail at right: SESC Pompeia, designed by Lina Bo Bardi, São Paulo.
Early modernist house in Prague designed by Adolf Loos
Designed in the late 1920's and completed in 1930 by architect Adolf Loos, famous for his essay entitled Ornament and Crime which contributed to Modernist ideology. Located in Prague, the Villa Müller is one of the Twentieth Century's most significant modern villas.
I remember this building from architectural history classes, but must admit that it had slipped into the deep recesses of my memory until I saw an article in the Prague Post published this week.
The house was purchased by the City of Prague in 1995 and is administered by the City of Prague Museum. The structure underwent extensive restoration and opened to the public in 2000. The design displays Loos' ideas of the "Raumplan" with its severe external facade and interior comprised of interconnected multilevel rooms, with the space and height of each room suited to its function.
| Visit: | Nad Hradním vodojemem 14 |
| | CZ 162 00 Prague 6 - Strešovice |
| | Czech Republic |
Link: Villa Müller
Article: Prague Post Online - Visionary villa
Historic Register recognizes Ludwig Mies van der Rohe campus plan
Earlier this week we featured a Clipping regarding the reopening of IIT’s Crown Hall set for this weekend. With the most recent news of the campus's historic designation, we'll take a larger look at the IIT campus.
The National Park Service has announced that the academic campus of Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in close association with landscape architect Alfred Caldwell, the design concept of pavilions within a park setting is one of the most important examples of modern planning in the United States.
"The addition of our campus to the National Register is a reflection of the historical, cultural and architectural importance of IIT within Chicago and throughout the world," said IIT President Lew Collens.
In addition to the modernist structures by Mies and other modern architects, the school has launched a recent building campaign with new buildings by Rem Koolhaas and Helmut Jahn. Eextensive landscape restoration and extension of Caldwell's original landscape of native prarie terrain has been undertaken by Peter Lindsay Schaudt Landscape Architects.
Many links to articles and photo galleries for you to enjoy along with our own brief image montage.
Link: IIT
Link: Mies van der Rohe Society
Article: Chicago Sun Times - All of IIT named to historic register
Via: Archinect
Update 10/4/05:
Link: Coudal's Crown Hall page - film & photos
Rediscovered 11 years ago, one of the world's oldest and rarest trees on display
A public exhibition at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, is currently running through October 22, and will culminate in an international Sotheby's auction of the Collectors Edition trees on October 23, 2005.
The installation at Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens will replicate the secret grove where the Pines were first discovered.The auction will feature fewer than 300 first generation Pines grown from cuttings taken from the wild population. Each Collectors Edition tree can be traced back to its parent tree in the wild. Proceeds will benefit conservation efforts of the Wollemi Pine and other rare species. In addition, six groves of five trees each will be dedicated to conservation organizations in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany and Japan.
The general release of smaller Wollemi Pine pot plants will take place internationally in April 2006.
Wollemi Pine International
Project Import Export serves up something different
With so much furniture on the market today it's sometimes hard to find something different. The furniture from PIE Project Import Export is not only different, but features work from some very talented and experienced designers from around the globe. Their merchandise represents some of the best work that is coming out of small young independent firms today that use modern methods and natural, environmentally friendly materials. PIE is setting out to explore the idea of 'living space' in an attempt to heighten the Modern lifestyle experience.
Link: PIE
Laminated plywood coffee table
Fellow SCI-Arcian Jon Racek recently got in touch with us, and while I was familiar with his company, Stew Design Workshop, I didn't know that we shared an alma mater. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: for such a small school, it's amazing how SCI-Arc people seem to be everywhere doing interesting work. Jon and his brother Kevin, who is also an architect, are based in Burlington, Vermont, and design everything from furniture to architecture to graphics etc.
Jon was kind enough to share with us their new design for coffee table that they showed at ICFF this year. The 5050 Table is made from 540 three-inch pieces of laminated plywood. I'm not sure if the Stew guys have ever considered OCD medication, but their compulsiveness sure produces some exceptional furniture. I really like the striated surface and the table's woven, almost malleable appearance.
Link: Stew Design Workshop
Michael Wolf on Hong Kong
Michael Wolf is a photographer who captures the residential condition of Hong Kong as a portrait of both density and abandonment. The repetitive patterns of apartment buildings showcases order at its most extreme producing a visual lull that is both attractive and arresting. The majority of images were captured at unknown heights creating a boundlessness that is uncomfortable, but outweighed by the intrigue. Michael Wolf's truly engaging study can be found in Kenneth Baker and Douglas Young's Hong Kong: Front Door / Back Door.
Link: Polar Inertia
Link: Hong Kong: Front Door/ Back Door
From recycled to molten to unique
At first glance, I was somewhat reminded of The Great Bowl of Fire but the shapes are much more organic. The Splash Form Bowls by Melt Modern are created with a technique that consists of throwing molten aluminum onto a sand mold one splash at a time until the bowl is complete. Needless to say, each bowl is unique.
Splash Form bowls come in three different sizes with prices starting at $195.
Link: Melt Modern
Designers: Matt Proctor, Aixe Djelal
Glowing stones for indoors or out
These cool sculptural outdoor lights provide a nice soft glow... no need for a bunch of 150 watt flood lights on the patio, folks.
Created by Italian designers Marta Laudani & Marco Romanelli with Massimo Noceto, they look great clustered together or scattered along a pathway. Use them inside too if you like... the designers also have an indoor version made of opaque Murano glass called Stone of Glass, but the outdoor ones could be used indoors as well.
Made of durable, weather-tested polyethylene. Uses screw-in fluorescent bulb.
Design: Marta Laudani & Marco Romanelli with Massimo Noceto
Manufacturer: OLuce
Buy: Y Lighting
Via: Better Living Though Design
Also: Product Dose
Related: Bloom (L+L)
Call it a collaboration but just don't call it a collaboration.
Dubbed a "a 7 year experiment", SPACE 1026 is clearly turning into a succesful attempt.
Located in Philadelphia, the 2 storey building that is home to SPACE 1026 has developed into a thriving art scene that provides both studio and gallery space for the cities up and coming community of artists.
It is a network of dozens of artists who‘ve had studios at the Space, past and present. It is dozens of artists who‘ve had shows at the Space over the last 7 years. It is dozens of artists who come to our events, and participate in our community.
Space 1026 is a community - a creative community - not an institution.
The variety of work is amazing with definitely a few head turners. Especially for me is the work by Artist Rachel Vittorelli (seen above) and her series of light fixtures.
Something for everyone.
Link: SPACE 1026
Summer line released
Artist/designer Rob Buttery recently added a fresh new batch of designs to his already eye catching series of wall clocks.
Sporting abit of a Canadian feel to a few of the new pieces, Rob displayed his Summer line at last months THAW exhibit in Edmonton.
Link: Collectiv
Update
Designer Charlie Davidson was kind enough to send us a pick of his Black-Light's recent appearance at Tokyo Design Tide that took place the other week (31st October - 5th November).
For those of you considering one of these sinister chaps, Charlie is currently selling them in England for £400.
Link: Charlie Davidson
Link: Tokyo Design Tide
A remodeled hill-hugger by Kovac Architects
This isn't super-model modern, it is more basic. And honestly, we can't all have (or be) super-models, now can we? Kovac Architects has taken a bland hillside stucco box in Los Angeles and modestly but effectively transformed it with some nicely thought out and executed design ideas.
The addition is sliver-thin at a mere eight feet, and is attached almost parasite-like to the side of the existing structure. The addition and reconfigured interior create a 2170 square foot modern tree house with living spaces on the first floor and a master suite with office mezzanine on the second. In addition to the walls of glazing which open the house to the trees at the rear of the home, a glass floor in the dining area visually connects the inhabitants to the canyon floor below.
Link: Kovac Architects
Should this be considered an IKEA hack?
Do your friends think they've stepped into an IKEA showroom whenever they enter your home? If so, here's a great way to distinguish your stock IKEA wares from the masses. Bemz.com offers a wide variety of slipcovers that fit a good selection of IKEA's sofas and armchairs. Prices hover around $140 or so and some fabrics are available in 100% cotton while others are a linen/cotton blend. The Stromstad sofa (above) is shown in Harmony-Chestnut Brown.
Via: LA Times
Link: Bemz.com
Inspired by Aalto and Eames
When I first received word about the Bent Plywood Cat Scratcher, my belief that bent ply had jumped the shark was somewhat reinforced. I mean, you can pretty much find a bent ply something-or-other just about everywhere these days. So, I ran this by a cat person, who also happens to have some modern tastes, and she thought it was a great idea. She quickly reminded me of those shag-carpet "cat condo" scratching towers down at the local PetSmart and upon hearing that, I was sold on the idea of this scratcher.
The scratcher appears to be available only in walnut but the cool thing about this is your carpet options are endless. The scratcher is sized to accommodate FLOR carpet tiles, allowing you to change it's appearance on a whim.
Link: Modern Critter [Thanks, Geoffrey]
Link: FLOR
A museum's decision to destroy a work of art
"Nationwide our modern built landscapes are in danger. The designs of Lawrence Halprin, a leader in landscape architecture for decades, are particularly vulnerable at this time. Halprin recently received the National Endowment for the Arts gold medal from the President Bush. Despite this national recognition for design excellence, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts included demolition of Halprin's sculpture garden in its $100-million building expansion plan designed by London-based architect Rick Mather."
Via: The Recent Past Preservation Network
The most striking and imaginative piece of Seattle architecture.
Continuing our theme of regional newspaper magazines, the Seattle Times Magazine, Pacific Northwest, has a write up on the city's stunning new library.
"This is a building designed to be understood inside out. It is expected to upend your assumptions about structure: In the words of key designer and former Seattleite Joshua Ramus, "A truly rational building will not look rational." In The World According To Koolhaas, a building will not necessarily be a box, with function forced to fit the space, but rather space expanded here and contracting there to fit function. It is like a house with the naturalness of add-ons, built over generations, but these add-ons are integrated from the beginning.
Article: Pacific Northwest
Link: Seattle Times
Firm: OMA
Photographs: Benjamin Benschneider
When a simple door wedge won't suffice
Love this.
"Doorman doorstop designed by Gaby Klasmer for Memphis Milano. The doorman is part of the 'post design' series from Memphis Milano- a collection designed by students from the Royal College of Art, 1999, under the direction of Ron Arad. stainless steel, 11.5" height."
Link: Memphis-Milano
Designer: Gaby Klasmer
Link: Unica Home
Better four years late than never
Chicago's new 24.5 acre Millennium Park is be unveiled next week with the grand opening ceremony on July 16th and festivities planned throughout the weekend.
The park has its share of designer credentials with Frank Gehry, Kathryn Gustafson and Anish Kapoor just to name a few.
Link: Millennium Park
Link: Public Building Commission of Chicago
Link: Millennium Park - unofficial site
Link: Archinect (Pritzker Pavilion photo gallery)
