DIY German style
Hageln den Hammerkönig.
Hageln den Hammerkönig.
Bringing an edge to outdoor furniture
After having worked as a designer for some of the most amazing brands (Dior, Guerlain, Jean Paul Gaultier, Issey Miyake, Yves Saint Laurent, Lauder and Clarins) Frederic's attention turned to industrial design.He was behind a very successful modernisation of the Tolix chair.
He is bringing fresh and edgy designs to the outdoor market. I love these three pieces fresh from this year.
His site just opened over the weekend and is worth a visit.
Link: Frederic Gaunet
Norway Kicks Ass!
Take a moment and check out Norway's Ida Maria and her brilliant single 'Oh My God'.
Trust me on this one. It'll change your life.
Link: Ida Maria Myspace
Paintings inspired by modern design
Michigan based painter Michael Pfleghaar is well known for his interior subjects depicting animated mid-century furniture and accessories, bringing such things as an Eames lounge chair to life. Pfleghaar's new body of work depicts modern landmarks in Palm Springs, California. Pfleghaar skillfully captures the optimistic spirit of his architectural subjects as well as the magical quality of the light and landscape of their environment.
These paintings will be exhibited in a group show at Dezart One Gallery in Palm Springs, October 11-November 11, 2007.
Link: Michael Pfleghaar
Link: Dezart One Gallery.com
Also: Michael Pfleghaar's Online Sketchblog
(ABOVE: "Neutra House" 2007, oil on canvas, 24" x 30"
Cut steel garden wall decor
Award winning designer Susan Bradley confirms her strong sense of design with this new version of her lovely laser cut outdoor 'wallpapers'.
For those new to the name, Susan Bradley is a fresh British design talent. After an established career in the multi-media design industry, she has successfully turned her attention to 3-dimensional design. Since her design studio was established in 2004 Susan's designs have won international acclaim being exhibited in London, Milan, Cologne, Rotterdam and Tokyo, and featuring in leading design, style and interiors media worldwide.
Link: Susan Bradley
October 6th, San Francisco
The ASLA meeting in San Francisco is coming up quick, which means it is almost time for Cultivated, the event where landscape meets art... and Landscape Architects meet artists on October 6th at 9:00 pm at the Mars Bar.
Link: Cultivated
Previously: Cultivated (L+L)
Related: Laura Bauer (L+L)
Related: Metagardens (L+L)
A big idea built of a lot of little pieces
Featured at left, "I Bought all of These" by Kate Bingaman-Burt.
Manshroom by Amy Ross.
Link: 20x200
Viteo and Danny Venlet are surely amongst those leading the revolution of outdoor furniture design. And they have once again taken the Parisian furniture show 'Maison et Objet' by storm. This time they came up with an outdoor waterbed called Lylo. As always the Austrian brand has developed it in all weather materials of the highest quality.
Link: Viteo
Title says it all. If you have the chops and time to post nothing but specialness (is that even a word?), then drop a line and let's see what you got!
Interested parties can send their replies to adriean@shawbiz.ca
designBOT.landliving.com
A quick trip into the archives
Concord "Plug Table"A table that features two circular sockets in the center that can accept any number of modular plug-in pieces including electrical outlets, light fixtures, and various containers.
Retro Bullet PlanterFaithful reproductions of the original bullet planters from the 50's. Available in 9 colors.
LIKEaBIKEIf I had kids and they didn't yet know how to pedal a bike, they'd totally have LIKEaBIKES. Except I'd put a motor in it and aim them at a big jump. Oh, and beware of knock-offs!
Borris BallyWe've always had a fascination with the bold graphics and colors of road signs, but not so much in the frat house aesthetic kind of way... though we have to admit there is something intriguing about the idea of bringing signs into the home. Now we've found a way to satisfy that desire: road signs re-purposed as functional objects!
Archive: September 2004
Related: Flashback August 2004
The West Coast Independent Design Show - March 14 - March 16, 2008
It's like every time I turn around, it's CA Boom time again! OK, so it isn't time yet, but it will be here before I diggity dag darn know it... and this year we're planning ahead.
Well, I told you before, but I'll tell you again: CA Boom V will be March 14 through 16, 2008, once again at the fabulous Barker Hangar in sunny Santa Monica, California. And I hear that the show will continue to expand the offerings as attendance has grown significantly over the past two years... we have a winner here, folks.
By the way for you designers and hawkers of design schtuff, CA Boom V still has room for exhibitors, but space is filling up fast so get your applications in pronto. And for you architects with projects in the west LA area, CA Boom is on the hunt for tour locations... be seen.
Link: CA Boom
Viteo's new Teppan Yaki module is a further extension of its modular outdoor kitchen range.
It is probably the only outdoor cooking set-up on the market that offers a healthy /light option for the summer BBQ preparation of fish, meat or vegetables. Fusion cuisine lovers will love it!
Link: www.Viteo.com
Spanish designer and 3D artist Cristóbal Vila. Link: Etérea Studios - Fallingwater Via: Desing*Sponge's dad
An Tur Solais - The Spire of Dublin
A day on which one can't help but think of monuments and symbols seems like an appropriate time to take a look at a successful modern monument... at least Witold Rybczynski thought so, and it got me to thinking about it as well.
The Spire of Dublin, also known as An Tur Solais (the Monument of Light) and The Spike... it also has some unsavory nicknames in the Dubliner tradition: The Stiletto in the Ghetto, The Nail in the Pale, The Binge Syringe, and (perhaps my favorite) The Erection in the Intersection.
The monument was conceived in the early 1990's to provide a replacement for Nelson's Pillar which was blown up by former IRA members in 1966. An architectural competition was held with the intention of building the monument in time for the millennium. Alas construction was delayed by a pair of lawsuits filed by failed competitors - one designed a resurrection of Nelsons Pillar but topped by a bronze sun, the other a column topped by a revolving restaurant...
Of course monuments are contentious by their very nature - e.g. Ground Zero, Alex Eiffel, World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., etc. And the sore losers of the competition weren't the only detractors of the winning entry - public opinion and politicians decried the monument citing its inappropriateness to the context, the exorbitant cost and everything in between. Not to mention the planning process and environmental regulations (EIS). It is a wonder it was ever built at all... and so it is perhaps a fitting symbol of the new Ireland where such things are possible. And yet that uncovers an ironic twist: this monument of the new Ireland, built to replace a symbol of British imperialism, was an entry by a British architect, Ian Ritchie.
Link: The Spire of Dublin
Slideshow: Slate - The Spire of Dublin
Designer: Ian Ritchie Architects
Related: Seeing Éire [I] - Ailtireacht na Baile Átha Cliath (L+L)
Designing human experiences
Being in the "experience design" world professionally myself these days, I was very interested to check out the work of Tel-Aviv, Israel based designers Roy Roth Yaal Tevet. They say:
We explore all design disciplines, creating exciting, multi-sensual experiences for the public domain, telling a new story each and every time. We are always looking for new boundaries to cross.Their work covers a broad range of disciplines for a broad range of clients, including exhibitions, public spaces, cafés, bars, restaurants, clubs and products.
What I appreciate about their work is that they are able to skillfully navigate multiple disciplines and genres, creating environments which work emotionally as well as intellectually. And that really is the key to the idiosyncratic world of experience design. You must be adept at designing from a variety of perspectives, not just from your own aesthetic.
Link: Roth \ Tevet
Homeland, Sigur Rós
Link: Heima - trailer 1
Link: Heima - trailer 2
Link: Sigur Rós
Director: Dean Deblois
Increasing the volume of architectural discourse... now blogging!
It's back! We just got word from Loud Paper editor Mimi Zeiger saying that after a lengthy hiatus, Loud Paper is back... as a blog! Mimi says:
In this new incarnation loud paper is part per-zine, travelogue, marketing machine, and wunderkammer, but it will also remain true to the original mission to provide a forum for multiple voices.Maybe you didn't know about Loud Paper before... or perhaps you even forgot... in either case bad! Very bad you! Well, Loud Paper was (and is) an independent architecture zine "dedicated to increasing the volume of architectural discourse." It was started in 1997 when Mimi Zeiger was a graduate student at SCI-Arc... back when a couple of us from the L+L crew were in the house too.
We're glad to see Loud Paper back and online. And Mimi says to get ready for a new call for submissions later this fall. We'll keep y'all informed.
Link: loud paper
Link: loud paper archives
Modern craftsman lighting
FaulknerWorks is the brainchild of Truckee, California architect Greg Faulkner in partnership with Leo Burke, and Brian Hijos - a team which combines the skills of an architect, theatrical lighting designer, artistic metal fabricator, and electrical contractor. I dig their products which are basically extracted from the custom fixtures and hardware that Greg Faulkner has designed for his commissions over the years.
I almost worked for Faulkner Architects many years back when I lived at Tahoe... I was all fired up to work there until they told me what my salary would be... ahem. Anyway, what I like about Faulkner's work is the balance and contrast of the modern and the rustic. There is a hand-made feeling (obviously owing much to the American Arts and Crafts movement) yet with an aesthetic informed by modern and industrial design and materials. I would love to see an even more modern evolution of this design thread.
Link: FaulknerWorks
Designer: Greg Faulkner - Faulkner Architects
Art inspired by landscape architecture and design | 10/06/07
Cultivated is an exhibition to held in conjunction with the annual ASLA conference, October 6th 2007, in San Francisco. Cultivated's opening debut will be a night of art and inspiration hosted at Mars Bar, a local art bar in the burgeoning Soma district.
In concept, Cultivated seeks to provide a place where visiting and local artists, designers and landscape architects can gather to celebrate interpretations of Landscape Architecture that reflect the impacts that natural and built environments have on our lives.Various forms of appreciation and expression of landscape will be represented... and there is still time to participate. The submission deadline is September 14, 2007.
Link: Cultivated
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 TimesLink: Bemz.com
Has Illy found a way to pull the perfect shot?
So it turns out the tried and true process of packing your grounds into your espresso machine's portafilter isn't all that great after all. The folks at Illy contend that water doesn't percolate evenly through the grounds. This leaves you with a shot that isn't as rich as it could be.
To deal with this, they've come up with a small pod packed with grounds that first fills with water, saturating the grounds. As the pressure builds, a valve releases, aeration occurs, and you've now got a rich shot with lots of crema. Mmmm, crema.
Illy will be producing their pod-compatible machines first for their commercial customers. In spring 2008 we will see a modified Francis!Francis! version specifically for the consumer market.
Link: Wall Street JournalLink: Illy
Via: Huffington Post
Canada's Alternative
So like most designers I have my usual monthly design reads such as Azure, Canadian Interiors, Metropolis and yes even Dwell from time to time. All fine reads that normally come from magical places such as Toronto, New York or some other town big enough to have mutliple NFL teams. So as a Western boy from Alberta, I have to admit being red faced at JUST being introduced to a design mag originating from a town only a short drive down the highway.
elemente Magazine is a Calgary based publication that provides Canadians with a Western perspective on design, architecture and lifestyle. From tales of sharing cocktails with Will Alsop (personal fave) to profiling up and coming designers, it really is a great fix for design junkies.
Influenced by some of the world's most renowned architecture and design-driven publications, Elemente provides a unique regional platform that focuses on current architectural highlights, key players, products, designs and emerging trends. Singular in personality and voice, Elemente's mandate is to deliver contextually relevant content exclusive to the region that is functional and purposeful, entertaining yet challenging, enlightening and informative, humourous yet inspirational.Full cover shot of the September issue after the jump....
Link: elemente
For the lollygagger in you.
Thanks to a comment from Matt in our post below, we were clued-in to Loll Design, the firm behind the Room & Board Adirondack chairs. Turns out they've got quite an assortment of products, from chairs and stools to benches and tables, all made from 100% post-consumer high-density polyethylene. They also work close with designers and architects, collaborating on numerous projects, including The Octagon in NYC (above right) and designing benches for the St. Louis County Courthouse.
Link: Loll Designs [Thanks, Matt!]Emmet Lounge chair and ottoman
I don't think we've ever featured a product from Room & Board... I've never bought anything from them... but I've perused their catalog and their products seem decent and some are quite nicely designed.
Take, for instance, this modernized version of the classic American Adirondack chair. I like the laid back comfort of an Adirondack chair... nice wide arm for my beer... but generally don't like the aesthetic. This one might change my mind... depends on how comfortable it actually is to sit in.
I definitely dig the lines and the fact that it is constructed of 100% post-industrial recycled material.
Link: Room & Board
Designer: Loll Design
Related: Weekend Project (L+L 5/20/2004)
Sign the petition for cleaner air
You gotta fight for your right to cleaner air!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced changes in ozone pollution standards that fall short of what the scientific community recommends. In response to this news, and to the lobbyists working against tougher air quality standards, non-profit public interest law firm Earthjustice has created a project called Adopt The Sky to raise awareness about this issue.
Visitors to the site can add their own personalized message about the issue and "adopt" a square mile of sky above the U.S. to pledge their support for cleaner air.
Sign the petition... its free, people.
Link: Adopt the Sky
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
The newest and coolest products on the horizon.
I just spent some time at the local B&N and discovered issue #1 of Antenna magazine. Flipping through it, Antenna read like the RSS feed of my favorite blogs: gadgets, snowboards, sneakers, messenger bags, sunglasses, even Oreos(!).
Antenna is the first mainstream magazine to target individuals who are on a constant quest for the newest and coolest products on the horizon. And it does so without using celebrities, models, concept shoots, service stories and whatever else we deem superfluous to our mission: to become a guidebook, allowing readers to navigate the most extensive collection of products ever compiled in a single publication, while championing the people who create, sell and collect them—all in one comprehensive, artful, elegant and innovative format.Extra points for Antenna because their first cover compliments the color palette of the L+L site, too :) Link: Antenna
Spaces of simplicity, elegance and balance
flashfilm.com has an interview with London-based garden designer, Philip Nixon. Philip is a participant of the Chelsea Flower Show and is currently working on an exhibition for the 2008 Gothenburg Festival in Sweden.
Via: flashfilm.comLink: Philip Nixon Design
The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2007 by Olafur Eliasson and Kjetil Thorsen
A quick round up of the annual Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London... this year by Danish/Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson and Norwegian architect Kjetil Thorsen (of architecture firm Snøhetta). The pavilion opens this Friday and will remain on site until November 2007.
A load of articles and images to totally max out your senses... have at it, kids.
Designers:
Olafur Eliasson
Kjetil Thorsen (Snøhetta)
Link: Serpentine Gallery Pavillion 2007
Photo Gallery: Olll
Article: Times - Come for a spin at the Serpentine
Article: Guardian - Magic circle
Article: Telegraph - Serpentine Gallery: A spinning top on an epic scale
Soft and, uh, fluffy.
I've always thought those dogs with dreads were cool and the canine was the first thing that came to mind after seeing this throw pillow from Neelee.com. Made from ultra-soft fleece, each pillow is made by hand. Dimensions are 55 x 55cm.
Link: Neelee.comDesigner: Idit Friedberg
Via: CribCandy