Canadian graphic design studio Valerydesignwrks was recently added to the Spot Collection of decorative mural adhesives by ADzif.
The character driven studio has also announced that twice a month, they will be posting a brand new wallpaper featuring new designs and characters "to help give your desktop a fresh and exciting look".
I received an email this morning that screamed a bunch of one-liners at me about what ATYPYK is and is not. Such as:
ATYPYK IS NOT THE BEST TO EXPLAIN ATYPYK
ATYPYK ENJOYS MAKING COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY THINGS
ATYPYK PRODUCTS CONTAINS SMALL PARTS DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN
ATYPYK MAY CONSIDER ACCEPT MONEY FROM STRANGERS
On and on the list went. And they were right when they said, "NO BIG SURPRISE THAT YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT US THEN" because I've never heard of them. You probably haven't either. So, whatever. I don't really feel like trying to explain who or what they are but they've got some interesting sh*t on their website (seriously, and it's "lucky" as well) so just click through and check out the site for yourself. And watch where you step.
Continuing the tile theme tonight is the ECOTECH tile from Domus Tiles. The ECOTECH tile is made from recycled porcelain leftovers and is available in four colors. Two finish options are also available (natural and structured).
The ECOTECH is an interior/exterior tile designed for both wall and floor use and is offered in 6 sizes with the largest being 23" x 47".
ModCraft tiles from New York based designer David Clark are available in 4 styles and remind me of the Tangent 3D wallpaper tiles we featured a few years back. The Peak (featured above), Valley, and Scoop are available in 6x6 while the Dom comes in 3x7. All tiles are made from stoneware.
The Writing Desk from Team 7 is a simple yet discreet solution for creating a work area in your living space. The Writing Desk features a slide out desktop with a hinged cover that reveals an organizer tray. Cable management is integrated into the desk and there is also ample storage space for your printer and files.
The Writing Desk is available in several different wood types including alder, beech, maple, and walnut.
"Architorture" -- this term has been the lament of countless aspiring architects for years... who knows, perhaps for generations. It is a simple slang word which embodies a range of emotions, experiences and tribulations faced in the course of an architectural education... and career.
And now "Architorture" is a documentary being created by architects David Krantz and Ian Harris (et. al.) that follows five students through the process of developing their thesis projects.
Content is currently evolving with occasional uploads. Current features are "The Confessionals" where different people explain what Architecture is about in their experience.
American Society of Landscape Architects honors 38 projects
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the recipients of its 2006 Professional Awards. The jury considered over 500 entries and selected 38 projects to receive awards. The awards will be presented on October 8 at the ASLA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
The top "Awards of Excellence" are awarded in several categories:
IMAGE: The Red Ribbon - Tanghe River Park, Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, China
Turenscape (Beijing Turen Design Institute) and Peking University Graduate School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing, China.
We were contacted recently by a L+L reader who, while offering compliments, also had a request: more art, please! While not exactly what she had in mind, we are pleased to present the work of that very L+L reader.
I was immediately drawn to Betty's woodcut prints. There is a wonderful quality of space and movement to these pieces, and the craft displayed in creating the prints is marvelous. Betty is based in Cushing, Oklahoma where, in addition to creating her own work, she has the vital and admirable job (especially in this day and age) of expanding the minds of young people as a Middle School Art teacher.
Open House: Architecture and Technology for Intelligent Living envisions the house of the future as a place for new spatial experiences, new systems of sustainability and new sensory enhancements. This open-ended exhibition and multi-faceted research initiative, incorporating Art Center research studios, as well as a series of public programs, encourages creative individuals to make a substantial contribution to the dialogue on how we will live in the future.
As promised, the good folks at Minarc-Architects have passed along photos of the Greenfield residence which was part of the Sunday CA Boom 4 home tour.
Be sure to read Nico's full report, and enjoy this exclusive Greenfield Residence featuring the amazing Greenfield residence.
Let's wrap this puppy up... mmm mmm tasty CA Boomage
OK, let's get our hands around this whole CA Boom thing... for your convenience, we'll wrap it up right here so you're good to go.
After the jump we'll serve up a hearty scoop of linkage topped with some final pics, hold the babble.
But first a light appetizer to whet your appetite -- CA Boom V will be held March 28-30, 2008, again at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. You heard it here first.
The Sunday CA Boom Home Tour with galleries and inconsequential unsubstantiated archi-babble...
It is not in our tradition to pull punches. Unlike Washington, our opinion is not easily bought by lobbyists or big business (ok, ok, Time Warner has not tried yet, nor have they returned our numerous phone calls... but, hypothetically speaking...).
Fine, we do not have any deep-pocketed sponsors or sugar parental units, so we can pretty much say what we want.
It is in this context that we feel obligated to state the undeniable: CA Boom 4 ROCKED! We are not sure how they manage to get better and better every year, but Charles and the crew are doing it, and doing it well.
This last day featured 5 prime examples of the Schindleresque idea of California living (except none of the examples suggested sharing your kitchen and your wife with your arch nemesis that lived in the next room over...). Inside outside living, the blurring of boundaries, new usage of materials and products, and a most noticeable green trend were a common theme throughout the abodes. You want specifics you say? Okiedokie then, check it
(click project name for photo galleries, descriptions after the jump):
How else would Reyner Banham tour Los Angeles but by car? Take a circa 1972 ride through Los Angeles with the architectural critic and author of Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies as he visits the Plains, the Foothills, Surfurbia, and (of course) Autopia. It is amazing to see how much Los Angeles changed in the last 35 years, and yet how relevant Banham's observations still are. Awesome.
We'll get back to modern day Los Angeles with more coverage from CA Boom 4 shortly... stay tuned.
Homes designed by Design Universal, Touraine Richmond Architecture, XTEN, Translation of Space, and Sant Architects
Well, for the first time in CA Boom history, L+L missed the first day of home tours... sorry kids. But not to worry, we have days 2 and 3 covered. And besides, we've already Clipped links to 2 of the 5 homes from the first day -- the Living Homes design by Ray Kappe as reported by Curbed (previously on L+L here and here) and the LA Times article covering the Beitcher residence designed by W3 Architects.
OK then, on to day two... overall this was a solid tour line up. Visually, day two featured variations on a theme with materials consisting of white plaster, steel and concrete... with one loud exception, pretty obvious from the thumbnails at right, eh? Let's break it down in chronological order (click project name for photo galleries):
Some random musings on CA Boom 4 so far... (readers of my ramblings will be rewarded with links to home tour galleries, as yet un-posted content)...
I really like the new metal CA Boom sign hung in the entry area this year. Nice touch, and impressive to those of us who are easily distracted by shiny objects.
Speaking of easily distracted, did anyone else notice the use of cleavage employed by a few vendors to lure people into their booths... or was is just me? You vendors who weren't packing them in, take note.
Bottled water. This is what I was handed as I checked in yesterday morning. A simple and thoughtful gesture. It always seems to be a perfect sun-shiny California weekend when CA Boom rolls around, and it is nice to stay hydrated out there on the home tours. Stocked coolers were on hand at every stop on the tour. Nicely done, CA Boom. Corona in those coolers would work too... I'm just sayin'...
I got a free t-shirt from the Eames Office... I'm wearing it right now. Thanks Eames Office!
It is always interesting to see who is attending CA Boom... what architects are lingering about, any faces in the crowd.... not that I'm not very good at spotting people, but the name tags always help. Yesterday was pretty much a bust compared to years past, though the people watching was interesting. I spyed some architects below rising-starchitect caliber touring the homes... it is fascinating to watch architects looking at someone else's work.
Day two at the 2007 edition of the CA Boom show in Santa Monica
So I get to CA Boom today, and low and behold I am face to face with the consequences of my smart-alecky post from last week. There it is, printed out, and pinned to the bulletin board in the Media Lounge.
Yeah right! As if we would really miss CA Boom... we've been ardent supporters of this show since the beginning... and we love it. CA Boom... we love you! That's why we had that sky writer above the hangar today... of course they put up someone else's message, but whatever.
CA Boom was packed today. A long line to get in, a record number of exhibitors on hand, and an all but sold out home tour. And did I mention that new venue is awesome? The Hangar just suits the show so well.
We have pics for you... lots of them... but for now just a teaser posted after the jump, and more to come... we'll whip up some nice photo galleries for your hungry eyes soon.
We just got back from the CA Boom 4 kick off party... and first things first... we got some drink in us.
But actually more importantly, this year's opening night party was well attended and had an energy not felt since the first year. The change of venue seems (at least at this point) to have been an excellent idea. The Barker Hangar is a wonderful space and the it lends a great feel to the show. The interior exhibition area feels full and happening, and the whole set up has an awesome vibe. It really seems like the CA Boom team is striving to take this event to the next level. A few pics after the jump.
No major starchitect or celebrity sightings tonight... though I did see the pre-fabulous Jennifer Siegal who has a booth this year. And after a few vodkas, my wife swore she saw Ashley Jensen (I have no idea who that is), but now she isn't so sure. Can anyone corroborate this? Does anyone care?
Anyway, we'll let you know how it all shapes up. Check back later for more CA Boom 4...
Every once in a while a new material really captures my imagination , and this OLED (Organic Light Emiting Diodes) technology being developed by GE is one for sure. Surface applications where back lighting is not possible... lit undulating, flowing surfaces... vehicle applications... not to mention the effeciency: up to four times better than an incandescent bulb.
GE announced this week that they are going to accelerate the development and commercialization of OLED devices for lighting applications. The goal is to bring OLED lighting to market within the next 3 years.
OLEDs are thin, organic materials sandwiched between two electrodes, which illuminate when an electrical charge is applied. They represent the next evolution in lighting products. Their widespread design capabilities will provide an entirely different way for people to light their homes or businesses. Moreover, OLEDs have the potential to deliver dramatically improved levels of efficiency and environmental performance, while achieving at least the same quality of illumination found in traditional products in the marketplace today.
Two interesting videos demonstrate the product as it exists in development. The first (above) describes the product and how it is made (newspaper printing processes to create electronic devices!!). And the second after the jump demonstrates the physical properties and flexibility of the technology.
OK, OK... I said previously that we "most likely" would not provide coverage, but after being razzed by some own readers not to mention the L+L staff, I need to clarify that we will be there, and we will provide some coverage of CA Boom 4. All I'm saying is that we'll be drunk, so we're not committing to how much and what quality coverage you'll get... ;-)
The itenerant exhibition held at the City Art Gallery in Manchester offered an insight into the creative and eccentric mind of the renowned Italian designer Joe Colombo
I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition "Joe Colombo: Inventing the Future", held at the Manchester City Galleries from the 2 December 2006-25 February 2007, which provided a fascinating journey into Joe Colombo's style and creativity.
Early sketches and prototypes of his objects and furniture opened a time window into the Milanese 1960s where ideologies of future living and compact design merged producing flamboyant results worthy of a museum display.
DesignBoom is truly a worthwhile visit for further images and reading of this colourful exhibition. Also have a look at the Milan Triennale website.
London based architect Richard Rogers has been announced as the winner of the 2007 Pritzker Prize winner. The 73-year old architect is the fourth Pritzker laureate to be chosen from the United Kingdom.
In announcing the jury’s choice, Thomas J. Pritzker, president of The Hyatt Foundation, said:
Born in Florence, Italy, and trained as an architect in London, at the Architectural Association, and later, in the United States at Yale University, Rogers has an outlook as urbane and expansive as his upbringing. In his writings, through his role as advisor to policy making groups, as well as his large-scale planning work, Rogers is a champion of urban life and believes in the potential of the city to be a catalyst for social change.
The formal ceremony will be held on June 4 in London.
Rogers work demonstrates a unique interpretation of the Modern concept of building as machine. His buildings span numerous types, scales, and continents, and many are the result of creative collaboration. But all of Roger's projects are united by a formal rigor and an understanding of the inhabitants.
It's back and it's bad. CA Boom 4: coming to you this year from the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport beginning this Friday, March 30th and running through April 1st.
I guess the only reason to point all of that out is to make us feel better for the fact that we will most likely skip covering the event this year if we do a less than stellar job this year... I mean, after posting 28 articles about CA Boom in less than four years, we're done like dinner.
So this year we encourage you to attend the event yourself rather than living vicariously through us via the internet. Go on, get off your lazy butt and go. Or maybe some of our fellowbloggers will actually get around to providing some decent coverage... there's a first time for everything... (hey, all in fun guys... and plus, it is our turn to be lazy).
Link: CA Boom
Register: Register (use code "LAND" for a little discount)
Architectural Film Fest at the Silver Lake Film Festival
As part of this year's Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles, BLDGBLOG and Materials & Applications, have teamed up to curate an architectural film fest on Tuesday, May 8th, from 8-10pm at the Art Center College of Design Wind Tunnel in Pasadena.
What is fascinating, and very much an area for further research, is the close relationship between radical architectural design and the cinema. Much of the best of modern architecture, combining digital and three-dimensional design processes, is cinematic in scope and feeling.
The fest will be an evening of talks and presentations about film, science fiction, space, landscape, and architecture featuring feature four of the most innovative concept artists working in film today: Ryan Church, James Clyne, Mark Goerner, and Ben Procter.
Interestingly, the English pavilion provoked mixed reactions from various critics... and all because London had been replaced by Sheffield?!
Lately I have come across some interesting articles regarding the 10th Architecture Biennale in Venice (2006), its subject being ‘Cities’, and found myself profoundly amused at how criticised the English pavilion (in particular) had been for lacking in ‘real architecture' and 'architects’ work' especially.
It was particularly surprising to realise how little perception of the bigger picture even knowledgeable critics could have.
So we approached its exhibition, based about the city of Sheffield, knowing that for the first time a conscious decision had been taken to move away from London.
Beijing based Thinking Hands has placed a call for architectural ideas for their 500m3 Design Competition. The competition is part of the development of Gao Bei Dian Art District, renovation of the Phase 1 or 'old factory area', on Beijing's east Fifth Ring Road.
The competetiton brief is to design a 50m2 by 10m high (500m3) space. It should provide external open space, guarantee a flexible workspace, and a private living environment.
The competition is open to all creative professionals, and there is no entry fee. Total prize money is ¥250,000.
Over two hundred 500M3 units will combine to form the GBD Art District Phase 1 Architecture Competition project, to be completed before the 2008 Olympic Games.
Design 21 (in partnresip with UNESCO) takes the stand that design has the potential to improve life. That potential first manifests itself as a series of decisions that result in a series of consequences. The practice of social design considers these decisions on a greater scale, understanding that each step in the design process is a choice that ripples out into our communities, our world and our lives. These choices are the result of informed ideas, greater awareness, larger conversations and, most importantly, the desire to do good. Social design is design for everyone's sake.
We believe that change happens when we design better, together. DESIGN 21 is a resource to make that collaborative change happen: a freelance designer shares ideas with a green business, an arts non-profit connects with a governmental outreach program, a researcher in England brainstorms with an industrial designer in India. It all starts here. And it starts now.
Link: Design21
Some archiporn for your hungry eyes... photos from the 4th Floor of the Hotel Puerta America in Madrid, Spain (each floor is designed by a different architect/designer).
I received an email this morning that screamed a bunch of one-liners at me about what ATYPYK is and is not. Such as:
Link: Aaron Kraten
The Writing Desk from Team 7 is a simple yet discreet solution for creating a work area in your living space. The Writing Desk features a slide out desktop with a hinged cover that reveals an organizer tray. Cable management is integrated into the desk and there is also ample storage space for your printer and files.
"Architorture" -- this term has been the lament of countless aspiring architects for years... who knows, perhaps for generations. It is a simple slang word which embodies a range of emotions, experiences and tribulations faced in the course of an architectural education... and career.
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the recipients of its 2006 Professional Awards. The jury considered over 500 entries and selected 38 projects to receive awards. The awards will be presented on October 8 at the ASLA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.
We were contacted recently by a L+L reader who, while offering compliments, also had a request: more art, please! While not exactly what she had in mind, we are pleased to present the work of that very L+L reader. 
An exhibition at Art Center College of Design's South Campus in Pasadena (right down the street from my office) is running April 14 – July 1, 2007.
OK, let's get our hands around this whole CA Boom thing... for your convenience, we'll wrap it up right here so you're good to go.
Less talk, more walk you say? Well what are ya waitin' for, buckaroo?!
It is not in our tradition to pull punches. Unlike Washington, our opinion is not easily bought by lobbyists or big business (ok, ok, Time Warner has not tried yet, nor have they returned our numerous phone calls... but, hypothetically speaking...).
Fine, we do not have any deep-pocketed sponsors or sugar parental units, so we can pretty much say what we want.
Well, for the first time in CA Boom history, L+L missed the first day of home tours... sorry kids. But not to worry, we have days 2 and 3 covered. And besides, we've already Clipped links to 2 of the 5 homes from the first day -- the Living Homes design by Ray Kappe as reported by Curbed (previously on L+L here and here) and the LA Times article covering the Beitcher residence designed by W3 Architects.
So I get to CA Boom today, and low and behold I am face to face with the consequences of my smart-alecky post from last week. There it is, printed out, and pinned to the bulletin board in the Media Lounge.
Every once in a while a new material really captures my imagination , and this OLED (Organic Light Emiting Diodes) technology being developed by GE is one for sure. Surface applications where back lighting is not possible... lit undulating, flowing surfaces... vehicle applications... not to mention the effeciency: up to four times better than an incandescent bulb.
I had the opportunity to visit the exhibition "Joe Colombo: Inventing the Future", held at the Manchester City Galleries from the 2 December 2006-25 February 2007, which provided a fascinating journey into Joe Colombo's style and creativity. 
London based architect Richard Rogers has been announced as the winner of the 2007 Pritzker Prize winner. The 73-year old architect is the fourth Pritzker laureate to be chosen from the United Kingdom.
It's back and it's bad. CA Boom 4: coming to you this year from the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport beginning this Friday, March 30th and running through April 1st.
As part of this year's Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles, BLDGBLOG and Materials & Applications, have teamed up to curate an architectural film fest on Tuesday, May 8th, from 8-10pm at the Art Center College of Design Wind Tunnel in Pasadena.
Lately I have come across some interesting articles regarding the 10th Architecture Biennale in Venice (2006), its subject being ‘Cities’, and found myself profoundly amused at how criticised the English pavilion (in particular) had been for lacking in ‘real architecture' and 'architects’ work' especially. 
Beijing based Thinking Hands has placed a call for architectural ideas for their 500m3 Design Competition. The competition is part of the development of Gao Bei Dian Art District, renovation of the Phase 1 or 'old factory area', on Beijing's east Fifth Ring Road.
Design 21 (in partnresip with UNESCO) takes the stand that design has the potential to improve life. That potential first manifests itself as a series of decisions that result in a series of consequences. The practice of social design considers these decisions on a greater scale, understanding that each step in the design process is a choice that ripples out into our communities, our world and our lives. These choices are the result of informed ideas, greater awareness, larger conversations and, most importantly, the desire to do good. Social design is design for everyone's sake.
We believe that change happens when we design better, together. DESIGN 21 is a resource to make that collaborative change happen: a freelance designer shares ideas with a green business, an arts non-profit connects with a governmental outreach program, a researcher in England brainstorms with an industrial designer in India. It all starts here. And it starts now.
Link: Design21
