An architectural revolution
Today marks the launch of the Open Architecture Network -- an online, collaborative, open source community which aims to be a catalyst for change.
The network has a simple mission: to generate not one idea but the hundreds of thousands of design ideas needed to improve living conditions for all.
Link: Open Architecture Network
Article: Wired - Framing Open Source Architecture
Sean Canavan
Not quite the Kathryn Miller approach to guerilla gardening (Sean is more akin to these fellow Brits), but pretty cool.
Video: Google Video
Asking Designers to Do Their Part
IDEA has just released the official Call for Submissions for the upcoming *THAW 2007 design exhibit.
Responding to growing unease over our culture’s rates of consumption and the notion of peak oil and its implications, THAW 2007 challenges designers of all fields to consider a world without oil and the consequences it would have for our design solutions and how these adaptations would in turn directly impact our lifestyles and immediate communities.
The exhibit will serve as a catalyst for dialogue and proactive change, empowering the designer and inherently the general public, revealing a consciousness of production, consumption and the awareness that sustainable solutions are currently available.
Designers of all fields are asked to submit designs and concepts for their respective homes and immediate communities, taking into consideration the implications of the “end of oil” on our culture, industries, and lifestyles.
*THAW is the Summer version of IDEA's bi-annual series of exhibits that also includes the Winter version *FROST.
Link: IDEA
Sticking it to the man....well actually the wall.
For those of you not buying into this wallpaper revival (you'll all regret this down the road!!) will surely appreciate the alternative brought to you by Pop Cling.
Their peel and stick adhesive art is a great way to revamp a space without committing to a future bitch fest of scraping off old wallpaper.
Pop Cling reproduces art. All kinds of art. For the moment, that mostly means adhesive-backed art that you can peel off and stick to any smooth surface. Some people stick our prints on concrete floors, or on sliding glass doors leading to balconies, or right on the walls behind couches. You don’t need a frame, you just need a blank space. Voila, you have fresh pop art on your wall from new, favorite, and cutting edge artists.
Seen above is Albany, California artist Attaboy's contribution. Detail after the jump.
Link: Pop Cling
Link: Attaboy
steeped in popular and material culture
Take a moment and check out The Little Friends of Printmaking (aka husband and wife duo JW and Melissa Buchanan). The Wisconsin couple has a great portfolio of gig posters for acts such as Guided By Voices, Blonde Redhead and many many more.
via : Juxtapoz
Link: The Little Friends of Printmaking
Link: Juxtapoz
One-Man Army of Design
A self proclaimed one-man army of design, illustrator Jan Willem (aka Stinger) has put together a full pallette of work ranging from t-shirts, posters, logos, button badges and books. His Netherlands based studio Zeptonn has contributed work to design sites Threadless, Blik, TeeTonic and SplitTheAtom, among others.
Jan recently launched a line of skateboards and adhesive art through popcling. The decks (3 in total) are being produced and sold in a limited edition of 100 each and are complete with a nifty certificate of authenticity and artist bio. As for the adhesive art, the high quality vinyl sets are being produced in a limited run of 250.
Link: Zeptonn
Link: popcling
Publish your work in Pamphlet Architecture 29!
To promote and foster the development and circulation of architectural ideas, Pamphlet Architecture is again offering an opportunity for architects, designers, theorists, urbanists, and landscape architects to publish their designs, manifestos, ideas, theories, ruminations, hopes, and insights for the future of the designed and built world. With far-ranging topics including the alphabet, algorithms, machines, and music, each Pamphlet is unique to the individual or group that authors it. This call for ideas seeks projects that possess the rigor and excitement found throughout the rich history of Pamphlet Architecture.
Link: Pamphlet Architecture
Deadline: November 15, 2006 January 16, 2007
Originally posted 10/20/2006
Skate Design Is Not A Crime !
IDEA recently wrapped up their latest design exhibit FROST 2006:Deck The Halls just this past weekend at Edmonton's Latitude53 gallery.
The event this year focused on the skate and longboard design culture with contributions coming from Canada, The U.S., UK, Australia and even Iran. The show consisted of 70+ individually designed decks as well as a number of conceptual presentations from up and coming Industrial Design students.
The show came to a successful end with a silent auction and closing reception fueled by free beer and DJ Shortee.
More images after the jump.
Link: IDEA
Link: Latitude53
An integrated noticeboard that documents activity within a space
A functional wallpaper designed by Duncan Wilson in collaboration with Sirkka Hammer Sirkka Hammer... and Duncan Wilson? Now we're not sure... anyway. the once collaborative team of Duncan Wilson and Sirkka Hammer, Pixelnotes is comprised of a grid of post-it-note-like sheets with four layers of graduated grey tones mounted over a bright primary backing. The result is a constantly changing grided matrix as notes are written and removed revealing different layers. "Pixelated formations and shapes develop according to our patterns of use."
Link: Duncan Wilson
Via: CubeMe
Sit on your ride
I must admit that I have been tempted to make benches out of my old snowboards, but these days I'm not overly excited about the frat house aesthetic... OK, so really it's because my wife would kill me.
But Andy and Chris Vernall - the designers behind London based Vitamin - have come up with two very slick designs that elevate the snowboard bench to a concept perhaps even my wife could love... well a man can dream, can't he?
The Powderseat comes in two styles: the one piece Blade and the flat-packable Trident. Both are crafted of polished steel with suction cups to hold the board in place, so you can even display your current ride. It will be mine... oh, yes... it will be mine... you know... if she lets me...
Link: Vitamin
Via: Cool Hunting
The architect behind the Office of Mobile Design
Contemporary Ephemeral Gardens in celebration of Québec City's 400th anniversary
The Ephemeral Gardens will be an artistic event where creators from different horizons are invited to bring an artistic viewpoint on the major themes of Québec City's 400th anniversary. This viewpoint will be expressed through creator gardens : outdoor creations using mediums that combine different elements, including plant materials. The gardens will be on view at Espace 400e , a focal point of the festivities to be created alongside Louise basin in downtown Québec City.
The goal is to create 6 contemporary art gardens.
This call for proposals is aimed at seasoned and budding creators. They may be architects, landscape architects, or visual artists and may be from Québec City, Canada, or countries historically linked to Québec City: France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Registration deadline is January 31, 2007
Link: Québec 400: Ephemeral Gardens
Gem from Seattle
Take a moment and check out the eye catching work from Seattle based artist PARSKID. From illustrations to paintings to plush toys, the overall effort is pretty solid.
PARSKID had recently launched a plush figure for MYPLASTICHEART that's appropriately titled myblackheart. Though these have already sold out, MPH also carries a number of handpainted work that's still available.
Link: PARSKID
Link: PARSKID's myspace
Link: MPH
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
Good on the first take
Swedish design group FRONT are continuing their fine form with their latest project Sketch Furniture.
Is it possible to let a first sketch become an object, to design directly onto space?
The four FRONT members have developed a method to materialise free hand sketches. They make it possible by using a unique method where two advanced techniques are combined.
Pen strokes made in the air are recorded with Motion Capture and become 3D digital files; these are then materialised through Rapid Prototyping into real pieces of furniture.
The ladies of FRONT will be doing a live demonstration of this process over at Tokyo Design Week (October 31st to November 5th).
More images and video after the jump.
Link: FRONT
In Appreciation of the Stylists of America
"A Tribute to the Men and Women, Who Design" from 1958. Awesome.
Bringing darkness to 06
I know it's only mid-October, but i'd say it's time to start talking about what made our heads turn the most during 2006.
Hands down for me is designer Charlie Davidson's ominous lighting creation, Black-light. Fabricated from layers of black foil, this gem is like watching an explosion put on pause. You almost want to just stand there and make up your own sound effects while staring at this sculptural beauty.
Though we still have a couple of months left in the year to be impressed, i'm pretty confident this will still be tops for me.
Link: Charlie Davidson
Keeping the outdoors simple
I'm a sucker for all things clean, simple and full of pop. So it was a no-brainer when I came accross a collection of outdoor garden furniture by designer Jennifer Newman.
Shortlisted for the 2006 Grand Designs Magazine Award, Newman's products are constructed of welded aluminum that is available in a wide array of powdercoat finishes. She also notes that the aluminum allows for the pieces to be refinished in the future once you grow tired of your initial color selection.
So there really is no excuse not to go with the pink now!
Link: Jennifer Newman
HGTV brings the sweat !
Design Interns is the latest reality based design program hitting airwaves this season on HGTV. The show features 12 'brilliant' young talents competing against one another to win a job at renowned Toronto design outfit Cecconi Simone inc.
Design tasks thus far have included condo planning, retail fixture prototyping, company identity and a multi-use shopping bag. All of which has resulted in 4 of the contestants being eliminated so far.
All in all I have to say I get abit queesy watching the show due to the fact that i've worked in similar environments and to be honest, hated it. The emotionless stares and cold interaction from Elaine Cecconi and Anna Simone are all too familiar to most up and comers in the design world. Just watching these two pros dismantle young egos in their standard issue black attire is enough to make me wake in the middle of the night crying. Brother, these gals mean business and are not afraid to draw Intern blood to get the job done !
As for the Interns themselves, it's pretty well what you'd expect. Most consider themselves accomplished designers looking for that "chance to shine and prove you all wrong" route which is actually quite funny when you know that Cecconi and Simone are in the boardroom waiting to feast upon these wide eyed souls. Pure Shakespeare !
Bottom line it really is a great show that gives the viewer a taste of what it's like to work for a high tempo design outfit. The hours are long, deadlines are unrealistic and you swear your boss is a practicing Sith Lord. Though I myself couldn't hack the pace, I have to give my props to those in the grind who are hopefully still in it for the love of design.
Link: Design Interns / HGTV
Link: Cecconi Simone inc.
Visiting hillside homes in Hollywood
The CA Boom Home Tour of West Hollywood Hills and Laurel Canyon was again a success and well worth being a part of.
Three-city design event hosted by Architectural Digest
When I think of Architectural Digest, I don't tend to think of architecture... and I know I'm not alone. However the publishers appear to be taking some steps to remedy this with a series of events in October and November in three U.S. cities: New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
Events include lectures, tours, receptions in amazing spaces, film screenings etc., which "celebrate the power of architecture and its ever-increasing influence."
While not a ground breaking departure from their focus on interiors and main-stream design, there are some promising events scattered in the mix.
Link: Architecture Days
International Style urban community in Detroit
Modern urban redevelopment projects generally have a bad rap, with conclusions batted about of the failure of modernism to produce livable communities. Not all modernist developments met the same fate as Pruitt-Igoe, however. Shining examples of modernist planning are scattered around the world which deliver on the promise that modern visionaries hoped to fulfill.
One such example is the highly successful Lafayette Park (Gratiot Park Development) in Detroit Michigan designed by architect Mies van der Rohe, planner Ludwig Hilberseimer, and landscape architect Alfred Caldwell.
Link: National Park Service - Mies van der Rohe Residential District
Article: Detroit Free Press - 50th Anniversary of Lafayette Park
Photos: Flickr Lafayette Park photo set
Exhibition exploring the common principles that underlie both fashion and architecture
An exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles running November 19, 2006 through March 5, 2007.
This exhibition explores the common visual and intellectual principles that underlie both fashion and architecture. Both disciplines start with the human body and expand on ideas of space and movement, serving as outward expressions of personal, political, and cultural identity. Architects and fashion designers produce environments defined through spatial awareness—the structures they create are based on volume, function, proportion, and material. Presenting the work of international fashion designers and architects, the exhibition examines themes such as shelter, identity, tectonic strategies, creative process, and parallel stylistic tendencies including deconstruction and minimalism.
Link: MOCA
Behind the scenes prefab production tour in Los Angeles
LA based architecture firm Marmol Radziner has launched full scale production of their award-winning, green, modern prefab homes... and they are offering tours of their new modular factory. Of course they intend for this to be a preview for petential prefab homeowners, but I am sure a few of you prefab geeks will slip your way in just to chek it out.
The "Utah House 1" design is currently in production. Marmol Radziner Prefab's 65,000 square foot factory accommodates the fabrication of 20 prefab modules at once, including a cabinet shop, metal shop, and door and window shop.
Two tour dates are currently offered:
Sunday, September 24, 2006, noon to 5pm
Sunday, December 3, 2006, noon to 5pm
Mandatory RSVP to rsvp@marmolradzinerprefab.com or (310) 689-0089. Free to the public. Children must be over 12 years of age.
Link: Marmol Radziner Prefab
Link: Marmol Radziner + Associates
American Society of Landscape Architects honors its student members
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the recipients of its 2006 Student Awards. Awards were given in seven categories to 24 projects representing 15 schools.
The ASLA website features full descriptions and slide shows for each project. Just a few excerpted images shown after the jump to whet your appetite.
And props to Brett Milliga from the University of New Mexico who made all of his classmates look bad by scoring two awards...
Link: ASLA 2006 Student Awards
Simple and Honest
I must have been in a cave for awhile as I just got introduced to the work of Toronto's Gus* Design Group.
Thier portfolio consists of simple, straight forward designs that shows no signs of becoming dated.
We are inspired by simple forms and honest materials.
We use them as the springboard for everything we create. From the simple 2x4 and construction I-Beam, to the useful miter box. We delight in the simplicity of everyday objects.
More images after the jump. Enjoy.
Link: Gus Design Group
Street Fashion at your fingertips
Specializing in contemporary street fashion is online apparel outlet Bazaar Adriatic which carries noted designers such as Harjuku Lovers, tokidoki, cardboard robot and Doe just to name a few.
What is BazaarAdriatic?
Bazaar Adriatic is the place for "no-hype" fashion. The teams of buyers that have chosen each piece on here are actually seasoned professionals in the fashion or music industry. This site has been created to offer the best of up and coming fashion and music styles that take shape from the streets, clubs, dive bars, and inspiring garage artists that have an ever lasting effect on society.
Here we believe that fashion, music, and art are part of an unending parallel that takes shape in each of us everyday. As this site takes shape in our lives, we hope that it will do the same for you.
Apart from the large selection of apparel and accessories, be sure to check out BA's great collection of 12" vinyl albums available in their Music section. Very smooth.
Link: Bazaar Adriatic
Coolahhh
This just may be America's most wanted cooler. Ice down those libations and Express Yourself by adding some chill atmosphere to your par-tay...
Designed by Danny Venlet for Belgian outdoor furniture company Extremis, Ice Cube is made from white polyethylene with fluorescent bulbs inside. But priced around $1650 (without lightbulbs, by the way)... it's All About the Benjamins, baby.
Drink It Up, yo.
Designer: Danny Venlet
Manufacturer: Extremis - Ice Cube
Karimi Couch
Though he may have the odd hater, you have to respect the amount of pieces that K-Rad (that's right, you heard it here first) pumps out these days.
Of note for me has to be his latest sofa design for Italian manufacturer Contempo. The appropriately coined Karimi Couch stays true to the style that has been Karims bread and butter with the usage of his mainstay patterns consisting of his familiar "cross and peanut" motif.
Now I know some of you are moaning and groaning about this well travelled route, but really people what would you rather see him do ? A village pattern ?
Link: Karim Rashid
Link: Contempo
Limited Tees
Some great Tee shirt designs to be found over at online UK outfit Concrete Hermit.
Check it.
Link: Concrete Hermit
