Archive for September, 2009

30/09

Tina Michelle Cheng

Radical Nature at the Barbican

Radical Nature

Art and Architecture for a Changing Planet 1969–2009

19 June 2009 – 18 October 2009
Barbican Art Gallery

For another two weeks, the Barbican is featuring an exhibit of nature-inspired designs, displaying an international collection of independent and collaborative work from both artists and architects.   The designs focus on the subject of utopianism, and seek to provide adaptive solutions for our changing environment.

We found several inspiring architectural works.  Symbiosishood by R&Sie(n), is a building situated between North and South Korea that borrows its form from the topography it sits upon.  Eventually, it will blend invisibly into the landscape as the invasive vine it’s covered in overtakes the structure by vegetative expansion.  Tree Mountain by Agnes Denes combines agriculture, environmental art, and architecture to create a circular forest atop a conical mountain in Finland.  The Green Room by A12 (pictured) is an interactive installation, providing a sense of serene solitude within the walls of the mirrored garden.

19/09

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Ou Table by d-Vision

Ou Table is a collection of conceptual plastic utensils for outdoor dining. “It brings the poetry of nature to such humble items as the spoon.” Designed by the clever Israeli-based firm d-Vision, the “neo-naturist” project takes inspiration from the simple beauty of eating outdoors with friends or family. With varying shapes and sizes that echo the organic forms found in nature, the collection also speaks to an understanding of the relationship between man and nature. For example there is a fruit bowl comprised of bubble-like shapes, shifting its center of gravity depending on what’s in it. And a cutlery collection that requires finding your own stick to serve as the handle as well as a zipper vase that adjusts according to flower arrangement needs.

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18/09

Shoot the Stylist!

1948 Nike Playground Retail Store

1948 is Nike’s creative playground-retail store in the old brick railway arches of Shoreditch, London. In addition to displaying and selling shoes, 1948 offers an entire art floor for events, installations and assorted fun. The installation created by Finland-born illustrator/artist/designer Kustaa Saksi is all about the historical fun journey of the Nike running shoe. Typical for the currently Amsterdam-based Saksi, the sprawling scene has a pop-art, retro feel that fits Nike’s history as a brand. Saksi’s Volkswagen van and psychedelic colors illustrate the pre-swoosh era in an earnest and deliberately clunky way.

Via The Cool Hunter

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17/09

Shoot the Stylist!

The Michelberger Hotel in Berlin

Berlin designer Werner Aisslinger has completed a budget hotel designed to feel like staying at a friends house, which opened earlier this month in Berlin. The Michelberger Hotel is housed in a converted factory building featuring a brick facade, high ceilings, large windows and a courtyard that acts as the social hub of the hotel. Every element of the hotel has either been custom designed and built, or selected specifically for it from furniture to hand-lettered stickers on the water bottles. Each room features a unique wallpaper designed by Azar Kazimir depicting symbols and images significant to the hotel and its founders. Three room sizes are available for individuals and groups of up to four people, as well as the more extravagant Luxus room, combining elements of hotel and hostel aiming to attract both backpackers and business men.

Via Dezeen

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15/09

Mark

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

Driftwood was selected by a panel of judges from three student pavilion proposals present by intermediate  unit 2, the concept author, Danecia Sibingo, and her three team members, Lyn Hayek, Yoojin Kim, Taeyoung Lee had worked together to turn the concept into a full design proposal for a summer pavilion.

The final design consist of 28 layers of plywood which conceal an internal “Kerto” (a renewable spruce plywood) Structural system. Fabrication took seven weeks at the AA’s Hooke Park workshop in Dorset, assisted by Charlie Corry-Wright. Once its components were made, Driftwood was assembled into six manageable sections before being transported to Bedford Square for its final connection and Public unveiling.

The finished Driftwood has come a long way from the units visit to Helsinki, Finland in October 2008 where the projects financial sponsors, FinnForest, are based. Inspired by images of the Jordanian city Petram Sibingo sought a sensuous spatial effect Which she achieved with her original concept. Unit masters Charles Walker and Martin Self and senior Engineer Ching Luan Lau ensured that creativity remained cost-effective and eco friendly bounds.

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

Architectural Association Pavillion Exhibition 2009

14/09

Shoot the Stylist!

Merus Winery by Uxus Design

A fine wine gets even finer when it can be ingested in an as thoughtful an environment as this one. Welcome to Merus, a “designer” winery like no other. Located in the Napa Valley in California, Merus looks more like a Michelin-starred restaurant than your average cellar-door retail outlet. Exposed beams are the only nod to the past in this interior design strategy, which is thoroughly modern with a hint of Californian warmth. Amsterdam-based Uxus Design is the architecture and design firm behind the winery. With more than a few inspiring, high profile projects under its belt, Uxus is one of the Netherlands’ hottest design studios – with an office to match. It’s been a busy year for Uxus, who have unveiled a number of other great retail design projects recently including the new Heineken ‘concept’ bars which will open in airports across the globe and one of Europe’s coolest McDonald’s play areas in Amsterdam.

Via The Cool Hunter

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10/09

Shoot the Stylist!

Nature Factory by Makoto Tanijiri

Diesel Denim Gallery Aoyama in Tokyo, Japan is presenting a store installation “nature Factory” by Makoto Tanijiri of Hiroshima architects Suppose Design Office. The installation uses plastic plumbing pipes and joints to create a series of tree-like forms inside the store.

Denim as recognised work clothes formerly has, at times, shown different expressions as fashion items to the people. Equally, a group of plumbing, usually unnoticed, shows completely different expressions under the name of “Nature Factory”. The complex plumbing, trailing by the wall in all directions will cover all over the space. It is like a tree grown over a long time. An atmosphere like a natural arbor is created in the space covered with artificial plumbing.

Diesel Denim Gallery Ayoama holds art installations twice a year on the 1st floor, and art exhibitions four times a year, featuring different artists on each floor. The installation runs until 31 January 2010.

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