This combination sink/dishwasher is perfect for small kitchens and washes with half the water in half the time of traditional dishwashers. The lid can be used as a cutting board or removed for a full function double sink.
The stainless steel brivaTM in-sink dishwasher is a first-of-its-kind product that reflects the quality and quite performance you've come to expect from our legendary dishwashers
Link: Briva
Ever take a look inside someone else's medicine cabinet? How about rummaging through someone's entire house online? Not exactly the usual L+L fare, but it is quite an interesting anthropological kind of cross section of a contemporary American home.
mc.clintock.com was originally developed as a way to test Apache configurations.Really.
But it also comes down to an appreciation for documentation and lists, as well as a keen appreciation for the absurd aspect of "revealing" the contents of my home to the entire world. There isn't much in my house that isn't also in everyone else's house, and precious little that's not visible to the casual visitor, but almost everyone I've spoken to sees this project as either an incredible intrusion, or as an invitation to be robbed.
Link: McClintock.com
One is the loneliest number, but maybe not when you are sitting this chair. If only we had this chair in high school world history... we may have been comfortable while taking that snooze. Actually, it reminds me of a project in first year architecture studio where we had to design a table and chair for one... if only I had thought of this...
"SOLITAIRE, designed by Alfredo Häberli for Offecct, is an upholstered chair with an organic shape that is designed in one piece. One of SOLITAIRE's armrests is like an integral tabletop, for reading or writing or as a side table. The chair is equally suitable for the home and dynamic workplaces."
Designer: Alfredo Häberli
Manufacturer: Offecct Interiör
Moving right along with the green theme: a building material.
PV-TV is a revolutionary new building material that transforms any glazed surface into an environmentally sound power station by day and a full colour screen by night.Whoa! Now THAT is cool.
Via: Metropolis
Manufacturer: MSK Corporation
Continuing our green theme here and going with yesterday's blog about Losing the lawn, here is a book that sheds light on the problems with lawns and provides good sustainable solutions.
"The authors in this book argue that our dedication to maintaining beautiful lawns is contributing to the serious environmental problems facing the planet, and they offer strategies for creating and caring for aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound lawns. This new edition updates the original text and adds a chapter and illustrations showing what progress has been made in the ecological management of landscapes over the past decade."
Link: Amazon
The lawn is a deeply rooted "need" in the minds of most Americans, but we have been advocates of "less lawn" for some time. There are lawns that are useful (for playing sports, for pets, for kids) and then there is the landscape filler; broad emerald green swaths of land dedicated to nothing but grass for the sake of grass... because it would be (somehow) weird not to have a lawn. An article in the Journal News takes a look at the lawn and some slowly changing attitudes.
"Scientists say these lawns come at considerable environmental cost, and for at least a decade there have been efforts to rein them in."
Link: The Journal News
We like the work and playful spirit of this New York based design-build firm.
Brave Space is a triad of independent minded designer/fabricators with the goal of bringing you modular, multi-functional, and durable objects. We design custom furniture for the home and office setting. Our form follows function and our pricing follows integrity.
Link: Brave Space
"iColor® Tile FX creates a unlimited creative canvas in the form of a sophisticated, tile-like system that may be used independently or as part of a large-scale, multi-tiled installation. Each 2' by 2' panel conceals 144 individually addressable, tri-color nodes (432 LEDs), that are powered by Chromasic™, enabling highly intricate control to create images with light - from morphing color waves, to animated objects, logos, emblems and patterns. iColor Tile FX is designed for recess and surface mounting, and is ideal for retrofitting ceiling tiles and surfaces. The system comes with an opaque lens and offers a versatile frame structure that's engineered to accept custom lens options."
Link: Color Kinetics
If you're one of those who simply can't get enough of The Frank, have a listen.
"Time magazine calls Gehry the world's most famous architect. Gehry just designed an outdoor music pavilion for Chicago's new Millennium Park, a former rail yard that's been transformed into a destination for the arts. He designed the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao."Link: Fresh Air (npr.org)
A feature at ArchNewsNow by Jack Rubinger looks at environments for healing and the master planning for seven Samaritan Health Services facilities in Oregon. Macdonald Environmental Planning of Portland and Bend, Oregon, facilitated a process that went beyond just the physical facilities to shape an overall philosophy and vision for Samaritan Health Services.
Link: ArchNewsNow
Firm: Macdonald Environmental Planning, p.c.
Reference: Resources about healing gardens (L+L)
Design-build is becoming more and more common in the United States from large scale commercial and institutional projects down to small residential remodels. It is a return to a kind of practice where a "master builder" orchestrates the entire process rather than the rather disjointed design-bid construction industry prevalent today.
MAK is an example of a Design-Build firm doing some interesting work including the remodel of an Airstream trailer for their own office space. They also have a very nice website that details the process of design-build and shows some examples of their work. In addition, MAK is committed to environmental sustainability; just an example of the flexibility and innovation common in design-build.
Firm: |M|A|K| Design+Build
Via: Archinect
In Los Angeles where the population is increasing but the water supply is not, there's been a push as of late to give residents ideas on how to conserve. Back in May, we mentioned how LA's Dept. of Water & Power was offering free shade trees to residents in an effort to cut down on future power bills. Now, the Metropolitan Water District, has provided the City of Santa Monica with a $20,000 grant to help them develop a water-conservation garden experiment called "Garden/garden."
"Garden/garden is composed of two adjacent front yards showing two different approaches to garden design. The "California-friendly" garden showcases native plants, a dry creek bed and efficient irrigation. While the adjacent "Traditional" garden includes more typical features brought to Santa Monica from the east. The native garden requires about 75% less water and maintenance than the traditional garden."If anyone has any more info on this project or knows of a website with more pictures and/or information, please let us know.
Link: Garden/garden
Related: Trees for a Green LA
"During the 1930s Garrett Eckbo, Dan Kiley, and James Rose began to integrate modernist architectural ideas into their work and to design a landscape more in accord with the life and sensibilities of their time. Together with Thomas Church, whose gardens provided the setting for California living, they laid the foundations for a modern American landscape design.
This first critical assessment of modem landscape architecture brings together seminal articles from the 1930s and 1940s by Eckbo, Kiley, Rose, Fletcher Steele, and Christopher Tunnard, and includes contributions by contemporary writers and designers such as Peirce Lewis, Catherine Howett, John Dixon Hunt, Peter Walker, and Martha Schwartz who examine the historical and cultural framework within which modern landscape designers have worked."
Link: Booklounge.com
The other day, we received a Chiasso catalog in the mail. We hadn't heard of them before so we must've received their catalog through one of our design magazine subscriptions. Some of their product looks pretty good. We're guessing it's all private label merchandise similar to IKEA since we didn't see or notice any "designer brands" in their catalog or on their website. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Has anyone ever ordered from them? Which piece did you order and how was the quality? Their prices are fairly reasonable so if the quality is good, we just might have to look into them a bit further.
Link: Chiasso
Crusing around the neighborhood, we've come across some new development and remodels that have had amazingly cool garage doors installed. We've always wondered who manufactured them and short of stopping and asking the contractor, we think we've found them (well, at least one of them).
"Bryce Parker Company's glass garage doors offer an attractive alternative for Architectural, Residential, & Commercial applications. Our models: BP-350 & BP-450 HD offer a unique aesthetic appeal, maximum light transmission - without letting anyone see inside your garage - and durability. If these characteristics are important to your design, Bryce Parker is your solution!"Link: Bryce Parker Company
Continuing our recent trend of furntiure blogs, we've come across this chaise lounge designed by Christian Nordsiek for Bart Design Italy. The chaise is made from oak plywood and features a chrome steel frame. A model with cushions is also available.
Designer: Christian Nordsiek
Link: Bart Design
"Reinventing the classic U.S. Parks Dept. Bench, the playful Parks Dept. 47-B is a postmodern triumph of technical form and historical style. Translating the long, splinter-ridden lines and informal geometry of its predecessor into a shorter, splinter-less masterpiece, the 47-B is a robust chair sturdy enough to handle even Smokey the Bear's generous girth."
Materials: Hardwood (Baltic Birch)
Designer: Shawn Bruce
Link: Parks Dept. 47-B
This pine table from Felix de Voss is constructed of Oregon pine. The table top and seats are made of MDF, PUR laquered. The table is also includes stainless steel fittings.
Designer: Felix de Voss
Link: P.G.A.L.W.
"Chaise Lounge in naturally painted solid oak, wood seat with strips, adjustable back rest, with small wheels in black rubber."
Link: Armani Casa
Omvivio makes some very nice products, and we are particularly impressed with the Washplane®: "flat" sink surfaces. Forget what you know, or think you know about sinks... no little circular drain in the bottom, no bowl, no basin and when water hits this flat surface, it too goes flat and sheets away without splashing. Beautiful products and beautiful function. The four models take variations of the planar sink theme in single or double configurations and are made of a nice range of materials: ceramic, glass, Corian® or stone.
Link: Omvivo Washplanes
Link: ACS - Top 10 Stupid Environmental Policies (PDF)
What is the deal with these new entertainment districts such as L.A. Live by Anschutz Entertainment Group and Kansas City Live by the Cordish Company? These are just two examples of the new mega downtown developments which are popular these days, and apparently the word "Live" is the new buzz word... some past hot words (just off the top of my head): Marketplace, Promenade, street addresses like One Rodeo, um... let's see... oh yeah, and remember old skool words like Plaza and Mall?
These two projects by different developers (although Anschutz is building the arena in Kansas City) but share some other similarities beyond the name. Both are centered around the city convention center, include a sports arena, and will include retail, residential, office and entertainment. The mixed use nature is key to this kind of project, thanks in part to the New Urbanism. We're all in favor of mixed use, however these types of developments tend lack the very thing that they are attempting to recreate, that is the organic, multi-scale nature of urban centers; instead they are singular, mega-malls with little or no room for progressive intervention or evolution. Past mega efforts in major cities have become sore spots, such as the late 70's Les Halles in Paris which is now the site of high profile effort to mend the damage. But, perhaps these Live projects will at least be fun for a while.
Link: Kansas City InfoZine
Link: Los Angeles Downtown News
Reference: Ephemeral cities (L+L)
Borg is an appropriate name as these pieces wouldn't seem at all out of place on the set of Star Trek, but they're not too out there as to appear out of place in your terrestrial abode. The designs from Tribeca New York based Dune Furniture come in aluminum with walnut veneer, high gloss polyurethane with ash veneer or all polyurethane finishes. Touch latch doors add that Trekkie glide to the operation of the drawers and doors.
Designer: Nick Dine
Link: Dune Furniture
Found over a Domus:
"In the Palio suspension lamp, bright halogen light is reflected from its glossy interior surface and is diffused by the bronze parallelepiped with gold reflections. Palio is suited for use as an individual lamp, but when in multiple compositions, it produces amazing effects. The shade is hung from a copper wire. Openings with staggered corners prevent glare."Designer: Ernst Strassacker
This custom layout cooktop system is too cool. The hexagon shaped tiles are made to fit flush into the counter surface. The flush touch panel control tile can operate up to six units or three dual cooking zones. Three options for heat surface size and BTU output are available and the tiles can be arranged in any desired configuration.
Link: Küppersbusch USA
Via: Gizmodo
If you're in search of 50's, 60's, and 70's modernist books, then DigModern is the place for you. We're always browsing their selection and just noticed this great book from 1972:
"One of the best landscape do-it-yourself guides from the period. Profusely illustrated with drawings and photos, both color and black and white. Well organized with wonderful modernist examples and directions for how to acheive them. Douglas Baylis, Armand Benedek, Thomas Church, just a few of the contributors. Many examples inspired by Japanese gardens. One of our favorites for thoroughness and style."Link: Dig Modern
We fell behind in keeping up with Jennifer and Barry and their journal of the LV home. They've entered their 5th and 6th updates and the house is coming along quite nicely.
"Saturday morning, my brothers and I were greeted by a smiling student volunteer, Corey Barnes, a second year architectural student at UVa. Corey asked for my tool belt and worked beside Kevin for the rest of the day. Two more volunteers soon arrived. Nancy Coulter (third year landscape architectural student at UVa) and her husband, Jonathan, who works for Advanced Energy in NC. Nancy spent some time sketching the property."
Link: Article #5
Link: Article #6
Link: LV Home Kit
Reference: LV Home - Building Update I
Reference: LV Home - Building Update II
Reference: LV Home - Building Update III
Reference: LV Home - Building Update IV
Stressed? Need to squeeze something? Made from polyurethane resin, these squeezable heads are just what the doctor ordered for relieving stress.
Kinda creepy lookin, too.
Designer: Makiko Yoshida
Link: Moss Online
"Hella Jongerius' interest in plastics has led her to utilize a poly-urethane rubber, normally adpted by the metallurgical industry for making moulds, which lends itself with remarkable flexibility to artisan experiments. In her approach, it is not the form that is the subject of design: if anything, the form is a means enabling the material to disclose its inner nature. Thus, in the bathroom mat, the ninety semi-pheres that make up a superscale testurization emerge from flatness to capture like drops of water the surrounding light. They exercise an immediate and irresistable appeal to the foot, which receives unusual tactile sensation from the mat."
Link: JongeriusLab
From Angela Adams comes the Mod Pod. The Mod Pod is made from either ash, cherry, walnut or oak and features aluminum legs. The legs are beveled and plugged with solid pvc for smooth traction on hardwood surfaces. The Mod Pod is also available with wood legs.
Link: Angela Adams
We like these simple glass pendant lamps from West Elm, purveyors of mix-and-match contemporary home furnishings and accessories. West Elm is kind of like a modern Pottery Barn... nothing that knocks your socks off, but when you are looking for clean contemporary design on a budget, it is nice to have some options.
Link: West Elm Oblong Glass Pendant
Link: West Elm Cone Glass Pendant
Sorry for the lack of posts the last few days. While one half of us was out of commission due to food poisoning from some improperly cooked chicken quesadillas (shame on you, Islands!), the other half was out backcountry camping and hiking for snowboard turns in the Hoover Wilderness (sort of near Yosemite for those of you not familiar with California's High Sierra). Anyhow, we're back and feeling much better so we'll have some cool stuff to show you in the next few days. In the meantime, I've included a few shots from my trip. Post Islands dinner photos Ok, back to the design-related posts now....
The San Francisco Chronicle ran a nice article by Judy Richter about the new Cornerstone Festival which we featured last month.
Eventually Cornerstone will have 28 to 30 gardens with each remaining one or two years. "It will be like a museum with temporary exhibits," Hougie said. Cornerstone features cutting-edge design, "the kind that may or may not be suitable for home gardens" but that will challenge people to think, he said. Intended to appeal to both gardeners and artists, "it's a place to be inspired. You won't see the ordinary."Link: Cornerstone Festival of Gardens
Honestly, do you need a Hummer branded flashlight? Well... perhaps if you drive an (FU) H2 you do.
The thing works by shaking it for 30 seconds which provides three minutes worth of light, no batteries... which is actually kinda cool. But really, we'd take the technology sans-lame, thank you. Both available at Sharper Image.
Back in May, we blogged about the construction of the Dwell Home. Well, as of July 10, the house has been completed and the results are stunning. Follow the links below and check it out.
Firm: Resolution: 4 Architecture
Link: The Dwell Home
Link: Dwell Magazine
Reference: Dwell Home (L+L)
With all the talk in the news today about Martha's sentencing, we thought we'd highlight one of the items we like from her. A few months back while running errands, we stumbled across her Newsroom Clock. With a brushed aluminum (?) finish and a cool retro font, we decided we had to have it. And for less than $25 we figured it was quite the bargain (I'm thinking that we may have lucked out on the aluminum finish because I can only find the bronze finish online). Of course, if we were pulling down a salary like Martha's, we'd opt for the Max Bill Wall Clock from DWR. But, alas, we're not.Know of any other cool clocks? Post a comment and tell us about it.
Link: Newsroom Clock (Bronze)
Link: Max Bill Wall Clock
M&A is a research center dedicated to pushing new and underused ideas for landscape and architecture into view. Twice a year, they hold experimental installations in their courtyard.
Their current installation, created by designer Rob Ley, is titled Serial Departure:
"With your fingers, squeeze your laptop screen. That disturbed pressure pattern you see represents the contact point between multiple parallel planes, an interruption of coexisting systems. Where your fingers squeeze, the exterior plastic layer is compressed against the liquid crystal strata, and a new condition is created.In addition to their installations, M&A also hosts a series of lectures and workshops throughout the summer. If you happen to be in the Los Angeles area, check out their website for dates and times.Serial Departure explores the space of this phenomenon by applying pressure to typical construction processes to see if they can create unexpected ripples of new possibilities. Architecture has alsways been based on a logic of stacking and assembly, but how does bending, as an operation, change our understanding of shingling and framing? Serial Departure capitalizes on the understanding of modulation and distortion beyond that of design concept and metaphor. Through both the surrogate use of molds and more interestingly, by applying forces directly on the materials through a variable jig, techniques of material coercion, teasing, and manipulation are integrated with the grid of aggregation, creating new effects in both the visual and the spatial."
Link: Materials & Applications
Designer: Rob Ley, Urbana
We're not sure about you, but we don't have acres upon acres to create our manicured garden. Living in La-La land, we're pretty much stuck with a 10x10' patch of dirt. So we have to make the best of it. David Stevens provides plenty of clues and ideas in his book, Small Space Gardens.
"A small garden can be beautiful, low maintenance, sheltered, intimate and fun. Good design, both inside and outside the home is timeless and is based on sound principles. Small Space Gardens takes you through the entire planning sequence, providing a progressive organizational sequence that melds interior, exterior and borrowed landscape into an elegant, practical and integrated whole."Link: Small Space Gardens
The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) has announced the recipients of its 2004 Professional Awards. The awards will be presented during the ASLA Annual Meeting, October 29-November 2, in Salt Lake City.Some nice browsing... lots of images and links.
Link: ASLA 2004 Professional Awards
Reference: ASLA 2004 honorees announced
This is definitely not modern... the house is 173 years old... but we're all in favor of reuse and the story is just interesting.
The owners had originally planned to build a replica Victorian (shudder) but they purchased a 1831 Greek revival house from Michigan which was slated for demolition instead. Better. Dismantled piece by piece, the home is now being reconstructed in Sonoma County, California.
Via: Inman News
Link: Slideshow
The Nozzle Check Rug by young Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz is a witty design inspired by the utility of standard ink jet printers. We've hung a bunch of test sheets on the office wall before just for the heck of it, but we never thought of putting them on the floor. Nice.
Link Sylvain Willenz
Designed by young French brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, this collection is a wonderful interpretation of common tube framed patio furniture. We like the proportions and straight forward design. The collection features chairs, chaise lounges, stools and tables. Chair covers that don't look like an after thought are also available.
Link: Magis
Designers: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Paris
You've seen it before, but now you can stamp your mail with it.
The U.S. Postal Service released the stamp today, Buckminster Fuller's birthday, in honor of the 50th anniversary of his patent for the geodesic dome.
We're a little freaked out that they decided to make Bucky's head into a geodesic dome... kinda looks like Dr. Evil's secret volcano lair.
Link: USPS
Link: Buckminster Fuller Institute
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
Sited to enhance the various landscapes of forest and meadow of a former ranch, the design vacillates freely between interior and exterior with broad covered porches serving as living and circulation space. Other built elements extend into the landscape including boardwalks and two water features, which attract birds and evoke functional cattle and irigation troughs. Over the years native grasslands and wetlands on the property have been restored by the owners. The only manicured portion of the landscape is a rectangular field of water conserving buffalo grass bordered on two sides by the "L" shaped house.
Architecture Firm: buildingstudio
Landscape Firm: MESA Design Group
Via: Architectural Record
Weblog "A Daily Dose of Architecture" is showing two images of the reflective Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago's Millennium which has been uncovered in preparation for the park's grand opening festivities... check it out.
Link: A Daily Dose of Architecture
Reference: Chicago's Millennium Park
Starck strikes again, this time for Microsoft. Always a little slow on the uptake, the computing giant goes for a little high design.
We know that people want products that are as beautiful as they are functional. Because of that great design is no longer reserved only for luxury cars or concert halls, but is evident now in common items and places. We've found that people today demand products with exceptional design, as well as performance.Hmmm... who clued them into that?
Link: Microsoft
Now here is something we don't run into everyday... a developer dedicated to high design standards, a sense of urbanism and an apparent motive beyond just profits. With projects designed by Alsop Architects, Foster and Partners, Glenn Howells Architects and FAT we could not help but take notice. Then again, if it sells, it sells. Take a look, browse the slick website... what do you think?
Link: Urban Splash
These chaise lounges from Italian manufacturer Sturm und Plastic come in both aluminum and wood. The length of each chaise is 200cm and the width is 67.5cm.
Link: Sturm und Plastic
Designer: Gigi Rigamonti
When we first saw the MD 100 by Edgar Blazona in ReadyMade magazine, we were intrigued by its simplicity and clean modern lines. Here was a simple structure that just about any person handy with a hammer and saw could build in their spare time using simple off-the-shelf materials. Kent Holden is one such person and while he chose to stray from the plans and alter the structure to meet his needs, the results are still quite impressive.
"Here are a couple of shots of my new shed. I haven't put the Plexiglas in yet but it will go across the top and down the right side as in the original plan. As you can see I changed the front to a sliding door and put a small door on the left side. I didn't put any interior panelling in (it's just a shed) and by changing the plywood from 3/4 to 5/8 I think it cost me less than $1000 for the whole project. If you take a look at Lowes or Home Depot I'm sure you'll agree you don't get much of a shed for that price."Looking good, Kent!
Have you built or do you know anyone that has also built an MD 100? If so, drop us a line and tell us about it.
Link: ReadyMade
Link: Modular Dwellings
Clean. Efficient. Elemental. The Airstream trailer is the epitome of modernity. The CCD line features updated interiors by interdisciplinary designer Christopher C. Deam. "The International CCDs are aptly named because they can be towed cross-continent or cross-county," actually we were thinking that CCD stood for Christopher C. Deam... but anyway, "anywhere an automobile can go and still have all the facilities for comfortable living. Yes, even luxurious living!"
We like that the designs bring the flowing lines of the exterior, and even the riveted aluminum skin, inside.
Link: Airstream International CCD
Designer: Christopher C. Deam
Article by Linda Baker over at Salon.com that discusses the relevence of green building techniques on super-sized homes:
"Here's what the green residential landscape looks like in the 21st century. In the United States, advances in green-building technologies have to compete with the proliferation of 3,000-square-foot-plus homes -- simultaneous trends that underscore one of the key paradoxes of sustainable development in the United States.Continue reading at Salon.com (get the free day pass to read)"In spite of everything we've done to make the building envelope more efficient," O'Brien said, "we're still using more energy in our homes." Nadav Malin, the editor of the monthly newsletter Environmental Building News, agrees. Most of the green features people are incorporating into their homes represent ecological improvements in the 10 to 50 percent range, he said via e-mail. But even a 50 percent reduction in the ecological footprint, Malin noted, "would be totally offset by a doubling of the house size."
Link: Salon.com (Registration Req'd)
A while back in a blog about the Viking Mixer, we posted about how you always see KitchenAid mixers and Dualit toasters on the countertops of kitchens featured in the architecture and design rags. You could also add the FrancisFrancis! X1 espresso machine to that list as we've noticed it on more than a few countertops as well.
While browsing a skiing related website today (we're into snow sports, remember?), we came across a post about some guy getting a new Isomac espresso maker. A quick Google search later and we found a "first look" review of the Millenium over at CoffeeGeeks.com.
"One of the most visually appealing machines to hit the market in recent years has to be the Isomac Millennium, a semi automatic, heat exchanger equipped espresso machine. From the polished E61 grouphead right up front to the beautifully sculpted sides and extra thick metal housing, the machine is a head turner. The question is, does it have the performance to back up those good looks."We've never had the opportunity to brew a cup of espresso on the FrancisFrancis! and we certainly haven't brewed a cup on the Isomac, but based on looks alone -- yeah, we know, how shallow of us -- we'd have to say that the Isomac wins the good looks contest hands down. Check out the rest of the article at CoffeeGeeks.com
Via: CoffeeGeek.com
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)
What we are seeing is more like a subtle shift in the role of cities: from the commanding centers of global civilization to (at least in the advanced countries) a more peripheral function. In many ways, this follows the prediction made a century ago by H.G. Wells, who said that cities would evolve from the unquestioned center of economic life into a "bazaar, a great gallery of shops and places of concourse and rendezvous."Link: Trying to be hip won't save cities
"Packed with ideas for every type of garden - large, small, town and country - this book demonstrates Arne's imaginative approach and comprehensive understanding of building gardens; it is the essential guide to good garden design. Whether you want to remodel your entire garden or just a small part of it, Garden Design Details has hundreds of ideas to spark your creativity. From walls and paving to lawns, topiary, water features and even tables and chairs, this book shows the huge variety of materials and forms and explains how to choose the best for you."
Author: Arne Maynard
Link: Amazon UK
"Those irritating ringmarks that mugs and cups leave..... well, you can turn them into a nice floral pattern now with a set of Stamp Cups. The pattern on the base of the cup match up so you can join as many marks as you want."
Via: Sensory Impact
Link: Thorsten Van Elten
Designers: Valeria Miglioli & Barnaby Barford
Coming in Fall 2004 to the Art Center Wind Tunnel:
In September and October 2004 the Art Center Wind Tunnel will become the stage for diverse experiments creating a micro-ecosystem. Prominent local artists, architects, designers, writers, film makers, performers, educators, politicians, activists, pacifists, scientists, academics and thinkers will be invited to take over some part of the wind tunnel for the six week period. Responding to this unique space and the context of the show, participants will have complete freedom to propose anything: site specific installations, film screenings, lecture series, information booths, performances, seminars, exhibits. This event will be a fusion of exhibition / fair / convention / party / meeting / classroom / exhibit / town square / performance.The GardenLAb experiment opens to the public on Tuesday, September 7 and runs through Saturday, October 16.
Link: GardenLAb
Designers: Fritz Haeg & Francois Perrin
Starck's theory of evolution... he forgot the part about the pocket-lining-monkeys.
This shoe collection is modern because it includes all the technology we now know... but without having to show it - because we don't need to show it!
These shoes are based not on design, not on showing off, not on more and more and more features, but on showing less and less and less. It means more technology, more intelligence, but less styling. This is the secret of the product of tomorrow.Starck, you so crazy.
Quick Link: Starck Puma (without sized window)
Designer: Philippe Starck
From this weekend's Fourth of July cornerstone laying ceremony for the new World Trade Center Freedom Tower in New York, a panorama by Jook Leung shows the scene from ground zero. The tower was designed by David Childs of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill based on Daniel Libeskind's master plan.
Link: Rebirth Marked by Cornerstone at Ground Zero
Link: Port Authority Press Release
And earlier today, the Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain designed by Kathryn Gustafson and Neil Porter was dedicated in London.
Link: In pictures: Diana memorial
Link: MSNBC video feature
The holiday weekend has barely begun and we've already consumed our limit of tile. We're blogging under the influence of tile. While we don't usually feature something perhaps quite so obvious, a quick browse of the Ann Saks website today made us think: "Are we a design weblog or what? We need to bring this to the people!" So, obvious or not, here is our little "show and tell" session of tile. Thanks to Ann Sacks for carrying such great product.... we like this stuff.
And thanks to you for reading. Have a good holiday weekend if you're an American citizen, or you live in Canada or Belarus or Burundi or Cape Verde or Comoros or Malawi or Venezuela or whatever and you too have a holiday weekend.. This tile's for you.
Link: Ann Sacks
The new Bastide Garden at the Bordeaux Botanical Garden in France by landscape architect Catherine Mosbach is designed to deal with issues of biodiversity, renewable natural resources and the dynamics and mutation of landscapes. The concept is that of the artificial "botanical object" for the layout of the gardens.
a-matter has a nice article about the garden with photos and plans.
Link: a-matter
Visit: Jardin Botanique Bordeaux: La Bastide
Current era refrigerators updated with a retro feel.
"GET OUT OF THE BOX, and into a Big Chill retro refrigerator. Who says you have to hide your fridge by camouflaging it into your cabinetry?Speak personality and make your statement. Unmistakably, The Big Chill will be the conversation piece at your next party.
Our refrigerator is like a stylish ’57 Chevy Bel Air (only the fins are missing), for those who like to express a bit of style, uniqueness and enjoy terrific color.
This may look like your mama’s icebox, but the Big Chill includes all of today’s functionality, efficiency, and dependability. The only thing we left off was the chisel; no defrosting required!"
Interior designer Jasper Sanders and architect Gavin Elliot had the idea of creating a compact apartment unit that could offer the option of low-cost city-center living to those otherwise priced out of the market. The concept, called Abito, is hyper-efficient 347 square foot apartment priced around £85,000. Each apartment features high ceilings, balcony, foldaway bed and storage wall, and a multifunctional pod (the "central living unit") in the center of the unit which contains storage, laundry, kitchen and bath. Ask Developments is now building the concept in cities across the U.K.
Imagine you could buy a city centre apartment that was cheaper than a one bedroom flat, but much, much better. (Abito is) specifically designed to reflect modern lifestyles.
Link: Abito
Not affiliated with Dwell Magazine (at least not that we can determine), but cool enough to get away with the same name. We saw plenty of stuff we liked on their website, and they even have bedding for cribs! We have never seen cool baby bedding before, so check it out you hipster parents.
Inspired by the linear forms of modern architecture, vintage textiles and antique wallpaper, the Dwell home accessories line has a sophistication that is a natural choice for modern interiors. The vivid colors and graphic prints are elegant and clean, reminiscent of the textiles of the mid-century.Link: Dwell Home Furnishings