"KOBENHAVN DESIGN is a team of Danish and American professionals based in New York City that specializes in high-end wooden custom worktops and cabinetry.
All products are produced in Denmark with the highest level of craftsmanship, technology and expertise."
Link: Kobenhavn Design
"Comprehensive guide to prefabricated houses circa 1947. Describes in detail the five different methods of prefabrication and sets forth the advantages and disadvantages of each method. Photographs and floor plans plus facts and figures about each manufacturer's homes. Includes a directory of prefabricators with addresses. Midcentury modern as well as more conventional designs."
Link: Dig Modern
The power cord is often an afterthought when it comes to the design of electric devices... in fact the cords are often omitted from product photos. But this simple little light fixture turns the tables on this way of thinking making the cord a prominent feature of the design by placing it right out front.
Designer: Jakob Gebert
Link: Belux
"It walks down stairs, alone or in pairs and makes a slinkity sound." Oh wait, wrong toy, but this vase from Elsewares sure reminds us of one of our favorite childhood toys.
"This anodized aluminum vase is encased within a galvanized steel coil, so the outside can be reshaped to your heart's content. 8.5" h x 3.5". Made in Brooklyn."Link: Elsewares
Shunmyo Masuno is not only a Zen priest, but also president and founder of Japan Landscape Consultants, an firm founded inb 1982 and known worldwide for their landscape designs.
When asked what the garden means, Shunmyo explains, the garden is a special spiritual place in which the mind dwells. The gardens he creates are the places which hold his expressions of mind.
Shunmyo refers to gardening as his spiritual training ground in his quest of a higher understanding of himself.Link: Shunmyo Masuno + Japan Landscape Consultants Ltd.
We've seen this light fixture concept before, but we like the execution of design and the many configurations and mountings available in the Multi series by Prima Lighting.
Choices are seemingly unlimited with nine, six, four, three, and two light configurations available as wall sconce, pendant, floor or table lighting and many are compatible with cable and monorail systems. Available in silver or chrome finish.
Link: Prima Lighting
"Reynold Rodriquez' studio is located in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Established in 1993 by the designer as an enterprise to produce independently designed pieces of furniture and work for various design markets. The work comes from projects developed for clients over the past few years. These designs challenge seeking new responses from a visually experienced culture."
Link: Reynold Rodriguez
An unlikely pairing creates some very nice results in Rugged Art's collection of hand knotted carpets designed by young graphic artists such as Romon Kimin Yang and José Parla. Not to mention the fact that the prices (while not cheap) seem to us to be very reasonable for this kind quality.
Founded by London based antique textile specialist Nat Turner, and collaborating with some of World's most exciting graphic artists, RuggedArt has launched a groundbreaking new collection of hand knotted rugs, available in limited editions of ten.Instead of Ephemeral art on a wall, or hollow conceptual statement, RuggedArt rugs are a painting for your floor, a strikingly beautiful piece of furniture.
Link: Rugged Art
Distinctive business signage from this Michigan-based design firm.
"Need the bathroom? Gotta check your voicemail? Time for a caffeine fix, pronto? Life's minor emergencies call for signage that speaks loud and clear, in any language. Out of the ordinary yet obvious, our highly visible 3-D signage brings a sense of order to your work environment, all with a creative spin and whimsical touch. Our icon based signs are made of flame retardent, high-density black PVC. Installation is accomplished lickety-split, thanks to brushed aluminum brackets that require just two screws."Link: Wheresthebathroom.com
From Lapalma Design comes the clock/coat hanger. Available in natural maple or stained cherrywood.
The clock dial is white lacquered with quartz movement.
Designers: Shin and Tomoko Azumi
Link: Lapalma
The Olman side table (featured at right) is just one of many pieces crafted by Nikolas Piper and on display at niksproject.com.
"Nik's Project presents a limited collection of pieces designed by Nikolas Piper for specific projects ordered by foundations and private institutions. The combination of traditional forge and modern technologies which Nikolas combines in his designs create these timeless pieces of furniture whose outstanding features are their organic, sensual and functional characteristics."Also from Nikolas comes "Alice's Legs", a beautifully crafted chaise lounge constructed from high-end teak or birch laminated wood with iron fittings and stainless steel.
Link: Nik's Project
Link: Alice's Legs
Exhibition at A+D Museum in Los Angeles running November 18, 2004 through February 22nd, 2005.
The exhibit is a preview in support of a new book to be published by Balcony Press and scheduled for release in the Fall of 2005 – entitled “2000 + New Architecture from Los Angeles”. The book’s editor is John Chase.Link: A+D Architecture and Design MuseumEach participating architect has fitted the presentation of his work into a diamond-shaped 6 ft x 2 ft “tower” designed by Lorcan O’Herlihy, AIA. The towers are mounted on wheels, arranged randomly, and can move around the room. This affords the viewer a walk through the exhibit non-sequentially, much like walking through a forest of trees. Each firm’s viewpoint is contained within the tower and may be studied from all angles by a single viewer, or by a group of viewers, thus presenting an opportunity for discussion.
Everyday Studio is a San Francisco based studio with several products geared toward your favorite canine - or feline - friend. Their dog dish, featured at right, is a wall mounted dog diner, providing the "perfect customized eating position". Other products include the Cat Tree, a wall mounted scratching post, and the Pet Dish, a freestanding diner designed for your "finicky feline."
Designer: Susan Kralovec
Link: Everyday Studio
Via: Design Sponge
Space 2 Place works on a wide range of projects from residential garden redesign to skate parks.
Through design we transform sites (spaces) into places for our clients. Our places embody a philosophy of strong simple design that responds to the environmental and cultural processes influencing each site. Our philosophy is based upon respect - for our clients, for the environment, and for the power of design.Link: Space 2 Place
HAPPY FESTIVUS!
Today is Festivus, and just before we take off for some Festivus r+r, we would like to share in the traditions of the season with you, our dear Land+Living readers.
Both of us here at Land+Living would like to thank you for visiting our site. We hope you like what you have seen, and please continue to visit as we grow and evolve. And, of course, please free to contact us with any suggestions or tips. And to our design blog compatriots, thank you all for your support and professionalism. Happy Festivus to you all! And now... on with the Festivus for the rest of us.....
We have seen the work of this seven person San Francisco based landscape firm before in publications, but somehow just happened to stumble across the website today. The bold and graphic qualities of their designs have beautifully textural and architectural qualities.While their website is really just an online CV, it does feature photo layouts of three residential projects. Wonderful work, we suggest that you take a gander.
"With a distinct emphasis on human cooperation and biological partnership in design, the author explores the relationship between the built environment and nature to illustrate how both can be used to their full potential without being detrimental or destructive to each other. Provides a combination of scientific insight and constructive design, and shows how to employ what nature offers to the fullest extent without imposing limitations or design constraints to create a balanced and self-renewing environment."
Author: Ian L. McHarg
Link: Amazon
We've picked up a bit of a Scandanavian theme in 5 out of our last 8 blogs... hmmm... what's up with that?
Anyway, who says built in footrests are only for recliners? And who says a modern chair can't be comfortable? I don't know, did somebody say that? Why are we asking so many questions?
This comfy yet modern armchair by Swedish designer Thomas Bernstrand (who has incidentally designed items for the big stupid blue place too) features a nifty slide out foot stool and head rest. Also available in a three seater sofa model. Pretty cool, huh?
Designer: Thomas Bernstrand
Manufacturer: Söderbergs Möbler AB
A paper by Peter Gordon of the University of Southern California takes an interesting look at sustainable planning and policy and suggests that long term sustainability may be hampered by some current "solutions."
Perhaps a bit academic for L+L? Nah... it pays to be informed. Take a break from the eye candy and read up.
Link: Sustainability Planning: First, Do No Harm (500k PDF file)
Link: USC Urban Initiative
Via: Planetizen
In twenty years they won't want you to say "lifestyle center." Anyway, more about the lifestyle center trend in the news.
The number of lifestyle centers has quickly accelerated, from just 30 in 2002 to 120 at the end of 2004. Between 10 to 20 new centers are slated to open each year for the next two years. By contrast, only eight new regional malls are expected to open by 2006, according to ICSC.Link: CNNmoney - Not a mall, it's a lifestyle center
Red glass tile wraps from floor to wall to ceiling in this efficient bathroom by husband and wife design team Adam and Lisa Christie of Portland, Oregon based Prototype Architects. The side walls are covered in waterproof cement plaster, and the fourth wall features a floor to ceiling mirror.
The entire bathroom is conceived as one continuous space, rather than little compartments. The floor surface is open and uninterrupted thanks to the wall mounted sink and toilet. Custom designed stainless steel fixtures include towel bars and shelves, and the large trough sink which is hung in front of the mirror wall and features two double-jointed kitchen faucets.
A stunningly clean and efficient space.
Firm: Prototype Architecture
Sorry for the unannounced sabbatical. So, we have some catching up to do here at L+L... and one of us has some plumbing to replace. Ah, the joys of home ownership.
The other of us has no such excuse... just snow blind from snowboarding in the Eastern Sierra... and now drawn to Snow Design and all things frozen and icy. Hmmm... Julie Snow Architects...
Well, at least one excuse makes for better images than the other.
Back to our regularly scheduled programming soon... after we shake the brown and white stuff.
This garden occupies the inner court space of an old printing house in Boston that has been converted into residential condominium units. The design solution, by Salem, Massachusetts based Landworks Studio, creates usable communal space while at the same time providing privacy and varied views for the inner condo units.
In contrast to the regularity of the existing structure, the landscape architects employed a concept of fragmentation; in the plantings, pathways, materials, topographic undulation, etc. Groovy lighting elements transform the space at night with a yellow green glow emanating from the benches and a fiber optic web amongst the bamboo. The design provides an stylish contemporary foil to the historic building.
Link: Landworks Studio
Landscape architect Peter Latz, based in Kranzberg, Germany, practices what he preaches; defining and reclaiming the landscape with an eye on ecology and social needs.
The practice of Latz + Partner focuses on "the renewal of destroyed and often contaminated sites, - a new balance in the traffic infrastructures and - the spatial and material framework of ecological programmes." Their work tackles gritty urban and industrial sites with attention to expressing the history and character of the land.
The website may be a bit cumbersome to navigate and dense, but it is packed with information and images just waiting to reward the focused browser. Plus, you can take your pick of German, English or French text... In Ordnung; all right; bien.
Link: Latz + Partner
Related to our continuing concern with the privatization of public space, here is an interesting situation featuring Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park.
According to a post at New (sub)Urbanism, photographer Warren Wimmer was prevented from photographing this piece of public art.
Fascinating.
Link: New (sub)Urbanism - Copyrighting of Public Space
Reference: Chicago's Millennium Park (Land+Living)
Reference: It's a Crocker etc. (Land+Living)
More from my trip to Orange County, this time at the throne of consumersim *gasp* a mall. They have the Gap and Hot Dog on a Stick, and hey look! They have good design too!
This is a pedestrian bridge built in 2000 connecting two parts of a large shopping mall designed by a collaborative team of Kathryn Gustafson (Gustafson Guthrie Nichol), Ellerbe Becket and Anderson & Ray.
It is an interesting solution to a utilitarian need; a pedestrian connection across a parking lot and busy street, and the mediation of a change in elevation. The bridge is called the "Bridge of Gardens," a ridiculous name probably dreamed up by the mall, but that name does at least hint towards the marriage of landscape, engineering and architecture.
I have seen this published before, but never with more than a couple small images... so check it out... I went overboard on the pics just for you.
Firm: Gustafson Guthrie Nichol - Landscape Architecture / Art
Firm: Ellerbe Becket - Architecture
Firm: Charles Anderson (formerly of Anderson & Ray) - Landscape Architecture
Firm: HNTB - Structural Engineering
Link: South Coast Plaza
We frequently browse our site logs to see where our site traffic is coming from and recently noticed a few referrals from GlenHunter.ca. After checking out the site, one of the first things that caught my eye was his handmade coffee table. It features a cedar slab with a light running in the middle along the length of the cedar that illuminates a glass shelf below. It is quite an attractive table.
"I've been toying with the concept of lighted furniture for a while now. I like the idea of creating small discreet sources of low light scattered around a room and using point sources where more illumination is needed (i.e. for reading). One method of doing that is embedding lights within furniture. In the case of this table the light is provided by two 1W LED's. It shines both up and down. The light up is very pretty, but not particularly useful (you can't read by it). The light down illuminates the bottom shelf, in our case the home of our stack of current magazines."Another cool thing on his site is the house he's
Link: Glen Hunter
Link: Hunter House, Scott Morris Architects
Update: Check out MocoLoco's coverage of the Hunter House.
Billing itself as "the premiere resource for all things modern", 360° Modern features real estate listings as well as a community page with descriptions on the buying and selling of modern homes. Their real estate section seems to focus mostly on the greater Seattle area.
We are people passionate about and dedicated to the appreciation of Modern Architecture and all things related. We are here to provide two services: a place for pertinent, interesting, changing information about Modern Architecture and Modernism and to provide real estate services for people wanting to buy or sell a Modern home.
Link: 360° Modern
The winners of the Cradle-to-Cradle Home Competition have been selected and Metropolis magazine reports on the winning student entries. Their designs are scheduled to be built starting in May 2005.
The first prize student winner, Sean Wheeler transformed recycled billboards and train cars into the comfortable, flexible “pMod”: a portable, modular dwelling that combines the upgradeable adaptability of the PC with pleasingly domestic elements like roof gardens, courtyards, and porches.Article: Metropolis - The Kids Are Alright in Green Housing Competition
Designed by Johnson Chou, the Workplaysleep.01 from nienkämper combines multiple functions into one attractive design. In it's most basic form, the Workplaysleep is a simple sofa. Add the optional work surface and you've got the perfect spot to work with your laptop or chow down that last night's leftovers.
Designer: Johnson Chou
Link: nienkämper