'Top' by Zero

The Swedish manufacturer Zero recently presented ‘Top’, a new series fo interior lighting, designed by Tham & Videgård Hansson. The lampshades are made of painted metal, the diffuser of matt opal acrylic. The pendant version is special for the little wire which enables the user to adjust the angle of the shade.

'Top' by Zero

'Top' wall lamp by Zero

more Zero products @ Architonic

'Caméléon' by Rugs Couture

Rugs Couture is the international distributor for Carpet Sign, a Dutch manufacturer specialised on high-quality tufted rugs and carpets. With ‘Caméléon’ Carpet Sign demonstrates especially their knowledge in colour handling. The coulours are smoothly fading into another, the desired forms and gradation can be fully chosen by the customer. Caméléon is made of 100% worsted yarn.

more Rugs Couture products @ Architonic

Oscar Niemeyer´s Culture Center in Avilés, Spain

At 101 years old, Oscar Niemeyer shows no signs of giving up on his passion for a hard day’s graft. As his age and experience grow, so too does the gravitas of his projects, as Niemeyer’s inaugural Spanish project proves.

Still under construction but already hosting international events

Despite an expected completion date of Spring 2010, the Oscar Niemeyer International Culture Center in Avilés, Spain, is already playing host to events of international grandeur. A world premiere of the Woody Allen film Cassandra’s Dream as well as a meeting of further cinematic hard hitters Wim Wenders and Carlos Saura have been held in the Dome of the development. But an altogether more significant event, the 2009 World Cultural Diplomacy Forum is also set to take place at the Center from September 15-17. This will see 200 world leaders in culture convene in what is effectively still a construction site to discuss international conflicts in culture, fitting given the Brazilian-Spanish ‘deportation wars’ last year that saw the two countries refusing entry by each other’s nationals.

Culture Center in Avilés

The building was commissioned by the city of Avilés as they prepare to compete for the European Capital of Culture 2016. Spain and Poland have been chosen on rotation to battle it out with many cities throughout the two countries engaging in cultural enhancements to grasp the title.

more info at World Architecture News