After ‘Koolhaas Houslife’, the celebrated documentary about the charming Guadalupe Acedo, housekeeper at the Maison à Bordeaux, Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine realised a new series of films. ‘Living Architecture’ seeks to develop a way of looking at architecture which turns away from the current trend of idealizing the representation of our architectural heritage.
'Pomerol by Herzog & De Meuron, film by Ila Beka and Louise Lemoine
“Unlike most movies about architecture, these films focus less on explaining the building, its structure and its technical details than on letting the viewer enter into the invisible bubble of the daily intimacy of some icons of contemporary architecture.”
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
The Frankfurt/Main based architectural practice reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure) realised this extension of an existing single family house with the aim to create a “four generation residence”.
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
haus jones by reinhardt_jung (architekten und ingenieure)
The Oslo based design and architecture studio Fantastic Norway designed the ‘Eurovisions’ exhibition which shows future visions for Vardø, Trondheim and Oslo – the winning entries of the architectural competition Europan 10. The proposals are displayed within a large lanscape of silhouettes at the main hall in DogA (Norwegian Centre for Deign and Architecture). ‘Eurovisions’ will be open until 14th February.
'Saucer' by Eric Degenhardt for Schönbuch, photo by Tillmann Franzen
Obviously inspired by the small type of dishware the Cologne based designer Eric Degenhardt created this simple coat hanger ‘Saucer’ for the German manufacturer Schönbuch.
'Saucer' by Eric Degenhardt for Schönbuch, photo by Tillmann Franzen
Most recent works by Eric Degenhardt, photo by Tillmann Franzen
'Drop' seat/daybed by Leonardo Perugi for Cerruti Baleri
Italian design manufacturer Cerruti Baleri has launched a new seat/daybed at the 2010 Maison et Objet fair in Paris. Called ‘Drop’ and designed by architect Leonardo Perugi, its reduced, highly geometric form invites the user to transform its shape according to their mood.
'Drop' seat/daybed by Leonardo Perugi for Cerruti Baleri
The drop-like shape of the head pillow has both an aesthetic and a practical function. Through a geometric fit, it structurally locks the seat in its closed position without the need for any fastening device.
In interview with Dailytonic at Maison et Objet, Perugi explained that ‘Drop’ ‘is something you can use as a suit. You wear this piece. It’s for you, your body, your life. You can use it to create new situations. It’s not a fossil or a museum piece. It’s to be used every day. Like a garment.’
'Drop' seat/daybed by Leonardo Perugi for Cerruti Baleri
Perugi is flattered by comments that his design is reminsicent of the ‘radicalism and informalism’, as he describes it, of 1960s Italian furniture design. ‘Many people say this is from the 60s and link it to the work of Joe Colombo,’ he told Dailytonic. ‘I’m very proud of this. It’s a huge compliment for me. Although, it’s a big responsibility and there’s pressure to do something even better next time.’
In collaboration with artist Richard Sweeney the Manchaster based designer Liam Hopkins created this range of cargboard furniture. The Honeycomb Sofa and Armchair are released at Interiors 2010 with Designersblock at the NEC Birmingham, 24-27th January 2010.
'Radiolarian' sofa by Liam Hopkins
“The designers constrained themselves to the use of corrugated cardboard sourced locally from John Hargreaves’ factory in Stalybridge, which produces paper from recycled pulp using machinery originally installed in 1910.”
'Radiolarian' sofa by Liam Hopkins
“The design process involved experimentation with columnar forms, which were inspired by structural forms in nature, including a wasp nest and the crystalline bone structure of microscopic sea organisms known as Radiolaria. Computer design techniques were used to generate the form of the furniture using triangular columns, which were oriented to utilise the structural properties of the cardboard. The individual components were extracted from the virtual model to create flat layouts, which were printed to create templates for transfer onto the cardboard- over two thousand components were hand cut and glued together to create the Honeycomb Sofa.”
The London and Avignon based Noon Studio, founded by Gautier Pelegrin and Vincent Taïani, recently presented this simple and graphical leaning floor/wall light. The elements are fixed with a cord, so it can easily set to different heights.
At this year’s ‘Passagen’, one of the major frame programs during the imm cologne, the Belgian designer Wendy Legro presented this poetic, interactive and modular sun blind and illumination system.
'Morning Glory' by Wendy Legro
“In the morining the sun slowly arises as mother nature’s sign for us to wake up. Our body gradually prepares for our daily activities. As the day comes to an end, and the sun sets, curtains are being closed while lights are switched on.”
'Morning Glory' by Wendy Legro
“This product works autonomously with a light-sensor. During the day, mechanical flowers on a frame attached to a window are closed enabling sunlight to come in.
When sun sets, the flowers open and start to emit light. In this way, awareness for this important phenomenon will be brought back.
My self-set guidelines are based on the mathmatical perfection of nature. I wanted the flower to display nature’s growing motion.
The hexagonal shape enables different flowers to be linked together; fully covering a window. The flowers are made of nylon with the SLS-technique used in rapid manufacturing. The material is flexible and strong, without losing its delicate look”, the designer explains.
At this year’s imm cologne the Italian manufacturer presented the comprehensive re-edition of several Charlotte Perriand pieces for the first time to international public. Among them the ‘Ombra Tokyo’ chair from 1954. The lightweight and stackable chair is developed from a single die-pressed piece of curved ply. It was designed for in Japan for the ‘Synthèse des Arts’ exhibition (Le Corbusier, Férnand Léger, Charlotte Perriand).
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
The Amsterdam based architectural practice Venhoeven CS realised this sports center for their hometown.
“De Baarsjes in Amsterdam is a multicultural neighbourhood that is home to people from 129 different countries. The city district wanted to boost community life in the neighbourhood. The authorities therefore chose a building which combines swimming pools, a therapy pool, fitness, aerobics, a sauna and steam bath, a party centre, café and childcare alongside a fast food restaurant. Each individual element attracts different target groups, so the entire population will be able to use it in the end. Inside, everyone can see other activities, intriguing their interest and inspiring them to use other facilities as well. Because the building was constructed in a park, people living nearby it requested that it would be as green as possible; we completely covered it in vegetation.”
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
“With its green façades and roof, Sportplaza Mercator marks the start and end of the Rembrandtpark. From a distance, it seems like an overgrown fortress flanking and protecting the entryway to the 19th-century city. Glimpsed through the glass façade, a modern spa-style complex glistens, complete with swimming pools, fitness space, and restaurant and party facilities. The entrance seems like a departure hall from which the various visitors can reach their destination.
The building was designed as a city – a society in miniature – inside a cave. The building is full of lines of sight and keyholes that offer perspectives on the various visitors, activities and cultures in the building. Sunlight penetrates deep into the building’s interior through all sorts of openings in the roof. Low windows frame the view of the street and the sun terrace.”
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
“The vertical garden is originally developed by Patrick Blanc. His vertical gardens have been applied in the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. For Sportplaza Mercator, the Dutch company ‘Copijn’ (Utrecht) has further developed the concept. This product is called “the Wonderwall”. The wall consist of different layers. First there is a steel construction with its own foundation, attached to the roof construction of the building. The second layers is a physical separation wall between inside and outside. The third layer, which is attached on the steel construction is the ‘growing wall’, made of metal, plastic and a felt fleece with notches and small buckets. Every plant grows in its own bucket. Integrated in the growing wall is a rain and feeding system with hoses and sensors. Over 50 different kinds of plants, bushes and trees have been planted in the roofs and facades. Every wall has its own climate and demands therefore different kinds of plants.”
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
Mercator Sportplaza by Venhoeven CS, photo by Luuk Kramer
Design team: VenhoevenCS – Ton Venhoeven (project architect), Richèl Lubbers (project manager), Danny Esselman, Manfred Wansink, Jos Willem van Oorschot, Erik de Vries, Thomas Flotmann, Peterine Arts
Client: Sportfondsenbad Nederland, Municipality of Amsterdam – De Baarsjes district
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