'Gecko in the Box' by Création Baumann

Création Baumann developed this adhesive sunblinds with the fitting name ‘Gecko’. Recently the German manufacturer launched ‘Gecko in the box’, component parts in either organic shape of a leaf or geometric hexagons, which enables the user to create diverse arrangements and graphic pictures on pore free glass surfaces.

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Pael House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects

The Chilean architectural office of Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen has decided to test the archetypical features of the suburban house – the result being the Pael House in Concepcion, Chile.

As was the case with other local residences, the project called for a big house in a plot that was, in theory, too small for it. Moreover, the brief stated the building must ‘look like’ a house, so as not to upset its neighbours.

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A glazed window has been tucked into the front opening

The Truffle, aka “La Trufa”, is a piece of architecture that is not only characterised by its distinctive form, but also its extraordinary process of development.

Cutting the concrete with a quarry machine

As real truffles do, the shape of the hollow concrete rock “grew” in the earth. A hole was dug in the ground and the concrete was poured inside. To retain a hollow space within “La Trufa”, hay bales have been included in the volume.

Detail of the silicon-glazed window

To get rid of the hay from the interior, a calf called Paulina was brought in; she enjoyed 50m3 of the nicest food, which she ate for a year. She left a healthy adult, weighing 300 kilos.

Entrance into the core of "La Trufa"

After that, a quarry machine was used to reveal the core again and create openings. The small holiday house situated on the  Costa da Morte in Spain provides a shower, toilet and a bed with a view, but, as the project’s name “La Trufa” suggests, a kitchen wasn’t necessary: the Spanish Atlantic coast boasts of a wide range of restaurants which impress even spoiled gourmet food lovers.

The bed with a view is located directly in front of the generous window, which floods the cave-like interior with light

Although the inside seems to be hewn out of natural rock, the volume has been constructed out of concrete

'DaR' by Christof Schmidt, photo by Ali Schmidt, Berlin

As part of his final year project at Kunsthochschule Kassel the young German designer Christof Schmidt developed this smart joining technique. The solid wooden elements of the chair are broken to measure and placed into a silicone-mould. Due to its expansion the poured in polyurethane foam infiltrates into every single wooden fibre at the breaking point and connects the pieces soundly. The foam hardens within minutes.

‘DaR’ was presented at this year’s DMY Festival for the first time.

'DaR' by Christof Schmidt, photo by Ali Schmidt, Berlin

'DaR' by Christof Schmidt, photo by Ali Schmidt, Berlin

The mould of 'DaR' by Christof Schmidt

'DaR' by Christof Schmidt, photo by Ali Schmidt, Berlin

to the No Smoking website

'Silver', detail, by Annemette Beck

Annemette Beck lives up to Denmark’s reputation for textile design. Famous for her experiments with new combinations of structures and materials such as rubber, paper yarn, all kinds of metal threads etc. the work of the Danish weaver and textile designer covers rugs, upholstery fabrics, runners, blinds and room dividers.

'Silver' panels by Annemette Beck

'Rubber rug' by Annemette Beck

'Bicycle' detail

Different panels by Annemette Beck

to the Annemette Beck website

'Skin' by Ceramiche Refin

During last year’s Cersaie Exhibition the Italian specialist for highquality ceramic tiles Ceramiche Refin presented ‘Skin’, a slim and light stoneware of only 4,8 mm thickness, which is especially suitable for renovations, as it can be easily laid out, without removing any pre-existent tiles. ‘Skin’ is available in different colours, decorations and sizes, the latter being a real novelty for slim stoneware tiles: 30×60, 30×90, 60×60, 60×120, 90×90.

'Skin' by Ceramiche Refin

Laid out, without removing any pre-existent tiles: 'Skin' by Ceramiche Refin

more products by Ceramiche Refin @ Architonic

Artificial stone for flooring

The online service materialatlas.com is a useful tool to find different materials in the field of architecture and urban planning. The website is the result of thorough interdisciplinary research work, done by practising architects and leading scholars in their respective fields and in collaboration with research institutions.

Anyone who is interested in the diversity of materials and their everyday use will find materialatlas.com a rewarding resource. With large decriptive images it presents diverse materials and background information about their respective origins and provides details concerning their texture, character and technical features (e.g. quality, applications, processing).

Plastics

Ceramics (brick)

Plastering

to Materialatlas

'Macrosterias' by Patricia Urquiola for Budri

During this year’s Salone del Mobile in Milan the Verona based fair for stone design and technology marmomacc presented itself at Triennale. The exhibition “Hybrid and Flexible” set up by Cibic Workshop showcased some of the most remarkable works from Marmomacc Meets Design 2009 by internationally famous designers and marble companies.

'Macrosterias' by Patricia Urquiola for Budri

‘Macrosterias’ by Patricia Urquiola for Budri is an installation which represents the metamorphic use of marbles and stones of different origins – a female essence in chemical composition and colours.
The project arose from the observation of vegetal micro-organisms – micrasterias – whose forms mixed with graphic symbols create a new digital-biological entity.

'La Idea Construida' by Alberto Campo Baeza for Piba Marmi

'La Idea Construida' by Alberto Campo Baeza for Piba Marmi

James Irvine for Marsotto Edizioni

Marsotto Edizioni is a growing collection which started with designs of James Irvine in 2008. This year the collection was enlarged with creations by Konstantin Grcic, Naoto Fukasawa and others.

Low table by James Irvine for Marsotto Edizioni

Michele De Lucchi for MGM Furnari

more Michele De Lucchi products @ Architonic

more James Irvine products @ Architonic

to the Alberto Campo Baeza profile @ Architonic

more Patricia Urquiola products @ Architonic

GIARDINO Color, Peperoncino option

Tisca Tiara, who specialise in the production of textile flooring, have recently ventured into the Astroturf market with ‘Sportisca’. ‘GIARDINO Color’ is a polychromatic version of this playing surface, which has been conceived specifically for architectural applications. Two differently coloured piles, each with a different height, are woven together. ‘GIARDINO Color’ is available in several bright colors, such as magenta, signal red, turquoise, as well as in a number of more mute hues, like beige, light and dark grey.

GIARDINO Color, Gioiello option

Reused wall panels as part of Reclaim programme from 3form

3form, the manufacturer of sustainable building materials and architectural hardware, has launched a programme called Reclaim, which reuses and recycles materials removed from installations or panels damaged in production.

Reused panel as part of 3form's Reclaim programme

Aimed at architects, designers, contractors and consumers who are trying to reduce their environmental footprint, the extended-life materials come in a set of standardised sizes and are subject to the company’s quality-control standards.

3form's Reclaim programme extends the life of materials through reuse

more 3form products @ Architonic