Monday, January 28

JinHua Architectur Park Restaurant by Fun Design Consultancy & Johan de Wachter Architects

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Fun Design Consultancy & Johan de Wachter Architects designed a rigid but elegant structure of steel, stone and bamboo for the JinHua Architectur Park Restaurant.

The restaurant integrates three speeds of eating. This assortment is provided by vending machines (street food), a 3d tablescape (medium food) and a lounge restaurant (slow food).

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via coolboom

Photos by Iwan Baan

Design and the Elastic Mind



Design and the Elastic Mind
February 24–May 12, 2008

The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art Exhibition Gallery, sixth floor

In the past few decades, individuals have experienced dramatic changes in some of the most established dimensions of human life: time, space, matter, and individuality. Working across several time zones, traveling with relative ease between satellite maps and nanoscale images, gleefully drowning in information, acting fast in order to preserve some slow downtime, people cope daily with dozens of changes in scale. Minds adapt and acquire enough elasticity to be able to synthesize such abundance. One of design's most fundamental tasks is to stand between revolutions and life, and to help people deal with change. Designers have coped with these displacements by contributing thoughtful concepts that can provide guidance and ease as science and technology evolve. Several of them—the Mosaic graphic user's interface for the Internet, for instance—have truly changed the world. Design and the Elastic Mind is a survey of the latest developments in the field. It focuses on designers' ability to grasp momentous changes in technology, science, and social mores, changes that will demand or reflect major adjustments in human behavior, and convert them into objects and systems that people understand and use.

The exhibition will highlight examples of successful translation of disruptive innovation, examples based on ongoing research, as well as reflections on the future responsibilities of design. Of particular interest will be the exploration of the relationship between design and science and the approach to scale. The exhibition will include objects, projects, and concepts offered by teams of designers, scientists, and engineers from all over the world, ranging from the nanoscale to the cosmological scale. The objects range from nanodevices to vehicles, from appliances to interfaces, and from pragmatic solutions for everyday use to provocative ideas meant to influence our future choices. The exhibition will be accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Organized by Paola Antonelli, Curator, and Patricia Juncosa Vecchierini, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Architecture and Design.

The exhibition is supported by NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and Patricia Phelps de Cisneros.

Additional funding is provided by The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art.

Upcoming related events:

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Members Events | Members Previews
Design and the Elastic Mind

Thursday, February 21, 2008

10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Members Events | Members Previews
Design and the Elastic Mind

Friday, February 22, 2008

10:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Members Events | Members Previews
Design and the Elastic Mind

Saturday, February 23, 2008

10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Members Events | Members Previews
Design and the Elastic Mind

Saturday, March 1, 2008

10:30 a.m.
Family Programs | Tours for Tweens
Design and the Elastic Mind
Sold out

Sunday, March 2, 2008

10:30 a.m.
Family Programs | Tours for Tweens
Design and the Elastic Mind
Sold out

Saturday, March 8, 2008

10:30 a.m.
Family Programs | Tours for Tweens
Design and the Elastic Mind
Sold out

Monday, April 7, 2008

12:30 p.m.
Lectures & Gallery Talks | Brown Bag Lunch Lectures
Design and the Elastic Mind

Thursday, April 10, 2008

12:30 p.m.
Lectures & Gallery Talks | Brown Bag Lunch Lectures
Design and the Elastic Mind

rule

Young Hyun, Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis, San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego. Walrus graph visualization tool (detail). 2001–02. Java and Java3D software. Image by Young Hyun and Bradley Huffaker

Susana Soares. Face Object from BEE'S project (prototype). 2007. Blown handmade glass, 14 1/8 x 97/8" diam. (36 x 25 cm diam.). Prototype by Crisform, Portugal, 2007. Collection of Susana Soares. Image by Susana Soares


via MOMA

Hans Schabus—New Commission

Next Time I’m Here, I’ll Be There

1 March 2008 - 1 June 2008
The Curve





Well known for his subterranean excavations, obsessions with digging and tunnelling as well as demolishing and rebuilding anew, Austrian artist Hans Schabus’s practice explores ideas around fictional journeys as well as the transient nature of public space.

For his first UK solo show, Schabus will draw together elements from the unique architectural vocabulary of the Barbican Centre, offering the visitor new experiences and insights into this utopian London landmark. Drawing inspiration from the fact that the 80 metre length of The Curve wall mirrors that of a large aeroplane, Schabus presents an installation of 461 chairs, dramatically arranged on a 90˚ angle along the crescent-shaped wall. The chairs, sourced exclusively from the Barbican Centre, provide an archaeology of the design history and embody the diverse nature of its activities.

The chairs presented here are suggestive of power and subservience; a sense that is nowhere more evident than in an aeroplane where the occupant relinquishes all individual rights to a controlling faceless system.

To complement this dramatic installation, where chairs are ordered according to colour and form, sound will be streamed live from specific points around the Barbican Centre, subliminally recording the passage of time.

Reflecting the centrality of publishing to Schabus’s practice, Barbican Art Gallery have commissioned the artist to produce a booklet—available free of charge—further exploring the function and symbolism of the chair.


Hans Schabus, Das letzte Land, Hans Schabus, Das letzte LandBiennale: Das letzte Land

Hans Schabus, Das letzte Land, Hans Schabus, Das letzte Land

Support for this exhibition is provided by the Austrian Cultural Forum

via Barbican, Kardinal Koenig

Hermitage calls in Koolhaas

AMO, the design and research arm of architect Office For Metropolitan Architecture, has been commissioned to review the strategic positioning and direction of the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg, Russia.
The Rotterdam-based studio, which is overseen by OMA founder Rem Koolhaas, has been briefed to come up with a ‘visionary masterplan’ for the historic museum, which houses more than 3 million artefacts in its 2000 rooms.

A joint AMO/Hermitage team will begin work to refine the museum’s global agenda, its urban and architectural programming, and its curatorial strategies over the next 12 months.

A joint statement says the team will assess the institution’s ‘global mission, national position and urban situation, as well as its relationship to the city of St Petersburg.’

The ideas will then be tested via the curation of one of the museum’s permanent exhibitions, the design of a temporary exhibition and an urban design project, before the final publication in 2014 of a Hermitage masterplan and an associated exhibition.

Koolhaas will lead the work at AMO, along with project architect Talia Dorsey.

In 2003, AMO worked with The Hermitage on the extension of its general staff building.

Author: Mike Exon

via Design Week

Designboost at Stockholm Furniture Fair

Designboost at Stockholm Furniture Fair

The Knowledge company Designboost and Stockholm Furniture Fair, the premier design fair in Scandinavia, start a collaboration.

During the period 6–10 February Designboost will stage a “mini boost” event at the Stockholm Furniture Fair themed around the concept of “sustainable design”. It contains BOOST CHATS, BOOST TALKS and BOOST SHOWS. It’s one of a couple of “mini boost” events that Designboost will stage until it is time for the next main Designboost event in Malmö this autumn.

The different activities:

AT THE FAIRGROUND

-Designboost will arrange 15 different BOOST TALKS using a concept called the “design sofa”. Among the persons that will do presentations and be involved in discussions are designers Satyendra Pakhale, Stephen Burks, Ilse Crawfoord, Jean Marie Massaud and Matti Klenell to mention a few. Further on representatives from companies and organisations like Giulio Cappellini/Cappellini, Ewa Kumlin/managing director of Svensk Form, Mirkku Kullberg/managing director of Artek, Christel Vaenerberg/design director at Iittala, Yvonne Karlsson and Maria Midby Arén/Alcro and Irene Bernald/marketing director at Audi Sweden are invited to the “design sofa”.

-Designboost will arrange 8 BOOST CHATS where each of them consists of one designer, one producer, one journalist and one student. The theme of the BOOST CHATS is how companies and organisations can conceptualize on the notion of “sustainable design” to gain business advantage and consequently benefit the society. Among the participants are designers Damian Williamson, Alexander Lervik and Gabriella Gustafson. Producers and journalists are represented by Kersti Sandin/Materia, Johan Lindau/Blå Station and Peter Jiseborn/Swedese, Mark Isitt/freelance, Daniel Golling/Forum AID and Dan Gordan/Sköna hem to mention a few. Students from Beckman college of design and Konstfack, University College of Arts Crafts and Design will be involved as well.

-Designboost will visualize the seven parts of the Sustainable Wheel in seven different mini environments in collaboration with Alcro. The environments will contain products, descriptions and filmed interviews.

-Designboost will present two different conceptualizations of ”sustainable design” by Artek and Iittala.

-Designboost will use Audi as an example of a holistic view on “sustainable design”.

The complete program is available here.

AT TOWN

-Designboost will arrange a BOOST SHOW on the theme “sustainable design” at the Audi showroom, Hamngatan 17 in central Stockholm. It’s an updated version of the BOOST SHOW presented in Malmö in October 2007. It includes products and strategy descriptions from companies like Biomega, Apple, Electrolux and Nior Illuminati. Designboost will also present different filmed interview on the topic of “sustainable design” with Eero Koivisto, Tom Dixon, Tejo Remy and Stephen Burks among others. The BOOST SHOW at Audi will be up and running for a month.

via David Report Blog

Saturday, January 26

Chinatown & Lower East Side

The city's restless heart of downtown rises up once again.

By Naomi Nevitt


chinatownonlocation.jpgWhile the Lower East Side has savored its fair share of hype over the past few years—from the rebellious beginnings as a skate-punk mecca to its recent emergence as a blue chip design destination—the area south of Delancey has always been somewhat on the cusp of the real action. But with the recent opening of the New Museum, ie: the area's new beacon of the arts, the Lower East Side—and its bustling neighbor Chinatown—is undergoing yet another renaissance.

The quarter is now being steered by the emerging art scene and is frequently being touted the next Chelsea. Yet, never one to welcome homogeneity—especially the white cube variety—the neighborhood succeeds in preserving its rough-and tumble, under-the-radar persona that makes it a downtown stalwart. Here, sneaker shops thrive alongside old-school Orchard Street tailors and slow food cafes are shoulder-to-shoulder with frenetic Chinese kitchens. But with the recent opening of the New Museum—the area's new beacon of the arts—Chinatown and its surrounding environs are undergoing yet another renaissance and reviving the artistic roots downtown has been historically known for.




See.


James Fuentes LLC, 35 St. James Place, 212-577-1201; www.jamesfuentes.com

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At just a year old, wunderkind gallery James Fuentes has pushed the limits of the Lower East Side art scene with his off-the-radar Lower Manhattan storefront and super-hip (and critically acclaimed) exhibitions by Chinatown-based talent. The neighborhood-focused roster of artists includes art rockers Gang Gang Dance's Lizzi Bougatos and Brian DeGraw, Agathe Snow, and William Stone.


Never Work, 191 Henry Street, 212-228-9206, www.never-work.net

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Former Marianne Boesky employee Siobhan Lowe founded Never Work in October to exhibit up-and-coming local talent. With only three shows under her belt, the gallerist fills the shoebox-size Henry Street space with high-impact pieces from psychedelic oversized paintings by Ariel Dill to elaborate 2-D rope works by Christian Sampson.


V&A, 98 Mott Street #206, 212-966-5754; www.vandanyc.com

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Founded in June 2006 by Victoria Donner and Anne Maffei, V&A shows an inspired roster of emerging artists who, as Donner notes, "moved to New York to create something peculiarly New York." The exhibitions that, to date, focus on painting and works on paper, have featured local up-and-coming artists, including Ryan Hixenbaugh, Megan Pflug, Scott Taylor, and Selma Hafizovic.


E-Flux's Pawn Shop, 53 Ludlow Street, 212-619-3356; www.e-flux.com

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Part art-project, part functioning not-for-profit-retail store, the Pawn Shop was founded in October by artists Julieta Aranda, Liz Linden and Anton Vidokle who took over e-flux's storefront on Ludlow Street to host a different kind of art exhibition—a literal pawnshop where artworks are submitted by artists for cash, and if not reclaimed after 30 days, placed for sale exclusively by the shop. Starting with a who's-who list of over 60 contributing artists, from Paul Chan and Rirkrit Tiravanija to Lawrence Weiner and Andrea Zittel, the shop opened it’s mission to the public in Novemer, allowing anyone who wanted to sell their art to stop by and receive fast cash.


CANADA, 55 Chrystie Street, 212-925-4631; www.canadanewyork.com

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Located just off the entrance to the Manhattan Bridge, Canada gallery exhibits an experimental group of artists as unexpected as their ambiguous name (neither the artists nor the space's founders have much to do with our neighbors to the north). From Joe Bradley's Tetris-like installations to Devendra Banhart's folk-infused ink on paper drawing, the works here are not to be missed.


Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 165 East Broadway, 212-477-5006; www.reenaspaulings.com

Taking the moniker of a fictional gallery owner, Reena Spaulings Fine Art is an art gallery-cum-art piece by John Kelsey and Emily Sundblad. Now on its second Chinatown incarnation (above a Chinese restaurant, naturally), Reena Spaulings shows an international list of academic artists, including Merlin Carpenter and Claire Fontaine.


Shop.


Save Khaki, 254 Broome Street, 212-925-0134

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The newest branch of basics brand Save Khaki, with its shop on the buzzing corner of Broome and Orchard opening last December, takes pleasure in providing the masses with nothing short of perfect super-soft shirting, and, of course, plenty of expertly tailored khakis for both men and women. Expanding upon the Lafayette Street location of the nearly 2-year-old label, owner and designer David Mullen will "officially" launch the store this month by welcoming his new USA-made label to the eco-conscious minimalist space.


Front Street, 47 Orchard Street, 212-334-8144; www.frontstreetny.com

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For sneaker freaks in need of limited-edition Nike Dunks, Loteks, and Vans, consider Front Street your newest pusher. Opening last August, the blink-and-you'll-miss-it Orchard Street shoe shop is also filled with BMX accessories from Animal and Fit as well as the obligatory selection of Front Street logo T-shirts and sweats.


Project No. 8, 138 Division Street, 212 925 5599; www.projectno8.com

An avant-garde haven just south of Canal Street, Project No. 8 opened less than a year ago to plenty of deserved fanfare. In a smart, all-white storefront, proprietors Brian Janusiak and Elizabeth Beer serve up conceptual clothing and accessories to men and women who seek an impeccably edited selection from fashion-forward designers, including Sunshine and Shadow, Boudicca, Repetto, and Schisser, to name a few.


Leelush, 29 Ludlow Street, 212-431-4433; www.leelush.com

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Planting its previously online-only shop on Ludlow Street last autumn, Leelush takes on the unique responsibility of bringing Canadian style stateside. Proprietors Zarie Muelle and Elinor Arzt pair Vancouver-based designers Dace and Chulo Pony with local pieces from jewelry designer Lo'key Makaj; a selection of vintage pieces are thrown into the bright blue space's mix of wares for good measure.


aNYthing, 51 Hester Street, 212-777-0919; www.anewyorkthing.com

Practically single-handedly rallying a whole scene of artistic downtowners, aNYthing has become a defacto headquarters of the Lower East Side's art and fashion set. Founded by Aaron Bondaroff, the self-proclaimed Don of South of Delancey Downtown, aNYthing provides a place to become part of the action, providing skate kids and gallery goers alike access to hard-to-find photo 'zines, local fashion, aNYthing's in-house clothing line, which plays off commonplace New York typography, as well specially designed T-shirts by graffiti artists like Futura and Neckface.


Eat. Drink.


Brown Café, 61 Hester Street, 212-477-2427; www.greenbrownorange.com

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With its start seven years ago as a biodynamic catering company, Green, Brown and Orange (an event company, Cafe and epicerie, respectfully), the Café has become something of a Hester Street institution. But despite the eco-conscious slow food the trio serves up, growing and commissioning nearly every item served, Green, Brown and Orange captures a perfect laidback sophistication of the new downtown, from the rustic yet elegant baked eggs and wild boar sausage to the minimalist plywood walls.


Good World, 3 Orchard Street, 212-925-9975; www.goodworldbar.com

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Taking its name from the barbershop-cum-brothel that once housed its Orchard Street storefront, Good World opened in 1999 as a Scandinavian-style bistro, where one could kick back with friends over Swedish meatballs and a glass of Aquavit. And while nearly a decade ago the south of Canal location seemed a risk to owners Annika Sundvik and John Lavelle, the duo has established firm roots in the neighborhood, and plan to open another Swedish mainstay—White Slab Palace—on the corner of Allen and Delancey in the coming months.


Bacaro, 136 Division Street, 212-941-5060

Venetian for "pub," Barcaro opened in October with a whole lot of buzz over their decadent northern Italian dishes, cavernous subterranean location, and art-world following. Satisfying traditional bar snacks and 200-plus wine selection are added bonuses.

via CoolHunting, Refinery29

Housing for New Orleans by David Adjaye, Morphosis, MVRDV, Shigeru Ban and others

Actor Brad Pitt has signed up thirteen architectural practices - including Adjaye Architects (above and below), Morphosis, MVRDV and Shigeru Ban Architects - for the Make It Right housing project in New Orleans.

The project, initiated by Pitt in 2006, aims to develop sustainable and affordable housing in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

The aim is to construct 150 houses on the site which will be ecologically responsible, safe, affordable and have a high quality of design.

Above: Adjaye Architects, London, England

The designs, by a mixture of local New Orleans architects, US firms and international companies, are based on traditional New Orleans housing types such as the Shotgun, the Camelback and the Creole Cottage, combined with targets for safety in the area and Cradle to Cradle design principles.

Above and 2 images below: Constructs - Accra, Ghana

The following text is from Make It Right:

Architects:

Make It Right’s goal is to join the history of the Lower 9th Ward with creative new architectural solutions mindful of environmental and personal safety concerns in order to encourage both the evolution of aesthetic distinctiveness and the conscientious awareness of natural surroundings.

To that end, MIR assembled a team of fourteen local, national and international world-renowned architecture firms specializing in innovative, ecologically responsible design.

Local: Billes Architects – New Orleans, LA; Eskew Dumez Ripple – New Orleans, LA; Concordia – New Orleans, LA; Trahan Architects – Baton Rouge, LA; John Williams Architects – New Orleans, LA

Below: Graft - Berlin, Germany

National: BNIM – Kansas City, MO; Kieran Timberlake - Philadelphia, PA; Morphosis – Santa Monica, CA; Pugh + Scarpa – Santa Monica, CA.

International: Adjaye Architects – London, England; Constructs – Accra, Ghana; Graft – Berlin, Germany; MVRDV – Rotterdam, Holland; Shigeru Ban Architects – Tokyo, Japan

Designs :

In keeping with Make It Right (MIR)’s overarching priority to work in cooperation with former residents of the Lower 9th Ward, the approach to new home design began directly with the homeowners themselves. Because local cultural influences gave rise to the pre-Katrina architecture so emblematic of the area, preserving that identity remains vital in reclaiming the spirit of the neighborhood. MIR’s goal is to join the history of this tradition with creative new architectural solutions mindful of environmental and personal safety concerns in order to encourage both the evolution of aesthetic distinctiveness and the conscientious awareness of natural surroundings.

Below: MVRDV - Rotterdam, Netherlands

The architects were given a typology study that included traditional New Orleans housing types such as the Shotgun, the Camelback and the Creole Cottage along with current ideas and recommendations for the target area in the Lower 9th Ward. The MIR team produced a set of guidelines for the houses that set metrics for the final design to insure that the specific goals of the MIR organizations were met. The team is also using Cradle to Cradle thinking to guide and inspire design and materials selection for new homes in the Lower 9th Ward.

The four main guiding principles for the designs are safety, affordability, sustainability and high design quality.

Vision

In December 2006, Brad Pitt convened a group of experts in New Orleans to brainstorm about building green affordable housing on a large scale to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Having spent time with community leaders and displaced residents determined to return home, Pitt realized that an opportunity existed to build houses that were not only stronger and healthier, but that had less impact on the environment.

Below: Shigeru Ban Architects - Tokyo, Japan

Previously, Pitt sponsored an architecture competition organized by Global Green with the goal of generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Several of those designs are currently under construction in the Lower 9th Ward and the project inspired him to expand his efforts.

After discussing the hurdles associated with rebuilding in a devastated area, the group determined that a large-scale redevelopment project focused on green affordable housing and incorporating innovative design was indeed possible.

The group settled on the goal of constructing 150 homes (one of the larger rebuilding projects in the city), with an emphasis on developing an affordable system that could be replicated.

Below: BNIM - Kansas City, MO

To demonstrate replicability, Pitt determined to locate the project in the Lower 9th Ward, one of the most devastated areas of New Orleans, proving that safe homes could and should be rebuilt. Pitt hopes that this project would be a catalyst for recovery and redevelopment throughout the Lower 9th Ward and across the city of New Orleans.

Having listened to one former resident’s plea to help “make this right,” Pitt was inspired to name the project “Make It Right” (MIR).

Below: Kieran Timberlake - Philadelphia, PA

Below: Morphosis - Santa Monica, CA

Below: Pugh + Scarpa - Santa Monica, CA

Below: Billes Architects - New Orleans, LA

Below: Eskew Dumez Ripple - New Orleans, LA

Below: Concordia - New Orleans, LA

Below: Trahan Architects - Baton Rouge, LA

Posted by Rose Etherington

via deezen