Designboom - Weblog

nendo: '24 issey miyake' concept shops now open

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:29:00 +0100

the shop in nihonbashi
photoby daici ano

'24 issey miyake' is a new concept shop designed by nendo, which offers a brightly colored
selection of items selected from issey miyake's lines, along with new and original products
created especially for the shop. the concept for the store is derived from the 'harmonious chaos'
of the japanese convenience store. the name in itself '24', is a direct highlight to this association,
and the logo features the kind of stripes which you might find on the facade of a convenience store.

in order to keep the space as small as possible and pack it with a range of products,
the idea of a back room storage has been omitted, with available products out on the shelves
at all times. the shop's line-up is renewed every two months, with each item available in
20 different colors. even their packaging draws on that of food packaging. because the goods
themselves are so vibrant, the entire shop functions more as a display, with a white backdrop
and lines of 7mm steel fixtures - including hangers and shelving - all formed like shopping baskets.
the minimalist design also gives the colored products a sense of volume within the space.
the idea is that as the items change, the shop itself will transform dramatically.

the shop in nihonbashi
photoby daici ano

the shop in nihonbashi
photoby daici ano

the shop in nihonbashi
photoby daici ano

the shop in shinjuku
photo by daici ano

the shop in shinjuku
photo by daici ano

the shop in shinjuku
photo by daici ano

the shop in shinjuku
photo by daici ano

display tables made to look like mesh shopping baskets
photo by masayuki hayash

display tables made to look like mesh shopping baskets
photo by masayuki hayash

stool and coat rack
photo by masayuki hayash

dividing screen and leaning wall shelf
photo by masayuki hayash

mirror at left
photo by masayuki hayash

medicine and art: imagining a future for life and love

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0100

medicine and art: imagining a future for life and love
mori art museum, tokyo
28 nov. 2009- 28. feb. 2010

l'hospice / the nursing home by gilles barbier, 2002
six wax figures, television, various elements
dimension variable
martin z. margulies, miami, usa
courtesy: galerie g.-p. & n. vallois, paris, france

since time immemorial, people have sought to understand the mechanisms of the human body.
on the basis of their discoveries in medicine and science, people have attempted to counter
the effects of disease and injury and to resist death, seeking the ultimate secret of longevity.
the history of medicine is the sum of all such scientific explorations into the nature of the
human body. likewise, attempts to create depictions of beauty have also been repeated in history.
the human body, in fact, has always been held up as a place to embody the ideal form of beauty,
and people have never tired of its depiction.

surgical procedure (maia) by damien hirst, 2007
oil on canvas
182.9×243.8 cm
photo: prudence cuming associates ltd
courtesy white cube
image © damien hirst, dacs, 2009

in this way, the body can be seen as the meeting point, or the point of departure for journeys
into the two very different worlds of medicine and art. the scientist/artist who obviously stood
most prominently at this intersection was leonardo da vinci. he left us not only accurate anatomical
drawings, but also the mona lisa. developments in science and technology have been essential
to the advancement of medicine in the past, and these days medicine is advancing with progress
in molecular biology. we are now able to explain the mechanism of DNA and shed new light
on the question of what a living organism is. this exhibition brings together roughly
150 important medical artifacts from the wellcome collection in london, historical art works
as well as about 30 works of contemporary art. it is a unique attempt to reconsider the
fundamental question of the meaning of life and death from the parallel, yet rarely compared
perspectives of medicine and art, or science and beauty. also, three anatomical drawings by
leonardo da vinci from the royal collection will be on display for the first time in japan.

'recycling', installation by bai yiluo, 2008

ik men mijn eigen brein ii (I drive my own brain ii) by jan fabre, 2008
paint on medical silicone, wax, textiles, leather and metal
ca. 43 x 29 x 24 cm
courtesy: deweer gallery, otegem, belgium
photo: dirk pauwels / deweer gallery, otegem, belgium
© angelos

part 1: discovering the inner world of the body
how did people around the world first acquire understanding of the mechanisms of the
human body and the vast world it contains? the first section of the exhibition answers
that question by tracing various scientific developments through a vast array of artifacts.
exhibited works include anatomical drawings by leonardo da vinci and michelangelo,
anatomical diagrams and models from around the world. there are also works of contemporary art
by andy warhol, magnas wallin, and bai yilao, as well as traditional japanese works of art by
maruyama ōkyo and kawanabe kyosai.

part 2: fighting against death and disease
this section looks at how people perceive death and disease and how they have tried to fight
against it. in addition to presenting the history of medicine, pharmaceuticals, life sciences
and scientific technology, this section poses philosophical questions about the nature of
life and death. exhibited works include japanese anatomical texts as well as medical journals
and historical medical instruments from around the world. there are also paintings on the theme
of medicine and works of contemporary art made by damien hirst, marc quinn and yanagi miwa.

part 3: toward eternal life and love
in light of the latest developments in biotechnology, cybernetics and neuroscience, and with
reference to medical materials and works of art, the third part of the exhibition poses the
following questions: considering reproduction is simply the endless repetition of the life-death cycle,
what really motivates humans to reproduce? is it possible to pinpoint the real objective of human life
and its likely future? what is life? exhibited works include drawings by rené descartes,
illustrations by francis crick of the double-helix structure of DNA, and contemporary artworks by
francis bacon, jan fabre, matsui fuyuko and others.

skeleton performing zazen on waves by maruyama okyo
c.1787 ink, paper
132.6×59cm
daijoji temple, hyogo, japan

three tibetan anatomical figures
c. 1800
watercolour and black ink on white linen
wellcome library

organizers: mori art museum, wellcome trust, the yomiuri shimbun
in association with: ministry of health, labour and welfare, riken, japan surgical society,
the japanese society of internal medicine, japan medical association, british council
corporate sponsors: diam co., ltd., toyota motor corporation, the prudential life insurance co., ltd.,
the gibraltar life insurance co., ltd., the prudential financial japan life insurance co., ltd.,
otsuka holdings co., ltd., olympus corporation, johnson&johnson japan group,
chugai pharmaceutical co., ltd., teikyo university, terumo
corporation grants from: u.s. embassy, tokyo, the tokyo club
support: japan airlines, champagne nicolas feuillatte, bombay sapphire
cooperation: science museum, the japan association for cultural exchange
curated by: nanjo fumio (director, mori art museum), ken arnold (head of public programmes,
welcome trust)

robolamps

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:02:00 +0100

croatian artist robert matysiak is the creator of these robot lamps made from plumbing supplies.
the lamps are each unique and use pipes of all shapes and sizes to create robot-like characters.
matysiak hand builds the designs which each come with a light bulb. despite the rigidity of the
hardware store parts, the lamps each have a distinct personality.

via gizmodo

suwa architects: nunchakun

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:30:00 +0100

nunchakun by suwa architects
photo daici ano

japanese firm suwa architects designed the extension of this three storey house in tokyo.
the existing house did not allow natural light in, therefore suwa architects created
a wide open space with many openings, building on the existing concrete structure.
the staircase to the roof connects the old with the new.

the diagonal shaped roof hides the internal pole structures of the external wall.
to achieve this, they have developed a method that connects logs. the name
'nunchakun' is a combination of the shape of logs, like nunchuk which are flexible.

photo daici ano

photo shinkenchiku sha and daici ano

views of the city at night
photo daici ano

a view of the house at night
photo shinkenchiku sha

nunchakun model
photo daici ano

project credits:
construction: taro carp morikawa M & M produce
structural framing/ framing construction: wooden logs
scale: floor area 25m ²

mushroom hook by masako sato

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:10:00 +0100

the mushroom hook by japanese designer masako sato is made from silicone rubber.

during the rainy season, it's very humid in japan. one day I found a moldy wall in my room.
I was worried that mushrooms were coming up. but at the same time, I imagined how funny
it would be if mushrooms were to grow on walls. masako sato

the mushroom hooks have been shown at the designboom mart tokyo 09.

tokyo mart display
image © designboom

mushroom hook is usable for different type of walls
image © designboom

image © designboom

image © designboom

masako sato
image © designboom

NL architects: SOZAWE

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:57:00 +0100

SOZAWE by NL architects
image courtesy NL architects

SOZAWE (welfare department and work agency) by NL architects is located in
the city of groningen; consisting of office spaces, a large interior public space and 215
parking spaces. in their design NL aimed to construct a building which was open,
inviting and sustainable. a crucial part of the program was the 'marketplace' or 'square'
to allow interaction between the department and its customers.

the stepped volume typology for the office building creates numerous cross relations
between floors. in total there are 9 office floors. each floor has access to an outdoor
space that will feature trees and a view over the city.

image courtesy NL architects

aerial view
image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

a regular building would build on top of the park
image courtesy NL architects

NL's proposal incorporates the park
image courtesy NL architects

greenery is included underneath and on top of the building
image courtesy NL architects

building shape
image courtesy NL architects

program
image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

section of building
image courtesy NL architects

model of SOZAWE
image courtesy NL architects

model of SOZAWE
image courtesy NL architects

model of SOZAWE
image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

image courtesy NL architects

mehdi saeedi: from script to calligraphy

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0100

at the recent icograda congress in beijing, the iranian graphic designer mehdi saeedi
gave a lecture entitled 'from script to calligraphy'.

we quote here:
the history of iranian manuscript and persian calligraphy and script, has an ancient bonding
with 'reed pen'. this tool found a symbolic and allegory-abstraction place more farther up its
own mean face in iranian gnosis, literary and tradition. in addition, calligraphy with the 'reed pen'.
is carrier of customs and rituals. the usage origin of reed pen can not be specified certainly and surely,
but it is clear that, the 'naskh script' (style of script used in typography) was current only until has
had spread until before safavieh period and it appeared in the nasta'aligh writing after combination
with taaligh nasta'aligh handwriting and basically the tradition of iran calligraphy should not be
summarized in its instrumental and technical form. its deep bonding with the gnosis and old literature
will reach the 'calligrapher' to the excellent private moral features and spirits. reaching to excellent
arrangement guides in a kind of spiritual sightseeing, refining, soul single and individual mortification.
moreover, there has been a kind of deep heart relation beyond than the training aspect and has been
accounted as the moral and spiritual growth of trainer.
processing of handwriting's in the works, which will come after this and a landscape of combination
of writing with contemporary symbol recognition trends, symbolic gaining from suitable receiving image -
writing with the traditional and custom sense. from the other side, has tried until to be used from
'seyamashgh' capacities as it is possible too, which to be an association in a rhythmic and flowing of values,
meanwhile the picture to be found its meaning deepness and has had pride in this cultural bed.
the sequence, symmetry and complexity that is similar to single, to make current the sense of 'holiness',
'secret mode' and 'meaning' in its own self and sometimes it refers to the place and text field of work.
my image had been that the handwriting should draw for human due to having ancient holiness in
iranian culture that to transfer the essence of soul and sense of calligrapher with the same primary virginity
and innovation that the famous calligraphers have had in their hand the 'reed pen' with the private decoration
and customs. it is in the direction of the same route that all writing's of these works have been written without
interface of instrument but by hand.

tools

research / studies

sketches

the 18th fadjr international music festival, 2003
poster for the music center, islamic guidance ministry

sketches for poster 'garfens of iran'

garfens of iran, 2004
poster for tehran museum of contemporary art

sketches

sadegh hedayat (the first iranian typography exhibition)
poster for 5th color

poster for boofekoor typography exhibition

the 5th persian painting islamic biennial iran, 2002
poster for tehran museum of contemporary art

three iranian look, 2004
poster for tehran museum of contemporary art

world about to explode, 2003
for 'fourth block'

all is by him, 2003
for soroush publisher

the iranianspring (iranian cultural and artistic exhibition in paris), 2004
poster for tehran museum of contemporary art

the 14th music festival (zekro zakeri), 2004
poster for the music center, islamic guidance ministry

the 6th iranian jasmin music festival (focused on women), 2004
poster for the music center, islamic guidance ministry

mehdi saeedi
portrait © designboom

mehdi saeedi
studied graphic design in iran and england. in 1998 he opened his private studio working
with some of the most prominent cultural centers in iran. mehdi saeedi has participated in
numerous domestic and international exhibitions around the world. he organized the selected
5th generation iranian graphic designers exhibition in 2006 and has attended numerous local
and international competitions and exhibitions as jury member and speaker.

vase vs. vases exhibition at the helmrinderknecht, berlin

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:59:00 +0100

vase vs. vases
helmrinderknecht, berlin
on now until january 9th, 2010

the vase can be noted as an object of utility and decoration. moving on from its simple
methods of production and craftsmanship, today the vase has become a mass produced piece
of design, found in almost every household, expressing a range of techniques and aesthetics.

vase vs. vases is helmrinderknecht's second show completely dedicated to the subject.
15 international artists and designers have been invited to show their interpretations
of the common object. tension between diverse forms of design engineering, a range
of materials and production approaches have been explored in the works on show.
the result is an experimentation of sorts, enhancing the everyday role of the vessel.

bucket vase, 2009 by tina roeder
editions of 5 +1

almost too frugal and too obvious as if the object would already exist in the collective memory.
the banal simplicity of the white porcelain bucket vase by tina roeder bafﬂes and inevitably
points out the magnitude incorporated in such a design. the bucket made out of pure silver 925
emphasizes simplicity and turns reticence into elegance. inspired by the basic plastic buckets
used in ﬂower shops, it celebrates the generosity of giving ﬂowers.

L vase, 2009 by robert stadler
edition of 15 + 5

stadler's intention with Lvase was to point out an important financial and juridical problem -
the counterfeit of luxury brands. Lvase draws on this current urban scene of the illegal street
salesmen wrapping their replicated items into pieces of cloth and escaping authorities.
the Lvase is filled with concrete and its immobility symbolizes the fact that this problem cannot
be easily removed. is this a bad bag or a good vase? in terms of brand quality and authorship
it is a 'bad' bag, but after the shift in typology from bag to vase it can be considered as something
'good'. the plastic fabric provides a waterproof mould for pouring the concrete, its handles enable
it to be moved around and its weight offers a stable container to display flowers.

RGB vase, 2009 by oscar diaz
edition of 8

the RGB vase combines a process like glass blowing, a process refined over more than
two thousand years ago, but which references contemporary culture. based on the RGB
color system, the vase works as a three dimensional pixel, where the values of red, green
and blue overlap to create a specific hue of purple(p242) which only appears when the vases
are nested within one another and as light passes through. a computer was used to calculate
the exact amount of pigment that each vase should have in order to achieve that purple color.

fish futures, 2009 by martí guixé

based on a drawn concept of a vase, guixé's contribution is a corked glass vase, filled with water
and floating upright. fish futures is a reference to the objects he has designed for fishtanks
which were based on interaction or function, discarding decorative purposes. it includes a
feeding area, system to travel in hostile areas, a chill-out zone, oxygenation area etc.

vase plant no. 1, 209 by osko + deichmann
edition of 20 + 2

in nature, the leaves of the bormeliad form a funnel to collect water to nourish the plant,
with roots only serving as stabilizers in the soil. osko + deichmann have transformed
an ordinary bromeliad into an object where roots are completely free from soil, the plant
centered and is in an almost floating position on a marble edifice. the use of marble as a
main pillar increases its value and serves as a reference to neo-clasical pageantry vases.
a flower stands in the vase, but is the flower part of the plant, or just debris placed there intentionally?
the constraints of perception begin to blur, along with the presumption that a cut flower
would be more alive than the vase itself. the bromeliad lives as both plant and vase,
the full beauty of the living object gains importance in the presence of the perishable.

podium, 2009 by nicholas le moigne
gold, silver, bronze, edition of 5 + 2

in observing the systems used by art and modern design galleries for displaying objects -
the iconic white plinth - le moigne came up with the idea of irrevocably associating them
with the object put on display. each stand and vase is linked by a common technique,
with enameled ceramic, and follows a mathematical logic. the dimensions and shape of each
vase have been determined in relation to the plinth's proportions. the upper part of the vase
has a noble function that is setting off its chosen contents, while the stand retains its more sober
and modest function.

chop, 2009 by herrmann august weizenegger
edition of 8

the aesthetics of the vase's surface is defined by the use of sensual attributes which have been
determined by an electronic production process which leaves marks / traces similar to the ones
of a manually produced object. laser cut from cardboard, it shows minimal fringes at the edges
of the cut. these traces relate to the material and are also intended by the designer, to provide
the vase with its own substantial profile, reminding one of more natural materials like wood
and sedimentary stones. the functional morphology refers to such tectonic and geological layers
in combination with non-conformity in erosion.

brief moment of happiness, 2009 by studio glithero
provided by funds of the vauxhall collective
read more here

the show also includes work by werner aisslinger, giulia maria beretta, frédéric dedelley,
alfredo häberli, robin van hontem, julia maendler and ursula palla.

snaefell hybrid car - motorcycle by francois knorreck

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:59:00 +0100

the snaefell is car / motorcycle designed by francois knorreck, a french hospital technician,
who has spent the last 10 years and 15, 000 euros developing the 'hybrid' vehicle.
investing more than 10, 000 hours of work into the project, the result is a 1976 laverda motorcycle
with a sidecar which has been custom-built from parts of various automobiles including
the volkswagen golf GTI, audi 80 and citroën xantia.

via neatorama

anna barriball

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:46:00 +0100

buckets, 2002
paint on buckets
27 x 61 x 28 cm

the work of UK artist anna barriball, hinges on the minimal interactions between objects,
moving between the parallel languages of drawing and sculpture.

the emphasis of her art is about recording the physicality and substance of mundane objects,
by tracing their form. much of her practice focuses on exploring the passage of time,
through interactions with these everyday objects either by graphite rubbings which bare traces
of the object's use or function transforming paper into shimmering works of art, or through
wrapping objects entirely with ribbon to accentuate their form and shape. barriball's reptitious
actions results in a series of interventions which combine these labor intensive techniques -
pieces which make sense of the world by empirical study.

untitled(detail), 2008
curtain fabric
dimensions variable
edition of 3

sunset/sunrise v, 2008
pencil on paper
85 x 110 cm

mirror window wall iii, 2008
ink on paper
260.5 x 200.5 cm

draw (fireplace), 2005
dvd projection
10 min 30 sec

a large sheet of tracing paper covers a fireplace being sucked in and out, wrapping around
features of the fireplace. expelling the air causes paper to inflate. paper becomes animated,
a strange form of respiration which is ridiculous and mysterious.

door, 2004
pencil on paper
208.5 x 88 x 6 cm

silver map, 2003
silver pen on world map
82 x 131 cm

chair, 2004
chair, ribbon and pva glue
65 x 80 x 4 cm

black wardrobe, 2003
tape on wardrobe
177.8 x 70 x 40 cm

anna barriball was born in plymouth, england in 1972.
she attended the winchester school of art and obtained her masters in fine art at the
chelsea college of art in 2000. she is represented by the frith street gallery in london, UK
where she currently lives and works.

in the upcoming year, barriball will be having a solo exhibition at the milton keynes gallery,UK
and will be participating in two group shows: one at studio 44 in stockholm and as part of the
'newspeak: british art now exhibition' at the saatchi gallery.

the scroll clock by toki woki

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:14:00 +0100

the 'scroll clock' by toki woki shows the time using scroll bars.

here's how the clock appears when viewed in different browsers and operating systems.

more examples here

jacques de loustal exhibition

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:19:00 +0100

self portrait as a child, in between his heroes - image © jacques de loustal

today an exhibition of recent work by the french artist jacques de loustal opens at
the centre culturel du forum place françois truffaut in ville de saint gratien.
it will run until 15 january 2010.

the making of - image © jacques de loustal

sketch, the making of 'coronado' album, september 2009 - image © jacques de loustal

final drawing, the making of 'coronado' album, september 2009 - image © jacques de loustal
the 'coronado' album is published by casterman rivage it is an adaption of dennis lehane
(author of 'mystic river' and 'shutter island')

poster for the 'salon du livre' in colmar, november 2009 - image © jacques de loustal

recent work - image © jacques de loustal

recent work - image © jacques de loustal

jacques de loustal was born on april 10, 1956 in neuilly-sur-seine, france. he is considered as one of the most popular french
contemporary artists and his influences lean more towards fine art than to comics. loustal lived in africa for a good part
of his life, a fact strongly reflected in his graphic novels. while still studying architecture, he started making some
short comic stories for métal hurlant, pilote, nitro, chic, zoulou and libération. in addition to his art and graphic novels
loustal also does illustrations for the new yorker. he currently lives and works in paris. more

interested in visual communication?
the design-aerobics course 'graphic design in 2010' is now open for enrollment
designboom is pleased to announce that our upcoming, online education course on the topic
of graphic design is now available for purchase. the course will provide practical information and
useful advice to help beginners communicate themselves more effectively and inform them of
current and emerging developments within graphic design.

see how to enroll

T3 netpad

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:01:00 +0100

T3 set out to create the ultimate mobile computer with the device concept they call the netpad. the concept
is designed by the UK design studio, the alloy with median and feedback from users throughout the design
process. the mobile device features a number of innovative features that set it apart from the competition.
for one, the display is bordered by two touch-sensitive info bars that feature hotkeys for doing common task
like launching applications of checking for new emails. the keyboard is retractable so the device can be
used as a tablet or a traditional laptop. the case itself is made from magnesium alloys, perforated aluminum
and carbon fibre, making it extremely light. the lid can also be used as a stand, perfect for watching video
or giving presentations. not sure if this will ever be available to consumers, but it does gives laptop makers
some inspiration.

http://futuretech.t3.com/2009/is-this-the-notebook-of-the-future

mr. wake

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:35:00 +0100

vadim ryazanov is the creator of mr. wake, a small robotic alarm clock that runs away when you try to turn
it off. mr. wake is a home made robot that makes use of an infrared sensor to detect motion and is built
using a found alarm clock and frame made from plastic pens. when the user attempts to shut off the alarm,
the robot will drive away forcing the user out of bed and making sure they get up on time. while mr. wake
sounds very efficient at getting you up in the morning, most people won_t enjoy chasing a robot around
their home.

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/11550

the emotion lab: inside urban collection

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:01:00 +0100

'space divider'

the emotion lab based in barcelona spain is an international studio founded by young
designers christian vivanco (mexico), tom allen (australia), marta falcon (spain),
yago rodriguez (spain). they have just released 'inside urban', a new collection
of furniture consisting of 'space divider', 'antenna hanger', 'scaffold shelving'
and 'mirror light'. each of the products are based on objects usually seen in an urban
environment.

detail of space divider

detail of space divider

space divider

'space divider' before assembly

antenna coat hanger

hooks can be added or removed

antenna coat hanger before assembly

scaffolding shelf

detail

scaffolding shelf base

scaffolding shelf before assembly

mirror light

mirror light

mirror light

the inside urban collection

beginning drawings of the inside urban collection

typology research for the collection

the emotion lab team

hiroki tanabe: O project

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:07:00 +0100

O project by hiroki tanabe

detail

this is a small commercial building situated on a busy corner in tokyo. hiroki tanabe
chamfered the building, to encourage people to be drawn close to it and explore inside.
the shapes of chamfered corners differ from the odd-numbered floors to the even-numbered
floors.

location : chiyoda-ku, tokyo
purpose : store and office
construction methods : steel construction
number of floors : 6 floors
building area : 134.02m2
total floor area : 769.77m2

ofis: ljubljana city municipality design development

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:09:00 +0100

the new ljubljana administration centre by ofis

slovenian architecture firm ofis have received third prize in the competition to design
the new ljubljana administration centre. the brief proposed several departments to move
to the same site but occupy different buildings. located along the river on the edge of
the city the building is surrounded by some protected buildings.

ofis designed three new buildings as cylinders related with loops of space in various
heights. in the middle of each cylinder is a public entrance area and offices arranged
around the center. the logic of connected and disconnected departments follow
mathematical models of intersections and unions. two departments that share meeting
spaces are connected in various floors with loops and bridges.

the external facades will feature a high performance glazing and an adaptable external
shading device to reduce solar gain in summer. the concrete slab imbedded pipe system
provides cooling without draft problems and in winter comfortable radiant heating.
in summer the cooling of the offices spaces will be achieved for major amount of time
just using the slab system.

main data:
location: ljubljana, slovenia 
type: offices with public program 
client: city municipality ljubljana
surface above ground:
new buildings: 42.288m2
existing buildings: 16.868m2
existing buildings + new buildings: 59.148m2
surface below ground (new buildings): 20.800m2
project leaders: rok oman, spela videcnik 
project team: andrej gregoric, janez martincic, magdalena lacka, katja aljaz,

MVRDV: market hall, rotterdam - construction begins

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:47:00 +0100

new market hall in rotterdam by MVRDV architects
all images courtesy MVRDV architects

at the place where rotterdam was founded, near the historic laurens church,
a new market hall will be realized by MVRDV architects. the market hall is
a sustainable combination of food, leisure, living and parking - fully integrated
to enhance and use the synergetic possibilities of the different functions, a public
building emerging from housing.

an arch of 228 apartments, will create a large hall which houses 100 market stalls,
shops and restaurants, 1200 parking spaces and an underground supermarket.
each apartment will have a balcony on the outside and a window to the inside of
the market. insulation will prevent any unwanted effects. the 40 meter tall and wide
opening of the front and back will be covered with a flexible suspended glass façade,
allowing for maximum transparency and a minimum of structure. the interior of
the arch will display market produce.

the project with a total of 100.000 m2 is set to be completed in 2014 and part of
the current regeneration of rotterdams post war centre. project developer provast
realizes the building, unibail rodamco invested in the shops and restaurants whilst
housing corporation vesteda will manage the rental apartments.

barry X ball

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:35:00 +0100

barry X ball - masterpieces
salon 94, new york
on now until december 12th, 2009

masterpieces is the current exhibition of barry X ball's new sculpture at salon 94 in new york.
this being the US debut of this body of work, the show features three figurative works in stone,
executed with contemporary technology which enables digital scanning and manipulation of
three-dimensional objects. ball has used this technology to collect data on two baroque
masterpieces in the permanent collection of ca'rezzonico, venice - 'la purità' (dama velata),
by antonio corradini, and 'la invidia' by orazio marinali, while still directly engaging the figures'
historical antecedents.

purity, 2008-2009
golden honeycomb calcite
pedestal made from macedonian marble, stainless steel, wood, acrylic lacquer, steel, nylon, plastic
dimensions of scultpure: 24 x 16.5 x 11.75 incheS
dimensions of pedestal: 45 x 14 x 12 inches
image courtesy of salon 94

'purity' is a response to antonio corradini's 'la purità' (1720 - 1725). it is sculpted in both
golden honeycomb calcite and white iranian onyx - semi-translucent stones not traditionally
used for sculpture that transcend the limitations of marble, blurring the lines between stone,
flesh, and cloth. the translucency of the materials creates the illusion of the sculptures
emanating light, simultaneously conveying the warmth of human flesh and the diaphanous
qualities of a veil. with sumptuous finishes that highlight the sensuality of exposed flesh,
purity is inevitably imbued with eroticism despite its virtuous title.

image courtesy of barry X ball

image courtesy of barry X ball

image courtesy of barry X ball

purity, 2008-2009
iranian onyx and stainless steel
pedestal made from macedonian marble, stainless steel, wood, acrylic lacquer, steel, nylon, plastic
dimensions of scultpure: 24 x 16.5 x 11.75 incheS
dimensions of pedestal: 45 x 14 x 12 inches
image courtesy of salon 94

image courtesy of barry X ball

image courtesy of barry X ball

image courtesy of barry X ball

envy, 2009 by barry X ball
image courtesy of salon 94

sculpted after orazio marinali's 'la invidia' (1643 - 1720), ca'rezzonico, venice,
'envy' is executed in blegian black marble, and augments the terror and pathos of marinali's
medusa-like figure. with laboriously refined details, ball's snake-headed woman escapes
the confinement of marinali's frontal portrait by reemerging as a personified monster incarnate.
envy's brittle skin, sagging breasts and horrific screaming mouth confront the viewer with a
sense of imminent mortality.

image courtesy of barry X ball

image courtesy of barry X ball

installation view of masterpieces exhibition at salon 94
image courtesy of salon 94

image courtesy of salon 94

studio lindfors: aqualta

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:27:00 +0100

times square new york
image: studio lindfors

new york-based architecture firm, studio lindfors imagined what would happen if new york and tokyo were
hit by catastrophic rises in sea-level in their new series titled 'aqualta'. the images depict everyday life in this
unusual scenario in two of the worlds biggest seaside cities. people navigate new york city in gondolas or
fish from newly formed river banks in the heart of tokyo. the series is an eye-opening speculation of what
might happen if global warming predictions come true and sea-levels do rise in these compact metropolises.
the images also allow us to see what the urban landscape will look like in this scenario and how the built
environment may change.

http://www.studiolindfors.com

garment district new york
image: studio lindfors

5th avenue and 35th street new york
image: studio lindfors

5th avenue and 53rd street new york
image: studio lindfors

shibuya station tokyo
image: studio lindfors

roppongi tokyo
image: studio lindfors

west 29th street and broadway
image: studio lindfors

nissan V2G concept

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:35:00 +0100

the nissan V2G is a concept car design that is part of the youthmobile 2030 design challenge being
exhibited at the 2009 LA auto show. the challenge asks design teams to imagine a car designed for
young drivers in 2030. the nissan v2g concept is an electric car that would drive on a network of
electrified highways. the car is designed to be customized with parts that can be snapped on and off
by the owner, fitting into the car modifying culture of LA. these parts would be also be made from
carbon nanotunbe cloth impregnated with bio resin, allowing them to be endlessly recycled.
the concept would feature a small cabin mounted on six wheels, two on the back and four up front
on extended arms.

http://www.laautoshow.com/dc09/index.html

zeo personal sleep coach

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:00 +0100

it seems that no one gets a good nights sleep anymore. zeo is a new digital device that aims to change this.
zeo bills itself as a personal sleep coach and consists of a bedside display and a headband to track the users
sleep patterns. the user simply wears the headband to bed and zeo tracks their sleep and displays it on the
bedside unit in a variety of metrics. zeo also syncs with an online component that features a sleep journal,
sleep tools and other ways to learn more about the user. the system can then recommend ways to alter the
users lifestyle or sleep patterns in order to give them a better sleep. zeo doesnt make any guarantees of
a better sleep but instead aims to simply give the user more information on their sleeping patterns.

http://www.myzeo.com

a house divided into four by hiroki tanabe

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:00:00 +0100

in 2008 japanese architect hiroki tanabe developed a small café house of 62 sqm -
a two-story complex which has an elongated U shape. on the first floor there is a kitchen
and the café doubling as living room. the second floor houses a bedroom and bathroom.

south side

north side

bird's eye view

bedroom

kitchen

corridor / hallway

living terrace

plan

cristoph niemann: bio-diversity

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:05:00 +0100

cristoph niemann's latest installment on his blog abstract city is 'bio-diversity'.
the german illustrator imagines some rare tree species via cut leaves..

see more of the leaves here.

interested in visual communication?
the design-aerobics course 'graphic design in 2010' is now open for enrollment
designboom is pleased to announce that our upcoming, online education course on the topic
of graphic design is now available for purchase. the course will provide practical information and
useful advice to help beginners communicate themselves more effectively and inform them of
current and emerging developments within graphic design.

see how to enroll

le creative sweatshop with khuong nguyen

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:30:00 +0100

le creative sweatshop's most recent work is a series for shoes-up.

see also the nissan advertisement
which has combined designboom and le creative sweatshop's forces.

le creative sweatshop is the result of the encounter between 'ndeur' (mathieu missiaen) and 'make a paper world'
(julien morin) in january 2009: a conceptual agency based of modern communication means and mediums,
through the lens of the DIY culture, working on volume and space scenography.

studio bednarski wins competition to design new opening bridge in copenhagen

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0100

the bridge opens on a sliding mechanism allowing boats and ships to pass through

studio bednarski and flint & neill (bridge engineers, in collaboration with hardesty & hanover
(mechanical engineers) and speirs and major(lighting designers) have won a competition
to design a new opening pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the copenhagen inner harbour (inderhavnen).

the bridge functions on a sliding mechanism with an opening that spans 50m, a total length of 180m
and decks that are 7m wide. it has a low profile and minimal obstruction to views along and across
the harbour. a main feature of the bridge design is that people can stand on viewing platforms right
at the edge of the navigation channel, even when the bridge is open, making it possible to watch
the bridge movement and be within arms reach of passing ships and boats.

slightly sinuous, the bridge maximizes the length of the adjoining ramps, allowing them to be kept
at 4%, lessening their intrusion onto the harbour sides. its curved profile of cantilevered
moving sections, have smooth under-bellies reminiscent of a boat's underside. these sculptural
elements can be treated in a number of ways. they can be brightly colored to add a splash of liveliness
to the port or be mirror polished and reflect light off the water surface without causing any direct
glare from the sun.

'we have deliberately avoided high structural elements, which would interrupt views across
and along the harbour, both when the bridge is closed and when it is open. views of the new
opera house from knippelsbro, for example, would not be disrupted by our design,(...)'
says cezary bednarski.

aerial view - open

aerial view - closed

its low profile minimizes the obstruction of views of across the harbour

plan - open

plan - closed

masterplan at night

coop himmelb(l)au: pavillion 21 mini opera space

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:28:00 +0100

pavillion 21 mini opera space by coophimmelb(l)au
© armin hess, isochrom

coop himmelb(l)au have released plans of their 'pavillion 21 mini opera space'.
the temporary mobile performance space created for the bavarian state opera in munich,
germany will be able to accommodate 300 visitors. it is intended to be used for a wide
range of events at the annual opera festival 2010 and then travel to various locations.

the design goal for the pavilion is to impact a unique soundscape by helping to reduce
the apparent noise and to create a 'zone of silence' where it is technically not possible,
but this term used here is intended to describe an area where you can sense a change in
the soundscape that gives the impression of a quieter environment.

for achieving the concept they use three mechanisms, firstly the shielding effect of
the plaza blocks sound from the road, secondly the shaping of the pavilion surface to collect
and deflect sound and thirdly the material characteristic of the pavilion surface to absorb
and reflect sound.

the pavilions spatial structure acts as a 'transformer' that changes our perception
and sensation of the soundscape and music on the plaza around the pavilion and inside
the performance space.

pavillion 21 mini opera space - model
image © markus pillhofer

image © markus pillhofer

image © markus pillhofer

image © markus pillhofer

image © armin hess, isochrom

image © armin hess, isochrom

project info:
pavilion 21 mini opera space, munich, germany 2008 - 2010 (in planning)

client: the bavarian state opera munich, germany
floor area: 560 meters squared (gross area)
site area: 1.790 meters squared
net area: 430 meters squared
gross area: 560 meters squared
footprint: 560 meters squared
volume: 4.350 metes squared

height: 12.5m
length: 38.5m
width: 25.5m

project team:
design principal: wolf d. prix
project partner: paul kath
project architect: volker kilian
design architect: sophie grell
project team: martin jelinek, daniela krohnert, valerie messini, judith mussel,
martin neumann, renate weissenbock
models: sebastian buchta, paul hoszowski

tal gur: holy poly chair

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:55:00 +0100

the holy poly chair
image © designboom

the holy poly chair designed by tal gur, is comprised of three very different layers.
the inner structure is a skeleton of a ready-made common plastic chair, which has a surrounded
by a cardboard covering to create volume and mass. it is then finished with a blue polyurea skin.

image © designboom

detail of the polyurea skin
image © designboom

image © designboom

cardboard covering(left) and application of the polyurea skin(right)

carsten nicolai aka alva noto

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:25:00 +0100

alva noto is the stage name for german-born audio-visual artist carsten nicolai.

designboom attended the alva noto live performance at yugong yishan club, beijing on october 28th, 2009

through his insights into hardware, software, mathematics and science,
alva noto has found a way to meet sound and light as one energy.
'I describe what I do as graphic composing,' nicolai reveals.
'Im always thinking in polarities, like yin and yang. I look for visualization
tools that create certain images and then build archives of images generated by sound.'

alva noto performs at yugong yishan club, october 09 in beijing

alva noto performs at sonar, june 09 in barcelona

alva noto performs at club transmediale, july 09 in berlin

see more performance videos here

among the many art projects carsten nicolai presented in his lecture at the recent icograda conference
in beijing was his installation 'syn chron'.
it was presented for the first time at new national gallery (designed by mies van der rohe) in berlin in 2005.
in this sound installation, a large 14m-wide and 4m-high polyhedron made possible by analyzing a
physical crystal system is covered with a new material that has a special honeycomb structure to
permeate through image projection, and on its surface are fixed many small special speakers.
particle-like images (on six white-laser projectors) synchronize and change with the composition of
abstract electronic sounds that frequently use nicolai's original sign-waves and pulse sounds.
thus visitors could experience freely this work and resonance moving about inside and outside the installation.

carsten nicolai
was born in 1965 in chemnitz, he lives and works in berlin.
carsten nicolai is among the most prominent members of a generation of artists aiming to investigate
the interfaces between art, nature and science. working across disciplines as a visual artist, researcher,
musician and producer all in one, nicolai aims to surmount the splitting up of human sensual perception
and to make palpable, both for our eyes and our senses of hearing and touch, scientific phenomena
such as sound and light frequencies or electro-magnetic fields.
his installations are characterised by a minimalist aesthetic and captivate us through their elegance,
simplicity and technicity.
alva noto is his pseudonym.

enric ruiz geli: villa nurbs, empuriabrava

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:22:00 +0100

'villa nurbs' is a private residence developed by spanish architect enric ruiz geli
in collaboration with artist frederic amat and ceramist toni cumella. the space age
designed family house is located in empuriabrava (costa brava), spain and consists
of wavelike ceramic plates which are used against solar radiation. the plates for
the north wall of this building were produced using digitally cut moulds.
when the house is seen from above it looks like the eyes of an insect.

a view at night by enric ruiz geli
image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

top view
photo by lluis ros

villa nurbs
image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

the building under construction
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

detail of ceramic tiles
image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

image courtesy enric ruiz geli
photo by lluis ros

the beginning stages of the design using 3D software
image courtesy enric ruiz geli

image courtesy enric ruiz geli

image courtesy enric ruiz geli

various shaped tiles
image courtesy enric ruiz geli

image courtesy enric ruiz geli

image courtesy enric ruiz geli

image courtesy enric ruiz geli

principal architect : enric ruiz geli
sponsor : familia gallego leon
project architect : felix fassbinder, jordi fernandez rio
technical architect : agusti mallol, manoli vila (G3), daniel benito po, xavier badia
cloud 9 team : victor llanos, miguel carreiro, emmanuel ruffo, rosa duque,
andre macedo, ura carvalho, hye young yu, marta yebra, mae durant, angelina pinto,
randall holl, william arbizu, max zinnecker, laia jutgla, manel soler, megan kelly-sweeney,
alessandra faticanti, susanne bodach, andre brosel
environmental assessment : estudi ramon folch
ceramics : rrederic amat, toni cumella
glasss : vicky colombet, dominique haim / galeria chanim, cricursa
design : emiliana designestudio