Obra Architect’s Centrifugal Villa: A house without a heart

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The Centrifugal Villa, a house by Obra Architects in Southampton New York, is set on a 5-acre property overlooking an agricultural reserve. The building transforms vernacular post-and-beam construction by transposing proportion and redsitributing plan around a centrifugal scheme.

The rooms are “arranged around a hollow center, as if the heart of the house had somehow fallen outside its body.” This creates a string of interior spaces that are characterized by “constantly shifting vanishing points” and large windows—placed at each crease in the plan—that “centrifugally release the views out to the surrounding landscape.”

The property also includes a poolhouse with separate guest accomodations and garage. The 100% trellised, open screen room warmly complements the skylit, labyrinthine moments of the main house.

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More shots after the jump.

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Petralito Rotiroti Associati

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This picture (more after the jump) is from an event curated by Italian group Petralito Rotiroti Associati (dedicated to graphic design, visual identity, editorials, graphics for exhibitions, and events). It involved five Italian street artists (BROS, ERON, IVAN, NAIS, OZMO) in a unique, experientially focused exhibition. Amazing venue too.

“The exhibit hosted by the Urban Metamorphoses section of the 2009 Creativity Festival showcases experiences rather than works of art. The project envisions five private spaces of which each artist takes possession and expresses his or her own artistic experience. The five previously unpublished works have been especially created for the exhibition and are featured in spaces where visitors can go in and listen to the narrations of each artist. The exhibition is curated by Michelangelo Petralito, Gianni De Simone, Iolanda Rotiroti and Serena Vinattieri.”

Photos by MAX ROMMEL

Type as Object Exhibit and Pop Up Shop

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Indubitable masters of font and design House Industries has long taken their art not only beyond simple curves but out of 2-D confines, coaxing them to jump off the page and into beautifully tangible objects. In the Type as Object show opening today at NYC’s Type Directors Club, fans will have an opportunity to not only see these objects but buy them in a special pop up store designed for the occasion.

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Offerings include the Girard Blocks (developed as part of a font collection inspired by mid-century designer Alexander Girard), as well as a Girard memory game, an iron ampersand perfect for use as a bookend, dumbbell or self-defense weapon—plus a selection of prints, tees, books, tote bags, cutting boards and various accessories. These items embody the same light-hearted spirit as their 2-D predecessors, making them functional in a totally different way.

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In addition to the exhibit and store, several events throughout the show’s run add more appeal, including a lecture by House Industries’ Andy Cruz and Rich Roat that will kick off the opening and an all-day lettering workshop that will take place on the last day of the month-long festivities on 20 November 2009.

See more installation shots here.

Type As Object

21 October-20 November 2009

Type Directors Club Headquarters

347 West 36 Street, Suite 603

New York City, NY 10018 map

tel. +1 212 633 8943

Type Casting

Glen and I often pretend that his novels are being made into a movie and that we have to cast actors for the various characters. (I always try to work Clive Owen in there somehow; he’d make an excellent “Walt” from Correction Road: emotionally damaged, alchoholic, aged but appealing, rough yet handsome.)

The folks on Design Observer have been casting actors to play famous typographers:

Liev Schrieber as Giambattista Bodoni

Hugh Laurie as Nicolas Jensen

Benicio del Toro as Neville Brody

Edward Norton as Chip Kidd

View the extensive and entertaining cast of typographic characters here!

Rat reading

My husband Glen Dresser’s first novel, Correction Road, is approaching its second anniversary of publication. Narrated by an omniscient rat, the story follows Walt, Hugh and Joan, three characters drifting from, and towards, one another. The novel explores the real and imagined boundaries between people, landscape and perception.

This Just Inbox: Upcycling by Mans Salomonsen

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Swedish designer Måns Salomonsen, designer of the Pulseline bookshelves, is now upcycling. Check out the rocking stool he made from reworking an old wood-frame sofa.

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More shots after the jump, and many more projects at his site.

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BlackBerry wristwatch? Well, not exactly

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Turns out the BlackBerry Watch that caused a web stir yesterday isn’t all it’s cracked up to be; that is to say, it’s not a standalone device that will enable you to ditch your ‘Berry, it’s “for use with BlackBerry Smartphones:”

The intent of the watch isn’t to replace using your BlackBerry to view messages. Rather, it’s for those occassions when your BlackBerry is tucked away – while in a meeting, while driving, or while you’re out for a bike ride and you feel it vibrating in your camelback. When you get that impulse to stop what you’re doing and pull out your BlackBerry, now you can quickly glance over at your inPulse and decide if you need to pull out your BlackBerry to address that message now or if it can wait fifteen minutes [until] you’re free.

We find that last line ironic–this thing, and CrackBerries in general, make you the very opposite of “free.” Never mind the wristwatch, RIM should make ankle bracelets.

via crackberry

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Apple Magic Mouse

Apple vient de présenter sa nouvelle souris, la Magic Mouse. Dotée du bluetooth et entièrement sans fil, elle est équipée de la technologie multi-touch mise au point pour l’iPhone : il suffira de glisser ses doigts sur la surface. Livrée avec les nouveaux iMacs ou disponible au prix de 69 €.



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Previously on Fubiz

Buckyballs Giveaway

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With almost as many ways to play with them as there are magnetic balls in the package, Buckyballs makes for an addictive and intelligent game that now comes in a clear square cube showing off their capabilities. Designed to relieve stress or provide unlimited hours of fun, the 216 rare earth magnets snap together, pull apart and align into geometric configurations. Check out their video to see all of the amazing ways to experiment with Buckyballs.

Buckyballs now sell in over 400 stores in the U.S.—including the shops at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, San Francisco MoMa, Pylones and The Future Perfect. To celebrate, four lucky Cool Hunting readers can win their own set of the magnetic game. To enter follow us on Twitter and simply tweet @coolhunting with what you would do with a set of Buckyballs and we’ll pick from entries received before 11:59 pm EST on 22 October 2009.

Buckyballs can also be purchased online for $30 and the first first ten people to buy a set using the code “cool” at checkout will save 20% off their order.

Lucie Koldova’s brilliant furniture and objects

Prague-based designer Lucie Koldova’s got more good stuff in her book than we’ve seen all week!

Cheeky Boxes puts a nice slant (sorry) on basic shelving and storage;

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Her LED Orbital Light is a modern update on the chandelier, designed for “grand-scale interiors and halls;”

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Koldova’s brilliant die-cast aluminum coat hanger is the most minimal and intelligent we’ve ever seen;

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The Op-Art-inspired Moare I stackable chair is made from bent steel rods;

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And last but by no means least, her Treasury Table is an OCD-afflicted person’s dream come true, with drawers sized to hold specific (European) sizes of paper; and the translucent top ensures you don’t have to open drawer after drawer to find what you’re looking for.

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via 3 rings

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