Jan 24
Steven M. Johnson's Bizarre Invention #43: The Hands-Free Umbrella
Posted in: Uncategorized
Jan 24
Paris artists dismiss Jeff Koons' terror attack memorial as "product placement"
Posted in: UncategorizedParisian artists and gallery owners have penned an open letter opposing the installation of a sculpture by Jeff Koons, describing the monument as “shocking and unwelcome”.
American artist Koons, known for his reproductions of banal objects, announced he was to gift Paris with his Bouquet of Tulips sculpture in 2016 as a “symbol of remembrance, optimism, and healing” after the terror attacks of November 2015.
The monumental piece, which depicts a giant hand holding multicoloured flowers, is due to be permanently installed at Tokyo Square in front of the prestigious Palais de Tokyo.
But 24 artists, museum workers, collectors and politicians have urged city officials to reconsider its placement in an open letter published by French newspaper Libération.
“We, artists, politicians, professionals and amateurs of the French art scene, ask for the abandonment of this initiative,” reads the letter, translated to English. “Indeed, this project is shocking, for reasons of different order and importance, the accumulation of which must lead wisely to abandon it.”
Denouncing Koons’ offering as “product placement”, the artists questioned why a project honouring the lives of French people wasn’t opened up to the French scene.
“If a work of unprecedented importance was to be placed in this culturally and historically particularly prestigious place, would it not be necessary to proceed by call for projects, as is the custom, by opening this opportunity to the actors of the French scene?” they said.
According to Koons, the sculpture is meant to mimic the Statue of Liberty grasping its torch.
However, the opposing artists disagree, “the choice, the work, and especially its location – without any relation to the tragic events invoked and their location – appear to be surprising, if not opportunistic, even cynical,” reads the letter.
The signatories also take issue with the concept that Koons has “gifted” only his idea, and they forecast that the multi-million execution and installation costs would have to be covered by the French State and taxpayers.
“This installation would be costly for the state, and therefore for all taxpayers,” they claimed. “Because the artist donates only his ‘idea’, the construction and installation of the sculpture, estimated at €3.5 million [approximately £3 million] at least, being financed by patrons, including French, who would benefit from rebates 66 per cent of their contribution.”
Additionally, they point out that the sculpture’s placement is problematic – as it won’t be positioned anywhere near the Stade de France, Bataclan concert venue, or nearby restaurants and bars hit by the 2015 attacks that killed 130 people.
The post Paris artists dismiss Jeff Koons’ terror attack memorial as “product placement” appeared first on Dezeen.
Jan 24
Angular stadium for Minnesota Vikings will host the 52nd Super Bowl
Posted in: UncategorizedAmerica‘s most popular sporting event, the Super Bowl, will take place next week in a new Minneapolis stadium featuring angular protrusions, zinc cladding and a roof partly made of plastic film.
Located in downtown Minneapolis, the US Bank Stadium is home to the Minnesota Vikings, a member of the National Football League (NFL). Encompassing 1.8 million square feet (167,225 square metres), the building also serves as a venue for events such as concerts, conventions and high school and college athletic games.
On 2 February, the 66,200-seat stadium will host the 52nd Super Bowl, the most important American football game of the year. The Philadelphia Eagles will play the New England Patriots at the venue, in a match predicted to be the country’s most-watched sporting event.
The building occupies a prominent urban site totalling 38 acres (15 hectares). Wrapped in a faceted envelope, the steel-frame building has a sculptural form influenced by the region’s Scandinavian heritage and natural topography.
“HKS designed the building to reflect the culture, climate and context of its city, drawing inspiration from ice formations on nearby St Anthony’s Falls, as well as Scandinavian design such as Viking longboats,” said the US-based firm, which has offices around the globe.
The exterior walls consists of dark zinc panelling set against vast sheets of glass. An angular protrusion on the western elevation has invoked references to the prow of Viking ships.
One of the building’s prominent features is The Legacy Gate, which consists of five pivoting glass doors that range in height from 75 to 95 feet (22 to 29 metres). When opened, the gate connects the stadium to an adjacent plaza.
The building is topped with a sloped roof, part of which is made of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), the same type of plastic used for the new US embassy in London by Kieran Timberlake and for the Eden Project in the UK, designed by Grimshaw Architects. It is the first major stadium in America to have an ETFE roof.
“ETFE, a lightweight and transparent material, comprises the entire southern facet of the roof line,” the architects said.
“The translucent ETFE roof withstands the brutal weather of Minneapolis’ climate, while flooding the interior with natural daylight, creating the feeling of being outdoors without subjecting players or fans to the elements.”
HKS initially considered a retractable roof for the stadium, but the cost was too high, particularly given that usage would be limited due to the high amounts of snow and ice in Minneapolis during the NFL season – which runs from September to the first week in February.
While conceiving the shape of the roof, the team looked to Nordic architecture for ideas.
“The first objective in designing the form of the building was to get snow off the roof of the stadium as quickly and simply as possible,” the team said.
“To reduce structural loads and minimise building costs, we analysed traditional Nordic architecture, determining that a sloped roof would offer both cultural and structural precedent to the challenge of building in Minneapolis’ snowy climate.”
The sloped roof also forms a “lofted interior heat reservoir”, which stores heat generated by the sun and helps melt snow on the rooftop. The building also contains a system of vertical air risers that distribute the warm air to the seating bowl below.
In total, the stadium has seven levels, which includes two concourses with 360-degree circulation. The playing field is encircled by seating that begins just 41 feet (12 metres) from the sidelines.
The stadium boasts 131 suites, nearly two dozen of which are situated on the field. Six clubs are available for private events, such as corporate meetings and weddings.
“One of the stadium’s clubs – Mystic Lake’s Club Purple – offers two unique features targeting millennial audiences,” the architects said.
“The first is an exterior rooftop area with sweeping views of the Minneapolis skyline, and the second is a seating area in the stadium bowl with the look and feel of a rooftop bar, replete with couches and table service.”
The building has a number of sustainable features, which enabled it to earn LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. In addition to natural illumination provided by glass walls and the plastic roof, the team incorporated LED sports lighting, which significantly reduces energy consumption.
“LED lighting – the first of its kind in a new NFL stadium – can adjust colour temperatures and turn off and on quickly to allow for unique pregame and halftime entertainment and an enhanced viewing experience,” the architects said.
Spectators are encouraged to use public transit to get to the stadium, or to use the city’s existing 32,000 parking spaces that are within a 20-minute walk. The stadium has only 200 parking spaces, which are designated for the players.
Another major stadium by HKS is now under construction in Los Angeles and will house the LA Rams football team. The design calls for a giant, sculptural roof made of perforated metal and ETFE. The stadium will total nearly three million square feet (278,700 square metres).
Photography is by Nic Lehoux
Project credits:
Architect: HKS and Vikings Stadium Consortium (Studio Hive, Studio Five and Lawal Scott Erickson Architects)
Project manager: Hammes Company
Structural engineer: Thornton Tomasetti
Services engineer: M-E Engineers
General contractor: Mortenson Construction
The post Angular stadium for Minnesota Vikings will host the 52nd Super Bowl appeared first on Dezeen.
Jan 24
Five lighting designs from IDS Toronto that deserve glowing praise
Posted in: UncategorizedHalo-shaped pendants based on prosecco bubbles and counterbalanced office lamps feature among US reporter Eleanor Gibson’s selection of the top lighting designs presented at this year’s Interior Design Show Toronto.
The 20th edition of the Interior Design Show (IDS) took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 18 to 21 January 2018.
The fair included furniture designed by guest of honour Yabu Pushelburg, an interactive installation of sculptural kitchen islands by Snarkitecture, and talks by Jay Osgerby, Shauna Levy and “Hip Hop Architect” Michael Ford.
Lighting was the strongest product category at the show, and we’ve picked five of our favourites from the crop of launches:
Mile by Lambert & Fils
Montreal-based Lambert & Fils and designer Guillaume Sasseville stacked two linear lights at right-angles – one facing up and the other pointed down – in this reimagining of typical strip lights found in offices.
Halo Chandelier by Matthew McCormick
These circular pendant lights by Vancouver-based designer Matthew McCormick are “inspired by the golden bubbles floating in an Italian prosecco”. They can be set to hang at different lengths, and loop through a metallic support available in brass, copper, nickel and 24-karat gold.
Lantern Pendant by Hollis + Morris
Three black squares linked by matching chord form the silhouette of this pendant light, which expands in the middle to resemble a lantern. Designed by Hollis + Morris, a studio located outside of Toronto, the model was also launched as a column-shaped version.
New York design studio Pelle surrounded a lightbulb with a triangular arrangement of metal panels, to diffuse light in different directions. Available as both a pendant and a sconce, the design is small enough to suit a variety of homes.
Find our more about Tripp Mini ›
Mila by Matthew McCormick
Another design by McCormick, the Mila is a pendant featuring hand-blown glass globes that appear to balance at the base of looped metal frames.
The post Five lighting designs from IDS Toronto that deserve glowing praise appeared first on Dezeen.
Jan 24
Book Review: Remodelista: the organized home
Posted in: Uncategorized
Remodelista: the organized home is a beautiful book. As the tagline states, the book has “simple, stylish storage ideas for all over the house.”
The book is divided into three sections. In the first section, they describe their organizing philosophy which is similar to ours at Unclutterer; eliminate what you do not use and love, designate a home for all items, look for organizing solutions with what you already own, and buy less but when you buy, aim for better quality.
The second section of the book takes readers room by room providing ideas on how to organize and store almost everything and anything. Many of the systems can be adapted for different styles of living whether that be a small apartment or a large family home. Detailed photographs of the designs show not just order and storage, but beauty and serenity. The muted neutral colour palette used throughout the book highlights utilitarianism with elegance.
There are several lists of resources in the third section of the book. There is a list of alternatives to plastic for those that wish to use to sustainable products and a guide to donating, selling, or otherwise off-loading unwanted goods. A list of favourite suppliers is also provided for those who wish to purchase the items used in the designs.
If you’re in the mood to be inspired by minimalism with style, I suggest you take a look through Remodelista: the organized home.
Post written by Jacki Hollywood Brown
Jan 24
Using Condensate Creatively
Posted in: Uncategorized
Whether it’s for health or comfort reasons, plenty of people implement dehumidifiers to reduce the level of humidity in the air and the same users often encounter a similar problem. The collected water generally goes to waste as it’s filtered directly back into a drain or disposal system. The Around dehumidifier addresses this issue with a simplistic design change.
It incorporates a removable reservoir specially adapted for watering plants. The reservoir remains enclosed within the compact unit until the indicator light displays that it’s full. Then, the user can quickly remove it and use the water to hydrate their garden or indoor plants. A specialized lip funnels water exactly like a pitcher!
Designer: Joonhyuk Ahn
The light indicates how much water is in the container.
Jan 24
Fun, folding furniture!
Posted in: Uncategorized
It’s a desk, but it’s also a shelf… but what is it more of? That’s the precise beauty of the Twofold. It can be both a wall-mounted shelf or a desk with such relative ease, it seems simple yet striking.
Made completely out of wood, the Twofold reinterprets a traditional wooden connection, turning the product into a hinge itself. Made from plywood with a melamine coating, the Twofold can simply be mounted on any wall. Without any external fittings i.e., hinges, flap-holders, the Twofold opens and closes, turning into a neat bookshelf when you need it to be, and a rather comfortable work desk when you want it, without disrupting the arrangement of objects kept on your shelf. Elegant, isn’t it?
Designer: Studio Michael Hilgers for Müller Möbelwerkstätten
Jan 24
Beautiful Architecture Photography
Posted in: UncategorizedLe photographe Marco Rama vient des Pays Bas, et est passionné d’architecture. Ses photographies jouent avec les lignes, les ombres et les reflets pour donner à voir une vision enchantée des bâtiments les plus ordinaires comme les plus spectaculaires. Un très beau travail de composition qui rend ses photos uniques et fascinantes. Suivez Marco sur Instagram
Jan 24
Creative Work by François Peyranne for Club Med
Posted in: UncategorizedFrançois Peyranne est un réalisateur français et directeur artistique qui collabore depuis dix ans avec Club Med et met en image de manière créative et inspirante tout l’univers de la marque. A l’occasion du projet « Amazing Artists », que nous vous présentions précédemment, le réalisateur nous dévoile les coulisses de cette collaboration.
Une collaboration qui a commencé par un film retraçant les 50 ans du Club Med en 2000. François Peyranne avait en sa possession “deux énormes cartons remplis de toute l’histoire du Club Med : VHS, photos, film d’archives et même des cassettes U-matic. Une mine d’or !”. Le résultat de son travail offre un “gigantesque carnet de voyage graphique”.
En 2018, il raconte un nouveau chapitre de la plateforme de marque du Club Med « Amazing You / Vous Etonner » avec le projet « Amazing Artists ». Dans le cadre de ce projet, sept artistes et influenceurs internationaux de la scène digitale ont constitué à ses côtés « un grand laboratoire créatif » dans le Village de Punta Cana. Natalia Seth, Andrew Kuttler, Stephen Mcmennamy ,Casey Ligon, Tommy Lundberg, Alina Golovlova et Marylou Faure imaginent alors des petites capsules vidéos, illustrant les Signatures, ces services qui rendent un séjour au Club Med inoubliable. La Signature-phare du Club Med « Where all-inclusive means all-inclusive » est ainsi illustrée dans un film court, coloré et très créatif, que vous pouvez découvrir en exclusivité ci-dessous :
François Peyranne nous raconte cette expérience inédite : “C’est un projet extrêmement innovant car il sort complètement des processus de communication habituels. Il y a une véritable envie de lâcher-prise, d’expression libre.” En faisant entrer la création au cœur de ce projet, Club Med imagine une communication unique, offrant le premier rôle aux artistes. François Peyranne a eu un véritable “rôle de chef d’orchestre qui crée le lien entre tous ces talents” et ces créations.
C’est un véritable défi créatif débutant par la sélection des artistes afin de “trouver des styles d’expressions radicalement différents mais artistiquement complémentaires, puis de commencer à créer un grand puzzle”. En assemblant des palettes créatives variées, François Peyranne est parvenu à guider les artistes pour obtenir un ensemble cohérent. Retrouvez sur le compte Instagram Club Med les premières capsules vidéos Signatures !
« Signature N°4: Sports all day, sports everyday »
« Signature N°37: Local gastronomy, French savoir-faire »
« Signature N°58: Happy children make happy parents »
« Signature N°79: Exclusive luxury, exclusively for you »
Pour imaginer cette quinzaine de vidéos créatives, les artistes se sont réunis au Village de Punta Cana et ont imaginé un “Lab créatif composé d’un studio de stop motion, d’un stand lettering expérimental et même d’une station d’impression graphique pour créer des accessoires originaux !” Un véritable paradis artistique permettant à chacun d’exprimer toute sa créativité, au service d’un projet que François aime résumer en une courte phrase : “Power to the makers !”.
La collaboration entre Club Med et le réalisateur va se poursuivre avec “des films graphiques et dynamiques pour les nouveaux Villages, et des campagnes photographiques dans des lieux incroyables”, et peut-être même une version neige «d’Amazing Artists »!
Jan 24
Tools & Craft #82: Which Shellac Should You Use?
Posted in: Uncategorized
Shellac is a great finish and sticks to everything, but from a retail standpoint, shellac flakes are a fussy product to stock. Because how fast it dissolves is a function of its age, how it was stored, the quality of the alcohol used to dissolve it in, the size of the flakes, and agitation.
We have no control over the last three parameters but we have spent years upping our game on the first two. So when you get a bag of shellac from us it’s in a fairly heavy bag that is a good oxygen barrier, and it’s got an oxygen absorber in it. This seems to help. In addition we try not to keep it around and fly in small quantities as we need them from India or from our Tiger Flake supplier.
We test every batch of shellac that goes out of here. We make sure it dissolves easily and every bag is batch dated so we can keep track of what’s going on. So after getting a query from a customer about the differences between the various types of Tiger Flakes we stock, I figured I’d do a quick test to show you all the results.
Some terminology: With shellac, “cut” is the term used to describe how thin or thick the shellac-to-alcohol mix is. A 2-lb. cut, or two pounds of shellac dissolved in a gallon of alcohol, is pretty standard but a quick calculation suggests that my samples are about 1.5-lb cut. That’s a little thin for a lot of build-up, but reasonable.
All the samples in the test were Tiger Flakes, just because that’s what we had from our most recent packing. We stock four types of Tiger Flakes (in order of color density): Super-Blond, Blond, Amber, and Garnet. I applied a fairly heavy coat of each type of shellac to a freshly planed board of maple and took a look at the results.
Remember a few things: There is only one or two heavy coats on this wood, maple absorbs very little finish, and a proper French polish would have far, far more buildup and show off the colors better. Even a regular shellac finish would have more buildup than these samples.
What is interesting to me is how even a thin coat of super-blond adds a little color to the maple, but the main difference between the colors is a little bit of extra color definition in the pores of the wood. This is what makes grain pop in a finish.
My conclusions:
– If you are just planning a wash coat of shellac as a primer, using blond is less expensive than super-blond and should be almost indistinguishable.
– If you are planning a French polish over distinctly colored marquetry, super blond might keep your materials less yellow, but if you are doing wood tones, blond might be just as good.
– If you want character in your finish without going crazy, especially if you aren’t French polishing, garnet will pop the grain nicely and isn’t nearly as dark a finish as the flakes might suggest.
– Amber is a good choice if you want the piece to look shellacked as if the finish had age in it.
Note: While our bags are fairly decent oxygen barriers and they have the absorber, and they reseal, store the bags in a sealed glass container, kept in the fridge. Super-blond has the shortest shelf life in flakes, garnet the longest.
___________________
This “Tools & Craft” section is provided courtesy of Joel Moskowitz, founder of Tools for Working Wood, the Brooklyn-based catalog retailer of everything from hand tools to Festool; check out their online shop here. Joel also founded Gramercy Tools, the award-winning boutique manufacturer of hand tools made the old-fashioned way: Built to work and built to last.
Who's in charge here?
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.