The Olive Grove House in Valencia, Spain by Balzar Arquitectos
Valencia-based architects, Balzar Arquitectos, have created a house in an olive grove on the outskirts of Quesa, a small town founded by Spain's Moorish community in Valencia. The building is designed with a steel frame, enabling 18-meter wide openings, and features three courtyards and a wide verandah with a pool that extends out into the olive grove. Terracotta tones are used in the facade and floors, along with Iranian travertine, brass and olive green joinery. The house has been designed to Passive house standards. Photo David Zarzoso. Balzar Arquitectos
MORELehni Aluminium Shelf designed by Andreas Christen
Swiss manufacturer Lehni, working with Swiss artist and designer Andreas Christen, developed the Aluminium Shelf for the Swiss National Exhibition Expo 64 in Lausanne. The bookcase was the first furniture piece created by Lehni, originally a Swiss-based plumbing workshop and metalworker established in 1922. The Aluminium Shelf was conceived as a modular shelving system manufactured in either bare or anodised aluminium, employing the techniques of punching, bending and folding and utilising screws instead of welds. The system includes accessories such as drawers, sliding doors and pull-out shelves. Photo Lehni. Lehni
MOREThe Lounge Chair by Max Lamb for Vaarnii
The Lounge Chair 005 is designed by British furniture designer Max Lamb and manufactured by Finnish furniture company Vaarnii. Max Lamb designed the furniture combining off the shelf pieces of Finnish Pine to create a solid form, and then scooping out two convex recesses, revealing the grain of the timber. The chair is made by local craftsmen in factories in Finland. Photo Jussi Puikkonen. Vaarnii
MOREChrist & Ganterbein design a new bridge in Aarau, Switzerland
Architects Christ & Ganterbein, with headquarters in Basel, have designed the new Aare Bridge in Aarau, northern Switzerland. The new bridge replaces a concrete bridge from 1949 and forms an urban public space at the entrance to the historic old town. Drawing inspiration from the stone buildings of Aarau, the bridge features a seamless reinforced concrete design with geometry that minimises the use of concrete.
(more…)MORENíall McLaughlin architects create a museum dedicated to rugby in Limerick, Ireland
Stirling Prize-winning London-based architects Níall McLaughlin have designed The International Rugby Experience, a cultural institution and visitor experience dedicated to rugby. It is situated on the edge of a conservation area in Limerick's Georgian Quarter in Ireland. The seven-floor building is conceived as a civic building in a Georgian landscape rather than a townhouse.
(more…)MORENew Designers 2023 graduate design event in London
28 June - 1 July 2023 & 5 July - 8 July 2023, LONDON
The New Designers exhibition showcases the work of over 3,000 design graduates at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. Works include ceramics, fashion, furniture design, graphic design, jewellery design, product design, textiles, illustration and animation. The exhibition also features selected new businesses in the design industry. New Designers
MORENature observation pavilion in Houston by Jesús Vassallo
The Mass Timber pavilion, an observation deck, was designed by Spanish architect and Rice University professor Jesús Vassallo, along with a team formed by graduates Pouya Khadem and Lene Sollie. It is located in the biodiverse Rice University campus in Houston, within a restored watershed housing various microhabitats. Made of Cross Laminated Timber, this carbon-negative structure resembles a large furniture piece, showcasing the logic of its assembly. Photo César Béjar. Jesús Vassallo
MOREThe Ghost Wall system by Mikal Harrsen for Cassina
Milan based, Danish designer Mikal Harrsen has designed the Ghost Wall system for Italian furniture manufacturer Cassina. The Ghost Wall system comprises of 30mm thick aluminium framed panels, in a range of materials including wood, glass and fabric, supported by aluminium racks with optional accessories including closed storage containers. Recent addtions to the system include a desk with sliding top revealing a storage compartment, brackets to support a TV and hanging drawers. Photo Luca Merli. Cassina, Studio Mikal Harrsen
MOREHenning Larsen designs ferry terminal and HQ in the capital of the Faroe Islands
International studio Henning Larsen has unveiled detailed designs for an 8,000m2 public harbour and headquarters for shipping company Smyril Line in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. Traditional Faroese wooden fishing boats and the hand-built coastal paths inspired the wooden structure and concrete base of the building.
The terminal is located close to the Faroese parliament and was once the primary gateway between the Faroe Islands and the rest of the world. A terrace ramp offers the public impressive views, and the office features an expansive private internal garden. Visualisation credit ELEMENT. Henning Larsen
MORECarl Hansen releases a paper cord version of the Paul Kjærholm PK1 chair
The Carl Hansen PK1 Paper Cord chair is a variant of the lightweight and stackable PK1 chair, originally designed in brushed steel and wicker, by Danish architect Paul Kjærholm in 1951. The new version is made of steel and certified paper cord, taking a skilled craftsman 15 hours to weave 180 meters of paper cord onto the seat and back of each PK1 chair. Carl Hansen
MOREExhibition of Donald Judd objects and prints at the Gagosian New York
13 May - 14 July 2023, NEW YORK
The Gagosian gallery at 976 and 980 Madison Avenue, New York, will exhibit works by Donald Judd dating from 1965 to 1991. The exhibition features objects made from anodized and painted aluminum, galvanized iron, colored plexiglass, and plywood together with one of Donald Judd's largest series of prints. Main image is Donald Judd, untitled, 1991, clear anodized aluminum with transparent green over black plexiglass, 9 3/4 × 39 1/4 × 9 3/4 inches (24.9 × 99.9 × 24.9 cm) © Judd Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo Martin Wong. Courtesy Gagosian. Gagosian
MOREPowerhouse Arts in Brooklyn, New York by Herzog & de Meuron
Basel-based architects Herzog & de Meuron have transformed a derelict 115-year-old power plant in Brooklyn, New York, into 170,000 sq ft of workshop space for artists and fabricators. The Turbine Hall of the power plant was repaired and preserved, exposing concrete vaults, brick chases, glazed tilework, and graffiti from the time when the site was known as the 'Bat Cave'. The upper level of the Turbine Hall, with its exposed structure displaying refurbished steel trusses, is left as an open flexible space for exhibitions and events.
(more…)MOREJames Gorst Architects create a temple complex in Hampshire
London and Suffolk based James Gorst Architects have designed a multi-faith temple complex in Rake, Hampshire, located within the South Downs National Park. The plan comprises orthogonal pavilions that house a temple, library, chapels, meeting spaces, public foyer and a kitchen. The pavilions are connected by a cloistered walkway facing a courtyard garden, set within landscaped grounds.
(more…)MOREHabitat: Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Climate by Sandra Piesik
Thames and Hudson has published a compact edition of architect and scientist Sandra Piesik's 2017 book, Habitat: Vernacular Architecture for a Changing Climate. The book demonstrates how local buildings have withstood the test of time and explores lessons for the future.
It is organised by climate zones (tropical, dry, temperate, continental, polar) and explores regions within each zone to demonstrate how buildings styles have evolved according to climatic conditions and vegetation. The appendix features case studies of contemporary vernacular architecture from around the world. Thames and Hudson
MORE17th edition of Design Miami/Basel
13-18 June 2023. Preview 12 June 2023, BASEL
Design Miami/Basel's 17th edition will showcase 26 galleries on the ground floor of Basel Messeplatz. The fair will exhibit a diverse collection of furniture, lighting, and objets d’art from renowned international galleries. Notable exhibits include works by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, and Le Corbusier presented by gallery Patrick Sequin from Paris, as well as a range of designers from Ron Arad and Ettori Sottsass to Paul Cocksedge and Faye Toogood, displayed by gallery Friedman Benda from New York. Design Miami/Basel
MORESerpentine Pavillon 2023: À Table designed by Lina Ghotmeh — Architecture
9 June 2023 - 29 October 2023
The 22nd Serpentine Pavilion was designed by French-Lebanese Paris-based architect Lina Ghotmeh. The title 'À Table' is a French call to sit at a table and engage and participate while sharing a meal. The pavilion's lightweight timber structure is built predominately of bio-sourced and low-carbon materials, and designed to be lightweight and demountable, allowing it to be reused.
(more…)MORE10th anniversary of the 3daysofdesign festival in Copenhagen
7-9 June 2023, COPENHAGEN
The theme of the 3daysofdesign 2023 festival in Copenhagen is 'Where Would We Be Without You'. This year, over 290 emerging and established design brands from Denmark will showcase their furniture, lighting, accessories and materials. Venues include showrooms, shops, workshops and the streets of 13 Design Districts around Copenhagen. Photo - Festival identity created by Rasmus Hjorshøj. 3daysofdesign
MOREVenice Architecture Biennale 2023, The Laboratory of the Future
20 May - 26 November 2023, VENICE.
The 18th International Architecture Exhibition themed 'The Laboratory of the Future' is curated by academic, educator and best selling novelist Lesley Lokko and organised by the La Biennale of Venice. The spotlight this year is on Africa, with over half of the 89 contributors of the main show from Africa or the African Diaspora. Photo of Padiglione Centrale Giardini by Francesco Galli. Venice Biennale
MOREPPA Architectures design the ‘Conservatoire de Musique et de Danse’ outside Toulouse, France
Toulouse-based PPA Architectures has designed the Conservatoire de Musique et de Danse (Conservatory of Music and Dance) in Blagnac, a suburb of Toulouse, France. Set in a landscaped site, the project consists of a horizontal two-storey volume and a perpendicular single-storey concrete building.
(more…)MOREMcLaren Excell restores and extends a listed 18th century cottage in Hampstead
London-based interior design and architecture studio, McLaren Excell, has completed the restoration and extension of a listed semi-detached 18th-century cottage in Hampstead, London. The removal of a 1950s side extension allowed for the addition of a corten steel-clad extension at the lower ground floor level. The interior of the Regency building has been restored to its original 1820s state, while the new extension features shuttered in-situ concrete walls and coffered ceilings. The Douglas fir boards used for shuttering have been re-used for the internal joinery. Photo of corten-clad extension by Simone Bossi. McLaren Excell
MOREDuo Seat by Muller van Severen for Valerie Objects
Muller van Severen designed the Duo Seat for their solo exhibition Future Primitives at Interior Kortrijk in 2012. The Duo Seat consists of slim horizontal steel bars with cloth spanning between the bars, allowing large pieces of furniture to appear 'invisible'. Shortly afterwards, Muller van Severen created the Solo Chair, which was a core version of the Duo Seat and also the Rocking Chair, both of which follow the same principle of visual lightness. Photo Siska Vandecasteele. Valerie Object, Muller van Severen
MORELondon Design Biennale 2023: ‘The Global Game: Remapping Collaboration’
1-25 June 2023, LONDON
The forth edition of the London Design Biennale takes place at Somerset house and its artistic director is the Nieuwe Instituut, the Netherlands national museum and institute for architecture, design and digital culture, led by General and Artistic Director, Aric Chen. The Biennale's theme is collaboration and it brings together design participants from around the world. London Design Biennale
MOREWespi de Meuron Romeo architects design house with bed and breakfast accommodation in Bruges
Switzerland-based architects Wespi de Meuron Romeo have created a house with separate bed and breakfast accommodations set in a forest in Bruges, Belgium. The house and each of the bed and breakfast accommodations feature private courtyards. The walls of the buildings and courtyards, both internally and externally, are constructed of old bricks, including broken pieces, coated with a thin render to preserve the visible texture of the bricks. Wespi de Meuron Romeo
MOREMirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth
18 March - 1 October 2023, DERBYSHIRE, UK.
Stately Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England, continues the Devonshire family's tradition of supporting creativity by commissioning contemporary designers. 'Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chartworth', places works by 16 international artists and designers into the historical context of the house, creating unexpected connections. Photo of Maker benches in the Painted Hall Joris Laarman, courtesy Chatsworth House Trust. Chatsworth
MOREPlank Randevu folding table by Cisotti + Laube
Italian furniture manufacturer Plank presented the Biagio Cisotti + Sandra Laube designed Randevu folding table, at Salon del Mobile in Milan in 2023. An innovative folding mechanism was specially designed for the table, and a hook allows it to be stored on a wall. The table is zinc plated and powder coated, and shipped assembled in a space saving flat package. Photo Miro Zagnoli © Plank Srl. Plank
MORESanden+Hodnekvam designs a Brick House with a Tower in Lillehammer, Norway
Norwegian architecture studio Sanden+Hodnekvam has designed a house on a steep hillside overlooking Lake Mjøsa, south of Lillehammer in Norway. In keeping with the area's tradition of masonry buildings and brickyards, shades of red brick have been used to clad a load-bearing timber structure. Ash joinery is used externally, and ash plywood is used internally, along with an exposed pine roof structure. The main living and sleeping spaces are on the first floor, with children's accommodation and an apartment on the ground floor. On the top floor, a small tower provides a sitting area with views of the city and the lake. Sanden+Hodnekvam
MOREClerkenwell Design Week 2023 returns to London
23 - 25 May 2023
The 12th edition of Clerkenwell Design Week hosts more than 600 events and showcases thousands of cutting-edge design projects from both leading international designers and new talent. The festival covers furniture, lighting, textiles, surfaces and accessories and takes place over a number of venues across London's creative hub, Clerkenwell. Photo BAUX Installation with Feature Wall by Morag-Myerscough at St John's Square EC1. Clerkenwell Design Week
MORECasa Enso II in Guanajuato, Mexico by HW Studio Architects
Mexico-based architects HW Studio, designed Casa Enso II in Guanajuato, Mexico using stone as the primary construction material, an abundant local material with deep cultural significance. The project is organised as a crucifix creating four quadrants each with a separate purpose. The entrance quadrant houses a garden, the second quadrant provides space for cars with shading by preserved trees, there is a one-bedroom house in the third quadrant and a contrasting vertical element in the fourth quadrant forming an office. Photo Cesar Bejar. HW Studio
MOREHKW Bookshop in Berlin by Sauerbruch Hutton using recycled elements
Sauerbruch Hutton has redesigned the bookshop at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW) in Berlin, with reused elements from previous exhibitions. Light grey MDF boards are used for the tables and shelves, and steel-framed recycled polycarbonate sheets are used as movable screens. In contrast to the muted colour of the furniture elements and the architecture, the books and textile ceiling flags provide colour and help define the boundary of the bookstore. Photo © Jan Bitter. Sauerbruch Hutton
MORESnøhetta designs a viewing tower and panorama room in the Tyrolean Alps
Architecture firm Snøhetta, with headquarters in Oslo, has designed a viewing tower and panorama at 2,030 meters above sea level, near the Wiedersberger Horn peak in the Tyrolean Alps, Austria. The building is of timber construction, following the tradition of buildings in the Alpbactal region, with a concrete base and clad in locally made shingles. Situated adjacent to the cable car station, the building provides keyless access to an unheated but sheltered space with 360-degree panoramic views, in both winter and summer. Photo Christian Flatscher. Snøhetta
MOREThe Alu Chair by Muller van Severen for Valerie Objects
Belgian design studio Muller van Severen originally designed the Alu Chair for Anne Holtrop's Bahrain pavilion for the World Expo 2015 in Milan. The chairs are part of a collection by Belgian design label Valerie Objects, and are made of a powder coated aluminium frame with coloured polyethylene applied to the back and seat. Valerie Objects, Muller van Severen
MOREFamily home in Derbyshire by architects Blee Halligan
Architects Blee Halligan, with offices in London and Turks and Caicos Islands, have created 'Derwent Valley Villa', a family home in the village of Duffield in Derbyshire, England. Inspired by historic 18th-century red brick cotton mills in Derbyshire, the house is built of red brick with concrete banding, and designed as linked garden spaces in a wet woodland garden to provide the experience of 'living in a garden'. Photo ©Henry Woide. Blee Halligan
MOREFrieze New York 2023
17 - 21 May 2023, NEW YORK
The 11th edition of Frieze New York brings together over 60 contemporary art galleries from 27 countries. Established and emerging galleries, along with non-profit organisations, are represented at the Shed in Manhattan, with additional events taking place across the city. Photo Alex Staniloff / CKA. Courtesy of Frieze. Frieze
Architecture Models from Peter Zumthor at Werkraum Bregenzerwald, Austria
18 March - 16 September 2023
An exhibition about 'architecture born of craftsmanship' is to exhibit architecture models from the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The models are working models that counter the abstraction of computer-assisted drafting by their solidity and texture. The venue, which was designed by Zumthor, is the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in the Bregenz Forest, Austria. Photo Peter Loewy for Werkraum Bregenzerwald. Werkraum Bregenzerwald
MOREUrban apartment building by Bovenbouw Architectuur in the Antwerp docklands
Belgian-based Bovenbouw Architectuur has created the 'Palazzo', an apartment building next to the Kattendijkdok in Antwerp. The Palazzo features an undulating facade on a prominent corner site and comprises 54 apartments over 6 floors with commercial units on the ground floor, a courtyard accessible from the street and underground parking. The building forms part of an urban block with the other buildings designed by Sergison Bates Architects and BULK Architectuur. Photo Stijn Bollaert. Bovenbouw Architectuur
MOREOTO chair designed by Martinelli Venezia and Alessandro Stabile for One To One
Architects Carolina Martinelli and Vittorio Venezia, in collaboration with Milan based Alessandro Stabile, designed the OTO chair for the Italian furniture brand One To One. Inspired by the circular economy, the OTO chair is manufactured using recycled plastic and a single mould which is a third of the size of traditional moulds. The chair is transported in a flat package and can be assembled using an interlocking system without screws or inserts. Martinelli Venezia. One To One
MOREDEMOGO creates a cabin 2,667m above sea level in the Italian Dolomites
The New Bivouac Fanton, a cabin designed by Italian architects DEMOGO, is situated 2,667m above sea level in the Marmarole mountain range in the Italian Dolomites. The structure is characterised by its inclined profile and designed as a telescope to frame the vast natural space with a distant view of the town of Auronzo at the base of the valley. The shade of the exterior, with its natural metallic coating, is influenced by the surrounding rocks and it contrasts with the raw timber interior. Photo Iwan Baan. DEMOGO
MORESehw Architektur designs two buildings for use as temporary accommodation for professionals in Berlin
Berlin-based Sehw Architektur's project 'Twins for Modern Job Nomads' in Berlin Schöneweide provides temporary accommodation for 50 professionals on an urban in-fill site. Rather than completely fill the existing gap, a six-storey street-facing building is situated to allow entry to a semi-public courtyard, which then provides access to a 'twin' rear building via a private communal garden. Photo Helin Bereket. Sehw Architektur
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