The ’systemX’ fluorescent lighting system was created by Ross Lovegrove for yamagiwa Lighting Design and is really a unique and interesting twist on standard fluorescent tubes. The system is composed of modular ‘X’ pieces made of plastic and aluminum that each contain 2 T4 21W fluorescent bulbs. These ‘X’ pieces can be combined in different geometric layouts including large planes for lighting up an entire office space or smaller circles for illuminating a more intimate dining room table.
Nice design move which might revamp the fluorescent industry with the whole world of LED stepping on its heels. Unfortunately, this product is only available in Europe for now.
Recently I’ve really attracted to the architectural structures of curvilinear shape. The swooping curves of these spectacular structures make me pause and stare and my eyes can’t get enough of it. I got plenty of the eye candy browsing through the yet another oh-spiring Dubai structure, The Yas Hotel by Asymptote –Hani Rashid + Lise Anne Couture, voted the best building of the year 2009 in the category of Hotel/Restaurant.
The Yas Hotel, a 500-room, 85,000-square-meter complex, is one of the main architectural features of the ambitious 36-billion-dollar Yas Marina development and accompanying Formula 1 raceway circuit in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Asymptote envisioned an architectural landmark embodying various key influences and inspirations ranging from the aesthetics and forms associated with speed, movement and spectacle to the artistry and geometries forming the basis of ancient Islamic art and craft traditions.
Of architectural and engineering significance is the main feature of the project’s design, a 217-meter expanse of sweeping, curvilinear forms constructed of steel and 5,800 pivoting diamond-shaped glass panels. This Grid-Shell component affords the building an architecture comprised of an atmospheric-like veil that contains two hotel towers and a link bridge constructed as a monocoque sculpted steel object passing above the Formula 1 track that makes its way through the building complex.
And as exited as I was to see the interiors (as I’m currently very puzzled by the integration of the interior into exterior and vice versa), only a few were up to par with the architecture. Well, it’s hard to compete with this beauty or…may be they just ran out of money:)
Hey, I’ll give them the best pool award hands down.
I’m a strong believer that everything new is long forgotten old. And being a huge fan of history, I find the past the best source of inspiration. So with that in mind, i decided to start the new category on my blog, called “the old new” where I would post any “now-then” projects that cross my path.
The first one is Mary MacDonald vs. Paul Poiret.
The NEW: Living room of Jennifer and Bert Salke’s house in Beverly Hills. Designed by Mary MacDonald. Mural by Jefferson Miles.
The OLD: 1924. Bedroom by Paul Poiret, a famous French fashion designer, whose passion occasionally has spread into the interior design world.
Here’s the bohemian bedroom with ethereal Asian-inspired tree and oriental rugs with heavy tassels.
Searching for the inspiration for a new project I came across Morimoto Restaurant in Piladelphia. although it’s not at all a new project (opened in 2002, the designs still very relevant and vibrant. The space was designed by Karim Rashid, an astonishing product and space designer, who claimed the whole space with his signature style.
Rashid’s 6 foot–tall serpentine sculpture of black fiberglass marks the transition from the vestibule to the dining room, where the low bamboo ceiling ascends in a wave to a height of 20 feet. Half-height frosted boxes of plate glass act as dividers. Concealed beneath them are LED strips that set the glass softly aglow—cycling between synthetic cyan, magenta, green, orange, and lavender at a pace so slow that the shift barely registers at a conscious level. 3-D lava-lamp shapes in the bas-relief plasterwork of the sidewalls instantly warms up the space.
What a great solution for the ever-irritating problem of long and narrow spaces.
The sequel to the original Morimoto in the City of Brotherly Love, is Morimoto, New York. This two-level 13,000-square-foot spectacle represents the first Big Apple foray for both restaurateur Stephen Starr and architect Tadao Ando. At one end of the blackened-steel facade, the 50-foot-wide arched entry is draped with a fish-roe red PVC curtain. Inside, a rippling canvas-and-fiberglass ceiling, a resin-topped bar, an LED-lit wall of 17,400 half-liter plastic water bottles, and beechwood furniture by Ross Lovegrove accompany Ando’s signature concrete.
Most of us here, in design blogosphere, know and love Brooke Giannetti from Velvet & Linen blog where she shares her daily design aspirations, travels and home projects in such a lively and personal way that it seems you ‘ve known her for ages. She and her multi-talented husband-architect Steve manage a successful architecture and interior design firm here in LA. She runs The Giannetti Home, an absolutely beautiful furniture and accessories store in the heart of Brentwood. And they have 3 kids!
But this is not the end. Browsing through their lovely portfolio I stumbled upon another creation of the Almighty family.
Detaliano is a website – online pattern book and visual reference library of Classic architectural elements and images, organized by architectural style and backed up by details on how to build or where to buy the element.
Here you can find all you architectural and design needs answered. Whether you browse numerous photo gallery on exterior and interior architecture (taking in the 20 years of experience!), decor, sketches, reference to basic dimensions and codes, Detaliano is a priceless resource for both designers and home owners with “what to start from” headaches.
Hey and the vendor lists are amazing! It’s like sneaking into the firm’s design library but with all the links a click away.
Thanks Brooke and Steve for being such a great inspiration for the design community.
<images via www.yamagiwa.co.jp>
