things of wood.

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fab four

1. A balancing metal disc on 5 sections of wood, this side table is all lightness and minimalism. The wood can be raw ash or oiled walnut with a white or black anodised top. Minimato table by Matthias Ferwagner, here

2. A little bit Bentwood, a little bit Elbow, this chair combines elements of some designer classics; simple and beautifully detailed in palest beech. It looks Scandinavian, but comes via Italy. Pelleossa chair by Francesco Faccin seen, here 

3. These lamps by Swedish company Note Design Studio are ceramic and wood, and very, very Scandinavian in their warmth and tactility.

4. Beautiful, decorative handcrafted pendants that can be hung individually or in a cluster, there are six variants, with names like Aztec and Abacus. Customisable in length and configuration, they could be simply hung from a hook. Bohemian, but in a good way. Bright Beads by Marz Designs, via Contemporist.

Which is your favorite?

More found objects, here 

More fab four, here

a 70s modernist.

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A big linear space, not high ceilinged but light and white and bright, with large windows on three sides. A curved, raw brick half-circle creates a dynamic division within the living space, and provides a back-drop for the beautiful metal spiral stair that meanders up to the next level.

The otherwise white box is given texture and mood with a dark timber-lined ceiling, adding interest and warmth. The ceiling opens to form a roof light allowing light to flood in over the kitchen.

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FOUR_BEDROOM_LargeThis three-bedroom house was built in the 1970s; the best bits were kept, refurbished and an extension added. In a vibrant part of London, close to the lovely green spaces of Highbury Fields, and it’s for sale… I could, could you?

Via The Modern House

More wonderful spaces, here

composition.

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bookshop in day

I think the design of the facade of this bookshop in Sao Paolo is almost perfect. Here’s why:

  1. The entrance is clearly defined and inviting; comprising pivoting, double-sided bookcases, the scale of the facade is brought down to human scale at the doorway, enticing one in.
  2. The signage is clear and dynamic.
  3. The lighting allows it to glitter at night like a jewel box.
  4. The facade is simple and without unnecessary embellishment; it’s all about what’s going on inside – the books.
  5. It is made of concrete; to my mind, a wonderful, expressive material with integrity and strength, the most interesting of materials (evidenced by my most-pinned Pinterest board, ‘I love concrete’)
  6. Composition – it is asymmetrical and follows the ‘one third, two thirds’ rule. The rule of thirds divides a line into roughly 2/3 and 1/3. It is a simplified version of the golden ratio, used in art and architecture to proportion work – especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio – in the belief that this proportion is aesthetically pleasing. It is also used extensively in photography. I recently attended a photography workshop with the fabulous Emily Quinton (details, here), and this one rule changed the way we shot our photographs. photgraphy workshop2Its use creates a more dynamic composition. Symmetry and balance can be, well, dull, whereas a composition where the elements are placed to one side, adds a tension between the elements and the empty space. It can be applied both horizontally and vertically. The lower third of the bookshop, the opening, could be considered positive, while the upper part is negative. What do you think of this building? Do you like the composition and asymmetry? bookshop at night

More about Livraria de Vila bookshop, São Paulo by Brazilian studio Isay Weinfeld Arquitecto, here

Still life images, owl’s house london.

More good design series, here.

black maria.

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King’s Cross in London has been undergoing a metamorphosis over the last 10 years, from red light district to transitory train hub to destination in its own right. One of its latest reincarnations is as a major international contemporary arts destination.

The second installation in the newly created space is Black Maria, a commission by the British artist Richard Wentworth working in collaboration with GRUPPE, a young Swiss architectural practice. For four weeks the timber structure will inhabit the concourse, a top lit atrium space which forms a street connecting the historic Granary Building with the new Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

Named after Thomas Edison’s 1893 timber film studio in New Jersey – the world’s first cinema and film production studio – Black Maria is an auditorium where passers-by are invited to find their own uses and purposes. The theatrical structure with its proscenium arch and broad terraced steps is merely a backdrop: the audience will become the players. During the day, Black Maria acts as a public space, into which one can freely walk, work, pause. At night, doors become screens, stairs become seating, and Black Maria turns into a space for discussions and screenings. It is a space where, thrillingly, anything can happen.

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Black Maria is part of Relay, a nine – year arts programme. A list of Black Maria Events can be seen here.

All images via Dezeen

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old house, new house.

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The wonderful, spare structure of the original house in rural Spain has been retained. A concrete floor is poured, a new staircase inserted, a simple tread and handrail detail added; old walls are kept raw, carefully considered niches are added. The house, old and new, is painted white. A sculpture placed here, a pop of colour there.

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Can you feel the warmth? Contemporary house in Spain by Benjamin Caro via

Images by Belén Imaz

More wonderful spaces, here

how to look like an architect.

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Browsing A Daily Dose of Architecture, (almost) daily architectural musings and imagery from NYC, as I do (almost) every day, I came across a post about these specs (add a bow tie for full effect):

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This is what Superfocus say:

Named Bauhaus in appreciation of the iconic movement created by design master Walter Gropius in Weimar in the 1920s. The Bauhaus has been a profound worldwide influence in art, architecture, graphic design, and last but not least, product design. We believe that Dr. Gropius would have approved of the sleek, utilitarian look of these Superfocus glasses.

Suitable for all sizes and shapes of heads and faces, including large heads.

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We proudly call this style Corbu. Named after Le Corbusier, one of the great pioneers of modern architecture, whose signature look was his famous, round, dark-rimmed glasses, with the temples centered on the circular rims. Look familiar?

Snugger fit than Bauhaus. Less suitable than Bauhaus for people with particularly wide heads.

!!

So, there you have it. Want to look like an architect? Now you know how!

Feature image via Foundation Le Corbusier, here 

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capturing a moment.

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Most often a photographer of fashion and beautiful women, Carsten Witte’s current work focuses on the cycle of beauty and transience. His flawless and perfect women seem to be captured ‘like in a butterfly collection, forever preserved on the crest of their perfection’; caught at the moment before beauty is lost.

His interior photographs for me also appear to capture a moment – the point just before someone enters the room, or the point just after someone has left. Quietly, serenely captivating.

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More Carsten Witte, here

More in the gallery, here

a perfect pendant.

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Often referred to as the Hand Grenade, A110 ceiling lamp was designed by Alvar Aalto for the building of the Finnish Engineers’ Association in 1952. It mixes midcentury with minimalism (how perfect!) – two cylinders, one inside the other, with a gap so the light is reflected upwards, and a perforated brass ring at the bottom diffuses the light downwards. Made of lacquered aluminium with a polished brass ring, the lamp looks fabulous hung individually or in a group.

A new version has been added with a slight reworking and a new colour combination of white and yellow or black and red: Special Edition A110 lamp designed by Mike Meiré. He was also responsible for the special edition Stool 60 (here). The white version represents day and the black version represents night.

How perfect is that?

a110

1 + 2    Original A110 lamp

3 + 4    Special Edition A110 lamp

Manufactured by Artek. You can get one, here. Feature image via

More found objects, here