art – Page 22 – DesignApplause

Chicago Spire not spared.

Oct 22, 2008

Another USA financial crisis casualty. This bit of news not about Joe the plumber. On the contrary, it’s an example of the very wealthy feeling it. Make you feel better? Probably not.

Architect Santiago Calatrava is in the news suing the developer of the Chicago Spire.

Mary Ellen Podmolik and Blair Kamin, Chicago Tribune reporters spell it out.

“The Chicago Spire’s penthouse may be sold but there is growing doubt whether the project will rise out of the hole that’s been created at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive.

Consultants on the project are starting to line up seeking payment for their work on the development, designed to become the tallest skyscraper in the United States and one of the tallest in the world. The most well-known of the consultants, architect Santiago Calatrava, filed a lien on Oct. 8 through his Lente Festina Ltd., seeking more than $11.3 million in payment from Spire developer Shelbourne Development Group Inc.

Separately, Chicago-based architectural design firm Perkins+Will Inc. filed a lien against Shelbourne for almost $4.85 million in payment. The two liens were filed with the Cook County recorder of deeds.

The liens suggest the project’s financing, as well as its feasibility, is shaky.”

Recently, Donald Trump was in town to top off his 92-story Trump Tower. Here is an excerpt from the Chicago Tribune

DA editor’s note: Struggles of this scale and stature have not happened very often in the U.S. In other parts of the world it may be more commonplace. One enjoyable and very enlightening exhibition I attended at the Art Institute of Chicago was on Russian architecture. All the buildings on display were never built! Things were ( are? ) so bad in Russia at the time that the frustrated architects, who never could get funding, had competitions of concepts only. The guest architects laughed about the great deal of vodka drinking and story-telling taking place at these competitions. Creative therapy in action.

Let’s hope everything works out in the end. From a design perspective, Chicago would like to see a Calatrava somewhere in town – his work, inspirational. If it has to be utilitarian in this economic environment the city has many needy bridges. Until then, the Milwaukee Art Museum, an hour away, will not disappoint, especially at sunset when the “wings” unfurl.

( above ) Image found one week after original post: dynamic architecture next big thing! Inspiration strikes in the most unlikely places.

more information via chicago tribune wikipedia chicago spire

Lego radiator.

Oct 21, 2008

Italian company Scirocco presented a new decorative home radiator where technical innovation is combined with design and with the desire to have fun and continue having fun. Designed by architect Marco Baxadonne, Brick is a small colored block with a technological heart, a radiator in aluminium that internally conceals copper pipes and aluminium plates, making the product highly versatile and thermally efficient. But the novelties do not end here: each Brick has a double plumbing connection: one for the heating system and the other to connect the various bricks together. Just like connecting the Lego blocks …

via trendir

Christopher Conte. Bio sculpture.

Sep 11, 2008

Robots. A very interesting topic. DA recently showcased a sewer inspector, the world’s most powerful per the manufacturer, a very practical solution. But what about robotics that inspire art? An example: Christopher Conte. By day posing as a designer of prosthetics and making artificial limbs for amputees in New York. At night and on weekends(?) creator of science fiction-like, futuristic sculptures. The artist – designer’s background of human anatomy, medical science, and biomechanics meld into robot-like creature art objects. Objects that inspire.

Recently he joined the stable of artist rep Les Barony to commercialize his art. Here’s to provoking innovation, adventure, the “non – practical” pursuit of solutions.

His work has been recently covered in Wired, Popular Science, Make Magazine, and used by The Discovery Channel and MTV Networks.

For more on Christopher Conte and his work, take a break and visit him here.

If you are into robots and want to see them live in Chicago visit Nextfest seen at Millennium Park September 27 – October 12, 2008

via .think and dark matter magazine

Puma. Endangered species.

Sep 5, 2008

We are alerted: World Animal Day is October 4. This post celebrates environment, design, fashion, and animals used in marketing efforts.

Here we feature a collaboration between Puma and Atmos NY, which consists of three pairs of Puma models inspired by three endangered
polar animals: the Harp Seal, Macaroni Penguin and Polar Bear. Each sneaker has its own unique design, but comes with the works of National Geographic photographer Mitsuaki Iwago featured on it, as well as a transparent outsole.

Each shoe in the collection captures the unique characteristics of a specific animal, and features Mr. Iwago’s photography on the removable insole. The name and habitat of each animal is on the reverse tongue and the outsole in both English and Japanese. The shoes were created in hopes of bringing attention to our impact on these endangered animals.

The third shoe shown in the Polar Pack is the PUMA x Atmos Polar Bear Clyde. Drawing direct inspiration from the polar bears of the Artic the shoe features an off white nubuck upper and fur collar, while the blue ice sole represents the Polar Bear’s natural habitat. The shoe comes with three sets of colored laces and have the Atmos “A” on the lace tips and heel. The Polar Bear is currently ranked as vulnerable and is considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Found exclusively at Atmos as June 2008. via Pet Monologues —World Animal Day and Bless the Animals.

Tesla roadster.

Apr 18, 2008

High-design. Electric. 50-state approved (USA).

After quite a bit of tweaks, good and bad press the FDA finally blessed the Tesla in January 2008 and this red (green) car can go on sale. The car won’t solve the world problems, at least not this particular car — $100K — but it is a start.

Tesla is probably doing it right as they are a small company. Start with a small luxury — sport market and then move to the mass market. The big auto makers will probably beat them to a mass market electric.

Tesla says it’ll churn out 40 of the $100,000 cars per week. So put your name on the list. And there may be perks down the road too. In Norway if you drive an electric car you can drive in bux/taxi lanes, get free pass in toll booths, have parking near the entrance of large stores.

Interestingly at $100K this one is actually cheaper than most low end luxury cars. (more…)

Radio(s). Home. Survivor.

Apr 7, 2008

Eton makes serious radios. Sound 140 Concerto (top) is a loaded clock radio with amazing audio that was specially crafted for your iPod. Martha Stewart would say put one in each room, being cheaper than wiring the mansion for sound. FR1000-VoiceLink (bottom) belongs in your survivor kit. AM-FM, emergency-band, cell-phone charger, walkie-talkie, with a nearly infinite power source crank. They don’t call it VoiceLink for nothing. (more…)

Sorapot. Glass teacup.

Mar 20, 2008

When does form and function equal art? Here is an example. A recent reviewer said “If Apple did housewares, this might be the iPot.

Inspiration: Brooklyn, designer Joey Roth— “I’ve always been entranced by small, beautiful things that are so detailed, they seem like miniature worlds, yet so ordinary they’re often left unnoticed. I designed Sorapot to emphasize one of my favorite- the unfurling of tea leaves. Sorapot suspends the process of tea making in a glass tube a few centimeters above your tabletop. Unlike standard teapots that confine tealeaves in a small mesh basket, your leaves will have full run of Sorapot’s interior as they unfurl and change the hot water into tea. You might even see a tea-colored shadow cast by sunlight that passes through the tube and comes to rest in a gossamer puddle on your table.”

The Sorapot package benefits aesthetically from naturally imperfect corrugate patterns and earthen hues. Natural materials such as jute and recycled paper ensure its biodegradable impermanence. The molded pulp composition of the package provides a sturdy yet forgiving structure that is stout enough to function as a nested shipper and attractive enough to present well at retail.

Glass teacup
Joey is not done. There is also a twist to the new teacup. Joey says, “As you can see in the Sorapot video, glass tumblers are my favorite teacups. The contrast between the smooth glass and the fragrant amber tea may not make the brew taste better, but it definitely heightens the experience for me. I designed this teacup to emphasize the the beauty of tea on glass while insulating your hand and tabletop from heat.”

Another distinguishing feature is the Sorapot’s glass and metal components are fully recyclable.
The Sorapot and glass teacup can be purchased online at joeyroth.com We are going to get one. A spot of tea anyone?