sculpture – DesignApplause

2015 chicago architecture biennial events 8>14 november.

Nov 7, 2015

[ 8 > 14 november calendar ] The Chicago Architecture Biennial is free and open to the general public at the Chicago Cultural Center and sites across the city. The event is supported by the City of Chicago and the Graham Foundation, with additional support from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and the Chicago Park District. All funding for the event is privately raised, with significant investments from BP and SC Johnson.

‘Sustainable Housing’ by Tatiana Bilbao SC was one of the few full scale houses reconstructed for the show. It is a prototype for affordable housing for the architect’s home country of Mexico. Photography: Tom Harris, copyright Hedrich Blessing. Courtesy Chicago Architecture Biennial

The Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design Fair (SOFA) is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design.

Critically acclaimed and continuously running since 1994, what distinguishes SOFA from other top art events is its focus on three-dimensional artworks that cross the boundaries of fine art, decorative art and design. Presented by art galleries and dealers from around the world, SOFA CHICAGO is open to the public and all artwork is for sale.

The fair also includes an acclaimed lecture series and special exhibits exploring the artworks on view and surveying new trends in the art world. A VIP program includes exclusive events tailored to high-profile gallery clients and collector/museum groups.

For a complete list of exhibitions, public programs, supporters, media partners and program partners, visit [ Chicago Architecture Biennial ] which launched 3 October 2015, and will run through 3 January 3 2016. @chicagobiennial @GrahamFound @ChiCulturCenter

studio job dutch designer of the year 2015.

Oct 21, 2015

[ Studio Job ] has been awarded best Dutch designer 2012, 2013, 2014 and now again 2015. We could show a wide range of visuals to highlight this span but the studio wanted to talk ‘car design’ a nd sent us the following. Salute. Again.

above> click on image for lightbox

[ official release ] Land Rover to present the very exclusive limited edition Range Rover Evoque by Studio Job. The exterior and interior colours were selected in collaboration with the Studio Job design collective. The exterior features include finishing with design elements devised by Studio Job for the bonnet, the front mudguards and the doors.

Studio Job was founded by Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel. The have made a name for themselves with numerous non-conformist objects at the cutting edge of design and visual art, varying from utterly unique furniture and the sculpture known as ‘CAR’ featuring the Evoque (2013) to their ‘Automobile’ creation of an extravagantly decorated Land Rover Defender. These were their first car creations, which they revealed in 2013 during the renowned PAN Amsterdam art fair, as an ode to Land Rover’s 65th birthday. It signalled the start of a partnership which has now resulted in the Range Rover Evoque by Studio Job. Although it is less extravagant than the Studio Job Defender, it is no less unique and challenging.

There are two versions of this Range Rover Evoque Coupé, namely the Job Evoque Bronze with polished bronze elements and the Job Evoque Black which features high-gloss black coated aluminium elements. The personalised features are the bonnet, mudguards, doors, roof spoiler, special hub caps and double exhausts. The name ‘Studio Job’ is emblazoned on the radiator grille. Inside the car, your attention is drawn to a relief signature by Studio Job on the 9-speed automatic transmission gear lever which combines beautifully with the ebony leather upholstery and the ‘Satin Brushed Aluminium and Gloss Black Strata’ inlay in the dashboard and the central console.

“The Evoque is a modern car in which everything is interwoven like a three-dimensional puzzle”, explains Job Smeets. ‘The concept is complex and slick. We have now created the perfect Evoque and its racing seats, panoramic roof and monochrome colour scheme make this coupé even more out of this world. We have replaced some parts with hand-crafted parts cast in bronze or aluminium, directly from our studio. This gives the car an even stronger identity. This Evoque is a future classic.

The Range Rover Evoque by Studio Job is based on the Si4 HSE Dynamic version of the Range Rover Evoque Coupé. The 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine generates 177 kW (240 bhp) and maximum torque of 340 Nm, which can be achieved at just 1,750 r.p.m. The specifications include the Dynamic Plus Pack with racing seats, the Black Design Pack light-metal 20 inch wheels, a reversing camera and a glass panoramic roof with electric sunscreen.
The Range Rover Evoque by Studio Job is available at prices starting from € 92,250 (Dutch registration). If there is sufficient interest, a maximum of 20 will be produced. [ More information ] about this exclusive version of the Range Rover Evoque.

zero40 > ral 9010 white coated defender with special degree of gleam, photographed november 2013 in the studio. now studio job is planning to papier mâché the complete carossery

[ a haute couture car ] For a designer, one of the most prestigious commissions is the design of a car. Preferably for a famous brand or for an iconic car. Designing a car means you’re successful! There are several examples of this, but I will only mention the Ford by Marc Newson and the recent Renault by Rose Lovegrove. Almost always these become ‘concept cars’. A styling exercise at the highest level. The cars look like they have come from Mars, have various futuristic and practical gadgets and high-end ingenuities which the design team of the respective car brand can truly admire… at least, that seems the purpose. Sometimes beautiful, often magnificent, but often filled with promise!

When Nynke and I spoke with Land Rover about the icon of Land Rover, the Defender, which now officially reaches pensionable age, everything that’s described above was exactly what we didn’t want. It should not become a stylistic exercise, no beautification, no gadgets, nothing futuristic. We wanted a JOB Land Rover that’s here and now. A sculpture of today!

It all got totally out of hand! The moment that black lady entered our workshop, inspiration started to flow out of our ears. One idea after another. This Land Rover had to cross the world of Studio Job, dig up her own past and also take with her the most exotic and conflicting elements of the African continent on her freaky journey.

This Land Rover became a rolling cabinet of curiosities. The mysterious car that Doctor Snuggles always wanted to have. It’s the Queen’s car, but also the throne of a chieftain, and at the same time a mechanical rhinoceros, a freak show. An autonomous caricature for the leading part in a video by a leading pop star…

People, this Defender has become everything it could have become. Like a cubistic art piece with various perspectives. It is chaotic and bizarre as life itself. It certainly isn’t a stylistic exercise from the design bible, but definitely a rudimentary work of art, conjured from the high hat – also the controversial palette – of Studio Job. An anti-hero that anticipates itself. A diary and a mirror.

Job Smeets, Antwerp, April 2013

[ specs ]
model: Defender 90
year: 2012 – 2013
edition: unique piece
dimension: L 520 x w 290 x h 300 cm
engine: 2,2-liter diesel motor
performance: 90 kw / 3.500 tpm
torque: 360 nm / 2.000 tphm
material: aluminum, bronze, brass, european oak, faience (ceramic), swarovski crystals, hand blown glass, hand paintings, harness leather, high gloss pu coating, rubber ps 160, satin lining, silver leaf, smurray, stained glass, vlisco wax printed fabric, 2k alkyd hand painting, 24k gold leaf.

exterior>
– lamp holders with polychrome glass
– rugged terrain exhaust system
– mechanical door handles & faience grips
– crystal enlaid xl exterior mirror
– high-beam headlamp with candle
– high load imperial with smurray planks
– sirens in hand blown glass
– imperial mounted sound speaker
– aluminum & polished brass shock-absorber
– stained glass windows with peepholes
– aluminum casted tailor-made mudguard
– hand painted flags on pole (zimbabwe & congo)
– curtain rails & rings in wax printed vlisco fabrics
– mud flap holders with xl figurative rubber mud flaps
– crystal inlaid globe with belt drive & pulley system
– fuel system: hose, trumpet, grinder & barrel
– stick out tongue grill
– sex cake hub-cap
– bronze bull bumper
– charm chain
– capitol hub-cap
– colloseum hub-cap
– exhaust flame
– warning bell
– coach wheel
– high load tail gate
– gilded rhino hood horn
– rock mudguard & side
– exterior fire pan mirror
– thick toot
– porch roof fender
– cable reel & bracket

interior>
– crate of duvel
– barbed spare wheel & suspension
– classic steering wheel and knob
– low tech thermometer, leveler, timer & navigation- front seats upholstered in wax printed vlisco fabrics
– rear benches upholstered in wax printed vlisco fabrics
– car leveler
– sand timer
– dashboard clock
– mono radio
– rock handle & headrest
– french oak floor
– brass pedals
– heavy duty shift
– compass
– rock headrest

Museum of Arts and Design Announces Fall 2015 and Early 2016 Exhibition Program
Highlights include Wendell Castle, Japanese Kōgei, Ebony G. Patterson and Studio Job ( 22 March 21 August 2016 )

intermingle. expo chicago 2014.

Sep 19, 2014

expo chicago 2014 | click images> enlarge

This is Expo Chicago’s third year. Despite two (a minority) DA confidants saying they thought show was unimpressive, I thought it was a refined, albeit, mindful presentation. The presence of George Lucas and ‘curator’ Shaquille O’Neal added dash. Fredric Snitzer added game and we applaud more of it. fyi – jon pylypchuk unsuccessfully attempted to quit smoking.

various titles | jon pylypchuk | fredric snitzer gallery – miami | 2012

It’s no secret, this is a tough show to get vetted into. The 2014 official release says 140, including special exhibits/projects and Exposure an initiative introducing galleries who are less than seven years old. There are 25 Exposure galleries in 2014. There are 17 countries, 43 cities. In a 2013 interview with president and director Tony Karman, he wants quality over quantity, meaning a smaller show, about 100 exhibitors. ‘When the marketplace can sustain it and quality of dealers are beating down the door, we’ll consider it. But only if the exhibitors want it, not me. It’s their space.’

What does DesignApplause look for? You have to consider our introduction to the co-existence of fine art and design. We have followed Art Basel and DesignMiami for the past six years. We first became very familiar with the design galleries at DesignMiami and then ventured to Art Basel to search for those artworks and artists who do or could also reside in a design gallery.

expo chicago 2014

DesignMiami took advantage of the drawing power of fine art over 11 years ago and has become closely entwined with Art Basel. So much so, that in the beginning DesignMiami’s venue was across the bay in the then barren, Miami Design District. For the past three years DesignMiami now resides across the street from Art Basel Miami and the crossover has been seamless.

The Design District has since attracted the best of design-centric brands and there are more and more art and design happenings when both shows are running. You find yourself walking across the street and then going west of the bay. And though ‘Design Weeks” are now too many to count and attend, Basel and Miami are both major worldwide events and unique with its offerings of fine art and design.

The original Expo Chicago concept was for an ‘Art and Design Exposition’ and Karman correctly turned the focus towards fine art and scrapped ‘design’ from the tagline in order to get the new exposition firmly up and running. In 2014, there are special exhibitions and installations at Expo that continue to feature design.

We adapted to Expo’s format by looking for artists with architecture or design backgrounds at the show. It’s impossible to look at a gallery’s offerings and predict the backgrounds of the artists. Each gallery builds their collection differently. From ‘We only focus on fine art’ through ‘No, we’re not showing anyone today with that background. Wait! This artist studied architect and this one studied design. To, ‘We didn’t bring anything to Chicago but we have two artists designing furniture and show it in our gallery in New York.’

> untitled mix-media video | daniel buren | galeria milario galguera – mexico city/berlin

above> a screenshot of two images in a mixed media slide show of artist daniel buren. Buren is a French conceptual artist who’s work since the 1990s has become more architectural. This is a humorous presentation depicting online crowd sourcing, voting to blow up ugly buildings.

grid structure #1 | alois kron – schlaeger | cristin tierney – new york | 2014

above> Grid Structure #1 uses 22 cubes from the installation at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT. Kronschlaeger says light is always of utmost importance to his site-specific pieces and in this case, the vast space provided at Navy Pier, felt his work taking on a new look, a new personality of sorts. The gallery told us Kronschlaeger is an artist wanting to be an architect.

> concept drawings | byung hoon choi | gallery friedman benda – new york

above>> we see a series of ‘one stroke’ concept drawings by artist Byung Hoon Choi of outdoor benches made of basalt. The fine artist teaches furniture design.

once upon a time | jessica stock – holder | kavi gupta chicago – berlin | 2014

above> ‘Once Upon a Time stretches vertically 50 ft. high in response to the specific architecture of the fair. Spectators are invited to climb the work to take a fractured view through the artwork over the exhibited works and gallery booths. This transformed view takes place once, exemplifying Stockholder’s title, upon a specific place at a particular time.’ The installation is part of IN/SITU, a ‘special program’ situated throughout the exposition floor. IN/SITU provides a dynamic opportunity for exhibiting galleries to showcase large-scale installations, site-specific and performative works. DesignApplause includes Stockholder as a counterpoint to our architecture and design theme. She is trained in neither disciplines, but the artist has been celebrated for site-specific sculptures and installations that challenge boundaries, ‘blurring the distinction among painting, sculpture and environment, and even breaching gallery walls by extending beyond windows and doors.’

martino gamper | salon 94 | at frieze london 2008

Salon 94 in New York said they weren’t showing any architects or designers but had several back in their showroom.

volunteers jennifer mahanay and anna mort assist at chgodsgn

above> One of several ‘special exhibitions’ CHGO DSGN is a major exhibition of Recent Object and Graphic Design by more than 100 of the city’s leading designers. Curated by Rick Valicenti, 2011 recipient of the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, 25 designers from CHGO DSGN present their work. The Chicago Cultural Center’s exhibition programs are generously supported by the City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). DesignApplause is honored to be in this CCC exhibit. [ details ]

[ At Expo Chicago 2014 ] 1> spin-the-spin | alice aycock | galerie thomas schulte | 2014 (aycock is a sculpture who were closely with architects and landscape designers)
2> kultur = kapital | alfredo jaar | galerie thomas schulte – berlin | 2012 (jaar is an architect)
3> relics | mark fox | robert miller gallery – new york | 2014 (fox designs wallpaper)
4> transference | yamini nayar | gallery wendy norris – san francisco | 2014 (nayor is influenced by design while at rhode island school of design studying photography)
5> les naturalistes | ysabel lemay | catherine edelman gallery – chicago | 2012 (lemay was a graphic designer for 15 years)
6> nardos de angustia | mark di suvero | john berggruen gallery – san francisco | 2010 (di suvero’s close friends include architects renzo piano and norman foster)
7> exploded pyramid for a wall situated alto relieve | daniel buren | galeria milario galguera – mexico city/berlin | 2010 (since the 1990s, buren’s work has become more architectural)
8> from the series entitled “sum over histories study for a timescape III | alice aycock | fredrick snitzer gallery – miami | 2012 (aycock is a sculpture who were closely with architects and landscape designers)
9> untitled | tsuyoshi maekawa | whitestone gallery – tokyo | 2014 (maekawa practiced as a graphic designer and printmaker)
10> b&w | david levin | marianne boesky gallery – new york | 2014 (levin studied architecture at pratt)
11> maskelyne (moon crater near equator) | john little | john mccormick gallery – chicago | 1984 (little designs textiles)
12> a-city: ac-2, sector 1576n, a-city | lebbeus woods | gallery unknown | 1986 (woods is a conceptual architect)
13> ‘shop columbia’ | student and alumni art boutique from columbia college chicago
14> ‘saic | school of the art institute of chicago art and design exhibit
15> ligne roset | expo chicago sponsor

Chosen by the 2014 selection committee comprised of Isabella Bortolozzi, Isabella Bortolozzi Galerie | Berlin; Chris D’Amelio, David Zwirner | London, New York; Rhona Hoffman, Rhona Hoffman Gallery | Chicago; Anthony Meier, Anthony Meier Fine Arts | San Francisco; David Nolan, David Nolan Gallery | New York; and Marc Selwyn, Marc Selwyn Fine Art | Beverly Hills; in addition to Candice Madey, On Stellar Rays | New York and Jessica Silverman, Jessica Silverman Gallery | San Francisco, who make up the EXPOSURE selection committee, these galleries present the best in contemporary and modern art.

[ 2014 exhibiting galleries include ] Galería Álvaro Alcázar Madrid
Ameringer | McEnery | Yohe New York
BASE GALLERY Tokyo
Galerie de Bellefeuille Montreal
John Berggruen Gallery San Francisco
Blain|Southern London | Berlin
Marianne Boesky Gallery New York
Jonathan Boos, LLC New York
Bortolami New York
Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi Berlin | London
BORZO modern and contemporary art Amsterdam
Russell Bowman Art Advisory Chicago
Rena Bransten Projects San Francisco
CABINET London
Valerie Carberry Gallery Chicago
David Castillo Gallery Miami
Cernuda Arte Coral Gables
Chambers Fine Art New York | Beijing
James Cohan Gallery New York | Shanghai
Corbett vs. Dempsey Chicago
CRG Gallery New York
Cristin Tierney Gallery New York
Stephen Daiter Gallery Chicago
Maxwell Davidson Gallery New York
Douglas Dawson Chicago
DC Moore Gallery New York
MASSIMO DE CARLO Milan | London
Elizabeth Dee New York
Catherine Edelman Gallery Chicago
Debra Force Fine Art, Inc. New York
Galerie Forsblom Helsinki
Forum Gallery New York
Marc Foxx Los Angeles
Honor Fraser Los Angeles
Fredericks + Freiser New York
Friedman Benda New York
Galeria Hilario Galguera Mexico City | Berlin
James Goodman Gallery New York
Goya Contemporary Baltimore
Richard Gray Gallery Chicago | New York
Garth Greenan Gallery New York
Galerie Karsten Greve Paris | St. Moritz | Cologne
Kavi Gupta CHICAGO | BERLIN Chicago | Berlin
Hackett | Mill San Francisco
Haines Gallery San Francisco
Hales Gallery London
Carl Hammer Gallery Chicago
Richard Heller Gallery Santa Monica
Galerie Ernst Hilger/Hilger NEXT Vienna
Hill Gallery Birmingham | Detroit
Nancy Hoffman Gallery New York
Rhona Hoffman Gallery Chicago
Vivian Horan Fine Art New York
Edwynn Houk Gallery New York | Zurich
Susan Inglett Gallery New York
Galerie Michael Janssen Berlin | Singapore
Jenkins Johnson Gallery San Francisco
Robert Koch Gallery San Francisco
Alan Koppel Gallery Chicago
Lisson Gallery London | Milan | New York
Diana Lowenstein Gallery Miami
Lawrence Markey San Antonio
Matthew Marks Gallery New York | Los Angeles
Marlborough Gallery New York | London | Madrid | Monaco | Barcelona
Barbara Mathes Gallery New York
The Mayor Gallery London
McCormick Gallery Chicago
Meessen De Clercq Brussels
Anthony Meier Fine Arts San Francisco
Jerald Melberg Gallery Charlotte
moniquemeloche Chicago
Nicholas Metivier Gallery Toronto
Laurence Miller Gallery New York
Robert Miller Gallery New York
THE MISSION Chicago | Houston
Anne Mosseri-Marlio Galerie Basel
Carolina Nitsch New York
David Nolan Gallery New York
Gallery Wendi Norris San Francisco
Richard Norton Gallery Chicago
One and J. Gallery Seoul
P.P.O.W New York
Gerald Peters New York | Santa Fe
Andrew Rafacz Chicago
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery New York
Salon 94 | New York
Julie Saul Gallery New York
Galerie Thomas Schulte Berlin
Carrie Secrist Gallery Chicago
Marc Selwyn Fine Art Beverly Hills
William Shearburn Gallery St.Louis
Shoichiro/Galerie Sho Contemporary Art Tokyo
Sicardi Gallery Houston
Jessica Silverman Gallery San Francisco
Manny Silverman Gallery Los Angeles
André Simoens Gallery Knokke-Zoute
Fredric Snitzer Gallery Miami
Thomas Solomon Gallery Los Angeles
MARC STRAUS New York
Hollis Taggart Galleries New York
Tandem Press Madison
Paul Thiebaud Gallery San Francisco
Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects New York
Vincent Vallarino New York
Van Doren Waxter New York
Susanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects Los Angeles
Linda Warren Projects Chicago
Weinstein Gallery Minneapolis
Whitestone Gallery Tokyo
Max Wigram Gallery London
Zolla/Lieberman Gallery Chicago
Pavel Zoubok Gallery New York
David Zwirner Gallery New York | London

EXPOSURE, the section of the fair dedicated to galleries that have been in business seven years or less, allows the opportunity for younger galleries to participate in a major international exposition. Chosen by the 2014 EXPOSURE selection committee comprised of Candice Madey, On Stellar Rays | New York and Jessica Silverman, Jessica Silverman Gallery | San Francisco—who participated in the EXPOSURE section in 2012 and 2013 and have now entered into the main section of the fair—a special presentation of one or two artists by each of the participating galleries provides critical exposure for their programs, offering an important opportunity for curators, collectors and art enthusiasts to survey the best in innovative and emerging work.

[ 2014 EXPOSURE exhibiting galleries includes ] Blackston New York
Bourouina Gallery Berlin
Brand New Gallery Milan
Callicoon Fine Arts New York
Carroll / Fletcher London
Lisa Cooley New York
Ana Cristea Gallery New York
Eleven Rivington New York
James Fuentes New York
Greene Exhibitions Los Angeles
Hannah Hoffman Gallery Los Angeles
Zieher Smith & Horton New York
Charlie James Gallery Los Angeles
Luis De Jesus Los Angeles Los Angeles
Tristian Koenig Melbourne
Josh Lilley London
Longhouse Projects New York
Luce Gallery Italy
Marlborough Chelsea New York
Mihai Nicodim Gallery Los Angeles | Bucharest
On Stellar Rays New York
Romer Young Gallery San Francisco
TIF SIGFRIDS Los Angeles VAN HORN Düsseldorf
Y Gallery New York

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Artist urs fischer on objects.

Apr 29, 2012

click > enlarge

Even though last week our focus was on Milan, there are, in fact, other things happening in Italy. In Venice Urs Fischer’s new exhibition “Madame Fisscher” opened at Palazzo Grassi. This show, like his others, is all about objects. Here’s what he had to say about that:

“Everybody likes objects; everybody likes different objects. It comes down to what objects you want to put in your art. [Jeff] Koons and [Claes] Oldenburg both seem to have their agendas with their objects. So do I, I guess. I like them all: high, low, used, new, whichever works. I don’t know if the Lamp/Bear has anything more to do with Koons or Oldenburg than all three of us and everyone else have to do with [Marcel] Duchamp’s liberation of the real thing. Before him, it seems objects appeared in, or maybe as, still-lives. Duchamp’s the guy, the legend, who liberated objects from being second-class citizens. Even if his greatness lies in our imagination and how he built himself to make us imagine his work as we imagine it. His objects are often not very satisfying to spend time with outside of the fictions he created for them.”

[ madame fisscher: 15 april > 15 july ]

about perrin drumm

Torn steel. Sculptor jonathan prince.

Oct 3, 2011

torn steel in the atrium | click to enlarge

Jonathan Prince: Torn Steel, his first public installation of large scale sculptures in New York; Torn Steel has been in development for over two years at the artist’s studio in western Massachusetts.

Exploiting the interruption of pure geometric form, Prince introduces new surfaces where he has ruptured the skin of his steel structures, imbuing the works with a dynamic quality in a laborious process of blacksmithing techniques and his own vanguard approach. [ jonathan prince ]

date: 15 september – 18 november
venue: the atrium 590 madison avenue new york city

Takeo obayashi home by tadao ando.

Jun 7, 2010

while researching danish light artist, olafur eliasson, we come across a home by architect tadao ando. it is the tokyo guest house — gallery of businessman takeo obayashi.
above: note the N-shaped plan placing several courtyards in the middle of the house.

Located on a quiet residential street of unremarkable homes, the private and public faces of Obayashi’s house are clearly delineated by a wall of vertical laminated-glass panes. There are no visible doors. Behind the glass wall is an enclosed corridor with doors at both ends.

This is a critical space, an interlude between the inside and outside body of the house. “The entrance corridor is similar in concept to the engawa, or veranda, of a traditional Japanese home,” says Ando. “It is like the divide between the inner world of the house and the outer world of nature. I realized that Japan is the only place where this link between exterior and interior spaces was developed into an important architectural feature.”

Along the sky-lit corridor, rhythmic, almost hypnotic, shadows form geometric patterns. “I hope that as guests enter the house they feel a sense of expectation and excitement,” says Ando.

above: ando (left) and obayashi within the entrance corridor.

Ando’s houses favor centrally placed courtyards that illuminate dark interiors with light. As the natural light changes throughout the day, night and seasons, so do the interiors. “Nature is a crucial element of my residential designs,” he says. “It’s my intention to always introduce nature to its fullest extent.”

Interestingly the courtyards are often purposely placed in a way that requires inhabitants to walk through them between the main arteries of the house. Despite the inconvenience, residents say they enjoy the rain and snow falling within their home and don’t mind carrying an umbrella or even getting wet.

In the middle of the N-shaped plan the courtyard here is a dynamic space activated by Eliasson’s 6,800+ platinum-glazed ceramic tiles, a contrast Ando’s signature spare, concrete-and-glass spaces. The tiles surfaces changing in color and intensity depending upon the conditions of light. During the day a monochromatic gray.

The tiles could symbolize the multi-faceted life of the businessman-cum-art collector.

above: the tiles during the day a monochromatic gray.

above: one of two galleries on the subterranean level of the house holds pieces from obayashi’s collection of works by young Japanese artists. from left are paintings by aya takano, naofumi maruyama, kyoko murase, hidekazu tanaka and torawo nakagawa. at left a honey-pop chair by yoshioka.

above: on the subterranean level juxtaposing the contemporary lines throughout the home is a tea ceremony room created by ko uehara that was designed after konnichian, a historic kyoto tea room.

above: for the bar, designer tokujin yoshioka created a table and bench out of slabs of optical glass. The LED piece on the wall is by tatsuo miyajima.

Obayashi commissioned a collaborative effort between artists and architect, including Danish-born light artist Olafur Eliasson, Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka and Japanese lighting architect Shozo Toyohisa, who has designed lighting for exhibitions at MoMA in New York. “When Eliasson came up with the idea of working with the courtyard using ceramic tiles, I really liked it,” says Obayashi, who was hesitant to propose the idea to Ando. “Many architects want minimal change within their design. They want to speak with their own language. In Mr. Ando’s case, his language is glass, steel frames and concrete.”

Designer: tadao ando/architect, olafur eliasson/light artist

[via architectural digest] — photography by robert mcleod

Oshibe by tomomi sayuda

Jun 3, 2010

when i rounded the corner of tomomi sayuda’s booth at ICFF she was holding a handful of translucent eggs and placing them into the pods of her light and sound-based sculpture, sending her captivated audience atwitter.

The sculpture itself is a round, nest-like structure made of very soft spun yarn. It’s called Oshibe, the Japanese word for stamen, which is what each pod, five in all, were initially inspired by.

When each egg is placed in a stamen it glows and emits “tender, ambient sound.” The combined effect when all five are in action is like birds quietly chirping in a forest. Unlike the other products as ICFF, Oshibe might not serve a specific purpose or solve a problem, but touching the nest, placing the eggs and listening to the sound they make instantly relaxes you and sets your mind at ease, which is more than can be said about even the most cutting edge designs ICFF had to offer.

Designer: tomomi sayuda

about perrin drumm

Flight stool. Pantone.

Feb 4, 2009

Looking back. Special edition Pantone Flight Stool designed for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City, 2005. Timeless sculptured plywood furniture.

Designer: Barber Osgerby
Producer: Isokon Plus

Ciussai radiator.

Nov 5, 2008

Industrial. Creative. A sculpture? Quite fresh and unpredictable. An emergency laundry drier. Maybe a wall-hook for designer oven mitts? The Ciussai Radiator from Adhoc.

Designer: Stefano Ragaini and Giorgio Di Tullio
Producer: Adhoc

You may also like this contemporary radiator from Deltacalor …

via trendr

Congratulations president Obama.

Nov 5, 2008

During the early 1940s Charles and Ray Eames developed a successful technique for molding plywood into three-dimensional shapes, which led to the creation of a variety of furnishings and sculptures. You won’t find Eames donkeys however.
That said, if anyone finds appropriate donkeys, or other animals for that matter, please inform us.

marvin gaye sings american national anthem observed via designobserver

overheard: time to recycle campaign signs