killer design! love it! m.
Video — LUCID by 3hund
stunning environmental art installation by the german collective! m.
it’s a dark and beautiful world that german collective 3hund have created in their eerie and disquieting video, LUCID. filmed primarily in the staggering, otherworldly landscapes of iceland, the camera slowly floats above valleys and mountains, golden vistas and mossy outcrops before a dull neon light hints at something strange. it’s not immediately clear what the light is, or where it’s coming from, but the visual and emotional effect is instant.
via +
World Trade Organization by Wittfoht Architekten
stellar glass detailing — wonderful minimalist interiors too. m.
After winning the international architectural design competition, Stuttgart based wittfoht architekten were commissioned to build the extension of the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva. The new administrative building, integrated into the site, creates a feeling of openness and transparency.
The site is situated in an unusual location mixing both city and lake surroundings. The lakeside wooden park incorporating the existing group of WTO buildings is a key determining factor in the project. The new building complements and completes the overall urban setting with its existing building ensemble. It responds to the cramped conditions in the southern part of the site while integrating the existing necessary and functional constraints. It maintains a respectful distance from the old buildings and creates a high-quality outdoor area between the two structures. A balanced, well-proportioned overall picture presents itself, which is enriched by a dialogue between old and new.
Freedom of Assembly by Theaster Gates at White Cube Gallery London
terrific work by the chicago based artist. m.
As we learned from his talks at last year’s Culture Lab Detroit, Chicago-born artist Theaster Gates is probably best known for creating art that also has a social agenda, using his skills and influence to help the regeneration of the Grand Crossing neighborhood in his hometown, among many other things. His latest show “Freedom of Assembly” takes Gates to London’s Bermondsey, where he ties together contemporary events in the city with his own history; a series of new paintings and sculptures with thought-provoking narratives are on exhibit at White Cube Gallery.
Link Beauty Salon by Yasunari Tsukada Design
Forms by Tony Smith at Matthew Marks Gallery NYC
one of the strongest minimalist sculptors. if you get the opportunity to see his retrospective — don’t miss it! m.
Tony Smith’s exhibition Forms through Matthew Marks Gallery is a testament to his life’s work. The series of space-enveloping forms are striking, bold and minimal. Tony’s iconic, geometric metal forms actual emerged in tandem with the burgeoning minimalist scene, and this exhibition is a nod to this dedication.
Responsible for more than fifty large-scale sculptures in the final two decades of this life, his work as a contemporary of American art still stands relevant and as beautiful as ever. His works, in particular, the curation of Forms, highlights how art can have a transformative ability; that through art and sculpture, spaces and architectures can be created and changed. Smith’s work is described as contributing to the idea of reductionism that lies at the heart of minimalism. And that contribution is to be celebrated.
Fondazione Feltrinelli, Milan by Herzog & de Meuron
and here is the project in all of it’s glory — brilliant! m.
the fondazione feltrinelli has been inaugurated in milan’s porta volta district. designed by herzog and de meuron, the major construction is the firm’s first project in italy, with a masterplan that includes a set of buildings completed along the city’s viale pasubio. the concrete structures are unified by their design and host the foundation’s headquarters, the offices of microsoft italia, and a large public green area with meeting points, bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways.
herzog and de meuron visualized the architectural language of the long, narrow buildings based on simple geometries, the modular repetition of structural components, and transparency. the slopes of the steeply pitched roofs are incorporated into the façades, creating a rhythmic articulation of interior spaces. in plan, the buildings conform to the historic perimeters, permitting them to perfectly blend into the surrounding urban context.
the building is organized across five levels. the multidisciplinary vision of fondazione giangiacomo feltrinelli is conceived to evolve into a cultural space for educational and research purposes, all the while becoming a welcoming addition to milan’s architectural landscape. the reception area, library, and coffee bar are based on the lower floors, while a multi-purpose conference hall is hosted on the second floor, with the offices, meeting rooms, and co-production spaces on the third and fourth levels.
Video — Feltrinelli per Porta Volta, Milan by Herzog & De Meuron
another sharp design from hdm. it was completed recently but this early 3d fly-though is simply stunning. m.
Billie Holiday
“If I’m going to sing like someone else, then I don’t need to sing at all.” Billie Holiday
Christo Drapes Miami Isles in Pink
one of his most staunch benefactors that made this a reality was a tremendous patron of mine also. such a wonderful person and such a classic environmental work. i wanted to post this for her. m. [repost]
MIAMI 05051983 — The color of dawn, breaking over Biscayne Bay this morning, found its match in masses of shiny pink fabric as hundreds of workers began to release the first of the voluminous skirts that will surround 11 tiny islands in a two-week, $3.1 million extravaganza by the artist Christo.”
blueblog 