The annual Skyscraper Competition organized by eVolo has become an important architectural prize with high media attention.
eVolo
Architecture was founded by a group of international architects
in New York City in 2003. Their goal is to create a forum of discussion for the
develpment of new ideas towards excellence in architectural design for
the XXI Century.
For the 2009 edition eVolo invites architects, engineers, and designers to continue exploring on new ideas and concepts for vertical density. Skyscrapers have been springing up in fast-developing countries without careful consideration of the urban fabric, environmental effects, and quality of life. The 2009 competition calls for innovative designs for the XXI Century which takes into consideration the historical and social context, the existing urban fabric, the human scale, and the environment. There is no restriction on site, height or shape. The idea is to give the designers enough freedom to address the challenge in the most creative and innovative way. Designs must be technologically feasible and environmentally responsible. The projects should also investigate on the urban and private space as well as the definition of new programmes for a vertical structure.
Italian designer Gabriele Pezzini was born in Charleroi (Belgium) in 1963. His artistic school background (Art School first and then ISIA of Florence, Superior Institut of Industrial Design) pushed him to the new experimental products research. After working for Allibert in France, he opened his own studio in Milan in 1999 where he has continued his researches as well as working as freelance for many new companies in different sectors. He has been also visiting Professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Saint-Etienne (France), at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence (USA),and at the Politecnico in Milan (Italy). Here are some of his products for Max Design.
Not all digital watches are the same, especially not this one: Michael
Young's PXR-6. By mixing simple utility and good design, Michael Young
has unveiled one of the most stylish no-nonsense digital watches of our
time.
Unhappy with what was out there, Michael wanted to make available something modern that would adjust to user's moods and appeal to both sexes. The PXR-6's functions are simple, displays date & time, designed to be attached with quick velcro bracelets. The time and date are set in a black background, encased in your choice of polished/brushed stainless steel, black or gold setting.
Dutch Trees and sheep make a collection of Furniture that changes the Gallery into a temporary test house. Slats, felt and capable hands have worked together and shared knowledge to compose a temporary apartment made of slats and a sewing machine. A pile of slats and a coil of felt became a test house.
A poor Haute Couture
Since the corporate luxury-industry took the helm in the world of design furniture, that had been almost exclusively a matter of small and medium-size family-run firms, and the Charme group, to cite only the most striking example, became the major player in Italy through the purchase of some key-companies, consequences have also manifested themselves in a most spectacular way on the product level.
The words haute couture are also used by Dutch designer Jürgen Bey (1965) to define his one man show at the Galerie of Pierre Bergé & associés, while describing it as a totally new kind of assignment, with plenty of possibilities. This may sound strange, coming from Jürgen Bey, who had himself noted from the very beginning because of his all-but-fashionable work, driven by the ambition to analyse things nobody else was interested in, such as dust or waiting, and handling an arte povera that was entirely his own, be it only because of its total lack of memory. At the request of Pierre Bergé & associés the gallery has now been transformed by him into a witness apartment, as if the visitor would enter a show flat. The studio Makkink & Bey did this with series of totally new designs, in wood and felt, thus also referring to the fur trade that had once made the fortune of the building, using a language that also refers to packaging, the remainders and witnesses that usually nobody is interested in. “This kind of assignment is totally new for all the partners that are involved, says Bey”. Also the designer gets the possibility to work in totally different circumstances. In projects such as Interpolis, a designer is tied hand and foot to a very precise assignment, a public space that has to be user-friendly and durable, while a project like this leaves much more room for experiment, because you don’t have to meet all these regulations. But it is also different from a private assignment, where you don’t have to satisfy the load of requirements that have to do with public space, but still have to submit to the longings of one single person. This is much more abstract, with one client who can have a taste of the apartment without eating it, before the dream is passed in pieces to buyers. Compare it to a fashion designer who gets the opportunity to create a haute couture line, and the means to build a team that can turn this statement into reality, beyond the isolated position you are usually confined to. There’s no doubt that this has to do with the growing market for limited editions, and it creates new perspectives. I could also deduct it from the fact that, where usually I have a very clear concept in mind, this time I was experiencing a new adventure. It was a discovery trip that only gradually revealed itself, slowly, while the project took shape”.
Max Borka
La Galerie de Pierre Bergé & Associés Place du Grand Sablon 40 1000 Brussels - Belgium Exhibition from June 12 to June 30 2008 open every day from 10.30 am to 6.30 pm
Northern Lighting is a young Norwegian producer of lights. Here are their 2 new lamps.
'Scheisse' is a large pendant lamp. The lamp pays its respect to the traditional incandescent light bulb. It is a blend of art and industrial design, an experiment with light and shadow as well as positive and negative shapes. Designer: Hans Bleken Rud
'Butterfly' is a small wall lamp designed in 1964 for Hovik Lys and later produced by Arnold Vik, Norway. In 2008 Northern Lighting decided to relaunch this Norwegian design treasure. Designer: Sven I. Dysthe
To celebrate the ending of his 'Glow in the Dark' tour, Nooka gave 15 Zub watches in a special glow-in-the dark finish to rap artist Kanye West. There will also be a limited edition of the glow version available for purchase in August.
Nooka is the brainchild of artist and designer, Matthew Waldman. Initially licensed to Seiko in 1999, the Nooka Zoo enjoyed critical acclaim in the select markets it was released. No longer associated with Seiko, Nooka Inc. now produces the line truthful to Matthew's original vision.
The linear and graphic representation of time with Nooka watches presents a more intuitive way to view time. The Nooka watches display hours and minutes as a progression of dots or rows.
Parans presents its revolutionary solar lighting for Sweden's Government Commission on Sustainable Development.
The Parans System collects sunlight outdoors and brings it indoors using fiber optic cables.
The Commission on Sustainable Development arranges the seminar "New Technology for Sustainability - challenges and opportunities" on June 17. New Technology is needed in order to limit the ongoing climate changes. Without it there are no possibilities to achieve the necessary, large reductions of emissions of greenhouse gases. As much consensus as there might be on this point, questions remain on how to bring out this new technology and on which control mechanisms and politics that are most efficient? Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt initiates the seminar and will use examples on sustainable technologies in order to continue discussions on possibilities and challenges with members of the commission and the other participants of the seminar.
This solution is based on sunlight being collected by solar panels on buildings' roofs or facades and transported into the said buildings via fiber optic cables. The result is the most healthiest lighting in the business in combination with energy savings thanks to reduced use of artificial lighting.
First, sunlight is collected by Parans Solar Panels outdoors. The sunlight is then brought into the building through the Parans Optical Cables. Indoors, the sunlight flows out through Parans Luminaires. This technology is called Fiber Optic Solar Lighting.
Materials & Applications (M&A) is a research and exhibition center dedicated to pushing new and underused ideas in art, architecture and landscape into view. Its outdoor exhibit site is open free to the public.
'Growing Structures' is a site/environmental specific installation using the relationship between the natural and mechanical notions of landscape, from the simultaneous development of one informing and training the other. The fusion of natural and man-made elements into a carefully thought out practical application allows viewers to re-evaluate advanced systems of design for a more holistic purpose.
This multi-system consists of a self-articulating, undulating landscape that utilizes hydrodynamics, motors, and growth patterns to constantly redefine a vegetative matte and its required substrate, a flexible platform system, and a fresh water reservoir. Aided by a hingemounted motor, each octagonal palette expands and contracts much like an origami fortune teller. The opened shape will be a beautiful three-dimensional grass floret. The landscape coexists with and occasionally feeds off an artificial cumulonimbus cloud, which roams the space via a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) suspension system. This cloud is fabricated from a bent aluminum sheet with thousands of tiny perforations on its underside. The two kinetic components will interact closely with one another and their viewers.
Origami mock-up of folded pattern for growing surface
Open position of machine-actuated landscape substrate
Bottom view of actuators attached to landscape substrate
Various models of Growing Structures at ChersomProm
This project has been developed by ChersonProm, a multidisciplinary 3D design firm founded in 2004 that specializes in the development and manufacture of kinetic architectural systems. Founder Eddy Sykes is a sculptor and architect who has engaged in a wide spectrum of esoteric engineering problems. This ranges from kinetic architectural systems for high-speed rail in China, to consultation work on Blast-Rated doors, and his current work in experimental architecture.
Opening October 2008 Materials & Applications 1619 Silver Lake Blvd. Los Angeles CA
We already told you that our Forum is frequented by many talented people. Today, we would like to introduce you to one of them who is a very active participant to the forum since more than 4 years! Posting under the name of Whitespike, Jakob Clark is a graphic artist based in Austin, Texas. Although his work is very versatile, his main inspiration comes from the mid-century modern movement. Here is some of his work. Congratulations Jakob!
David Fisher's Dynamic Architecture Studio is ready to launch the construction of the Rotating Tower in Dubai.
Dynamic Architecture buildings keep modifying their shape. As each floor rotates separately, the form of the building changes constantly; you may not see the same building twice. This new approach, based on motion dynamics, is in fact a challenge to traditional architecture that until now was based on gravity. This fourth dimension has been the essence of David Fisher's work so far.
The Dynamic Architecture building, which will be constantly in motion changing its shape, will be able to generate electric energy for itself as well as for other buildings. Forty-eight wind turbines fitted between each rotating floors as well as the solar panels positioned on the roof of the building will produce energy from wind and the sunlight, with no risk of pollution. The total energy produced by this inbuilt ‘powerhouse' every year will be worth approximately seven million dollars. The modern design of the building and the carbon fiber special shape of the wings take care of the acoustics issues. Producing that much electric energy without any implication on the aesthetic aspect of the building is a revolutionary step in tapping alternative energy sources. Furthermore, this energy will have a positive impact on the environment and economy.
London based studio Pli designs and manufactures contemporary furniture
with sustainable materials and innovative production methods.
The seat and back of the Reee Chair are made from 100% recycled computer games console casings. Every chair saves 2.4 kg of plastic from landfill. The frame is made from powdercoated steel for strength and durability. The Reee chair is designed for disassembly and further recycling. The modular design means it's easily repaired or refurbished.
Dynamic Architecture buildings keep modifying their shape. As each floor rotates separately, the form of the building changes constantly; you may not see the same building twice. This new approach, based on motion dynamics, is in fact a challenge to traditional architecture that until now was based on gravity. This fourth dimension has been the essence of David Fisher's work so far.
