The post Celebrating Global History with the Opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi first appeared on Styleture.
]]>Nouvel’s global reputation launched with the establishment of his architectural practice in 1970, which followed years of schooling at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and had a slight overlap with his early work under architect Claude Parent. Through the late 1980s and to the present, Nouvel has served as the visionary behind projects including the Galeries Lafayette in Berlin, the Agbar Tower in Barcelona, the Quai Branly Museum in Paris and One Central Park in Sydney – making his role in the billion-dollar Louvre just one example of modern architectural excellence among many others in his portfolio. Having received the Aga-Khan Prize for bridging Arab and French cultures in the late 1980s and the prestigious Pritzker Prize in the late 2000s, Nouvel was deemed a natural choice in leading the design and development of Abu Dhabi’s newest artistic focal point.
Nouvel’s Louvre Abu Dhabi unites clean-lined surfaces with complex geometric roofing, centering a silver-toned dome above the expansive, 55-building museum structure. The dome, with a weight equal to that of the Eiffel Tower, features 8 layers of “stars,” which filter in rays of natural light while still providing shade for museum visitors. The dome plays off of traditional Arab structures while eco-consciously making the museum more energy efficient. Aside from its eye-catching dome, the sprawling institution draws interest due to its placement at sea, as it is accessible both by car and boat.
In its 23 galleries, the Louvre will include permanent and temporary collections. The former include focal points such as a 9th century Quran script, “Madonna and Child” by Giovanni Bellini and the funeral set of Princess Henuttawy. Its borrowed offerings include classics from Leonardo da Vinci, Van Gogh and Monet, though the Louvre will host four temporary exhibitions a year. All collections and galleries focus on bridging cultures, uniting art under a global history and transcontinental visual narrative.
With a stunning architectural form and a colorful assortment of collections, the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi marks a historical moment for modern museums.
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]]>The post WestEdge 2017: What You Missed first appeared on Styleture.
]]>Buster + Punch
A triumph of industrial styling, London-born Buster + Punch began as a custom motorcycle brand before expanding into the interior design sector as an in-demand hardware manufacturer. Balancing the use of raw materials with obsessive attention to detailing, Buster + Punch emerges as a bold and sculpted newcomer to the U.S. market.
True to their brand DNA, Buster + Punch’s WestEdge booth was intense and impactful. Featuring a full-scale motorcycle, a striking exposed bulb chandelier and a wall of machined hardware, their display drew attendees in with a visual narrative of hand-forged expertise. As rebellious as their presentation, Buster + Punch offered guests shots of single-grain scotch, which one could obtain by exchanging a small business-sized advertisement reading, “F**k it, let’s get wasted (and look at hardware).”
Milk Stand
The esteemed online magazine Design Milk leads in architecture, design and lifestyle sectors, boasting a strong reputation as a publication backed by hip trend-spotters and trendsetters. From these visionaries comes the Milk Stand, a first-year WestEdge popup shop that has gained acclaim from its previous appearances at ICFF.
The Milk Stand expanded across the majority of one wall of WestEdge in a sequence of engaging booths. The procession featured a slew of independent designers including Capsule Wallets, Lupa Bags, Multiply Made, UME Studio and more. Popular and shoppable, the string of displays offered everything from wearable architecture to lifestyle accessories.
Bend Goods
Simple. Functional. Playful. The 7-year-old Bend Goods creates eye-catching sculptural furniture and accents. Indebted to the wire-frame icons of Mid-Century design, Good Bends’ products feature deliberate curves and pared-down styling. With alluring shapes and purposeful color pops, Bend Goods breathes new life into minimal design.
The brand’s Santa Monica appearance was deliberately understated yet inviting, as their small booth was modeled after a modern living room, complete with a wire-frame coffee table, set of seating options and wall-hung animal head. Channeling California vibes through rich, warm finishes and clean minimalism through fuss-free frames, Bend Goods surfaces as a newer name in modern furnishings.
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]]>The post KBIS and IBS 2017 first appeared on Styleture.
]]>For over 50 years, KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show), the nation’s largest kitchen and bath industry show, has been showcasing the latest awe-inspiring and innovative industry products, trends and technologies. At KBIS, which took place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., more than 500 leading brands and 100 new companies in the kitchen and bath industry showcased their exceptional designs and trendsetting products. KBIS provided us with a special interactive look at the products and a chance to directly speak to a variety of manufacturers.
Across the hall from KBIS was the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS). With over 1,500 building industry professionals from around the globe in attendance, the latest in-demand products, services, materials and technologies involved in all aspects of building were introduced. Manufacturers and suppliers caught our attention with a diverse range of products and impressive concepts.
Take a look at the top designs and trends we spotted at KBIS and IBS:
KBIS:
Ronbow
Ronbow, the leading global manufacturer and distributor of high-end bathroom furnishings, introduced a variety of unique and inspiring products at their booth. Ronbow and Pininfarina collaborated for the second time to create the FORMA vanity as part of their Signature Series collection. Other pieces that sparked our attention were Ronbow’s first-ever Fireclay kitchen sinks and their new line of space-saving vanities, the Aravo Series.
MGS
MGS is one of the premier stainless steel fitting manufacturers in the kitchen and bath industries, as well as one of the few manufacturers to offer true stainless steel fittings in the world. They debuted their new kitchen faucet prototype, which is part of their Vela collection, at luxury French ranges manufacturer La Cornue’s booth. The simple and sophisticated design of the faucet complemented the La Cornue kitchen cabinetry flawlessly.
Hudson Valley Lighting
A kitchen is never complete without lighting. Hudson Valley Lighting, a U.S. manufacturer of classic and transitional lighting fixtures, adorned the Masterbrands booth with two of their lighting fixtures. The booth featured the industrial inspired Gaines and traditional Garden City light pieces.
Caesarstone
Caesarstone Ltd. is a manufacturer of premium quartz surfaces for residential and commercial projects. Their Concetto collection consists of hand-made semi-precious stone surfaces that are a blend of art, nature and technology. The Profondo, on display at KBIS, is made of crystals in deep ocean blues and shallow water turquoise.
Maykke
At IBS, we were impressed with Maykke, a new premium quality home furnishings brand. They’re transforming the industry through their direct-to-consumer platform and delivery of their quality products straight to the consumer’s door. Maykke’s products include fixtures and accessories for the bath, and they’re also expanding into new categories such as kitchen and lighting. At their booth, Maykke presented visitors with bathtubs, vanities, mirrors and bath hardware.
Genuwine Cellars
Genuwine Cellars, the world leader in custom wine cellars, introduced their Tension Cable Wine Rack. The rack, with which wine bottles seem to float mid-air, is minimalistic yet stunning.
Napoleon Fireplaces
Napoleon is making technological strides in the fireplace space. They offer an eFIRE Controller App, which allows the first fireplaces to be controlled by Bluetooth® technology.
KBIS
www.kbis.com
Caesarstone
www.caesarstoneus.com
Genuwine Cellars
www.genuwinecellars.com
Hudson Valley Lighting
www.hudsonvalleylighting.com
Maykke
www.maykke.com
MGS
www.mgstaps.com
Napoleon Fireplaces
www.napoleonfireplaces.com
Ronbow
www.ronbow.com
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]]>The post WestEdge Design Fair 2016 first appeared on Styleture.
]]>With 2017 just around the corner, we’re reflecting on some of the design shows we attended in 2016 and the impressive and inspiring works we encountered. One of the most memorable ones was the one right in our city – WestEdge Design Fair 2016, which ran from Nov. 3 to 6 at the Santa Monica Barker Hangar. Designers and guests blended together in a casual, trendy environment where excitement filled the air and sparkles shined through the eyes of the guests. There were curious minds admiring a broad range of works, from furniture, lighting fixtures to functional everyday objects.
The Giorgio Chair, part of the French Touch Collection by the Los Angeles based Joogii, made its debut at WestEdge, and it was one of our favorite pieces. Named after the disco pioneer Giorgio Moroder, the Giorgio Chair is coated with dichroic film which casts a prismatic color spectrum no matter which angle you look at it from. The colors vary depending on the angle, resulting in a dynamic chair that doesn’t only settle with one color.
We were also captivated by MOQU’s booth and its dimensional modular furniture systems. MOQU means “wood” in Japanese, and it also represents “Modern design + Quality” for the company, which combines traditional Japanese craftsmanship with sustainable designs. The wood is from planted and second-growth forests in Japan. The furniture systems are formed from four basic geometric modules, and the inspiration came from building blocks. By stacking and positioning the modules in various ways, different combinations of furniture systems are formed.
Well-designed and highly functional everyday objects are the best of both worlds – and we found that at the THG Paris booth. THG Paris has been designing and selling luxury faucet and bath products for six decades, and its products are works of art reflecting French craftsmanship. One particular faucet that caught our eyes was the Pomme faucet, a collaboration with Lalique, a French glassmaker brand known for its crystal objects d’art. Pomme means “apple” in French, and it consists of two gorgeous, elegant crystal apple-shaped handles. The high quality craftsmanship is evident through the details of the hand polished crystal apples.
Another spectacular booth we visited was New Made LA by Amsterdam Modern. Its mid-century vintage inspired geometric wire planters looked mesmerizing hanging from the ceiling and lining against the wall. The different sizes and shapes added vibrant, energetic aspects to the display.
Besides innovative designs, foodies or simply anyone who loves good food were in luck at WestEdge, as there were cooking demonstration and a cooking showdown. Attendees were able to try the freshly cooked food afterward. The cooking demonstration was a pumpkin risotto dish with authentic Italian cheese brought by the chef from Italy. The cooking showdown was a competition between two chefs to create Thanksgiving inspired dishes.
We were able to leave WestEdge with stimulated minds and happy stomachs, and we are looking forward to doing the same for the design shows we will attend in 2017.
WestEdge Design Fair
www.westedgedesignfair.com
Joogii
www.joogiidesign.com
MOQU
www.moqulab.com
NewMadeLA
www.newmadela.com
THG Paris
www.thgusa.com
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]]>The post What to see at Dwell on Design first appeared on Styleture.
]]>If you are a reader of Dwell Magazine, the Dwell on Design design show will be a treat. Imagine if it was possible to see, touch, try out, and experience those products that pop out from every page. Say goodbye to those moments of “Ah. I wish…”, and welcome a chance to live your design envy. The show begins June 24th, and runs three days at the Los Angeles Convention Center. As per usual, we have to toss in our two cents for what we think is a must visit at this highly anticipated show.
First stop, Ronbow. Yes, we’ve written about this brand a couple of times this year already, but let’s face it – we love their products and especially this new Signature Series line that has received so much attention. Basically, the Signature Series is defined by 11 collections designed by 9 different prestigious designers, who hail from 6 different European countries. That might be an earful, but let me put it in terms of translation: the Signature Series has been designed by the best of the best, one collection at a time. Check them out at Booth #1353
Yes, this company might not first appear to be the glitz and glamour of the show. But, be sure that customized lettering/numbering on the front of your home will be the secret ingredient to a good (and stylish) first impression to your humble abode. Stop by Modern House Numbers booth #1246!
Germans are known for their sharp pragmatism and attention to detail. Add in brilliant creativity, and the consequence will be sure to impress. Designer Magnus Mewes had the idea to take disused barrique wine barrels from his wife’s vineyard, and create handmade furniture from them. In realizing the project, he created a line of furniture defined by exquisite craftsmanship. His work can be found at booth #930
At the heart of the mural is passion, emotion, and diverse expression of individual personality. Area Environments turns your home into a unique-to-you living space by converting contemporary art and mural work into residential or commercial wallpaper. The company employs a group of artists from around the world, each offering an unparalleled aesthetic. Check out their work at booth #1008.
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]]>The post Designer Spotlight: Sou Fujimoto first appeared on Styleture.
]]>If you are attending Dwell on Design in Los Angeles from June 24-26, then you are in for a treat. Rising star in architecture and design Sou Fujimoto will serve as the keynote speaker on opening night. We couldn’t be more excited, which is why we’re presenting a list of some of his most esteemed designs.
Fujimoto’s “Final Wooden House” gives new meaning to a cabin in the woods. Constructed of merely wood and glass, in which the floor, wall, and ceiling are connected with one another, Fujimoto’s project offers a counter-modern experience for living in what is considered primitive yet contemporary design.
The “House NA” looks fake, at first – but it’s not. Inspired by the concept of living in a tree, Sou Fujimoto states: “The intriguing point of a tree is that these places are not hermetically isolated but are connected to one another in its unique relativity. To hear one’s voice from across and above, hopping over to another branch, a discussion taking place across branches by members from separate branches. These are some of the moments of richness encountered through such spatially dense living.”
The “House Before House” is meant to disassemble the concept of the home as a separate entity from outdoor life. It connects the outdoors and indoors with lively fluidity.
Since his architecture is inspired more by art than pragmatism, it is no surprise that Fujimoto was asked to collaborate with Swedish Fashion Retailer COS at this year’s Salone de Mobile in Milan. Check out this video that portrays what he calls his “Forest and Light.”
In addition to these Styleture favorites, Fujimoto’s collection of work never ceases to push creative boundaries. We are excited for his future contributions to the design community. And, if you plan on attending this year’s Dwell on Design, make sure not to miss out on his keynote speech at 6 PM on June 24th.
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]]>The post What to See at ICFF first appeared on Styleture.
]]>THG-Paris
One of our favorite brands, THG-Paris, known as the leading French atelier for the luxury bath, will display their most esteemed collections at this year’s ICFF along with celebrating a huge milestone: their 60th year anniversary. They will memorialize this occasion with a special rendition of their premier Pétale de Cristal collection, Numero 60, an updated version of the design in collaboration with Baccarat.
Watermark Designs
Each year at ICFF, Watermark raises the bar for what a trade show booth should be. The brand has mastered the art of engagement; attendees have built faucets, experienced a bit of the High Line inside the Javits Center and learned what “Made in Brooklyn” means as it relates to plumbing fixtures. This year, Watermark intends to continue its trend for showcasing their hands-on manufacturing by introducing a number of new collections which again illustrate their strength as the most unique designer and manufacturer of plumbing products. Don’t miss out on Watermark’s Elan Vital Patented Telescopic Faucet and their new Sutton series.
MGS
MGS is a brand that we have had our eye on for a few years now, and we don’t expect them to disappoint at this year’s show. MGS, whose fixtures incorporate Swiss engineering and Italian design, will be presenting their revered collections of solid stainless steel kitchen and bath fittings at ICFF. MGS will also launch new finishes in Antique Brass, Gold and Copper as well as display their recently introduced sleek Black Steel finish.
Stone Forest
The designers at Stone Forest have never shied away from big designs and ideas. They’ve channeled Mother Nature in unique ways for 25 years since they designed their first garden sculpture. At this year’s ICFF, Stone Forest will be unveiling a number of new collections that range from transitional marble vanities to more contemporary tubs – each one as unique as nature intended.
Hastings Tile & Bath
Hastings Tile & Bath, the importers and distributors of fine contemporary bath products, will be exhibiting again at ICFF with collections of bath tubs and bath furniture that are certain to create a buzz. This year, Hastings will be displaying two new tubs, as well as a full complement of VOLA faucets and showerheads, shown in copper finishes.
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]]>The post Smart Design – Higher Education first appeared on Styleture.
]]>While schools aren’t often associated with outstanding architecture or design, there is a growing attempt to build educational environments that greater reflect the experience of childhood and adolescent learning and exploration. We have picked out a number of facilities that reflect this architectural trend, and chances are that these primary and secondary schools will make you infinitely jealous of these students’ experiences.
This quaint primary school located in Haslev, Denmark, looks like a real life replication of a child’s play home. The exterior is painted a vibrant red, with each building connecting to one another at different heights, reminiscent of a mountain range when viewed from a distance. Windows are scaled at different sizes to accommodate the design, as well as the structure of the building. The different sized windows and contrasting heights of each building defy uniformity, subconsciously encouraging the students to explore different ranges of creativity. The interior continues this concept with bright, vibrant colors decorating walls, stairs and doors.
The Kathleen Grimm School for Leadership and Sustainability, located in Staten Island New York, is the first net zero energy school in New York City, and one of the first of its kind around the world. The school will limit global warming emissions as well as use 50% less energy than a typical SCA standard public school. The interior of the building caters to helping engage students with the importance of sustainability. There are interactive monitors around the school which display the weather along with statistics about how much energy the school has saved to date. As the name of the school indicates, the future of leadership in the world might not relate so much to business CEOs and leaders of industry but rather to the men and women who will help save our environment.
The Kindergarten of the German School of Athens is built from the psychological understanding that the kindergarten is the first building that a young child comes into contact with, therefore giving its design an undeniable importance. The contrasting designs of the school propose an acceptance for the irregularities that kids find as they go through life. The developers of the building attributed their inspiration to incorporating what is so often omitted from the design and philosophy of primary schools: places for running, carefree wandering, contemplation and more.
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]]>The post Earth Day – Water Conservation first appeared on Styleture.
]]>Earth Day is upon us, and as we take time to commemorate the world we live in, we’re also discovering new ways to combat the deterioration of our ecosystem. With the overall high cost of water and energy in this country, taking shorter showers in the attempt to substantially save just turns into another drop in the bucket. Water-efficient products are becoming a necessity, and trying to find a product that can conserve without compromising performance has now become the ultimate goal.
Styleture brings to you a short list of our favorite manufacturers that have water conservation as a cornerstone of their designs.
Newport Brass
Newport Brass, leading manufacturer of premium solid brass faucets and accessories for the bathroom and kitchen, has brought the practicality of water conservation to new heights by matching each bathroom faucet and shower head they produce to the EPA’s WaterSense® criteria. Newport Brass is able to sustain the same high-quality performance in their faucets while being able to maintain a maximum flow of 1.5 gallons per minute, which can save families up to 700 gallons of water per year. Newport Brass is able to accomplish these principles of sustainability while offering an extensive range of styles, from traditional to contemporary, in 27 finish options.
Watermark Designs
Watermark Designs has incorporated the latest eco-smart technology for water conservation with their Volume Reduction Aerator. Available with the lavatory faucets in Watermark Designs’ cutting-edge contemporary collections, including Napa, Titanium, Touch27 by Clodagh and Prêt-a-vive, the high-performance aerators can be adjusted from 2.22 to 1.5 gpm flow-rates, exceeding the industry standard of 2.25 gpm. Users can effectively conserve water by keeping the aerator at the lowest flow-rate setting and if they require a higher rate, they can simply turn the device up. Convenient and practical, the adjustable aerators are the eco-smart complement to Watermark Designs’ distinctive collections.
MGS Milano
MGS, premier manufacturer of true stainless steel kitchen, bath and outdoor faucets, has incorporated technology which allows for an impressive water flow of 1.5 GPM at 60 PSI. Their MB278 Wall Mounted Mixer in Black Steel comes with a lever on the head and features a cylindrical column which projects from a circular base plate. The lever at the edge of the faucet can be tilted forward to control water flow.
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]]>The post Designing for an Experience first appeared on Styleture.
]]>According to Elizabeth Danze, FAIA, and Stephen Sonnenberg, M.D, two professors at the University of Texas at Austin, “Buildings are inert objects, but our experience of them transcends the physical realm and extends into our deepest consciousness.” When put in that context, you might just re-think the implicit effect that surrounding environments have on your psyche. Maybe your suburban brick laden home, with a Spanish style roof and high ceilings, actually represents a lot more about you than you think.
Beginning in 2005, Danze and Sonnenberg formed an academic team in an effort to examine the connection between what they call “Space & Psyche,” a title which also bears the name of a book they co-edited, published in 2013 by UT Austin’s Center for American Architecture and Design.
Whether encouraged by Danze and Sonnenberg or not, this motif does appear to be catching on in a tangible way.
In a recent article, editorial design icon Metropolis magazine highlighted a Japanese hostel that was designed to literally replicate a library, intended to be “less about sleep itself and more about how to induce sleep.” What drives your feelings and emotions in a particular environment isn’t always immediate visual stimuli itself but what that stimuli reminds you of in your past. Dimly lit and perfectly snug, guests are essentially staying in a much more homey version of their favorite library back home. The setting of having bookcases around a bed might remind you of your childhood bedroom, and the books, which of course are well documented inducers of sleep, will most assuredly help you nod off.
In addition to creating a customer experience, such as one in a hostel or in the hospitality industry, building to create an experience can also leak over into the professional and philanthropic sectors – building success, literally.
More modern and innovative workplaces have begun to cater to millennial needs as they strive to build a company culture that inspires creativity and inspiration. And take “build” in its most literal sense. The architectural makeup of the building, both in the interior and exterior, can contribute in a surprisingly significant way to the success of a company. Capitalist culture demands long hours, so expect to be spending as much time at the office as you might at home, if not more. Understanding the psychological effects of variables like the angle of light coming into the office or the length of walls, height of ceilings and material used in the building of the space, very well could affect the overall culture of this said business.
In a more exterior building example, Elizabeth Danze, co-founder of Danze Blood Architects and the aforementioned partner of “Space & Psyche” took her findings to create a parking structure for Austin local business T3, an advertising and integrated marketing firm. “The garage is designed so that the users have a pleasurable and enriching experience as they arrive and leave the garage every day on their way to and from work,” Danze says. “Unlike most parking garages — anonymous, utilitarian structures that are frequently dark and unpleasant places to be — the hope here is that the regular routine of arriving at work is both visually and spatially engaging and inspiring. The open structure lets in ample light, which is filtered through plantings, casting dappled light patterns through the space. The multi-floor parking is configured in a continuous helical ramp — the simple act of arrival evokes a positive and literally elevating phenomenological experience as the sense of movement is heightened.”
These are just a few of many recent examples in how the art of building and architecture has crossed paths with psychology, largely in an effort to improve the world that we live in.
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