Amongst the apartment high rises and office buildings in Tokyo's Ginza area stands the futuristic Nakagin Capsule Tower. Reminiscent of buildings from early 80s science-fiction movies, the 14 story building tower is composed of 140 individual capsules that function as apartments and business offices.  

Constructed in 1972, the tower is a prime example of Kisho’s Metabolism architecture movement that focused on adaptable, growing, and interchangeable building designs. Metabolism — the word suggesting organic growth that responds to its environment — influenced every step of the tower’s construction. The capsules were manufactured in a factory in Shiga Prefecture and transported to Tokyo by truck. They were then attached to the tower’s central beam. The capsules were designed to be removable and replaceable from the central beam. Even the seemingly small space inside the capsules can be modified — it can be increased by connecting capsules to other capsules. The tower’s simple, minimalist design was deliberate. As a Metabolist building, Kisho believed that the inherent beauty of materials like concrete and steel meant that they didn’t need any special modifications or decorations.

The future of the tower is currently uncertain, with maintenance issues and lack of support for preservation the tower could likely be demolished. We suggest, if you happen to be in Tokyo anytime soon, that you pay a visit to this interesting Tower.

Amanda Levete Architects have impressed us with their use of Dupont Corian. Taking inspiration from a single drop of water falling into a pond and creating undulating ripples, they have created a unique lounge space. A loosely defined area where people can chill out and  feel relaxed in an elegant environment, with the aid of advanced digital technologies, innovative fabrication techniques, and dynamic visual effects.

The oldest company in the Netherlands, established in 1572, Royal Tichelaar Makkum is known not only for their delftware production, but for their collaborations with leading artist-designers, including Marcel Wanders and Hella Jongerius.

The Buscuit collection designed by studio job  in 2006 includes nine different plates and five centerpieces. the pieces are white bisque porcelain with reliefs based on allegory with fairy tail and fantasy figures.

For more information on where to purchases go here.

Protégé and budding colleague of the Campana brothers, Victor Monserrate's striking Kanutos Lounge Chair series evoke something of the Campanas penchant for celebrating the mundane. The chairs consist of a simple low-slung lounger, seat and back consisting of multiple strands of woven wicker looped around the twin supports that form the base and upper frame and joined up high by a pair of non-descript wooden slats.

While not actually incorporating “found” objects like the Campanas Monserrate embraces similar ideas of reconfiguration; wild grasses gone to seed, the inverted over-used broom head, or the nasty hair of one of those horrible "Troll" dolls.

For more information on the designer go here.

The Paco compact living unit by Jo Nagasaka+Schemata Architecture Office is a tiny box measuring 3m x 3m. The self contained living unit has a pop top roof that lets in the surrounding view and comes complete with kitchen, bathroom, hammock and a guest bedroom underneath. We'd be simply over the moon to be offered the guest suite in this holiday retreat.

For more information go here.

What may appear to look like random mosaic tiles, the new City Tiles range from Lea Ceramiche is actually an intricate overhead map of interconnected streets and roads with miniature house and buildings. 

For more information go here.

While the world commemorates the first landing on the moon 40 years ago, we are reminded of  the visionary designer Joe Colombo and his futuristic flair. Colombo's vision for the future of design made him one of the most influential Italian product designers of his time. Known to get so enthusiastic about a project, he would often fire manufacturers that were unwilling to fulfil his futuristic visions, he would seek out others that shared his passion.

By 1963 Joe Colombo had dedicated his craft to experimenting with advanced technologies, whilst consumers were tantalised by the space race, Colombo developed furniture with space themes and entire living cells that he devised as habitats of the future.

Oscar Diaz's ink calender uses the gradual pace of ink spreading and being absorbed slowly into paper. Each number is filled in daily as the ink is slowly absorbed, with the ink vessel having precisely enough ink to complete the month. The colours for each month correlate to the colours of each months season. With the designer based in the UK, the October  version above perfectly reflects the regions autumn season.

For more information on the designer go here.

The Sheer Spherical Kitchen proves that  great things can come in small packages. The stand alone kitchen unit manages to fit a double sink, four infrared burners, three bottle coolers, a pull out aluminium and steel table and a waste trolley, all into it's 148cm diameter.

The unit also features a remote controlled top that functions as a lamp when closed giving off soft ambient light, and can be syncronised with the adjoining the wall unit so that both can be revealed or sealed simultaneously.

 For more information go here.

Marcel Wanders has created an elegant suspension lamp for Flos. The glossy black bell shaped shade hides a beautiful interior which only reveals its beauty when viewed from underneath. The draped white textile interior diffuses the light source creating a soft intimate character.

Flos is available locally here.