I was last week reminded of this fantastic home by architect John Lautner, while watching a re-run of film  The Big Lebowski. The home has become somewhat of an icon of Hollywood cool, having featured in other films such as Charlies Angels. The house is also one of the best examples of Lautner's work; he designed not only the house, but the interiors, windows, lighting, rugs, furniture, and operable features. The house is extensively detailed and you can see the range of the architect’s work through the different stages of the re-mastering. All of the furnishings enhance the house and are completely related so that the aesthetic of the forms is a function of the whole. Originally built in 1963 the house fell into disrepair until new owner James Goldstein purchased it in the 1972 and engaged Lautner to re-invigorate its appearance by undertaking a series of remodelings that took place over two decades. James Goldstein still owns the house today, and continues with constant upkeep to maintain the architects vision.

New Zealand designer Neal Smith's Recliner's are available with either fixed or rocking seat forms. Constructed in solid timber (white washed NZ pine shown above), the upholstery is in NZ wool from Nick Radford Rugs and is available in a variety of piles, loops and colours.

For more information go here.

Japanese architect Katsufumi Kubota has created this dramatic three story reinforced concrete and steel framed home.

  A genius yet simple idea by Maisie Maud Broadhead for tiding up annoying electrical cords.

Referencing the natural process of landscape erosion, furniture designer Joseph Walsh has created the Formations table with fluid clean lines.

Italian bathroom manufacturer Boffi employed French designer Patrick Nadeau to create something slightly different for the London Design Festival. Using Spanish hanging moss called Tillandsias Usneoides, he draped the moss over dome-like structures constructed of thin Corian sticks. The domes were then used to light the Boffi product beneath.

Boffi is available locally here.

Designed by Hay Studio, the Mags Sofa is available as a 2-seater, 2.5-seater and a 3-seater lounge - and from personal experience, it's also comfortable with the back at the perfect height to rest your arms. We also like the artwork by Cathrine Raben Davidsen in the background.

In researching this story, the only good reason that I could find for why you wouldn't have a conversation pit in your home was an issue of safety. Apparently according to one article I found, one can fall into the pit, and come to quite a lot of grief, particularly without safety railings installed. Doesn't sound so bad to me. But seriously, the art of good hearty family conversation should be encouraged. It does seem glaringly obvious that the demise of the conversation pit was about the time of the launch of the television set. Hmmm....time for a conversation pit I think.

Berlin's modernist and contemporary architecture plays a staring role in 2005's futuristic thriller Aoen Flux. Berlin plays the fictional city of Bregna in the year 2415 with suprisingly little alteration. The images above show the interior and exterior of Baumschulenweg Crematorium  by Alex Schultes and Charlotte Frank, where much of the action takes place.

Not only is modern architecture clearly still considered space-age in the popular unconscious, we wonder at what point modernist and contemporary architecture will no longer be considered quite so futurisitc?

The fantastic Out/ In Chairs by Philippe Starck that were launched earlier this year in Milan have finally arrived in New Zealand. These chairs are an excellent example of Starck's tongue and cheek approach to design. As their name suggests the Out/ In chair is suitable both outdoors and in, and to me seem like the perfect chair to add a little intrigue and mystery to an otherwise predicable cafe courtyard.

You can view the chairs now locally here.