Located 100 feet below the surface of Stockholm, the White Mountain Office - home to a Swedish internet service provider has design qualities worthy of a Bond villains lair. The space was once used as an anti-atomic shelter, intended to provide an escape from atomic blasts and the resulting fallout. Architects Albert France-Lanord Architects renovated the 4000 square foot space and turned it into one of the most unique office environments in the world.
Merkx+Girod architects were asked by the Dutch booksellers Selexyz
to convert the interior of the former Dominican Church in Maastricht
into a modern bookstore. The store demanded 1.200 square meters of commercial area where only
750 were available.
The initial idea of the client to install an second floor within the
church was rejected by the designers, because this would completely
destroy the spatial qualities of the church. The solution was found
in the creation of monumental walk-in bookcase spanning several floors
and situated a-symmetrically in the church. In doing so the left side
of the church remained empty while on the other side customers are
lead upstairs in the three storey ‘Bookflat.’ Climbing thus
becomes an experience and the reward lies in the close encounter with
the ancient murals and stunning views.
The groundfloor gives room to several different bookdisplays, informationdesks, magazine-stands and cashregisters, all made of standard sheet materials in different colours and surfaces. The former altar now houses the ‘Coffeelovers’ café with a large central reading table shaped as a cross.
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.
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.
As someone who's spent her life editing and publishing design and interiors magazines, it saddens me to hear the news of Metropolitan Home magazine's closure. The 26 year old magazine has always stood out as one of the only decent modern interior design magazines to come out of the US. When I worked in New York we would pour over the pages of each new issue, utterly envious of the homes and apartments they had procured and their exquisite and unique styling. I am certainly glad that I've kept hold of my favourite issues.
Cloud's is designer brothers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s new line of decor for Ligne Roset. Clouds allows users to create their own installations, by piecing together tiles to create original designs. The Bouroullec brothers worked with Kvadrat to bring the line to life in two different fabrics and a variety of colors.
Ligne Roset is available locally here.
Award winning designer Greg Natale has designed some very geometrically driven rugs for a new Designer Rugs collection. He sites travel and appreciation for different cultures as his inspirations behind this collection.
Available locally here.
Drawing on her British Punk Rock roots fashion designer Vivienne Westwood has released a range of Wallpapers with fellow British company Cole & Son. With classic punk rock references like tartans and Union Jacks, with vintage lace thrown in for good measure, the range is sure to appeal to avid followers of all things related to the British Punk scene.
Shortlisted for Condé Nast Traveller Innovation and Design Awards 2009 for it's interior design Villa Moda designed by the always fanstastical designer Marcel Wanders is a multibrand luxury store unlike any other. Combining a melting pot of styles and cultures the designer has created the ultimate marketplace within its labyrinth of varied spaces.
The ubiquitous Philippe Starck is at it again, this time designing kitchens. Stark has created four new kitchens for German manufacturers Warendorf. The new styles certainly don't break any new ground.
