16 Ocak 2012 Pazartesi

Maison Plastique by Stamberg Aferiat Architecture; A Colorful Pavillion!


 
Project Name: Maison Plastique
Location: Shelter Island at the eastern end of Long Island, New York
Architect: Stamberg Aferiat Architecture
Maison Plastique is designed by Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat of New-York city-based studio Stamberg Aferiat Architecture, a cubist 1,100 square foot colorful place for their own use. The pavilion, located on the Shelter Island at the eastern end of Long Island, New York, is composed of two independent pavilions around a pool, one containing a master suite, the other a kitchen and the living area.
View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com
The floor plan inspired from the reconstructed Barcelona Pavilion (Mies van der Rohe’s 1929 masterpiece)
“We wanted to take Modernism from the teens and ’20s and reanalyze it in terms of where we are now. The glass box had been done. We wanted something more plastic, more fluid—but just as ordered, not deconstructed.” 
Thanks to HomeDSGN for sharing the information.

Citroen - Lacoste Concept


Two names, Citroën and Lacoste, have come together with a shared vision - to cultivate boldness, creativity and optimism. The result of these common values: the new Citroën Lacoste Concept.
To be unveiled at the forthcoming Paris Motor Show, this new model is an emblem for a state-of-mind and a lifestyle. Clearly alluding to leisure and pleasure, it takes a simplified, no-nonsense approach to motoring - without forgetting refinement - and transports passengers to a lighter, fresher world.
The Citroën Lacoste Concept is both resolutely Citroën and typically Lacoste. Positioned at the crossroads of the automotive world, where fashion and sport meet, it makes a number of references to all three sectors. The technology on board also strikes a playful note, underlining the apparent paradox between design expertise and lightness of tone.
With its strong presence and joie de vivre, the high-tech and innovative Citroën Lacoste makes car travel an all-new experience and an incomparable adventure for the senses.
Pure, simple and laid-back, while remaining sophisticated, the Citroën Lacoste takes another step forward towards the car of the future - a vehicle aimed at putting an end to the "always more" mantra that often reigns in the automotive industry. The new model also fuels Citroën's thinking of focusing on the essentials to create original cars that are affordable and economical, while losing none of their ambition or motoring passion, notably through premium styling.
HEIGHTENED SENSATIONS
Sweeping away preconceived ideas on compact cars - with many being supposedly short on character - the new Citroën Lacoste proudly asserts that another way forward is possible.
Stylishly minimalist and elegantly laid-back, the Citroën Lacoste instantly attracts with its off-beat sports aesthetic. It features a high waistline; bulging and textured wings; minimum overhangs front and rear; and golf ball-style alloy wheels, placed in the furthest corners of the body.
After a longer inspection, it is this car's "open" physique that appeals - promising a fulfilling drive, while expressing a wealth of inventiveness and elegance.
Passengers enjoy an open-air experience thanks to the broad cut-outs that replace the front doors and the lack of a hard-top roof. Journeys in the Citroën Lacoste inevitably heighten the senses, much more than in a protective bubble that cuts occupants off from the world. As if these intense sensations weren't enough, the windscreen can also be lowered out of sight, providing a harmonious waistline around the entire cabin, front, back and sides.
The elegance of the Citroën Lacoste is underpinned by the choice of drivetrain. Rather than seeking enhanced driving sensations through flat-out speed, the Citroën Lacoste Concept opts for a 3-cylinder petrol engine with plenty of performance on tap to power a vehicle of this size and weight. With its light timbre, the flexible, economical and ecological powerplant is a perfect match for the car's "back to essentials" nature.
The Citroën Lacoste Concept respects the environment, not only by virtue of its engine, but also its design choices. Even with its large wheels, the Citroën Lacoste seems to "embrace" rather than confront nature. This impression takes concrete form in the subtle, undulating shape of the wheels, in an approach that suggests Citroën Lacoste drivers are playing with the elements for more fun.
SPONTANEOUS APPROACH
The fun-loving Citroën Lacoste brings familiar objects to mind. Some details make reference to the sporting world of the Lacoste brand. It boasts square relief designs that resemble sections of a tennis net on several parts of its body. The fairing that rises up from the underbody, at both the front and the rear, recalls the print left by a tennis shoe on a clay court.
CREATIVE & "MAGICAL" TECHNOLOGY
The Citroën Lacoste's two-spoke steering wheel impresses with its minimalist design, simplicity and size. When passengers board, the wheel can be moved from its normal position and located against the upper dashboard - an ingenious way of optimising access to the front bench.
Even the front and rear lights are discreet to the point of being almost invisible. Concealed under the car's dark blue bodywork, they can be seen only when illuminated. As well as providing visual purity, this design choice delivers a unique and almost magical sight.
For more detailed information: Citroen 

6 Ocak 2012 Cuma

Private residence on Orcas Island by Gary Gladwish Architecture


 
Project Name: Eagle Ridge Residence
Location: Washington
Architect: Gary Gladwish Architecture
The L-shape residence stands on a rocky forest site – the owner is an artist who has fulfilled a lifelong dream with it. The "Eagle Ridge Residence" is located on Orcas Island in the US state of Washington and was designed by architect Gary Gladwish.
The client wanted a plain, open building that referenced the surrounding terrain and the location, offering views out over the island, the bay, the forest and the house, such that these are constantly present within the house itself. Large walls of glass and swinging doors mean there are no thresholds between outside and inside. The ceiling lights ensure additional daylight enters the living area. The open fireplaces inside and on the patio create a pleasant mood and forge additional links to nature.
The façade, a combination of corroded metal cladding with weathered wooden planks such as one expects to find on old barns contrast sharply with the high-grade interior. The residence combines spacious living and dining areas with an adjacent art studio and storage space, both of which have consciously been left undesigned.

via @ stylepark

4 Ocak 2012 Çarşamba

Gubei Pedestrian Promenade By SWA Group


Landscape Architecture: SWA Group

Team Members: Ying-Yu Hung, Gerdo Aquino, Hyun-Min Kim, Leah Broder, Kui-Chi Ma, Dawn Dyer, Yoonju Chang, Shuang Yu, Ryan Hsu, John Loomis, Jack Wu, Al Dewitt, Youngmin Kim

Location: Shanghai, China
Design: 2005-2008

Completed: 2009

Area of Promenade: 700 meters in length and averaging 60m in width;
Area of mixed use residential project: 35.6 hectare
Large open space parks running perpendicular to the promenade on both ends.
The expressive geometries of the glass tile fountain compliment the tree allee and offers respite from the surrounding urban context (left). At over 700m in length and 50-80 meters in width, the public promenade is comprised of 3 distinct blocks (right).
A glimpse into the promenade’s central plaza. A layered design of flowering Cherries, Azaleas, a polycarbonate bench and an interactive fountain heighten the activities of this flexible community space.
Choreographed plantings comprised of striking colors, textures and scale strengthen the promenade’s linear orientation and provides ample porous surfaces for stormwater runoff collection and filtration.
As the feature tree for the entire project, Gingko biloba adds fall color throughout the promenade while its latent ecological value maintains an adaptive disposition to adverse environmental conditions such as air and soil pollution.
Pedestrian bridges cross over vegetated swales designed to filter stormwater and encourage urban ecological habitats.
 
Level changes in the promenade serve as transitional elements between primary pedestrian circulation and gathering spaces. A contiguous tree canopy over the promenade provides much needed shade during hot summers, while reducing urban heat island effect.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the promenade is its ability to combine strong design language with the needs of an ‘everyday’ open space. Contrasting paving patterns blend harmoniously with tree wells, pebble-concealed slot drain system, benches and planting areas.

3 Ocak 2012 Salı

Automata by Levi van Veluw


Name of the Work: Automata
Artist: Levi van Veluw
Location: Netherlands
Automata are mechanical objects endowed with life by ingenious means.This rewindable object is made from wood.The cubes rotate around their axes as they are powered by 100 gears. Created by Levi van Veluw.
Levi van Veluw is a multidisciplinary artist, he lives and works in the Netherlands.
Born in 1985 Hoevelaken, the Netherlands

2003-2007 ARTEZ institute of the arts, Fine art, Arnhem the Netherlands

2006 internship Erwin Olaf Springveld
Other Activities:
2009 Art Teacher, Photography department, Willem de Kooning Academy Rotterdam, the Netherlands

 Special thanks to Lucas Wetzels for sharing the information with us.