Here are the first pictures that Alfa Romeo have released of its
sexy 8C Spider, to be introduced to the world at next months Geneva
Motor Show.
Based on the hard-topped 8C Competizione, the two-seat Spider featuring
a twin-layer fabric roof which can be raised at the press of a button,
is expected to hit 60mph in 4.2 seconds with a top speed of around
180mph. The mechanics will be similar to that of the Competizione as it
uses the same 4.7-litre V8 engine and six-speed semi-automatic gearbox.
As the limited run is just 500 vehicles, we expect to see all of these
selling like hotcakes and commanding more than their £130,000 price
tag. So roll up your sleeves and have your cheque books ready; the
fight to get one of these beauties is not going to be pretty. By Brendan McKnight
If you are lucky enough to have a home theater, most of us would be
happy with a projector, surround sound and perhaps a comfy sofa or two.
Not so for these homeowners.
Pentagram Architects
partner James Biber has designed this home theater in Montauk New York,
taking inspiration from Radio City Music Hall and 2001: A Space
Odyssey. The theater has a series of round arches, which house 600
five-watt dimmer-controlled light bulbs that provide a soft ambient
light for when you need to find that elusive remote control. And as in
the Music Hall, the lights are positioned to glow away from the viewers
– because we all hate to have lights in our eyes when watching the big
screen.
Biber has designed the theater to function like a TV room, in that it
is comfortable and intimate enough for a romantic night in with a
bottle of red and a Hugh Grant movie, but can also easily accommodate
up to ten people to watch the big game, or perhaps a slumber party with
the girls.
All of the surfaces in the room are covered in orange felt to help with
the acoustics, and seating on the floor has been taken care of by
Edelman Leather who custom made the beanbags.
This house, which also boasts a large private outdoor space looking
onto the Atlantic Ocean, recently won an American Architecture Award
for distinguished buildings and a Citation for Design in the AIA New
York State Design Awards. By Brendan McKnight
Random archive
Our first book, the World’s Coolest Hotel Rooms, will come out June 1.
Published by Harper Collins Publishers (US) and designed by the Sydney
based War Design, the inaugural Cool Hunter book will soon be followed by the next volume, the World’s Coolest Houses.
To make that happen, we are on a furious hunt for supremely cool
projects from beach homes, country homes and city pads to holiday
houses and ski retreats, we want to know where the coolest houses are.
We are looking for the most unique houses from Sao Paulo to Sydney.
Slightly cool, standard-issue luxury won’t do it. The houses we want
must think like Zaha Hadid who said “I like architecture to have some
raw, vital, earthy quality.” So, if you are an architect of such a
house, please submit your project for consideration or if you're a
photographer who has photographed such a house, please get in contact -
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Cool Spas are popping up everywhere as if they had just been invented,
but in the Bavaria region of Germany — as in many parts of the world
with healing, thermal or mineral springs — baths are part of ancient
history.
Bad Aibling, located some 35 miles southeast of Munich, has
held the official title of a Bad (German for bath, spa, springs) since
1895 but the thermal spas have bubbled up there much, much longer. It
is particularly refreshing to see one of the older facilities, Thermal
Bad Aibling, receive a complete overhaul and emerge as a viable
competitor in the world of spoiled and pampered spa goers.
The most striking new feature at Bad Aibling are the large white domes,
placed seemingly randomly in the hilly landscape, letting the alpine
scenery dictate their placement. Each dome is dedicated to its own
treatment, temperature, ambiance and experience.
In addition to the
fairly standard fare, such as a wide selection of massages, beauty
treatments, saunas and different-temperature baths and pools, Thermal
Bad Aibling offers a beautifully lit Turkish haman plus something no
other spa has — so far. It is an immersive film experience by
LivingGlobe where the guests can enjoy a special 360-degree film
projection and light show produced specifically for Thermal Bad
Aibling. The main outdoor swimming pool areas will open in May 2008,
but hot pools are functional, creating the atmosphere of time-tested
pleasure of soaking in hot water in cold air and enjoying the view. By Tuija Seipell
For eons, walls of greenery have surrounded people and creatures living
in jungles, rainforests and other lush places.
Ancient Asians and
Europeans since Roman times have paid gardeners to create green art and
sculpture for their gardens, from elaborate topiary sculptures and
mazes to vine-covered walls.
And, of course, we’ve seen inventive uses
of built outdoor space — including rooftops, patios and balconies — as
places to bring more green into our overly concrete-covered lives.
Smudging the line between indoors and outdoors, and playing with the
illusion of greenery where it doesn’t really belong, are also the basis
of some recent installations that we like.
Mass Studies, founded in 2003 by Minsuk Cho in Seoul, Korea, has produced some great examples of this. Among them is Ann Demelmeester’s store (pictured above) in Soul. It is one of only four concept stores showcasing the fashions of the Flemish designer.
Green walls are not just visually interesting and environmentally
beneficial, they add a sense of calm and peace that is difficult to
achieve by other means. The inclusion of real, living plants on a large
scale in places where you don’t expect to see them, also adds other
sensory elements — the scent of the greenery, the sound of water,
perhaps the feeling of humidity around the installation. The organic
texture invites touch and inspires conversation — how was this
installed, how is it cared for, who did it?
We’ve found some interesting green installations, such as this school
in the UK and a hair salon in Japan, but we’d love to see many, many
more. We think there’s room for much more creativity and daring in this
arena, so let us know if you spot remarkable and unusual examples. By
Tuija Seipell Send to
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Produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk and released by Air's label Record Makers, Sébastien Tellier's new album 'Sexuality' is a rhythmic ode to - you guessed it - the art of love making.
‘Sexuality’ explores the common ground between Daft Punk's 'Make Love' and Air's 'Sexy Boy'.
Tellier's songs traverse voluptuous synths and sweeping strings.
The drums throb and whir soothingly at the edges of the sound.
Tellier sings in a convincing coo and whisper as if he is updating
Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot's ascendant 'Je T'Aime Moi Non
Plus'.
Where Tellier's French contemporaries like Justice head for the
euphoric, chanting hooks, Tellier goes mellow, radiating warmth and
revealing subtle analogue textures.
On the film clip for the instrumental track 'Sexual Sportswear',
Tellier loops his keyboards like a double helix as a female body, lit
up to resemble the iconic cover art for A Tribe Called Quest's 'The Low
End Theory', writhes and moves to the music. By Nick Christie
At TCH, we have always been interested in learning about illuminated
furniture, housewares, gadgets and other items. Lighted bicycle tires, rugs, night clubs and dance floors ... have all been
presented at one time or another on our pages.
A new entry - a lighted sajjadah or prayer rug - comes from a Turkish designer, Soner Özenç.
The Britain-based designer uses light as an integral element in his
imaginative creations. This modern piece that he calls Sajjadah 1426
(1426 is the year 2005 in the Islamic calendar), combines technology
and the Muslim culture.
Sajjadah 1426 is a piece of art and a great example of the
electroluminescent phosphor printing technology. It is also quite
practical. It assists the person who performs the divine service of
prayers, called namaz, not just by creating an amazing atmosphere, but
by actually finding the right direction to pray towards.
With the help of an imbedded compass module, the lighted motifs of the
rug turn brighter the closer the rug is turned toward the direction of
Mecca. This modern sajjadah introduces a brand new experience in the
daily performance of namaz. By Yagmur Uslu viaThe Cool Hunter Turkey
Diane von Fürstenberg Studio’s
new headquarters fits perfectly in New York City’s fashionable
Meatpacking District, also known as the Gansevoort Market Historic
District. The new, six-story building is wedged between two historical,
landmarked facades that resemble the wall props in Cirque du Soleil’s
La Nouba. One corner of the structure is topped by a Olot, Spain-made
faceted glass sphere that is part of the penthouse suite and seems like
a gigantic diamond fallen from the sky.
In the design, New York-based WORK Architecture managed
to combine old and new, light and dark, openness and enclosure,
artistry and practicality. The building houses DVF’s flagship store, a
5,000-square-foot showroom and event space, offices and studios for a
120 people, an executive suite, and a penthouse apartment.
Inside the building, the chief feature is the “stairdelier,” a wide
stairway that connects the floors and distributes light throughout the
building. Flexibility characterizes all of the public areas. Pivoting
walls and built-in unfolding “steamer-trunk” structures allow for a
wide use of the space for fashion shows, photo shoots, events and
parties.
WORK was founded in 2002 by Beirut, Lebanon-born Amale Andraos and
Rhode Island native Dan Wood. Many of their projects are in New York,
but their work includes everything from a master plan of an Icelandic
town to a theatre stage set, from low-income housing towers in New York
to a luxury residence in Panama, plus retail, office and residential
projects around the world. WORK is also designing 14 DVF stores in 11
countries.
Diane von Fürstenberg was born in Brussels, Belgium, 61 years ago. She
started her fashion designer career in 1970. Famous for her wrap
dresses, which she started creating in 1973, she has become a veritable
fashion icon. She is also the current president of the Council of
Fashion Designers of America, the non-profit association of America’s
fashion heavy-weights. By Tuija Seipell
Inspired by the F-22 Raptor fighter jet, US$1.5 million Lamborghini Reventón
was unveiled. If numbers mean anything to you – the new supercar is
powered by a 650hp 6.5L V12 engine, accelerates from 0-60 mph in just
3.2 seconds and has a maximum speed of 211 mph. The Lamborghini
design team used the technical base of their Murcielago LP640,
compressed it and then amped it up. As with other current models,
the Reventón is defined through its sharp edges, smooth surfaces and
aerodynamic lines. Tempted as you may be, put away your cheque
books and credit cards, all twenty models that will be manufactured are
taken as the Lamborghini brand reinforces its legendary status. By Andrew J Wiener
We’ve told you before about some of the creative uses for abandoned shipping containers
– and we wouldn’t keep bringing it up if we didn’t think that design
recycling is still essential. Also, we have never before found a
project where the principles underlying sustainability have been so
successfully achieved. Phooey Architects
completed work on Skinners Playground, a backyard for children living
in public housing in South Melbourne, Australia – and a low cost,
environmentally sound, and socially responsible solution.
Setting design aside for a second, we need to acknowledge that the
architects created a place to find a community support network; a place
for children to learn and grow; a place that provides a place to
escape; and a place where families know children are safe. The
result is similar to the Danish concept of allowing children within a
community to build their own play space. Although the children in South
Melbourne did not actually build this playground, they will take an
active role in how the activity center will develop and grow.
Beginning with the desire to produce zero waste from conception to
completion, Phooey architects staggered, sliced and arranged four
unpainted shipping containers on the site of the playground. Any
additional material including windows, decking, carpet tiles and
joinery had to be durable, recycled, reclaimed, reused, plantation or
salvaged from demolition. Even parts that were cut off or unassembled
from the containers were used to make a staircase with a
balustrade, overhangs providing external shading, and various
decorative features.
Through the successful stacking of the shipping containers, a variety
of indoor and outdoor, intimate and public spaces are created. Areas
are provided for study, art, dance, play and general hang out. Every
interior space has visual and physical connections to its surroundings
by opening up onto sandpits, play spaces and even a pond and reed bed
that receives much of the roof’s runoff rainwater. The containers are fully sealed and insulated allowing continued
use through Melbourne’s temperate winter months. And in the summer,
cool ocean breezes help prevent overactive children from
overheating. By Andrew J Wiener.
For many of us, taking our cars to the garage can be a daunting
experience. Feeling anxious and uncertain over the price and duration
over jobs, use of technical jargon and the like. This may soon be a
thing of the past, thanks to the launch of the major rebranding
programme for car care network HiQ, starting with their new concept
center opening in Nottingham, UK.
The aim was to revolutionize the way fast fit car care is delivered and
to develop a fresh retail concept that would set new standards in this
sector. And it looks like they have come up with the goods.
Designed by the London team at Fitch, the brand has been repositioned
by using simple language, illustrations, and the center itself has
clever features like glass walls that allow customers to see onto the
garage floor for themselves.
We have seen this uncomplicated, tell it like it is mentality popping
up all over the place, especially as banks try to re-align themselves
with their customers. It is now nice and refreshing to see this
evolving into other touch points of consumers' lives. I wonder if this
approach would make going to the dentist any better? By Brendan McKnight
Don't you hate it when you see something and think 'why wasn't this around when I was a kid?'.
Tantrum
is the UK's first dedicated children's hairdressing company and has
just launched their first of many salons on the oh-so chic Kings Road
in London.
Catering from newborns to 15 years olds, this is a hairdressing haven
for everyone – especially parents who are pretty much guaranteed a
tear-free experience. And why would you cry, when you are the hippest
kid in hip-town.
The salon is separated into two sections. The first, 'Moon' is for
children up to the age of 7, and is set in an enchanted forest complete with its own locomotive train that runs around the styling
stations. Children get their hair cut in a variety of vehicles from a
Mercedes to a plane and also have individual flat screen TV's to keep
them entertained.
The second zone, 'Vogue' is a bit funkier and is for 7-15 year olds.
Looking something like a mix between a pop stars' dressing room and
backstage at fashion week, this is sure to bring out the inner diva in
any older child. Coupled with a games room housing a huge TV with a
Wii/PS3 and their very own juice bar to sit at, your children may never
want to leave.
What we especially love about Tantrum though (and yes there is more to
love), is that to finish off the experience, children can have their
photo taken with their new 'do, which is emailed to the parent and
displayed on the celebrity wall at the salon ready for the child to
sign on their next visit. How cool is that! By Brendan McKnight (spottted by TCH reader -Ned Gammell)
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