An architect’s house could be his ultimate expression of his relationship to the surrounding world. Arthur Casas positioned
his own House in Iporanga outside of Sao Paulo deep in the Atlantic
forest — the quintessential Brazilian landscape according to Casas.
Two symmetrical rectangular cubes face one another on the north and
south sides of the site. Two retractable 36 foot-high glass walls
connect the cubes and frame the main living and dining rooms of the
house. The entire exterior is paneled in Cumaru wood that blends
effortlessly into the surrounding forest.
Cumaru is also used inside as flooring where it stands out against
the stark white walls – the only “color” found in the minimalist space.
To an architect, one of the defining features of the overall design of
a structure is effective interior spatial division. In his own house,
Casas successfully divided the ground floor into distinct public and
private areas. The kitchen and service area — including a separate
bedroom and bathroom — were placed in the north cube structure. A
studio and a guest bedroom and bathroom are located on the opposite
side. The entire space is connected by the vast living room flanked by
wood terraces on both ends. An infinity pool appears to be spilling
over to soak the surrounding flora.
A floating Cumaru stairway leads to the first level, where one
finds the master suite in the southern cube. A narrow bridge crosses
over the middle of the living room and leads to an additional guest
bedroom, bathroom and a home theater.
The main objective of Casas’s design brief for the House in Iporanga
was to provide an escape into the Brazilian forest. He has accomplished
the creation of a personal retreat, a place where he is able to relax
and recharge. By Andrew J Wiener.
Publicity stunts don't come on much of a larger scale than this. To celebrate the launch of the new Fiat 500 in London last night, one of the vehicles was placed into a pod on the London Eye where it will live for the next 2 weeks.
The
launch of this 'time capsule' was at 8pm, exactly 500 hours into the
year and as one would expect for such an event, was a star-studded
affair and included a light show that lit up the river Thames, and
performances by Mika and The Feeling.
The
car itself is a remodel of the original version which was first
presented 50 years ago, and is Fiat's go at re-releasing a retro
classic, as VW (Beetle) and BMW (Mini) have arguably both done quite
successfully in recent years.
The 500 was recently named the 2008 Car of the Year and has been praised in numerous auto publications. By Brendan McKnight
We came across this clever print ad for Vespa scooters. Visually
effective and well executed, it is playful, simple and gets the point
across fast (no pun intended). Nice work team Vespa. By Brendan McKnight
We wish we could tell you the details about this thrill but we must
remain mum (well, almost...). This dramatic, "dark ride"(as in not
open-air) is an exhilarating waterslide illuminated with super-cool LED
lighting. It is one of those experiences you hesitate to try but
when you do, you cannot wait to do it again. As lightheaded and dizzy
as you may feel, do not close your eyes or you'll miss the best part -
the after-effect of the LED lights you just zoomed through. Wait for
Coolhunter TV, launching later this year, to see it in action. By Tuija Seipell
Here at TCH, we’ve been noticing architects around the world
are transforming church buildings into various types of structures
including houses, retail stores, libraries, and well, cooler
churches.
After successfully converting a water tower into a living space, Marnix
Van Der Meer and Rolf Bruggink’s Utrecht-based architecture studio,
Zecc has done it again – this time perhaps a little more
controversial. Here they transformed an old chapel into a
spacious house – carefully respecting and enhancing the character of
the original building.
The design team chose to keep many of the original features – including
the high gothic stained glass windows and the original choir organ. To
allow more light to enter the space, they cut a Mondrian-inspired glass
window into the front of the house facing the street – perhaps paying
homage to Rietveld’s nearby infamous Schroder House. The entire living
area has been whitewashed, while the private spaces above were painted
dark.
And only 100 miles away in Maastricht an 800 year old Dominican church
was transformed into the newest addition to the Selexyz book store
chain – the Selexyz Dominicanen – housing an impressive collection of
books not only in Dutch, but in English as well.
The challenge for the Amsterdam based architects Merkx + Girod was
staying true to the original character and charm of the church, while
also achieving a desirable amount of commercial space. A
multi-storey steel structure that houses the majority of the books was
constructed and placed along the central nave of the church under the
vaulted ceiling.
Located in Finland in the Ostrobothnia region, near the campus of
Helsinki University on the eastern side of the city, JKMM Architects
won a national competition to design the Vikkii Urban Centre. The focal
point of the Centre is a church clad in aspen shingles that have turned
grey since construction was completed in 2005. Throughout Europe
new church design is not synonymous with modernity, so when the Parish
of Helsinki approached the architects at JKMM, they welcomed the
opportunity to contribute to a newly developed urban area housing
approximately 13,000 residents.
Many Scandinavian churches serve as civic spaces for the surrounding
community to gather. Of course sacral characteristics are still
present, and the Viikki Church’s central space and adjoining
congregation hall have a light-filled cathedral-like appearance.
The
architects chose wood for practically every surface of the interior
space as well: oaken doors, spruce ceiling and walls, and aspen
furniture allow the congregation to feel as though they are gathering
within a forest. Large windows open the space even further onto
the surrounding landscape of the countryside. The church does not
sit in isolation, however a new market was built to the north and an
urban park sits to the south.
Divisive as it may be to alter houses built for God, these architects
do not need to preach to the choir about their immaculate conceptions
in renovations, we’re sold. By Andrew J Wiener and Brendan McKnight
We're looking for more church renovations, if you spot one, send
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To celebrate the 3rd annual PARK(ing) Day, San Francisco based art collective Rebar decided to take things a little further, with their pedal-powered park on wheels; the Parkcycle.
This one-day global event encourages artists, activists and everyday
citizens to temporarily transform parking spots into "PARK(ing)"
spaces: temporary public parks. This time around an astounding 180
parks in 47 cities were created.
"The process of rethinking the ways streets are used is an important
first step in making permanent changes in our cities to improve the
quality of urban human habitat," says John Bela, cofounder of Rebar.
The Parkcycle, which can be cycled by a team of three, but enjoyed by
many more on it's 7m lawn, features a 5m tall tree and solar charged
battery which run's the cycles breaks.
With a top speed of 5mph, it is hardy going to get a yellow jersey in
the Tour de France, but makes for an incredibly scenic picnic. By Brendan McKnight
Unworldly spaces with equally unworldly names, like the topsy-turvy
boutique And A, Beams T or Foot Soldier, shops that feature little
conveyor belts for the display of merchandise, or Nowhere *A Bathing
Ape 'Busy Work Shop', a Tokyo boutique that stocks and displays
garments in an oversized refrigerator that resembles the familiar unit
in everybody's local supermarket - all recent additions to Japan's
shopping streets - are the work of Masamichi Katayama, founder of
Tokyo-based WonderWall. More than just attempts to be futuristic or
extravagant, they are highly sophisticated retail outlets. Not to
mention great fun! Katayama is the consummate consumer. With his shop
designs for *A Bathing Ape, a charismatic apparel brand, Katayama has
ventured beyond the streets of Japan to enrich shopping experience in
London and New York. By Lisa Evans
Random Archive
Annoying as it is to admit but we did not invent this device. This
hangover of a clothes rack, this marvel of a loss-prevention tool, this
clothes line with an attitude, this hallway accessory that we all — at
least in theory — could make at home. A couple of things worry us about
this potential nightmare, though. With the Christmas season still in
fresh memory, we all know how tangled up a string of anything can get.
So this could really drive you mad. And when the cab’s waiting outside,
how do you quickly grab your coat and run? By Tuija Seipell
Rijeka, Croatia-based architect, Petar Mišković, is known for his
unconditional faith in black and white. He is also known for his
cooperation with Zagreb-based conceptual artist, Ivana Franke, who has
studied and worked in Croatia, Japan and Finland. The two drew
attention in 2004 for their work for the Croatian Pavilion of La
Biennale di Venezia – Metamorph, 9th International Architecture
Exhibition in Venice.
Now those with a sweet tooth and a ticket to Zagreb can enjoy
another example of the incredible pair’s work in the Importance
Galleria Shopping Centre at the corner of Vlaska and Smiciklasova Ulici
(Streets). There, you will find Piece of Cake, a tiny bake shop where
less is more and things are not always as they seem. The space is
shaped like a truncated pyramid and everything in the shop — the neon
tubes, the orange sign and the counter — adheres to the principle of
foreshortening perspective. It feels like an empty funnel, looks cool,
and apparently, the pastries are yummy, too. By Tuija Seipell
China’s first carbon-neutral hotel, the hip 26-room URBN Hotel Shanghai,
will officially open this spring. Conceived by owners Scott Barrack and
Jules Kwan, URBN promises to be the start of a new boutique hotel
empire.
No strangers to luxury developments or to China where they have lived
for 10 years, the two plan to open another 20 URBN hotels in China in
the next three years, starting with Beijing, Hangzhou, Dalian and
Suzhou. The hoteliers will go as green as possible by rehabilitating
existing structures, using recycled materials, maximizing green space
and introducing eco-friendly solutions.
Beyond co-founding boutique real estate investment and development company Space Development with Kwan, the California native Barrack has established several property companies in China, including Space International specializing in luxury French Concession district properties, and Inn Shangha,
the city’s first serviced boutique apartment complex. Sydney,
Australia-born and raised Kwan is an alternative media and property
development expert.
The partners have a unique, personal perspective on what works and what
doesn’t for a luxury traveler in China. To give visitors a true
Shanghainese urban experience — something they felt was missing — they
invited international Shanghai-based collaborators with similar
sensibilities to convert a 1970s post office building to the stylish
URBN Hotel Shanghai. The result is an impressive fusion of contemporary
and Chinese design.
URBN’s spatial concept, interior and facade design are by A00 Architecture,
a partnership of three Canadian architects, best known for conversions
of Shanghai’s historic houses into unique residences. The hotel’s
interior designer is Brazil native architect, Tais Cabral, known for
her commercial, cultural, residential and retail work in Paris, as well
as her furniture design.By Tuija Seipell
Opened in late fall 2007, Electric Birdcage at Haymarket in the
heart of London’s West End, has been receiving mixed reviews. One thing
is certain, though, it IS getting a reaction from everyone who visits.
Electric Birdcage is a magnificently weird combination of Alice in
Wonderland and Russian Aristocrat, dim sum parlor and late-night
cocktail bar, sophisticated party venue and silly funhouse.
The owners, brothers Richard and Anthony Traviss, knew where to go for
eccentric and totally extravagant interiors: to London’s beloved venue
designer Shaun Clarkson. His handiwork can be seen, for example, at La
Pigalle, Covent Garden's Denim, Play Room, Profile, Power's Acoustic
Room, The Bloomsbury Ballroom, Atlantic Bar & Grill and Jerusalem.
Electric Birdcage’s surrealistic interior includes a Fibonacci-style
patterned floor, tables made of tree roots, gigantic pink hands for
chairs, lavish Vegas-style mirrors, imposing black stallions, two
snarling black polymer panthers, a carousel bar and iron birdcage
chandeliers dangling from a pink ceiling. Even the DJ operates from a
birdcage.
Capacity crowd of 300, served by cute staff in retro airline get-up,
can order Pan-Asian fare by head chef Somporn Khamsaenphan all day, and
stay until 4 am enjoying cocktails by mixologist Chad Shields. You and
seven friends can share the signature Electric Birdcage bowl filled
with a mix of champagne, Absolut Raspberri peach schnapps, Cointreau,
Absolut Citron, strawberry puree, gomme syrup, orange juice, fresh
raspberries and blueberries. That should elicit a reaction, if nothing
else will. By Tuija Seipell
While it my be true that music can be found everywhere, we all know
good music – music you want to keep coming back to – takes a bit of
effort to collect. Of course the annual releases of the Buddha Bar and
Café del Mar compilations help amp up our playlists – provide a subtly
cool vibe at our cocktail parties – get us through that final mile on
the treadmill and even persuade us to stay for one more dance.
A new service provided by a company called AWDIO
has combed the globe for live music played in the coolest clubs,
boutique hotels, bars, lounges, restaurants, festivals, and studios.
AWDIO makes exclusive agreements with venues and streams music live
from sound systems in real time through their site with high quality
sound via Techcrunch.
The path to great music has never been easier. From London’s Favela to
the trendy Colette Shop in Paris, from the Endup in San Francisco to
Hong Kong’s ultimate lounge experience, Dragon-I, AWDIO has gained
access to 50 hotspots worldwide and allows the hottest house, hip hop,
jazz, alternative, lounge sessions, underground sets and more to flow
freely through your own computer’s speakers. By Andrew J Wiener
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