* Architecture: Knut Hamsun Centre by Steven Holl Architects

Architecture: Knut Hamsun Centre by Steven Holl Architects: “..The building is conceived as an archetypal and intensified compression of spirit in space and light..The building uses the vernacular style as inspiration for reinterpretation..The stained black wood exterior skin is characteristic of the great wooden stave Norse churches. On the roof garden, bamboo refers to traditional Norwegian sod roofs in a modern way. The rough white-painted and the concrete interiors are characterized by diagonal rays of light calculated to ricochet through the section on certain days of the year..”  Including excellent photos by Steven Holl Architects, Chris McVoy and Iwan Baan..

See our posts on other fascinating, excellent and inspirational work by Steven Holl Architects: Residential Architecture: Sun Slice House by Steven Holl Architects…. Architecture: Hangzhou Music Museum by Steven Holl Architects…. Architecture: Museum of Ocean and Surf by Steven Holl Architects in collaboration with Solange Fabiao…. Architecture: In China: Linked Hybrid by Steven Holl Architects…. Architecture: In China: Sliced Porosity Block by Steven Holl Architects…. Architecture: Sustainable Architecture: Vanke Center by Steven Holl Architects and Architecture & Civic Engagement – Steven Holl & Chris McVoy.

See our posts including other photos by the very talented architecture photographer Iwan Baan: Architecture: El B – Auditorium in Cartagena by Selgascano, Architecture: 2012 Pritzker Prize: More photos of Wang Shu’s work by Iwan Baan and Architecture: Zaha Hadid: Chinese Gem That Elevates Its Setting by Nicolai Ouroussoff.

image: © Chris McVoy; article: Arthitectural

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* Design: Download the Ventura Lambrate 2012 map and guide

Design: Download the Ventura Lambrate 2012 map and guide:  The ever-dynamic design site Dezeen has offered an excellent map and guide to the Ventura Lambrate venue, part of the upcoming, and always excellent, Milan Furniture Fair (the 51st Salone Internazionale del Mobile).  Whether you’re prepping your visit, or visiting online, this map and guide is a great plus.  Stay tuned to Designalog for multiple updates each and every day of this epic event, 17-22 April, 2012, for fresh posts, interviews, photos, videos and more!

image + article: Dezeen

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ICFF – International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2011 Editors’ Awards Winners ICFF

International Contemporary Furniture Fair 2011

Editors’ Awards Winners (by category, name, booth number)

 List of Editors’ Awards Winners ICFF 2011:

 BODY OF WORK: Vitra, 1826;

NEW DESIGNER: Rich, Brilliant & Willing, 1936;

CRAFTSMANSHIP: George Nakashima Woodworker SA, 1147;

FURNITURE: Artek, 1804;

SEATING: Wilkhahn’s Chassis Chair by Stefan Dietz, 1326;

CARPET & FLOORING: Ltd. Edition, 1304;

LIGHTING: Wastberg, 1840;

OUTDOOR FURNITURE: Herman Miller Retail’s Eames Aluminum Group, 1624;

MATERIALS: Stone Source’s Mutina, 2026;

WALLCOVERINGS: Piet Hein Eek, 2223;

ACCESSORIES: Angell Wyller Aarseth, 873;

TEXTILES: Teixidors, 926;

KITCHEN & BATH: AF New York, 1226;

MULTIPLE PRODUCTION: Fermob, 1253;

SCHOOL: Tools at School by The School at Columbia University with Aruliden & Bernhardt Design, 1604;

BOOTH: Tom Dixon, 1104

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Quietly Excellent Design – The Annual Post-Salone Sigh from Alice Rawsthorn

 

Quietly good designs include Wasara‘s eco-friendly plates, which are biodegradable and chic

The astute, perceptive, sensible and persuasive design critic and journalist Alice Rawsthorn has written “Four Examples of Quietly Excellent Design” another fine article, in the Arts section of The New York Times.  Rawsthorn’s sharp perspective on the excess that is the design world’s annual Salone del Mobile in Milan, once again inspires a more calmly thoughtful, nevertheless rigourous, look at what is so aptly called “Quietly Good Design” or a bit more intensely, “Quietly Excellent Design”, as is the case this year.  Rawsthorn cites four examples of what could, certainly, fit at least the first category: 1. Penguin Great Food books; 2. Wasara eco-friendly dinnerware; 3. Domus magazine and 4. Jaime Hayón’s tableware for Maruwakaya, and offers convincing reasoning for why each should be thusly considered.  We, of course, find Domus truly marvelous, and the Wasara dinnerware quirkily, engagingly eco-modest.  We’ll certainly take a closer look at the Penguin Great Food books collection, finding daily life turning (or not) as often as it does on the successes and failures of graphic design.  As for Jaime Hayon’s tableware for Maruwakaya, well, we’re awfully glad his over-exuberant use of color has been tamed.

In any case, click through to Rawsthorn’s article, always a pleasure to read.  And for more by one of our favorites observers of the design world, click here.

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, here, where you’ll find really much more on design, architecture, product design, graphic design, architects, designers, ….

Here’s a link to Alice Rawsthorn’s official site: Alice

image: wasara.jp /The New York Times

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