Innholdsfortegnelse for March - April 2015 i AZURE

APRIL 14 TO 19 NO ONE CAN DENY the relevance of Salone del Mobile. Marcel Wanders, creative director of Moooi, once described the event as New Year’s for designers: “Everyone works to get everything done, then there are ‘fireworks,’ we drink a lot of champagne, and then we start new projects!” An estimated 1,300 furniture manufacturers – Moroso, Cappellini, Edra, Kartell, and Normann Copenhagen among them – roll out their latest, filling 21 pavilions, and attracting upwards of 300,000 attendees during the six-day run. This year, Euroluce will fill four of those halls, launching lighting innovations by the likes of Davide Groppi, Bocci and Artemide. Milan architect and designer Michele De Lucchi will also present the Walk, a workspace-themed installation that explores physical environments where life and work intersect. Off…

CALL IT THE MAD MEN EFFECT: The predominant trend spotted at Orgatec last October looked to the past for inspiration. At least six major brands – among them Buzzispace, Vitra and Germany’s VS – reissued collections from the 1940s and ’50s; some, such as the Neutra line by VS, are entering production for the first time. Buzzispace, in particular, made a significant departure from its usual felt-panelled office systems to launch tables and seating by mid-century British designer Ernest Race, including a rocking chair – relaxed furniture equally suited for home or office. Vitra, always in the lead, added desks, task lights and storage to its new Prouvé RAW collection, replicated from prototypes that emerged from Jean Prouvé’s workshop seven decades ago. The project is a three-way effort among Vitra,…

OSLO “Snohetta’s Opera House is not to be missed. I also like the many post-industrial conversions along the river Akerselva, such as Mathallen, a food hall inside a covered market on the right bank.” Writer Léa-Catherine Szacka took in the sculptural white curves of a futuristic spa and swimming pool in southern Paris, by Dominique Coulon et Associés, for “Into the Blue.” → Page 50 PARIS “Today it’s no contest: the Fondation Louis Vuitton – and not just because of the Gehry factor. However, the Panthéon, built by Jacques-Germain Soufflot in the 18th century, is an exceptional model of neoclassical beauty.” For “Divine Intervention,” writer Amy Verner visited Fontevraud Abbey, a medieval monastery in the Loire Valley, newly repurposed as a luxury hotel by Jouin Manku. → Page 56 BERLIN…

MARCH 10 TO 14 ISH, FRANKFURT Bathroom furnishings, heating and more. ish.messefrankfurt.com APRIL 8 TO 10 SOLAR EXPO, MI LAN Italy’s expo for sustainable energy and architecture. solarexpo.com APRIL 27 TO 29 PROPOSTE, COMO, ITALY The latest from Europe’s contract textile manufacturers. propostefair.it MAY 5 TO 7 LIGHTFAIR, NEW YORK Architectural and commercial lighting. lightfair.com MAY 8 TO 19 NYCXDESI GN, NEW YORK Design takes over the city with events including ICFF and WantedDesign. nycxdesign.com MAY 13 TO 15 HD EXPO, LAS VEGAS Inspiration and ideas for hospitality design. hdexpo.com MAY 21 TO 23 SI DIM, MONTREAL A spotlight on local talent, including ceramicists and other design-based craftspeople. sidim.com JUNE 15 TO 17 NEOCON, CHICAGO Seating, desking and lighting for contract, health care and hospitality. neocon.com…

MUNICH THE SITE CAME WITH A CATCH, but it wasn’t the location. When the owner of a four-storey concrete building from the ’70s approached Sascha Arnold, Niels Jäger and Steffen Werner about leasing the top two floors, they already understood the appeal of the Glockenbach district. This workingclass neighbourhood south of Munich’s centre used to be known as party central, but decommissioned industrial buildings have given way to polished residential and commercial developments with hefty price tags, transforming it into the city’s trendiest area. The three friends were intimately connected with the transition. They got their start in the ’90s, throwing parties in the hot local nightlife scene before founding the Edmoses Bar and the Bob Beaman Music Club. “There are many bars and restaurants in this area, and lots…

LOIRE VALLEY ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH JOUIN MANKU, the highly experimental studio run by product designer Patrick Jouin and architect Sanjit Manku, might be tempted to box the Paris firm’s work in to the realm of luxury retail and hospitality: the restaurants of Chef Alain Ducasse, Van Cleef & Arpels boutiques – all boast sumptuous, sleek interiors. Then there is Fontevraud L’Hôtel in the Loire Valley, where a storied past has helped to shape a contemporary vision, one that balances an austere way of life with all of the modern conveniences. Erected during the 12th century as the Saint-Lazare priory, the hotel stands as one of four buildings within the Fontevraud Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest preserved monasteries in France. The entire compound spreads across…

1 Void by Modern Forms Ideal for pathways and corridors in homes or hotels, this dimmable downlight from Modern Forms of New York is defined by its slim aluminum profile with a circular cutout. Illuminated with LEDs and approved for wet locations, Void comes in two widths (41 and 56 centimetres), powder coated in black, graphite or white. modernforms.com 2 Vitro by Fontana Arte For this faceted multi-purpose lamp, Emmanuel Babled was inspired by his work with glass in Murano. The polymer LED can be mounted on the wall or ceiling, or placed on any surface. fontanaarte.com 3 Obice by Artemide This wall-mounted LED, in black or grey, features an injection-moulded aluminum body with an adjustable joint, and a protective screen in tempered glass. artemide.com 4 Gregg by Foscarini Ludovica…

AND THE WINNERS ARE… The American Institute of Architects named Moshe Safdie as its 2015 Gold Medal winner in December, recognizing his “comprehensive and humane approach to designing public and cultural spaces across the world,” with such projects as his Mamilla Center. The contemporary structure blends seamlessly into a 19th century Jerusalem neighbourhood. AIA also presented the Edward C. Kemper Award to Edward Mazria, for inspiring designers to address climate change. He founded the green initiative 2030 Challenge, which aims to reduce fossil fuel consumption in new buildings to carbon neutral by 2030. The Presidential Citation went to Michael Graves, for his outstanding contributions to national architecture over a 50-year career. aia.org In February, the inaugural Winter Stations competition brought four temporary installations to Toronto’s Beach neighbourhood. Finalists include WMB…

IT TAKES MORE THAN A FEW POTTED PLANTS on balconies to turn a condo complex into an eco-friendly habitat. Il Bosco Verticale in Milan, by Stefano Boeri, completely reimagines the union of architecture and urban greenery with two towers cloaked in vegetation – to the tune of 780 trees and 16,000 climbing plants, perennials and shrubs. Maple, beech, cherry, olive, holm oak and apple trees, to name just a few species that sprout from the massive terraces, were cultivated for two years before being transplanted. All told, the foliage equals 20,000 square metres of vertical woodland, an unprecedented accomplishment that took over eight years to complete. (By comparison, Jean Nouvel’s One Central Park in Sydney, Australia, which won numerous accolades last year for its impressive vine-covered exterior, is equivalent to…

THE UNDERLINE, MIAMI A 16-kilometre park and urban trail under the Metrorail elevated track Status: Fundraising; endorsed by Miami-Dade County Budget: $80M LOWLINE, NEW YORK A 6,000-square-metre park illuminated by solar technology, in an underground trolley terminal unused since 1948; plans by Raad Studio Status: Fundraising; many celebrity and civic supporters Budget: $75M TRANSBAY TRANSIT CENTRE CITY PARK SAN FRANCISCO Will feature a 2.2-hectare, 0.4-kilometre-long rooftop park with public spaces; international design competition won by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects Status: Under construction; completion in late 2017 Budget: $4B 11th STREET BRIDGE PARK WASHINGTON, D.C. Elevated park using pillars from a decommissioned freeway bridge; OMA + OLIN won the design competition in fall 2014 Status: To open in 2018 Budget: $45M THE 606, CHICAGO Converts a 4.3-kilometre section of rail line…

WALL PANELS David Hamlin’s graphic, dimensional wallcoverings are made of soft but sturdy wool felt affixed to a cork backing. Sized for large-scale applications, the richly textured panels come in 42 colours. $33 per square foot, submaterial.com SHOELACE LAMPS This lighting collection from Metalarte was born out of an interior by Curro Claret, for footwear brand Camper. The product designer collaborated on the project with a team of socially disadvantaged workers he hired through a local foundation. metalarte.com TUBE SERIES LEFF Amsterdam teamed with Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek for a series of tubular speakers and clocks that lend a vintage feel to any decor. Available in brass, stainless steel or copper. $225, leffamsterdam.com FLOAT This mobile kitchen island by Spanish firm Mut employs such tactile materials as copper, marble…

Salsa Air Rimowa's lightest case has a multistage telescopic handle for effortless manoeuvrability. It's available in easyto-spot colours: white, lime green, purple and two shades of blue – and no black. From $570, rimowa.com Bulldog London beachwear brand Orlebar Brown digitally applied photographs by Dallas native Gray Malin to these trunks, which sport a panoramic poolside view of the Standard Hotel in Miami. $415, graymalin.com, orlebarbrown.com Zvezdochka Relauched in January, Marc Newson’s Croc-like recyclable shoe from 2004 was inspired by the footwear of Russian astronauts and named for a canine sent into space. A breathable cage contains a removable cushioned sock that gives protection from the elements. $360, nike.com MM6 Martin Margiela’s edgy, angular bag is made from textured techno-fabric, tough enough to tote scuba gear to and from the…

1 Husk by B&B Italia To accompany her evolving line of padded seating, Patricia Urquiola added a side table, combining a round metal tray with a solid die-cast support. Available in Corten steel, for use indoors or out. bebitalia.com 2 Traverse by Royal Botania The Belgian outdoor furniture company enlisted local designer Mathias De Ferm for this dining table with a coated aluminum frame and a teak top. The sides fold down for storage in compact spaces. royalbotania.com 3 Vector by Forms+Surfaces Ideal for public spaces, this modular seating line is based on benches in 60- to 245-centimetre lengths, a 120‑ degree-angled bench and a planter, made from FSC-certified jatoba wood or powder-coated aluminum in various colours. forms‑surfaces.com 4 Bertoia by Knoll The welded wire base on Harry Bertoia’s bench…

PROJECT: LIVERPOOL INSURGENTES DEPARTMENT STORE, MEXICO CITY WHILE OTHERS ENDEAVOUR TO design facades that are thin, streamlined and light as air, Rojkind Arquitectos looks in a different direction. To revitalize the Liverpool Insurgentes department store in Mexico City, the firm added an outer wall that is a structure within itself, housing an entirely new program. Aiming to draw more pedestrian traffic from the new subway station nearby, Rojkind partner Gerardo Salinas decided to blur the line between inside and out, wrapping the former big box–style store with what he calls a “habitable facade.” The high number of people who walk past the building was a key factor – “plus the notion that a store could have many more amenities that are not typically part of its business model,” says Salinas.…

Charles Young is making his city, one day at a time. Every 24 hours, the Edinburgh designer completes another building in a rapidly expanding municipality called Paperholm. However, this is no mega-development of concrete and steel, but rather a miniature world wrought in watercolour paper, built on a foundation of wooden blocks and the occasional small stone. Since he began his project this past August, Young has posted the results online (often in the form of animated GIFs) as regularly as the sun rises. Among the dozens of completed constructions, the city is now equipped with a watchtower, an aircraft hanger, a water wheel, a radar station, an oil derrick and an observatory. First-time visitors to the Paperholm realm will be amazed by the intricacy of Young’s craft and his…