Monthly Archives: November 2011

We just wanted to share with you this quite interesting photograph taken and edited by artist Mike Edmonds.

”If you look long enough, you can see the change in perspective.”

The Piano House, located in Huainan City, An Hui Province, China, is a stunningly original architectural beauty. The elaborate composition boasts a highly detailed and creative transparent violin that is attached to the main building shaped as a piano.  Commissioned by the owners to build a “musical building,” the architect delivered with a quite literal translation. The building was a government project that was based around the hope of creating new interest in the recently renovated area in which it is located. It was to be a place where local college students could come to practice and perform their music.  If this building doesn’t inspire you as an artist, there may not be any hope.

Japanese firm SAKO Architects designed this whimsical children’s bookstore called  Poplar Library in Beijing. Entitled Kid’s Republic, the store features two rainbow  ribbon pathways that float over two floors where children are invited to explore the wonderful world of books. Cozy corners and open spaces fill the store. My favorite features are the holes built into the bookshelves that convert into little lairs to read in, and some act as secret passageways into other sections of the store. It’d be hard not to have a good game of Hide-and-Seek at Poplar Library.

Via

Made from 4,242 officially licensed Rubik’s Cubes, Peter Fecteau‘s mosaic titled Dream Big placed top in ArtPrize‘s 2010 competition. The concept stemmed from a “design dream” where Pete dreamed that he was using Rubik’s Cubes to create something. With this, the Michigan-born artist set out to “reverse solve” each cube, twisting the cube so that one of the faces mapped its nine stickers into the total image, 38,178 stickers total. After about 45 total hours of twisting, solving, and installing, a gorgeously breathtaking mosaic of Martin Luther King Jr. was formed. This is definitely mind blowing, considering the difficulty I have in solving ONE Rubik’s Cube!

From the March 2011 issue of Madame magazine transpires a creative collection of brilliantly bold and beautifully constructed dresses made from tissue paper. Yes, we said tissue paper!  Artist Hattie Newman  and Matthew Brodie push the envelope when it comes to creativity and the photos,also shot by Mathew Brodie, capture the glamorous result perfectly.  To view and learn more about the amazing collection be sure to check out their blog site.

“We really wanted to create something beautiful from a material that doesn’t normally lend itself to being draped and shaped on a living being, it had to be apparent that it was paper, but not because it looked (unsightly). For about a week we toiled in the studio creating designs with tissue and brown paper, a real Jack and Jill, seeing what would work and what wouldn’t, a lot more didn’t work than did, paper is not a malleable material, but eventually the idea showed itself to us and we had five dresses and props that we’ve make.”

If you’re afraid of heights, you probably would not want to take a swing at it, but for all others, I’m thinking it would be an amazing place to pass the time. Paris based architect Didier Faustino from Mesarchitecture, has come up with the brilliant idea of converting old advertising billboards into cool swing sets. First completed for the Shenzhen- Hong Kong Bi-City Biennial of Urbanism and Architecture, the trend and transformation is slowly starting to become a popular one in the states. I’m patiently biding my time until the movement hits my city of Atlanta. I’ve never seen or heard of such an idea, but I think it’s brilliant. Can you imagine the view while swinging, it would certainly be a lot more visually appealing than the typical billboard eye-sore.

What a beauty! Israel architect firm Sharon Neuman designed a house for a family that was seeking a large but cozy open space, and most importantly, a home design that could keep the family organized. Based around an open floor plan,  the firm successfully created this single-level home where the patio is the main feature connecting all the rooms. The light blue storage unit is a beauty and conveniently houses a small office area. When not in use, you can simply close the door and retreat. A stark white corridor, enhanced by the natural sunlight flooding through the sky light window, only enhances the open and airy decor. Boasting no distinct doors in most natural areas,  such as the comfortable seating area that’s connected to the kitchen, or the open shower in the master bath, you’re free to nosy about uninhibited. So what do you think? Could you see yourself cozying up here?

I think of myself as pretty crafty, but sadly over the years I’ve been forced to come to terms with my limitations. Take a look at Peter Clark’s skillfully put together creative collection of collages and you might find yourself trying your hand with the scissors and glue too. Made from a mixture of paper based items, the detailed portraits are layered to bring out the individual personality of each piece.  After reviewing the collection, who wouldn’t want a portrait of their own little pooch? 

Beautifully constructed from unfinished wood, I imagine this rocking sleeper would evoke a feeling similar to that of one drifting on a cloud. Designed by Richard Clarkson, the product was created after thorough research into children with autism as well as those who suffer from RMD (rhythmic moving disorder). The finish product, quite simplistic in form, evokes a feeling of peacefulness as it provides a rhythmic motion that many of us tend to associate with comfort. When not in use the entire piece shifts forward due to the weight of the wood, but once occupied, it lounges back. With one of these handy, getting enough sleep would be the least of my worries.  I could just cozy in and slowly rock until I fell into deep slumber.

German collective Llot Llov created a dynamic lighting system called Earl that consists of  twenty wooden “pearls” connected by a cable that can be easily adjusted by simply hooking any one pearl in a different position. Both fun and functional, this adjustment allows the lamp to be  flexible in both height and orientation. On the end, the largest pearl holds the LED light source and is covered with a silicone shade.

Check out Llot Llov’s other collections here.