the way they lived

i've been a bit m-i-a lately.  i admit, the rain has definitely got me feeling blue but i'm thinking that this little documentary by josef astor might be a great way to pass some time this weekend.  it reviews the battle between carnegie hall and its tenants in the studios above.  i've always been fascinated by the way people live, especially in a place like nyc.  there are so many little hidden stories and amazing spaces scattered around this city.  it is a shame that the apartments could not remain as the creative haven perched above the great hall, but what an amazing place to have been able to live in!

divine mount athos

in reference to the easter holy week, 60 minutes aired a fascinating short documentary on the monasteries of mount athos in greece.  the architecture of the place is unbelievable in every sense, including the fact that the monasteries have been there for over 1000 years.  

the journey to get there is treacherous but the waiting list to visit or join is long.  it's the only place on earth that keeps byzantine time where the day begins at sunset and is filled with devout concentration, prayer, and basic chores of sustaining a secluded life.  the monks that live there have come from the four corners of the earth to live in solitude and constant prayer.  

to the everyday outsider it may seem like a melancholy existence, but their total isolation from the chaos of the outside world and dedicated concentration on a spiritual existence renders the place and the monks that live there as anything but melancholy.  plus the views are astounding.

images: 1  2  3  4  5

melbourne re-style

beautifully done renovation by hecker guthrie in melbourne, australia.  first floor breakfast bar, second floor smokey, speak-easy, lounge room.  the key to my heart is the tripod floor lamp...

images via hecker guthrie and
vogue living australia

sunday tea

Hermés has opened a new shop in shanghai called shang xia.  the interior was created by famed architect kengo kuma and the brand is run by shanghai designer jiang qiong'er.  the walls and ceiling of the shop are draped with a shape-retaining, hexagonally cut cloth that gives an airy, cloud-like feel.  the rest of the store is minimal but rich, displaying delicate porcelain teaware, capes made of cashmere felt, and fine jewelry.  what's not to love?...as usual.

images: shang xia, kengo kuma
book via amazon: kengo kuma 

getting green

i love the green of spring, the way it contrasts with the shades of grey left behind from winter. here in nyc we're just starting to see some little baby sprigs fighting their way up through layers of dirt and sand left behind from way too many snowy days. this got me thinking about gardens and some work done by one of my favorite shops in austin, tx.

worldly pavilions

i'm a neglectful blogger these days. in the middle of a move and trying ever so hard to turn the page on a new chapter of life. in the mean time, these images are of two pavilions rising in shanghai for the upcoming world expo 2010 beginning may 1st. the top two are of the spanish pavilion and the bottom show the uk seed pavilion...

i'm intrigued.

casa larrain, chile

casa larrain, done by chilean architect cecelia puga is intriguing, however when i first was introduced (at a lecture given by puga) i was uncertain. there was something too obvious (i'm not talking about the general form of it) and i was left skeptical. but puga's explanation of chilean architecture sheds some light. shes says:

'We have never had access to the type of technology that you do in more developed countries, so we missed certain movements like deconstructivism and the more recent focus on digital technologies. Instead, we've been forced to stick with and develop modernism with more modest construction means and with local materials and labour,'

there is something honest and humble about this house. despite the acrobatics, it doesn't feel like it's trying too hard like many "modern", contemporary homes do. i am curious of it's current condition in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in the area.

photos via: new architects

i was reminded of the work of office da and a restaurant they did in boston's south end when I stumbled on this post at (blog) casa haus earlier today. monica ponce de leon's (of office da) interpretation is maybe a bit more dramatic. i attended a lecture she had given where she described the sweeping forms as stalactites and i guess it does kind of appear cavernous. an incredibly innovative way of creating space and drama while hiding all of the systems running along the ceiling. here are a couple more images of offic da's restaurant:

enjoy the view

my boyfriend (now fiancé:) spent some time in the swiss alps a while ago. i was perusing some of his photos (half in awe of the beautiful scenery and half peeping for funny younger photos of the boy) and i found this pic of the camp site's loo. i don't think you need to bring reading material to this one, the view is spectacular! the pink painted structure makes me wonder if it's the ladies room.

people+architecture

i have admired the work of sanaa for some time; their rolex learning center opens next week in switzerland. the concept for the building relates closely to the outline for the 2010 venice bienalle, directed by kazuyo sejima where the title of the theme is people meet in architecture. the building concentrates on the movement of people and strives to cultivate fluid moments for interaction rather than singular stopping points or cross-roads.

sejima seems to also have an appreciation for fashion (it's a dior daaarling):

browsing...

i have this continually growing collection of images/things that inspire; some are classics and some are old ideas with a new twist. juxtaposing differing styles, textures, patterns... for me creates a truly interesting space. e.g. the idea of the diamond in the rough - giving an industrial space a little sparkle with a vintage crystal chandelier or accent piece. taking old plantation blinds and giving them a new coat of high gloss lacquer. i particularly like the use of chain link, finished to perfection and installed inside the home.

links:

crystal ball, eames chair, chain link,

polychromie architecturale, spina design, kelly hoppen

modern pavilions of art

on a recent trip to the kimball art museum to view the private collections of texas exhibition, i peaked in at the modern art museum of fort worth done by architect tadao ando. the galleries and the cafe appear to float on the surface of a large reflecting pond to the rear of the building. the entry hall is also an interesting space bathed in natural light reflecting off of the surface of the water and pouring in through forty foot transparent walls of glass. a series of drawings and sketches hangs on the wall displaying colorful details of building connections and concepts from initial design phases. ando's building certainly holds it's own next to those done by louis kahn and phillip johnson.

loaded

i keep going back to this article from a 2007 objekt magazine that features an interior done by spanish designer ana borrallo. the house is in montreal. while my personal aesthetic tends towards a more subtle, clean line, uncluttered interior space, i really just like this interior. every room is bursting with texture, light, and color, it's pretty amazing. large windows are shielded with slats or blinds of different widths and colors allowing natural light to filter in and reflect through the space on countless accent mirrors, chrome finished pieces, and cut glass chandeliers. interior lighting is hidden under shelving, within recessed alcoves, and behind large acrylic and onyx wall panels. it's sensory...loaded.
images via borrallo

re-architecting healthcare

Foster+Partners use fresh air and natural light to cure ailments.  a new take on the architecture of healthcare seems fitting as we listen to the daily debate of the future of our own [health and care] here in the states.  as we face an aging population it is likely that better, more efficient accommodations will be on the boards in may architecture studios.

filter

i have an affinity for architectural screens.  erwin hauer, creator of the screens below is still at work developing and installing similar creations internationally.  he is connected to josef albers, a german artist schooled at the weimar bauhaus in the 1920s.  it was albers who invited hauer to teach at princeton in the 1950s.