Volume magazine issue #21
Vast urbanizations in developed, developing and under-development countries have one common denominator: an immediate need for quality housing. Housing the billions: never before were those involved in architecture and construction confronted with such a challenge. A one-fits-all solution seems unthinkable since most mass housing schemes in the past failed and originated in dictatorship or total absence of power. Based on an analysis of one of the housing experiments of the past, the Soviet Microrayon, Volume proposes a new prototype. A housing block, which is custom-made but mass-produced and conceived via open source standards.
Via & more: Volume
Church of living by Zecc Architecten
The balcony at the organ is maintained and extended in the shape of a organizing element, free in the space. This element defines the different living spaces, like living, cooking and studying, in the chapel. A new spatial hierarchy is created by the asymmetric placing of the organizing element. The object is kept very minimalistic and is given abstract shapes, by which it creates an contrast with the original, soft shapes of the chapel. Despite of their contribution to the dark character of the church, the leaded glass is maintained. For this reason roof light are attached to the space, through which diffused day light enters the chapel. In combination with a completely white surface finishes, the leaded glass comes to life.
Via & more: ArchDaily
MUJI & LEGO toy collaboration
The Japanese retail brand MUJI and LEGO teamed up to develop a set of 4 different boxes. Inside those boxes you’ll find the classic LEGO bricks but also a few sheets of paper. No big deal. But when you also have the right punch hole tool, you can combine both to create something new. I really like this concept. You can order a set here (when you speak some Japanese).
Via & more: Today and tomorrow
Elephant magazine issue #1
In November of this year Frame Publishers will launch a new magazine on contemporary art and visual culture called Elephant. Marc Valli, owner of the Magma design book stores, is the editor in chief. With Elephant he is hoping to generate renewal and excitement in an oversaturated and often uncreative magazine market. More now than ever, he believes, a certain group of highly critical people, always in search of the moment, the trend, the age, the Zeitgeist, will look for a medium that reflects the reality of the visual art scene. The current art world is divided into the proper art world and what has been known as applied arts, or commercial art. The most interesting work seems to be happening in the middle though: when photographers, architects and graphic and fashion and all kinds of designers manage to transcend their initial brief and start thinking like artists, when artists wander outside the confines of the museum and gallery environment and become aware of trends and start thinking like designers.
Via & more: CoolBoom
So – beautiful – sushi by UAU
Sosushi is the result of an old stationery store deep seated in the historical urban tissue of Turin/Italy; being – almost magically – turned into a very cool and fashion oriented sushi bar by UAU, an Italian based architectural office. Clearly referring to the minimal tradition of contemporary architecture, the designers and architects succeed in transforming this space –with the help of clean cut shapes emphasized by matte white finishing and furniture details colored magenta- where a deep research on structure and shapes contribute to define a project where each detail is really not just left up to chance. A space, that actually is a harmonious composition balanced through the use of Plexwood, at its best to host hungry yet food conscious and design oriented individuals.
Via & more: Yatzer
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