Homes Editor: Petra Arko Design Haus Liberty have built a modern house connected with rounded terraces on the Italian lake of Lago Maggiore. The studio, led by Harvard educated architect Dara Huang, designed Villa Mosca Bianca as a holiday home for a retired couple who wanted a place where they could host family members on the shore of Lago Maggiore. "The terraces were organically drawn almost as wings coming off the house," Huang says. "Each petal provides an opportunity to create a platform for the owner's hobbies such as yoga, eating, barbecue or hot tubbing." The lakefront site dictated many aspects of Design Haus Liberty's design, including the need to raise the house three metres above the waterline. Design Haus Liberty conceived of the house as comprising three layers, with a large sheltered deck connecting the outside space with the internal living area. At the heart of the building is a circular courtyard containing a 70-year-old bonsai tree. Interiors were decorated in a neutral palette, chosen to minimise any distractions from the scenery. Stone is used throughout the to introduce a natural tone and texture to the otherwise minimal aesthetic.
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Homes Editor: Petra Arko
Albert Frey, a Swiss born Architect and former Le Corbusier protege and work colleague of Charlotte Perriand is best known for his timeless modernist architecture mostly build in the Palm Springs in Coachella Valley. When he arrived to Palm Springs in 1934 he ‘fell in love with the area’ and later he set up a practice with a fellow architect and John Porter Clark, who was already prolific in the area. Frey House II is one of his most well known residential examples of the Dessert Modernism. It is build into the desert rock mountain with a view of Palm Springs. This simple metal and glass structure sits on its land with little impact to the environment. Albert Frey “I had a very careful survey made showing the contours and all the rock. Then I put up some strings to see how the design would work out. We then established the levels, and then I had to fit the glass to the rock. The slope of the roof follows the slope of the terrain, the contrast between the natural rock and the high tech materials is rather exciting.” At the time it was built, it was at the highest elevation of any residence in the city. Frey took five years to select the sight and a year to measure the movement of the sun using a 10-foot pole. After reviewing his plans, Palm Springs City Hall called the design "crazy" but finally give its approval. It has now become a hillside landmark. Palm Springs Museum Homes Editor: Petra Arko
Bauwerk is an Australian maker of non toxic chalky Lime wash paints founded in 2000 by a German stonemason and an Australian textile designer. Bauwerk has developed the most beautiful pigments (more than 150 colours!) that create an astonishingly calm interior, instantly and lifts the space with its wonderful texture on walls. Bauwerk paints are made with clay, minerals, and natural pigments—never plastics—so they are free of fumes and disposal is safe down the drain. How environmentally fabulous is that!! Live SoWell. BAUWERK Homes Editor: Petra Arko Today we celebrate the Summer Edition of a biannual magazine Cereal, celebrated for its understated aesthetic. The magazine was founded in 2012 by Rosa Park (editor-in-chief) and Rich Stapleton (creative director) based in Bath and it has got a huge following among design conscious professionals. Volume 10 Cereal explores the theme of process. The edition includes a conversation with Faye and Erica Toogood, discussion about garden design with Luciano Giubbilei, and perfumery with Lyn Harris. It includes a visit the studios of Stanley Whitney and Elliott Smedley, and a travel to the mountains of Bhutan and the hills of Rwanda Alongside the magazine, Cereal publishes regular digital stories on their website, update online city guides, publish physical city guide books, along with a number of other books.
Read Cereal Magazine Homes Editor: Petra Arko
Photography: Andrea Ferrari Milan design agency Studiopepe exhibited in a former gold manufacturing space during Milan Design Week 2019 Guided by the principles of alchemy, the Milan based design studio run by Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto conceptualised an immersive experience that investigated the man’s connection with the matter and the power of symbols. This is their third exhibition of their unique ability to bring together unusual elements, like rarely-seen colour combinations, a thrilling melange of materials and confident shapes introduced through furniture, lighting and art. Article: Jas Bhachu Knowing the deep environmental impacts of plastics, just hearing it paired with the word smile in the same sentence seems unsavoury. But not in this case! Smile Plastics are a material design and manufacturing house on a mission to change the perception of waste by using exquisite innovation. Ever chuck your empty yogurt pot into the recycling bin and wonder what could come from it? Well here is one journey it could take for the better. Along with many other waste materials they transform into unique decorative panels. Made from 100% recycled pieces that are arranged by hand before being pressed.
Recent clients include Stella McCartney and Christian Dior, to name a few. Article: Christophe George Creators of next-level office design, CCWS Interiors challenge the everyday concept of work environments to deliver knockout spaces that inspire, unite and motivate. Founded by dynamic design duo, David Keane and Amy Elliott, CCWS is united by a belief in the power of great design to redefine the way people work. The latest project challenged them to throw out the rulebook and defy the conventional office blueprint to provide award-winning gaming firm, Space Ape with a cool and contemporary refit that embraced the company’s playful personality. A mix of highly creative, versatile working spaces was introduced, from the casual, open-plan layout of the Brewer Street room with its comfy, modular seating system, to the personal working booths that command attention with bold, fabric-lined interiors. The honesty of the original steel and concrete structure was celebrated and stripped back to the bare bone, exposing industrial metalwork and raw surfaces that are paired with up-cycled furniture, bold pops of colour and smart flexi-work systems that ensure an engaging work environment on every level possible. Stepping away from the uninspiring, corporate boardroom concept, CCWS also created meeting areas like The Bridge that were designed to reflect the social nature and visionary approach of Space Ape’s brand identity.
The Apes now have the freedom to move around the office and define their own individual response to the space; whether choosing to sit in groups for one part of the day then moving to the ‘Quiet Pods’ designed for contemplative tasks, to take five in the ‘Lego Room’ for some down time. Over a swift six-month period, Amy and David worked effortlessly around the team to bring this unique office concept to life. Review by Jas Bhachu
It has been a crazy month for the 55 Team. With London Fashion Week and London Design Festival all mixed in; the capital has been thriving with creativity and innovation. I had the pleasure of visiting the London Design Fair where it didn't take long to be captivated by the stellar display by Swedish Ninja. Swedish Ninja is based around the concept that traditional Scandinavian design can be realised through an unexpected expression. Design and function marry beautifully with heaps of personality with a twist. The bold use of colours, refinement in form and element of fun in their work makes them a brand you are unable to forget. The nature of the designs stand out alone but also can be mixed through a range of vibrant colours to add some playfulness into your interiors. You can shop the collection here. |
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