8.28.2009

Future Hotel... I'm in!

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ARCTHITECTS : http://www.l-a-v-a.net/


---nikiomahe---
The Future Hotel forms part of the IAO Inhaus2, a program that focuses on meeting the expectations and requirements of hotel guests using tomorrow’s technology. Sydney and Stuttgart based Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA) was founded a little over a year ago with a clear manifesto in mind: to continually define new boundaries in the creation of architectural visions and city space. They wanted their research and design to allow the evolution of architectural and urban design outcomes inaccessible through traditional methodologies. As part of a research collaboration with the Fraunhofer IAO (Institute for Work Organisation) LAVA has designed the Future Hotel Showcase Room, a demonstration project that investigates the interfaces between architecture, technology and the human body, focusing on meeting the expectations and requirements of hotel guests using tomorrow’s technology.
Aiming for a calm yet stimulating space, LAVA designed a room where all services are integrated into a continuous wall system. The free-form outer skin creates the infrastructure that becomes the interface between technology and the human body, and a combination of soft and hard materials offers a well-balanced transition between functional spaces. Comparisons can be made to Zaha Hadid’s contribution to room design in Hotel Puerta America in Madrid.
With human comfort being of paramount concern in the Future Hotel Room, technology has been designed to function almost invisibly in the background, whilst providing the opportunity for individual control of media, light and interior climate. Some of the room’s features include anti-jet-lag lights, active comfort bed, personal spa area, intelligent mirror and a large fully integrated media display window. The 36,7 sq m Future Hotel room is currently open as part of the Fraunhofer Inhaus Project in Duisburg, Germany.
The collaboration between the project partners generated many new insights and discoveries, many which will be implemented in LAVA’s upcoming hotel projects in the U.A.E. The vision of the Future Hotel Showcase could thus become a reality sooner than expected.
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references
http://www.nikiomahe.com/interior-design/the-future-hotel-showcase-room-by-lava-duisburg-germany/
http://www.dezeen.com/2008/11/18/future-hotel-room-by-lava/

Diesel Denim Gallery : Nature Factory


Suppose Design Office has created an original space for the Diesel Denim Gallery in Aoyama, Japan. It's a place where where fashion, art, design and architecture interact with one another. The gallery supports emerging artists by providing free space for them to showcase their work.


Nature Factory is the title of the installation this year. It includes several white pipes imitating trees and growing branches, creating a stunning effect from inside and outside. It's fascinating how a simple object like a plastic pipe can create such an innovative space and how plastic becomes "natural". The lights placed above the pipes on the ceiling also create a very nice shadow effect, just like branches under the sun. The abundance of pipes on the ceiling also gives the effect of being under a vine.

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory

Diesel Denim Gallery Nature Factory


There are currently only two locations for these avant-garde Diesel Denim Galleries : Tokyo and New York. Diesels stores are also rare in Canada, thereare currently only two Canadian stores : one in Montreal and the other one in Toronto and the only Canadian Flagship store is in Montreal. I think we could use a bit more in Canada.


source :archdaily
photos :archdaily & Grand Gallery Magazine

8.25.2009

Light up your world with a simple touch

ORIGINAL POST DATE : 2008-05-15


I came across this awesome light collection called Smoonfrom the Beau & Bien series of Ad Hoc Design(France). It’s another beautiful marriage between art and technology. Here, a light can be turned on with a simple touch. The Smoon Collection is comprised of various lights made of polyethylene with a silicon coating. This makes them resistant to various temperatures and pressures and also soft to the touch. They use LED light bulbs and can be wired or wireless (so you can carry them everywhere) and come in various colors and shapes, with innovative chargers and accessories.


Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien

Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien
source: BEAU & BIEN

Beau & Bien also offers My Collection,small portable lights made entirely of silicone (apparently a good stress relief), and Night Bijou Collection,lighted jewelry (this would give an interesting effect in nightclubs).


Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien Smoon Collection by Beau & Bien
source: BEAU & BIEN


Check out their website to see more interesting products. If you're interested in getting some in Montreal, you can check out Jardin de Ville.

8.21.2009

El Rancho, Alberto Aguilera


El Rancho Alberto Aguilera is a really neat restaurant in Madrid with multiple personalities. Designed by Miguel Garcia Caridad, this Argentinian grill is anything but traditional. It includes a bar, two dining areas, and a private room.


El City Bar
El City Bar, the bar, is a very bright and high energy space with bright white walls, large black and white images from the 60s and 70s. The curved ceiling, also a nod to the 60s, allows for a very nice effect with the light that curves from the ceiling onto the wall. Even the duct, in stainless steel, was considered in the design and the fire extinguisher looks like an accessory. I really like the black glass wall in the back too.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


The bar features a matte glass decorated with a floral pattern. Behind the glass are color changing LEDs. As the color of the lights changes, a new atmosphere is created in the space. A portion of the floor located in front of the window, also features color-changing LEDs, which probably gets the attention of any passerby. The white light shelves behind the bar were custom designed and provide a very nice contrast to the black wall.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


Salón Iroco
The design of the first dining room, Salon Iroco, has a calmer softer feel to it. There isn't a lot of contrast in this monochromatic space but there is a lot of texture: The horizontal wood strips on the wall to the right, the wood floor, the fabric on the wall to the left and the vertical tubes in the back, and the tiled wall near the kitchen.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


The stairs leading up to the bar are very interesting as well.They are covered with ceramic tiles in the shape of the name of various popular cities around the world. Two embedded lights in each riser emphasize this detail and create a nice effect.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


Salón Bambú
Salón Bambú, the second dining room, is very similar to Salón Iroco in design except that the wall features bamboo behind a glass with a blue backdrop. The feel is a bit less serious and a bit more contemporary.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


Salón Loft
Salón Loft is the private room. It's like the love child between El City Bar and Salón Iroco: a mix of classic and trendy. It has a high contrast, the walls are either covered with black back-stitched leather, classic style ceramic mosaic mural, featuring the face of a classic statue, or covered with painted white bricks. The black crystal chandeliers are also a mix of modern and classic. I can see a lot of common elements with the bar and the first dining room.

El Rancho Alberto Aguilera
El Rancho Alberto Aguilera


There's another El Rancho, El Rancho Vincente Caledrón, also with multiple personalities when it comes to design, but completely different than El Rancho Alberto Aguilera, as shown here.

reference : Hosteleria, 2 trimestre 2009
photo: El Rancho Alberto Aguilera

8.13.2009

M2JL :: STUDIO back in Je Décore Magazine


I'm happy to report that M2JL :: STUDIO is back in the latest issue of Je Décore magazine. Entitled "Salles de bain bien pensées" (which loosely translates to Well thought out bathrooms) the magazine focuses on bathrooms. For this project I was asked, along with two other designers, to create a new concept for an existing bathroom where we had to include three specific items in the room (a sink, a mirror and green tiles). We had a budget of only $750. Quite a challenge! Especially if you never get to see the actual place or make last minute changes to the final touches. But it turned out great as you can see here.

M2JL STUDIO in Magazine Je Decore

M2JL STUDIO in Magazine Je Decore


Generally there's a contest for people to vote for their favorite transformation. It should be online soon. This issue is filed with great tips and ideas on how to transform your bathroom. Once again, I'm looking forward to get my copy!

M2JL STUDIO in Magazine Je Decore

8.10.2009

Wall flowers


Doing the dishes isn't fun. Doing the dishes while staring at a plain back splash is even worse! Since you can't always make major changes, you have to be a bit more creative. Here's a simple solution to add a bit of life to this area.

Plain backsplash

All you need are 3M sticky hooks, wall vases, flowers and five minutes of your time.

M2JL :: STUDIO backs plash with flowers


The sticky hooks are great because they don't damage the tiles. Of course you can personalize it any way you want using different types of plants or vases. The vases in this picture are from Jysk. Zone Maison also has really nice ones.

8.05.2009

hanging hangers


I recently saw this really original coat hanger on Swissmiss, it's called the Coat Hangers wiredress. Designed by Marie Kehl Moundalek (mamoukDESIGN) for wallstreet they hang down as a piece of art when not in use and fold into a hanger when in use. There are three different versions : Hanging from the ceiling, hanging from the wall and free standing.

Wiredress
Wiredress
Wiredress
Wiredress
Wiredress
photos : Architonic