Contemporary Jewish Museum – Daniel Libeskind
Daniel Libeskind is an internationally renowned figure in the fields of architecture and urban design. An American architect of Polish-Jewish birth, Libeskind was originally a virtuoso performer before turning architect and receiving his degree in 1970.
Libeskind has dozends of completed works and many still under construction with projected completion over the next decade.. I wished to share an introduction to Libeskind’s work and philosophy with this example,
The contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.
With the opening of its new building in June 2008, the Contemporary Jewish Museum (CJM) will usher in a new chapter in its 20-plus year history of engaging audiences and artists in exploring contemporary perspectives on Jewish culture, history, art and ideas. The new facility will be a lively center where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather to appreciate art, share diverse perspectives, and engage in hands-on activities.
“Inspired by the Hebrew phrase “l’chaim” (to life), the building is a physical embodiment of the CJM’s mission to bring together tradition and innovation in an exploration of the relevance of Jewish values and traditions in the 21st century. The new 63,000-square-foot facility, located on Mission Street between 3rd & 4th Streets in downtown San Francisco, will enable the Museum to present an expanded array of engaging programming including art exhibitions, live music, film screenings, lectures and discussions, and educational activities for audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The new addition to the Museum explodes out from inside the traditional building
Minimialsit interior, interesting use of light as well in this shot.
Book vs. Knife vs. World
The book business has been in trouble for quite some time now thanks to the glorious digitalisation of…well, everything. No longer are books the prestigious technology, able to transport knowledge in the most effective manner. Instead, we have the internet where information, books and beyond are a mere click away, ready to be viewed on our personal computer screens.
The tangible book, it has long been predicted, is a dying art form, slowly being eroded by newer and more efficient internet technologies. Artist, Brian Dettmer from Chicago, in his ‘book autopsies’ demonstrates this erosion in its most metaphorical sense in his body of work, Adaptations.
Antonia Peacock writes, “As content morphs into miniature geologic landscapes, the natural physicality of the book is accentuated. We experience these deconstructed books as fragile, organic matter that cannot escape eventual decomposition.”
Images via Packer Schopf Gallery
Another, somewhat more optimistic reading of the works is that the intricate sculptural designs carved into the books are symbolic of the depth of meaning present in a printed work, one which is only distinguishable after much carving and cutting away at the physical form.
For book lovers, on the other hand, it seems like an almost bible-burning pursuit, one which is destroying beloved stories and words of the authors.
Check out more of Brian Dettmer’s work at the Packer Schopf Gallery here.
Fro Yo Craze
TangySweet – Washington D.C.
This past weekend I was walking around D.C and I passed the newest Tangy Sweet {a frozen yogurt shop} — which just opened up its second shop in Penn Quarter. As I was studying the design of the front facade I decided that this would be a really fun post to develop, a look into the Interior Design of the frozen yogurt craze.
An article from Wallpaper magazine recently showcased this same story line , called “Top frozen yoghurt bars”. In this article the frozen yogurt craze is described as “a once-gaudy dessert which has traded in its Richard Simmons-type reputation for a stylish new look”. This article featured the design of Frolick in Singapore, Myberry in Paris, Oko in New York, and Pinkberry in California.
And if you have not already decided to go hit up your local frozen yogurt shop to check out what this craze is all about then you probably will very soon – as it is becoming the new place to socialize and meet friends. LA Times writer, Charlie Amter, also did a feature on the “frozen yogurt wars” and said, “Fro-yo shops such as Pinkberry and Valley Village’s new Menchie’s are attracting crowds that previously hung out at Starbucks or the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. Actual “scenes” are developing at some locations — partially because of their interior design, as well as customers’ increasing appreciation for the health benefits of eating yogurt over, say, drinking a Frappuccino”.
Iconic Glamour @ Rough Review.
It’s getter rare these days to find decent chick magazines these days. Over at Rough Review, they’ve convinced me that Glamour’s 70th Anniversary issue is a welcome change to this trend.
Rough Review is a review site featuring short editorials covering everything from pop culture, to games and random internet silliness. In this recent post, Rough Review writer (and Design Tavern contributer) Elizabeth comments on the brilliant photospread featured in one of the most popular women’s magazines on the market.
Featured in this issue of the popular women’s magazine is a photo spread dedicated to the iconic females who have helped shape the lives of women across the globe in a myriad of different ways. Actresses, musicians and sports stars – the piece includes them all, displaying most profoundly that magazines are not yet dead and have great artistic merit on occasions.
You can check out the original post @Rough Review here.
Creative Desks & Workspaces
“It is almost necessary to make sure you love your workspace: because it is at your desk where your best work and ideas are born and developed.”
Well, can’t argue with logic like that! Check out the post here!
It’s always an ardous task when you go to sit down at your desk. In fact, these days just sitting down is half the battle when it comes to completing assignments or doing some work. For this very reason, you might as well make your work space an attractive one. Over at La Couturier, this is exactly what her latest post suggests you should do.
Fashion blogger and writer for DuJour mag, ‘La Couturier’ knows her stuff. In this latest post, entitled My Space she gives you all the advice you need to revamp your work space and make it an inspiring and oh-so pretty one.
Images via weheartit.com
Recycled Paper homes to address homelessness and developing countries.
Wall AG have developed a pre-fab home, the ‘Universal World House’ to be made from recycled paper as a response to those in devloping countries, the homeless or perhaps those displaced by disaster.
The Design uses a product known as Swisscell — Cellulose is extracted from recycled newspaper and cardboard, the resin from the recyclables is then formed into honeycomb like walls that provides an amazing strength to weight ratio as well as excellent insulation.
“Gerd Niemoeller says that the 36sq m paper house weighs barely 800kg (1,763lb)- lighter than a VW Golf. ‘Without the foundation block, the whole house actually weighs in at about 400kg,’ says the design engineer. It will not, however, simply blow away. The basic material is resin-soaked cellulose recovered from recycled cardboard and newspapers.’”
I found this gem via Archicentral.com view the original article here.
and also via Timesonline (UK)
Mr Niemoeller who patented the invention explains.. “The prime purpose is to create intelligent housing settlements almost instantly for the displaced and the urban poor.”
“People don’t want to flee their countries, they’ve been driven to leave their homes out of the need to survive,” said the 58-year-old engineer. “The number of migrants, refugees living in improvised housing, is going to grow with climate change, and we offer an alternative.” An alternative, that is, to the corrugated-iron sheds and lean-tos so often seen in the slums of the developing world.
The house has eight built-in single and double beds and a veranda with a sealed-off area housing a shower and a lavatory. It has been designed together with the German development aid agency GTZ, and with the architect Dirk Donath, from the Bauhaus University in Weimar.
Apart from the sleeping area, there are shelves, a table and benches. “It has been designed so that a family can slaughter an animal on the veranda, wash it in the shower and hang it, along with fish, on an integrated washing line.” The whole wall of the kitchen can be tipped open to let air in and to blur the distinction between inside and outside.
It may be a tad exaggerated (or perhaps ignorant?) to name a design the ‘Universal world house’ I wonder if it could stand up to the likes of a harsh Australian summer or a freezing Greenland? One would also have to question is stability and fire susceptibility — Regardless, a positive step toward global housing.. no matter how fundamental
Exploding Spray paint sculpture by Julien Valle.
From Canadian graphic designer, Julien Valle comes this piece he calls ‘Paper sculpture,’ admittedly, not really a creative name but still an amazing piece of work I wished to share with you.
This creatively clever sculpture gives a whole new 3D life to the spray can and the culture that revolves around it. Colour explodes from an otherwise, matte, black surface, whilst on the other side of the ‘canvas’ is the humble spray can.