Archinect - News

Zaha Hadid Architects director designs ‘glowing, swirling’ whisky bottle for V&A Dundee

2024-03-25T13:24:00-04:00

Zaha Hadid Architects director Melodie Leung has collaborated with Scottish whisky distillery Dalmore to create a “dramatic glass sculpture” housing two rare Highland Single Malt whiskies. The sculpture is the second chapter of ‘The Dalmore Luminary Series,’ a collaboration between the distillery and V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.

Image credit: The Dalmore

Leung’s piece is titled ‘The Dalmore Luminary - The Rare - 2024 Edition’ and will be offered at auction with all proceeds donated to the museum. For the piece, Leung worked with Dalmore and master glass artist Fiaz Elson from The Glass Foundry to create a “dynamic glass amber sculpture” to house the 49-year-old Old Single Malt.

Image credit: The Dalmore

The sculpture was produced at The Glass Foundry’s kiln for 12 weeks. An initial molding was made at 890 degrees Celsius and held at that temperature for 15 hours to remove moisture and air bubbles. The temperature was then grad...

New Balance honors Frank Lloyd Wright's Broadacre City concept in latest sneaker collab

2023-04-12T13:26:00-04:00

A new collaboration between New Balance and fashion designer Ronnie Fieg is paying homage Frank Lloyd Wright’s utopian concept for the ‘Broadacre City’ that first appeared in his seminal title The Disappearing City in 1932.

The KITH founder worked with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to design a pair of New Balance 998s (aka the “silhouette”) on the occasion of the sneaker’s 35th anniversary.

Ronnie Fieg x Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation x New Balance 998 “Broadacre City” capsule. Image courtesy Ronnie Fieg via Instagram

The suede designs come in two colorways, both meant to represent the agrarian landscape and buildings seen in the concept’s physical models that were displayed in the entryway of the Hacienda de la Chandler at Taliesin West after 1935.

Ronnie Fieg x Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation x New Balance 998 “Broadacre City” capsule. Image courtesy Ronnie Fieg via Instagram

“Broadacre City isn’t a city at all but a reimagining of how we could organize ourselves outside of dense...

SOM's latest corporate design will yield an expanded new Alibaba campus in Shanghai

2022-07-25T15:49:00-04:00

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has unveiled its design for Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba’s new 75,000-square-meter (807,209-square-foot) campus expansion in Shanghai.

The building is designed to recall a cloud in reference to the computing technology that has propelled its 23-year ascension into the upper echelon of corporate multinationals under the stewardship of founder Jack Ma.

Image © SOM

SOM will help the now $300 billion company accommodate its expanding workforce with a modular design beset by biophilic elements and a network of indoor-outdoor “collaboration bridges” designed to increase productivity and induce healthier work habits in line with Norman Foster’s gridlike headquarters building to be located next door.

“‘The only constant is change’ is one of Alibaba’s guiding principles,” SOM’s Scott Duncan said in a press statement. “We took this ethos to heart, designing a workplace capable of evolving and adapting to new needs, teams, and technologies over time. The hea...

Daniel Libeskind toasts Hennessy's namesake with new crystal decanter design

2022-03-10T12:04:00-05:00

A celebration was on hand Tuesday night for the legendary French label Hennessy as it joined with Daniel Libeskind to unveil the architect’s newly re-designed Richard cognac decanter in tribute to the brand’s namesake and founder Richard Hennessy.

A host of Hollywood A-listers including Naomi Watts and Henry Golding joined the architect and Hennessy master blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde for a cocktail party at a private location in Brooklyn.

Image courtesy Hennessy

The Baccarat crystal decanter is topped by an arrow and holds within it the rarest blend of cognac that Hennessy has ever made. With the addition of his collaboration with the 257-year-old house to a list of works that includes a recent ice hockey arena in Finland and the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Libeskind now joins rank with Frank Gehry, who designed his own signature decanter for the label in 2020.

Image courtesy Hennessy

Hennessy says the new decanter is in keeping with L...

Reebok and Eames Office reunite with upcoming sneaker collection

2021-10-06T16:23:00-04:00

Following up from their exclusive friends and family shoe collaboration, Reebok and Eames Office have reunited to create an entire sneaker collection that pays homage to the work and legacy of Charles and Ray Eames.

In the works since 2019, the Reebok x Eames Club C collection is the first-ever footwear partnership with and authorized by the Eames Office. The line sees one of Reebok’s most popular silhouettes, the Club C, embellished in designs informed by the Eames’ work and paintings. And, unlike the friends and family shoe, these will be available to purchase.

The first release of the collection will be the “Monotone Pack”, which comes in black and white colorways. The shoes feature heritage accents such as original size tongue tags, squared-off window boxes, classic logos, and a restored internal arch bandage for enhanced fit and comfort. Grey soles, woven EAMES tags, and a colorful triangle print in the insole provide subtle accents to the sneakers.

A second release, dubbed the...

Eames Office and Reebok collaborate to create shoe inspired by Eames House

2021-09-17T14:53:00-04:00

Eames Office has teamed up with Reebok to create a shoe celebrating the work of Charles and Ray Eames.

Made exclusively for Eames Office employees, the Reebok x Eames Club C (Friends and Family) sneaker is inspired by the iconic Eames House, also known as Case Study House No. 8. The shoe was recently revealed by Reebok senior global product marketing manager Leo Gamboa via Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leo Gamboa (@leoneski)

The shoe mimics the color palette of the Eames House, with the multi-color Eames logo and tan and cream colorway and tongue. The insoles also feature Charles and Ray’s signatures. The shoes are packaged in a box decorated by the house’s façade in color.

Reebok and Eames Office initially teased the collaboration in March, citing a partnership “rooted in heritage that aims to bring together the worlds of fine art, interior architecture and streetwear.”

A New York City MTA train has been wrapped in Supreme in new collaboration

2021-08-17T15:11:00-04:00

A Supreme-wrapped subway train has been added to the New York City MTA. This marks the second major collaboration between the two, following their 2017 MTA MetroCard release.

Looks like Supreme is linking up with NYC & MTA again. This time full wrap on subway trains @DropsByJay @snkr_twitr @J23app

Thanks to my man Kenny for the pics! pic.twitter.com/BMb6pY1g35
— C (@IDKwhyImHere) August 9, 2021

Rolled out this past weekend, one train, fully wrapped in Supreme’s iconic red Box Logo, will run on the L line, an MTA spokesperson told WCBS reporter Vincent Barone. The MTA representative also stated that this partnership is part of a new revenue stream for the organization, along with a means of promoting Supreme’s upcoming Fall/Winter 2021 collection. This comes as the MTA recovers from sharp declines in ridership as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic last year.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Supreme (@supremenewyork)

The pair’s first collaboration came i...

BIG and UNStudio's investment in co-working platform SpaceForm signals a tide-change in architectural practice

2021-07-13T20:01:00-04:00

BIG is making a huge investment along with partners UNStudio and Squint/Opera in a new virtual platform that responds to the demands of the post-pandemic world with a digital presentation tool aimed at increasing effective collaboration on and reducing the carbon footprint of future projects across the world.

Video courtesy of Squint/Opera, UNStudio & BIG

The new project, called SpaceForm, promises to drastically reduce costs of project development by offering users the ability to present 3D models with up to 100 co-workers in real-time, saving resources with its multi-device ability to connect with widely-used visualization software like Rhino, Rivet, Sketchup, and Unreal seamlessly.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, firms had been mostly expanding their footprints, growing a web of connections between offices that has become obsolete in the minds of some thanks to the changes caused by the pandemic. Now, with the onset of virtual workspace becoming all the more apparent, BIG has cou...

These two allegorical essays explore the nature of collaboration in architecture

2020-10-08T11:44:00-04:00

Collaboration is an essential part of architectural practice. To realize the complexities of built work, architects and designers must work with one another and a slew of other disciplines to ensure a successful final result. But what is the nature of this collaborative effort? What are the mechanics of it? These two allegorical essays, previously published on Archinect explore two aspects of teamwork and collaboration in architecture.

Apple Store, London, by Foster + Partners, Photo by Nigel Young

Steve Jobs and The Collaborative Framework

Steve Jobs and The Collaborative Framework looks at the conception of the Apple Store and how Steve Jobs relied on the insights and disagreements of his colleagues to manifest his ambitious vision. The extracted lesson revolves around the importance of conversation in the creative endeavor and the value of team members who will tell you the truth.

Still from Ocean's Eleven

The Collaborative Team Dynamic

The Collaborative Team Dynamic dive into th...

Frank Gehry designs "masterpiece decanter" for Hennessy X.O. 150th Anniversary

2020-09-28T11:02:00-04:00

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Hennessy X.O., the French cognac distiller has unveiled a sculptural decanter designed by Frank Gehry. Using his signature style, Gehry reimagines Hennessy X.O's classic design. The new bottle is wrapped with crinkled 24 carat gold-dipped bronze and encased in a "fractured" glass glorifier to illustrate its inspirations of water and light.

"I wanted to bring it to life, and so I took inspiration from its birthplace and used this crumpling effect of the material that gives it a feeling of movement," Gehry said in a statement. "The materials I've chosen catch the light and make this a really beautiful object on its own, but then you realize it is a bottle of Hennessy X.O."

Gehry has also pulled from past explorations in his conception of the packaging for this new collection. The decanter, glorifier, and fusil are packaged in a protective case made imprinted with Gehry's signature and made of compressed cardboard, paying homage to Gehry's ear...

Architects and fabrication specialists join together to mitigate the COVID-19 medical supply shortage

2020-03-20T11:39:00-04:00

With news of COVID-19 affecting individuals across the globe, hospitals and medical clinics are experiencing a shortage in supplies such as ventilators, respirators, and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, as news of the virus spreads, design professionals are banning together with medical professionals and engineers to find solutions to the shortage.

Public Facebook groups like Open Source Ventilator have created discussion forums to help brainstorm, share, and prototype various solutions. A report from CNET dives into this coverage and shares which companies are joining the effort. "HP, teeth straightener vendor SmileDirectClub and various other companies are exploring ways to use their 3D-printing technology to build things like ventilator valves, breathing filters, and face mask clasps." Earlier this week, Archinect reported of Italian 3D-printing company Isinnova and their success in designing and printing respirator valves for hospitals in the area.

Now more than ev...

Dealing with micromanagers in architecture

2020-03-09T16:09:00-04:00

I remember in one of my earlier jobs after college, I had a supervisor who had a tendency to continuously check in with me after he had assigned me something to work on. On top of that, he wanted to control how I went about doing the work. It made me overwhelmingly stressed out, and my performance showed it. In fact, everyone who worked under this person ended up underperforming.

Contrast that with another supervisor I had at the same firm. She'd give me clear direction on something to work on, some pointers on how to go about it, and then leave me alone. We'd have milestone meetings, but these occurred far less frequent than me being asked every 45 minutes, "how's it going?" or "how much longer do you think it'll be?" or "oh no, you should do it this way instead, it's faster."

The result of being given more space, more autonomy, and more freedom was an exponential increase in the quality of my work, my productivity, and my peace of mind in the workplace. But, micromanagers are inev...

Workplace team tip: Express gratitude

2019-12-11T09:42:00-05:00

At a previous firm I used to work for, I had a colleague who would periodically send the managing principal emails about certain team members, unbeknownst to them. Essentially, he would call attention to specific team members that he saw were working well with the rest of the team or going the extra mile, because he knew [the principals] might never have an opportunity to see it for themselves.

I had never encountered that before. One day, a junior designer turned to this guy and gave him a huge hug, because they had received an email from a principal expressing how grateful the firm was for their work, because of the email this person sent.

I don't think we all have to start sending secret emails to our firm leadership, but I think this culture of recognition amongst team members could be a fruitful practice. With the hustle and bustle of the end of the year approaching and with the closing of Thanksgiving just a couple of weeks ago, perhaps we might challenge ourselves to express...

In the workplace, when you don't know, say so

2019-09-30T16:40:00-04:00

Have you ever been in a meeting where a certain topic or term is brought up that everyone understands but you? The urge to try and play along might build up, pretending you know what everyone else does. You may even make it through the meeting unscathed, having avoided being asked anything regarding the subject. A near miss, you think; that was a close one.

What's the fear here though? Of being found out? That the discovery of you becoming the intellectual minority on this one topic will in some way diminish your status? Why so? There is a quote I love from Bruce Lee that says, "A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer." Having the courage to say, "I don't know," is an invaluable asset that will propel you to heights those too full of ego only hope to reach.

Your personal growth is your own, unattached from the thoughts and opinions of others. If someone thinks you are some kind of fool for asking a "silly question" then that's on th...

How should a leader delegate to their team?

2019-08-20T10:00:00-04:00

Architecture's collaborative nature means that leaders, more than ever, need to understand how to guide their teams. We've all had that supervisor or project manager who asks us to do something, only to leave us feeling confused and unsure of what needs to be accomplished. When we finish the task, we discover that we had it all wrong and have to redo hours of careful work. Or perhaps, if we switch roles, we remember those moments where we've asked someone below us to complete something. When we return, we discover the work is nowhere near what we were looking for.

In both cases, it's often the one doing the delegating who needs to refine their approach. The person who received the direction has typically done their best to follow the instructions they were given. Delegation, like most other things in professional work, is a skill that we can improve. Leadership coach, Deborah Grayson Riegel has identified eight practices of leaders who delegate successfully:

They pick the right pers...

How can you deal with working with someone you don't like?

2019-08-16T16:30:00-04:00

In an industry dependent on working with others, it is inevitable that we will come in contact with people we don't like. It might be a contractor, a consultant, or even one of our colleagues in the office. Whatever the case, working with someone we don't like can make work difficult. How do we deal with this? Bregman Partners CEO, Peter Bregman has some ideas.

Bregman says that we can't just "grin and bear it," like we might be tempted to do. "According to research, the more people like you, the easier, more productive, and more profitable, your life will be. Which means that someone you don’t get along with—even if you grin and bear it—poses a risk," he writes.

Instead, according to Bregman, we need to really look at the reason that we don't like someone. Perhaps, they're selfish or dismissive or mean. Ultimately, they tend to have some character traits that bother us. And so, after we identify this, we are supposed to look at ourselves and see if we can detect elements of these ...

Groupthink and the Hiring Process

2019-08-15T17:00:00-04:00

The dominant approach to hiring today – in which the hiring manager convenes a huddle and goes around the room hearing opinions on each candidate is particularly prone to groupthink. That is because in free-form discussions, the person with the metaphorical “loudest voice” typically over-influences the committee’s decision.

CEO and author, Atta Tarki, believes the hiring process can be prone to inefficiencies, particularly in group collaboration. He offers some recommendations on "how to make a true group decision:"

First, the hiring team "should not share their interview experiences with each other before the final group huddle." Next, each member of the team should perform these steps before the final group huddle:

distill their interview rating to a single numerical score.
write down their main arguments for and against hiring this person and their final conclusion. This will help them stay true to their beliefs once the discussion starts, which leads to less biased predictions.

And, finally, "the hiring manager should take note of the average score for a candidate." Tarki emphasizes that these scores should not be followed blindly but should instead be used as a process for "richer, unbiased and uncensored discussions." This, coupled with some other components, should lead to a process of more fruitf...

When team-building isn't working, try this

2019-07-25T15:50:00-04:00

When we build better teams, we tend to have better work. But sometimes the traditional team-building approach can leave people feeling more separated from one another. University of Sydney Researchers, Julien Pollack and Petr Matous, say that this is because we tend "to gravitate towards those we know." It's great to strengthen already strong relationships, but, if we want to increase trust and familiarity, two things present in successful teams, we must create what Pollack and Matous call "psychological safety."

"Research suggests psychological safety is crucial in the work environment. There is much more to team success than simply focusing on the task at hand. Team members need to talk regularly, and be comfortable raising difficult issues," they write. To achieve this comfort the pair has adopted a spin on the 36 questions that lead to love.

Essentially, the idea is to pair up people across a given group and allow them to do this exercise that involves a conversation lasting ju...

Cognitive scientist debunks the problem behind ineffective collaboration

2019-07-25T13:09:00-04:00

Collaboration is essential to our work in architecture, but, as the saying goes, a team of experts does not make an expert team. Cognitive scientist, Stephen M. Fiore believes he has an answer to better collaboration. He suggests to start in our schools, where students work in groups but are not "explicitly instructed" about teamwork. Based on his research, he provides three recommendations:

First, is to introduce teaching on teamwork into the classroom as early as possible. "Research has demonstrated it’s possible to teach collaboration competencies such as dealing with conflict and communicating to learn," Fiore writes.
Second, it's important to give students the opportunity to practice working in teams. This is already quite prevalent in schools but Fiore believes students should focus on working across different disciplines.
Third, instruction and practice needs to be followed up by regular feedback. "Instructors should assess students on teamwork processes like relationship manag...

New Museum appoints V. Mitch McEwen as curator of IdeasCity initiative

2018-07-24T18:04:00-04:00

The New Museum announced today the appointment of V. Mitch McEwen as Curator of IdeasCity, the museum's initiative exploring the future of cities. McEwen is the principal and cofounder of A(n) Office, a collaborative of design studios in Detroit and New York exploring the intersection of architecture and exhibition.

IdeasCity is a creative and collaborative enterprise operating through conferences, workshops, commissions, projects, and exhibitions in order to investigate key issues and proposes solutions. The Curator is a two-year appointment linked to the biennial presentation of IdeasCity in New York and is responsible for the two-year cycle leading up to this presentation.

As Curator of IdeasCity, McEwen will head up the 2018–19 cities and launch an open call for cities around the world to apply for the 2020–21 cycle. The next IdeasCity will take place in Toronto on September 15, 2018, in partnership with the Bentway.

Since 2017, McEwen has been Assistant Professor at Princeto...

A call to embrace automation in the job market with a collaborative vision

2018-07-18T17:17:00-04:00

This partnership between human and machine is what lies ahead as automation tools permeate our lives at a quickening pace. As many worry about the potential for robots to steal our jobs (or lead a violent overthrow of society), the reality may be more nuanced: They may end up being something more like creative collaborators [...] We must re-tool the workforce, be ever learning, and open to rapid change to reduce the negative impact.

Brooks Rainwater asserts urban spaces as the testing grounds for the impending automation revolution and asks whether this will simply eliminate jobs or create new, better ones. While job displacement estimations vary, there is no denying the tremendous impact emerging technologies will have on our future workforce. Rainwater empowers present decisions of embracing these inevitable changes through forming collaborative partnerships with automation.

DOPIUM.LA: Big Art Little Chinatown

2017-11-14T20:16:00-05:00

Only a dream can kill a dream.

Developed with some of the minds behind One Night Stand LA, DOPIUM.LA aimed to preserve the original beauty of Chinatown, while showing its inspirational influence on an emerging community of creatives in Los Angeles.

For one night, a group of artist, architects and atmospheric maestros turned the Mandarin Plaza into a space to remember; into an experience sparking the thrill of pleasure and inspiration - like Dopamine through the brain, and Opium* through the vein.

Two spectators enjoying their shadowed existence.

”Opium” as a part of the name is a reference to the organic relief it originally provided as a natural form of medicine, and is in no way making light of controversial issues. We aim for this event to represent art as a creative catharsis, our own way of expressing ourselves as means to escape the climate we’re in for one day, at least.

Image: Dopium LA

Featured artists created original pieces to bring the plaza (aka the "Canvas") to life through mixed media, from sculpture...

AIA officially states it is pro-immigration and travel-positive

2017-02-21T12:43:00-05:00

What would America be without immigrants? More to the point, what would architecture be without the ability for those working within it to freely travel and collaborate with (much more affordable) talent from around the world? In recognition of these facts, the AIA has released an official statement that raises concerns about broad anti-immigration policies, and confirms the institute's dedication to reciprocal "free moment and association" around the globe. Here's the full text of the press release:

As discussion on immigration continues, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) today joins with many American businesses, industries and universities in calling for fair and impartial immigration policies, and in expressing deep concern about policies that restrict immigration from specific countries or regions based on overly broad factors, including religion.

“Beyond the essential considerations of fairness and equity, restrictions targeting specific areas of the world can have prof...

David Adjaye is releasing a vinyl record with his brother

2016-06-13T12:51:00-04:00

‘David says I’m the ears and he’s the eyes,’ Peter says of their working relationship. ‘When I see architecture I hear sounds – I respond to the visual. David responds to sound – he creates with a soundtrack in his mind.’ The collaboration first started in 2003 with the Asymmetric Chamber – an architectural installation that Manchester’s CUBE gallery commissioned David to design. As part of the work, Peter composed a soundscape titled ‘Echoes’ to play in the space.

David's brother Peter Adjaye, aka AJ Kwame, is a composer, musician and DJ based in London. Their vinyl collaboration, Dialogues, will be released on July 8.

Listen to one of Peter's pieces for architecture below:

For more on David Adjaye, the "very artistic architect":

Chicago Architecture Biennial announces three Lakefront Kiosk teams between local architecture schools + international firms

2015-03-16T20:56:00-04:00

Preparation for the anticipated Chicago Architecture Biennial this October are already well underway. Today, the Biennial announced the three partnerships -- between local Chicago architecture schools and international firms -- who will each envision an innovative kiosk design to be realized during the Biennial. The project marks a unique collaboration between architectural industry leaders, students, schools, and citywide programs.

The three collaborative teams are: the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and Pezo von Ellrichshausen, an art and architecture studio from Concepción, Chile; the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the Amsterdam + Lagos-based practice NLÉ led by Kunlé Adeyemi; finally, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) will work with an architectural design team comprising of Paul Andersen of Denver-based Indie Architecture as well as Paul Preissner, principal of Chicago-based Paul Preissner Architects.

If you haven't forgotten, the Lakefront K...

AIA distinguishes 2015 Thomas Jefferson Award + Collaborative Achievement honorees

2015-02-24T16:54:00-05:00

The AIA recently announced the 2015 recipients of their annual Thomas Jefferson Award and the Institute Honors for Collaborative Achievement winners. The honorable achievement awards distinguish significant contributions and lasting influence in the architecture profession as well as the community.

Out of three categories in the Thomas Jefferson Award, the jury selected winners only for Category Two and Category Three this year. University campus architect Thomas E. Lollini, FAIA won in Category Two, which recognizes public-sector architects that manage or produce top-quality design. More info here.

The Category Three award highlights a public official or other individuals for raising the public's awareness and/or support of design excellence. Thomas Luebke, FAIA, who serves as the Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, was selected. The AIA awarded Luebke for his enduring advocacy of historic preservation and adaptive reuse and his long-term architectural contributions throug...

How to depict the rules of attraction, according to the PARADOR film

2014-12-11T18:07:00-05:00

PARADOR is a collaborative project by Paris-based architect David Tajchman and filmmaker Benjamin Seroussi that fuses each of their signature styles and specialties. Starring dancer Olivier Mathieu and model Katya Pushkina, the short film's theme touches on the "complex rules of attraction and repulsion that end up creating energy, shape evolution, and anti-gravity," as mentioned on Tajchman's website.

Seroussi's experience in fashion film and music videos is obvious in PARADOR, which uses strong angles and slow-paced panning techniques seen in high-end fashion ads on TV. Mathieu and Pushkina, in all their conventionally attractive physical features, are decoratively armored in tetrahedral structures as they dance and pose around each other like two birds engaged in a courtship display. The futuristic structures they wear — which Tajchman and the design team created — hint at Tajchman's work methods of using digital tools and handcrafted models.

Watch the film in its entirety right b...

One way to "Play with Your Food": create a Food Machine from the Swedish forest

2014-06-27T19:57:00-04:00

For some meals, it's not the food that makes it special, but how it was prepared. A cake made by a dear friend can taste better than the one bought from the bakery; instant oatmeal becomes transcendent made over a campfire in the woods. The traditions of cooking that we abide by are part economical, part chemical science, part sorcery — what comes out the other end is an alchemy.

"Play with Your Food", the AA Visiting School being held this summer in San Juan, Puerto Rico, wants to investigate that alchemical process from an architectural perspective. What can the design process of architecture learn from the designed process of cooking and mixology? One experimental approach to this way of thinking comes by way of the "Food Machine", an automated kitchen device cooked up by a group of Swedish designers. Petter Johansson, Christian Isberg, Lasse Korsgaard and Carl Berglöf created an open-source cooking device, that can be accessed by multiple people at once from anywhere in the worl...

Peter Zumthor selects Paraguayan architect Gloria Cabral as Rolex Arts Initiative protégée

2014-05-28T20:09:00-04:00

Peter Zumthor has chosen Paraguayan architect Gloria Cabral as Architecture protégée for the 2014-2015 Rolex Arts Initiative. In each of the program's seven artistic fields, mentors selected three to four finalists, who were originally chosen from a total of 154 nominated applicants. Each mentor met and interviewed their finalists and selected the person he or she felt would gain the most from the one-year mentorship.

Zumthor, the 2009 Pritzker Prize laureate who was appointed as this year's Architecture mentor, will collaborate with Cabral for one year. She was selected out of four other Architecture finalists announced this past April.

BIG + KILO launch "BIG Cities" tableware for Rosenthal's Gropius-inspired collection

2014-05-22T14:38:00-04:00

It's all in the details with BIG + KILO's newly launched "BIG Cities" tableware collection. The longtime Danish collaborators worked with major porcelain manufacturer Rosenthal to craft the table set for the company's TAC collection. The collection was first developed in the 1960s and includes designs based on those of Walter Gropius and his historic Boston firm The Architects' Collaborative — or TAC.

The pieces bring present-day appeal to any table setting with minimal, geometric forms that draws its style roots from Bauhaus. At first glance, the thin blue lines etched onto the white porcelain look like an abstract motif.

But taking a closer look reveals the silhouettes of famous architectural landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, the Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben as well as some recognizable city skylines like Sydney, Moscow, Tokyo, Istanbul, New York, and of course Copenhagen.

Dinner and charger plates are available six different variants each, while all other pieces in the collection com...