Fogo Island is the largest of the offshore islands of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Island is quite small, home to only 3,000 people, but two community groups, The Shorefast Foundation and the Fogo Island Arts Corporation, are committed to rejuvenating the history and culture of the island through arts. The joining foundations have commissioned Norwegian architect Todd Saunders to create six structures on the island, which will act as artists’ studios.

Three of these studios have already been completed, and now a fourth, titled the Tower Studio. The all black structure, which can only be reached by foot, tilts forward and backwards as it twists up towards the clouds. A large triangular skylight allows for an abundant amount of natural light to pour into the double-height artist’s studio on the second and third floors. The studio provides captivating views of the lake – mixed with the natural silence, the tower is sure to be inspirational place for an artist at work.

(Photography: Bent René Synnevåg)

Summer time is almost here, which means its time to transition out of your windbreaker and into your bikini. This mix of techno tropical blends, sexy cutouts, and flirty frills are sure to make you stand out on the sand. Get a glimpse of our favorite new swimsuits of the season – that weren’t in Sports Illustrated!

 Agent Provocateur Mazzy Swimsuit $220.00

Baku Australia Santorini Bikini $55.00

 Norma Kamali Striped Top $195.00 + Flip Bikini Set $310.00

 Baku Australia Pebble Beach Bikini $127.00

 Zeugari Halter Wrap Bikini $88.00

Mara Hoffman Printed Ruffle Busti   $300.00

We Are Handsome The Adventure Zip suit $315.00

 Mara Hoffman Striped Set $300.00

 Rirratti Riflessi Couture Bikini ($TBA)

 Zimmermann Savannah Belted Drape Piece $330.00

 Lee + Lani The Rio Collection $250.00-$310.00

 Zeugari Cotton Candy Monokini $60.00

  Baku Australia Ginga Bikini $150.00

 O’Neill Bikini Set $90.00

Herve Leger Swimwear $350.00 – $500.00

Mara Hoffman Beaded Bandeau  $320.00

The Jaguar XKX concept car by Bahrain-based design studio Skyrill and Albanian designer Marin Myftiu, is a totally new take on the classic Jag we all have grown to appreciate over the years. Ali Almossawi, co-founder of Skyrill, explained that “the concept tries to revive the glorious design lines of the brand, combining fresh solutions, a unique, new aerodynamics, tailored around the electrical elements of the power system as well as cutting-edge energy feedback.”

Aesthetically speaking, the designers wanted to avoid the “heaviness associated with many of today’s muscle cars, including actual Jaguar models.” Instead, the team decided to recreate a thin, elegant profile, while still showing off all the extra power and technological improvements. The XKX’s profile is an organic flow of lines that look almost like the company’s “pouncing cat” logo on wheels.

Over on the technological side, the electronic vehicle has carefully designed aerodynamics, where air is deflected away from the engine and around the car itself, said to be 60 per cent more power efficient. Also, the entire car body is covered by a layer of piezoelectric cells. when stimulated by
the pressure of air flowing over them during vehicle movement, the units produced electricity that is fed into the vehicle’s battery. Genius!

Designer Note: The Mirrors are another characteristic feature of the Jaguar XKX are the totally disappearing side mirrors. At about 1cm thickness, the mirrors perfectly fit the shallow hatch made in the door piece when the car is stopped and they unfold again in working position when it’s turned on. This adds to both the aesthetics, and protects the side mirrors from any damages when parked.

Designer Note: Given a much smaller and cooler power plant than conventional, the aerodynamics was conceived in a new innovative way. The side deflector intakes of the front were made broader, so a much larger amount of air does not get stuck by the engine, instead, it flows behind the front wheels, getting out behind them and sliding along the doors and then taking another shortcut through the rear wheels and out from the big rear openings, greatly reducing the total flowing path and subsequently drag.

Designer Note: Almost 60% of the energy used by a typical car at highway speeds is spent to counter air friction. Obviously, that is A LOT of energy spent for a function that is indispensable, but not the primary (to push the vehicle forward). The body of the XKX is covered by a layer housing microscopic ripples of piezoelectric cells, which, stimulated by the pressure of the air flowing over them (the actual air friction experienced by the car) produce electricity that is fed back to the vehicle’s battery, increasing both efficiency and performance.

Canadian based fashion designer Gillian Hyde says “You’d better have a sense of humor to wear this scarf this autumn and winter!” In regards to her funny new Mustache Scarf. Each scarf is hand made, Hyde cuts the brown leather mustache and then sews it on a classy and distinguished brown tweed (much like a professor’s jacket) then she lines it with a soft brown flannel. The designer noted that her creation is “perfect for men who have mustache envy and for women who want to gender-bend!”

Over in Lisbon, cool new restaurants seem to be sprouting up in the dozens! Most recently is SushiCafé Avenida, designed by Miguel Saraiva & Associados. The architects explained that “the restaurant transmits a modern and distinguishing concept” with it’s pure white color palette, undulating walls, and innovative lighting strategy. The entrance of the space appears to be small from the street, in order to give people passing a glimpse of the stunning sushi bar. After the sushi bar, the restaurant opens up into a large lounge and dining area where an elevated DJ booth is built into the curved wall, designed to be unobtrusive and discreet. In coordination with the beats that the DJ is throwing down, the walls are back lit with innovative LED technology which allows colorful light to pump through the restaurant along with the tunes!

(Photography: FG+SG fotografia de arquitectura | architectural photography)

In the upscale neighborhood of Polanco in Mexico City, Wax Revolution has unveiled their second location. With the goal of setting a new standard on what they regard as “artistry in hair removal,” they wanted to ensure that the design of their space would be as unique as their service. The site of the salon is in a semi basement of what used to be part of the parking of a refurbished building from the 50s. ROW Studio spearheaded the project, their “first challenge was to give notoriety to an otherwise invisible space.” The solution turned out to be a “faceted structure made from a sequence of black steel frames descending from the street to the salon in a similar fashion to a subway entrance thus making the site evident to the enormous traffic of people strolling and driving by.”

The lobby of the salon is outfitted with a bright blue wall and a high gloss multifaceted black desk. Once you make your way past the chalk board wall where the salon’s latest specials are detailed, you enter in the main salon area where “each cabin is assigned and identified by a color which can be located by following the corresponding lines on the epoxy resin floor. The lights are fixed to the wall as a continuous strip with 45° and 90° angles as a way to liberate height from the low ceiling of the space.” Shortly after,  a small open blue cabin located at the end of the corridor is used as a brow bar with an adjustable barber’s chair. The design of Wax Revolution is a delightfully vibrant space, adding a fun and playful twist to what was a dusty old parking garage.

(Photography: Sofocles Hernandez Copyright ROW Studio)

WARNING: This article may cause you to frantically jet down to your local bakery. You might want to start tying up your shoe laces – just say’n. The succulent little treats you are about to feast your eyes on have been created by some of the worlds best pastry chefs, along with some of the worlds best soccer moms. Either way, this roundup of artistic treats is sure to make you leave some room for dessert tonight.

Matchstick Cookies By I Feel Cook

Rainbow Colored Lemon

San Diego-based food blog Kirbie’s Cravings has concocted Pizza Cupcakes

Lily Vanilli, A London based baker, created The Bleeding Heart Cake

Lucía Rallo and Aranxa Esteve of m-inspira made some Helvetica looking Jello typography

Cookie Monster Cupcakes

A brilliant hamburger cake by Lyndsay Sung over at her Vancouver based bakery Coco Cake Cupcake

Josie Tavares is a Wife, mother, software engineer, and self taught pastry queen. She whipped up these Blueberry & Coconut French Macarons for her family’s Superbowl party this year, and showcased them on her blog Daydreamer Desserts.

This rainbow colored pancake series is the masterpiece of Lisa Edsalv

Spanish food blogger Sandee, from La Receta De la Felicidad, has created these fun Egg Shell Brownies.

The Holiday Inn just got owned. Just sayin’. I mean, how can the mediocre, vanilla chain possibly compete with a bubblegum pink faceted façade like the one that graces Mexico City’s Hostel La Buena Vida?! They can’t. It’s just too much awesomeness per square foot. The name of the suhweet residential development says it all. We’ll provide the translation for all of you Español-challenged amigos: Hostel La Buena Vida = The Good Life Hostel. And good it is. In a ‘hood with a homogenous architectural style, the hostel definitely stands out like a sore thumb (painted neon pink). ARCO Architectura Contemporanea’s team used repeating geometric shapes in the façade, paying homage to the Mexican-candy-wrapper-esque vibe, then complimented the bold choice with a serene ipe wood lattice and set it off with a neon sign. Any contemporary urban traveler would be lucky to relax in this lounge-tastic Mexican City gem.