Posts Tagged ‘Travel’
Noteworthy: February 2013 Week #1
February 7th, 2013 – And with a blink of an eye, the week is nearing its end. You were only able to cross a few ‘to do’s’ off the list you made on Monday morning, but that’s ok – The relaxing weekend is upon us. While you were busy hustling for that dolla’ all week, we put together a list of our top five most noteworthy weekly creative happenings. Maybe these happenings don’t call for an entire article, but they are definitely worth celebrating and sharing. So what made the cut this week? Thousands of wireless light rocks that can interact with people, Confederate Motorcycles unveiled their latest man-made machine, Louis Vuitton opened their first resort in the Maldives, and, well, just scroll down and see for yourself….
Studio Roosegaarde’s CRYSTALS are thousands of wireless light rocks that interact with people.
CRYSTAL functions as a ‘digital campfire’ where people share stories of light. Each Crystal contains LEDs that are wirelessly charged via a powermat. Once visitors start adding, moving or sharing Crystals, the basic breathing of the Crystals changes. The lighting behavior of crystals moves from ‘excited’ to ‘bored’, keeping visitors curious. People can either share or steal them. CRYSTAL creates a sensual relation between people, technology and light.
Creative firm Craig and Karl took the reins on the art direction for Japanese Vogue
Long distance relationships do work! The fact that Craig is based out of NYC and Karl is now in London (previously in Australia) doesn’t deter this duo from producing some epic artwork. Whether the two are illustrating skateboards, creating patterns for fashion collections, or dressing the windows at Sephora, they seem to confidently evolve their bold artistic style in each new project. Japanese Vogue commissioned Craig and Karl to lend some art direction for their ‘Playing With Color’ editorial in their March issue. The editorial is shot by creative photographer Lacey, who’s edgy creative work has landed her a stream of jobs with magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Dazed&Confused, Details, and Esquire.
Confederate Motorcycles unveiled their new R135 Wraith Combat Motorcycle
This holistic contextual man-machine is the newest edition to the Confederate family of motorcycles. Little details have been released yet on the R135 Wraith Combat bike, except that it looks like it was born to be rebellious and comes with a hefty price tag $135,000.
Designer Omar Arbel creates an bright and earthy aesthetic for the 38 at Tacofino restaurant
When Tacofino, a food truck service specializing in baja-inspired tacos decided to open a permanent location – named the Tacofino Commissary – the owners called on local designer Omer Arbel. Departing from the trucks’ vibrant orange-and-teal palette, Arbel opted to pare back the East Vancouver interior to create a laid-back southwest vibe. The designer employs salvaged lumber and his wonderful 38 Series fixtures to create the first restaurant by the Vancouver food truck service. White powder-coated steel tubes prop up the tables and stools, creating a miniature forest rising from the concrete floor. The walls are coated in white-painted burlap. But it’s Arbel’s sweeping chandelier that steals the scene. Made by Bocci (Arbel’s lighting design company) the piece consists of dozens of illuminated globes that double as planters.
Louis Vuitton opening their first resort in the Maldives
Cheval Blanc, the high-end hospitality brand developed by luxury giant Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH), will open a resort hotel in the Maldives, adding another world-class accommodation option to the island nation. Currently under construction on the island of Randheli in Noonu Atoll, the resort will feature 46 luxury villas, each with private infinity pool, and a Guerlain spa offering exclusive signature treatments. Directing all of Cheval Blanc’s cuisine across its global resorts will be the multiple award-winning chef Yannick Alléno.
Like A Ship Floating In The Desert
January 18th, 2013 – Any resort that lists their recreational activities as desert surfing, Camel riding, and sand skiing, is sure to perk some interest! The Desert Lotus Resort is located in the mystical Xiang Sha Wan, the “Sand Bay” of the Gobi Desert, in Inner Mongolia. Beijing-based PLaT Architects designed the concrete-less resort to work like a ship floating in deserted. The creatives at PLaT had to invent a new structural system that is fixed in the sands by panels and a prefabricated steel support skeleton. Free of tiles and bricks for construction, the resort is built with low carbon environment friendly materials to utilize solar, water and wind energy in the desert, reducing environmental pollution and strengthening ecology protection.
The architects use traditional Chinese idea of “Zhen”, which is, in simple words, the art of repetition of the same elements. Square white tent tops, rotated 45 degrees are connected together in a circular formation. The rotation of the squares in the same angle generates triangles. In consideration of the structure, shading, and wind, the architects integrated the function, form and landscape, resulting in a form of a lotus flower. The hotel aims to be an example of sustainable tourism in the desert, through networks that generate electricity and water in their own self-sufficient system for the provision and operation of the building.
The winters in Inner Mongolia are long, cold, and dry with frequent blizzards. But the spring, summer, and autumn are polar opposites to the winter, they are short, hot and arid, a time known for dangerous sandstorms. The adventure junkies who make the long trip to the stylish low carbon resort come to enjoy the mystical orange sand dunes, and the warm Hantai River, a branch of the Yellow River more than 200 kilometers wide. Stand and look into the distance here to see a vision of the colored sand hills that meet the charming glow under the sun as the breeze blows over the dunes making music.
Casa HS, Brazil
October 15th, 2012 – Nestled deep into wild shrubbery on Brazil’s Quinta da Baronezagolf course is Studio Arthur Casa’s newly completed home called Casa HS. Casas gave the 11,000 square foot home a fully transforming exterior! Brazil is celebrated for its moderate weather, and the architect is known best for his impeccable capability of marrying of nature and architecture – it only makes sense to built a home where the walls can spring open and invite the great outdoors in.
The house is compartmentalized into two dividing areas, each area has two levels. One area is designated for the children and guests, while the second area consists of common spaces and the master suite. The common areas is divided from the master suite by having the living room, kitchen, and dining room on the ground floor, and the master bedroom and bathroom with complete privacy on the upper level. The two separated areas of the home are joined by an open square pond with a rising vegetation wall on its side.
The facade is constructed out of perforated metal panels which open and close in the bedroom areas. The perforation adds privacy from the street, but insiders can still take advantage of the surrounding landscapes. The home has a modern aesthetic, but is amazingly warm and inviting with it’s natural brown tones mixed with stark white gallery styled walls. Minimalistic interiors allow for the architecture to be showcased, while equally letting in the views of the natural surroundings, which is better than even the fines piece of canvas.
(FG+SG fotografia de arquitectura | architectural photography)
D-Hotel Maris, Turkey
October 15, 2012 – Somewhere between the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea, high on the Datça Peninsula hillside, sits the chic new D-Hotel Maris. The dashingly modern hotel is the brainchild of Turkish architecture firm MIDEK/MINGÜ, who teamed up with the Singapore based architects at SCDA to create a minimalistic paradise for design loving travelers.
The 200 suite hotel room has been specifically designed for the “ultimate escape and relaxation.” To achieve this mantra, Hasan Mingu, founder of MIDEK/MINGU, used the finest materials throughout the design, calming wood tones, natural fibers, and calming symmetrical spaces – most rooms even have an over sized bath that faces a window overlooking the Aegean Sea. Mingu took such careful consideration in creating the D-Hotel Maris, that the hospitality company invited him and his team back to design their new hotel D-Hotel Marmaris, set to open in 2013.
Beyond being pampered up at the D’s soothing spa and suites, the hotel has an adventurous side too! Take out the luxury seaplane, private helicopter or chauffeured yachts, to catch a glimpse of the mind-blowing islands, luscious pine forests, and volcanic mountain ranges!
(Photography: D-Hotel Maris)
