Happy New Year

Holga D

In the old days of analog photography, waiting for results was an integral part of the experience. First you wait until you finished the entire roll of film, and then you had to wait even longer for the film to be developed.

However, this delayed gratification did make seeing your photos for the first time a lot sweeter than it is today.

India-born designer Saikat Biswas tries to bring back some of those qualities with this concept for a digital camera, the Holga D.

Whilst large displays are all the rage nowadays, the Holga D doesn’t have a display at all. Your photographs remain mysterious until you download the images.

Its other functionalities are also kept to an absolute minimum – almost rudimentary. Very few controls, a 2 speed shutter, 2 apertures and a very basic focusing ring – just enough functionality to make it useful.

MIMA House

Inspired by Japanese architecture, these customizable houses are flexible, light and simple. Envisioned by MIMA architects as an answer to quick life changes and demanding nature of today’s real estate market, these projects are affordable and mobile, not to mention – they are designed in part by their owners.

MIMA houses are so light and flexible, they can be redesigned in a matter of minutes via moving the partitions and creating a new layout entirely. You can also add or remove panels to control privacy.

Endémico

Located in Valle de Guadalupe in California, the Endémico Resguardo Silvestre hotel from Mexico’s Habita hotel group, is a set of twenty independent rooms of twenty square meters each.

Designed by architect Jorge Garcia, one of the principal premises was not to interfere directly the land, as part of the philosophy of the project is to respect nature in every possible way.

Minimal steel structure elevates the skeleton of the room, named EcoLoft, to avoid contact with the soil. The employment of corten steel to cover it, which over time changes its color, achieving harmony between the environment and the building.

Roche office building

Projected by Christ + Gantenbein the regional bank of the Swiss canton of Baselland is setting up a new and representative commercial building on the station square in Liestal, a town on the outskirts of Basel. The prominent volume, a contorted ashlar narrowing on the base, receives its shape from the triangular lot of land it is set upon. Towards the station side, the façade is cut out to open up to a generous canopied area. It provides a roof for waiting passengers from the station and for the shoppers on the

ground floor level. A modular façade grid embraces the building’s top floors and traces the volume’s distortion at the bottom. Each façade panel relates to an office axis inside and forms a small oriel. 

Photo: Walter Mair

Chick Lamp

Italian Graphic designer Luca Vagnini, based in Pesaro, is the creator behind Chick Lamp – a simple and portable rectangular light on legs.

The simplistic and modest form of the Chick Lamp allows it to be used as a table lamp due to its size, or as a portable floor lamp, providing a lantern-like effect. Made with oak wood, the lamp has been designed with the option of both black and white lacquered iron rods. The whole structure is fixed by only two small screws located under the wooden box and is best used with low energy bulbs.

L’oiseau

This decorative wooden object was created by French design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra. Called L’oiseau (French for The Bird), the piece is a minimal tribute to the famous Eames House Bird, which is also being produced by Vitra. Inspired by Nordic folk art, L’oiseau is made from solid maple and gently smoothed into a laconic shape.

Season's Greetings

Wood Christmas Tree

Wood Christmas Tree it is a design by the Finnish studio Verso Design, specialised in interior products of personal design and high quality. The design is a example of simple Scandinavian design with the ornaments made in felt and a candle on the top. It has been edited and produced by A+R.

Wish You Were There

Based in Manchester, England, freelance artist, illustrator and designer, Rob Bailey has created this illustrated series of thirty landscape drawings – Wish You Were There. They were originally based on the blank address lines on the reverse of a postcard.

These simple illustrations, measuring 30cm x 50cm, present a reduction of visual elements without compromising the space and shape of the landscapes.

Sky series

This vibrant and colourful photograph taken at Port Bay, Montauk, NY Sunset 8:10pm belongs to  the Sky series by Eric Cahan. The photos, often without any reference to the earth, show a surreal limitless space and were taken at bodies of water in California, Florida, and New York.

Using four different cameras ranging from 6 x 7 film to digital he explores the magical light during a sunrise or a sunset. The magic light reminds me of early flights and makes me want to plan new trips to discover places I have never been before.

Villa in Ibiza

Designed by French architect Pascal Cheikh Djavadi, with its minimal structure on the outside and a couple of surprising and elegant curves on the inside. The curves are balancing just right with the rest of the home, somehow making it even more inviting and fitting to its environment. There is a sense of both simplicity and personality that is so fresh and inviting. Carefully edited furnishing and neutral color palette with selected hints of color only add to the overall concept.

Absolute Purity

This unusual ad is a part of Absolut’s ongoing campaign on the subject of purity. Every year a different artist is asked to express his or her vision in a form of an advertising piece for the Absolut vodka brand. Last year it was a fun gaudy-looking project by Paul Graves, the year before that – a work by Dan Tobin Smith. This year’s contribution to the theme came from German artist Simon Schubert.

Schubert approached the idea of purity quite literally and did what he does best – a sheet of folded paper (artist’s remarkable folded works  brought him international fame for a reason). The concept of purity is beautifully expressed through a poetry of wrinkled paper, brought to life by shadows and light.

Space for Prayer

This little chapel, recently finished by Kouichi Kimura Architects is located in a room of a larger building in Shiga, Japan. The aesthetic of the space is inspired by the words of the bible, specifically the passages dedicated the concept of light and darkness.

Thanks to this lighting solution, the cross appears to be floating in the air. The white wall reflects the light and illuminates the space even further. And the sharp contrasting introduction of the black colour, enveloping the outer perimeter, accentuates the lightness of the central area.

Circle

The Circle lamp has been created by Stockholm based designer Monica Förster for Italian furniture brand De Padova. The circle-shaped base gives a starting point to a circular frame, which in turn serves as a stand for the third circle – a lampshade.

Dryerhair

Dryerhair is an hair dryer, created by UK based design studio Industrial Facility. Stripped to its absolute essentials, the object makes a strong statement. Is a proud contribution to the space it occupies.

The Minimal Backpack

Brooklyn based clothing company Outlier have designed this durable, lightweight and waterproof Minimal Backpack. This design is all about the choice of material – the expensive, non woven dyneema. Perhaps not the easiest material to work with, non woven dyneema is a fibre stronger than steel with almost limitless applications. The fibres are bonded together in multi-directional panels. From making racing sails to replacing steel cords on freight ships to aerospace technology, non woven dyneema fibre is tailored to a huge variety of uses.

One of these uses resulted in the roll top backpack, that can be packed down to fit into a jacket pocket. Available in white, the Minimal Backpack could certainly be used on a daily basis.

Caccia Grossa Bianco

Milan based contemporary design manufacturer Lettera G, who work closely with a number of Italian designers, have produced a collection of animal wall-mounted clothing racks – Caccia Grossa Bianco (Big White Game). 

The scientific nomenclature of each animal is printed in Latin on its white stainless steel face. The collection includes a horse, rabbit, parrot, deer and zebra.

Katra

Aparte is a French design agency who recently presented a prototype of their paper-thin Katra chair, made of ramie fiber.

Katra is inspired by the intrinsic qualities of the material from which it is made. Formed from a composite consisting primarily of ramie, the material offers strength, lightness and durability. Katra’s design represents the unique creative opportunities the furniture industry is just beginning to explore with the composite.

Foc

The Spanish designer Oscar García has developed this outdoor burner for the exterior furniture company Gandia Blasco.

Foc is made of lacquered steel and comes recommended using it with denatured alcohol. Several colours and dimensions are available to create a family product inspired by architecture.

House I

House I is a small residential in  the centre of Akita city projected by architects Yoshichika Takagi + Sekkei-Sha. Despite its urban location, this is a special place as it is surrounded by car parks. Considering that the space is exposed to public eyes in all four directions, it is essential to sustain the elements of privacy.

In order to keep privacy, a basic concept was follow; rooms that need to be enclosed such has kitchen, bathroom, toilet, bedroom and storage, should be kept in box-box-shaped spaces and rooms that do not need to be enclosed are in the gaps between boxes. By applying these rules, a collection of spaces are gathered like pleats, which create many gap areas in various sizes. The space is presented with a complex structure of gaps that gives depth to the whole place as well as an illusion that there is more space beyond what is visible.
The frames installed in the walls of the boxes overlap with one another, and the whole place looks like a combination of facing mirrors depicting different sceneries.


Image credit: Toshiyuki Yano

Garden and Sea House

Garden and Sea House was built in Japan by Takao Shiotsuka Atelier. This project was designed around the goal to view as much of its surrounding sea as possible. Shiotsuka implemented previously proven elements to maximize the experience such as expansive windows, transparency and translucency, edited materiality and of course, minimal color. The repetitive use of these elements used in intentionally large scale supports the entire experience.

Apple Store, Grand Central

A new Apple store is coming to town. Apple's fifth store in New York, will overlook Grand Central's Main Concourse from the east and northeast balconies of the terminal and has two Genius Bars for free technological support. The store, which will have 315 employees, will also offer rooms dedicated to some of the company's personal services, including the largest area in the world dedicated to personal set-up of Apple products.

Birillo

Birillo by Alessi, is the ultimate  bathroom set. It is made up of 10 minimally designed bathroom accoutrements assembled out of imperfect squares and wrong circles, according to the designer, Piero Lissoni.

Lower East Side Audio Dock Air

The latest product by Audyssey, a Los Angeles based audio technology company, is the Lower East Side Audio Dock Air. This speaker with frank appearance streams music wireless from your personal devices such as computer, iPhone and iPad with a rich, clear and balanced sound.

Kandenchi

This wireless computer mouse was created by Japanese design studio Nendo for Elecom. Called Kandenchi, which in Japanese means dry cell battery, the piece lives up to its name. The mouse is the same shape and size as a D battery. Even though it might look ergonomically awkward, it follows human clicking habits precisely. The left-click button is positioned directly under the index finger, if you grip the mouse from the side, the scrolling wheel is positioned under the middle finger, and what looks like the positive terminal is the right-click button.

Solid Gray

Solid Gray is a solid backpack to carry and protect your personal items.

These bags feature a minimal folding hardshell design, EPDM foam lining and straps for keeping your tablet or laptop safe and secure, two interior compartments for keeping small items handy, a built-in document clip – so your papers don’t end up smashed at the bottom of the bag – and a flexible fit.

Lunor Classic Rund PP

The German Lunor Classic Rund PP glasses, designed by Robert Marc. 

Image credit: Courtesy of Robert MarcSource

Turtle neck top

Japanese designer, Issey Miyake founded his eponymous label in 1970 after working on the Paris and New York fashion scene. Miyake's designs are inspired by the technology and sensibility of the West mixed with the flowing fabrics and designs of the East. Most famous for his pleated garments in the 1980s and 1990s, Miyake first launched his "Pleats Please" collection in 1993 in which he uses his revolutionary pleating technique. This Turtle neck top is one garment that represents that philosophy.

Levi's 501

New Balance 991

New Balance one of the most enduring technical running series in the 80's and 90's makes its return with the 991. In 1982 the 990 was the first athletic shoe priced at $100 and the 991 replaced this in the 90's.

Humidifiers

This collection of ceramic humidifiers, produced by Italian company Il Coccio, is a tribute to the historic piece, designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1998. Eight different designers, including such celebrities as Giulio Iacchetti, Patricia Urquiola, Denis Santachiara, Alberto Meda and others, contributed to the project. All pieces follow Castiglioni’s minimalist aesthetic and explore the idea of using the existing radiator as a base. The objects sit on, hang from, or wedge behind it, creating  dynamic between two elements.

Corter Leather

Corter Leather is a small, one-man operation based in Boston, Massachusetts. Every leather product is 100% hand-made by maker Eric Heins.

Devoid of typical branding and patterns, the slim and functional Field Notes Sleeve, composed of vegetable tanned leather, which features a loop at the spine for holding your writing utensil. The natural Classic Bifold featuring seven pockets is a slim stitched wallet. Another piece, is the versatile Folded Bifold wallet with two pouches and inner flaps for extra storage. This piece only has one stitched seam and will darken to a carmel with age.

Tromby Bag by Otaat

Los Angeles based design studio Otaat, directed by creative Albert Chu, have produced the minimalist Tromby Bag.

The long tote bag features a body with two straps – one exterior & one interior, as well as a single inside pocket, which lines the complete interior. One can carry the Tromby Bag as an extra-long tote with a single opening, or as a medium-length tote with a divider making two pouches.

Available in natural and black cotton canvas as well as Japanese indigo-dyed denim.

Jean Clock

Designed by Pierre Favresse, Jean is a small and minimal bubble of time, a dome of lightness struggling with weight, a 21st century digital tribute to the mechanical heaviness of Napoleonic clocks beneath bell jars.

Edited by Super-ette, Jean is as precious as the symbolic values, which vary between contrasting functional and playful, light and solid. Each clock is accomplished with a single and unique blow.

Surface

Terence Woodgate and John Barnard teamed up to create Surface table for British manufacturer Established & Sons, and after the success of the project added a chair to it. Both pieces are made from the same layered carbon fibre material John Barnard famously introduced for the McLaren Formula One car chassis in 1981. Thanks to the lightweight durability of the material, the table can span 3 meters while remaining super thin (the piece has a thickness of just 2mm at the edge).

HiddenRadio

Industrial designers John Van Den Nieuwenhuizen from Australia and Vitor Santa Maria from Brazil have collaborated to design the HiddenRadio, which is currently being funded through Kickstarter.

The minimal HiddenRadio & Bluetooth Speaker design connects and captivates the user through its intuitive functionality. When asleep it hides all its functions. To turn it on you simply twist and lift the cap. The further you lift the cap the more internal volume is created and will amplify to over 80dB of crystal clear sound. The battery life is also an impressive feature, offering over 30 hours of power.

Hudson Bay Axe

The minimal, portable and razor sharp Hudson Bay Axe by Best Made Company is very versatile as it combines the strengths of a larger axe for chopping and the finesse of a smaller axe for delicate work. The combination of the sharpened head of carbon steel and the unfinished helve of Appalachian hickory enunciate an honest tool made of honest materials!

Stuttgart City Library

Korean architect Eun Young Yi was declared the competition winner in 1999 for the new central library of the city of Stuttgart from 235 competition entries. The opening ceremony took place recently after three years under construction and a 80-million Euro budget.

The building is essentially a white cube with two underground floors and nine above. The main library floors circle an open-plan design, which are connected through open staircases, and the books are stored mainly in racks mounted to the walls.

Shadow Art

Japanese artist Kumi Yamashita (1968) is known for creating realistic imagery from invisible sources. Her shadow art has earned Yamashita international recognition with works appearing in such venues as Seattle Art Museum, Boise Art Museum, Yerba Buena Centre, San Francisco, the Esplanade in Singapore, Hillside Gallery in Tokyo and the Kent Gallery in New York. The pieces are comprised of ordinary everyday things and a single light source, which brings these objects to life. Alphabets and building blocks, scattered across the wall, become realistic human figures, coloured resin plates give shape to facial silhouettes, and credit card imprints create portraits.

Kumi Yamashita will be having solo exhibitions at the Sato Museum, Tokyo and the Dillon Gallery, New York in 2012.