Anagrama and SOFIA

I just had to share with you the beautiful work by Anagrama for the luxurious residential/office tower, SOFIA, (currently under construction) designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli. The color palette is sophisticated, playful and just delicious.  Bravo Anagrama!

LOCATION: San Pedro, Coahuila, Mexico.

Images borrowed from Anagrama's website, here.

Can the networking follies at conferences really influence the way we meet people?

My first conference-like experience was in 2003 when I attended Milan's infamous fair, Salone Internazionale del Mobile. It was an incredible experience, especially since I was a student at the time, and everything just seemed beautifully intentional. . .from the networking follies, to the global representation of designers, to the gorgeous people in attendance, it was all unforgettable eye candy. You know it's a successful event when I'm is still talking about it 9 years later, right? A shot from my archives below.

Image below, Salone Internazionale del Mobile, 2003.

Earlier this week, the shot below was released as a teaser really, for the upcoming C2-MTL (Commerce + Creativity) conference which promises to reinvent the business conference experience.  Gorgeous right? Well, it made me think of two things.  One, the fact that networking is still a more successful activity when done face to face no matter what you facebook-addicts (linkedin-users) say. Two, what about those networking spaces? In recent years, some conferences/design shows/conventions etc...have been going out their way to design creative environments in a monumental scale. And so I'm curious,  can the networking follies at these conferences really influence the way we meet people?  I found a couple of recent examples to illustrate my wonder...see below.

Images below borrowed from the C2-MTL site.

Images below, courtesy of Fredrik Färg, of his installation / bar and furniture pieces for this year's furniture fair in Stockholm. 

Networking next to that giant yellow dinosaur was probably fun.

Images below of Novo Nordisk's new corporate conference center, Favrholm, designed by SeARCH architects, located in a historic farm 25 miles north of Copenhagen.  You can read a detailed article about it in this month's Architectural Record, click here.  Even the floor plan is alluring. Those Danes, what would we do without them? -  they foster innovation and restoration with great pride.  Can you believe this is a healthcare research facility (dash) conference center?

Images below borrowed from the Architectural Record site.

Topic No.1: Innovative Conferences, Cosmo THIS! 

"MO" is Aussie slang for moustache...

Today is the last day of the 2011 MOVEMBER campaign.  I had never heard of this movement until I saw the poster below while touring the Moment Factory studio last week.   What's it about?  Well, every year, men around the world commit to growing and sporting a moustache during the 30 days in November to bring awareness, and raise research funds for the cruel reality of prostate cancer.  
As it turns out,  this is a global movement  launched in 2003 by some guys in Melbourne, Australia. I'm very impressed by the alluring style of the campaign. The MANLY HUNTER visual strategy is hysterical and genius!  I also love the The Craft and The Pride video series. Bravo for promoting the craft behind the man, it's just as important as health in my book! 
This is Canada's 5th Movember campaign and it grows bigger every year.  It's funny, at the beginning of the month, I though it was the latest dandy trend among Montreal hommes. . .sorry to say that it doesn't suit all men . . . Désolé! BUT I LOVE THE PLAYFUL DEVOTION!


Photos borrowed from the official site, click here.  
Also, check out the YouTube videos from The Craft and The Pride series, here...absolutely stunning production. 

The beautiful shots below were taken at a barber shop in København, Denmark in honor of the Danish Movember Campaign. Borrowed from here.

Part One: Moment Factory. . .10 years of working hard and playing harder!

A couple of days ago, I put on the "journalist hat" and had the privilege of visiting Moment Factory's creative think tank. I took some behind-the-scenes shots of the insanely radical entertainment, currently under construction, for their upcoming 10 year anniversary party taking place this Saturday at L'Espace Griffintown, located in one of my favorite industrial corners of Montreal.  
The all-night celebration is open to the public, so if you live in Montreal, I highly recommend you come celebrate a decade of hard work and ingenious vision. I can't wait! I will be taking many pictures between boozing and dancing for those of you reading from far far away.  
Hmm. . .what do you wear to an event that is sure to lure the Cirque du Soleil artists, the local hot designers & trendy architects of Montreal? (Where is my friend Kelly when I need her!)

A special thanks to Julie Armstrong-Boileau, Oliver Beaudoin, Pierre-Guilhem Roudet and Adam Hummell for their time. 

Pierre-Guilhem Roudet (left) and his sketches + Adam Hummell (right) 

+ Not familiar with Moment Factory's body of work? Well stay tuned, I have more "backstage" shots to show you from my visit.  In the meantime, explore their portfolio here. 

Oh Vitra & Pompidou, how you tease me so...

If ONLY. . . Domaine de Boisbuchet.  Doesn't it look delightful?  Design workshops in France?. . .mmm, yes, s'il vous plaît!


Images borrowed from here.

even scraps-of-cardboard want to be something...

Yes, it is another story about a couple of disenchanted architects who love to get their hands dirty and CREATE. They are Seth & Jonathan and their think tank is graypants located in Seattle, Washington. They were recently featured in FRAME magazine's digital newsletter.  The video below is refreshing and inspirational.  


. . .some of us are horrified by the possibility of failure + ridicule (peers can be harsh).  Our ideas are muzzled the minute we close that Moleskine sketchbook...why? I wonder, do they have their private conversations about us?  What are they saying right now?


Images borrowed from graypants' official site.

A French class, number 2 pencils and old-school craft...

I have been preoccupied with a new endeavor, the task of learning French...compliments of the province of Québec. All immigrants are strongly encouraged to learn the official language = free classes, yes please!  And this is no joke, the classes are 6 hrs/day, 5 days a week, for about 2 months for level 1. (Other levels also available for free).  I have about 3-4 different instructors throughout the week.  It is really quite impressive.


I suddenly found myself in need of #2 pencils.  While shopping at my favorite stationery store, papeterie nota bene, I came upon a stack of 
Field Notes pencils with the following inscription:   About the pencil: Lacquer-free, renewable Cal-Cedar Wood Casing, Recyclable Aluminum Ferrule, Enviro-Green Degradable Eraser and Certified Non-Toxic Imprint Inks.  I immediately thought, "...this sounds like something Made in Oregon".  I bought a few and because I possess an inquisitive mind, I googled the name.  It turns out that Field Notes is from Portland, Oregon. (Created by the Draplin Design Co. in collaboration with Coudal Partners). The man responsible...Aaron Draplin. Read more here.  
The pencils work great, but the Vimeo videos below (thanks Coudal Partners) . . . WOW . . . they motivated me to share this find with you...Contemporary old-school Craft at its best! 


IMAGE credits:  Aaron Draplin pic borrowed from House Industries. Other images borrowed from here. COLORS image borrowed from official site.

The family that I did not know I had...

FYI...Fredrik Färg's limited edition collection, Succession: The family that I did not know I had, is on display at the RH Gallery in New York until June 19, 2011...I am a big fan of his work...how hysterical are the pictures with the ducks...I love it.


Photos courtesy of Fredrik Färg.

Vienna à la {Water for Elephants}

The Circus is in town...in Vienna to be exact.  The 25 hours Hotel in Wien (Vienna) opened last month...don't ask how I find these things...the circus just finds me somehow! The German team Dreimeta headed by Armin Fischer created the spectacular theme. How do the guests resist from stealing the fun props?  One top hat to go, please. If you visit, bring your own ringmaster. . .m m m!


NOTE: Images borrowed from official site.

“I no longer know what architecture is and what an architect should do...”

{Ya no sé lo que es la arquitectura ni qué debería hacer un arquitecto}
Quote by Luis Urculo Cámara from Madrid.

LUIS will be teaching a workshop, 'Beyond the paper' this August at Domaine de Boisbuchet (located in France).  If anybody wants to gift me this amazing experience, I will not refuse...
Luis Úrculo is my age (don't ask) and has been crafting an enviable profession for himself doing what he loves...merging his architectural foundation with other disciplines like design & technology. He has participated in several prestigious exhibitions, collaborated with Philippe Starck, and he was recently featured in FRAME magazine.

What am I doing wrong? Bravo Luis! Some talent is just meant to be GRAND...Visit his blog (official site is mostly in Spanish).

Image credits: Poster for Domaine de Biosbuchet workshop borrowed from here  Other images borrowed from here.


Video below with Luis in his home/studio in Spanish...(I will find time to translate a few lines soon) more videos here.





This one is fabulous...

Topic No.1: Innovative Conferences, Cosmo THIS! 

Hammer & Hand

Hammer & Hand is a design-build shop who fosters a collaborative environment with sustainable craftsmanship. And a what a shop!...Let's all take a moment to salivate over these shots taken by bright design lab.  I want one, don't you?  Thank you Zack for allowing me to share your workspace with my readers.  I hope to get an official tour one day.  You should be featured in Grain & Gram.  

Hammer & Hand, another reason why Portland, OR is simply a peerless city.

Well done Grain & Gram...YES I am jealous.  My friend Kelly wrote a great piece about this exclusive journal...read HERE.

Grain & Gram: Blair Sligar, Woodworker from Grain & Gram on Vimeo.

headless creatures...

Fredrik Färg blows me away once again.  
His limited collection Succession will be on display in Stockholm's upcoming Design Week exhibition, 20 Designers at Biologiska. He is truly a Swedish delight...I would love to meet him one day. His RE:COVER collection was polished yet these pieces are too hysterically dandy and delicious...


STOCKHOLM DESIGN WEEK: Feb. 7-13, 2011
Exhibit: 20 Designers at Biologiska
WHERE: Biologiska Museet, Djurgården, Sweden.
Curated by: Fredrik Färg, Emma Marga Blanche and Hanna Nova Beatrice
Open days: 10 FEBRUARY 12:00-20:00, 11 FEBRUARY 12:00-20:00, 12 FEBRUARY 10:00-15:00


images courtesy of Fredrik Färg

Stop! Climate Change...go Westwood!

British talent is just amazing these days...Colin Firth, Carey Mulligan, Sarah Burton...and well always, Vivienne Westwood.  Have you read about the 2011 BRIT trophy re-design?  I wonder if it will be manufactured with recycled materials.  I want one, life sized would be great.   


Image of coat from the exhibit, Anglomania.