In Matteo Cainer Architects‘ vision, the new Museum of Contemporary Art Santiago Ydáñez in the town of Puente de Génave, Spain, should have an engaging, sculptural and apparently fragmented architectural design. Their concept proposal for this museum is a building whose architecture is closely related to the site and the works of artists, being a reactive and interactive part of the landscaped setting through a series of fluid architectural connections where spaces can be continually reinvented and reconstructed.
Matteo Cainer Architects want the new architectural identity of the Museum of Contemporary Art Santiago Ydáñez to be no longer static and a silent repository, but to be a concentrated and unexpected ensemble of 4,600m2, with interconnected spaces where unpredicted relationships, platforms for improvisation and workshops to become centers for knowledge and its dissipation.
Architect: Matteo Cainer Architects Ltd
Area: Puente de Génave, Spain
Use: Museum of Contemporary Art Santiago Ydáñez
Customer: Ayuntamiento de Puente De Génave
Full flooring region: 4,600m2
About A Chair is a wonderful family of chairs developed by Hee Welling in close collaboration with HAY manufacturer. Displaying a striking design simplicity which complements almost any style of interior design, the collection is a great combination of functionality, comfortability and aesthetics. The original feature of this beautiful collection is that chairs’ shells and frames are specially designed to be combined and create diversity without to compromise’ the perfection.
About A Chair is that piece of furniture you’ll love it because will fit very well around any table from dining tables, conference tables to cafeteria, restaurant and office tables and you can achieve another design with another color only changing its shell or its frame. The materials used for seats are polypropylene, Steelcut Trio, Divina 2, Divina Melange, Bizon leather, California leather and polished aluminium, powder coated aluminium, soap treated oak or stained ash for frames. Upholstery is available in various fabrics upon request.
In the previous article Breathtaking Glass Technology by Corning, The Future at Our Fingertips we were amazed about how glass technology will shape our future daily life and we told you that some technologies like that are already on the market in a way or another. One brilliant example is this Cybertecture® Mirror, a reflective mirror into a digital life which you’ll love it from the very start. The Cybertecture® Mirror is far from an ordinary mirror for everyday use, it’s the world’s first intelligent Reflective Mirror.
Why? Because only at a touch of a button, it comes to life and does things you know other devices do: it displays information through programmable applications. With a goal to innovate the fabric of mankind to live the future today, James Law Cybertecture designed this amazing reflective mirror as part of their Special Projects division and we are delighted to show you here, on DesignLike, their work. This mirror is a 2012 winner at HA+D Awards in Mirrors& Vanities Category.
How does it work such a mirror? Through a reflective digital display, programmable applications and a connection with the internet via wireless communication technology, you are able to see interactive information which you can customize for specific functions.
It can be used in two ways with a remote control and/or smarthopnes (optional): passively and actively. Actively, it interacts with the users and communicates with mobile phone, computer, personal digital assistant offering useful information and also monitoring their health through a peripherical sensor pad. Designed to be hung on the wall, the smart combination between thin, stylish and elegant design and great digital features make from the Cybertecture® Mirror the perfect gadget for any kind of environment home, office and public environments (hotels, hospitals, retail shops). Its dimensions are Height 815 mm x Width 507 mm x Depth 80 mm and it operates in an ambient temperature between 5°C and 40°C, being compatible to up to typical bathroom use. For full technical specification and others, you can visit their site.
How do you imagine the future of technology will look like, how much will improve our lives and in what manner? Well, New York based glass manufacturer Corning Incorporated, the world leader in specialty glass and ceramic, wants to take the use of glass to a whole new level showing us a stunning concept of glass technology of the future, changing the way the world thinks about glass. With nearly half a century of major glass innovations and high-value customer collaborations, Corning Inc. sets already the standard in some advanced display products with its renowned Gorilla Glass® that is being used in the new iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2 and a few other iOS devices.
Visually impressive, highly damage-resistant and lightweight, this cover glass helps protect them from everyday wear and tear. But the advancements with this glass technology is far ahead our expectations we think. Through this essential material it will make possible a new world featuring displays and sensitive touch surfaces with complex electronic circuits and nano functionality which can scale for large applications such as television, computers, handhelds, wide screens anywhere you want: at home, school, work, hospitals and shopping.
Corning’s vision on the future is based on the use of a flexible and thin glass as a computerized touch cover on any surface possible from walls, doors, refrigerator, tables and so on, turning it into smart sensitive touch displays that will function like today’s world’s coolest devices: importing, studying, implementing, storing, transfering, capturing and presenting data.
To allow such things happen on a large scale, this flexible glass will have special characteristics like moisture permeability, temperature tolerances and clarity of glass, but the flexibility and low cost of plastic. This amazing futuristic concept will become commonplace thanks to nowadays advancements in technology. Even it looks crazy to see this kind of technology being rolled out as widely as in this video, find that some of the technologies shown here are already distributed to a degree, some of them are in development and others will take of course more time.
We don’t know what you expect from the near future but for sure the progression of science and technology is going to digitize more and more our society, which will inevitably go towards in this direction. Here you have their two inspiring videos introduced to the world not so long ago which showcase the daily use of Corning glass in the future, what will be possible if their current research comes to market. What do you think, how far is this advancements for us? Wouldn’t you want such amazing technology at your home, school and work?
Far from noisy urban life, a beautiful house in the middle of the nature with minimalist interior design, stunning view of a mountain valley, what else can you ask more? Situated at the top of a mountain in the Laurentians, Laurentian Long House looks both from the inside and outside the perfect mountain retreat. Designed by Design First Interiors to take full advantage of the site, the house integrates gorgeously in a scenic landscape: in an intimate proximity to a granite outcrop on one side while opening to expansive distant views on the other.
With an exterior blending materials selected for their tactile earthy quality to harmonize with the natural surroundings, the mountainside home seems to be one of that lovely rustic ones. But looking to its contrasting interior style represented in a subtle simplicity, we are pleasantly surprised by a modern and minimalist interior design featuring a neutral color palette which bring a sense of calm and serenity.
Large expanse bay windows enhance the personality of the home and display a sense of order and lightness which dominates the open plan spaces all day long and create a strong connection with the outside wild nature as it was the client’s wish to enjoy the changing weather moving through the valley. Wheather we speak about living and dining rooms, the kitchen, the bathroom or the bedrooms, all of them display a certain elegance where minimalist details of the custom-designed furniture and built-in cabinets blends with carrefully selected lighting creating a stylish and welcoming atmosphere.
Small spaces are always challenging when we have to design them. But it’s amazing what you can do in a small new bath, using the appropriate arrangements. All we should do is concentrate to maximize the available space and to maintain its functionality. We can do better projects with a professional help from architects and designers as you already know. Today, we thought to give you inspiration from an ultra-modern hotel bathroom with very little space available, but with appealing aesthetic.
Atelier SAD were encharged to redesign a small bathroom in Sax Vintage Design Hotel in Prague, a fantastic hotel where you can enjoy the elegance and style of the 50s, 60s, and 70s when you return from admiring the ancient masterpieces of architecture in Prague. With a team of architects, designers, planners and projectants, Atelier SAD came up with an original design solution for this hotel bathroom which have to be appropriate with the hotel unique concept. They should reconstruct the new bath which was strictly optimized. As every room in this hotel is unique, this white new bath design was inspired by Barbella movie from 60s with a feel of a modern spaceship.
One of the shower’s wall has a big graphic element featuring an actress picture in life-size which give the bathroom that vintage touch specific to the hotel. Displaying curvaceous lines and quality finished, all high-design furnishings used are from Vitra company of collection Istanbul and integrate perfectly in the surrounding space. Simple and ultra-modern, the overall appearance is one of an airy bath, although the room isn’t large.
As time changes, IKEA design collections evolve. IKEA brand is permanently reinventing itself and manage to pleasantly surprise us each year with new design product lines. We have to recognize that every time we think to design products showcasing Scandinavian design, the first name we came to mind is IKEA, the great Swedish manufacturer. This time the new IKEA PS Collection 2012 is in the public eye remaining faithful to great designs and smart solutions for the home but with an emphasis on sustainability and durability. The Swedish brand is always trendy and nowadays is aiming to think new ways to help people to live a more sustainable life at home and what most appropriate way to do this if not by home accessories and furniture.
Presented in April at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan Furniture Fair) in Italy, this collection is the seven of its kind consisting on cutting-edge Scandinavian design which doesn’t forget to keep the characteristics that makes IKEA unique: affordability and quality design. Devoted to making a better life for everybody through their design products, 19 talented designers take design one step further and thought a brand new collection featuring 46 products. There’s something for everyone in this 2012 collection: stackable chairs, tables, lamps, bowls, textiles, pictures and more, all made of sustainable and recyclable materials which are very important because lift up the designs and reduce environmental impact.
Elegant, light and strong pieces of furniture from bamboo which has a hardwood look while preserving the environment. They also combined wood and plastic and the composite of them result in furniture with versatility of plastics and the low environmental impact of wood. Another material used was flax -a bast fiber-which is a good heat conductor and antistatic material which means comfortable,nice and cool, perfect for a good night sleep. The color palette is dominated by bright primary colors combinated with black and white.
Taking inspiration from the 60-plus years of IKEA design history and from people’s life at home, the old products are reflected in the new ones’ designs. Our favourites ones include stackable chairs designed by Wiebke Braash who take inspiration from IKEA chair from the late 50’s. It is simple and cleaner, working in both outdoors and indoors; the sofa featuring appealing design and pocket springs which make it very comfortable and their new flat LED light, a practical, simple and attractive choice that may get into small spaces where you need big light and it also lasts for almost a lifetime.
The IKEA PS Collection 2012 is available after August 2012 in US stores and after 2nd May in Norway. Enjoy some pictures below and tell us what your faves are.
Ideal for summer, this waterfront villa located in Los Cabos, Mexico is full of style and taste. Designed by Ike Kligerman Barkley Architects this contemporary beach residence compliments the natural surrounding beauty. Influenced by the Mexico’s artistic heritage and location’s physical drama, every corner of it you will experience a feast of color and charming and inspiring design elements.
It’s an example of intelligent architecture: simple and functional, but beautiful and elegant in the same time. The exterior design, where there is the pool, the garden and terrace are facing the sea, was realized in a concave shape to provide inhabitants privacy and ensure they can enjoy amazing panoramic views from any angle. The interiors aren’t overloaded with decorations, but the architects used the specific Mexican color palette featuring warm, vivid and welcoming tones. Decorative antique pieces and furniture beautifully mixed with modern ones to give a cheerful look, casual and relaxing. All flows in perfect harmony visual and spatial in this gorgeous waterfront villa.
