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The Tangalooma Wrecks is a shipwreck site on the western side of Moreton Island in South East Queensland, Australia. It consists of 15 vessels that were deliberately sunk in 1963 to form a breakwall for small boats. In addition to providing safe harbor, the wrecks also created a popular dive and snorkel site, attracting a variety of marine life such as wobbegongs, trevally, yellowtail, and other tropical fish.

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-27.162833°, 153.368361°

Source imagery: Nearmap

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Sand dunes cover the landscape at Sossusvlei — a salt and clay pan located on the edge of the Namib Desert in Namibia. The dunes here are some of the tallest in the world, rising more than 656 feet (200 meters) in height.

See more here: https://bit.ly/2TntoWT

-24.733333°, 15.366667°

Source imagery: Planet

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Waves roll into the northern shore of Dakar, the capital and largest city of Senegal. Roughly 1 million people live in the city proper and another 1.4 million inhabit its greater metropolitan area. Situated on the Cap-Vert (Cape Verde) Peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean, Dakar is the westernmost city on the African mainland.

See more here: https://bit.ly/39OheJr

14.767126°, -17.434242°

Source imagery: Maxar

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Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance’s second instalment for Made in Situ pays tribute to the resilience of material, people and process through the use of discarded burnt cork.

A deeply personal collection, Noé was inspired by his own visceral encounter driving through forest fires on his move to Portugal in 2017. The experience brought him closer to this new landscape and fostered a desire to design a furniture collection that contains and exhibits the marks of its history. Through expressions of regeneration from material to process a new creation from the fires was born.

Related: Two Cork Houses in Palafrugell, Costa Brava by López Rivera Architects.

From rawness to fluid curves, this collection plays with dichotomies. Discarded burnt cork is transformed into custom gradient blocks, then carved to reveal tactile & sculptural creations. Working with a family company to create the blocks by hand and an industrial company to carve the organic forms by machine, a natural tension between tradition and high tech evolved into an expression of newness and beauty.

A defined gradient of coarse and fine cork granules guides the structure of the design. Flowing upwards, raw graduation from natural catastrophe to fluid anthropomorphic curves forms the story of the phoenix rising from the ashes. The pure form of the granulated block is purposefully visible in the furniture with the charcoal burnt cork present at the base.

Related: Faye Toogood Teams Up With Birkenstock for a New Range of Cork Furniture and Footwear.

Every aspect of tactility and inclination was carefully considered, as the Made in Situ team elaborates. “These pieces invite one to experience the material transition at every angle. The distances between the vertical blocks impede or favour the passage of light, a movement ever-present in structure and stillness. This tension in perpendicularity is the expression of the collection. The horizontal culmination of all the pieces reveals their use, softly inviting interaction with the human body.”

The stool, the smallest piece of the collection best crystallizes the essence of the collection. Perched on three legs, it gradually morphs from visibly burnt cork into an organic top. Each piece playfully balances the structural rough blocks of the base with the soft fluidity of the uppermost surface, architecturally juxtaposing the vertical and horizontal planes.

| The article Burnt Cork Furniture Collection by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/noe-duchaufour-lawrance-burnt-cork-furniture-collection/

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Oyster farms are visible off the coast of Cancale, France. Known as the oyster capital of Brittany, this three-square-mile (7.3 km) area produces roughly 25,000 tons of oysters each year.

See more here: https://bit.ly/36h9fV3

48.664616°, -1.845052°

Source imagery: Maxar

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Those who had the chance to visit the Spanish island of Majorca know why many writers, poets, painters (including Joan Miró) and travellers throughout history have been so fascinated by the beauty of its nature and the mildness of its climate, combined with the richness of its craft traditions.

This was a recipe for happiness for the owners of this two-storey villa made of geometric blocks with white facades. They established their summer residence in Palma, and trusted the duo behind Krakow-based Paradowski Studio to elevate the house’s interior spaces to something that would honour the spirit of Majorca.

Known for mixing elements from different periods and intersecting art, contemporary design and craftsmanship, Zuza and Piotr Paradowski followed this approach through this project. Modern, vintage and Mediterranean references intertwine to create a soothing atmosphere, which encourages relaxation.

Related: Lover’s House in Majorca by ISLA Architects.

With its plaster walls and a fireplace with pure lines created in collaboration with local craftsmen, the living room, which occupies the ground floor and connects to the kitchen and dining room, opens up to a spacious terrace with a saltwater swimming pool and a garden with fruit trees and aromatic herbs. The private spaces are located on the upper level.

Minimalist on the outside and warm on the inside, this peaceful home features a neutral and natural palette of colours, materials and textures — including muted white, beige, grey, wood, linen and limestone — inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Carefully sourced by Zuza from around the world, the furniture and accessories comprise a sofa from the 1960s with a jacquard upholstery pattern; a coffee table with a curved top and veneer finish; a Philipp Mainzer stool; a modernist chairs from the 1920s; a monumental dining table by Henk Vos; a midcentury style, Danish desk; contemporary Italian, Dutch and Spanish designs; and vintage pieces such as the bamboo console table and pair of brass lamps with bamboo shades, which adorn one of the three bedrooms; among others.

As a way to give tribute to Majorca’s culture, Paradowski Studio introduced artworks and objects by local artists, such as the painting by Jaume Roig in the living room and ceramics by Joan Pere Catalá Roig (Jaume’s older brother) in different areas of the house.

An invitation to live a dream, this light-filled home is a mix and match of influences that seamlessly come together, making anyone want to stay here much longer than a summer. Once more, Paradowski Studio did its magic.

Related: FNL Apartment in Warsaw, Poland by Paradowski Studio.

| The article PDM Holiday House in Majorca by Paradowski Studio. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/paradowski-studio-house-majorca-holiday-house-pdm/

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Key West is an island and city in the Straits of Florida, USA. It is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States and the westernmost island connected by highway in the Florida Keys. The island, which is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, has a population of approximately 25,000 and was visited by 2.25 million tourists in 2016.

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24.564635°, -81.815648°

Source imagery: Airbus Space
© CNES 2020, Distribution Airbus DS

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Something magical is happening at Lasvit. Stories are being told through stunning light and glass installations. Traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation are being pushed to the limits. Creative collaborations are redefining techniques, materials and forms.

A new era of glassmaking is upon us and Lasvit is leading the way.

The Czech lighting brand, founded in 2007 by Leon Jakimič, is shining a spotlight on Bohemian glass and is on a mission to bring it into the next millennium. Since its beginnings, the company has grown rapidly and purposefully, fuelled by a desire to combine old techniques with cutting-edge innovation.

Living Edge has supported Lasvit for over six years, bringing its extraordinary collections to the Australian market. Through a shared vision with Lasvit for inspiring pieces that reflect the identity of their origins and celebrate the ultimate artistry, Living Edge provides their lighting collections, suitable for a full range of applications, where the only limit is one’s imagination.

Lasvit’s exceptional custom lighting installations and ready-to-shine collections are scattered across thousands of locations, from hotels, public spaces and cruise ships, to private residences and yachts.

Related: Via Lucis by LASVIT at Palazzo Serbelloni in Milan.

Glass House is Lasvit headquarters on Palackého Square in the Czech town of Nový Bor, designed by Czech architects OV-A, founded by Štěpán Valouch and Jiří Opočenský. This project regenerates the region’s glassblowing tradition and restores precious historic buildings, with a cleverly designed master plan that accommodates old and new, traditional and innovation with the addition of two spectacular buildings, one entirely clad in glass tiles.

Glass tile cladding detail from Lasvit’s headquarters. Wowzer. Over 1,400 custom glass tiles were used for the facade. A system was devised so the tiles can be removed and reused on future projects.

The glow-at-night- Glasshouse is the hero of Lasvit headquarters in the Czech town of Nový Bor, designed by OV-A.

Lasvit’s commitment to glassmaking is palpable and their striking headquarters in Nový Bor in Czech Republic is a testament to their dedication and passion. The project by OV-A is an absolute knockout, comprising several restored buildings. But the glasshouse clad in custom glass tiles is the major showstopper.

Inspired by the surrounding slate roofs, the façade is a tribute to the town’s glassmaking roots and Lasvit’s devotion to the medium. Over 1,400 custom glass tiles were used for the facade and a system has been devised whereby the tiles can be removed and reused on future projects.

“We chose a house used by glassmakers as long as two hundred years ago, and breathed new life into it — a life intertwined with glass and with the roots of this traditional craft in this area, showing how traditional materials can be transformed,” explains Jakimič.

Lasvit collections include contemporary creations in glass and crystal by renowned designers including Nendo, Zaha Hadid Design, Kengo Kuma and Yabu Pushelberg as well as a string of local Czech designers.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the exceptional ready-to-shine collections to hit our shores, available in Australia exclusively through Living Edge. Shall we?

SPACEY BY LUKÁŠ NOVÁK

Lukáš Novák with one of the elements of his Spacey light designed for Lasvit. Spacey has two variations – Eclipse and Supermoon – named after the most distinctive sphere in the constellation. Eclipse refers to the dark night accent in the dark sphere, while the Supermoon accents the light one.

Czech designer Lukáš Novák discussed Spacey in the middle of a forest in Northern Bohemia. To capture the beauty of the universe, Novák picked the shape of a sphere and made use of an old technique called “lithyalin” – a technique popular in the 19th century. Pieces created by “lithyalin” look as if they were sculpted from gemstones. Throughout the centuries, the technique was almost forgotten until recently.

When we gaze into a telescope we want to discover and connect with the incredible beauty of the universe. We’re humbled and inspired by what we see, but the moment is fleeting and feels so out of reach. Spacey chandelier with its spherical, celestial forms brings the universe to us. Its gravitational pull is undeniable.

It was designed by Lukáš Novák who was born in the prominent glassmaking town of Nový Bor (where Lasvit is also located). He blew his first glass bubble at the age of four, but admits that he tried to resist glass for a very long time. In the end, he fell in love with it and he now sees glassmaking as a way of expressing emotions and stories through forms and composition.

Novák chose a sphere to capture the elemental beauty of the universe and used a technique called lithyalin to create a swirled, gemstone-like appearance. The technique has been around for centuries but was resurrected in Nový Bor 200 years ago. Pieces made by lithyalin look as though they have a marbled surface interwoven with veins of contrasting hues.

Spacey has two astrological variations: Eclipse and Supermoon. Both are an intricate balance of four spheres, but Eclipse has an accent in the dark sphere, while Supermoon accents the light one.

With Spacey, we are more than just spectators looking through the eyepiece of a telescope, we can bring a piece of the universe into our homes, offices, hotels and public spaces.

 

PRESS ICED BY NENDO

Press Iced pendant designed by Nendo for Lasvit has a crackled glass texture created through three rounds of heating. Look closely and you might be fooled into thinking the glass has been shattered into a million tiny pieces. 

Watch Marek Effmert, LASVIT R&D Glass Specialist, talk about the manufacturing process behind the Press Iced special “crackled” finish created in the glassworks in Northern Bohemia.

Lasvit is renowned for their collaborations with international artists, architects and designers to create breathtaking works of glass. Glass that not only reflects the history of Bohemian glass making but is also at the forefront of multidisciplinary design.

Press Iced is a partnership with Japanese design studio Nendo who have upgraded the design of their Press Lamp with a completely new crackled finish. Look closely and you might be fooled into thinking the glass has been shattered into a million tiny pieces.

This lamp has universal appeal with its simple yet original design. In fact, Nendo pursued simplicity over extravagance, aiming to highlight the practical beauty of everyday craftwork. The light comprises a glass tube pressed together as if pinched around the top of a light source to hold it in place. The collection was first launched in 2012, and is now available in a floor lamp and pendant lamp.

In the latest “iced” version, the surface of the glass has a crackled texture created through three rounds of heating. With each round, the hand-blown piece is rolled in wet sawdust, then heated in the furnace and finally cooled in a bucket of water. The moisture creates tension on the surface making the glass crack and the heat seals it to make the piece whole again. To minimise waste, the product is made of sustainable materials and uses workshop wood offcuts for the sawdust used in the process.

Crackle is one of the oldest glassmaking techniques that helped hide flaws, faults and bubbles. But with this new collection, it’s been transformed into something intentional, artistic and noble.

 

GLOBE METRO BY CYRIL DUNDĚRA

Globe Metro Pendant by Cyril Dunděra for Lasvit is inspired by Prague’s coloured metro tiles.

Prague’s coloured metro tiles are so iconic they serve as a reference for the Globe Metro collection by Czech furniture and interior designer Cyril Dunděra. The hand-blown Bohemian crystal glass chandelier is made up of a series of concave indentations, much like the ones that form the rows of aluminium tiles designed by Czech architect Jaroslav Otrubato in the 1970s to distinguish the stops of Prague’s underground train system.

“These specific tiles are something that most of us see every day in the familiar environment of the metro stations. They symbolize a part of Prague’s urban architecture and are, most importantly, a beautiful piece of design,” says Dunděra. “I wanted to emphasize the smooth form within these tiles so that others can get a feel for its beauty too.”

The light source itself is Art Deco in style, reflecting interesting patterns through the indented glass surround. The entire pendant is elegantly suspended from the ceiling by a modest wire.

Although the 400mm-diameter ball is made of borosilicate glass, it is also metal-coated and comes in two different iridescent finishes – rainbow blue and iris. According to the designer, The best light pattern appears when you look right into the centre of the extruded hemisphere. “Then you will see a perfect ring of light,” adds Dunděra.

Globe Metro was designed to fit into any interior and will make an impact with its unique shape and colour. It would be perfect for intimate or large spaces as a stand-alone piece or as part of a clustered set.

 

CIPHER BY YABU PUSHELBERG

Cipher collection by Yabu Pushelberg for Lasvit is reminiscent of intricate, foreign objects from outer space.

Cipher is a collection of crystal lighting that is reminiscent of intricate, foreign objects from outer space. The table lamp stands tall like a spacecraft or capsule, while the pendants are like roving satellites or bursting cosmic shapes.

Yabu Pushelberg, one of the most recognized design firms in the world who are perhaps best known for their remarkable hotel interiors, teamed up with Lasvit once again to create the collection which contrasts heritage techniques and contemporary form. Its delicate hand-blown crystal cylindrical pieces are cut with clean, clear lines. “The surface decoration was influenced by our fascination and exploration of the way in which etched patterning catches the light,” the designers explained.

Light emanates from the polished champagne-gold connection points and light sources are cleverly hidden inside these joints. The radiant quality is soft and dispersed but the lights also cast the most extraordinary star-shaped shadows across the room.

“We wanted to celebrate the inherent beauty of cut crystal and the versatility of textures. We looked for ways to create different qualities of light. The form began as an extruded hexagon, but its edges were ultimately softened and smoothed to create cylindrical forms,” said the design studio.

With endless configurations, the Cipher collection is exceptionally flexible and customizable. It is perfect for considered private residences, hotels and bespoke installations projects.

For more information on Lasvit’s remarkable lighting collections in Australia, visit livingedge.com.au/lasvit.

 

| The article Light With No Limits: Lasvit Collections Illuminate with Love, Light and Glass. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/lasvit-collection-living-edge-lighting/

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Today is Independence Day in the United States so we wanted to celebrate the beauty of the National Parks in America. This Overview gallery includes:

1. Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone / Wyoming
2. Everglades / Florida
3. Glacier Bay / Alaska
4. Crater Lake / Oregon

In total, the United States has 62 national parks which cover a total area of roughly 52 million acres. We take great pride is the varied, awe-inspiring splendor of these natural landscapes and cherish that we have made a point to protect them. What’s your favorite national park?

Source imagery: Maxar

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Playful and minimalist sensibilities collide in this home for three generations in Mumbai. With organic shapes and theatrical flourishes, The Act of Quad (AoQ) has designed an interior that feels intuitive, teetering between the peculiar and unconventional.

Combining two separate apartments in a high-rise building in Ghatkopar, the interior encompasses four bedrooms, an open layout living and dining area, a kitchen, a mandir (temple), a study, a family room and home theatre all across 325sqm. The layout is adapted to cater to every family member, with multi-use objects and dynamic spaces encouraging a catalogue of unexpected activities.

Related: Futuristic Craft: Sequel BKC in Mumbai, India by Ashiesh Shah.

Inspired by the client’s alignment to Japanese aesthetics, a refined, minimalist and textural palette has been adopted throughout the interiors, curating a soft and calm atmosphere. While largely dominated by a natural palette, deep hues of orange are injected throughout offering a vibrant contrast to the muted scheme.

An entrance foyer with quaint fluted pleats on the wall and a surreal steel chair hint at the eccentric style of the home. Reminiscent of dreamlike digital renders, defined geometric shapes, oversized arches and distinct column silhouettes in striking colour act as simple yet elegant features, softening the severity of the minimalist architecture.

A geometric maze of tiles and dynamic furniture traverses the open floor plan, allowing programs to overlap, intersect, and bleed into one another.

“There is a sensitivity that clearly weaves itself throughout the design, each decision, whether it be spatial arrangement and material choice, custom furniture detailing or handmade art pieces, have been meticulously resolved to achieve this form based soft geometry,” add Priyanka Itadkar and Falguni Bhatia, the design duo behind AoQ.

“Earthy colours were chosen for the entry passage, sitting in contrast to the warm and neutral tones of the ceiling, wallpapered walls and marble floors. The whole interior is conceived as a highly tactile experience –an opportunity for the practice to experiment with design solutions, while seamlessly combining functionality with form,” they continue.

Highly graphic and emotive, most art and furniture has been designed and made on site by AoQ. A wavy sliding partition in a mango gradient becomes a key feature subtly separating the living and dining areas while across the room a bent white handmade sculpture in the living room stands out against the subdued textured kemtex walls and semi sheer curtains.

Energetic and dynamic the layout was determined by need and daily practice rather than convention resulting in a unique and highly personal family home. With smooth outlines and rounded shapes, the interior ultimately pays homage to contemporary femininity, intimacy, delicacy and authenticity.

| The article Playful Mumbai Apartment by The Act of Quad. appeared first on Yellowtrace. |

https://www.yellowtrace.com.au/the-act-of-quad-mumbai-apartment-interior-design/