Bvlgari London, un indirizzo intimista.

La terza proprietà alberghiera della Maison Bvlgari, un palazzo londinese di Knithsbridge, si rivela un elegante pied-à-terre firmato dall’architetto italiano Antonio Citterio, per un vero e proprio lusso d’autore.

All’interno le fotografie dell’hotel richiamano l’immagine di un luogo grandioso, ma è puramente intimista. Gli equilibri degli spazi sottolineano le giuste proporzioni. Partendo proprio dalla lobby si ha la sensazione di essere all’ingresso di una residenza privata: sedute basse e  tavoli in marmo costellano gli ambienti addolciti da tende in panno colore grigio lucido che ammorbidiscono l’atmosfera. Le colonne ricoperte da lastre nere fanno da eco ad un suolo riflettente; vasi monolitici alti un metro e venti, sormontati da ortensie, assorbono la luce di qualche rara vetrina da esposizione ed al contempo mascherano i volumi.

Intimista, dunque, l’indirizzo londinese che conta 85 camere. Dopo la prima apertura a Milano nel 2004, seguita da quella di Bali nel 2006, l’hotel di Knithsbridge è perfettamente inserito nell’elegante quartiere che lo accoglie: 39 suite e 7 penthouses da 250mq, accentuate da colori atonali e grandi sale da bagno immacolate, sono dotate di sauna individuale, un richiamo alla prestigiosa spa, diventata ormai un vero e proprio culto per la Maison Bvlgari, caratterizzata da mosaici oro e verde acqua e muri di pietra gessosi. In seguito troviamo il Ristorante, tempio della gastronomia italiana, delineato da una grande scala a spirale dai tratti modernisti, avvolta nello spazio da montanti metallici.

Un anacronismo nel secolo in cui i brand di lusso giocano al rilancio, dove il tempo è il vero lusso. Ovunque gli interni focalizzano il punto di vista sulla passione per il design e non sul marchio di gioielleria. Per ultimo, il bar si scopre come un enorme volume ellittico, pronto ad accogliere calici e bottiglie di champagne che richiamano le creazioni storiche firmate Bvlgari.

Possiamo davvero dire che Antonio Citterio per questo progetto ha avuto carta bianca.

Design sull’acqua

Essenziale, dinamico, scenografico, con una tecnologia celata da una veste minimalista e “pura”.

Una scelta estetica fuori dal comune ma innovativa, destinata a far parlare molto di sé. Il tutto mettendo ai primi posti anche il comfort, le prestazioni e la sicurezza della navigazione.

Ad interpretare un nuovo concetto “visivo” di motoscafo è un’azienda che ha sede in una nazione europea cinta dalle Alpi e priva di sbocchi sul mare: l’Austria. Il costruttore di cui stiamo parlando è Frauscher, un’azienda che per realizzare la sua ultima creazione ha cercato di miscelare il meglio. La qualità professionale delle persone coinvolte nella progettazione dell’858 Fantom non lascia spazio a dubbi. Un mix di tecnici e designer in grado di far nascere quello che la Casa descrive una “fata morgana” che sfreccia sull’acqua. 

Thomas Gerzer è il geniale progettista Frauscher a cui si devono modelli di successo come il 717 GT (barca europea nel 2010) e i più recenti 1017 GT e Lido. Harry Miesbauer - con collaborazioni all’attivo anche per Luca Brenta, Wally e Maxi Dolphin – ha invece progettato la carena che permette al Fantom 858 di scivolare sull’acqua garantendo una navigazione morbida e confortevole anche alle alte velocità.L’aspetto puramente estetico è opera invece del team KISKA, famoso studio di design austriaco. Presentarli è necessario per capire l’origine di questo motoscafo. A loro si deve il design degli interni dei più recenti modelli Audi e lo stile “tagliente” e geometrico dei modelli di grande successo della Casa motociclistica austriaca KTM.

Il loro lavoro non ha ignorato quelli che sono gli “stilemi” delle barche Frauscher (come il bottaccio a forma di Z in acciaio inox sulle fiancate, il grande parabrezza privo di cornici o l’enorme coperta di prua in teak) rinnovati dai tocchi innovativi e caratteristici che fanno dell’858 Fantom un modello d’avanguardia capace di reinventare il design dei motoscafi. Quest’imbarcazione, che può ospitare 7 persone, ha un ottimo livello di motorizzazioni “base”: due i propulsori V8 disponibili da 300 CV a benzina o gasolio, potenza che permette al motoscafo di raggiungere i 40 nodi. Velocità che può arrivare ai 48 se a motorizzarlo sono i propulsori più potenti da 8.2 litri da 430 CV. A richiesta possono essere installati, tra gli altri, un’ancora elettrica in acciaio inossidabile, un bow thruster per facilitare le manovre di ormeggio, un bimini di facile utilizzo e un sistema audio BOSE.

L’858 Fantom sarà presentato ufficialmente al pubblico italiano al prossimo Salone Nautico di Genova 2013 dal Cantiere Nautico Feltrinelli, importatore esclusivo della Frauscher in Italia. 

The Tamdeen Group Headquarters

Tamdeen Group’s new 55,000 square foot corporate headquarters was initiated under the aegis of architectural firm RTKL International. However, due to the global recession, RTKL’s Corporate Interiors Group in Los Angeles and Chicago were dissolved. It was then decided that Yvonne Colacion would continue to lead the project through completion. This was a natural decision as Colacion was the Vice President of Corporate Interiors at RTKL’s Los Angeles office, and had developed a rapport with and understanding of the client. The success of any design project is largely about professional chemistry between the owner and/or owner’s representatives and when this works, the momentum stays in place. Colacion completed the design of the corporate offices; with the client team and relationships well-established, this transition was smooth and effortless. 

In early conversations with the Tamdeen Group on the topic of branding this prestigious real estate development company, having a creative understanding of integrated real estate commercial development, and the enhancement of communities, was critical. Having just completed a fairly involved brand analysis with the brand specialist FITCH, Tamdeen Group’s concept of its brand was well in place.

The design needed to reinforce their brand and mission statement but also needed to be authentic to the Tamdeen Group’s visionary perspective of the retail experience in the Middle East, as well as its thriving commitment to the firm’s surrounding community. Colacion Studio focused on creating a three- dimensional physical space, which translated the Tamdeen brand both internally and externally. It was important to this client that the physical space be both dynamic and charismatic, as well as celebrate the firm’s cultural heritage. 

In addition to celebrating the Tamdeen Group’s commitment to its community and history, there was also a need to celebrate its diverse workforce—creating a tapestry, through design, of the world’s leading international professionals. Tamdeen Group not only has local presence in Middle East real estate development, but also has a true international reach into the retail world. Despite the trend towards virtual retail centers via on-line communities, people in general still desire a need to come together and share information in a corporate setting. Planning work environments today for agile and dynamic businesses such as the Tamdeen Group need to include a keen observation of not only full-time work environments, but diverse work styles, as well. Work station modules and quantities were designed to meet this future need. 

With Colacion Studio’s translation of the brand, coupled with the changing evolution of work and play, the firm created a planning and design approach which spoke to each person’s individual work persona, and community persona -- all of which reinforced the diverse cultures within Tamdeen Group. It was this approach, which assisted the firm in creating a visually exciting and dynamic environment celebrating the firm’s eclectically cultural workforce. 

The geographical location of the headquarters also inspired Colacion Studio’s final design of the interiors. In order to take advantage of Kuwait’s desert sun, Colacion incorporated a large skylight to bring daylight into the space. The sun’s heat was strategically filtered through various methods, including the installation of a synthetic mesh window shade in a conference room, specialized UV films on the skylights and large windows, as well as a suspended screen of honeycomb aluminum on the ground level, which partially veils the top flight of the teak and steel stairway. Also, to evoke the feeling of being in a desert oasis, the firm thoughtfully added a vertical garden wall in the ground-level reception area, as well as two more stacked garden walls in the double-height atrium, totaling a 20-foot high lush green feature wall. 

Colacion Studio creatively incorporated cultural elements of the Gulf region throughout the 55,000 square foot space, by featuring traditional Arab geometric patterns (custom designed by Colacion Studio) on various surfaces and textiles; as well as artful Arabic script, which was used as signage in several spaces.

New Room Mate Pau hotel in Barcelona by architect Teresa Sapey

A Spanish chain founded almost 10 years ago, Room Mate opens its second establishment in Barcelona with Room Mate Pau. Its philosophy: ‘the best way to travel is to visit friends in each city…‘

That’s the spirit for which Italian architect Teresa Sapey was called upon, asked to work on a hotel concept both friendly and stylish.

Located in the heart of Barcelona, just next to the emblematic Plaça de Catalunya, the Room Mate Pau invests, in a resolutely contemporary writing, a building that was completely renovated in 2012 and preserves its protected façade.

Graphic, colourful, playing with shapes and volumes, the fitting-out of Teresa Sapey spreads across the 66 rooms of the hotel with a special mention for the ‘Executive’ category, which has a terrace with an outstanding view of the city…

pau.room-matehotels.com

www.teresasapey.com

 

House Design Ideas

Modern, Big and Extravaganza are the 3 word that perfect to describe this modern house design called Sassuolo House which was designed by Enrico Iascone Architects. Located in Sassuolo, Italy, this crib features modern minimalist design-both in exterior and interior, without lack of comfort, although the entire wall finished in dark color.

First time we entered this house, we would amaze by the living room’s interior. So cozy and welcoming, warm and spacious. The living room assembly with high fashioned living room furniture. The designer create more private area for the living room by using lower level for gathering area, and higher for the home library. The house also has indoor pool that adds serene atmosphere to the room. So inspiring crib ever!

iPhone Ordered Barista Coffee from a Faucet: The TopBrewer Coffee Maker

Yes, you did read that right, and no, this is not an amazing, unattainable and loftily aspired-to concept product. The Scanomat TopBrewer is a living, breathing, milk-frothing, espresso-dripping piece of fully-automatic and stainless steel genius. The elegant, cleanly arching faucet and sculptural bean supply are the only visible parts of the quality beverage machine. The rest of the complicated parts are neatly tucked away beneath the counter.

The Brewer can create hot and cold beverages, dispense juice, froth milk and compile ingredients to form your favorite coffeehouse combo. For initiating brews, the unit includes a touch screen with a below-glass ordering interface. Or, if they're just that cool, users can send orders and commands via the iPhone. As if that weren't enough to make immediately run out to the proverbial store and get one of your own, the unit also boasts fresh water use and is self-cleaning.

The Scanomat TopBrewer fully redefines what we might ordinarily perceive as a coffee brewer. "All drinks are brewed to barista standards using precision grinders, tamper pressure, pump pressure and water temperature."

And how could I forget...
"Finally, the iPhone makes coffee." Thank goodness, no more interacting directly with machines. Now we can message our coffee maker—it will listen and reward you with a beverage of your liking.

This very well could be the pinnacle of human, technological greatness. Though we're not sure how much this amazing machine will set you back, since Scanomat has yet to release pricing or purchasing details.

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Malamegi Lab - concorso arte e design ISCRIVITI - it

Malamegi Lab - concorso arte e design ISCRIVITI - it