breathtaking.

 images via designboom


Riverside Clubhouse - Yancheng, China
Architect: Hua Li / Tao (Trace Architecture Office)

This was too breathtaking not to post up.

The inner battles of an architect

fuksas

image via Steve King - Environment II Introduction Slides

Architects are an interesting bunch of people. I'm often high torn between the workings of my creativity and my logic, and I think its fair to say that all architects struggle with this. This quote by Massimillano Fuksas descriptively puts the job of an architect and the definition of architecture relative to an ordinary building in a neat little package. One may not understand the importance of Fuksas calls 'alchemy', but rest assured that architects using their design, control how a people feel and move in a space. Depending on the 'tenants' request and the purpose of the building, the architect finds creative ways to make the person feel in a way suited to it.

I'm a sucker for maps, especially maps that reveal how and what one thinks. I'm borrowing one drawn by a lecturer of mine of The Heuristic Design Process because it's epic. Treating the y axis as "The Final Design" and the x axis as time. You have to start somewhere, and it's usually way off the final design, however the only way forward is by asking "what is wrong with this?". Every directional change represents the rationalisation of creativity. Since this is creativity we're talking about, there is not only one way to design something well, hence the start of a new y axis.

 

She and Him - Why do you let me stay here?

I wouldn't mind recieving...

House: Rhythmdesign - House in Iizuka
Shirt: Ann Demeulemeester - Classic Shirt
Watch: Uniform Wares - 250 Series
Necklace: Petitor - Sideways Cross Necklace
Shoes: Via Spiga - Christina
Skirt: Ann Demeulemeester - Asymmetric Skirt with gathered front

Birthday tomorrow. Yay for having lived 20 years. Tomorrow marks the day I enter into the limboland of ages created by the tension between the oldness of hitting the second decade and the youngness of being younger than 21.  

There are many things i've spotted that could have some serious wearing action over the past couple of weeks. Since I don't have a white shirt in my wardrobe yet, I recently purchased the Ann Demeulemeester Classic Shirt on sale even though my love is for the Wrapover Front Shirt. The Wrapover Front Shirt is definantly an admire from afar piece for me, I admire the way it looks on the model, but it would definantly not suit my larger physique, and moreso because it's white! I'll see how the shirt fits when it arrives.
 
I've also been on the hunt for a simple black sandal, not too high with a larger heel so it's wearable to work and also out. The heel issue is quite an important factor since I find it close to impossible to not look like the pitiful women who hobble, a well learnt lesson being that very girl at my Year 12 formal. It's proving to be a tough task! but the Via Spiga - Christina is the best candidate at the moment with the See by Chloe - Leather Sandal following close behind. 

The watch pictured above is sold from Dezeen, an epic architecture and design website which is very enjoyable to browse through. 

The guy sitting on the garbage bin would make an excellent cartoon character me thinks...

 

run through the moss in high heels

I went slightly book crazy during the last two months of 2011, there were quite a few ANY 6 BOOKS FOR $50 sales and the logical thing to do was make the most of it and go halves with a friend, ended up doing 2 rounds of halves in Newcastle and Melbourne.

Towards the end of November I was working full time in the city near The Galleries and would occasionally visit Kinokuniya (on the top floor next to Ichiban Bochi which is a great place for ramen). For a couple of weeks, every time I was at the book shop I would find myself reading From Here to There by Kris Harzinski which is a collection of maps from the Hand Drawn Map Association so after about the 4th visit I gave in and bought the book. I enjoy looking at the maps, it's inspiring to see the many different ways of expressing how to get from a to b. Especially the conceptual maps like the Emotional Map pictured above.

Whilst in Newcastle, I randomly bought the Stonefox magazine which happened to be only in its first issue. The paper feels amazing, the pictures are beautiful (like the one above of Dion Lee's sterling silver Crown of Thorns from A/W11) and the articles are interesting.

 

First Aid Kit - When I grow up

I promise I have a reason for dancing on the kitchen bench!



Image via designboom



'House in Hidaki' designed by the Suppose Design Office is a two storey private dwelling that snuggles into the natural landscape such that being seated in the living room, your eyes just skim the surface of the ground outside. Internally on the ground floor, there is a play on the function of floors/walls/tables/shelves/seats as one strangely ascends to the first floor via what appears to be a table from the ground.

The section is quite beautiful, a reflection on the house where double storey voids let's the lower space breathe and holds a sense of luxury. Equally as beautiful is the exquisite detailing, from the white concrete table top and oak floors respectively mimicking the colour of the houses' structural blocks and the dirt to the white walls and railings warmed up by the white oak timber flooring and framing.

There's so much to learn from Japanese architects!

 Gypsy & the Cat - Jona Vark

Thinking in the wrong direction

- Tocca - Z Coat

- John Pawson - Design Museum

Living in the southern hemisphere and favouring the colder weather saddens me during this time of the year. It makes perfect logical sense that autumn and winter are by far the better seasons for when you are cold you layer up, however when you are hot there are only so many things you can take off! With that being said, I stumbled across Tocca and their super fine Z Coat in Virgin Wool and thought how lovely it would be to invest in it. Is it too early to start thinking about Autumn/Winter?

John Pawson is an amazing architect, I really enjoy the way he plays with white walls and exposed concrete and his extremely clean lines. I constantly use his works as inspiration to my designs.