2Modern Design Talk - Modern Furniture & Design Blog

Porchscapes

"Porchscapes", one of the 2008 Progressive Architecture Award winners, meshes the tight budgetary constraints of affordable housing with the delicate ecology of a natural wetland.   Designed by the University of Arkansas Community Design Center, this 43 unit development gets its name from its use of porches, which act as outdoor foyers between the private space of the house and the shared public spaces.  Special paving materials and landscape features were designed to control the flow of rainwater from the roofs and off the streets, allowing it to be cleaned naturally.    The special attention paid to the landscape and its mix of hardscape/softscape elements, makes it an integral part of the housing project, rather than an after thought.

Hanging Around

Perhaps it's just the rebellious renter in me, but I really look forward to the day that I can drill some holes in a wall and hang paintings and prints and anything else that happens to take my fancy...a new study perhaps.

Or a full height bookcase for all those first editions I haven't yet purchased.

Or perhaps somewhere to store my grandmothers fine china.

 I'd probably change my mind a lot though, so the more flexible the better.

It would have to be solid timber though. Either walnut, maple or solid white oak.

And nicely detailed, but timeless. And if I want to move across the country, or even the world, I want it to come with me. 

So when the day finally comes that I can drill into walls without upsetting a landlord, this modular furniture line from Atlas will be right at the top of my wish list.

More information here.

Lomography Pop 9 Camera

Don’t carry nine cameras around. Grab this Lomography Pop 9 camera and embrace the Andy Warhol in you. The Pop 9 instantaneously transforms your environment into miniature explosions of pattern-repeating artistic dynamite. Although fun, funky don't expect the power and creative control of a digital SLR or anything. Still pretty cool:)

The art of Dan May

Surrealism is not dead! and the artwork of Dan May is the prove of that.  He is an American artist (born in NY city, but he lives now in Atlanta), who use to paint the creatures of him dreams.  That's why his work is so fantastic, full of magic environments, soft lights and very creative main figures.

Take a look to this amazing pictures.  He get this fabulous soft texture because he paint over wood (bamboo), not canvas.  So if you are interested in watch his art at live, you better visit the  Copro/Nason Gallery, where it will be the exposition call: "Slow Collision". The opening will be at February 7, 2009.

Anyway if you can't visit the exposition, you can visit the artist's flickr page.

Via Notcot.

Nature's Furniture

  A bench, ottoman and table reminiscent of the forest.

MyUrbanGardenDecoGuide.com and Fawn and Forest  

stereo cabinet-shaped music box.

While searching for something fascinating to share, I discovered this music box. I was captivated by the attention to detail the craftsman paid to this little stereo cabinet music box -- which plays "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady. It has book shelves, complete with book facades! And, just as you think it couldn't possibly get any cooler, the top of the cabinet opens to reveal a set of mini records. So sweet!

Creative Sushi

I seem to eat a lot of sushi around this time of the year. After recently looking for a new place to explore, I was reminded of the beautiful sushi art of chef Ken Kawasumi.

Ken Kawasumi has pioneered the culinary art of transforming the simple sushi roll (maki-zushi) into an intricately designed masterpiece. He is famous for his kazari maki-zushi and his Van Gogh’s Sunflowers with sushi is pretty amazing too!

Antwerp Port Authority

Zaha Hadid Architects will be designing the new headquarters of the Antwerp Port Authority. The building is expected to be completed by 2013 with construction costs estimated at 31.5 million euros not inclusive of architect fees and taxes. Wow! I am constantly impressed with the designs that come out the Zaha Hadid Architects studio. 

What say you?

 

Read more on this project on bustler

Woody

How amazing is this laptop case by Rainer Spehl?! It is made to house a 15" Macbook and Macbook Pro with leather lining and a magnetic closing device. This might be the sleekest thing I've seen in a while.

Learn more about it here.

via

--sdotg--

Is it weird to want to eat a bench

I saw this online and fell in love.

Via http://www.ibelieveinadv.com/2009/01/kit-kat-bench/

I guess it is in London. I was thrown off by the slogan, "Have a break, have a KitKat." Where's the"Give Me a Break" we all know and love?

Also, did you know that in Japan Kit Kat's are incredibly lucky things that people eat before exams? It's true, I read it in Buyology, a must read for anyone into...well, buying.