The Ruins of Detroit
I’m very excited to be visiting Detroit for the first time, so I went back to look at the incredible photos taken by Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre for their book The Ruins of Detroit. It’s hard to believe that they could exist in 21st century America, although if you’ve seen The Omega Man, with Charlton Heston cruising a trash-strewn deserted downtown Los Angeles in a convertible, it doesn’t seem so farfetched. Along with Soylent Green and Planet of the Apes, a great triple-bill of Heston starring late sixties/early seventies cheesy (in a good way) post-apocalyptic sci-fi.
On a more positive note, there is a lot of exciting urban renewal and creative activity going on in Detroit that I’m looking forward to checking out, such as the Russell Industrial Center, a massive former factory complex that has been converted into a hub for artists, craftsmen, designers and small manufacturers.
Underground Trompe-l’oeil
Here’s a subversive use of trompe-l’oeil. Berlin based artist EVOL created the illusion of an underground city in a meadow outside Hamburg for the MS Dockville Music & Arts Festival.
Moby on LA Architecture
I’ve always found Moby to be an interesting character, although I must admit I haven’t listened to any of his music since the late 90’s. I had him pegged as a diehard Lower East Side New Yorker, and was pleasantly surprised to read in the New York Times last year that he had moved to Los Angeles and bought a funky house in the Hollywood Hills. I was even more surprised to learn recently that he loves architecture and has a blog called Moby Los Angeles Architecture.
Blogging on a rare building by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (owned by Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo) to a seedy Hollywood motel, and everything in between, it’s clear that he has fallen hard for Los Angeles and it’s unique architectural splendor. Great insights into what makes LA such a fascinating and vibrant city that is so often maligned, yet sadly misunderstood.
Check out his interview by Dwell Magazine LA editor Frances Anderton on KCRW.
Fact or Fiction?
Well, some of both actually. Belgian photographer Filip Dujardin digitally assembles photos of buildings, creating hyper-real architectural images. Intriguing, and a little unsettling.
Design Exchange
Housed in the former Toronto Stock Exchange building, the Design Exchange is Canada’s National Design Museum and Centre. A non-profit educational organization committed to promoting greater awareness of design as well as the indispensible role it plays in fostering economic growth and cultural vitality. Through their programs, exhibits, lectures and workshops they build bridges by improving communication between various design disciplines, educators, businesses and the general public. Right on!
Browsing through their extensive program guide, two that stood out were the Canadian High School Design Competition and Design Camp for kids. How cool is that?
On a recent visit I picked up a mortar and pestle from the shop and checked out the Stephen Burks: Man Made exhibit. Unfortunately, the main exhibit hall was closed for installation, but the staff was kind enough to give me a private viewing of the library, which houses the permanent collection of Canadian design. I especially liked the Clairtone G2 Stereo from 1966 (top center). Having admired it in the book The Art of Clairtone: The Making of a Design Icon, 1958-1971, it did not disappoint in person. It’s gorgeous, and those globe speakers on each side are the bomb.
Mies Meets Deco
Here’s the 1937 Art Deco former Toronto Stock Exchange building (now the Design Exchange, more here) surrounded by the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed Toronto-Dominion Centre. The first of the six towers in the complex was built in 1967, and this tower, the last, was built posthumously in 1991.
What an interesting juxtaposition of styles that both trace their roots to the early twentieth century. It’s hard to ignore the symbolism of the bigger International Style high-rise engulfing the Art Deco structure, in vogue for a much briefer period.
I think it’s great that they were able to preserve and incorporate the Art Deco building, which has the world’s first fluorescent light fixtures and is significant in it’s own regard. However, I suspect that Mies van der Rohe wouldn’t approve.
Bordeaux Vintage
The design skills of interior architect and antiques dealer Florence Lopez and her husband, architect Patrick Hernandez, make a great pairing. Case in point is their exquisite bedroom in a converted wine warehouse in Bordeaux.
Florence introduced sculptural vintage furniture, including a Hans Wegner lounge chair, Arne Jacobsen desk chair, George Nelson desk, Alvar Aalto floor lamp, and a Le Corbusier storage unit, into the raw concrete floored space. For me, what puts the space over the top is the amazing Gio Ponti headboard in teal against the dark chocolate (with notes of plum) wall. Luscious.
Chic & Cozy
This room by French decorator and furniture designer Jean Royere is a stunner. From the 1950’s, his use of textural materials and simple graphic contrast create an environment that is both chic and cozy.
From Galerie Chastel-Marechal via You Have Been Here Sometime
