Kaleidoscope
Apr 15 2014

LA’s Contemporary Art Scene

15/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: Art, Design, Event, Gastronomy

Flocks of Coachella go-ers are LA bound, either to fly out or kick on. In the interests of ensuring these revellers remain well entertained, and concurrently inspired by their western migration, I’ve uploaded contemporary artist Patrick Martinez‘s Comprehensive Guide to LA, originally penned for Pedestriantv.com

Drawing inspo from street culture, his diet of ’90s hip hop and the neon signage around East LA, contemporary artist Martinez uses both his teenage graffiti skills and traditional painting techniques to bring beauty to things that aren’t considered conventionally beautiful. From neon signs that say “Thinking of a Master Plan” and “Pawn Your Dream for a 9-5” to reworking the ZX Flux by Adidas, Patrick’s work speak to an audience that grew up with street culture in their veins.

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Apr 14 2014

Buster + Punch London Restoration

14/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: architecture, Design, Interiors

An Edwardian-style Mews house in South West London has been emptied and rebuilt with incredible results.  Brought to life by Design Studio Buster + Punch, the 4-bed, multi-storey dwelling built vertically around a central wooden staircase has had many of it’s unique historical features lovingly restored.

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Apr 13 2014

Designer Egg Hunt

13/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: Art, Design, Event

An instagrammer’s dream, hundreds of two-foot-tall decorative eggs are spread around NYC waiting to be found across the Easter week. This artistic scavenger hunt created by Fabergé, features eggs designed by the likes of Jeff Koons, Julian Schnabel and Cynthia Rowley.

To take part, download the Big Egg Hunt app and start your search! *hint: there is one still sitting outside Jane’s Carousel.  

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Apr 09 2014

The Jane : Belgium

09/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: architecture, Design

Dutch Designer Piet Boon has transformed the interior of a former military hospital chapel, into a bright, airy and contemporary restaurant.

Antwerp’s newest addition The Jane is a cohesive blend of old and new. The ‘piece de resistance’ of the latter category is an oversized starburst-like chandelier, hung from the preserved original ceiling. The sculptural chandelier weighing in at a considerable 800 kilograms, was created for the space by lighting designers .PSLAB. It is made entirely from steel and hand blown crystal glass.

Piet Boon’s Amsterdam studio also collaborated with Studio Job artists on The Janes impressive interior. Paying tribute to it’s chapel origins, 500 colourful glass window panels were created to replace the former stained-glass. Inspired by “stories of good and evil, rich and poor, life and death” the replacement panels feature imagery of flowers, devils and skulls. Combining bold decor elements with the chapel’s high ceiling and restored patterned tiled floor, the restaurant is described by it’s creators as “fine dining meets rock ‘n roll”. Brilliant.

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Apr 07 2014

Ammo : Bar & Restaurant Hong Kong

07/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: architecture, Art, Design

Ammo, which won the Bars and Restaurants category at last month’s Inside Festival, is part of a new museum and headquarters for the Asia Society in Hong Kong.

This informed much of the aesthetic as designer Joyce Wang wanted the restaurant “to be dramatic.. many people would use the space to enter the museum as well as eat there. The arrival experience was very important to us,” she says. “Instead of conceiving of it as a museum café it became this lobby of arrival for the museum.” and with a waiting list of over 2 months to dine, lucky museum goers get to enjoy the space, albeit briefly, for the price at admission.

Interior designer Joyce Wang goes on to explain the history of the space, the process of the conversion from conception to completion, and the choices behind the furniture and fittings throughout, the majority of which are entirely custom made. “Practically everything apart from the lightbulbs [was custom designed],” Wang claims. “We didn’t want people to identify any of the furnishings, accessories or bits of furniture.”

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Apr 06 2014

The Monarch Room : NYC

06/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: architecture, Art, Design, Gastronomy

West Chelsea NYC is home to a brand new luxury dining experience. New York hospitality innovators Eric Marx and Lisle Richards of The Metric Group recently unveiled their first restaurant endeavour called The Monarch Room. In collaboration with interior design firm Roman and Williams, a 1930’s industrial era warehouse in West 15th Street has been transformed into a sophisticated Fresh Market American restaurant with Chef Michael Citarella at the helm.

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Filippo Rivetti: Tiny Sydney film

03/04/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: Art, Filmography

33 year old Italian expat Filippo Rivetti made Sydney his home after he fell in love with its unparalleled beauty. Ok, unparalleled beauty are my words not his, but I’m sure he’d agree with my creative licensing. It’s also my home town so if anyone knows how magic it is, it’s moi.

Rivetti has dedicated hundreds of hours capturing the essence of the city he fell in love with through the medium of film. The featured video Tiny Sydney, along with his film Time to Sydney are an exploration and exhibition of this picturesque waterfront city. Rivetti’s incredible tilt shift time-lapse shorts prove why Sydney is one of the greatest cities in the world.

If you enjoy the above, head to his website filipporivetti.com for more incredible filmography. At the very least, watch his homepage video. I guarantee it’ll be the best 3 mins of your day.

The world is truly magnificent.

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Tadao Ando’s Art & Design School

30/03/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: architecture, Design

The Centro Roberto Garza Sada, also known as the Gate of Creation, reads almost operatic. The school’s scale, defined lines, perspective and angular shard like windows are cohesive in their starkness and imposition.

Despite it’s lengthy scale, the Art & Design School for University of Monterrey settles onto it’s surrounding Mexican landscape beautifully. The repetition of concrete, line work and angles create a resounding aesthetic symphony and is a fitting habitat for the next generation of architects, designers and artists.

For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to frequent it, Tadao Ando’s creation has been documented by Mexican film agency Nation for our appreciation.

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Mar 29 2014

Iris Apfel: geriatric starlet

29/03/2014 | Comments: 0 | Posted by: Kate | In: Art, Design

Interior and Textile Designer, Fashion Icon and self proclaimed “geriatric starlet” Iris Apfel recently uncovered items she’d not seen in decades whilst spring cleaning her Queens storage facility.

“I just want to get my stuff out” she said in an interview with elledecor.com “I want it all to go”.  Enter the expert team of buyers at One Kings Lane, who stepped in to assist her let go of a few things, 800 things to be exact.

On April 5th, One Kings Lane will be selling Apfel’s accumulated fashion and decor possessions via their e-tailer. The best part about it is that the world renowned aesthete has already hand selected each and every item that is now up for sale, so you know there is going to be a fascinating and beautiful menagerie of items for your perusal.

Even if you don’t buy, it’ll be the most intriguing window shopping you’ll do this fall.

Here is an excerpt from Apfel’s interview with elledecor.com, to get you in the mood. 

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