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10 of the most unusual homes in the world

Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:15pm

slimmest housetransparent houseFlintstone housesquare metre houseDelightfull, a lighting company, has compiled a list of 10 homes that have an unusual characteristic. From the world's slimmest house to a replica Flintstones' house, it has them all.

The collection is a series of 'homes' that have been designed and built with a unique idea behind them, including a 1sq.m house (not sure how you could really live in there),  a fully transparent house and our favourite, a house with a giant slide.

Take a look at the full list here.
Tagged architecture, design, unusual homes, Creative, Space, Top 10

Payphones become time machines in Manhattan

Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:13pm

Recalling 1993Recalling 1993In New York City a project by Droga5 in collaboration with the New Museum has allowed inhabitants to listen to the sounds and memories of 1993. 

Part of an exhibition which highlights 1993 as a year of change for the city and the world titled "NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star," the payphone experience gets users to call a special number from selected phones across the city, which in turn allows them to relive that location in 1993.

The phone project titled Recalling 1993 is a huge undertaking, using tour guides and locals to re-tell stories, and is the first use of the payphones whose future is facing some speculation since the age of the smart phone.

An interactive map of the payphones included can be found here. Below is a video outlining the project.

Recalling 1993 from Droga5 NY on Vimeo.

Tagged Experiential, art, project, payphone, New York, New Museum

Minimalist ballet posters increase attendance

Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:12pm

Charleston BalletCharleston BalletCharleston BalletCharleston BalletWhen designer Gil Shuler was asked by a friend to create a series of posters for the Charleston Ballet company's 2012-13 season, he felt they should head in an opposite direction to previously.

The company used to feature principle performers as the centrepiece for their posters, now the focus is on the feet.

The simple and seemingly effective new deisgn has the point shoe, a classic article of ballet clothing, as the focal point of the posters.

The response so far has been positive for the company with an increase in ticket sales and Shuler had been asked on many occassions for reprints.
Tagged Gil Shuler, Charleston Ballet, graphic design, design, advertising, marketing

Google Chrome experiment creates perfect time-waster

Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:12pm

chrome mazechrome mazechrome mazeGoogle's latest innovation in time-wasting fun is the Chrome World Wide Maze, and it isn't an April Fool's joke.

Coming from Japan, it is a browser experiment that turns any Web page of your choosing into a 3-D maze. You guide a marble via a smart phone synced with your computer (and, of course, installed with Chrome for Mobile for this to work properly). The aim is to collect 'power-ups' whilst completing the maze, and avoiding falling off.

The mobile-phone-as-game-controller idea has promise and isn't much different from the Wii U's current setup. It isn't the first time Google has played with this idea previously releasing Chrome Super Sync Sports and hopefully won't be the last.

Take a look at the promotional videos below.



Tagged Google, Chrome, World Wide Maze, Super Sync Sports, time-wasting, game, fun, marbles

Heinz creating a noise with Beanz

Wednesday, 3rd April 2013 at 5:11pm

Heinz BeanzHeinz BeanzHeinz BeanzWe're sure that most of you will be familiar with the childhood rhyme that gives the adage of beans being a musical fruit, now Heinz are playing on that with some deluxe flavours.

The 5 special flavours, will be available from London's Fortnum & Mason in a special pack which includes a themed bowl and a special spoon that will play music or sounds whilst you eat.

The spoons contain a special MP3 player with pre-recorded sounds that can only be heard whilst eating through vibrations that travel up the jaw-bone to the ear.

Each flavour has a distinct sound associated with it, be it an Elgar ditty played with a cheese wire or the sound of rustling garlic skins. 

The special edition bowls are also tailored to the unique flavours which includes, cheese, curry, barbecue, garlic and herb, and chili. 
Tagged Heinz, Fortnum And Mason, experiential, marketing, special edition, innovation, Beans, product

VW advert aims to catch the fast-forwarders

Thursday, 28th March 2013 at 9:16am

VW slowmercialIn a world of DVR recorders, Sky+ and TiVo it's becoming harder for advertisers to reach their audience as many record their shows just so that they can skip the adverts.

In an attempt to tackle this issue head-on, DDB Brussels has produced a special TV ad for Volkswagen that when fast forwarded still works as an advert.

Given the moniker 'slowmercial', this new format features the VW beetle convertible in action, mainly closing the roof. At normal speed this could almost be painful to watch were it not for the relaxing birdsong in the background, but at a fast forward speed the ad works well.

The advert is only presently only being shown in Belgium but you can see it below.

It is a clever concept but does it impact upon the effectiveness of the normal speed ad, after all you cannot bore people into buying a product1

Tagged Sky+, TiVo, DDB Brussels, Volkwagen, advertising, innovation, marketing, TV, creative, VW, Fast forward

PuLSaTe pop-up installation

Thursday, 28th March 2013 at 9:02am

pulsatepulsatepulsateArchitects Lily Jencks and Nathanael Dorent have been commissioned by Capitol Designer Studio to design a unique pop-up installation in London called PuLSaTe.

Using Marazzi’s SistemN tiles, from a range stocked by Capitol, they fitted out a showroom in Primrose Hill to create PuLSaTe, a pop-up installation that will not only show off the uses and colours of the tiles but also provide a cultural hub.

The zig-zag design, along with sloped floors, plays with your perception. Benches built into the walls of the installation become a consumer experience like no other. The pop-up installation on Chalcot Road, opened on the 21st March and will remain open, running a variety events including workshops, until 27th October 2013.

Take a look at a video about the project below.

Pulsate from STRIPE on Vimeo.

Tagged Lily Jencks, Nathanael Dorent, PuLSaTe, Capitol Designer Studio, Marazzi, SistemN, Pop-up, installation, architecture, design, tiles, interiors, creative

British architects to work on stadiums for Rio 2016

Thursday, 28th March 2013 at 8:45am

rio2016rio2016rio2016Two British architecture firms who worked on projects for London 2012 have successfully been chosen to design stadia for the next Olympic Games.

3DReid and AndArchitects have been chosen to work with local companies to design and build venues.

3DReid has recently been working on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games arenas, whilst AndAchitects has a long list of work with lower league football clubs.

Whilst the games will take place across 4 different areas of Rio, the companies will be focused on one area, which is the master plan of international firm AECOM. This section is vital for the games legacy as it will be be transformed in the years after the games into athletic training centres and a mix of public spaces and buildings for residential, commercial and office use. 

Watch the outline for the plans in the video below.



Rio 2016 Olympics from James Shaw on Vimeo.

Tagged London 2012, Rio 2016, Olympic Games, Architecture, design, legacy, AECOM, 3DReid, AndArchitects, Glasgow 2014, Commonwealth Games

Interactive mimicking art

Thursday, 28th March 2013 at 8:20am

Angle mirrorAngle mirrorDaniel Rozin's Mirrors seem to be pretty normal sculptures until you take a step closer, then they shift to mimic you. 

Currently exhibiting at Bitforms in New York until the 6th April, his 'mirror' pieces shift the patterns formed on them to mimic the viewers shape in real-time. This is done via cameras that detect shapes and cause the LEDs to change the pattern on the screen. Whilst not recreating a persons image perfectly, the screen will copy movements made until the person steps out of range.

The exhibition, called Angles, features some of the artists other kinetic work, which also interact with their surroundings and work on a principle of merging the geometric with the participatory.

Tagged Daniel Rozin, Bitforms, exhibition, art, sculpture, interactive, experiential

Why men need their own shampoo

Thursday, 28th March 2013 at 7:41am

Dove men+ careDove men+ care
It appears that in Brazil using a woman's shampoo can have strange side-effects, at least that's what we gather from this ad for Dove Men+ Care made by Ogilvy & Mather Brazil.

In this humorous commercial see what happens when a work colleague uses the wrong shampoo.

Definitely an odd one but worth a watch below.

Enjoy!


Tagged Dove, men+ care, shampoo, ogilvy & mather, brazil, video, marketing, advertising, funny, viral

New London listings service – This At There

Tuesday, 26th March 2013 at 8:37pm

This At ThereIt's Nice That, which publishes exciting, original and engaging work from both established names and talented newcomers, has produced a new listings service for London.

Called This At There, the listing service is a re-invention of their old 'whats-on' focused currently on Art and Design events in London. The listings are put in order of when they finish, so hopefully you won't miss the shows you really want to see.

They are looking to roll it out worldwide eventually with more cities being added later this year, but by keeping it London focused will allow them to keep on top of it for now and work out any teething problems.

You can find out more about the new service here.
Tagged Design, Art, events, shows, exhibitions, This At There, It's Nice That, London, Listings

Goat is new brand ambassador for Mountain Dew

Tuesday, 26th March 2013 at 7:20pm

Mountain Dew GoatMountain Dew GoatMountain Dew has released a new and strange ad featuring the star of a recent viral craze; the goat.

The viral craze in question was the funny but slightly disturbing "
Goats yelling like humans" which was then mashed into a number of pop songs.

Thankfully this ad doesn't feature any singing, but the goat is screaming like a human, although more like an irate customer than a pop star.

The American commercial is directed by Tyler, The Creator, the leader of hip-hop collective Odd Future, and he also produces the vocal talents for Felicia.

Not completely sure what the messaging is here but the crazy nature of the advert is in line with what the company normally produces and it promises sequels.

Watch the advert below and let us now what you think

Tagged Goat, Mountain Dew, Tyler The Creator, video, advertising, marketing, funny

Jane Drew prize winner 2013

Tuesday, 26th March 2013 at 6:58pm

Eva Jiricna Eva JiricnaEva JiricnaEva JiricnaThe Architect's Journal's jury has selected their winner of the 2013 Jane Drew Prize as Eva Jiřičná. By an unanimous vote she won the award "for her outstanding contribution to the status of women in architecture".

The Czech-born architect is based in London, after studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, starting her career with the Greater London Council followed by  the Louis de Soisssons Partneship. She then set up her own practice with David Hodges in 1982 and from there she began to be recognised for her work.

She rebranded her firm in 1985 to Eva Jiricna Architects, then in 1988 completed her flagship store for the Joseph fashion label, where it is said she "reinvented the idea of retail"

Jiřičná, who is also famous for her steel and glass staircases, was part of the inaguaral judging panel for the prize in 1998, which was created to honour Dame Jane Drew, who died in July 1996 and was an English modernist architect and town planner.  

She recieved her prize at a special luncheon held in London on the 22nd March. Read an arctile about the awards here.




Tagged Jane Drew, 2012, Architect's Journal, Eva Jiricna, Academy of Fine Arts Prague, Architecture, Awards, Design

Christo's big air package

Tuesday, 26th March 2013 at 6:55pm

Big Air PackageBig Air PackageBig Air PackageBig Air PackageBig Air Package from Christo opened this month at the Gasometer Oberhausen, Germany. 

It is reported to be both the largest inflated frameless envelope and the most expansive indoor sculpture ever created.

The 90 meter high inflatable boasts a volume of 177,000 cubic meters and uses 20,350 square meters of semitransparent polyester fabric as well as 4,500 meters of rope. Despite lacking a skeleton the 5 ton form fills the interior of a former gas tank.

Christo describes the experience as 'virtually swimming in light' as a result of the vast expanses of fabric, lit from above via skylights in the Gasometer.

Filled with diffused natural daylight and muffled sounds it becomes a place of tranquility.

The project runs until 30th December 2013.

Photos: Wolfgang Volz © 2013 Christo
Tagged Christo, big air package, gasometer oberhausen, Jeanne-Claude, art, design, sculpture, innovation, installation

Clouds inside create silver-lining for artist

Friday, 22nd March 2013 at 9:33am

Indoor cloudIndoor cloudIndoor cloudDutch artist Berndnaut Smilde controls the weather and creates beautiful indoor clouds with the help of a smoke machine and dramatic lighting.

The fog machine emits dense vapour / smoke that makes contact with sprayed water and forms a small white cloud.

Smilde, who lives in Amsterdam, said he wanted to make the image of a typical Dutch rain cloud but inside. ‘I imagined walking into a classical museum hall with just empty walls,’ he said. 'There was nothing to see except for a rain cloud hanging around in the room. I wanted to make a very clear image, an almost cliché and cartoon-like visualization of having bad luck. Indeed there's nothing here and bxxxxcks, it's starting to rain!"  

The few people who have seen the clouds in person should consider themselves very lucky; each cloud only exists for a moment before dissipating.  

To document the clouds Smilde photographs them; the only proof of their existence if a viewer misses them.  

The first exhibit, called Nimbus, was created by Smilde in 2010.  

Watch videos of the creation of the clouds below.



Tagged Art, innovation, creativity, sculpture, clouds, indoors, experiential, exhibition, Dutch, artist, Berndnaut Smilde

Fiat's 'The Fatherhood' follow-up is new romantic music video

Thursday, 21st March 2013 at 10:40am

FatherhoodFatherhoodFatherhoodIn a follow-up to their 'The Motherhood' video, Fiat has released 'The Fatherhood'.

Similar to it's predecessor, The Fatherhood focuses on a father in a musical fashion, singing about the trials and tribulations involved with being a new dad.

This time around though, the concept is that the father is taking his young twins out in the car to try and get them to sleep, whilst doing this he reminisces about his youth and being "a new romantic" cue the Human League style music, and video, complete with outdoor settings, smoke and a unicorn.

One of the best lines would definitely be about him dancing at their wedding as way of revenge.

Once again the idea of the video is to promote the family friendly nature of Fiat's 500L series.

Watch the video and let us know what you think, but be warned it is rather long.

Tagged Fiat, the fatherhood, 500L, funny, video, marketing, advertising, motherhood

Planters resemble miniature sustainable buildings

Wednesday, 20th March 2013 at 11:48am

ienamiienamiienamiienamiWho wouldn't want to get their hands on this planter series called ienami.

Designed by Japan-based studio Metaphys, these fun planters are made to look like miniature buildings (ienami refers to a row of houses in Japanese).

Inspired by minimalist style buildings with roof gardens, these contemporary micro homes look good with delicate plants like soft mosses and small succulents.

Alley, Plaza, Tunnel and Zig Zag are the four designs included in the collection.
Tagged Design, interiors, architecture, creativity, planters, innovative, Metaphys, ienami

Bus stop with a window seat

Tuesday, 19th March 2013 at 3:21pm

SASSASSASWe've all been stood waiting for a train or a bus wishing we could be somewhere else; perhaps a beach in Spain, visiting the vineyards of France or even taking a gondola ride in Venice. Scandinavian Airlines has played on this idea and created an amazing experiential bus stop ad.

The campaign was designed to promote the 16 new destinations that the airline has started to fly to.

A bus stop in Oslo was fitted with a digital screen and a mock airplane window. When the shutter on the window was closed and re-opened a new scene was displayed, with the view being of one of the 16 new destinations.

A clever way to advertise and encourage people to book that next holiday. Watch a video highlighting the campaign below.

Tagged Advertising, marketing, experiential, airlines, video, digital, interactive, creative, Scandinavian Airways

Long live paper

Tuesday, 19th March 2013 at 11:36am

le treflele treflele trefleIn a clever add by French toilet paper company Le Trèfle, the fight between paper and digital reaches a pivotal point.

In the spot a married couple are depicted with the husband constantly trying to prove that his tablet is better than traditional paper, for drawing, doing sudoku and reading books. However his wife takes it to another level!

Clever and funny from Leo Burnett Paris, have a watch below.

Tagged Marketing, advertising, video, funny, le trefle, TV, creative, Agency, viral

ME Hotel has Theatreland glamour at its heart

Tuesday, 19th March 2013 at 9:35am

ME HotelME HotelME HotelFoster + Partners has designed their first flagship hotel, where everything from the shell to the interiors has been designed by the practice. 

The ME Hotel, which opened earlier this year, is a brand new luxury hotel built occupying a triangular site in the Aldwych Crescent area of London.  The 157-bed hotel seamlessly integrates with the restoration of the adjacent 1904 Marconi House, whose interior has been completely restructured to provide 87 apartments.  

Clad in Portland stone, the hotel was built to the same height and scale as its neighbour, and despite having a modern feel, is still in keeping with the surrounding area. An elliptical tower on the corner of the building, which defines the end point for the Aldwych Crescent, is topped by a glass cupola – a contemporary reinterpretation of the Edwardian-style domed roof across the street. The glass cupola houses the penthouse suite for the hotel, with an impressive 360-degree panorama of the city, including views of the river.  

Guests arriving at the hotel pass through a ground floor lounge with accompanying public restaurants and bar before ascending to a dedicated hotel lobby with a champagne bar on the first floor, all housed within a nine-storey high pyramidal space, encased entirely in white marble.  

On the tenth floor is the hotel’s rooftop terraces, which are an urban oasis, with the Radio Rooftop Bar offering views of the river and Westminster skyline. The 5-star hotel also boasts versatile conference suites, a gym and a luxury 25-seat screening room.

Find out more on the project page.

Tagged ME Hotel, Aldwych, London, The Strand, design, architecture, Melia, Hotels, Luxury, Foster + Partners

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