Beirut.com posted these beautiful artistic graffiti found on the streets of beirut. An artist by the name of Ginane Makki Bacho has taken the issue of discovering local street art in her own hands. Although Lebanon’s walls are more known for political messages, I actually loved the colors and compositions in these specific works. You can check Ginane’s page and Beirut.com for more.
A collection of wine glasses by the name of CALICI CARATTERIALI were designed by Gumdesign based on “personality” types. This collection includes seven wine glasses with human characteristics: the introvert, the extrovert, the passionate, the altruistic, the ambiguous, the conservative, the relaxed. These experimental glasses were created for the Abitami show during the Macef home show in Milan taking place from September 8- 11,2011.
These are probably the most creative glasses I have come across, which is your favorite?
Last March, Foster + Partners were awarded the design of the new Kuwait International Airport. An event everyone travelling through the current airport was desperately awaiting. Architecture of Kuwait, a website dedicated to all architectural projects and news in Kuwait, shared these beautiful photos on their blog. I can say I am impressed , the photos speak for themselves. For more details and info check AOK .
Project Name New Kuwait International Airport
Client Ministry of Public Works
Designer Foster+Partners
Local Consultant Dar Gulf Consults
Status Approved- Design development
Source: AOK
Update details from Foster + Partners: (October 3, 2011)
“Kuwait International Airport is planned to significantly increase capacity and establish a new regional air hub in the Gulf – the project’s strategic aims will be matched by a state-of-the-art terminal building, which will provide the highest levels of comfort for passengers and will set a new environmental benchmark for airport buildings. Its design is rooted in a sense of place, responsive to the climate of one of the hottest inhabited environments on earth and inspired by local forms and materials.
The terminal has a trefoil plan, comprising three symmetrical wings of departure gates. Each façade spans 1.2 kilometres and all extend from a dramatic 25-metre-high central space. The terminal balances the enclosure of this vast area with a design that is highly legible at a human scale – for simplicity and ease of use there are few level changes.
To further aid orientation, the building is planned under a single roof canopy, punctuated by glazed openings that filter daylight, while deflecting direct solar radiation. The Industrial canopy designs provide shade to a generous entrance plaza and is supported by tapering concrete columns – their fluid, organic forms draw inspiration from the contrast between the solidity of the stone and the shape and movement of Kuwait’s traditional dhow sailing boats.
The project targets LEED ‘gold’ – it aims to be the first passenger terminal in the world to attain this level of environmental accreditation. The concrete structure provides thermal mass and the roof incorporates a large expanse of photovoltaic panels to harvest solar energy.
Foster + Partners has designed a flexible masterplan for the site, with the terminal strategically located to anticipate and enable future expansion. The airport will initially accommodate 13 million passengers per year, with the flexibility to increase to 25 million passengers and to accommodate 50 million passengers with further development.
Mouzhan Majidi, Chief Executive of Foster + Partners, commented:
“The scale of the airport shows Kuwait’s great foresight in recognising the benefits of strategic investment in future infrastructure. The environmental ambitions driving the project are equally impressive. We are pleased to have this opportunity to reveal our designs. The emblematic three-winged form will be as memorable from the air as from the ground – a new symbol of contemporary Kuwait, which resonates with its rich culture and history.”
Nikolai Malsch, a partner at Foster + Partners, said:
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Ministry of Public Works and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Kuwait on the planning and design of the new airport. We have established an excellent working relationship with our client – we have a shared goal to create a terminal that is an exemplar of sustainable design and will establish Kuwait as the region’s leading air hub.”
Notes to editors:
• The layout of the apron is generated by aviation forecasts and is highly adaptable, with 35 flexible contact stands in its first phase.
• Drawing on the region’s culture of hospitality and welcoming guests to Kuwait, the design establishes an elegant and memorable arrival sequence for passengers, which includes a baggage reclaim area surrounded by cooling cascades of water.
• The design also features a grand new landside access sequence from the south – close to the building, the landscaping is a lush oasis, with strands of drier planting and species native to the desert climate extending further away from the terminal.
• Inside, the different functions are arranged over three floors: departures, arrivals and baggage areas.”
No matter how well planned your vacation is, where you sleep could either ruin or take your experience to a whole new level. The people behind El Palauet Living focused on a new trend, flats instead of the “last year” boutique hotels’ concept. El Palauet Living is a group of flats that represent this new travel experience in Barcelona, Spain.
El Palauet Living consists of six suites constructed in a building dated back to 1906. Each suite is unique; no two are alike.
Since the building is over one hundred years old, there were many features that were kept and restored in the suites. Features such as stained glass windows, distinctive ceilings (45 different ceilings to be exact),and hallway moldings were kept and combined with modern elements such as iconic trendy furniture by designers such as Eames, Saarinen, Van der Rohe and Starck, amongst others. Colors used were monochromatic emphasizing the beauty in the details of the historic finishes and focusing on the beautiful furniture.
Checking their website, you will notice how much El Palauet Living emphasize luxury and great service, hence they offer guests a Personal Assistant to complete that sublime feeling of a holiday.
Check the photos below of their suites, spa, and outer terrace. You gotta love the luxury life!
The Tastings Room is a new addition to the heart of Singapore’s Central Business District, Marina Square with the fine combination of French/Italian bistro cuisine and wine cellar under one roof. The restaurant’s vision was to refresh the perception of wine and food culture in Singapore by providing them at affordable prices. The overall spatial experience sandwiches the crafted black volumes between two layers of industrial aesthetics: exposed ceiling and concrete screed floor, to juxtapose/merge opposing aesthetics of being sophisticated yet affordable.
The programmatic composition was divided into three areas namely Wine, Bistro and shared spaces of Wine/Bistro. A U-shaped band of these programs was deployed as it provided the most flexible layout with regards to shared functions, main circulation and points of entry/exit. The Central Bar sits firmly in the middle to negotiate the needs of both Wine and Bistro, as well as providing the point of sale for this establishment.The total floor area of 137 square meters has been divided percentage-wise into 7% for the ruby red wine cellar; 47% for the Wine/Bistro area which also includes the private function rooms, the storage staff area and the central bar and circulation space. The remaining 46% of the Bistro includes seating space and the kitchen.
Drawing inspiration from the outer aesthetics of the dark wine bottle and antique weaved wine basket holders, the outer skin of these volumes adopt a series of black diagonal tiles while the interiors are inspired by the “hidden” flavors of wine, taking on singular hues for rooms such as the red wine cellar and yellow kitchen.
You can now have your own “ Wellness capsule” at home, the Concoon by Wasserbetten, with only 20 minutes this home spa equipment will allow you to feel refreshed and rejuvenated.The feeling has been compared to floating and described as womb-like. Once inside, you lay on a water mattress and have your choice of relaxing sounds and color ambiance while being completely sealed off from the outside environment. It is as though you are really being taken to another dimension of space and time.
For technical details: Wasserbetten
After a whole month of fasting for many Muslims, today the first day of Eid falls. Whatever your traditions are and how you go about spending this day, I really hope you have a blessed Eid.
I hope the coming year will be better in every way for every one of you, may God bless us all with good days ahead.
Eid Mubarak, and remember life is back to normal now, so expect a season of work-overload ahead. Good luck and enjoy the holiday!
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