Mher Krikorian is a young talented photographer from Lebanon. I came across his work after following him on twitter and realizing his passion for what he does best, hang around Beirut and “Shoot with his Canon”.
His input is very touching, through his “Life is Awesome” collection, not only did he attach pamphlets with his own words, he spread them in a way that made passersby smile and even if for a moment, think of how “awesome” life is.
Named by The Guardian in its 2008 list of the World’s ten best bookshops, El Ateneo in Buenos Aires captured the awe of tourists and book lovers alike because of its grandiose architecture.
Built in 1919 by an Italian architect in the eclectic style, the theater entertained Buenos Aires for a decade with top-tier tango concerts, before it was converted into a popular cinema. In 2000, the building was leased by a publishing house and found new life as a bookstore. The amphitheater’s former 1,050-person seating area now contains El Ateneo’s 120,000 book titles. The beautiful central dome retains the original Romantic-style frescos by Italian, Nazareno Orlandi celebrating the end of the First World War.
Architecture firm Scott Brownrigg have completed phase 1 of the 40,000 sq ft London office of internet search engine Google, with a giant logo in the lobby forming doorways through the two Os. Designed with a Brighton beach theme, the interior is filled with dodgem cars used as work spaces, red telephone booths, beach huts and giant dice. Wallpaper in the meeting rooms and video conference booths is printed with seaside imagery.The space also includes a gym, spa center and restaurant offering free meals for the 300 strong staff.
As with many other Google offices worldwide, the office has a strong local theme. Joe Borrett and Jane Preston from Google, working with the Scott Brownrigg Interior Design team chose a theme of London-Brighton and as a result many iconic elements of both are incorporated into the office design.
Brightly colored timber beach huts are meeting rooms and giant colorful dice accommodate individual video conference booths, original dodgem cars and traditional red telephone booths are all work spaces available to staff and visitors.
In addition to visiting the lovely Maison & Objet in Paris last month, one of the other highlights of my trip was spending time with my best friend at Sephora. We made it a regular stop during our few days there just to make sure we didn’t forget anything. After shopping around for eyeliners and eye shadows I remembered I needed loose powder, I usually buff it over my foundation for a matte finish. On my way to the Makeup Forever stand, I came across Bare Minerals and remembered how I heard a lot about mineral makeup before. Then my curiosity made me check out their products.
Don’t get me wrong, I am totally against smoking in all forms. However, when you live in the Middle East you get used to the idea that many people plan their entire outing around the availability of the “Narghileh , Argeeleh, or hooka ”, if you boycott that, you might end up going out alone. Due to its “social aspect”, restaurants and cafes have been making it an integral part of their menus. Some even are dedicating a whole menu to its flavors. Since it has a very down to earth image, many have been working on altering its image by creating very stylish ones such as the Lebanese concept “Café Blanc”, I always thought they had the best looking narghile’s until I came across Airdiem at Maison et Objet last month.
In spite of all the non-smoking campaigns all over Europe, I was shocked with the number of smokers in France, and especially the large number of narghile users in the cafes on the Champs Elysee. Airdiem is a French company and the world’s leading manufacturer of today’s narghiles_ Over the past 4 years Airdiem and its team of international designers has brought a totally new approach to a product which is over 500 years old.Among their designers is the famous Nedda El Asmar who works for renowned names as Hermès, Puiforcat, Royal Boch, Eternum, Gense, Villeroy & Boch, Robbe & Berking, Obumex, Vange and Carl Mertens.
France has a tradition of producing the most outstanding narghiles and put the product on the world stage with designs by Baccarat and Saint Louis in the late 19’" century. Airdiem’s research and design team have created a modern version to suit demanding customers demands and lifestyle. Stable levels of heat are at the heart of the matter, their research and development teams have engineered a unique burner and selected materials that guarantee the constant flow of heat.
Airdiem are the suppliers for narghiles for luxury hotels and restaurants in the region. In Kuwait they are working with Missoni Hotel which will officially open very soon. Their product uses only high end finishes and has numerous accessories.
Let me know if you need any additional information.
Austrian chef Kurt Gutenbrunner opened his newest restaurant inside Swarovski’s 5,000-square-foot concept store in Soho last November. Café Kristall spread across two floors , is suitable for entertaining clients or small groups and is now available for rental for private events.
Clean and modern, the site has high ceilings, sleek beige furnishings, and white walls embellished with patterns made with Swarovski crystals. The dining room seats 24 in an open, airy space with a nine-seat bar. Downstairs, black-and-white photographs of stars like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe decorate the walls of the lounge, which doubles as an event space, holding as many as 60 for receptions. Groups of as many as 100 can buy out both floors; no rental fee is required, but there is a food and beverage service charge.
Gutenbrunner’s menu covers breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and includes items like weisswurst with sweet mustard and a warm pretzel, red beet terrine with horseradish mousse and organic greens, and apple strudel.
70 Mercer St., New York, NY 10012
Telephone: 212.240.9557 Ext.10
Source: BizBash
Ehrlich Architects have won first prize in the international design competition for the Federal National Council’s ‘New Parliament Building Complex’ in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The entry beat out a number of internationally recognized firms including Foster + Partners, Massimiliano Fuksas architects, and Zaha Hadid Architects.
The New Parliament embodies the unique identity of the United Arab Emirates: a modern society moving boldly into the future while retaining a strong connection to its history and traditions. “The New Parliament Building Complex will balance Islamic Heritage with U.A.E.’s global contemporary aspirations, where modernity and tradition are in harmonious balance,” explains Ehrlich Architects’ Design Principal, Steven Ehrlich, FAIA, RIBA. “The architecture for the FNC’s new home will communicate its increasingly vital role in the lives of all United Arab Emirates citizens.”
The winning entry for the new Parliament building melds familiar Arabic design language with contemporary form and the latest technological advances, creating meaning, maximum functionality and environmental sustainability. The design is anchored by a striking 100-meter-diameter dome structure, a soaring “flower-of-the-desert” which will create a shaded micro-environment while casting Islamic patterns of dappled light onto the white marble Assembly Hall.
The flanking Parliamentary buildings that house the majority of the offices, meeting halls, and visitors’ program, abstract the colors and textures of desert sand; the exterior expression of these structures is indebted to local historic buildings. In total, the complex will be a proud landmark for public gatherings as well as a model for conservation of the region’s precious resources.The site of the new Parliament conveys its significance as a public institution. It is located on Abu Dhabi Corniche, one of the grand processional boulevards in the country’s capital, where important civic events and celebrations take place. Facing the Arabian Gulf, the body of water shared by six of the seven Emirates, the new FNC complex will establish a governmental face at the seafront. Its dome will be visible for miles across the water and will glow dramatically at night.
Source: designboom & Ehrlich Architects
Project info via designboom
Client: Federal National Council, United Arab Emirates
Design team: Steven Ehrlich, Patricia Rhee, Noah Marble, Guelsah Kuecuek, Laura Hudson, Jackie Park, Won Jin Park, Yimon Lim, Zhong Huang, Jules Hartzell, Ann-Christine Pineiro (graphic design)
Local architect: Godwin Austen Johnson
GAJ design team: Jason Burnside, Brain Johnson, Isabel Pintado, Branka Saric, Christina Morgan, Tzumei Steward, Cormac Lynch, Iain Stewart, Angelita Alves, Aandrew barley, Alberto Bolonos, Simon chambers, Pallavi Dean, Bharani Dharan, Graeme Fisher, Ian Jorolan, Hallam Lowmass, Mehrnaz Mohamadloo, Shounak Patne, Jacinda Raniolo, Vic Raymond Tanedo, Vinodh Vellapan, Jason Ward
Landscape architect: Valleycrest Design Group, Michael Braden
Structural engineer: Gifford
MEP engineer: Scott Wilson Group
Quantity survey: Baker Wilkins & Smith
Renderings: Biolinia
Model: The Model Shop
As much as I was looking forward to discovering new brands, rediscovering the well known ones and checking what they have been up to was even more intriguing. The experience at Maison & Objet2011 was amazing, almost anyone who has been to their previous fairs admitted that this year the traffic was higher. People are eager to discover what’s new. Among the stands I visited are Christofle, Bernardaud, Lladro, Baccarat, Antolini, Guaxs,PTMD, and THS whom introduced a new line of mixers designed by Daum. Enjoy the photos, still more to come.
Powered by WordPress
