Azure-2013-7-8

awards of merit UnbUilt Competition ConCepts Project: NatioNal Music ceNtre of caNada, calgary firM: allied Works architecture, PortlaNd, oregoN teaM: Brad cloePfil, With chelsea grassiNger, daN koch, kyle loMMeN aNd daNiel richMoNd With its scooped-out volumes and its embrace of a historical building and a main city thoroughfare, the national music centre is monumental on every scale. nine glazed terracotta towers – inspired by grain elevators, organ pipes and alberta’s phenomenal hoodoo rock formations – will house a museum, a performance venue, a recording studio and a broadcast facility. The architects, allied Works architecture of Portland, also restored the adjacent 1905 King edward Hotel and incorporated it into the 14,865-square-metre scheme. under construction and slated for a 2015 completion, the centre has already earned some rock ’n’ roll cred by buying the rolling Stones mobile Studio, which is parked on site. alliedworks.com Unrealized ConCepts coNcePt: teNsegrity sPace fraMe light desigNer: Michal Maciej Bartosik, toroNto Buckminster Fuller may have popu- larized tensegrity (the structural integrity achieved by the interplay of compressed and tensioned building components), but lighting designer michal maciej Bartosik gives the principle an exciting and luminous new form with his modular lighting system, configurable as columns, beams and walls. made up of fluorescent lights, electrical wiring and a custom-built connector – just three parts that serve both structural and electronic func- tions – the Tensegrity Space Frame light employs a minimum of mate- rial for a maximum surface area. The possibilities are endless, running the gamut from single pendants to trippy, glowing mosaics that span entire facades. mmbartosik.com 52 jul ⁄ aug 2013 AZ AwArds AnnuAl azuremagazine.com

over a century of sweet dreams Vi-Spring were the inventors of the modern day mattress in 1901. Today we continue to set the standard for the most luxurious beds. Handcrafted with our patented support system and from only the finest certified natural materials, for perfect comfort. Why would you sleep on anything else? THE QUEEN’S AWARD Handcrafted in England since 1901 1.866.611.1199  [email protected]  vispring.com LONDON BERLIN PARIS ROME MOSCOW BEIJING NEW YORK New York Chicago Houston Scottsdale Los Angeles Toronto Calgary ABC Carpet & Home Chicago Luxury Beds Gallery Furniture European Home Vi-Spring on Beverly ELTE Cushy Life Nantucket Atlanta Dallas Las Vegas San Diego Ottawa Vancouver Dream Bed Nantucket Atlanta Mattress Cantoni Ergo Bedroom Le Dimora Cadieux Jordan`s Interiors Vienna (Washington DC) Miami Denver San Jose Halifax Winnipeg Victoria Urban Mattress Brickell Mattress Urban Mattress Sleep . Attica Furnishings Bricks Fine Furniture Jordan`s Interiors St. Louis Austin Boulder Irvine Fredericton Edmonton Edwin Pepper Interiors Urban Mattress Urban Mattress Cantoni Valley Ridge Furniture McElheran`s Fine Furniture

awards of merit unrealized COnCePTs ConCept: thonet ConCept bike Designer: AnDy MArtin stuDio, LonDon, u.k. evoking a Thonet bistro chair unfurled and refashioned into a bike, this concept was initiated by the german chair manufac- turer to see what else could be done with its distinguished steam bending process, which dates back to the ’30s. To build the prototype, British designer andy martin hand-bent the beech frame, then adjusted its final contours and joints using a cnc machine; he also custom-crafted a series of connectors and sprung rod supports. While he went high-tech with a pair of fixed wheels in carbon fibre, he eschewed a brake system altogether. no worries – this bike is sure to stop traffic. andymartinstudio.com; thonet.de a sTudenT WOrK + projeCt: thALie stuDent: juLie riChoz, ÉCoLe CAntonALe D’Art De LAusAnne (eCAL), switzerLAnD rendering stainless steel as delicate as a textile, julie richoz’s masterful tableware collection, consisting of a plate and two decorative bowls, is fabricated by chemically etching ultra-thin sheets of spring steel. The cut pattern forms a wheel of tendrils that richoz threads together, turning the 2‑D plane into a usable volume, one that speaks elegantly about the mer ging of industrial and artisanal craft. The pieces are now available through artecnica. julierichoz.ch a sTudenT WOrK + projeCt: essentiALs teAM: CArL eMiL jACobsen AnD DAnieL kowAL, koLDing sChooL of Design, DenMArk like two chefs preparing a sumptuous feast, masters students carl emil jacobsen and Daniel Kowal paid meticulous attention to detail in designing this collection that elevates the ritual of cooking. From the gunmetal cleaver and sickle to the stoneware bowl, they employed various innovative approaches to achieve a hybrid between ancient and modern techniques. They based their shapes on the Fibonacci series; chose such materials as food-certified bronze and porcelain; and realized some models with 3‑D printing. This fusion is exemplified by the steel knives, with their laser-cut blades treated for corrosion using acid from young apples, an ancient Viking method. carlemiljacobsen.com peopLe’s ChoiCe winner 54 jul ⁄ aug 2013 AZ AwArds AnnuAl azuremagazine.comazuremagazine.com

Inquire I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnsssssssssssssssspppppppppppppppppiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Purveyors of D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Innovative Textiles C.F. Stinson, Inc. 800.841.6279 cfstinson.com For more than 60 years, Stinson has inquired into innovative textiles that exceed expectations for design, quality and performance. Let your imagination soar with our latest discovery, Fit by Polartec : fi ve highly ® durable and comfortable knit textiles for commercial interiors. FEA , L–––R:R:R: AerAerere o, o, oo FleFleexxx F ,L FEATTTUREDUREDURR FEA , L 5/13/13 11:52 AM 06-13_CF_AZ_Falcon_ad.indd 1 5/13/13 11:52 AM 06-13_CF_AZ_Falcon_ad.indd 1

awards of merit A STUDENT WORK + Project: X-ScaPe team: aaron choi and diego Valencia, with brett berger, chriStine Phu, kim SteVenSon and faculty member PhiliP horton, arizona State uniVerSity Stained a deep fuchsia and topped in faux turf, this easy-to- assemble landscape of outdoor loungers provides respite from the hot sun for art and design students at arizona State university in Tempe. The lumber elements were shaped into gentle topographies and unique geometries and clad in oak ply- wood wedges cnc cut and hand finished to form a variegated surface. The courtyard setting incorporates planters for such desert trees as paloverde and mesquite and doubles as a per form ance space – should someone wish to stage a modern twist on Shakespeare in the Park. A STUDENT WORK + Project: food and energy team: arina agieieVa and dmytro zhuikoV, deSSau inStitute of architecture, germany in this ultimate farm-to-table utopia, two students seek to revive an industrial corner of Frankfurt with a symbiotic system of energy and food production. at its centre: a lush terraced greenhouse, which houses a restaurant that serves traditional cuisine. an energy- producing tower (a “pyrolysis gasification plant with cogeneration micro-turbine”) powers the restaurant; enveloped in a lattice- like metal frame, it features an observa- tion deck so visitors can view how this symbiosis works. it’s fuelled by wood from continuously replenished willow parks – public places with such amenities as basketball courts and fountains. This sustainable approach to urban planning would make eco-farming and green A STUDENT WORK energy a highly visible part of the city, + in a big and beautiful way. Project: VÁclaV haVel’S monument deSigner: libor Šenekel, technical uniVerSity of liberec, czech rePublic Submerged in the Vltava river, a 75-metre-long trough would pay poetic homage to Václav Havel, the czech playwright and politician who spent many of his 75 years battling communist oppres- sion. installed at a point triangulated between three Prague landmarks intrinsic to Havel’s life (the parliament, the theatre and his home), the volume would be drained by concealed pipes. intrepid visitors could hire a boat, row over to the monu- ment and step down into it, walking along the grate flooring to be at eye level with the river’s surface. Fourth-year student libor Šenekel proposes cladding it in green quartz so the water appears evenly hued, rather than frothy white, as it cascades over the edges. 56 jul ⁄ aug 2013 AZ AwArds AnnuAl azuremagazine.com

KEEP THEM TALKING! E X PA N S I O N N OW O P E N COLLECTIONS PRECIOSA CURREY & CO. GLOBAL VIEWS ARTERIORS HOME PHILLIPS COLLECTION HICKORY CHAIR VANGUARD FURNITURE VISUAL COMFORT FINE ART LAMPS CORBETT LIGHTING RALPH LAUREN MOTTEGA BROWNSTONE FURNITURE BELLE MEADE SIGNATURE JOHN RICHARD JONATHAN CHARLES REGINA ANDREWS STUDIO A NUEVO 255 Bass Pro Mills Drive l Vaughan, Ontario l Tel. 905 851 1188 l primalighting.ca

Real beauty speaks for itself. We could mention our custom burners that deliver a full spectrum of heat output from a tender flame to an intense blaze. Or reference the carefully handcrafted construction. But that’s not what makes the 48\" Pro Range a perfect centerpiece for your kitchen. It’s the fact that you don’t even need to know all this to fall in love with it. monogram.ca P26223_GE_APL_V13.indd 1 12-11-15 5:32 PM

203 AZ AWARD WINNERS FROM A BEE HABITAT IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK, TO A GREEN CITY PLAN FOR QATAR, THE  WINNERS OF THE AZ AWARDS COVER THE SPECTRUM IN SCALE, INGENUITY AND MINDBENDING BRILLIANCE. THEY ALSO EARN KUDOS FOR TAKING A HUMANISTIC APPROACH TO CHANGING THE WORLD  ONE GREAT IDEA AT A TIME AZ AWARDS ANNUAL JUL ⁄AUG

PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL

winner best Lighting Design FirmS: Schneider + Schumacher, Frankfurt; and Licht Kunst Licht, Bonn Team: Tanja Baum, Till Schneider and Michael Schumacher, with Thomas Möritz, Alexander Rotsch, Andreas Schulz and Mieke Van der Velden what the jury saiD: “There is a logic and beauty to the PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE it – not forcing it – into a gallery idea of taking sunlight and allowing space, and letting the time of day and seasonal changes be part of the experience.” – Todd Bracher, Todd Bracher Studio AZ AwArds AnnuAl jUL ⁄ AUg 2013 61

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN STÄDEL MUSEUM STÄDEL MUSEUM, FRANKFURT, GERMANY THE LAST THING YOU MIGHT EXPECT from a museum seeking to build a new wing and draw in crowds is a building that can’t be seen. Yet that’s what Schneider + Schumacher proposed for a new 3,000-square-metre gallery at the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany. Rather than erecting another structure, the fi rm suggested preserving the museum’s green courtyard and tucking the gallery below it. The main element that ties it all together is a grid of circles, installed into the garden’s domed concrete slab, which ushers sunlight into underground spaces. Dazzled by the illuminated concept, the museum rightly chose this ambitious scheme over proposals by such big-name fi rms as Sanaa and UNStudio. Beyond creating dramatic graphic e ects inside and out, the 195 sky lights serve a multitude of functions. Working with Bonn lighting engineers at Licht Kunst Licht, the fi rm designed them in two diameters: 1.5metres for the quad’s outer edges, and 2.5 metres on the central hill. Each skylight is topped in anti-slip ceramic frit, so visitors can walk all over them, and recessed to house sensor-activated mechanisms. On bright days, louvres block direct rays or go pitch black, to protect the artworks, while hanging spotlight fi xtures draw attention to particular pieces, and a stretch fabric di user scatters the light evenly. As well as giving one of Germany’s most prized museums a new gallery and conserving green space in the heart of Frankfurt, this project has turned the museum itself into a daring work of art. THE FIRMS Till Schneider and Michael Schumacher of Schneider + Schumacher have produced a stellar portfolio of public and private works since launching their fi rm in 1989. They now operate three o ces, in Frankfurt, Vienna and Tianjin, China. Licht Kunst Licht, formed in 1991 with o ces in Bonn and Berlin, has illuminated over 300 projects around the globe with both artifi cial and daylight plans. schneider-schumacher.de, lichtkunstlicht.com  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

people’s choice winner AZ AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 63

WINNER SIDEWISE BEST THE LAYOUT OF OPEN CONCEPT workplaces for up to three in-house workers or free- lancers on the go. tends to follow a familiar scheme: a vast, Every inch of this all-in-one system has FURNITURE wall-free desk environment surrounded been retooled to maximize functionality by boardrooms and o ces with doors for while taking up minimal real estate. It private confabs. What happens, though, SYSTEM when you need something in between consists of four main components: desks that can be adjusted to di erent heights; a for those one-on-one consults or a quiet moment to yourself? vertical console that slides out, providing To address this issue, Teknion brought hidden storage for coats, bags and fi les; in designers Christopher Wright and and a technology bridge that connects Steve Tsai of Figure3, a Toronto fi rm that every bit of work surface while tucking has already designed a handful of products cables out of sight. for the Canadian o ce furniture manu- The standout feature, however, is a facturer. Their latest line, Sidewise, is a soft yet tailored recliner with integrated brilliantly compact o ce system geared power and data access, which allows toward smaller, less formal workspaces workers to recharge both electronically  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

and emotionally. Flexible and aesthetically what the jury said: pleasing, Sidewise delivers a sophisticated option for ftting in some downtime while “Ofces are an evolving landscape, hard at work. and they are getting smaller, but THE DESIGNERS Christopher Wright is one Sidewise manages to do the oppo- of six principals who head up Figure3 in site, giving stafers a place where Toronto. The busy multi-disciplinary studio they can comfortably take a break DESIGNERS: Christopher Wright provides one-stop shopping expertise, from or interface with colleagues. That and Steve Tsai of Figure3, Toronto case goods design and consumer behaviour combination makes perfect sense.” maNufacTuRER: Teknion research to punchy retail environments, most recently seen in the new Simons store – Todd Bracher, Todd Bracher Studio at the West Edmonton Mall. Steve Tsai is a senior team leader with the frm and an expert in 3-D visualization. fgure3.com, teknion.ca AZ AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 65

WINNER BEST FURNITURE DESIGN DESIGNERS: Bruno Fattorini and Robin Rizzini of Bruno Fattorini & Partners, Milan MANUFACTURER: Extremis, Belgium MARINA TABLE AT FIRST GLANCE, Marina might not look that special. After all, a picnic table is one of the most primal dining options ever nailed into existence. But by harnessing the capabilities of contemporary manufacturing, designers Bruno Fattorini and Robin Rizzini have produced a table like no other. Made from pultruded fi breglass with powder- coated steel supports, Marina can in theory be produced to any length, so it can support outdoor parties on an epic scale. Because pultrusion manufacturing is a continuous process, wherein glass fi bres are pulled through a bath of polyester resin, the only length limit is the size of the delivery truck: as the tabletop grows longer, more supports are simply added underneath. The innovative Belgian outdoor furniture company Extremis o ers Marina in 20 standard lengths, from 1.65 to 12.1 metres. To maximize functionality, it comes with built-in benches or as a stand-alone table paired with matching captain’s chairs, also by Bruno Fattorini& Partners. For more seating options, a long table with shorter benches leaves space for a handful of chairs, including wheelchairs. Corrosion resistant and easy to wipe clean, Marina is now produced in white only, although Extremis plans to introduce fi ve new colours later this year. THE DESIGNERS Bruno Fattorini, founder of the furniture company MDFItalia, and Robin Rizzini, an industrial designer who previously worked with Keilhauer and MDFItalia, formed Bruno Fattorini & Partners in 2009. Since then, the Milan studio has designed furniture for a range of top European companies, including Zanotta, Poliform and Desalto. Its signature is simple forms combined with intelligent construction. brunofattoriniandpartners.com, extremis.be WHAT THE JURY SAID: “We liked Marina’s fl exibility: you can use it in many di erent situations, indoors and out. It’s an honest product, which is something the market needs right now.” –Giulio Cappellini, art director of Cappellini  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COMUREMAGAZINE.COM AZ



WINNER BEST PRODUCT DESIGN ARIA COLLECTION NOT ALL CARPETS ARE CREATED EQUAL. Some can serve as catalysts for social change (but more on that later). Aesthetically, the Aria Collection is beautiful on multiple levels. First is its inspira- tion: the stunning complexity of a butter fl y. When magnifi ed multiple times under a microscope, the insect’s metallic-hued wings are in fact comprised of endless rows of organized scales fi lled with iridescent pigments. That vision inspired Shan Shrestha and her team at Amala Carpets to fi nd a way of replicating the wing’s colour, depth and structure and make these elements visible in the form of a carpet. To do that, they explored dyeing techniques; devised a particular weaving process to simulate the arrangement of the scales; and employed an environmentally sound washing process to preserve the product’s integrity. They also came up with their own silk. Called Zee silk, it is purely organic and uses a method of WHAT THE JURY SAID: hand-reeling that retains the sericin, the protein “The most important thing in coating that gives silk its strength. They also used a tie-dye process called Mudmi, where di erent design today is fi nding the right selections of the silk are dyed multiple times to raw materials worldwide and give it a subtle range of hues. using them in a contemporary The result is a carpet where the pile doesn’t fashion, and Amala Carpets lean whichever way it likes; here, it is slightly fl at, is doing this in a fantastic way.” and all of the strands bend in a singular direction. –Giulio Cappellini, The shimmer created in the bend refl ects light just as would if it were a butterfl y wing. And yes, art director of Cappellini it is exquisitely soft to the touch. But the Aria Collection is an award-worthy accomplishment on another level. Amala Carpets invested eight years to train a group of women PEOPLE’S in a rural community outside Bangkok in how CHOICE to farm, harvest and weave silk– skills that have WINNER enabled them to stay at home rather than leave their families to make a living in the city. THE COMPANY Founded by Shan Shrestha, Amala Carpets of Toronto is a family business committed to crafting luxury carpets using centuries-old weaving techniques. They ensure that their products are ethical, both economically and in terms of sustainability. amalacarpets.com FIRM: Amala Carpets, Toronto TEAM: Shan Shrestha and family AZUREMAGAZINE.COM



WINNER BEST ARCHITECTURE > , SQUARE METRES WHAT THE JURY SAID: “The minute I saw this building, I knew it was world class. It’s a laboratory, but it’s very playful and refreshing. I haven’t seen anything like it for a long, long time.” –Todd Saunders, Saunders Architecture  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

FirmS: Saucier + Perrotte architectes, Montreal, and Hughes Condon Marler architects, Vancouver Team: Roger Hughes, andré Perrotte and gilles Saucier with Craig lane, David Moreaux, and Bill ulrich ubc FaculTy oF PharmaceuTical ScienceS, vancouver The univerSiTy oF briTiSh columbia is an laboratories on the upper foors, where academic jewel, though it has lacked a temperature control is restricted, are visually captivating campus gateway that clustered around the atriums. embodies its ambition as a world leader The site happens to include a busy in cutting-edge research. The new Faculty pedestrian pathway, which the design takes of Pharmaceutical Sciences building, by full advantage of, with concrete risers dou- Saucier + Perrotte and Hughes Condon bling as outdoor bench seating and entry Marler Architects, has flled that void with points from each side of the building. stunning clarity and style. Bold, beautiful The main level, enveloped in glass, is what and photo genic from every vantage point, entices most people to wander inside, the six-storey facility appears to hover where they fnd themselves in a dramatic above a largely transparent ground foor, space defned by asymmetrical walls clad with the bulk of the upper level defned by in rich cedar planks, and elevator blocks stacked cubes that look as though they’ve cloaked in black. Built with a focus on exploded into the world. Each module sustainability, the project is expected to sports tinted glass in six shades, from clear earn LEED Gold certifcation. to black to mirrored, giving the facades The FirmS Founded by Gilles Saucier their Ray-Ban coolness. and André Perrotte in 1988, Saucier + Conceptually, the architects started Perrotte Architectes is among the most with a canopy of branching trees, decorated and internationally recognized abstracted into geometric components frms in Canada. In addition to projects that don’t read overtly as trees. In place of across Canada, the Montreal frm is work- thick trunks, two voids reach to the roof- ing in Japan, China, the Middle East and top, creating shafts for natural light Africa. Hughes Condon Marler Architects to flter deep into the interior. Ofces of Vancouver focuses on sustainable are located largely around the perimeter, design. Most of its 45 staf members are where 820 students and close to 200 LEED-accredited professionals. staf have access to light and air through saucierperrotte.com, hcma.ca operable windows. Meanwhile, the Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 71

WINNER BEST TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE HYGGE HOUSE, WINNIPEG EVERY YEAR, IN AN EFFORT to fi ght the fi erce- Luminescent as it was, Hygge House ness of winter and bring people closer really came alive when in use. Skaters together, the world’s longest naturally gathered to shelter from the icy winds, frozen skating trail is constructed on the musicians held gigs on the cottage stage, Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg. and people came to wrap themselves in Warming huts are installed enroute, blankets and warm up by the wood stove, and last year, as part of an international or sit around the table over a game of competition that invites designers to crokinole. The team used their varied skills reinterpret the traditional hut, Hygge to create the ultimate über-Canadian House won a spot on the frosty riverbank. cultural cliché. The fl uorescent yellow half-house was THE FIRMS Before launching Plain a team e ort by local architects Plain Projects, landscape architect Liz Wreford Projects and Pike Projects, along with Taylor worked for fi rms in Washington graphic design studio Urbanink. state and Perth, Australia. Her environ- Pronounced hoo-guh, the Danish word mental design team is working on such hygge translates roughly as cozy, as in diverse projects as Winnipeg’s Living gathering to create a feeling of warmth Prairie Museum and the Devon Energy and happiness. The three Winnipeg fi rms headquarters in Oklahoma City. Winnipeg’s took their reference from this poly semous Urbanink specializes in graphic design. word, along with a traditional cottage Architect Colin Grover founded his prac- vernacular– mounted antlers, snowshoes, tice, Pike Projects, in 2012, after moving arocking chair, and half of a cottage– then from BIOS Architecture, which he also gleefully subverted the rustic scene by co-founded. plainprojects.ca, urbanink.net, painting everything an iridescent yellow. pikeprojects.ca The e ect says both warm comfort and sunshiny brightness. FIRMS: Plain Projects, with Urbanink and Pike Projects, all of Winnipeg TEAM: Liz Wreford Taylor with Colin Grover, Marcelle Lussier, Evan Marnoch and Shawn Stankewich  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

people’s choice winner what the jury said: “Too much architecture has no local reference and could be placed anywhere. But this is very Winnipeg. It’s smart and funny, and it has a strong identity. I like it.” – Todd Saunders, Saunders Architecture Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 73

WINNER BEST RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

fiRM: El Dorado, Kansas City, Missouri teaM: josh Shelton with Steve Salzer echo Ridge duplexes, topeka, kansas plenty of wealthy clients plow money cross-ventilation for all major interior into building their own personal nirva- spaces, a shared courtyard, and an elevated nas. The Echo Ridge duplexes in Topeka, terrace for each family. Kansas, represent a diferent type of Completed at two-thirds of what an dream home: attractive low-income average residential construction would residences built on a shoestring budget, cost, the two-bedroom duplexes, each as green as they are afordable. Designed measuring 114 square metres, contain a by El Dorado of Kansas City, Missouri, host of sustainable attributes, including a the four-unit prototype for the Topeka highly insulated envelope, geothermal Housing Authority was completed with systems, and green roofs that extend of what the jury said: grant money from the U.S. Department each terrace. The vibrant results put some “The composition of these volumes of Housing and Urban Development. It of the area’s more expensive neighbour- adheres to Enterprise Green Commun- hoods to shame. Here’s hoping we see more is wonderfully dynamic. It com- ities Criteria, which address such noble of these housing units soon. pletely overturns any negative para- concerns as energy efciency, green the fiRM With a head ofce in Kansas digm surrounding social housing, in materials and construction practices, City and a satellite ofce in Wichita, a beautifully executed way.” and healthy living. Kansas, El Dorado has been busy changing – Shirley Blumberg, KPMB Architects While all of that ofers valid reasons the look and feel of middle America since for the project’s award-worthiness, what 1996. The frm began as an architecture makes Echo Ridge such a stellar example and metalworking studio, and now ofers of smart residential building is the frm’s comprehensive design-build services and application of modest gestures that an extraordinarily diverse portfolio of dramatically alter living conditions for work, from urban planning and innova- the occupants. By rotating the top storey tive industrial facilities to community of each unit 90 degrees, the architects projects. eldo.us realized numerous benefts: Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 75

WINNER BEST LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

Place des festivals, montreal occuPying a large site in the heart of that can host 25,000 music fans, all beneath Montreal, Places des Festivals is among the a series of sculptural light towers. As the most welcoming redevelopment projects to architects themselves like to say about their emerge in North America, comparable with open-air venue, which can handle concert- New York’s High Line or Battery Park City. grade wiring and lighting, “It magnifes the Its success rests not just on well- appointed stage to the scale of the city.” firm: Daoust lestage, Montreal features, such as rows of new and mature Place des Festivals is a key component team: Reál lestage with Caroline Beaulieu, lucie trees, refned street furniture and a vivid of the Quartier des Spectacles, an ambi- Bibeau, Renée Daoust, Marie-josée gagnon, white-black hardscape, but also in its ability tious urban redevelopment that began in Marie-Pier Marchand, François Ménard, Stéphane to assume multiple identities. On any given 2002 and has since transformed the city’s Savoie, Eveline Simard, Catherine St-Marseille day, 235 high- pressure water jets pierce the former red-light district into an impressive and Nathalie Trudel pavers underfoot with an interactive show of cultural hub. After a decade of planning illuminated water, while a central fountain and construction, its completion has given shoots over three storeys high. Programmed Montrealers a stunning environment what the jury said: to respond to movement, light and sound, where they can revel in public life and the plaza’s computer-controlled geysers crowd-swelling culture. “This space is part green and part hard, have become a favourite spot for impromptu tHe firm Principals Renée Daoust and Réal which means during the course of a year PHOTOS BY MaRC CRaMER national Jazz Festival is happening, and ambitious and sophisticated master plans. Lestage has built an environment out Lestage are critically acclaimed for their it can have many diferent lives. Daoust refreshment on sweltering summer days. Stop by when the city’s renowned Inter- The frm is also fully engaged in commercial of the whole cloth, and we should all be interior design, residential architecture and you’ll see performances of a diferent sort. doing a lot more of that.” Suddenly, the square’s grassy plains and street furniture design. daoustlestage.com – Ken Smith, Ken Smith Workshop plazas are transformed into an urban theatre Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 77

WINNER BEST ARCHITECTURE < , SQUARE FIRM: Daoust Lestage, Montreal TEAM: Renée METRES Daoust and Réal Lestage with Caroline Beaulieu, Jean-François Bilodeau, Marc Duchesne, Marie- Josée Gagnon, François Ménard, Stéphane Savoie, Catherine St-Marseille and Nathalie Trudel VITRINES HABITÉES, MONTREAL THEY MAY BE RELATIVELY MODEST IN SCALE, just 160 square metres each, but two restaurant vitrines located along Montreal’s Place Jean-Paul- Riopelle have dramatically enriched the area’s urbanscape and nightlife. The concept, of dropping self-contained rooms onto an existing boulevard, was hatched by Daoust Lestage, a veteran fi rm that understands two fundamental truths about its beloved city: Montrealers adore food, and for most of the year it’s cold outside. These all-season boîtes now house F Bar and Brasserie T!, each with a 60-seat capa city. That doubles during the warmer months, with sliding doors on one side that open up to allow tables and chairs to spill out onto a sidewalk terrace. Punctuated by wide glass bands along the walls and ceiling, the white aluminum volumes give diners a sense of commingling with the outdoors, providing clear views of the vibrant fountains and gardens in Place des Festivals (a recently developed urban playground also designed by the fi rm, and winner of this year’s AZAward for landscape architecture). To keep the gesture as simple as possible, the narrow vitrines take up less than half of the sidewalk, so they don’t impede foot tra c, and all of the mechanical systems have been PEOPLE’S hidden underground. CHOICE WINNER European cities fi gured out the economic, cultural and community benefi ts of streetside terraces eons ago, but Daoust Lestage’s Vitrines Habitées o er an inspiring architectural typol- ogy for any city– one that can reinvent public space simply, brilliantly and almost instantly. THE FIRM Since 1988, principals Renée Daoust and Réal Lestage have been bringing together their sensibility for precise architecture and intelligent urban design, which has been roundly praised by clients and the public. One of their hallmark projects is La Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, a monumental 2.5-kilometre river- side park in Quebec City. daoustlestage.com WHAT THE JURY SAID: “A city starts with the quality of its public realm, and this is a brilliant example of how great city building can animate streets. The vitrines are a terrifi c way, too, of leveraging Montreal’s love for cafés.” PHOTOS BY MARC CRAMER –Shirley Blumberg, KPMB Architects  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

Winner best commercial interior haFencity univerSity Subway Station, haMburg, gerMany raupach architekten of Munich cites two illuminate and program the volumes, which elements of Hamburg’s local vernacular – serve as the central character of a station the iridescent bricks used to construct many that in every other way takes on a sleek of its buildings, and the freight containers industrial mood. Walls and escalators are stacked in shipyards – as important starting clad in refective materials to catch the light, points for the design of the Hafencity and glazed partitions are held in the most University Subway Station. slender of frames. FirMS: D-lightvision, Design Stauss grillmeier, Descending from the street, travellers What could have been a sterile environ- Pfarré lighting Design and Raupach architekten, are met with an extraordinary kaleidoscope ment, meant to be entered and exited as all from Munich teaM: Christian Raupach, with of colour that emanates from 12 massive quickly as possible, has been transformed Erwin Döring, gerd Pfarré and Kilian Stauss light boxes suspended along the platform, into a welcoming underground space which replicate the size of actual shipping worth missing a train or two to linger in. containers. Weighing six tonnes each, they the FirMS Headed up by Christian and are framed in steel with translucent glass Philipp Raupach, the mid-size studio panels covering hundreds of internal LEDs. Raupach Architeken is renowned for its what the jury said: “It’s thrilling to Lighting efects of this scale can easily intelligent design style, which integrates see a space like this invested with such morph into pulsating rock concerts, but the optimum usability and advanced sustain- creativity. It shows a true understanding intention here is to create gradations that ability. For the Hafencity project, they that there is a tangible return in beautiful gently transition in tune with, say, the trains collaborated with Germany’s premier frms as they come and go, or the changing of the Pfarré Lighting Design and D-Lightvision infrastructure.” seasons. From the designers’ point of view, along with Design Stauss Grillmeier, which – George Yabu, Yabu Pushelberg you could be listening to classical music and engineered the light volumes. still appreciate the radiant space. raupach-architekten.de, lichtplanung.com, Pfarré Lighting Design and D-Lightvision d-lightvision.de, stauss-grillmeier.com worked with Raupach Architekten to Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 79jul ⁄ aug 2013 79

WINNER BEST RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR WHAT THE JURY SAID: “You look at the outside structure, and you immediately know the inside is basically the skin. There’s nothing else required. I love the sheer simplicity of that gesture.” –George Yabu, Yabu Pushelberg  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

people’s choice winner Firm: Frente arquitectura, Mexico City Team: juan Pablo Maza with Estefanía Hoth and Daniel Nava mini-sTudio, mexico ciTy The mini-sTudio in Colonia del Valle, a subtly brings natural light to the main south-central neighbourhood in Mexico level, projecting angled shadows across the City, is an unlikely candidate to take the top concrete foor. Meanwhile, foldaway glass honour in a category where contemporary doors face directly onto the greenery. shapes and expressive fnishes are expected With such careful articulation and to reign. However, the ethereal emptiness poetic control of perspectives and vanish- of its fractal form made this all-white space ing points, this gem project is just as without furniture a standout. resolved in its expression as any building Originally a storage room, the brick and 10 times its size. concrete space is nestled into a backyard The Firm Founded by Juan Pablo Maza and surrounded by three existing buildings. in 2002, Frente Arquitectura has com- Measuring a mere 27 square metres on pleted many residential projects, and has the main level, the workshop is defned by collaborated with such well-known twists and folds that prevent any direct Mexican architects as Derek Dellekamp sunlight from entering the interior – a and Fernando Romero. At the 2008 Venice request from the client, who also wanted Architecture Biennale, the frm presented to maintain clear views to the garden. an intriguing concept that sought to The transformation was achieved via densify Mexico City’s Obrera neighbour- a mezzanine that halves the vol ume and hood, by building residential property gives the interior added foor space, as well above existing structures and topping as access to the roof. Punctuated by a row the new development with recreational of windows, the sloped ceiling indirectly public space. frentearq.com draws light into the second level, and only Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 81

WINNER BEST UNBUILT COMPETITION ENTRY PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER  Equipment room 2 Shop 7 4 3 Lavatories 4 Office 2 5 Cristal core 8 5 3 9 6 Mud baths storage 6 0 7 Maintenance room 8 Bar 9 Restaurant 0 Reception  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

what the jury said: “We were looking for an economy of means, a conceptual clarity and something that could really have an impact on the culture. Cristal has this in spades.” – Ken Smith, Ken Smith Workshop The pavilion’s perforated metal frame, installed at the edge of the Dead Sea, would slowly be consumed by crystals, a natural phenomenon that makes the world’s saltiest body of water so exceptional. Firm: Sitbon architectes, Paris Team: Emmanuel Sitbon with Selma Feriani crisTal, dead sea, israel Taking as inspiraTion the smallest yet most that Cristal appears monumental amid its vast with such vivid imagination, will not be realized. poignant element of the landscape, Sitbon wilderness location, even though the proposed Cristal would be a ftting epitaph for the Dead Architectes has, quite literally, distilled within interior includes such touristy standbys as a res- Sea, a three-million-year-old geographical this site-specifc project the pure essence of its taurant, a mud bath spa, boutiques and a bar. wonder loved by Cleopatra, which could vanish location. Called Cristal, the 19,720-square-metre The real master stroke, though, is how swiftly as early as 2050. information centre is designed to inhabit a tourist Cristal could be constructed, without damaging THe Firm Formed in 2011 by Emmanuel Sitbon, destination on the southern tip of the Dead Sea, the natural wonder of its surroundings. Pre- with Selma Feriani, a fellow graduate of the École and every element of it mimics the rigid, linear fabricated metal panels would be erected on Spéciale d’Architecture, Sitbon Architectes is form of a salt crystal. The two-storey pavilion, site in less than a week. Nature would take care bursting with confdence. Cristal rose from their square in shape, draws attention to the rapidly of the rest, as windblown salt water dries and work with such architectural luminaries as Peter shrinking Dead Sea, the lowest elevation on crystallizes, cloaking the entire structure in Cook and Odile Decq. In just over a year, the Paris land (approximately 420 metres below sea level), solidifed salt, so the pavilion slowly becomes an studio has been nominated for numerous awards which is losing up to one metre of depth each year. embodiment of the very crystal that inspired it. and its works exhibited around the world. The simple clarity of Sitbon’s design ensures It’s unfortunate that a design like this, sitbonarchitectes.com Az AwArds AnnuAl jul ⁄ aug 2013 83

WINNER BEST UNREALIZED CONCEPT PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER cultural district leisure district sports district WHAT THE JURY SAID: “This is the kind of densifi cation plan that, at its core, benefi ts people enormously. It’s ideal for the Middle East, but it could also work in California or Toronto. It’s agreat model for future cities.” –Ken Smith, Ken Smith Workshop landscaped park sports and cultural hubs FIRM: MZ Architects, Lebanon TEAM: Marwan Zgheib VALLEY CITY QATAR, QATAR THIS THREEMILLIONSQUAREMETRE master plan in sports and cultural hubs, the green ribbon would of the region and elevated its plan well beyond the heart of Qatar’s desert is an ambitious attempt be virtually car-free, with bus transit routes the usual high-rise schemes now in the works to design a city from scratch and yet enliven it supplementing pedestrian pathways. To benefi t throughout the Middle East. Valley City Qatar with an urban fabric based on traditional Islamic from the natural trajectory of the desert winds, is remarkable for engaging the area’s rich urban cities. The idyllic town, called Valley City Qatar, the urban grid would run perpendicular to the hist ory rather than imposing westernized ideals. would o er its citizenry – some 60,000 middle- air currents, letting them circulate through the THE FIRM Founded in 2002, MZ Architects is income Qataris and a growing population of valley and act as a natural cooling system. Narrow an award-winning o ce led by Marwan Zgheib. expatriates– an energy-e cient oasis of livability roads would provide shading to lessen the e ects Initially based in Qatar but now with headquar- and easy access to generous swaths of parkland. of the hot climate, and living roofs and solar ters in Lebanon, the team of 50 has a satellite The plan consists of “urban fi ngers” that run panels would lighten energy loads. o ce in Abu Dhabi. MZ came to prominence with parallel to one another and form narrow streets Masterminding a sustainable environment in a series of winning international competitions lined with low-rise residential buildings. The a desert– and one that appeals on such a human and distinctive buildings, including the AlDana fi ngers then split apart at the centre to reveal a scale– is ambitious in its own right. But, more Tower and the WDoha Hotel and Residences in meandering valley of greenery. Punctuated with importantly, MZ has tapped the cultural heart Doha. mz-architects.com  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

ARMANDO TESTA www.cersaie.it/onlinebooth free ticket on-line Luigi Capraro for Cersaie 2013 ISIA Faenza - Institute of Higher Education for Industrial Art and Design 23-27 SePTeMBeR 2013 www.cersaie.it Organized by EDI.CER. spa Promoted by ConfInDustRIa CERamICa In collaboration with show management: PROMOS srl - P.O. Box 37 - 40050 CENTERGROSS BOLOGNA (Italy) - Tel. +39.051.6646000 - Fax +39.051.862514 Press office: EDI.CER. spa - Viale Monte Santo 40 - 41049 SASSUOLO MO (Italy) - Tel. +39.0536.804585 - Fax +39.0536.806510 Advertising Campaign co-financed by Azure-Cersaie-GB 229x292 - 2013.indd 1 09/05/13 16.02

WINNER BEST STUDENT PROJECT ELEVATOR B, BUFFALO, NEW YORK THE DEMISE OF BEES MAY BE avoidable if ingenious projects such as Elevator B start to populate fi elds and barren lands. The 6.7-metre-tall hexagonal tower, made of perforated stainless steel panels, is home to a colony of honeybees that is busily making thick honeycombs inside a cypress box nestled within the top portion of the structure. Finished with a laminated glass bottom, the “bee cab” can be observed by walking into the base of the tower and looking up. It can also be lowered via a pulley system, giving beekeepers access to check in on progress and, presumably, gather the harvest. The project was born when Rick Smith, the owner of a cluster of disused grain elevators in Bu alo, New York, discovered a massive hive wedged between windowpanes in one of the site’s vacant buildings. Rather than destroy it, he challenged architecture students from the University at Bu alo to come up with a new home for the colony that would also enlighten visitors to the frailty of bee culture. Using parametric software, the students came up with a shimmering hexagonal form that provides protection from the wind while allowing for solar gain in the winter and shade in the sum- mer. The bees enter and leave through three small holes drilled into the side of the cab. To populate Elevator B, a local apiarist was brought in to gently extract 5,000 bees and their queen from the original combs, using a standard industrial vacuum, and then inserting the combs into the tower. The bees quickly went to work building up their new domicile, which has been open to the public since June 2012. They remain unfazed by the countless visitors, including schoolchildren and nature photographers, who now drop by for a look. THE DESIGNERS Elevator B’s success can be credited to a winning collaboration between the site’s owner, Rick Smith, and graduate students from the University at Bu alo School of Architecture and Planning: Courtney Creenan, Kyle Mastalinski, Daniel Nead, Scott Selin and Lisa Stern. Assistance was provided by faculty advisers, structural engineers, beekeepers, and Rigidized Metals, manufacturer of the perfor- ated panels. hivecity.wordpress.com WHAT THE JURY SAID: “Design is often about your own interpretation of something, but this project is not about the designers; PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE it’s all about the bees. It’s wonder- fully selfl ess and executed perfectly.” DESIGNERS: Courtney Creenan, Kyle Mastalinski, Daniel Nead, Scott Selin and Lisa Stern – Todd Bracher, Todd Bracher Studio  JUL ⁄AUG  AZ AWARDS ANNUAL AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

PHOTO BY lOREM IPSuM DOlORE jul ⁄ aug 2013 87

milan less is FurniTure Fair more a leaner salone del mobile 1 offered fewer new products, but excellence still prevailed by catherine osborne 2 3 various media outlets have been quick to note that the biggest event of the year for designers 1 made from water bottles around the world wasn’t quite as mega as years past – a sign of lean economic times in Italy and across Europe. It’s true, attendance at Salone del Mobile dropped slightly, and many notable The Pet lamp, by Studio alvaro manufacturers scaled back to one or two new product launches rather than 10 or 12, opting catalán de ocón of madrid and instead to push variations on familiar lines. Edra, for instance, invited the Campana brothers to colombian artisans, takes water expand on their well-known sofas and cabinets with a new line of matching beds; and Dedon bottles out of the trash vortex and profered new colourways for already successful collections, such as Stephen Burks’ Dala series weaves them into beautiful pen- of outdoor seating, adding smaller complementary objects like planters. dants, sold individually or in festive But lower volume is too easy a target of criticism. Salone del Mobile has not lost its top-rank- clusters. petlamp.org ing position just yet, and in many ways it was refreshing not to have so many newfangled pieces trotted out just for novelty’s sake. It was also clear that some manufacturers have not slowed 2 can we talk? down. One only had to visit the Moroso booth to take in a number of impressive new pieces by the cartoon voice bubbles inspired likes of Benjamin Hubert, Werner Aisslinger, and Nendo. Of site, Dutch furniture company designers oki sato and luca Moooi put on one of the most talked-about exhibits in years, flling a cavernous warehouse space nichetto to produce their n=n/01 with dozens of stunning in situ living quarters that showed of products old and new, by Studio Shelves in a comic Shelf, part of a Job, Neri & Hu, Nika Zupanc, Joost van Bleiswijk and seven others, including Moooi creative series of prototypes they launched director Marcel Wanders. Titled Unexpected Welcome, the display was a spot of optimism that with help from glas italia, among broke through the economic doldrums. others. lucanichetto.com, nendo.jp 88 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

5 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 7 functional shaPes For his first solo show, at Milan’s Project B gallery, rising star Philippe Malouin presented containers made from concrete; fire-like pendants; and these desktop pieces shaped out of polished and waxed MDF. philippemalouin.com 3 island living 5 Mutant structure 8 hooked on Music 10 Mad style Werner aisslinger’s Bikini Island When unpacked from its shell, this lievore altherr Molina’s Song coat Sporting retro wooden spindle legs, for Moroso is a nod to louis Réard, campeggi seating system trans- rack for arper looks like a tree lifted Marcel Wanders’ one-armed seat who invented the two-piece forms from a sofa to separate chairs from a Dr. Seuss book, though it for Poliform is named the Mad Chair, swimsuit. The furniture designer’s and pouffes that fill a living room. was actually inspired by music notes. presumably because Don Draper multi-purpose sofa is also made of French designer Matali Crasset is available as a free-standing tree with would look right at home lounging in mix-and-match parts, just like a the genius behind the piece, named 8, 16 or 24 arms, or in a wall-mounted it. upholstery available in leather or bikini top and bottom. moroso.it Concentré de Vie. campeggisrl.it version. arper.com fabric. poliform.it 4 twists and tubes 6 into the reeds 9 Marble never dates 11 baskets Made froM trash Made by emeco with an aluminum Working once again with Porro, the Milan’s Carlo Colombo designed dedon has expanded its popular tube frame and a wooden seat pan, Sweden design trio Front has crafted Clarke, a sophisticated table topped Dala collection of outdoor furniture Konstantin grcic’s Parrish chair was a seductively airy cupboard called with marble, launched by flexform. made from recycled food packaging originally conceived for the Parrish Mikado. The two rows of blond The collection includes round side to include planters and lanterns, art Museum, a recently completed wooden slats that make up its doors tables, and oval dining tables in two all designed by New York’s Stephen project by Herzog & de Meuron in resemble swaying bamboo grasses. lengths: two metres and 2.6 metres. Burks. dedon.de long Island, New York. emeco.net porro.com flexformny.com jul ⁄ aug 2013 89

13 14 12 12 old meets new lucid Pevere’s raphia chair for Casamania represents a perfect material combination: a strong metal frame coupled with delicately woven rattan. Base colours include black, white, bordeaux and azure. 15 casamania.it 13 Climb all over me 16 one of many beautiful new designs by milan’s own luca nichetto, Plantrellis for berga offers an elegant option for potted climbing plants. made of fibre cement and coated steel in black, white, green, mint green or orange. berga-form.se 14 Capturing the light composed of dichroic-filter glass embedded into movable frames, this room divider by camilla richter bathes interiors in colourful patterns 18 as the sun hits it. The piece is part of Cappellini next, a series of four prototypes from young designers hand picked by giulio cappellini. cappellini.it 15 welCome baCk, bauhaus Does this seat look familiar? walter knoll has just relaunched the tuft ed 17 Bauhaus classic Haussmann 310, which Trix and robert Hauss mann originally designed in 1962. walterknoll.de 16 leaves of leather 18 outer softness 20 hanging out with books Switzerland’s atelier oï used leather Patricia urquiola’s super-soft london’s raw edges designed this scraps found on the workshop floors modules – one square, the other unique bookcase without shelves for of b&b italia to form the 3‑D uphol- rectangular – match up with a new lema. called Booken, it supports stery that covers Hive ottoman, a line of cross-shaped rugs. The the volumes on a series of horizontal metal-framed hexagonal side table cozy seating expands on her mangas wooden slats set within the frame. that doubles as a seat. bebitalia.it rugs series for gan. gan-rugs.com lemamobili.com 17 the upside down Chair 19 bold alignments 21 box seating For living divani, milan studio With a slightly skewed geometry Piero lissoni’s rodwood for living [a+B] decided to turn a chair upside and a glossy reflective interior, divani consists of sink-into-me down just to see what it would look the DS‑9011 table by angie anakis down-filled cushions nested within a like. They saw mate, a ladderback turns an ordinary square into an wood panel frame. The system incor- seat and coat valet that makes an eye- catching form. available from porates a side table that doubles impressive entrance piece, available de sede. desede.com as an additional seat for impromptu in white or black. livingdivani.it conversations. livingdivani.it 90 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

INFINITY COUCH When it comes to the works of Ron  Arad, the line between sculpture and design is very thin. Folly, his latest objet d’art for Magis, is an indoor-outdoor bench formed with rotational-moulded polyethylene. It comes in one colour: rusty metal brown. magisdesign.com  SITTING ON A CLOUD Moooi’s off-site exhibit, Unexpected  Welcome, was the talk of the town during Milan Design Week. Among the Dutch studio’s range of new products: Marcel Wanders’ inviting Cloud sofa. moooi.com  STITCHED INTO SHAPE To make Textile, six galvanized steel panels are stitched together with braided rope to evoke conspicuous clothing seams. Designer Ana Llobet came up with the concept in , and Gandia Blasco now produces it with nine rope colour options. gandiablasco.com  TINY FURNITURE For a while now, Ron Gilad has been  crafting furnishings that rest on tiny metal Thonet chairs for Adele-C. The miniature chairs have turned up again in two new cupboards made of Italian walnut. adele-c.it  BENT INTO SHAPE Launched as a prototype in ,  the Dream chair by Tadao Ando is now in production by Carl Hansen & Son. Made from a single plywood sheet, it pays tribute to Ando’s favourite designer and master of bentwood furniture, Hans J. Wegner. carlhansen.com JUL ⁄AUG

28 27 30 29 31 27 50 shades of blue oki Sato of nendo always imbues his objects with a visual lightness. For Deepsea, a low table for Glas Italia, he incrementally intensified the blue of the glass elements as they decrease in distance from one another, a strategy that heightens the chromatic effect. glasitalia.com 31 lIVInG on a sofa Philippe Starck’s all-in-one my World 28 rem’s turn wIth knoll lounger for cassina has multiple The signature piece of Tools For life, built-ins, including a work surface, a rem Koolhaas’s debut collection for bookcase, and a privacy screen. The 32 knoll, is 04 counter, a three-tiered cushions are down filled for extreme stack of boxes joined by internal comfort. cassina.com bearings and rails, which allow it to swivel into position as a bar and 32 lumber slumber bench. knoll.com leave it to Brazil’s campana brothers to change up the bedroom 29 the dress chaIr in a sensational way. Favela Bed, Patricia urquiola fashioned rope into made of wooden boards glued into upholstery for her all-natural, steam- place as if haphazardly, is one of curved wooden chair, zantilàm. five sleepers they launched with it’s manufactured by Very wood in edra. edra.com beechwood and ash. verywood.it 33 33 I’m not as sImple as I look 30 weIGhtless wonder To manufacture Philippe Starck’s To create the lightest possible arm- transparent polycarbonate uncle chair, Benjamin Hubert stretched a jack sofa, kartell created what it 3‑D-woven textile mesh over a cnc- claims is the most complex mould milled frame. made for classicon, ever attempted. The six- legged piece membrane can be easily picked up is part of the aunts and uncles and moved, even to a balcony when indoor-outdoor seating collection. the sun comes out. classicon.com kartell.com 92 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

Material ConneCtions These three installations on view during Milan Design Week explored materials old and new in inventive ways By Nina Boccia prefab wood Interni’s Hybrid architecture & Design exhibit was all about material explorations that paired manufac­ turers with well­known architects and designers. using eco­friendly pre fabricated wooden panels by Wolf Haus, Milan’s luca Scacchetti constructed the most outstanding display: a 16­metre­long volume that gave an elevated perspective of the surrounding 17th­century architecture. wolfhaus.it led-eMbedded textiles Soft Cell, Patricia urquiola’s first textile collection for Kvadrat, is the Danish mill’s first media­ integrated product as well. Embedded with Philips lEDs, the acoustic uphol­ stery debuted in a festive display at Moroso’s showroom, where it was suspended at the entrance. Inside, the main space featured revolving panels clad in the fabrics, which also appeared on the tectonic plate– inspired Rift sofa, in rusted orange hues. kvadrat.dk silent engines BMW’s eco­focused brand BMW i asked Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to come up with a way of demon­ strating how quiet the forthcoming i8 model will be when it finally hits the road. The duo devised three spinning carousels powered by the sports car’s silent electric engine. To indicate that the engine was actually running, the Paris designers hung strips of carbon fibre textile from the structure’s rooftop edges – evoking something of a super­chic car wash. bmw-i.com jul ⁄ aug 2013 93

Design File storage wall Elegant, adventurous wall- mounted systems for displaying accessories and stashing books stars By DIane CHan 2 3 1 4 5 6 1 Cube Play 2 Free Kube 4 DiagoLinea 6 Z-shelf by Interlübke by santarossa by Lago by Moroso made up of variously proportioned From consoles sliced on a diagonal Flying off in all directions, this From his winding Bookworm for units, with or without doors, Werner to cabinets punctuated by open lac quered wooden shelf is enhanced Kartell to a shelving system in the aisslinger’s wall-mounted wooden shelving, this surprising line comes by bookends that hold volumes at shape of the 48 contiguous states, shelving system matches his in melamine, lacquer, oak or glass. various angles. lago.it ron arad’s wall storage borders previous cube pieces (including the Bevelled interior edges make the on art. His latest: z-shaped bent floor console shown). Finishes cabinets ultra-thin. santarossa.it 5 Up & Down metal shelves in various sizes that include matte and glossy lacquers, by Bonaldo work together in virtually any as well as wood, stone and glass. 3 shelving system in this high-drama bookcase, two arrangement. moroso.it interluebke.com by Carl Hansen & son lacquered wood back panels in in 1928, mogens Koch designed this varying degrees of thickness (as bookcase for his copenhagen home. well as a two-tone version) support carl Hansen & Son now makes the leD-lit shelves in etched glass. solid oak or ash piece in various bonaldo.it configurations. carlhansen.com 94 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

FRONT AND These free-standing storage units feature versatile components and do CENTRE double duty as dividers  Dalton  Infinity  Sound-Rack  Minima . by Minotti by Flexform by Kartell by MDF Italia Thick MDF shelves and pewter-hued A new palette updates Antonio For a new design collaboration Vibrantly lacquered or veneered, metal supports make up Rodolfo Citterio’s free-standing metal book- between Kartell and Laufen, the boxes, drawers and doors that Dordoni’s lacquered bookcase, which shelf. The epoxy powder–coated Ludovica and Roberto Palomba animate this bookcase (available doubles as a room divider. Dalton frame comes in six new shades, developed a collection of bathroom in six heights), by Bruno Fattorini & comes with optional MDF back while the removable leather boxes accessories, including this small Partners, are set into light-as-air panels and feet. minotti.com can now be specified in tobacco. cabinet, available in clear, smoke, aluminum shelves. mdfitalia.it flexformny.com tangerine, amber or blue. It can be stacked to function as a divider or  Selecta  C Day attached to a wall. kartell.it by Lema by Cesar This constantly evolving system, Cesar’s modular living room system in over  vibrant finishes, appears combines storage units, shelves and seamless, thanks to a new frame wall panels in  vibrant and neutral that conceals all hardware. finishes, such as textured rough oak lemamobili.com and eco-cement. cesar.it JUL ⁄AUG

Design File storage easy In contrasting finishes, these low-slung consoles and sideboards enliven any space pieces 1 2 4 3 5 6 1 Book & Look 3 Dado 5 Paper Patchwork 6 toshi by Ligne roset by B&B Italia by Moooi by Casamania Pagnon & Pelhaître’s sideboard The latest iteration of Studio Kairos’s as the name implies, Studio job’s Toshi is japanese for “city,” and, bal ances open enclosures with Dado storage line is defined by lacquered sideboard for moooi is luca nichetto’s pastel-hued modular hidden nooks and drawers. it comes drawers and open compartments composed of paper, cardboard and system takes its cues from Tokyo finished in a combination of wood (in wood fibre and mDF, finished honeycomb panels. it’s part of a architecture. it consists of different- and lacquer. ligne-roset-usa.com in melamine), making it ideal as a larger line that includes a cabinet, sized sideboards and storage boxes, nightstand. bebitalia.it a hutch, a room divider and lamps. each with a unique pattern milled 2 Pandora moooi.com onto the mDF surface. casamania.it by Poliform 4 Dolmen by rimadesio jean-marie massaud’s sideboard, in 32 matte lacquers or in oak, can be available in any combination of clear jazzed up with a contrasting interior and lacquered glass from a palette finish. it comes in varying heights of 50 colours, this free-standing and widths, and in three lengths (up display unit with drawers equally to 2.5 metres). poliformusa.com suits the centre of a retail space or a large bedroom. rimadesio.it 96 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

check-in idc & Raic pResent iidex canada canada’s national desiGn + aRchitectURe exposition & conFeRence sept 26–27, 2013 iidexcanada.coM #iidex13 Visit the hospitality canada expo Happening at tHe Direct energy centre, toronto Produced by PRODUCED BY CANADA

Material Worldterial World Ma surface From natural fibre wallcoverings to sound-absorbing ceiling panels, these story treatments amp up aesthetics and functionality BY lian chang Project: Krishna P. sinGh center for nanotechnoloGy, PhiladelPhia for the university of Pennsylvania’s Krishna P. Singh center for nanotechnology, opening in november, new York architects Weiss / manfredi had to enclose a nano-fabrication clean room (a dust- and bacteria-free environment where scientists experi- ment with atomic and molecular matter) and isolate it according to specific requirements that take into account vibration, electromagnetic radiation and ventilation. rather than build a conventional bunker, the architects employed amber glass fab- ricated by Dlubak corp. of ohio to visually connect the room with an adjacent public galleria. The protective wall is assembled from two quarter-inch-thick slabs of low-iron glass, laminated with four amber polyvinyl butyral inter layers. To add a decorative element, the glazing is treated with ceramic frit, in a gradient that conceals top secret test zones while allowing sufficient transparency so scientists and people mingling in the gallery can see each other. in addition to drawing natural light into the clean room and affording visitors a glimpse of its workings, the wall functions as a safety feature, enabling an accident to be seen from the galleria – and potentially saving lives. aF africa aS aSia aU auSTralia EU euroPe ME miDDle eaST na norTh america nZ neW zealanD Sa SouTh america UK uniTeD KingDom WW WorlDWiDe natural Wall These stone, wood and fibre products are both decorative and healthy, treatMents improving indoor air quality while offering clean detailing and installation. ← B+n industries’ iconic wall panels interlam’s Super rock gypsum wall BDSR Design Stone Research are made from carved veneer, in old- panel is reinforced with glass fibre produces artisanal wall tiles in a growth Douglas fir, western redwood and contains no formaldehyde or variety of surprising patterns and and black walnut, over a sustainably Vocs. it features three- dimensional textures. These include engineered sourced mDf substrate. Patterns repeats, such as waves and marble in a trompe l’oeil cubic motif; range from abstract geometrics to po lygon al facets. and Tuscan terracotta treatments whimsical motifs. WW interlam-design.com inlaid with murano glass. WW bnind.com WW historicalfloor.com cOR Products fast-growing aspen Enito makes decorative wall panels and yellow poplar lumber is lam inated from coconut shell, bamboo and to form these sustainable wall cinnamon and banana bark. Various panels. The sheets come with a flat visuals and textures result, depend- finish or in a range of orthogonal ing on how the material is cut. textures, in a palette of brown and WW enitoflooring.com green hues. na corproducts.com 98 jul ⁄ aug 2013 azuremagazine.com

HIGH-PERFORMANCE Flexible and lightweight, these wall and ceiling products for commercial TEXTILES projects absorb sound and accommodate lighting systems. Annette Douglas Textiles’ airy Hunter Douglas Contract → eventscape engineers textile Silent Space curtains absorb sound manufactures Techstyle, a series of ceiling panels in various shapes and five times more effectively than modular acoustic ceiling and wall forms, such as concave discs and conventional translucent curtains. panels for institutional and commer- curved trapezoids, and installs them Made of flame-resistant Trevira CS cial use. They come in translucent in dramatic three-dimensional geo- fibres, with three weave patterns or pat terned fabrics and can be metric configurations. Suspended in a range of subdued neutrals, they integrated with lighting, HVaC and using aircraft cable, the sheets can be installed on movable panels other ceiling infrastructure. accommodate overhead lighting and or as wall or ceiling treatments. ww hunterdouglascontract.com sprinklers. Recycled fabric panels ww douglas-textiles.ch are also an option. Laqfoil, a Toronto company, installs ww eventscape.net Chenel Smoke Out is a smooth stretch ceilings to jazz up the stretch knit ceiling covering made aesthetics or enhance the function- of flame-resistant Trevira CS, with ality of existing drywall and stucco. hairline seams at measured intervals available as ceiling tiles, digitally that melt under high heat, so smoke printed canvas or sculpted PVC can escape. The 3-D version has panels, the product can be per for- micro-openings within the weave ated for acoustics and back lighting. for smoke and sprinklers. NA laqfoil.com ww chenel.com TRANSLuCENT ANd wall and ceiling treatments in a range of luminous options lend crisp METAL PANELS visual focus as trims or wide expanses. Bio-luminum wall tiles are made ← Joel Berman Glass Studios’ Interstyle manufactures glass tiles from 100 per cent post-consumer glass Editions is an affordable line and architectural surfaces with recycled aluminum, with a mix of of pressure-formed and textured pre-consumer recycled material, in other alloys from reclaimed aircraft privacy glass made with up to 100 a profusion of patterns, shapes and parts. The tiles are bevelled on one per cent recycled content from the textures. Multi-hued glass layers are side and straight on the other, for warehouse floor. fused to produce crisp Barcode trim two installation options, plus they eu NA jbermanglass.com tiles, as well as Ribbon slabs, which can be cut and waxed or sealed. Contrarian Metal Resources come in lengths up to three metres. ww coveringsetc.com ww interstyle.ca For high-traffic interiors, such as air- Cymat’s alusion is an aluminum- ports and libraries, this Pennsylvania clad foam panel for walls and ceilings. company offers recycled content Produced in Toronto, it was recently stainless steel, titanium and zinc used to cover the glittering interior wall and ceiling sheets in a range of walls of the Vancouver Convention textures, finishes and sizes. Centre. NA metalresources.net ww alusion.com INTERACTIVE PAINTS These magnetic, writable and otherwise interactive finishes can be easily ANd FINISHES applied on walls to boost their functionality. Poliepo Termo poured epoxy resin IdeaPaint turns almost any surface → Magscapes manufactures flexible, temporarily changes from rich purple into a dry-erase board, for playfully low-power magnetic sheets that are to a lighter hue with sunlight, body productive office, school and home child safe, along with more powerful contact, or any other heat source. spaces. It comes in white, black, ones. They come in self-adhesive When the source of warmth (such as and a clear formulation that can be and paste-applied versions, as well a hand) retreats, the colour gradually applied over any paint colour or non- as options that can be installed under reverts to its original shade. porous surface. wallpaper; and in painted, custom ww gobbetto.com ww ideapaint.com printed or high-gloss writable finishes. ww magscapes.com Chalkboard Paint available in the full range of Benjamin Moore col ours, this eggshell finish chalk board paint is lEED compliant, washable and quick drying. NA benjaminmoore.com jul ⁄ aug 2013 99

MEDIA SHELF  ARCHIPELAGO TOWNLINES: NOTES FOR A BARE URBANISM EBOOK BY PAOLO CONRADBERCAH It is difficult to know what to call this downloadable volume: it is presented as an e-book but operates like an app, with embedded videos and navigation options that allow readers to bounce around its  pages with ease. That is the first intriguing thing about Archi- pel ago Town-Lines: Notes for a Bare Urbanism, a personal exploration of three cities with urban- scapes sculpted by rivers, canals and walls rather than imposed grids. The author is an architect based in Milan and a regular contributor to Abitare and Domus magazines, though his writing style here is delivered in the first person and in a manner that is more blog than academic journal. As he likes to put it, his writing presents big ideas in a “chaotic mode of inquiry.” Venice, Berlin and Beirut are the three cities he explores, all of which have channels or passages partitioning areas into distinctive parcels. Venice is the most obvious example, but to a lesser degree the former Berlin Wall and the Green Line in Beirut create similar segmentations. From here, Conrad-Bercah suggests that the so-called “archipelago town,” with its informally connected networks, evolves into a more fluid and harmonious urbanism, one that puts forth a fresh model for  building and revitalizing cities. No doubt, some readers will find his paragraph- long sentences and travelogue details onerous at times, but there is richness in exploring his thoughts on urban evolution. For a conversational romp through current trends in niche urbanism, this downloadable volume fits the bill. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Naked City: The Death and Life of Authentic Urban Places, by Sharon Zukin (Oxford University Press), which explores the friction be tween gentrification and the hunger for authenticity. BY ZAHRA EBRAHIM Zahra Ebrahim is founder and principal of the Toronto creative design agency archiTEXT, and an instructor at OCAD University, where she teaches the Think Tank program.  WONDER WOOD BOOK BY BARBARA GLASNER AND STEPHAN OTTY BARBARA GLASNER AND STEPHAN OTT BOOK B Wonder Wood kicks off in Sweden with H onder Wood W Archi tecture’s Accordion House , which is covered A in western red cedar shingles – and resembles in western red cedar shingles – and resembles a wrinkly elephant. This strong beginning leads to a wrinkly elephant. This strong beginning leads to some  other standout designs, all made of some wood and built within the past decade. While the wood and built within the past decade. While the book contains profiles of such paradigm-shifting book contains profiles of such paradigm-shifting structures as Waugh Thistleton Architects’ Murray structures as Waugh Thistleton Architects’ Murray Grove tower in London, U.K., and Jürgen Mayer H ’s Grove tower in London, stunning Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain, the stunning Metropol Parasol in Seville, Spain, the descriptions for most of what is shown constitute descriptions for most of what is shown constitute PHOTOS BY ALESSANDRO CANCIAN little more than captions written in a tiny font. little more than captions written in a tiny font. Thankfully, the authors include interviews with Thankfully, the authors include interviews with some of the architects, who flesh out their innova-some of the architects, who flesh out their innova-  JUL ⁄AUG  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM