Azure-2013-3-4

25 Years of Design The 25th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair May 18-21 2013 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center 800-272-7469 or 212-204-1060 icff.com Produced and Managed by GLM ICFF_2013_Azure_11262012_PMS887C.indd 1 11/27/12 5:11 PM

IdentIkIt daphna The Dutch duo of Daphna Isaacs Burggraaf and Laurens Manders Laurens gives shape to entirely original ideas BY joann plockova Members daphna isaacs Burggraaf Born in Bogotá, 1982 laurens Manders Born in eindhoven, the netherlands, 1984 location eindhoven education isaacs Burggraaf Design academy ↑ the tafelstukken line of eindhoven, man and Well-Being light fixtures (with some department, 2006 pieces in production by Manders Design academy cappellini) incorporates eindhoven, man and communication porcelain and oak. department, 2008 → designed for a show with the dutch invertuals occupation collective, the cover Furniture and lighting designers containers combine cork vases and detachable selected exhibitions aluminum grilles. 2012–13 Werkstadt Vienna: Design engaging the city, maK 2012, 2011 Salone del mobile two designers as one our first product was a series of lamps named 2011 matter of Time, gallery S. daphna isaacs Burggraaf: We began working Tafelstukken [a Dutch word for table accessories Bensimon, paris together in 2008, right after Laurens graduated or conversation pieces]. Daphna mentioned one 2010 London Design Festival, mint from Design academy eindhoven, where we both day that she wanted to create lamps, or “lighting gallery completed our studies. We were asked to design objects.” i asked why we would need another and build rooms for Li edelkoort’s Talent exhibi- lamp, hoping to come up with a fresh concept, and selected awards tion, shown at Designhuis eindhoven and later at then several ideas swerving around Daphna’s 2011 imm cologne D3 international rossana orlandi in milan: a champagne bar, head came into shape in the Tafelstukken series. Young Designers competition, including a chandelier, for the glass exhibition in diB: We simultaneously formed the concept nominee eindhoven, and a greenhouse to contain the and gave shape to the lights. This was the first 2010 DmY award archeology of the Future exhibition, installed in example of how we still love to work: cutting 2010 elle Deco international Design paris and eindhoven. This was the real start of shapes, composing with them, bending, turning, awards, nominee for lighting design our melding together. multiplying and so on. From here, we start to laurens Manders: We didn’t decide to do this. interpret and fantasize. What do we see? is it the selected clients rather, we found that while working together – or, back of a chair or the front of a lamp? With this cappellini, Wittmann, poltrona Frau as we prefer to say, working as one designer – our approach, we’ve created a method to come up with work was far more fruitful and artistically rich. unexpected shapes, which we wouldn’t have daphnaisaacs.nl our decisions are made by Daphna Laurens. They drawn in the same way with a pencil on paper. Two should never be a compromise between us. of of the five Tafelstukken models, the Sofalamp and course, decision making leads to discussions in the Fruitlamp, are being produced by cappellini. which each of us must make an effort to convince the other. This is the strength; it keeps us sharp. a challenging aesthetic diB: We make objects and products that we how to shape a product adore. We love to play with form, colour, purpose lM: our projects as Daphna Laurens developed and mean ing. We also aim to make users or from exhibition elements to products and objects. viewers create their own fantasies; we provide 52 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

←← Vault, a conceptual piece, features a jumble of storage boxes atop wooden stakes with a finish inspired by pyrite, or fool’s gold. ← Daphna Laurens developed the C chair concept for Poltrona Frau. With its foldable back cushion, it explores the company’s upholstery expertise. ↓ For the Eindhoven branding firm EHV 365, the duo designed this double‑faced shelving filled with various boxes and shelves. ↓↓ For Wittmann, they devised Chair 01, in tubular metal with leather cushions. ↑↗ → The Cirkel collection resulted from 2‑D drawings of circles brought to life. The conical wall lamp and coffee table and the hemispheral floor fixture were designed for Paris’s Galerie Gosserez. food for thought, and simply create beautiful products that don’t always need to have a clear, functional purpose. LM: It’s very cliché, but everything can be a source legs. We feel that in general the whole body of of inspiration, be it the work of other designers, work contributes to our success in the future. fine art, the sky or a toothpick. When you’re working on something and look around wearing the right sTayinG naiVE “glasses,” everything you see can help you to DiB: Over the years, we have become more improve or complete the project. experienced, in terms of the materials we use, and our time management and production THE GroWinG oEuVrE technique. This of course helps us to be more LM: The Tafelstukken collection is important efficient and productive, but we have a certain because it brought us to the attention of Cappellini, philosophy to stay positively naive, which then to poltrona Frau. We were one of 12 studios means that we don’t want our freedom of giving asked to participate in a contest to design a chair shape to be over shadowed by our growing for poltrona Frau’s centenary celebration. The knowledge of techniques or financial matters. Cirkel collection, which includes a coffee table, wall lights, a leaning lamp and mirrors, was again a good FuTurE ForWarD exercise for our approach of giving shape to ideas. DiB: We feel that defining our work is something a more recent project was our collaboration that should be done by others in about 20 or 30 with Wittmann, as a part of Vienna Design Week’s years. We aspire to find a combination between passionswege. We created Chair 01, consisting of industrial design, applied art and fine art. The a tubular steel frame with a leather seat and back, Dutch word vormgever literally means “someone and Stool 01, which has an oak top with a circular who gives shape.” That is what we do. We give leather piece supported by tubular steel looped shape to an idea, object, product or concept. mar ⁄ apr 2013 53

Cubic windows cantilever spor adic- ally from the building. The new facility houses research labs, classrooms, two lecture theatres and PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE an interactive exhibit on the history of medicine.  MAR⁄APR  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

Montreal’s Saucier + Perrotte Architects turn to roots, trunks and trees for a new pharmaceutical building on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver By Adele Weder Photography by Marc Cramer Excestru ntiantu rian- debita dolor mos riant cestru ntiantu riandebita dolor mos riantiis alistib usdantemo berunt aniento iis alistib usdantemo berunt aniento by A Good Writer PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE MAR⁄APR

carl sagan once noted that if you wish to bake an apple pie from scratch, an embedded memory of the site being covered with trees.” Pharmacology you must frst invent the universe. The apples come from trees, which come itself, he points out, derives in large part from ingredients found in trees from soil and nutrients, which come from atoms, which come from…well, and shrubs. And the interface of the geological landscape and the vegetation you get the idea. Narrowing that focus a little, architect Gilles Saucier had a that covers it has been an underlying interest of Saucier’s since he studied similar approach to his design for the University of British Columbia’s new botanical sciences in the years before he entered Université Laval’s school Pharamaceutic Sciences Building: “If we really want to connect with the of architecture. history of pharmacology,” he asserts, “we have to start with trees.” In Vancouver, the suggestion of a building’s purpose within its outer Montreal’s Saucier + Perrotte Architects worked with UBC architect skin has defned a few notable projects, in particular the petri-dish-cum- Gerry McGeough and Vancouver frm Hughes Condon Marler Architects DNA-strand evoked within the window patterns at the B.C. Cancer Research (HCMA) to design the $133-million, 23,000-square-metre edifce, amalgam- Centre, by Henriquez Partners Architects; and the bar code patterns that ating four smaller buildings scattered around the campus. grace UBC’s Sauder School of Business, by Acton Ostry. Saucier argues that As lead designer, Saucier employed the concept – the ghosts, let’s say – of his tree concept is an inside-out, three-dimensional generator within the two enormous trees to generate the plan and massing of the building. Two whole of the design rather than just the cladding. multi-foor atriums evoke the negative space of huge trunks, while the The building doesn’t resemble the forms of trees; it acts like them, at cantilevered, cubic glass and cedar rooms that project sporadically from least in theory. (The western facade’s canted concrete bank suggests the the western facade suggest their billowing branches. sloping base of a tree trunk, although to local skateboarders it happily “Historically, this area was a very dense forest,” notes Saucier. “There’s suggests a ramp at a skateboard park.) As you enter the building, you step 56 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

← The form and finishes ↑ The main level is ↗ The upper levels → Defined by vertical in the main lobby are intended for public contain research labs cladding in red cedar, meant to evoke a stroll use, with a cocktail- with state-of-the-art the central atrium through a forest of party-ready entryway equipment for master’s lets natural light filter trees and boulders with and access to two and doctoral students. through all six levels. shards of light streaming lecture halls. in from above. into an expansive and dramatic passage rather than a typical lobby. The Through the elegant full-height glass of the individual laboratories, intention, says Saucier, was to evoke a stroll through the space between you see panoplies of perchloric fume hoods, nuclear magnetic resonance huge trees or rock formations. machines, and lantern-like snorkels to suck out whatever noxious vapours Does it work? On a conceptual level, sure, if you like: the multi-storey pervade the workspace. It takes a great deal of intensely pragmatic design atrium, topped with a gridded skylight, creates a light well to the ground work to confgure the proper placements and interconnections of such foor, like sunbeams on a forest path. On a conscious visual level, though – requisite equipment, as project architect Craig Lane confrms. with its concrete foor, shards of black metal, and the origami folds of its The building has earned LEED Gold certifcation, for whatever that’s wood-sheathed ceilings – it feels more like its own man-made creation, worth, but spares us the usual clichéd signifers of louvred glass, brise-soleils the hollowed-out interior of a giant sculpture. or bamboo toilet paper holders. With many of the ceilings and walls clad The public ground foor departs from standard university architectural in Western red cedar, it projects an unusually warm persona for such a introversion, often most pronounced in the secret-flled halls of science tech-minded structure. And the presence of deftly lit interior bridges and and technology faculties. Here, HCMA has served a crucial complementary of-the-grid windows imbue the core atriums with an unmistakable sense role. The local project architects have experience in orchestrating massively of openness and invitation – that this is a truly public space, not just for the complex health and tech facilities, and they managed to solve a daunting pharma ceut ical elite. gaggle of challenges. These range from intellectual security (the fourth foor That, too, was the design intention, says Saucier: “Any university has that is a private frm’s R&D quarters), to action movie plot lines involving the responsibility now. If we don’t approach it as a public space, we’re kind of containment of radioactivity, virulent bacteria and volatile gases. missing the point.” saucierperrotte.com mar ⁄ apr 2013 57

PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE 58 MaR ⁄ aPR 2013

Known for crime, poverty and racial unrest, Toronto’s Regent Park has undergone a major overhaul that inte- grates all strata of cultural and economic diversity. The plan? To make Canada’s largest social housing project a place where everyone can live By John Lorinc PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE PHOTO BY LISA LOGAN The Daniels Spectrum arts and cultural centre and the adjoining condo tower, by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The new complex is a promising sign that Regent Park’s ghetto-like image is finally lifting. MAR⁄APR

Broad sidewalks and glaze-fronted buildings Five-Phase masTer Plan are new additions to the The 28-hectare district is evolving over area. The pedestrian- five phases that will see subsidized and friendly elements have helped to create a market-value housing integrated along newly stronger, more inviting built streets, to create the desired “normal” community. neighbourhood. a strong sense of community is being fostered by pla cing most of the social amenities at the development’s core. gerrard street east a B parliament street Dundas street east c river street F D e shuter street a central park B regent park aquatic centre C Daniels spectrum D planned community centre e renovated public school F Future athletic park Phase One mixed-income housing and mixed-use buildings, completed in 2010 Phase Two now in development. The cen- tral park is slated for completion this year Phase Three mixed-income and mixed- use buildings, future athletic park Phase Four mixed-income housing and mixed-use buildings Phase Five mixed-income housing and mixed-use buildings donald schmitt stands at the entrance to the Ada Slaight Hall in the Daniels has been synonymous with crime and gang activity. How, exactly, did such Spectrum cultural centre and peers inside the cavernous theatre. Seated on a transformation emerge? retractable risers are 400 or so squirming grade schoolers, excitedly awaiting The Spectrum provides some answers. It grew out of a rare partnership the start of a screening during the Regent Park Film Festival; the din in involving federal and provincial funding, city land, private donations the room is formidable. “It’s amazing,” says the veteran Toronto architect (including $4 million from the Daniels Corporation, a residential developer), and urbanist with a grin. “Like birds.” and the expertise of Artscape, a city agency that specializes in developing Daniels Spectrum, designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, stands facilities for artists and cultural organizations. But the project itself is at the centre of Regent Park, Canada’s oldest social housing complex, anchored in a wider planning exercise designed to identify how to rebuild which occupies 28 hectares of downtown real estate. Even though the new a community, both physically and socially. centre opened its doors just last September, all three foors are fooded In the mid-2000s, Toronto housing ofcials began thinking seriously with people, young and old. The building is home to numerous grassroots about redeveloping the crumbling complex, a polyglot neighbourhood of cultural and community organizations, everything from the Native Earth new Canadians, low-income single-parent families and wayward characters Performing Arts ensemble to a visuals arts program for kids. living in one of the many shelters in the area. Almost 30 languages are The $22-million facility features a partial green roof, white metal clad- spoken in the area, whose residents have grown accustomed to fending of ding animated by colour bars (a subtle nod to the area’s diverse ethnic gun violence and drug dealers. Despite all of that diversity, when the pro- makeup), and fexible performance spaces with state-of-the-art acoustics. posed renewal was launched residents quickly coalesced around a handful Schmitt says his frm hired sound engineering frm JafeHolden, along with of basic planning principles. According to Mark Guslits, former chief Fisher Dachs Associates, the theatre specialists who designed Toronto’s development ofcer for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. Connected to the centre is (TCHC), the community wanted the new neighbourhood to reconnect to a 26-storey glass tower that mixes condos with ofce spaces, and the new the surrounding city with a standard-issue street grid, something that had Paintbox Bistro, the neighbourhood’s frst eatery . been wiped of the map when federal ofcials built Regent Park in the late Walking through Regent Park these days – along its freshly paved streets 1940s as a “garden city” for returning veterans. lined with townhouses, past a bustling FreshCo supermarket and an The residents weren’t interested in starchitecture; they wanted a large, pHoTo BY Lisa Logan aquatic centre so new it’s still surrounded by mounds of construction dirt open park as a social focal point, recalls Guslits. “The idea was to create a and Caterpillar equipment – it’s hard to imagine that for decades the area Toronto-style neighbourhood. That sentiment was repeated often. The 60 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

↑ paintbox Bistro, located inside Daniels spectrum, doubles as a culinary training centre for residents. → phase one of the development introduced the first wave of mixed-income townhouses, condos and street-level retail. When completed, regent park will house 12,500 people, a 67 per cent increase. pHOTOs: TOp BY Lisa LOgan; BOTTOm rigHT BY TOm arBan mar ⁄ apr 2013 61

community wanted to live in a ‘normal’ neighbourhood.” A local councillor Chicago and other large cities razed their ravaged public housing complexes, also got the city to work with residents on a social development plan (SDP) but low-income units were often not replaced. Recognizing that the old that would lay out the services and amenities needed. Regent Park had an unusually low density compared with the rest of down- Less than a decade later, the partially redeveloped Regent Park – though town, city ofcials reckoned that they could demolish most of the existing still a work-in-progress – has emerged as a remarkable example of what can complexes and redevelop the precinct with much higher density, mixing happen when governments, residents and the private sector come together non-subsidized units with rent-geared-to-income apartments. Proceeds for a high-minded exercise in city building. Phase one, completed in 2010, from condo sales could then ofset the non-proft components. ushered in the frst residential buildings, which seamlessly mix mid-rise When the fve-phase project is complete, the rebuilt community will grow condos that sell at market value with rental apartments and subsidized from 7,500 to 12,500 residents, living in 3,000 condos and approximately townhouses. Last fall, the Spectrum and the new aquatic centre opened. This 1,600 afordable units, with a central park and various social amenities, the year, the local public school is being rebuilt and expanded to include a new Spectrum included, at its core. Daniels president Mitchell Cohen explains daycare and community centre, and city landscapers will begin construction that the idea for creating an arts hub emerged from the SDP, which on the central park. Then comes a soccer feld that will double as a cricket identifed dozens of cultural groups operating in basements, rundown pitch, built with a $2-million pledge from Maple Leaf Sports and Entertain- townhouses and other shabby digs around Regent Park. But the initial ment. All the while, Daniels expects to continue marketing the remaining development strategy didn’t identify a site or a funding source. Cohen says phases. The entire build-out is expected to take 18 years, start to fnish. that after the 2008 credit crisis, Daniels, TCHC and Artscape decided to pHoTos BY lisa logan The billion-dollar endeavour turns on an innovative fnancing formula make a push for stimulus funding. They tweaked the plan, redistributing that has not been tested to such an extent in any other North American city. density away from a central parcel slated for housing. That location, they 62 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

↖ a coffee kiosk in Daniels Spectrum’s main lobby encourages everyone to interact. ← at the centre’s core is ada Slaight Hall, a fully equipped theatre that seats 400. an adjoining courtyard adds another 37 square metres to the event space. ↑→ Seven grassroots organizations are now tenants, including COBa – Collective of Black artists, which enjoys access to sound-insulated rehearsal spaces. mar ⁄ apr 2013 63

↑↑ The new regent ↖ one glazed facade, park aquatic centre, running the entire length by Toronto’s mJma, is of the centre, opens to dramatically clad in pre- an outdoor patio and weathered anthra-zinc. the forthcoming park. ↖ The interior is kept The facade can also be light and airy with a covered with blinds for pitched skylight and blue private swims. laminated glass accents. ← Three pools fill the 1,300-square-metre pHoTos BY Tom arBan; exTerior pHoTo BY sHai gil facility, with bench areas for caregivers to watch over small children. 64 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

The facilities accommodate swim- ming and other activities, from competitive racing and diving to swinging from Tarzan ropes. surmised, could become the cultural centre with no loss of overall density. of sliding glass doors that open up to a patio, which will overlook the new But, Cohen adds, the Spectrum project is about “so much more than park. “You can see right through this whole complex,” says MJMA principal bricks and mortar.” In his view, the facility serves as a venue that cuts across David Miller. social and economic barriers. Its spacious performance halls represent One of the less obvious features has to do with how the centre provides a draw in – and to – a community that was for years “a place to avoid, the visual screens for one particular constituency: Muslim women. During opposite of a destination.” consultations, many residents noted that conventional city pools don’t In many ways, the Spectrum exemplifes the pragmatic intelligence accommodate modesty restrictions. So Miller’s team outftted the facility that went into the entire redevelopment. By way of example, Cohen points with retractable blinds for private swim periods. out that the initial staging plan called for a central park to be built in the The overall goal, notes Cohen, has been to build a mixed-income, mixed- fourth phase. But as soon as Daniels came on board, Cohen realized that a use neighbourhood with amenities tailored to the needs of a complex com- decade-long wait would fail to service the frst wave of residents, so Daniels munity. “You can’t tell where a condo is and where a rent-geared-to-income persuaded the city to accelerate the project. With the park now slated to building is,” he says. “They’re indistinguishable, and they’re on public open later this year, the neighbourhood will fnally get the large, open space streets. That’s such a tangible step forward.” Yet the original Regent Park the community had hoped for. also sprang to life on an updraft of optimism and what was then considered The latest addition is the Regent Park Aquatic Centre, right across cutting-edge urban design. Could this new version fall victim to the law of the street from the Spectrum, and designed by Toronto’s MacLennan unintended consequences, too? Jaunkalns Miller Architects. Set back from the street, the $14.6-million As Guslits acknowledges, “It’s a question that has been posed to me building houses a 1,300-square-metre swimming area with three pools that often: how do you know your project isn’t going to be the disaster of 2050? photo by shai gil along with accessibility ramps and generous poolside seating areas for emerged from meticulous, urban-minded planning informed by the people incorporate such kid-friendly features as a Tarzan rope and a waterslide, Truthfully, there are no guarantees.” But the revitalized Regent Park has caregivers. Visually stunning both inside and out, the centre includes eye- who actually live there, he says. “The odds are on our side.” grabbing features like a sculpted ceiling clad in cedar planks, and a wall torontohousing.ca mar ⁄ apr 2013 65

in MinaMiawaji, japan, a twisted structure wrapped in a swirling ribbon of moulds made from metal mesh rather than wood. “It becomes a form created pillowy concrete strikes a mysterious pose at the edge of the sea. The by gravity,” he says, “a natural phenomenon. The wavy texture is shaped by 1,894-square-metre building, appearing at once friendly and formidable, the pressure of the concrete in the mould.” is a new theatre for Ningyo Joruri, a traditional form of Japanese puppetry Inside and out, Endo sourced local materials wherever possible. The native to the region. Designed by Shuhei Endo, the looping form is intend- theatre’s walls are clad in kawara roofng tiles, which are manufactured in ed to make the theatre both a sculptural centrepiece for the island city and the area; and for the seating he designed a pared-down, contemporary take an unusual example of efcient space planning. on traditional Japanese benches made from cypress wood and bamboo. The curling exterior shell divides the space into two oddly shaped ovals, Tatami cushions add a touch of comfort while ofering a nod to traditional peeling back in spots to reveal doors and windows. “Inside the big ring is Japanese theatres, where the audience sits on tatami foor mats. In the the main auditorium,” explains Endo, whose studio, Shuhei Endo Architect main hallway, black-painted wood adds a natural element, counter- Institute, is based in nearby Osaka. “The small oval makes room for addi- balancing the textured concrete. tional facilities such as a gift shop, a waiting area and a practice room. The Because of its proximity to the harbour, the whole structure is raised on looping walls also guide visitors through the building, from the entrance rectangular pilotis, and is designed to withstand a tsunami. In an emergency, to the theatre.” the roof doubles as safe higher ground. Even though it presents a contem- This is why the architect, who names each of his projects after a central porary expression, the muscular structure was clearly built to withstand concept, christened this one Looptecture A (his other works include itera- the rigours of time – good news for fans of Ningyo Joruri, an art form that tions of such concepts as Rooftecture, Bubbletecture and Slowtecture). The has already survived some four centuries of change. concrete’s soft, textured fnish resulted from pouring the material into paramodern.com 66 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

On an island off the coast of Osaka, Japan, Shuhei Endo builds a dramatic theatre-in-the-round for an ancient form of puppetry By Tim McKeough  For the theatre’s pillowy exterior, concrete was poured into metal mesh moulds and left to dry, allowing weight and gravity to form soft indentations. ↑↑ The mainstage follows traditional Japa nese design, with all of the materials, including the tatami seat pads, sourced locally. ↑ Located off the coast of Osaka, the raised structure is designed to withstand a tsunami, with the roof doubling as higher ground in case of an emergency. ← The exterior walls appear to peel back, revealing entryways and window bays. MAR⁄APR

In Oslo, global star Renzo Piano redefines the capital’s post-industrial shoreline with a glass-roofed contemporary art museum that celebrates its seaside location By David Theodore photography by nic Lehoux 68 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

The new museum is the latest architectural destination along Oslo’s waterfront, a - kilometre area now undergoing a major redevelopment. MAR⁄APR

↖ comprising three ↑ The museum is sur­ separate buildings divided rounded by an outdoor by canals, the museum is sculpture garden and a accessed via two bridges. pebble beach along the ← The trapezoidal glass shoreline. roof curves gently, emu lat­ ing a sailboat mast caught in the wind, with one corner almost touching the ground. elegantly positioned at the end of a boardwalk along the Oslo ford, the Fearnley. The holdings refect the infuence of Hans Rasmus Astrup, who Astrup Fearnley Museet’s giant glass and steel roof grabs your eye from began buying art in the ’60s, and they include major works by Jef Koons, afar. The double-curved structure is a section of a toroid, its ceramic fritted Damien Hirst and Cindy Sherman. “We have a special concept of collecting glass and wooden louvres extending past the building’s edges to protect individual artists rather than historical groupings,” says museum director two canal-side promenades that lead to a beach and a ferry terminal. It Gunnar Kvaran. “That means we have three or four really major collections.” almost touches the ground near the sea, and then stretches up to shelter the Finally, some are coming to see the mid-term results of the Fjord City museum’s entrance. Resembling a sail, a breaking wave or a bird’s wing, the plan, a monumental vision to renew 10 kilometres of Oslo’s waterfront. The roof expresses architecture in a taut lyric mode. city is busy removing existing infrastructure and reconnecting the urban Visitors don’t just happen on this private museum of contemporary art fabric to the sea. Snøhetta’s Oslo Opera House, completed in 2008, was the by accident. They come to see the Renzo Piano Building Workshop’s frst major icon that defned the quay, but still to come are a new public library; project in Scandinavia. A global superstar with ofces in Paris, Geneva the completion of the Barcode Project, which consists of mixed-use towers and New York, Piano has built museums from Sarajevo to San Francisco. designed by various architects; and the controversial Edvard Munch “Making architecture in Oslo is not diferent from other cities, but the museum – all strung like jewels along the downtown shoreline. diference is the vicinity of the site and the sea, and at the same time being Piano’s building constitutes the centrepiece of Tjuvholmen, or “thief in an urban context,” says RPBW associate Olaf de Nooyer. The workshop’s island,” a former shipyard transformed into an upscale mix of condominiums, renown has helped the new museum draw over 7,000 patrons a week since restaurants and commercial art galleries. Tjuvholmen KS, a partnership it opened to the public last fall. between the Selvaag Group and Aspelin Ramm construction companies, Gallery-goers are also coming for the art. On display is a private col- bought the land from the city in 2003. The developer commissioned Piano, lection started by the family of Norwegian shipping magnate Thomas and then approached Astrup Fearnley as prospective tenants. In other 70 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

Piano’s love for exposing a building’s construction is most evident in the roof, whose laminated wooden beams are supported by slender metal columns and cable rigging. MAR⁄APR

↑ The museum houses a → ceramic fritting in the roof ↘↘ each gallery has a private collection that reduces glass transparency different ceiling height, includes contemporary by 40 per cent. pictured material palette and works from the ’60s to now, here is Huang Yong ping’s size, providing space including many pieces by colosseum, on display in one for large installations as British artist Damien Hirst. of the main galleries. well as smaller works. words, the museum is a public amenity built by a private company in return and ceiling heights on the two foors of the long, trapezoidal pavilion. “Good for development rights. “It’s an unusual model in Europe,” notes Kvaran, lighting, especially natural light if possible, is paramount,” notes de Nooyer. “but quite typical in Norway.” Outside, the architects integrated the existing canals, so that water divides In the end, the architecture refects both the neighbourhood’s past as a the project into three distinct pavilions joined by two bridges. Visitors have port and its future as part of Fjord City. Without being too literal, the build- unimpeded access to the temporary gallery, a bookstore and a café through a ing has “all the semiotics of a boat,” as Kvaran puts it. Inside the double- glazed lobby. They must go back out and across the canal to visit a second height room intended for temporary exhibitions, overlooked on one side by building, dedicated to the permanent collection. Surprisingly, the third a mezzanine gallery, Piano’s familiar high-tech, white-painted steelwork pavilion is leased to a frm of lawyers. However, this tenure fts perfectly with gives visitors the sense of being inside a ship’s hull. Outside, cable-rigged the project’s genesis in private development. The origin also explains the art steel columns topped with wooden beams echo sailboat masts. The exterior in the adjoining sculpture park: the works by Louise Bourgeois, Franz West, is clad in aspen planks subtly rounded at the corners. Now a toasted brown and Fischli & Weiss are all from the developers’ collection, not the museum’s. hue, the wood will fade to a silvery grey with time and weathering. “Love If the design works, it is because, as de Nooyer suggests, it promotes for detail is part of our ofce,” says de Nooyer, who worked alongside Piano quality of urban life as much as quality of architecture. Still, since the Astrup throughout the design and construction phases. “The details are developed Fearnley frst opened its collection to the public in 1993, the role of museums by frst designing a limited number of typical details, which are reviewed, and museum architecture in tourism, investment and city building has discussed and mocked up until they are fully understood.” changed dramatically. It takes a great deal of sophistication to make archi- Piano’s team, collaborating with Oslo architects Narud-Stokke-Wiig, tecture with so much grace under such great economic pressure. “This proved open to dialogue. For instance, a proposal to add photovoltaic panels proposition by Renzo Piano was an important achievement,” opines Kvaran. to the roof was nixed. To house the museum’s fragmented, idiosyncratic “The meeting between the collection and Piano has a resonance that will permanent collection, the designers provided galleries of diverse shapes last a long time.” rpbw.com 72 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

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7 VISIONARY PROJECTS THAT ARE POISED TO IMPROVE LIVES AND INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE By David Dick-Agnew, Tim McKeough and Elizabeth Pagliacolo A LEARNING CENTRE FOR MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS Cracking open the divisions between study, practice and socializing, the Medical and Graduate Education Building, at the Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan, is organ- ized around a 14-storey “study cascade” of staggered landings, meeting spaces and stairs. Designed by Diller Scofi dio+ Renfro of New York , these communal spaces are enclosed by a continuous glass facade that reveals the activity within to the neighbourhood and makes for one of the most formally daring buildings in recent memory. “Medical education is a collaborative process, so creating a facility that embraces and supports that was important to us,” says Patrick Burke, the school’s assistant vice- president of capital project management. The 9,290-square-metre centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art technol- ogy for medical simulations, including computerized mannequins and video capture capabilities, as well as environ- mental controls, such as automated shading to manage solar gain during the day. Construction is now under way, with completion expected in 2016. dsrny.com  MAR⁄APR

The ultimate infrastructure revamp, the Shareway 2030 would overhaul the BosWash corridor, which connects Boston and Washington, D.C., hitting New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore along the way. In essence, the proposal by Boston fi rm Höweler+ Yoon, which won the 2012 Audi Urban Future Award, would turn this 725-kilometre route into a multi-nodal megalopolis. Commuter rail lines and roads would be bundled like a “physical internet,” freeing up medians and interchanges for other uses, including small-scale agriculture. The plan also enables smoother transfers between modes of transport– including to taxi, bicycle or local transit for the fi nal leg of a voy- age– with an interactive wayfi nding system to help passengers navigate the hundreds of routes, railway stations and airports in the network. This is a continuation of the trend toward shared, rather than exclusive, A FULLY INTEGRATED transportation methods , and it could dras tic ally cut travel times and improve accessibility for the over 53 TRANSPORTATION 2 million people who call the region home. Though the Shareway will not NETWORK likely appear exactly as described , Audi’s jury was convinced that many of the elements proposed could be in place by2030. mystudio.us A HUB FOR The living conditions in Grotão, part of 3 the Paraisópolis favela of São Paulo, are INFORMAL among the worst in South America. A low-lying bowl of land, the area fi lls with water during the rainy season, frequently SETTLEMENTS triggering mudslides. Urban-Think Tank’s Urban Remediation and Civic Infrastructure Hub, a 6,012-square- metre music school slated for completion in 2014, shores up part of the community with a series of terraces, but also creates a cultural gathering place that improves transportation infrastructure. In addi- tion to classrooms, the project envisions an outdoor soccer pitch, performance halls , fi elds for urban agriculture, and a public elevator and a pedestrian ramp system to help residents navigate the site’s 25-metre vertical rise from the local bus stop. “We’re using this building not only for musical education, but also construction education, as an example of how to build and maintain neighbour- hoods, and how to use energy e ciently,” says principal Hubert Klumpner. The facility and the landscaping capture and reuse rain water, while photovoltaic pan- els, passive ventilation systems, and the use of cast concrete to contain recycled construction waste set a positive example for future developments. u-tt.com MAR⁄APR

A GATHERING A circular honeycomb of a building PLACE THAT 4 with a steeply angled roof and expansive openings that explode EMBRACES NATURE with trees and plants, L’Assemblée Radieuse in Libreville, Gabon, by Work Architecture Company, puts the area’s natural riches proudly on display. “Our idea was to utilize the incredible ecologies of the country, by creating three iconic gardens to organize the project and provide the building’s main visible expression,” says Dan Wood, principal at the NewYork fi rm. Slated to be completed in time for the 2014 summit of the African Union, the fi ve-storey, 18,950-square- metre structure is enveloped in screenlike walls made from African limestone, designed to shade the entire structure. The angled roof funnels rainwater inside, through the gardens, over an internal waterfall and into a cistern for later use – but it also serves as a beacon. “By angling the roof, the voids of the gardens and the rooftop water feature will be clearly visible from the city below,” says Wood. “The roof therefore becomes the most important public face of the building.” work.ac A SCHOOL THAT 5 EMPOWERS A CITY Can architecture be a force for tanks collect rainwater for the school good in Gaza? With predictions that and for irrigation. the blockaded city will be uninhab- Originally due to break ground itable by 2020, Bologna architect in 2013, the pilot project has been Mario Cucinella has been exploring stalled for fi nancial reasons, but a solution since 2010, when he and Cucinella believes it still has a posi- the UNRelief and Works Agency tive impact, in principle alone. “Gaza for Palestine Refugees in the Near is a microcosm that epitomizes the East sought a way to provide the bleakest scenario the MiddleEast region with better learning environ- and the world might face if the envi- ments for its children , as well as ronmental confl ict is not addressed,” desperately needed access to water he notes. “This concept has already and electricity. raised awareness among professionals The design of his 3,500-square- and the general public about the metre Green Schools (20 in total) possibility of transforming the built takes into consideration the local environment from a problem to a climate and Islamic architecture. solution for the sustainability of our Trees grow through the building’s cities.” mcarchitects.it concrete and earth pillars, with their canopies shading the overhanging roof. Holes cut into the roof enhance ventilation, solar cells and solar heaters provide surplus energy for the community, and underground  MAR⁄APR  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

6 AN ECO With its canopy of giant petals, naturally, without the hassle of rules keep the roof damp to exploit the competition-winning pro- and regulations.” In scouting for evaporative cooling– “anatural posal for an open market in Old ideas, the architects immediately air conditioner, like sweating,” MARKETPLACE Town Casablanca , by Rotterdam’s recognized the need for low- says vanOdijk. To further improve sanitation , the fi rm devised garbage maintenance solutions. To allow TomDavid Architecten, empha- air to circulate, they devised a sizes inclusivity: it would welcome disposal holes, so litter can easily FOR ALL both licensed and illegal vendors. sunshade made from segments of be swept away to an underground service level. While there are no high-density concrete, a common As principal Tom van Odijk explains, “Both markets are a vital piece of a similar structure could be built The enormous slanted petals the Casablanca economy. We make material in the local architecture. fi rm plans to develop the concept, no distinction between the two, would gather rainwater to clean in the future: “It’s not an expensive but approach the use of the space the square daily, fl ush toilets, and design.” tomdavid.nl Davenport Rd. Ossington Ave. Christie St. Bathurst St. Spadina Rd. 7 Dupont St. A GREEN Lansdowne Ave. Dufferin St.  km  km ROUTE Workshop Architecture seeks on this midtown route receive to spur long-term change: “Many to do for Toronto what Friends of public funds, but it lacks a unifi ed, other areas in the city have ravine the High Line did for Manhattan. holistic vision , so the fi rm launched parks, for strolls and to get from THROUGH Unlike the original High Line, an ideas competition to get local pointA to pointB o the road. a neglected elevated railway, communities and the city thinking It wouldn’t take much to make a Toronto’s Green Line comprises a about how to devise pedestrian and continuous pedestrian and cycle THE CITY loose collection of well-trod green cycling links throughout the line. route across the corridor’s length , as spaces along the hydro corridor, a While there are no plans as yet to it passes through many neighbour- fi ve-kilometre stretch of private- develop the winning concept, to be hoods.” greenlinetoronto.ca, public land dotted with power announced in May, Workshop asso- workshoparchitecture.ca transmission towers . Many of the ciate director Helena Grdadolnik streets, parks and playgrounds sees the initiative as an opportunity MAR⁄APR

“One thing I haven’t done yet is create darkness,” says Groppi. “It’s impossible, of course, but making light makes you think PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE about darkness, too.” At left: His Movie floor lamp. 78 MAR ⁄ APR 2013 AzUREMAGAzInE.cOM

A maestro of lighting, Italian designer Davide Groppi orchestrates visual drama with his barely there fixtures BY CATHERINE OSBORNE PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE The All Black metal table lamp, standing  centi metres tall, comes with its own incandescent bulb. MAR⁄APR

davide groppi’s milan showroom isn’t easy to fnd. Located down a narrow, designer has crafted lighting fxtures that are modest in scale but change cobblestone street, it occupies a storefront with no signage, except for his a room dramatically. He has worked with the biggest brands, designing name printed on one window. Inside, the space feels more like a gallery, lighting for Valcucine and Bof kitchens and table lamps for De Padova, with little in the way of furniture to disrupt the pristine atmosphere. Only while running his studio in Piacenza, with a staf of 20; operating three the occasional spot of light suggests that there is something to actually showrooms (the others are in Barcelona and Copenhagen); and projecting look at. On the foor sits a white polycarbonate cube, internally lit by an into the future with an eye on opening another showroom in New York. unseen bulb; in a case on a wall, a row of 35‑millimetre slides slowly fashes What makes his lights stand out is how unassuming they appear at frst. on and of in some predetermined sequence. And, tucked at the back in a His Foil sconces, for example, look like nothing more than tiny wall‑ PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE darkened anteroom, a single light casts edgeless shadows. mounted shelves; Miss is essentially a suspended tube 75 centimetres in Tall, elegant and quick with a smile, Groppi eagerly describes what length that projects a shaft of light with flm noir allure. He credits his he does as a kind of magic, more playful than technical. Since 1988, the moody oeuvre to a host of infuences: he is a fan of Japanese minimalism, 80 MaR ⁄ aPR 2013 azUREMagazInE.cOM

← ← Sampei lamps elegantly ↑ For his Miss series, illumi- animate the interior of Barino nation from a five-watt LED Café in Piacenza, in a histori- travels down a 25- millimetre- cal space where permanent wide tube, to be diffused as fixtures are verboten. an isolated spotlight. Groppi ↖ Designed in 2009, Saba also designed a light source has an inverted aluminum powered by four lemons. lampshade that casts a ↗ Eco-LED sconces made of focused pool of light. brushed metal shine upward ← In Black Block, an eight- and down. millimetre hole located → Moon, made of Japanese directly above a special paper, on display at Groppi’s optical system beams light Milan showroom. upward from an 11-watt LED. the surrealist painter René Magritte, and, not surprisingly, Caravaggio, the notice where the light is coming from,” he says, “but you see it on the table. baroque painter who perfected the chiaroscuro technique of illuminating It’s really fantastic.” fgures within an otherwise darkened background. While he has shifted into LED technology, many of Groppi’s pieces still Caravaggio’s spotlighting efects are also Groppi’s. One of his best-known use incandescence and pay tribute to his abiding love for naked bulbs. PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE which stands 4.4 metres tall. The telescopic, reed-thin fxture is capped a series that feature glowing Edison flaments. This one, called Edivad At the entrance to his showroom, the frst fxture seen is one of his latest in pieces, designed with Enzo Calabrese in 2011, is the Sampei foor lamp, (“Davide” spelled backwards) hangs upside down. The inversion, explains with a black cup that projects a pool of illumination, ofering an elegant solution for downlighting with no need to install permanent fxtures; it’s Groppi, was inspired by Magritte’s realistic though implausible paintings. It is also nod to light’s shapeshifting evolution. davidegroppi.com especially popular in restaurants aiming for an ethereal atmosphere. At Barino Café in Piacenza, for instance, Sampei lights rise above each linen- covered table casting light onto dinner plates. “Sometimes you don’t even MaR ⁄ aPR 2013 81

THE FRAGRANT HOUSE Enveloped in aromatic foliage, a residence in Lisbon smells as good as it looks By Paige Magarrey PHOTO BY LOREM IPSUM DOLORE  MAR⁄APR  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM

←↑ The 4,500 plants that cover the exterior walls are fed nutrient-rich water through an embedded irrigation system. ↗ → a rooftop lap pool, sur- rounded by beds of aromatic saffron, features portal windows that look down into the house’s interior. it’s not often you come across a house designed to enhance the olfactory most gardens, pruning and minor plant replacement every few months experience, but along a quiet laneway in Lisbon one residence exudes the sufce to keep things looking fresh. aromas of fowers and herbs. Financed by Buildings With Art, a local devel- The interior takes its cues from the outdoors as well, with a dramatic opment group that revitalizes properties and pushes for more innovative staircase that slices through the three foors and leads to the rooftop pool. architecture, the house has a rectangular form covered with 4,500 plants The steep climb was inspired by Alfama, a nearby hillside district known for on three sides, from the second foor up. its narrow streets and meandering steps. “It was a real challenge to work “We thought of it as a living tree,” says architect Tiago Rebelo de Andrade, on such a narrow lot,” says Rebelo de Andrade of the site’s modest size, just who collaborated on the project with Luís Rebelo de Andrade and Manuel 5.7 by 18 metres. The house also butts up against a neighbouring building. Cachão Tojal. “We wanted it to complement the other trees in the neigh- “We had to fgure out how to make the rooms as big as possible, and to have bourhood.” Selected to withstand the country’s warm climate and extended enough bedrooms for a typical Portuguese family of four.” rainy season, the 25 varieties of Iberian and Mediterranean plant life emit Because the plant life serves as a natural bufer against air pollution that curated fragrances that correspond to the function of each storey. The scent can decay surfaces, the exterior promises to age slowly. The living wall will of lavender, for instance, wafts through the second-foor bedrooms, while change appearance with the seasons, taking on a browner palette in winter rosemary infuses the third-foor living area. On the rooftop, where a lap and more vibrant hues in summer. It can also be completely transformed, pool is installed, the aroma of safron flls the air. Embedded with an irrigation adds Rebelo de Andrade. “If the owner wants to switch to only red fowers,” system that automatically sprays the vegetation with nutrient-enriched he suggests, “it would be like a red heart in the middle of the city.” water at every metre, the plantings are virtually maintenance-free. As with tiagorebelodeandrade.com mar ⁄ apr 2013 83

comfort orgAtec 1 cologne zone At orgAtec, mAnufActurers showed off wAys to creAte cozy, intimAte spAces in open concept offices By elizABeth pAgliAcolo 3 4 2 At the hAy booth at Orgatec, an almost incognito like Antonio Citterio’s latest iteration of task chairs Kon stan tin Grcic picked up a chair from atop a table, with all manner of felted hoods. The idea that the turned it over to check out its construction and pushed workplace could provide a respite from work itself was on its fexible back. It wasn’t his own model the German also expressed at Carpet Concept’s New Silence exhibit, designer was testing but part of Erwan and Ronan where you could don a pair of headphones and listen to Bouroullec’s Copenhague collection of classroom and waves crashing against a shore. At Haworth, three ofce furniture. “It’s nice, he remarked. “I just didn’t women crowded into the CalmSpace sleep capsule, to want to sit on it and break the prototype.” experience its soothing light and sound emanations. One great designer (who also debuted a smart- looking These privacy-boosting systems were conveyed in classroom chair, the Pro for Flötotto) admiring the work vibrant colours, as were many new seating options. of others seemed to embody what this all-encompassing, Walter Knoll and Tecno had perhaps the most beautiful biennial contract furniture fair is all about: innovation seats on ofer: the former’s curvaceous Seating Stones, and inspiration. At the enormous and exhilarating Vitra and the latter’s low-slung Archipelago (see page 94 for stand, groups of showgoers wearing headsets followed more details). along as company reps described the latest products, and Many idiosyncratic systems were also on display, men in suits made phone calls at desks concealed from Proof’s SideSeat, by Studio Makkink & Bey, to behind sound-absorbing Workbays, another standout Unifor’s retro writing stations by Fernando Urquijo and product by the Bouroullec brothers. The main thrust at the ultra-minimal LessLess by Jean Nouvel. Clearly, Vitra was intimate nooks, whether in supersized manufacturers of high-end design are focusing on ways versions, such as the giant enclosures used as display to make the ofce a pleasure. cases for the brand’s accessories; or in miniature ones, 84 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

5 6 8 7 1 soft rocK 3 just wing it 5 new school 7 supple seating Simon pengelly cooked up Dim Sum Taking privacy out of the box, The undeniable star at the hay UNStudio continues to devise for montis, in the form of a rocking Buzzispace and Couvreur.Devos stand was the Bouroullecs’ Copen- surprising designs for walter Knoll. chair for modern contract spaces. launched BuzziWings, felt partitions hague collection of tables and chairs, The latest: the shapely Seating padded in polyurethane foam, with suspended from the ceiling – with ori gin ally designed for the University Stones, made with a steel frame and walnut or oak runners, it comes clad an in tegrated light source – that of Cop e nhagen. Supported by a polyurethane foam, upholstered in in leather or fabric. montis.nl frame work or casual areas. trestle frame, the wooden pieces vibrant duotone fabrics suggestive buzzispace.com are flexible and elegant. hay.dk of Incan textiles. walterknoll.de 2 BacK it up 4 material mix 6 pillow store 8 magnetic personality tecno presented vibrant seating and an update of its Beta desk Jehs + Laub designed the a chair Designer robert Bronwasser came U-Turn, a charming lamp by michel system. The latter’s main element for Brunner with the ability to mix up with the pillow wall panel for Charlot for Belux, has a magnetic is a 120-centimetre-long backbone and match its material components: cascando. available in a multitude die-cast aluminum LED head, module that doubles as storage. a frame in die-cast aluminum or of colours, it’s both decorative and which enables you to position the When plugged into it, work surfaces, plastic and a wooden shell. versatile, as a sound- dampening light directly or indirectly. available screens and accessories create mul- brunner‑group.com device, a magazine rack or a garment in pendant, tabletop and clip-on tiple configurations. tecnospa.com hanger. cascando.nl versions. belux.com azUrEmagazINE.Com mar ⁄ apr 2013 85

TABLE MATE  LESSLESS IS MORE  COCOON COMFORT  DESK IN A BOX Wilkhahn’s handsome Graph confer- With LessLess, Jean Nouvel updates Züco, part of Dauphin’s Human- A box module forms the name sake ence chair, designed by Jehs + Laub a desk and storage system he created Design Group, devised Cocone as structure of Framework ., by and launched in early , now has for Fondation Cartier in . Manu- an “oasis of well-being.” Defined Fantoni. A built-in desk extends from a matching table. It features cast factured by Unifor, the current by a curved one-piece wooden shell, this unit, which can be left open or aluminum legs, and a veneered MDF series includes new storage towers, it ’s available in one-, two- or three- fitted with storage compartments. top in -millimetre-thick reinforced and finishes in anodized aluminum. seaters, with an optional built-in The components are made of glass. wilkhahn.com unifor.it lamp. zueco.com recycled chipboard. fantoni.it  FIERY FABRIC  ALL IN ONE  QUIET ZONE  CHAMBER MUSIC Part of Kinnasand’s exuberant Unfold A witty Dutch take on the classroom Under its Workspirit banner, Vitra Haworth takes the trend of the  collection, Dragon unfurls a desk and seat combo, SideSeat, by rolled out a number of new ideas. private nook to its logical extreme multi-tone digital print on Trevira. Studio Makkink & Bey for Prooff, The most prominent, the intimate with CalmSpace. This sleep capsule, Meant for contract environments, the integrates a desk, a cupboard, and Workbay meeting space, comes in outfitted with a slim foam mattress, drapery is best suited for daring a spring-loaded seat that adjusts to two heights and several work surface can be programmed with a sound spaces. kinnasand.com individual body weight. prooff.com and seating combinations. vitra.com and light show that runs for a - to -minute power nap. haworth.com  MAR⁄APR

MEET ME IN THE LOUNGE Liquid Lounge, by Studio Cibidi for Castelli, shows another approach to private seating. The modular system includes a range of accessories, from occasional tables to lighting inte- grated into the backrest. castelli.it  TABLE DANCE In a range of shapes and sizes, the tabletops of Fly, by Lievore Altherr Molina for Sellex, seem light as air and incredibly versatile. They are made with injection- moulded alumi-  num legs and MDF tops. sellex.es  NEW CONTOUR LaPalma presented Link, a new chair in curved wood, by Hee Welling. The seat, with legs or a swivel base, comes in ash, blanched oak or Cana letto walnut, and in white and black stains. lapalma.it  LEARNING CURVE The sinuous Pro, by Konstantin Grcic for Flötotto, represents the latest  evolution of the classroom chair. Grcic emphasizes the flexibility of his plastic chair, with its round seat, slim backrest and multiple base options. floetotto.de AZUREMAGAZINE.COM MAR⁄APR

curate interieur kortrijk this belgium’s pre-eminent furniture fair is a treasure trove of well-appointed 1 products and dazzling installations by elizabeth pagliacolo 3 2 interieur, the biennale held in Kortrijk, Belgium, always embraces a collec- tive idea, and for last October’s edition that theme was Future Primitives. The most successful incarnations of the concept appeared in site-specifc installations, and at a refurbished factory complex, Buda Island, that is fast becoming a cultural hub. The future – or a postdated version of it – was best encapsulated in Ross Lovegrove’s Instinctive Overide, a light and sound show projected on a foating bean. A modern iteration of primitive was seen in Nendo’s delicate wooden Fishline chairs, painstakingly varnished by winding fshing line dipped in dye around the pieces, which were exhibited in peaked-roof houses. The most efective installation, though, was also the most ethereal: Arcades, by London studio Troika, used fresnel lenses to refract artifcial light into a series of arches for a Gothic efect. As for tangible product oferings, the fair is more concerned with pre- senting the crème de la crème rather than everything new and shiny. This is no product launch pad, à la Salone del Mobile, but rather a more concep- tual display, similar in scope and mood to Design Miami. Some of the most interesting pieces were found in exhibits. A display titled Déjà-Vu, for instance, presented products seemingly conceived along the same wave- length, including Doshi Levien’s Capo chair for Cappellini, and Benjamin Hubert’s Pod chair for De Vorm. In the manufacturers’ booths, big brands such as Moroso simply showed recent furnishings with vibrant new slip- covers and fnishes, letting the smaller manufacturers and design galleries stand out. The most noteworthy pieces shook of the show’s design-art seriousness and displayed a sense of humour: Bertjan Pot’s Downstairs chandelier with its fashing bulbs, Matali Crasset’s concrete light fxtures shaped like airplane detectors from the First World War, and Sampling’s sheeplike Farming stools clad in crocheted hemp. 4 88 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

5 6 7 7 book Pockets Designed by Diane Steverlynck, the Leaning series of foldable, wall- mounted storage pockets is made by objekten from sustainable ply- 9 wood. The fabric on the sides comes in 12 colours. objekten.com 8 8 modern icon richard Hutton’s apps chair may resemble a smart phone icon, yet its well-resolved form feels anything but gimmicky. The armchair and the two-seater are manufactured by artifort, with a wooden frame upholstered in foam and covered in one solid fabric or two contrasting ones. artifort.com 9 tHe war at Home 11 matali Crasset took inspiration for her concrete LED lamp with acrylic diffuser, for lcda, from the huge concrete sound mirrors set into the 10 ground along England’s coast during the First World War to listen for 1 fungi forms 4 witH tHe grain airborne invasions. beton-lcda.com With the feel of an instant classic, These NewspaperWood necklaces, 10 smootH ride the mushroom-shaped marie lamp conceived by rENs and mieke meijer, by Haymann is best arranged are made by Vij5 with newspaper Shrouded in darkness inside the in a cluster, to display the various compacted to look like wood grain. Buda Factory, ross lovegrove’s textures, from oak to marble, cork Set into brass rings, the pendants are Instinctive Overide installation took and aluminum. the smallest iteration of an accessory shape via colourful projections by haymanneditions.com and furniture collection that includes Biothing. The fibreglass bean, which tables and cabinets. vij5.nl hung from the ceiling, was partly 2 between tHe lines inspired by pininfarina’s futuristic 5 furniture as art CNr concept from the ’70s, and paris architecture firm Jakob + recalls Lovegrove’s own bulbous macFarlane fashioned the rain Shelf muller van severen’s furniture line, Car on a Stick. rosslovegrove.com for marcel by out of solid pine, CNC shown as a Future primitives instal- cut with graphic perforations in a lation, combines seating, shelving 11 a fine grain branch-like motif that may inspire and lighting in idiosyncratic ways and creative book storage. marcelby.fr recalling Donald Judd’s forms, in To create his Fishline chairs, nendo a variety of materials and finishes. wound transparent fishing line dipped 3 arcade fire mullervanseveren.be in various dyes around a series of wooden seats. nendo.jp London’s troika lined up seven pairs 6 stairway to HeaVen of projectors that beamed light up through fresnel lenses affixed to Designed for a theatre café, bertjan 12 amazing graze aluminum poles, refracting the light Pot’s showstopper of a chan de lier sampling of Latvia crafted this to form arches. The effect, called comes in four-, six- or eight-step animated series of handmade oak arcades, resembled the nave of a versions. all can be fitted with incan- stools covered in crocheted hemp cathedral. troika.uk.com descent bulbs or LEDs. bertjanpot.nl twine. sampling.lv 12 mar ⁄ apr 2013 89

field trip Zurich from the Spoon to the city ↑ cutwork Kvadrat drapery in a landScape defined by trackS, trains and looks in the making or rather corporate. envelops this lounge area in trams, cranes off-load the heavy stuff while trucks Heading inside, you come across the first signs the lobby. As part of häberli’s bring in more pallets of construction materials. of creativity: a ping-pong table and, beyond it, a “Ode to Zurich,” models of This is District 5, zurich’s burgeoning ex-industrial glass door with a turned wooden handle. push it land mark buildings are posed zone, where for the past decade companies have to enter the lobby, and discover a world of colours, on Stabiles tables by Alias. been setting up their Swiss headquarters in shiny patterns and materials, where guests lounge in new towers, squeezed between massive car repair large, vibrant chairs, check in at the reception desk shops and older houses along an old viaduct. or buy design souvenirs from the tiny corner shop District 5 is now a trendy area where modern while fashionable young staffers strut about. housing, shops and businesses are popping up This hotel in West zurich is like no other in the daily, with bars, restaurants and art galleries fledgling 25hours chain, now with six operational mixed in among the new developments. it is also and a seventh planned to open in Berlin this year. where the new 25hours Hotel has just opened, in keeping with the chain’s motto, “You know one, tucked into a sleek, square black building marked you know none,” renowned local designer alfredo with a large white logo, confirming that you have Häberli made sure the Swiss location would stand the right address, although everything around out. it took his studio three years to complete – its 90 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

With the Swiss financial capital as his muse, Alfredo Häberli puts his colourful and expressive touch on every aspect of the new hours Hotel in West Zurich BY FABIENNE DUPUIS ←← Sofas from the Take a Line for a Walk series for Moroso sit by the lobby’s grand staircase. A neon light sculpture by Häberli hangs over the staircase. ← A view of the hotel’s reception desk, with the shop’s display window in the background. ↓ In the relaxed bar-restaurant, patrons sit on Ginger stools by BD Barcelona, and Jill chairs, Häberli’s first design for Vitra. largest interior design project to date – and But the hours Hotel is not just a design guide of Zurich,” the designer attests . involved a long list of world-class manufacturers. showcase; it had to have character. This element In the lobby, a colossal central staircase The result is an environment where every detail Häberli took from the city itself, the hotel’s true leads up one floor to event and conference displays the vibrant, expressive signature of the inspiration. It starts in the lobby, a multi-faceted rooms, including a Bulthaup- and Miele-equipped Argentine-born Häberli. In collaboration with such open space that abounds with references to kitchen space for events and cooking classes. prominent brands as Alias, FSB, Hay, Kvadrat, Häberli’s adopted home . From the coinlike pieces The L-shaped bar serves as an inviting space to and Moroso, over  products were developed or embedded in the flooring; to the models of local enjoy breakfast, a light lunch, drinks or chats designed for the hotel – from furniture to fabrics, landmarks randomly displayed on tables; to the with friends, while colourful niches encircling the spoons and door handles. These, alongside mirrors hanging in the restaurant, shaped like the staircase provide more private spots for work Häberli’s production pieces and classics by Vitra city’s five iconic islands – everything points to or relaxation. These are godsends in a public area and Iittala, combine to create an atmosphere of Zurich. The references don’t stop here. They extend that typically offers few options other than the relaxed comfort. And this is the feeling you have to the rooms and their categories, ran ging from front desk or the front door. “The goal was to upon entering one of the  rooms, decor ated silver to gold and platinum, a sly allusion to the give the hotel a soul,” says Häberli – and this aim in soft tones of green, brown and blue, energized Swiss financial capital. “The theme of the hotel is is undeniably reached here, confirming that by the vivid hues of a few small wall graphics, ‘Zurich my sweet hometown.’ Throughout the District  is not only up and coming but very and custom-designed carpets made by Tai Ping. building, you will find a three- dimensional city much happening now. MAR⁄APR

field trip ZurIch ← In the sauna area on the top floor, natural materials and a warm palette create a relaxing environment. The space also affords a bird’s-eye view of the city, with the Alps in the distance. ↙ The rooms are divided into silver, gold and platinum categories. Guests sleep on beds by Alias and sit on Vitra chairs at bespoke desks. The custom- designed broadloom in the silver rooms is made by Tai Ping. ↓ The eight platinum rooms each have a balcony. If you go WhAT To see And do Where To shoP meier Bruecher and 8 eden avenue, among if there’s snow, don’t miss sledding on the 869- Freitag, the global brand known for its truck tarp others. expect traditional food with an italian metre-high Üetliberg, which on a clear day offers bags, was born here in zurich, in 1993. So what twist. times-zurich.com a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding could be better than purchasing one from its alps. catch the S10 train from zurich’s main shop (geroldstrasse 17, near Hardbrücke railway Where To eAT station to Üetliberg, where sleds are available station), which is housed in a shipping container it took less than a year for clouds (maagplatz 5) for hire. zvv.ch tower in District 5? freitag.ch to be named the most in-demand restaurant also de rigueur is a visit to the centre Le cor- nestled in a converted garage, the newly in zurich. although the months-long wait for a busier (Bellerivestrasse, District 8), a house opened Times (gaso meter strasse 7 ) is a perfect reservation can be a tad off-putting, it’s worth commissioned by art collector Heidi Weber, and combination: a bar-restaurant that also sells cool the patience and effort: the newly awarded single the Swiss architect’s last building before he died objects. The owners started with a stock of attrac- michelin star restaurant delivers food to match in 1965. it houses books, art pieces and writings tive antiques, then moved on to a mix of desirable the fabulous view over the city. clouds.ch by the modernist master. lecorbusier-center.com international brands, from astier de Villatte to → Rooms from $190 per night. 25hours-hotels.com 92 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

Engineer tested, designer approved. Designers and engineers have always had a lot to say about ceiling fans – “awful,” “ugly,” “kiss of death” and “piece of junk.” But when it comes to Haiku, you’re more likely to hear them say things like: innovative, minimalist, elegant and beautiful. Haiku combines tens of thousands of hours of research and development, hundreds of prototypes, and award-winning style. The perfect marriage of form and function explains why Big Ass Fans® have been recommended by more than 4,000 design professionals. Leading efficiency Integrating a patent-pending motor design that is both silent and powerful with aerodynamic airfoils, Haiku is certified by ENERGY STAR® as the world’s most energy-efficient ceiling fan. This sophisticated motor features seven speeds and the exclusive Whoosh® mode—a proprietary algorithm that simulates the variations in natural airflow. Crafted by hand Meticulously handcrafted of the highest quality materials—five layers of sustainable Moso bamboo or durable glass-infused matrix composite— Haiku Thin Sheet™ airfoils are precision balanced so you’ll receive the very best ceiling fan, without the wobble. Guaranteed. Quirky name. Serious fans. The 60-inch Haiku ceiling fan is everything designers have come to love about Big Ass Fans for industrial and commercial spaces, finally available in a compact package for homes. Need a ceiling fan as refined as the rest of your LIFETI ME L I M I T E D design? Visit haikufan.com to build the perfect Haiku, W A Y or speak to a consultant at 855-490-3047. R R A N T “ Haiku is unlike any fan we’ve seen before, in technology, materials and how e ciently it moves the air. We used Haiku as functional jewelry in a renovation. Once it was turned on, our clients texted us to say their Haiku could not be more perfect.” John Grable, FAIA, San Antonio, Texas haikufan.com/AZURE 855-490-3047 ©2013 Delta T Corporation dba the Big Ass Fan Company. All rights reserved.

Design File soft seating islanD These modular systems for home and office come in unexpected living shapes and arrangements by Diane Chan 2 1 4 3 6 5 1 Pekoe 3 flores 5 goodplace 6 Mell by eQ3 by segis by flexform by Cor This angular sectional has an optional ideal for reception areas, the Flores available in an assortment of fabrics Jehs+Laub designed these modular shelf along the back to accommodate benches come in round and oblong and leathers, the modules of antonio chairs, sofas and benches with storage. part of a line that includes versions, clad in fabric or faux leather, citterio’s seating can be specified a delicate steel frame that makes apartment-size sofas, it comes in with weighted backrests that can without backrests, so it can be them appear to float. Suited for grape, graphite or beige. eq3.com be rearranged or affixed with a steel accessed from both sides. optional contract settings, the line includes cable. segis.it down pillows round out the col lection. a space-saving corner seat. cor.de 2 fin flexform.it by MDf italia 4 archipelago by tecno Jehs+Laub’s customizable seating system is defined by large uphol- Sofas, armchairs and side tables stered cushions that rest on a thin join together in monica Förster’s frame, with armrests in long or short, contract seating system, to create tall or low profiles. mdfitalia.it organic shapes within classic configurations. tecnospa.com 94 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

standout Stylish seating options in vibrant colours for both contract and residential spaces sofas 2 1 3 4 5 7 6 1 La Mise 3 Boutique Delft Jumper 5 Hybride 7 Lounge by Cassina by Moooi by Ligne Roset by Knoll With its pinched corners and zigzag marcel Wanders wrapped his puffy Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance’s down- The paris firm architecture & associés stitching, this three-seater by Luca three-seater in an orange cable-knit filled sofa, in leather or fabric, is designed this vibrant collection for Nichetto feels at once quirky and Kvadrat wool (also available in grey), defined by its height-adjustable back public or residential spaces. propped tailored. an armchair and a two- with contrasting polyester cushions: cushion. an ottoman com plements on chrome or copper legs, the sofas seater complete the line. cassina.it two filled with goose down and one the piece. ligne-roset-usa.com and chaise with ottoman can be with foam. moooi.com specified in two heights, depending 2 Gambetta 6 Lima on the setting, and upholstered in by Cappellini 4 Love Papilio by Tacchini fabric or leather. knoll.com by B&B Italia Covered in fabric or leather, Jasper Large lumbar cushions provide extra morrison’s flexible collection of The newest member of Naoto comfort in this sleek line of sofas one-, two- and three-seaters, with or Fuka sawa’s butterfly-inspired and armchairs, upholstered in fabric without backs and armrests, comes seating, this love seat in leather or or leather with a metal base in white, in many styles for lobbies or living fabric is ideal for homes or hotels. black or brown, by Stockholm’s spaces. cappellini.it bebitalia.it Claesson Koivisto rune. tacchini.it mar ⁄ apr 2013 95

Design File soft seating hot With their quirky forms and upholstery, these residential seats chairs are meant to stand out 1 2 3 4 5 8 7 6 1 santa Monica 3 Bunny 5 Prince 7 Kiru by Poliform by normann Copenhagen by Minotti by Living Divani This casual-chic lounger is the latest The top sections of iskos-Berlin’s exuding a handsome mid-century meaning “to wear” in Japanese, in Jean-marie massaud’s Santa whimsical chair are wrapped in taut vibe, rodolfo Dordoni’s armchair Kiru is a loosely tailored fabric mon ica collection. Thanks to a mix of ropes, for a bursting-at-the-seams is upholstered in leather, fabric or chair, on pVc feet or a swivel base, down and polyester filling, it’s as soft aesthetic. The body is upholstered shearling, and has a remov able seat with a woven detail on the back. to sit in as it looks. poliformusa.com in grey, red or purple wool. filled with goose down and dense livingdivani.it normann-copenhagen.com polyurethane. Leg finishes include 2 Coupe sand and pewter. minotti.it 8 archibald King by offecct 4 foliage by Poltrona frau by Kartell 6 Moon When designing this chair, Berlin’s Jean-marie massaud enlarged the Läufer + Keichel wanted to give The latest addition to patricia by Moroso headrest from his original archibald the impression that it was wearing urquiola’s nature-inspired seating is a Tokujin Yoshioko’s polyethylene chair, design for this majestic wingback- pants. They completely upholstered quilted one-piece unit, in a selection launched as an unupholstered shell, style throne, upholstered in leather. it in a knit, available in turquoise, of colours, that sits atop branchlike now comes with a zip-on quilted cover poltronafrau.com beige, brown or navy. offecct.se legs in tubular iron. kartell.it in polyester microfibre. moroso.it 96 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

Natural Light Place your commercial interiors in a good light with the naturally inspired Urban Canopy modular carpet collection: Up A Tree, Branch Out and Barking Mad. jj-invision.com 800 241 4586 FEATURED – UP A TREE, BRANCH OUT AND BARKING MAD. A J&J Industries Brand 8/20/12 9:33 AM Untitled-4 1 Untitled-4 1 8/20/12 9:33 AM

Material World on the Made from recycled metal, eco-woods and composites, the latest staircases, railings and rise fences are sustainable – and customizable BY paige magarreY Project: national olyMPic coMMittee house, tbilisi architects of invention’s show-stopping staircase for the national olympic committee House in Tbilisi winds through the historical interior like a giant wooden snake. according to principal niko Japaridze, it is meant to reference the games. “it’s an olympic ribbon that threads through all disciplines of the games, architecturally weaving through all of the floors where different sports divisions are situated.” The century-old, 2,000-square-metre building had been untouched since it was renovated for the government in the ’60s. The architects reinforced the basement, to facilitate expansive, dramatic openings on each floor that lend an ecsher-like sense of calculated chaos. “as well as getting rid of the old staircase, we opened up a whole section of the building, deleting the floor structure of adjacent rooms to create a full-height space,” says Japaridze. The steel framework, fabricated by contractors from Kano Ltd., is affixed to the existing brick wall via hidden anchor supports, with the entire structure encased in plywood and maple veneer. The result demonstrates a sophisticated process whereby firms like architects of invention can send caD files directly to the factory, allowing for previously inconceivable custom elements to be executed within unheard-of time frames; from initial meeting to final touches, the whole interior was completed in five months. “our first set of structural engineers abandoned the project, claiming it was impossible,” says Japaridze, “but we soon found a replacement, progresi, which deemed it feasible.” 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 railing systeMs innovative options incorporate recycled materials, while systems with integrated LeDs provide well-lit solutions for public squares and commercial settings. ← Forms + Surfaces The silhouette Viva’s modular stainless steel Falcon railings’s Topless glass railing system features guardrails systems are made of 65 per cent rail ings forgo top and bottom in stainless steel or bronze, filled in pre- and post-consumer recycled rails, which accentuates spans with cables, glass panels or steel content. its diverse offerings include of glass supported by posts. The mesh. it can also be embellished the minimalist, glass-accented solo system comes in endless heights with an LeD strip along the railing. system and the LeD-illuminated irail. and colours, and can be installed aS me Na forms-surfaces.com aS eU Na vivarailings.com in virtually any configuration. Na vancouver-railings.com greco makes welded aluminum prova This Danish manufacturer’s rail ings from pre-consumer recycled products include the alu banister content. additionally, a Voc-free system, in wire, tube or acrylic powder coating process recovers glass, as well as more durable inox 60 per cent of its waste water. components that can be mixed and Na grecorailings.com matched, indoors and out. eU UK provasystem.com 98 mar ⁄ apr 2013 azuremagazine.com

metal mesh These manufacturers make flexible metal mesh screens that are sleek and screens yet secure, in a variety of shapes and colours, for applications from safety enclosures to media facades. Jakob This Swiss company has → McNichols sells an expansive Cascade Coil’s flexible phantom been manufacturing stainless steel selection of metal fabrics and mesh, mesh looks invisible from three wire rope products for over a cen- among them the Eco-mesh modular metres away. rodent-proof and tury. Standouts include the versatile framework grid, which can be used vandal-resistant, it is easily repaired Webnet line, for myriad uses from for living walls but is also well suited or ex tend ed by using a single safety fences to green wall supports. to fencing and partitions, in indoor spiral of the material as a simple AF AS AU EU ME NA SA UK jakob.ch and outdoor settings. connector. It comes in standard NA mcnichols.com heights up to 12 metres, and can GKD’s portfolio ranges from more be custom woven. traditional patterns like the stainless Carl Stahl DecorCable The X-Tend NA cascadecoil.com steel Helix and bronze mandarin, line of corrosion-resistant stainless to the versatile mediamesh, which steel mesh fabric, in various dens- incorporates LED tubes into the ities and cable thicknesses, is totally mesh to display logos, ads and even customizable to any project. as well, film clips on building facades or in it comes as panels to be affixed to sports stadiums. posts, walls and handrails. NA gkdmetalfabrics.com NA decorcable.com sustainable Traditional fencing gets a twist, with sustainable woods and durable Fencing composite materials that incorporate recycled content. ← Lace Fence Dutch design studio waste2wood turns printer waste, Natures Composites’ ultra-durable Demakersvan merges lace craft with toner cartridges, computer monitors TerraFence is made of wheat straw industrial chain link for creative, and other plastics destined for and recycled plastic and comes in ornate results. It offers a number of landfill into fencing that looks like a variety of styles. They range from adaptable designs, as well as custom wood and promises to last, dog-eared pickets to the eye- works that incorporate logos or maintenance-free, for 100 years. catching TerraWeave models, which patterns for retail and commercial UK waste2wood.co.uk afford a stylish, geometric aesthetic applications. Sustainable Northwest wood’s in horizontal and vertical versions. AS AU EU ME NA SA UK lacefence.com NA naturescomposites.com FSC-certified Western red cedar Cali Bamboo These rolled fence fencing is sourced primarily from panels are made of organic bamboo, forest conservation projects in treated to withstand even the harsh- Oregon and Washington State, est elements for a number of years. and it easily withstands extreme NA calibamboo.com weather conditions. NA snwwood.com staircases These fabricators produce metal and glass systems via various services, whether pre-assembled, in a kit of parts or custom designed. → EeStairs’ standard line includes a Dolle One of the world’s largest Arcways manufactures curved, compact one-metre-square stair- staircase manufacturers, this Danish spiral and circular staircases. case and the all-glass Trans parancy company makes easy-to-install kits Using cutting-edge techniques and line. For custom projects, its of spiral and centre-string models, a simple material palette of glass, Engineered by EeStairs program in wood and steel. many of its units stone, wood and metal, it has allows architects and contractors can be customized with extra treads produced custom stairs for luxury to use its manufacturing facilities. and banisters. homes and yachts. AF EU ME NA NZ UK eestairs.com ww dolleusa.com ww arcways.com Rize This Vancouver manufacturer StairBox This simple system Caliper Fabrication’s team of produces minimalist stairs, with enables buyers to design a timber craftspeople specializes in complex, floating treads, single stringers staircase online, approve 3-D models, CNC-cut metalwork. They can deliver (which resemble a spinal cord) and and have their units delivered in any aesthetic, from industrial chic to all-glass models. Working mainly weeks, either pre fabricated or ready space-age geometric. in glass, steel and concrete, rize to assemble. NA caliperstudio.com also offers custom services. UK stairbox.com NA rizestairs.com mar ⁄ apr 2013 99

MEDIA SHELF  THANKS FOR THE VIEW, MR. MIES:  THE DISAPPEARANCE OF DARKNESS: PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE END OF THE ANALOG ERA LAFAYETTE PARK, DETROIT BOOK BY ROBERT BURLEY EDITED BY DANIELLE AUBERT, LANA CAVAR AND NATASHA CHANDANI Few industries have faded as swiftly and completely as analog This inspiring -page volume from Metropolis Books captures the convivial photography. Since digital’s advent, former titans of print film atmosphere the authors found at Detroit’s Lafayette Park, a housing develop- and chemicals – Kodak, AGFA, et al. – now stand on the brink of ment designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe that encompasses  hectares oblivion, with dozens of their factories rendered obsolete. of towers, townhouses and parks. I visited the area  years ago, and the book Robert Burley, a Toronto photographer whose career spans took me right back to its quiet streets, green spaces and distinctive glass this evolution, has documented the demolition of manufacturing and steel design. facilities around the world. This -page book, published by The three editors (also the book’s graphic designers) bring Lafayette to life, Ryerson Image Centre, is permeated by a nostalgia that extends primarily through interviews with residents and photographs of them in beyond crumbling walls; for instance, the images depict such their apartments. The images provide an intriguing glimpse of how personal isolated moments as the abandoned stairwells at Ilford’s plant style rarely conforms to strict Modernism. in the U.K. It seems that preserving physical images may It is nearly impossible to write about Detroit without referring to its long become a thing of the past. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Architecture decline. Although not the focus, the city’s current economic and social real ities Under Construction (University of Chicago Press), with permeate every page – yet Lafayette Park remains a place of impressive  photo graphs by Stanley Greenberg. It takes a behind-the- diversity. As the authors state, its “continued capacity to attract new residents scenes look at the guts of new buildings going up rather is perhaps the greatest testament to the vision of the neighbourhood’s than old ones coming down. BY DAVID DICKAGNEW original planners.” While Mies van der Rohe is the most recognized name associated with  TODD SAUNDERS: ARCHITECTURE IN THE NORTHERN the pro ject, urban planner Ludwig Hilberseimer and, in particular, landscape LANDSCAPE designer Alfred Caldwell also deserve credit for its lasting appeal. The forest BOOK EDITED AND WRITTEN BY ELLIE STATHAKI AND JONATHAN BELL of manicured hawthorn bushes (exactly  centimetres high) and locust Newfoundland’s Fogo Island was an economically destitute trees provide a welcoming habitat for birds, hence a section devoted to listing backwater until a few years ago, when an entrepreneur the more than  species that make Lafayette their home. Given how many rebranded the outpost as a cultural destination. She brought residents describe their love of the views and how the greenery complements in Todd Saunders to envision a series of minimalist artists’ the trademark walls of glass, this book could just as easily be called Thanks studios scattered across the untouched landscape. The result for the Garden, Mr. Caldwell. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Torre David: Informal Vertical is akin to Donald Judd’s Chinati, where art and nature coexist Communities (Lars Müller), edited by Urban-Think Tank with photos by Iwan with breathtaking synergy. This monograph from Birkhäuser is Baan. It documents a partially completed skyscraper in Caracas, home to  filled with dramatic images of the isolated studios alongside families of squatters. The -storey walk-up now houses makeshift hair salons, the Norway-based Canadian architect’s other work, from private a gym, and systems for supplying water. BY HELENA GRDADOLNIK homes to national park pavilions. But Fogo is the showstopper, revealing Saunders’ gift for shaping a sublime mix of intelligence Helena Grdadolnik is an associate director at Workshop Architecture, the firm and emotion. YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Visionary Inventory (Phaidon), responsible for organizing the  Green Line Ideas Competition in Toronto. by another great minimalist, architect John Pawson. His second book is anything but plain, with , digital snapshots filling  pages. BY CATHERINE OSBORNE  MAR⁄APR  AZUREMAGAZINE.COM