The sharp symbolism of the smooth, clear cut stone, the fluidity of the gold and precious metals encased in a sheath of elegant wood…It was necessary to put them together in the right proportions to create a space that enhances the contents and gives pleasure to those who live in and visit it .

Massimo Iosa Ghini

The concept behind the new Faraone jewellery shop in Milan, Via Montenapoleone was carried out by architect Massimo Iosa Ghini.

It was inspired by an idea of preciousness characterized by symbolic pieces that envelop and outline the space in order to provide refined and elegant display opportunities.

Faraone - The Shop of Via Monternapoleone, image courtesy Massimo Iosa Ghini | Photo by Santi Caleca

Interiors were created with traditional materials, including refined finishings chosen with great care: different woods with greyish hues, amber-coloured glass, brass and bronze-plated metals and soft nappa leather for the chairs. The area is enclosed with panels of "boiserie" in moulded wood setting the tone for the space. The squared lines of the crystal display cases meet and intersect, offering innovative plays of light and overlapping elements.

Faraone - The Shop of Via Monternapoleone, image courtesy Massimo Iosa Ghini | Photo by Santi Caleca

The boutique is laid out over two levels with a connecting staircase and a large wall that serves as a backdrop and features multiple coloured glass plates in amber, yellow and bronze shade. The small "privées" on the first floor are dedicated to customers who prefer a quieter space just for them.

Faraone - The Shop of Via Monternapoleone, image courtesy Massimo Iosa Ghini | Photo by Santi Caleca

+ Design: Massimo Iosa Ghini | http://www.iosaghini.it/
+ Photographer: Santi Caleca

+ All images courtesy Massimo Iosa Ghini

Arquideas informs that the registration period for the Tourist Accommodation Prototype (TAP) Santorini 2011 academic competition is open.

Presentation:

The objective of the current contest is to contribute with new ideas for a Tourist Accommodation Prototype (TAP), taking as example of its location the singular setting of the Santorini's coast line and the Nea Kameni and Palea Kameni islands. A new model for tourist accommodation in which it resolves the problems within its location, in accordance to contemporary bioclimatic criteria and sustainability able to be adapted to other contexts with similar landscapes around the world.

Schedule:

Registration period: Mach 1st, 2011 to May 1st, 2011
Deadline for Submissions of Proposals: June 30th, 2011
Jury’s decision: July 31st, 2011

Prizes:

4700 euros in cash + Publication of awarded projects in AV Proyectos magazine and TC Cuadernos magazine + 1 year free subscription for the best proposal to AV Proyectos magazine + 5 issues of TC Cuadernos magazine + Exhibition all projects in www.arquideas.es

Jury:

• Mr. Jordi Ludevid i Anglada, architect (President of the Architect Associations Council of Spain (CSCAE))
• Mrs. Martha Thorne, urbanist (Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize)
• Mr. Edgar Gonzalez, architect (Jury of FAD Awards 2011)
• Kike Sarasola, hotelier businessman (Founder and President of Room Mate Hotels)
• Mr. Jorge Arevalo Martin, student of architecture (Winner’s team representative of the International Museum of Volcanoes (IMOV) Lanzarote 2010 academic competition)

+ For more information about the competition, please visit http://www.arquideas.es/

South Korean Seoul-based design studio Monocomplex Design Group has created these creative Kinetic Robots. The object applied with the mechanism induces simple behavior to a person. If the same movement is repeated or the same strength is given for constant time, desired result will come out.

Kinetic Robots, image courtesy Monocomplex Design Group

A robot contains strong factor of kidult. There is little difference only in the form and structure, and a robot is a factor which gives interest and fun to adults to children. Directly manufacturing by combining the 3 objects, pencil sharpener, lamp, and music box to a robot form added with kidult factor, the kidnetic action of 'turning' among simple actions will be studied.

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Kinetic Robot - Music box, image courtesy Monocomplex Design Group

Music box is an object which has strong kinetic factor which can gain the result of sounding through the action of turning. Many gears are engaged and the part engraved in the metal plate makes a sound when it is turned.

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Kinetic Robot - Lamp, image courtesy Monocomplex Design Group

Lamp is an object which is connected to electricity and which always has wires, and when not using, the lines are winded or folded to reduce weight.

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Kinetic Robot - Pencil sharpening, image courtesy Monocomplex Design Group

Pencil sharpening is the principle of sharpening pencil through turning action. Turning the handle, the spiral gear inside turns and sharpens the pencil, and in the front and back of the gear, there is a fixed axis which holds it.

+ Design: MONOCOMPLEX design group | http://www.monocomplex.com/
+ Material: Bronze, Kinetic Component
+ Size: 130(H) x 100(W) x 90(D)

+ About Monocomplex

MONOCOMPLEX is a design group composed of four people with each different personality with the purpose of joyful communication.

It intends to perform a design play containing 'simple' philosophy and sincerity in the world mixed up with ambiguity, complexity, and diversity.

+ All images courtesy Monocomplex

Graz is the first Austrian City of Design! On 16. 03. 2011 the Director – General of UNESCO in Paris, Ms Irina Bokova, officially announced the inclusion of Graz into the international network of creative cities.

The designation “City of Design” is not a “title” in the classic sense of the word, but rather an attitude towards life: design, creativity and creative diversity are the topics to be engraved in the minds of the people. The creative potential and resulting economic dynamic attract international notice to the city thus raising the attractiveness of the location. This could effectuate an enormous impulse for the creative economy and tourism.

With the designation of City of Design, Graz is now at eye level with other Cities of Design such as Berlin, Shanghai, Kobe or Buenos Aires.

Mag. Siegfried Nagl, Mayor of the City of Graz

+ What is “City of Design”?

One of the leading projects of Creative Industries Styria consists in positioning Graz as a most attractive “second city”. In the course of these ambitions, Creative Industries Styria was commissioned by the City of Graz and the Province of Styria (Department of Economy, Innovation and Finances) with the application of Graz to the UNESCO for a “City of Design” status. The official application was submitted on July 28th, 2009. The following seven categories are open for application: literature, film, music, folk art, design, media art and gastronomy. Graz applied in the category “design” for admission in this network of creative cities and could become a member of this very exclusive city-league. The network has existed since 2004.

+ For more information, please visit the official sites @ http://www.graz-cityofdesign.at/ + http://www.cis.at/en

+ Some projects in Graz featured on +MOOD

Frog Queen | Splitterwerk

Getier Bench | Designerei Graz

Hong Kong designer Kitmen Keung has created a transformable foam block titled Dual Cut, with only two cuts for Belgium design brand Sixinch.

Splitting a raw rectangular foam block with only two L-shaped cut lines, Dual Cut is a transformable furniture piece that employs the simplest production processes true to the materials in use with minimal wastage. It features two ergonomically comfortable seat back angle options of 6° and 23°, and the multi-formation ability to form a one seater with a side table, a chaise lounge or a corner table. It also easily forms a neat, compact parcel for convenient storage and transportation. Dual Cut is available in Light Grey and Dark Grey with a 3-layer-system coating making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Dimensions: stacked, w80 x h80 x d93cm; chaise lounge, w80 x h80 x d170cm; ottoman, w80 x h40 x d77cm; seat height 40cm.

+ Designer: Kitmen Keung | http://www.kitmenkeung.com
+ Produce: Sixinch | http://www.sixinch.be
+ Art direction and photography: S.Zine

Dual Cut, image courtesy Kitmen Keung

Dual Cut, image courtesy Kitmen Keung

Dual Cut, image courtesy Kitmen Keung

Dual Cut, image courtesy Kitmen Keung

Dual Cut, image courtesy Kitmen Keung

+ About Kitmen Keung

Born in Hong Kong, dual-nationality Kitmen Keung migrated to Canada with his parents at age 14 and spent a decade living in Vancouver where he completed high school and undergraduate art education. He moved to Milan in 2003, under supervision of American architect Hani Rashid and Italian designer Stefano Giovannoni he received his Master of Design from Domus Academy. Throughout his stay in Italy, Kitmen worked with several brands such as Artemide, Ermenegildo Zegna, Oregon Scientific, Mitsubishi and Gas etc. He has been appointed as an in-house industrial designer of Hong Kong company Obserf Limited since 2011.

+ All images courtesy Kitmen Keung