Georg Jensen Store Opens in Qatar

The new store concept for Georg Jensen has just been opened at The Pearl, Qatar. Designed by Mark Pinney Associates around the concept of the ‘Danish Luxury Lifestyle Home’, the store’s interior accommodates the diverse range of homeware, silverware and jewellery through the creation of an environment that incorporates the elements of the home - dining, living, kitchen and gallery space.
The notion of openness of a Scandinavian interior is reinforced by the store’s layout, from the stone tiled verandah with illuminated glass slat ceiling, to the fireplace located at the heart of the ‘home’.

The concept references elements of Danish architecture and design, particularly the work of Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Vilhelm Wohlert and Poul Kjærholm. Materials used are wherever possible Danish in origin and include classic furniture pieces by Poul Kjærholm and Hans J Wegner.

Georg Jensen Retail Store, The Pearl, Qatar, by, Mark Pinney Associates London, UK

Moare I by Lucie Koldová

Inspired by Op-Art, Moare I is stacking chair made by bending steel wire, then painted in multiple colors.

Moare I, by Lucie Koldová

Sophie in the Restaurant Xavier Veilhan

Xavier Veilhan made a portrait of his friend Sophie for his personal exhibition at the Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery (Miami). Three large statues of Sophie stood alone in the gallery space: each offered a particular definition.
“When Thierry Costes proposed that I contribute to the space drawn by India Mahdavi, he referred to pieces that I had already produced. But while visiting the restaurant’s contsruction site, spanning three floors, I realized that a vertical opening would be more spectacular and do the space more justice, as if the sculpture was pre-existent.”

Sophie in the restaurant Le Germain, by Xavier Veilhan

Books: Martin Roemers. Relics of the Cold War

The Cold War is over, yet its traces are still visible. Dutch documentary photographer Martin Roemers decided to track down the remains of this period. For over ten years he repeatedly traveled through formerly hostile countries on both sides of the line. He descended into underground tunnels; photographed abandoned control centers, old barracks, wrecked tanks, and ruined statues. In his images the era of enmity, the politics of deterrence, and the arms race appear ongoing and vivid, serving as a reminder for a future of peace.

Exhibition: Martin Roemers. Relics of the Cold War, Willy-Brandt-Haus, Berlin, November 11, 2009 - January 15, 2010

Martin Roemers. Relics of the Cold War, Published by Hatje Cantz, Edited by Nadine Barth, texts by Nadine Barth, H.J.A. Hofland, Martin Roemers, 144 pp., 73 color illustrations, 25.7 x 28.6 cm, hardcover, ISBN 9783775725347

Maison Quinta dos Floreados by RRML Arquitectos

An old chapel in Portugal has been renovated and converted into a private residence by RML Arquitectos.

Maison Quinta dos Floreados, Santo Varão, Portugal, by RRML Arquitectos

Drawer Shelf by Keiji Ashizawa

Drawer Shelf is a series of stacked drawers with units that are able to slide separately on one axis by using a rail system. The same rails also work as drawer sliders.

Drawer Shelf, by Keiji Ashizawa

Medis, Tanto & Plattan Headphones by Urbanears

Scandinavian design collective, Urbanears has launched a series of headphones with three unique models, Plattan, Tanto and Medis, each available in 14 color varieties. Like many successful street brands given the no-logo-all-color-garments a face, Urbanears is set to make a statement in audio fashion wear.

Plattan is designed to be the perfect classic headphone, utilizing innovative functions and performance with current technology. It’s a full size headphone allowing for rich, secluded sound. The entire unit folds down to the size of a fist for maximum mobility, best of all, Plattan also comes with a “zound plug” which is actually not a plug, but rather a socket that allows your friend to plug into your earcap and listen to the same thing you are listening to.

Tanto is designed for maximum mobility without the compromise of performance, a tribute to the ‘80’s revolution in mobile music.

Medis has a sleek and minimal design and the functionality of its larger siblings but the obvious benefits of in-ear. The revolution, however, is the EarClick patent which anchors the ear-piece securely in place with perfect comfort and lets it stay in place. EarClick is the result of years of development and an ergonomic revolution of in-ear headphones. The construction is based on securing the position in the outer ear at two opposing points.

Each product comes equipped two extra cable extensions. The cable itself is made from fabric, rather that the usual plastic casing and fixed to the cable is a microphone and remote compatible with most devices such as Nokia, Blackberry, HTC and the iPhone.

Plattan, Tanto, Medis, by Urbanears

Lantern Marine by BarberOsgerby for Venini

Vessel Gallery introduces a collection of hand-blown vases by London designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, Called Lantern Marine the vases took inspiration when the pair were travelling through the lagoon in Venice, they observed how metal frames or cages were used in different types of nautical objects: not just for protecting the hanging lamps on boats, but also in the construction of the buoys, and around the timber posts bricole that mark the traffic lanes through the lagoon. In parallel with this observation, they were experimenting with combinations of glass forms, designing pieces which could interlock and stack together, creating new colours through layering.

Lantern Marine by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby for Venini, Launches November 5th at Vessel Gallery, London, UK

Los Altos House by Kallosturin

A private house built within a California vernacular neighborhood. Skylights and large windows allow in plenty of light, yet the design and layout allows for maximum privacy.

Private House, Los Altos, California by Kallosturin

Soyo Shelf by Mikiya Kobayashi for Karimoku

Soyo Shelf An intriguing shelving unit, made from components with curved edges. The curved edges of each part adds a roundness to the shelf made of horizontal and vertical compositions, allowing the edges to feel slimmer and creating a light, airy form. Although the surfaces appeared to be curved, the shelf boards are actually flat.

Soyo Shelf, Finalist, International Funiture Design Competition, Asahikawa, Japan,
by Mikiya Kobayashi for Karimoku