July 13, 2010 at 11:35 pm · Filed under Design, Fashion
I can’t help but feel instantly charmed by fabrics from Minä Perhonen, a clothing and textile design house from Japan. If the brand sounds familiar, you may have seen or heard of its collaborative projects with Danish textile and furniture manufacturers Kvadrat and Fritz Hansen.
The folk-inspired designs blend frolicsome graphic patterns with plucky colors and rich textures. Take a peek at the following sampling; don’t these swatches beg to be touched? To see the company’s entire range of textiles, clothing and furniture, visit the Minä Perhonen website.
I love the efficiency of this tiny Hong Kong apartment! Architect Gary Chang designed an elaborate system of movable walls with folding furniture, allowing a flexible configuration of twenty-four spaces within a tiny footprint of 300 square feet.
Chang gutted the interior, opening up the entire space for a fresh overhaul. He also warmed up the interior by tinting the windows yellow, instantly banishing grey days from entering the flat. Check out the video to see how he fits two beds into this space, along with a full kitchen, living room, library, video game room, laundry facilities, wet bar, and even a private theater complete with a hammock.
Remember how much fun it is to draw in the sand at the beach, using naught but your finger or a stick?
Jim Denevan offers a fresh take on sand art, albeit at an enormous and prolific scale. He’s graced northern California with hundreds of beach drawings, each disappearing as nature takes its course: sun, wind and ocean waves gradually erode the short-lived marks, often in the same day they were created.
Here’s a sampling of his work; many more beautiful aerial photographs can be found on his website.
Tetsunori Kawana‘s work in redefining ikebana is nothing short of ambitious, and often requires large teams of people and weeks of production. Here are some photos of his work — these and more stunning images can be found on his website.
Kawana has also been commissioned by the Mint Museum to produce a new bamboo installation for Project Ten Ten Ten, which celebrates the museum’s grand opening in October.
Tulips, sculpted plaster and draped fabric | De Young Museum
One of my favorite annual shows, Bouquets to Art, opens this week at the De Young. In a dramatic interplay of the museum’s strong architectural lines, its diverse art collection, and otherworldly floristry, this exhibition offers the public a fresh take on contemporary design principles.
Members of the Fine Arts Museums can enjoy a preview evening tomorrow from 6-8 pm. I can’t wait! Here are some pictures taken from last year (above and below):
Main lobby installation | De Young Museum
Hanging glass pendants | De Young Museum
Feather wings, heliconia and daffodils | De Young Museum
