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Andreu World’s NeoCon Fiesta: “An Evening in Valencia”

Chrissy Atherholt — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:25 +0000

What: Andreu World’s NeoCon Fiesta “An Evening in Valencia”
When: Monday, June 10, from 4 - 8 PM
Where: Suite 10-132, NeoCon 2013, Chicago
Why: Andreu World hosts its annual NeoCon party, and this year’s event, “An Evening in Valencia,” will feature tapas, Spanish wine, Valencia oranges sangria, and a live performance by a Spanish guitarist.

Portland State University’s School of Architecture launches Center for Public Interest Design

Chrissy Atherholt — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:00:39 +0000

Portland State University’s School of Architecture announced the launch of its new Center for Public Interest Design, a research center that aims to investigate and utilize the power of design to make social, economic and environmental change in disadvantaged communities worldwide. The Center is the first of its kind in the nation.

The new Center’s startup is being funded by a gift from an anonymous donor, who has pledged a total of $1.5 million over a five-year period.

The mission of the Center meets a critical worldwide need for affordable, sustainable design. Bryan Bell, the founder of Design Corps, has often said that only 2 percent of building in the US involves an architect. That number is even lower in developing or undeveloped countries, where access to clean water, safe and well-designed shelter and other basic necessities may go unmet. The Center aims to change this fact, with the understanding that architecture can help make the world a better place and that architects can be agents of change.

The first five projects in the Center are rethinking the way designers collaborate with communities to change living conditions, regardless of economic or social status. The projects include the design and construction of an orphanage and environmental-technical school in Titanyen, Haiti, a collaboration with architecture faculty and students at Ecole Speciale d’Architecture, Paris, France; and the SAGE classroom, which has gone on the market nationally in the last week and promises to make healthy and green modular classrooms affordable to all.

Parsons and Poltrona Frau Announce “Wasteless” Competition Winners

Chrissy Atherholt — Thu, 23 May 2013 14:00:13 +0000

The winning designs of the “Wasteless” exhibition were announced during New York’s ICFF. Held by Poltrona Frau, the world’s leading producer of luxury home furnishings, and leading art and design school Parsons The New School for Design, the competition was to convert left-over scraps of Poltrona Frau leather into luxury accessory pieces in an attempt to maximize the potential of the material and emphasize Poltrona Frau’s Zero-Waste Design initiatives.

For the past seven weeks, 15 Parsons Product Design students have been working under the direction of noted designer and Parsons alumnus, Andrea Ruggiero. The students presented their work to a panel of judges who announced the three winning designs at a reception held at the Poltrona Frau showroom in Soho. Jenny Hsu was awarded first place for her design “Piqnique,” (shown above) a woven case for meals on the go that doubles as a leather placemat. Yuna Kim and Benjamin Billick came in second and third respectively for their designs, “Miovino” leather wine glass tags and “Tuft” candle holders.

IIDA Announces 2013 Dubai Competition Winners at INDEX

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:40 +0000

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) recently announced the winners of the 2013 INDEX & Office Exhibition Product Design Competition and The Middle East Interior Design Competition. Winners of the competition, which featured many entries from countries in the Middle East, were announced and presented May 20, 2013, the opening day of the INDEX show.

The judging panel for both the 2013 INDEX & Office Exhibition Product Design Competition and The Middle East Interior Design Competition consisted of Lewis Goetz, FIIDA, Leo A Daly; and Julio Braga, IIDA, of IA Interior Architects.

The INDEX & Office Exhibition Product Design Awards honors manufacturers and designers for excellence in product design for the residential and commercial office industries. The 2013 winners, starting with the Best of Competition Award, are as follows:

BEST OF COMPETITION:

Product: In_Motion
Manufacturer: GUIALMI
Designer: Rita Cruz

CATEGORY: CASE GOODS AND FREESTANDING OFFICE FURNITURE

Best of Category
Product: Eleven (shown above)
Manufacturer: OFS Brands
Designer: Daniel Korb

Honorable Mention
Product: unicatum
Manufacturer: ANB art & design
Designer: Nadia Zaoui & Bernd Muller

Honorable Mention
Product: cWave
Manufacturer: Dieffebi S.p.A.
Designer: Michael Burford

CATEGORY: FLOORING

Best of Category
Product: Avant Signature Flooring
Manufacturer: Avant Enterprises
Designer: Avant Enterprises

Honorable Mention
Product: Kährs Oak Trollaborg
Manufacturer: Nordic Homeworx
Designer: Kährs

CATEGORY: SEATING

Best of Category
Product: In_Motion
Manufacturer: GUIALMI
Designer: Rita Cruz

Honorable Mention
Product: Clarity
Manufacturer: HNI International
Designer: BMW Design Group

Honorable Mention
Product: Madrid
Manufacturer: OFS Brands
Designer: Daniel Korb

CATEGORY: TABLES

Honorable Mention
Product: Optima Air
Manufacturer: DAS Business Furniture
Designer: Rob Jones

The Middle East Interior Design Competition recognizes and rewards outstanding Interior Design/ architecture projects in the Middle East while also encouraging new ideas and techniques in the design and furnishing of interior spaces. The 2013 winners of this prestigious honor are as follows:

BEST OF COMPETITION:

Project: One GE Solution Offices
Design Firm: AK Design (Adel Al Mojil, Consulting Engineers)

CATEGORY: CORPORATE SPACE LARGE

Best of Category
Project: One GE Solution Offices
Design Firm: AK Design (Adel Al Mojil, Consulting Engineers)

Honorable Mention
Project: Waagner Biro Gulf Head Office
Design Firm: Wanders Architects

CATEGORY: CORPORATE SPACE SMALL

Best of Category
Project: Prime Holdings
Design Firm: Studio M

CATEGORY: CULTURAL/INSTITUTIONAL/EDUCATIONAL

Best of Category
Project: Women’s Museum
Design Firm: Enrico Botta Architecture

Honorable Mention
Project: Gurudwara Sikh Temple
Design Firm: Bishop Design LLC

CATEGORY: HEALTHCARE

Best of Category
Project: Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice
Design Firm: NBBJ

CATEGORY: HOTELS

Best of Category
Project: Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa
Design Firm: The Gettys Group

Honorable Mention
Project: Raffles Makkah Palace
Design Firm: AREEN HOSPITALITY

CATEGORY: RESTAURANTS

Best of Category
Project: Slider Station
Design Firm: Bishop Design LLC

Honorable Mention
Project: The Farm
Design Firm: Etcetera Living

CATEGORY: RETAIL

Best of Category
Project: Bin Sina Pharmacies
Design Firm: Brand Creative

CATEGORY: SPAS/FITNESS/WELLNESS CENTERS

Best of Category
Project: Ahasees Spa & Club at Grand Hyatt Dubai
Design Firm: HBA

izzy+ Design Competition Winners

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 19:00:03 +0000

A pair of young designers have won the inaugural competition to customize and conceptualize the new izzy Nemo Trellis (shown above) from izzy+.

The winning designers are Lindsey Salazar of Archideas in Chicago and Eda Muco of Dyer Brown & Associates in Boston. Their designs will be on display in the izzy+ showroom at 11-100 in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart during next month’s NeoCon World’s Trade Fair. Both designers will be hosted by izzy+ at the annual trade show in Chicago, and they will be part of a design team that izzy+ will take to Nicaragua in November for a design-focused service project.

Lindsey Salazar’s design was inspired by the idea of a tree house that generates energy and well-being, and Eda Muco’s design explores the interaction between individual and collaborative space using perforated metal.

The two custom designs will be in the izzy+ showroom throughout NeoCon 2013, and the winning designers will be featured in the showroom during the first half of the show, on Monday and Tuesday morning. Last year, the izzy Nemo Trellis and Bar won the Best of NeoCon Gold Award for Furniture Systems.

Project Buzz: Blaffer Art Museum’s New Entrance

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:00:15 +0000

The University of Houston’s Blaffer Art Museum has transformed its appearance with a new entrance featuring Bendheim Wall Systems’ channel glass. Designed by New York City-based WORKac, the welcoming, light-filled entrance creates a sense of openness throughout the reception area. WORKac’s design enhances the building’s entrance, improves the flow of pedestrian traffic into the museum and creates a more welcoming entrance to the public.

The architects worked closely with Bendheim Wall Systems’ team to achieve the slanted appearance of the facade while staying on budget. The concealed design change substantially lowered the cost of material when compared to an angle-cut channel glass solution and also facilitated the installation. The architects selected Lamberts 504 Rough Cast, pebble textured channel glass, with a blue-gray Azur coating to enhance the solar heat gain coefficient of the wall, to help the building remain cool in the hot Texas climate.

ASID Celebrates World Interiors Day

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:47 +0000

Friday, May 25th, is World Interiors Day, an annual event spearheaded by the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) and designed to spotlight interior architecture/design. The event actively engages professionals, national organizations, design enthusiasts and the general public to explore creativity, imagination, vision and passion in relation to the role of Interior Architecture/Design in society, culture and our future environments.

In the week leading up to the big day, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is holding a series of programs to inspire, engage, and educate the public on the value of design. The weeklong event, themed “Space Matters,” include online interviews with interior designers, an Instagram photo contest and outreach with local governments to promote interior design.

BIID Launches a Professional Pathway

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:00:25 +0000

The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) has introduced the BIID Professional Pathway – a new qualification which will provide a national, professional standard for interior designers. Until now, anyone has been able to call themselves an interior designer, regardless of their experience. The BIID worked closely with designers from commercial and residential fields, leading design educators and other industry professionals to develop the BIID Professional Pathway.

The BIID Professional Pathway is designed to be undertaken whilst the candidate is working as an interior designer. The BIID Professional Pathway also offers flexibility with different entry points that recognize the qualifications and experience interior designers have already gained.

Interior designers, design practices and specifiers of interior design services will all benefit from the introduction of the BIID Professional Pathway. It bridges the gap for interior designers between education and achieving full professional standing. Taking part in the BIID Professional Pathway also consolidates and validates the skills of self-taught designers and offers a clear distinction between professionals and hobbyists.

The American equivalent of this qualification is the IIDA Professional.

Architecture Firm LS3P Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Chrissy Atherholt — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:08:11 +0000

South Carolina architecture firm, LS3P, celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. The celebration in May will acknowledge achievements over the past five decades, honor founder Frank Lucas, and look forward to the firm’s continued dedication to delivering architectural excellence.

On May 1st, LS3P employees gave back to the community as a part of a “Day of Engagement” to mark the 50th Anniversary date. Staff members will donate time visiting area schools and hospitals to read a book to young children that was written and illustrated by the creative team at LS3P and inspired by the firm’s founder.

LS3P is an architecture, interior architecture, and planning firm providing services nationwide from their offices in Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina; and Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington, North Carolina. The combined offices have received over 350 awards for excellence in design utilizing practical yet creative solutions to enhance client strategies.

Project Buzz: Station Center Family Housing by David Baker + Partners

Chrissy Atherholt — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:43:14 +0000

The new Station Center Family development by David Baker + Partners Architects is located in Union City, east and south of San Francisco. The workforce housing contains 157 affordable rental units in two buildings that frame a public playground and overlook a new plaza and eventual direct connection to the BART station.

The community room opens onto a fitness center and pool deck, and opens entirely to a grand courtyard, creating a large indoor-outdoor gathering space.

The courtyard—designed along with all the building landscaping by Fletcher Studio—features allotment gardens for residents, formal and informal seating areas, and a play yard populated by playful concrete gorillas.

The low-energy building used a range of complementary sustainable strategies—including solar domestic hot water, high-efficiency boilers, and rooftop photo-voltaic arrays—to achieve LEED for Homes Mid-Rise Platinum certification.

San Francisco artist Mona Caron creating a towering mural on the 5-story entry tower, visible from the neighborhood and neighboring train tracks.