1 day away •

• • • from the beginning of June. Why then is it feeling like Hallowe'en is just around the corner. 
Here in Montréal - as in most of the north-east - it is freaking cold. Sorry, wrong - Cold and NASTY!
Weather forecast for next few days is, it's gonna me March! And in 3 weeks it's the first day of Summer....wahoo! We'll see. . . . . 

So - what's new? What's new in the world of all things design?
​Ah! There's this - 

I   LOVE   this!  Another great photograph by Adriana Garcia, Ottawa. Adriana is a professional interior designer and an amateur photographer.....think ya need to lose the 'amateur' part dearLady! Here's another of hers:

B E A U T I F U L work Adriana!

Mexico!  We have, over the last months, brought you some fabulous examples of fine architecture in Mexico and throughout Latin and South America. Maybe it's just me, but I find a sense of the chest cavity expanding outwards when I see many of those projects for the first time. And now this.... 

There's a magic to the space/place that we find this in. Almost feels other-worldly. Personally I feel the warmth from the interior lighting flowing outwards, the damp coolness ofthe forest canopy closing inwards together with a sense of levitation almost! Purity, simplicity.

Yeah! That's what I'm talking' about!

It's a treehouse, man!

Whoooeeeee! Treehouse!
FLOATING TREEHOUSE
Suspended in a Mexican forest, the Floating Treehouse takes inspiration from the neighboring trees. The wooden retreat is anchored to the forest floor by nine stilts, similar to tree roots. Its trunk-like exterior rises vertically three stories. The lowest level is raised off the ground and sits on a large platform. A kitchen, workspace, and drum studio make up the sheltered portion while a large living area is located on the outdoor terrace. A spiral staircase wraps around the exterior, leading to a bathroom and then a bedroom on the top floor. A strong connection between the interior and the landscape is maintained through large windows and openings throughout the interior. At night, the glazing illuminates transforming the dwelling into a glowing timber tower.
Photos: Studio Chirika / Talleresque

It's just special. . . . . . 

From ArchDaily.com : : CIMC Headquarter Office Building / CCDI Dongxiying Studio

• 21:00 - 27 May, 2019        Curated by 韩爽 - HAN Shuang

The most striking aspect of this exciting new building is what happens on the roof. There are many reasons why we in North America do not encourage rooftop access - could be, might be dangerous / could be/might become a hang-out / could be/might be any number of paranoid concerns.

But to my mind, it's a genius design that promotes this kind of engagement between workers and the environment. Access to solitude, to serenity in a stressful workplace has been shown to have very positive effects on personnel. This is a lovely and inventive approach to responsive design.

• Architects        CCDI Dongxiying Studio
• Location           Dongguan, Guangdong, China 
• Lead Architects     Xiongyi Zhu
• Design Team    Xin Li, Hong Huang, Luying Li, Jie Chen, Ziqing Chen, Wei Huang, Yuhua Wang, Wenjie Wu

OTTOSTUMM's mission is to support architects and designers with modern thermal barrier steel fenestration systems, which not only preserve the character of national heritage buildings, but also offer the possibility to use windows and doors with highest visual qualities in contemporary architecture. 
Their products have a very narrow focus and are ideal for renovating steel windows in historic buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as for indoor and outdoor use in highly design-oriented villas, boutique commercial and institutional buildings. Windows and doors crafted with OTTOSTUMM's profiles are often the most noticeable feature of prestigious properties.

Also from ArchDaily.com is this product line from OTTOSTUMM. Great window designs.

Speaking of photography : : 
Peter M. Cook, a British architectural photographer has dedicated 20 years to photographing outstanding buildings in Tokyo. His new book, e d o, contains that work. Published by  Hatje Cantz Verlag, following is the description on the publisher's web-site:

How Tokyo's architecture changed over 20 years
British architectural photographer Peter M. Cook (*1967) started travelling to Tokyo in 1992, settling there in 1998. Peter has devoted himself to photographing buildings across Japan. Edo, which is the old name for Tokyo, is the culmination of twenty years tirelessly documenting Tokyo and its buildings, recording an architectural evolution of the city. For his photo book, Peter M. Cook has selected 100 images of Tokyo, paying homage to the visual language of Hiroshige’s 100 Views of Edo: Mount Fuji makes an appearance, ghostlike in the background, its powerful iconic presence a reminder of a constant in nature, in contrast to the urban landscape at its base. At the same time, Cook’s abstract aesthetics are reminiscent of the pioneering silent film Metropolis from 1927, which has set the scene for the futuristic city. The book furthermore includes a haiku by the renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma whose buildings Cook started to document for a new project.

Priced at £58.00 it is currently out of stock. Going on my Christmas wishlist!

•  s  t  u  n  n  i  n  g  •

Why are we promoting Memphis?

Are we, promoting Memphis?

What caught my eye is this fabulous mural - trying to find more information about it. This, is what
  g r a f f i t t i , if I might call it such, should be. Of course, it is not, by current definition, graffitti - it is, art - public art. Commisioned by, sanctioned by - paid for by, a committee of some sort. But it is powerfully expressive, directly communicative. It sums up, it contains, history - the resonace to those who made substantive contributions to Memphis, to the south, is palpable. 
On the note regarding graffitti, I will take this opportunity to rant (just a little) - I HATE GRAFFITTI! 
Graffitti in the free-for-all nonsensical, private encrypted obtuse and meaningless language of those who have convinced themselves that their irresponsible graphic messaging - akin to some alien pictograms - has a value, or makes sense - any sense - to the general public upon which it is imposed. To say nothing of the cost to the public purse to remove, cleanse, sanitize this visual dairrhea. It is in the most part a disgusting and self-delusional indulgence by those who mistakenly think they have a voice by which they should communicate to those of us who are ignorant of their values. That, pre-supposes, of course - that the practitioners of graffitti actually have any comprehension of, value. If I were Mayor I would make it an almost-top priority to set up a task force to eradicate/eliminate these transgressions. Simple question that needs to be asked, 'What gives them the right?  Simple answer is - they are not, given the right - they, in the folds of darkness, highjack the right to abuse, inflict and babble graphically - it is  d i s g u s t i n g  and should be made to stop....or consequences would come into play!

Walking in Memphis

Click to hear Marc Cohn's 'Walking in Memphis'

From CoolHunting comes this:
In Memphis, Tennessee, the faded hues of yesteryear mingle delightfully with the invigorating aura of a burgeoning renaissance and prideful restoration of the city’s most historic locales. Beale Street, the city’s most famous stretch, is home to a handful of the nation’s most acclaimed music venues and once set the stage for some of America’s most inspired movements—everyone from B.B. King and Martin Luther King Jr. to Louis Armstrong and Elvis frequented here in its heyday. And, while music is certainly a primary draw for the nearly 200-year-old city, it’s working hard to attract more than just concert-goers and BBQ-eaters. Where sister city Nashville built itself to suit the expectations of its visitors, Memphis has stayed true to its locals—it’s soulful, resourceful and, best of all, rich with gems both old and new. These are a few of our favorite spots in the city by the Mississippi.

ComeBack Coffee
This newly opened airy spot in Memphis’ Pinch District is infusing southern, slow-moving hospitality into their chic, high-end coffee concept. Hayes and Amy McPherson, the couple behind Comeback Coffee, want to be a stopping place for all locals and visitors alike—and their expansive menu of delicious drinks and made-in-house treats certainly encourages this. Made by chef Cole Jeanes, the shop’s pastries are fresh and delightful and a rotating “market special” features local produce that isn’t used in the menu’s existing dishes. The interior is sparse but welcoming, and an adjacent back patio has enough room for dozens more. We recommend getting yourself a coffee soda—flash-chilled coffee infused with strawberries and lime, then put on tap—and a Mississippi Mud Pie (pictured here).

And then there's this : :  HU•Hotel Memphis

Inside the Hu. Hotel Memphis—in walking distance to Beale Street and more of the city’s popular venues—open space abounds. From the lobby’s double-height ceilings to the building’s renovated rooftop space (the city installed a light show on its two longest bridges that can be seen from here starting at 7PM) the charming nooks and corners are endless. The lobby also feels much larger given that there’s no front desk: you check in at a coffeeshop-like counter just inside the front doors. There’s a consistent mid-century modern theme throughout, from the faded browns of the lobby to the pinkish hues of the hotel’s 110 guest rooms.

Old Dominick Distillery

The Old Dominick Distillery is hard to miss. Not only is it situated across the street from Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken—a Memphis staple known for their fiery fried poultry—but its barrel storage room can just be seen peeking out of the second story window, which is frequently propped open to ease aging. The newly opened distillery is operating on a demand basis, meaning that if you stop in for a tasting or a tour you might not see much action. But, that doesn’t mean there aren’t spirits to taste. The distillery makes a surprisingly nice suite of vodkas and gins and offers a preview of their one-year-old whiskey. The rest, which they plan to release at four years, is yet to come—though there’s plenty to be excited for.

Stock and Belle

Situated inside the old Fred P. Gattas department store building—where Elvis famously frequented as deliveryman before becoming an international star—is Stock and Belle. Opened in 2015, the shop stocks local and national goods from a well-curated list of similarly-aligned brands. There’s also an eclectic collection of local art—most of which is produced in-house in the shop’s artist studios (pictured here in the rear of the store). From local fragrances to handmade art and furniture, there’s a vast selection of made-in-Memphis goods that aren’t kitschy or touristy.

Crosstown Arts

Inside Crosstown Concourse, a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use building, there are over a dozen floors of office, school, living, retail and restaurant space. Perhaps most impressive is the building’s art gallery: Crosstown Arts. Featuring a vibrant red staircase that leads you into its heart and a vast mural to welcome guests, the gallery features rotating shows and a quirky, not-for-profit venue called the Art Bar. On exhibition right now is Stitched: Celebrating the Art of Quilting, which showcases the work of local quilters of all ages.

Pièce de Résistance

I am not shy - nor does it embarrass me - to be boldly unequivocal, to be boldly vocal when it comes to what, IMHO, is the representation of design mastery. . . . . and so it is with this  m a s t e r p i e c e : : 

You'd think I make a commission. . . . . not! But, once again the fine, fine work done by ArchDaily (www.ArchDaily.com) allows me to present this here - ArchDaily has done an exemplary job of curating this work.

From the architects [saavvedra arquitectos] as contained in the article by ArchDaily:

Text description provided by the architects. Casa Luzia is the second country house of a master plan of three houses in Avándaro, Mexico. (the first one is M House). This second land lot has a considerable downslope from the front to the back of the terrain. It rains with intensity most of the year and the lot is located in the natural pad of the rainwater. The big forest trees of Avandaro open to the center of the lot. The architectural program had to contemplate two different scenarios: a young couple with children or two young couples.

Casa Luzia was designed under these circumstances, taking as keys, the downslope of the terrain and the two bedrooms of the program. The rectangular volume rises from underground to float over the gradient. The bedrooms are located on the opposite extremes of the plan, giving privacy and autonomy and creating a tension that it`s solve by the complete openness of the public space.

Casa Luzia was designed under these circumstances, taking as keys, the downslope of the terrain and the two bedrooms of the program. The rectangular volume rises from underground to float over the gradient. The bedrooms are located on the opposite extremes of the plan, giving privacy and autonomy and creating a tension that it`s solve by the complete openness of the public space.
If in the Mies exercises of the Three Courtyards House aloud the subject (the super-human of Zarathustra) to inhabit the totality of space from anywhere. This house multiplies the subject to co-habit the totality of public space and only found privacy on the bedrooms. This central space is defined by furniture; the chimney and the kitchen bar are elements that hint the limits of the interior areas
There is something schizophrenic in mirroring modern architecture. Two spaces of similar proportions on opposite arista, that they see them in each other with different definitions, recognizing them in the other but not in themselves. It seems that even though they are identical they will never become homogeneous; summited to the fate of their distance, they create a force that could disrupt the space of architecture. And; as in construction is better to “direct the fissures” the volume of Casa Luzia is broken by stone tower with double height, a heavy and brutal element that “directs the fissure” of space.
Most of the volume skin is made of wood. It is sustained by a metallic structure that liberates the down part of the house, giving place to a courtyard/terrace that continuous the topography and the vegetation of the terrain.
The wooden skin opens for windows where the orientation and views requires. Two concrete slabs rest over the structure along the volume, only being interrupted by the double height stone tower, which solves the space balance, the material contrasts and the proportion of the house.

To a casual observer, looking at the horizontal planking shown here, it may appear to be simply a random emplacement of the pieces . . . . not so! You can be assured that the architect(s) individually selected each and every plank that is seen on these walls.....such important contributive character elements are not left to chance. The réalisation ​of such a result is truly very deliberate.

The sum of its parts is the totality of the work : : ethic

 Montréal, a world class city - a renowned World Heritage site (le vieux port) - is replete with the most fabulous legacy architecture dating from the 1700's, 1800's.  Many, many streets in and around the downtown core are graced by elegant greystone buildings - what were originally stately single residences. And, many still are - stately, singular residences. But, although Montréal has distinguished itself on the international achitectural stage with unique design and buildings [i.e., Place Ville Marie by I.M.Pei, Westmount Square by Mies van der Rohe, IBM tower by KPF Architects], our own local rockStar architects, such as Eric Huot (Geiger Huot) have deveoped and perfected the retention of heritage architecture into exciting, innovative and unique developments such as this one, in progress, Enticy Condominiums:

Note the integration of the four classic greystone buildings as apart of the general site......one of the floor plans offered in these buildings is:

For additional details, sales information, go to the Enticy Condominiums site.

Okay - so sit on this - or this - or maybe this

Given that Father's Day is soon upon us, here's a little something most all father's would need - and probably even enjoy - depending on what you filled it with.....

....or if you're really flush, this : : 

ROLLS-ROYCE WRAITH EAGLE VIII COUPECaptain John Alcock and Lieutenant Arthur Brown made the first nonstop flight across the Atlantic ocean in 1919, piloting a Vickers Vimy biplane powered by two Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII engines. The 20.3-liter V12s made 350 horsepower, helping Alcock and Brown average 115 MPH for the flight — and performed flawlessly the entire time. The journey was fraught with trouble from the beginning, with the pilots becoming lost in a freezing cloud bank before breaking through and navigating by the stars to Ireland and safety. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the heroic feat, Rolls-Royce is building 50 Wraith Eagle VIII special edition coupes, loaded with special features recalling the flight. Gunmetal and Selby Grey two-tone paint mark the night skies, and interior paneling of smoked eucalyptus vacuum metalized in gold with copper and brass that recall nighttime images of Earth from above. The starlight headliner is a map of the stars on the day of the flight in 1919, with red fiber optics marking the moment the pilots broke through the clouds, and constellations and the flight path embroidered in brass thread — a fitting tribute to Rolls-Royce's illustrious history.

You know the old saying - 'If you have to ask you can't afford it'- so, don't ask!

. . . .   .    .      .   and then again, there's this : : 

But of course, it then begs the question, 'If one, why not both?'

VELA CONCEPT YACHTThe latest concept by award-winning Italian designer Gianmarco Cardia, the Vela combines the romance of sail-powered travel with a practical hybrid propulsion system. DynaRig masts hold the 1,850 square meters of sails, with one section doubling as an outdoor movie theater. The 80-foot vessel also has a spacious owners suite, four guest cabins, a spa, a water-level beach club with bar, and a gym. The hull has yet to be engineered, but a top speed of 21 knots is likely possible with the sails and hybrid system working together.

From my friend in Milan, Leonardo Bechini, another master photographer : : :these just have to be shown : : 

: :

: : :

1973 PORSCHE 911 TARGA 2.4S1973 was the last year for the desirable long hood/narrow bumper 911. Safety regulations would force a design change the following year, but the bodywork isn't the only thing that makes 1973 a special year — it was also the first year for the famous 915 five-speed gearbox. While this particular 911 Targa remains mechanically stock, it sports a very special custom interior by ultra-premium French leather goods maker Berluti. Featuring Berluti's beautifully burnished Venizia leather, the company's master colorists and upholsterers covered every inch of the car's seats, dash, and panels in hide. What isn't leather is covered in Bouclé wool, including the seat backs, floor mats, and carpeting. A pair of driving shoes and day bag are also included. The workmanship is second-to-none and tones and colors match the silver exterior perfectly. A truly one-of-a-kind 911, this car will be auctioned off by Sotheby's in Paris, April 24-May 7, 2019.  •  Will probably fetch $200,000.00

So - you know what happens here : : end of the chapter. And it's also the mid-point in the journey. 
Six chapters to go
See you next month.
BTW - you can always contact me at michael@DesignReview.International