We're on the road again next week, this time in glittering, business-oriented, internationally focused Hong Kong so posts will be limited. If you live in Hong Kong or have spent time there let us into your secret address book. We want to know everything about this regional capital....who and what is making waves in all disciplines of design/architecture, plus the most interesting things happening in lifestyle, retail and hotels/spas, clubs/bars etc.
Thanks to Apple and its superior design, marketing, advertising and,
well, anything else to do with creating and selling a product, most
other global communications brands have languished in a kind of
brand-image purgatory. Sony is fighting back with this great campaign
created by Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, helmed by art director Eron
Broughton. The agency took Sony's earphones and literally mapped out
the New York subway system, mimicking a traditional subway map. It's a
simple idea but powerful in its execution, giving Sony a much-need dose
of coolness. At last, other brands are thinking outside of the square.
Now all Sony needs to do is apply that principle to its actual
products. Innovate or die, guys. - Laura Demasi
Forget the sport..some of the most interesting things happening at
the Beijing Olympics are coming from clever sponsors who have dreamt up
creative ways to promote their brands at the mega global event. We're
loving the offering from Mini Cooper, who have dragged traditional
Chinese street transport into the 21st century with these great
bike-powered Minis. Samsung has been equally creative, giving Olympics'
fans a chance to view all of the action from their own "private"
alien-like pods. Both of these offerings are a lesson to global brands:
get creative and innovative in your marketing or risk being drowned out
by the noise. - Laura Demasi
The name Gary Fernández has started to appear often enough to warrant a closer look. Fernández is a freelance illustrator and graphic artist based in Madrid, Spain, and currently living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. His client list is impressive, ranging from advertising heavies DDB, McCann Erickson, JWT and Grey to superbrands such as Coca Cola, Nokia and Camel. His illustrations have appeared in numerous magazines and books.
Fernández’s intricate, retro-esque illustrations marry a liquid stroke with a rigid tension, which in turn projects an underlying seething mood and latent danger. For some reason, I’m thinking Dadaism and Salvador Dali mixed with the sixties’ London vibes and New York’s retro fashion illustrations. At the same time, some of his work is almost whimsical and merry; evoking images from Cirque du Soleil and old European circus posters. Whatever you see, you are irresistibly drawn into his world.
A fantastic recent example is his elaborate illustration book titled Introduction to Fantastic Girls, Future Landscapes & the Most Beautiful Birds Ever Seen, available -- possibly -- on his site in limited quantities.
Gary Fernández is also the founder and creative lead of the T-shirt brand VelvetBanana. The name VelvetBanana draws its parts from The Velvet Underground and Andy Warhol’s “banana cover” for their first album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967).
Fernández started VelvetBanana in 2005 with the goal of redefining the “Art Rock T-shirt” by producing thematic collections. The themes capture certain moods, songs or bands. The latest, Collection #3, is described as having “electrifying, abrasive, furious and hypnotic graphics full of energy” although the photo book of the collection appears indoorsy and tame, with clean yet fashionably brooding models photographed against a pristine white background. The T-shirts are available at Urban Outfitters blog.urbanoutfitters.com among others .- Tuija Seipell
Great, aesthetically pleasing design needn't be limited to traditional architectural forms such as houses and public buildings. Utilitarian spaces, such as car parks, present architects and designers with a unique opportunity to bring beauty and harmony to the everyday functional spaces that are normally ignored by great design minds. We're excited to report that the tide is changing, evidenced by these good-looking car parks.
Modern design is all about "experience" and these car parks pictured acknowledge that one's experience of a private or public place begins the minute they pull up in their car. Innovative developers and designers are recognising just how crucial this is - it's almost too late by the time the consumer arrives at the front door. The "experience" of good design starts well before that.
These samples demonstrate how luminous exteriors, bold graphics and neon bright lighting all work here to create a space that is breathing, achieving the previously unachievable - giving tonnes of drab, purely functional concrete a sense of life. - Lisa Evans
Seen any other interesting car parks we should know about - send us tips
“Someone has finally understood how the ultimate suite should look and feel,” was our chief globetrotter’s seldom-heard endorsement, when he encountered the recently opened four top suites and spa at Zürich’s Dolder Grand Hotel.
Designed in 1899 by Jacques Gros, the famed health spa/hotel has a perfect city location overlooking Lake Zürich and the Alps. The grand old hotel has been re-imagined as a modern luxury hotel by a star team of professionals - architecture by London’s Foster and Partners, interior design by United Designers, also of London, and the spa concept by spa-industry visionary, Arizona-based Sylvia Sepielli .
The star power continues in the four top-level suites inspired by four famed guests. The top-most, 4,300 square-foot (400 square-meter) Maestro Suite channels the style of Herbert von Karajan. The sweeping two-level suite with dashing classical undertones features red leather chairs, dark timbers, a circular tower dining room, pale-marble bathrooms with whirlpools and steam showers (and one with a sauna), massive windows and a lounge-style terrace.
The late Swiss surrealist painter and sculptor Alberto Giacometti inspired the Carezza Suite on the top floor of the spa wing. Sculpturally inspired furnishings and organic shapes create a peaceful lounge feel, enhanced by the neutral colors and the modern fireplace. The two-bedroom suite has a separate living room, TV lounge and marble bathrooms.
Also on the top floor of the spa wing, the Masina Suite gets its dramatic inspiration from Giulietta Masina, actress and wife of Federico Fellini. Night-blue and soft white evoke a feel of elegance and smoky glamour. A large Fendi sofa and a flat-screen TV are perfect for film noir nights. Floor-to-ceiling windows add further drama. Orange sofas, dark wood panels and pink furniture adorn Suite 101 created to reflect the legacy of the Rolling Stones. The decor has a retro vibe and an edge with distinctive, casual luxury. The suite includes a bedroom, living room, dining room, an ensuite kitchen and meeting room for 10.
In 8-12 weeks, when The Cool Hunter Hotel booking service launches, you can book this and all other favourites right here with us. - Tuija Seipell
Take a look at these incredible abstract and retroesque pieces by designer and illustrator Andy Gilmore.
Born, raised and based in Rochester, New York, Gilmore applies the
understanding of one practice with the other - applying the proportions
of harmony to form and colour - colours as chords - and scales as tonal
gradations, in order to create these geometric works of art.
If you love his work as much as we do, you can get your hands on a print (or even a t-shirt) over at Esty.- Brendan McKnight
Let’s face it, most conventional medical interiors aren’t exactly attractive. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising to discover that most people are allergic to the blandness and sterility of clinic interiors. Well the new Allied Health clinic in Melbourne, proves that it IS possible for health and design (and a bit of fun) to go hand in hand.
Accommodating the rather unusual combination of podiatry, physiotherapy, pathology, dietetics and psychology, the clinic feels like ‘2001 Space Odyssey meets late nineteenth century Victorian’. Designed by the Melbourne-based studio Chameleon Architecture, the interior juxtaposes elements of heritage, science and future. Ornate period details like crystal chandeliers, cornices, skirting boards and ceiling roses provide a classical backdrop. Exploring the idea of the medical as molecular, large glossy white molecules or futuristic pods are planted throughout the clinic, serving as consultation suites. Once inside the suite/pod, the mood changes again. The interior of the pod, from the walls, ceiling, floors to joinery, is clad entirely in plywood stained with a clear lacquer which enriches and emphasises the grain of the wood. So instead of looking pale under the normally cold and harsh light of clinical spaces, visitors here are instantly bathed in a warm, healthy glow without any treatment having even begun. - Jeanne Tan
The Limes Hotel recently opened by Damian Griffiths in Brisbane, Australia, is the first Australian hotel to join the worldwide boutique hotel group Design Hotels .
Holistically designed by globe-trotting Australian-based designer Alexander Lotersztain, The Limes Hotel reflects Lotersztain's vision in every facet - from cocktail ingredients to bed linens, bench tops and the facade. By incorporating the 'Limes' branding into the hotel's striking external facade, Lotersztain sought to communicate the 'Limes' aesthetic on a grand scale.
Located in Brisbane's 'Valley' district, The Limes Hotel sits between the bustle of Brunswick St. Mall's pubs and clubs and the classier restaurants, boutiques and cafes of James St.
From the in-room iPod docks and 32-inch flat screens to the complimentary hand-made chocolate brownies and L'Occitane cosmetics the hotel is full of memorable touches. Perhaps the hotel's most hip feature is its rooftop bar. Taking in sweeping views of the city, the open-air atmosphere makes the most of Brisbane's balmy tropical surrounds transforming seamlessly into a cinema for a more upmarket viewing experience.
For first-time visitors to Brisbane, The Limes Hotel is a perfect choice, combining the energy and vibrancy of a growing city with world-class sophistication and design. - Nick Christie
Even if the results of your early-morning culinary endeavors appear
bland and beige, all is not lost. With the right accessories, even the
humblest breakfast can look cheery and stylish.
To attempt the
task of making muffins, you’d get a head start by using the non-slip,
nesting set of measuring tools and bowls called, fittingly, Nest, and
designed for josephjoseph.com by London-based Bill Holing and Ben Cox, known together as Morph.
You'll eventually be able to bake them in your Marc Newson-designed Smeg oven previewed at Milan and available at the end of 2008.
Later,
to transform those poorly turned-out muffins into desirables, just
serve them in the anodized aluminum bowls designed by Melbourne-based
Nina Ellis and available exclusively at Pieces of Eight in Melbourne.
Serve the plain boiled egg in the smashingly retro egg cup from Menu designed by the young Danish designer Pernille Vea and adorned with the striking designs of the late Verner Panton,
the Danish architect and designer whose mastery of vibrant colour was
extraordinary. Use the thermocups from the same series for your coffee
or tea.
And why not serve that boring orange juice in a Club martini glass, created by the Swedish DJ and designer Matz Borgström for Sagaform
We
are not saying that every item in your kitchen should be madly cheery.
We are only suggesting you add some color to your black-and-white life,
just to wake you up in the morning. - Tuija Seipell
The consulting arm of The Cool Hunter, Platinum, is taking on some exciting global design projects covering architecture, interior design, fashion, events and product design. Specifically we are putting out a call to our vast Coolhunter community; architects and designers who have created amazing spas & wellness resorts and architecture/interiors of kids pre-schools/play centres/playgrounds/community centers. If you are an architect or interior designer with some great work in either of these areas please let us know, we'd love to see your work - past, current or future. Watch this space for new projects.
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