Posts from — July 2009

Sorry that posting has been a little slow. I’ve been under the weather this week (again). I’ll be hitting the road next week but regular posting will resume the following week. cheers and stay cool!

I’m terrified of the dentist. The smells and sounds make me sick to my stomach. I won’t say when my last appointment was but I am waaaay overdue. But perhaps if my dentist renovated his office into something like this I could bring myself to pay him a visit. Mori x Haco (forest x box) is the latest work by Hiroshima-based UID Architects. Completed earlier this year, the dental clinic utilizes bare wood, organic and cubist forms, and lots of greenery to create a contemporary log-cabin feel.

via  jcd design awards

I thought this was a pretty interesting idea of space utilization. Earlier this year Chuo Architects decided to take this unused space in between condo units, which easily could have turned into an ugly eyesore meant only for a laundry line, and created a dynamic partition by stretching thin wires from the ground up to the 3rd floor. They then planted several vines which would continue to modify the landscape as time passes.

This is a follow up to my previous post on the Inujima Art Project.
I ♥ Yu (yu means hot water, or bath) is a new hot bath opening up on the island of Naoshima, which neighbors Inujima. It was conceptualized by artist  Shinro Ohtake and it sounds like it’s turning out to be one hell of a hot bath. They hired graf for the architectural component and botanical artist Makoto Azuma as the landscape designer. The bath, which is set to open later this month, will also incorporate abstract objects that Ohtake has collected during his many trips, domestically and abroad, as well as 3D drawings by the artist himself!

Here are some sneak peaks courtesy of Azuma’s blog:

Related:

• Shinro Ohtake at the Setouchi Art Festival
• Azuma Makoto

Images courtesy of Koiso Design Institute

This signage campaign for the Inujima Art Project is really making me want to visit the islands! They were designed by Koiso Design Institute (part of the Kenya Hara entourage) and recently took home a first place SDA Award in the environmental graphics category.

I wrote briefly about the Inujima Art Project in the past but I think it warrants some more attention. There are actually a lot of notable artists getting involved.

Photos by Daici Ano. Courtesy of The Inujima Art Project

The Inujima Art Project is one of several environmental art projects aimed at revitalizing the islands of the Inland Sea, or Seto Naikai. The primary benefactor is Soichiro Fukutake, the 24th richest man in Japan and president of Benesse, which runs all the prep schools across the country. Fukutake, who is originally from the area, also happens to be director of Ando Tadao’s Chichu Art Museum, located on a neighboring island. Anyway moving along, Fukutake hired Hiroshi Sambuichi * to spearhead his vision of converting an abandoned refinery into a public art space that was environmentally sustainable.

Model for sustainability. Copyright Hiroshi Sambuichi Architects.

And to kick off the art work Fukutake invited installation artist Yukinori Yanagi to create some site-specific works in the refinery.

“Hero Dry Cell” (2008) by Yukinori Yanagi
Photos by Daici Ano. Courtesy of The Inujima Art Project

If you’re interested in visiting, this info page has everything you’ll need to plan a trip. There are wispers that architect Kazuyo Sejima of SANAA is joining in on the fun. I’ll update you if anything materializes.
There’s another interesting turn of affairs going on, on a neighboring island, which I’ll talk about in a separate post.

Special thanks to Wallpaper

[UPDATE]
2/15/2011 – The Inujima Art Project has won the Japan Institute of Architects’ 2010 Architecture Award, the highest honor bestowed to architects in Japan.

Related:

• Hiroshi Sambuchi’s Okonomiyaki Museum
• Chichu Museum and the Setouchi Art Festival

Late last month Osaka-based interior design office eleven nine completed their facelift of the VANTAN design institute, a technical college offering classes in fashion, hair styling, and interior and product design. I love how the back of the chairs extend to the ceiling creating a space divider!

Remember that crazy hotel that appeared on the rooftop of the Palais de Tokyo in France? Well check out what’s replaced it! As of July 1, an izakaya called Nomiya will welcome overworked and under appreciated salarymen from across the country (not really). It was designed by French artist Laurent Grasso and will stay up for 1 year.

via the moment

Related:

• Hotel Everland

I wanted to highlight one more winner from the JCD 2009 design awards. Yamakoya (which means wood-log cabin) is a special research corner emphasizing local history and was constructed within the library of Ina-Higashi Elementary School (Nagano Prefecture). How swell would it be to study in this!!

The uneven logs mimic the shape of mountains, creating an inviting space for kids to enter and learn. Additionally, the mountainous forms create a 4-person table for group work, cubby holes for individual study, and a  single open space where books and other resources are stored. It was designed by Ben Nagaoka from Point.

images courtesy of co-lab

The JCD Design Awards were announced earlier this week and I just thought that Ryuji Nakamura (a favorite here on Spoon & Tamago) deserved a special shout out for scoring the top prize AND a not-so-modest silver with a different work. I didn’t see any other double entries on the list so here here!

Blossom (2009) won 1st place

Atmosphere (2009) won a silver

Related:

• Ryuji Nakamura’s Hechima Chair & Insect Cage
• Blossom by Ryuji Nakamura
• Ryuji Nakamura

Love this new track from Shugo Tokumaru‘s album L.S.T.