Patricia Urquiola comes to Sydney!

As a design highlight for the season and possibly the year, Patricia Urquiola comes to Sydney to present a talk at the Powerhouse Museum. Urquiola is recognised for a number of interesting design concepts from fat furnishings to interior designs such as the interior of a Shanghai nightclub.

Design Quarter Talk: Lazy chairs & fat beds: the designs of Patricia Urquiola
Sunday 28 May, 4.30pm for 6.00pm (yes that's right – perhaps you'll get to meet the designer).

For more information see the Powerhouse Museum

Pritzker Prize winner – Mendes da Rocha

Paulistano Athletic Club, 1958

The Brazilian architect, Mendes da Rocha, comes away with the highly prized Pritzker for 2006. He receives a $100,000 grant and recognition for his work including stadiums, chapels and museums that have an affinity with space and environment. He is well known for the recently completed Patriarch Plaza and the Paulistano Athletic Club in Sao Paulo, 1958, that is shaped like a flying saucer.

the Pritzker jury praised him for his command of "the principles and
language of Modernism," as well as his "deep understanding of the
poetics of space. He modifies the landscape and space with his
architecture, striving to meet both social and aesthetic human needs."

via Interior Design

A ‘we-make-money-not-art’ perspective on Salone 2006

Some of the most interesting entries I've found are through we-make-money-not-art who are extremely talented at finding the most interesting exhibits. I hope you will enjoy my favourites from these guys.

From students of Ron Arad of Deisgn Product at RCA London – Markus Bergstrom imagined that rapid prototyping could be used to make life scale models of family and friends – they look amazing.

Design your self by Karim Rashid

Well it has arrived – the design your world publication according to Karim Rashid.

Well known now for Kit 24 displayed at the Toronto Furniture Fair, a range of iconic blobs (I don't believe he is the only one), an array of symbols that he has symbolically tattooed onto his body at significant times and places and now the design of a plastic sealed coffin that will preserve and mummify your body for 600 -700 years. It may not be everyone's idea of the perfect way to go – there are many other ecologically friendly methods of burial and disposal.

More satellite @ salone internazionale del mobile

Dobbert Pankow Schoe's modular pendant light

Ingo Maurer @ Salone internazionale del mobile 2006

You may have seen some of these images on the net but I thought I would add them to the collection of images I've posted. Maurer is one of the most impressive lighting designers in the world and he continues to impress with a range of innovative, spectaular and yet quiet installations. I look forward to a future of sensitive lighting features that become an integral architectural and spacial feature. Check out the images

&made

Designers Toby and Dave of &made, have taken a completely unique approach to meeting designers and people in Milan during Salone 2006 . They have offered a free taxi service to and from events for little more than a little conversation to find some of Milan's notorious design functions. As part of the journey they handed out a clip with name and logo to become part of their 'Loose Change" project.

Zaha Hadid: salone internazionale del mobile 2006

Zaha Hadid Kitchen design

Via MoCo loco

Hella Jongerius, Vitra and the Bouroullecs @ salone internazionale 2006

They're all at Salone internazionale del mobile where Hella Jongerius features her latest – the Worker chair along with Polder and the Grip and Handles cushions.

Hella Jongerius poufs in the foreground with Bouroullec sofa and side-tables

Spectacular entrance: Satellite 2006

The spectacular introduction to satellite this year features Douglas Mont's Dodecahedron lighting system – a developement on his genetic modular lighting system.