Sang Won Sung hybrid toys

Check out Sang Won Sung hybrid toys

Christiane Diehl : rubber jewellery update

Christiane Diehl, a talented and creative designer of landscapes and jewellery, has developed an array of sumptuous works using the rubber inner tubes used for bicycle wheels and other rubber bands. You may recall a previous post on her work. The results are tactile and extremely appealing and have interested cycling enthusiasts, designers and appreciators of good jewellery and design from all around the world.

Well Christiane’s obsession with the material has continued since her move from Sydney to Hannover, Germanay.

Back in Germany I continued working with recycled materials, especially with inner bike tubes. I never thought this material had so much design substance. I can’t stop to touch it!

Here are some of the more recent deigns that have given the inner tube new ’spin’.

There are many more designs to her creative reportior beyond the images I have chosen here so feel free to contact her through her website for more information.

Kako Ueda

Some brilliant paper-cut-out work by Kako Ueda!

Crocs are dangerous!

The Japanese government has issued a public warning regarding the popular Croc shoes. The world-famous plastic clogs have been the cause of 40 accidents, most of them involving children, as the Crocs get stuck in escalators very easily.

Via trendhunter

 

Vintage Charles and Ray Eames footage on YouTube (cont)

via core77

Vintage Charles and Ray Eames footage on YouTube

via Core77

Sydney Design 07

+ stuff

Today I confess to neglecting my blog for a period of time for a number of excuses of which the Tour de France can take precedence, followed by a much needed rest and an overseas from a family member, my niece who I have not seen in three years. So here are a few tit bits I can offer until I can make a more concerted effort as we ramp up towards Sydney Design Week 07

+ Tour de France. Well here are a few things to distract you - my partner Phil is doing daily posts on SBS, Tour de Lounge but for those who are more visually oriented or graphic designers try this on 1+1=3 for a look at interesting logos and tour related designs

+ For the fashion conscious; Prada has developed an online auction of exclusive collectible pieces. You can track the history and people who make the bids as the site allows you to personalize your bid with information, including website links and images of yourself. The pieces are more affordable but still expensive - good luck!

+ Supertouch beautifully sums-up the processes behind the making of Damien Hirst’s “For the Love of God” diamond encrusted platinum skull recently on display at the White Cube Gallery, London. The step by step expose reveals not only the underlying structure but also the craftsmanship that went into the making. The skull is shockingly kitsch and controversial (is this a desecration?) and repulses and attracts us at the same time. How does he continually get away with this? Hirst is a master of promotion and great ideas that fit in with contemporary culture and on this ocassion allows for element of the macabre to enter the work by using the real teeth in the final setting. A stroke of genius? You be the judge

+ Wallpaper has nominated 101 of the world’s most interesting architectural practices in the world including Australia

+ treehugger reveals Bulbs Unlimited interesting system of recycling the average household light bulb

+ Sydney design 07 is about to launch with an array of exhibitions, events, walks and talks. The entire program can be found here. There is sure to be something for everyone. I’m looking forward to Schmuck Quickies with Yuka Oyama as well as many other exhibitions and events

+ dfactory death date explores life and durability of products and explores ways in which designers may be able to make their products more friendly to the environment as well as to the user

 

June dfactory

Join Matt Butler of Zaishu stool fame to discuss his Indian venture

Canadians crow about the Lee-Chin Crystal

And crow they should as on the 2 June they unveiled the completed ROM crystal extension by architect Daniel Libeskind. In an earlier post I had a small offering of images I had taken of the construction one year ago. Today we can take a birds eye view of the completed building (rather near completed) through Toronoist who was first to walk through the near finished interior.

The spaces are so angular and unique the CEO of the ROM felt a specially designed chair was required for the Museum. Daniel Libeskind and Toronto furniture designer Klaus Nienkämper have unveiled a new limited edition, custom built piece of furniture entitled the Spirit House Chair, inspired by the architectural peaks and facades of Libeskind’s Lee-Chin Crystal.

A little history for your entertainment

The Royal Ontario Museum was opened in March of 1914 and is aagency of the Province of Ontario, operated by the University oToronto until 1955. Canada’s largest museum and the fifth largest iNorth America, the ROM boasts more than six million objects in it collection. Wide-eyed children may tell you that the museum ihaunted by the nightshirt-wearing ghost of its first curator, archaeologis Charles Trick Currelly.

In the summer of 2001, the ROM launched an international search for an architect to expand and renovate the site as part of the Renaissance ROM project. About three months later and with 50 entrants, twelve international architects were chosen to pitch, narrowing down to three by December (Italy’s Andrea Bruno, Polish-born American Daniel Libeskind and Chinese-Canadian Bing Thom). In February, Daniel Libeskind was awarded the Lead Architect position for the ROM’s expansion, which would be based on a deconstructionist crystal-like design he sketched on a napkin during a family wedding at the ROM. Perhaps in a bit of romantic embellishment, Libeskind claimed the idea was inspired by the Museum’s gem and mineral collection, though the multifaceted design has already been seen in many of his other structures like the Denver Art Museum and Hong Kong’s Creative Media Centre.

Some wonderful images of the exterior via coolhunter

Interview with Daniel Libeskind
more images via coolhunter
Renaissance ROM project
ROM launch and celebrations
Torontoist photo round-up