I love Richard Dhennin's Green BarCode , proof a new gardening community is 'talking' to the Blackberry generation, raised on ad concepts, and techno lovers- very alien to a spade!
Richard Dhennin creates very unique almost art pieces using structures to grow plants on. I love this very consumerist Barcode!
This hopefully can inspire private homes in urban centers where we have similar challenges :
The Sun ( yes I confess I sometimes look at it online ehmmm) today they have a fabulous slideshow that can provide inspiration...
An American artist has come up with a novel solution to camouflage those unsightly grey public utility boxes that litter our streets
'By painting impressions of what should be behind and to the sides of each box, artist Joshua Callaghan has brought a touch of humour and fun to the lifeless telephone and electrical storage units.'
Outdoor textile innovator /designer Deborah Sommers has teamed up this collection with the WOK chair by Pascal Bauer [ at Totema ]
For me this new banner is so reminiscent of wallpaper found indoors - before we fell into the white cube deco mode! Love the contrast of the sleek design with that retro look.
I think its fair to say no one is changing the outdoor textile market more than Deborah. She is probably the one who can really claim she considers the space as another room...and is developing products to prove it!
Opus Incertum is found at italian design lab www.casamania.it
Let your imagination decide how best use it: to partition, to store...
Official blurb is 'recipient of the design distinction award by ID Magazine, the opus incertum is made from expanded polypropylene and measures 39.4" x 13.8" x 39.4" and can be stacked. can be used indoors or outdoors. 100% recyclable. sean yoo grew up in los angeles and is currently a partner in apt5 design in italy. their design firm has collaborated with firms such as frighetto and jongform.
If your latin is like mine , rather on the thin side ...a quick clip from Wikipedia:
Opus incertum was an ancient Roman construction technique, using irregular shaped and random placed uncut stones or fist-sized tuff blocks inserted in a core of opus caementicium.
Initially it consisted of more careful placement of the coementa (rock fragments and small stones mixed with concrete), making the external surface as plain as possible. Later the external surface became further plain by reducing usage of concrete and choosing more regular small stones. When the use of concrete between stones is particularly reduced, it is defined opus (quasi) reticulatum.
Used from the beginning of the 2nd century BC until the mid-1st century BC, it was later largely superseded by opus reticulatum.
On trade fairs, you would almost certainly notice and admire the rounded chic and understated but real luxury that defines Sempre. They specialize in in/outdoor designs based on old teak and rattan of the highest quality. I am not a fan of either as we see them most often in cheap knock offs but I am when it is high spec and holds the mark of individuality.
They also produce root wood sculptures ( and furniture), a new polyethyleen range and fabulous candles and baskets
Link to Sempre here
A red BBQ... that in itself would be cool news - after an avalanche of new but always black BBq designs- but this is THE BBQ that comes with the ultra oumpf : the backing of a design firm men know so well. Indeed the Coleman Diamento is designed by Pininfarina
[ For my women readers: here is the heads up on that : over the years the company has been employed by many automobile manufacturers, notably Ferrari, Maserati, Cadillac, Nash, Peugeot, Jaguar, Volvo, Alfa Romeo, MG, Cisitalia, and Lancia ... basically what Marc Jacobs is to women ...Pininfarina is to men!]
I must say that for once the marketing blurb and superlatives seem justified by the amazing attributes of this high end gem.
'A feat of engineering and design that combines the inspiration of Coleman® with the passion of Pininfarina. The super-barbecue of its generation, sublime styling with unrivalled performance. 20kW fully adjustable power / The ultimate cooking performance, using all possible cooking methods: convection, conduction and infrared /4 burners including 2 infrared, laterally mounted ceramic burners, 1 central tube burner and 1 ignition burner /2-piece porcelain coated cast iron grids and 2-piece porcelain coated cast iron griddles of 3,200cm2 that are dishwasher proof, plus additional 700cm2 articulated warming rack /Oven drawer that bakes a perfect pizza and is ideal for baking other accompaniments / Side Solution Mounting system / Pre-plumbed for quick connection propane lines on both sides / InstastartTM electronic ignition for safe and easy lighting (battery included) / Spacious food preparation side table /Practical storage drawer with space to hold side tables or the side burner solution when not in use /Articulated brushed stainless steel hood with precise guiding system and double wall structure /Robust cart in brushed stainless steel with high quality red varnish for optimum rust protection /Heat indicators on the lid and on the oven drawer for reliable heat readings /Integrated rotisserie kit with electric motor that connects to 230v AC mains /Control panel with three electric sockets /Fully enclosed cabinet that holds 5-15kg cylinder and has space for all other barbecue essentials /2 wheels and 2 castors with brake for easy manoeuvrability /Easy-access removable drip pan for collecting drippings
It is available in three colour ways - varnish red ( Ferrari red?) , varnish blue and varnish grey and has an amazing array of accessories, including a deep fat fryer to do your fries, that clip onto the main body.
These fig shaped inflatable lanterns are perhaps a bit childish but I feel they add a poetic feel to any outdoor space now that its freezing outdoors !
Link here
It had to happen. Outdoor spas could not stay ...hmmm... out of the designer's eyes. And of course, it is the Italians who have come to the rescue with this multi talented tub.
Award winning designer Susan Bradley brings us these new versions of her lovely laser cut outdoor 'wallpapers': a paisley in gold or green, and a Japanese motif.
'Outdoor Wallpaper™ is a unique award-winning product for outside spaces, bringing the indoors outdoors via cutting edge technology and innovative design. Outdoor Wallpaper™ reinterprets a familiar domestic item for outdoor spaces - use as a unique trellis, screening or simply a beautiful decorative feature, to create an immediate impact in any space. '
Presented at Maison et objet Dedon's 2009 collection is simply stunning. The variety on offer as well as the quality of each series is superb. Green is one of the lines on show: a selection of screens tall or low, with or without containers...The new collections are by Jean Marie Massaud and creative trio EOOS and in keeping with the lounge attitude of the brand.
