The Portrait Building

The Portrait Building: "

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Nope, it’s not the latest Chuck Close painting. Instead, it’s the very cool Portrait Building designed by ARM architects in Melbourne, Australia and scheduled to be completed by 2014.

Part of construction group Grocon’s plan to transform the former Carlton Brewery site at the top end of Swanston Street into Melbourne’s newest urban living precinct, Portrait is a 32-story residential tower paying homage to Victoria’s indigenous heritage and first Australians. The façade features a portrait of indigenous leader, William Barak. The artwork for the Barak image was done by sculptor Peter Schipperheyn. The idea behind this, apart from the general coolness? To unite the city’s modern heritage with its ancient history.

It should be noted that Grocon completed construction on, and has since moved its offices to, yet another unique looking building, the Pixel Building (designed by Melbourne firm Studio 505), part of the same former Carlton Brewery site, and the country’s first carbon neutral office building. (See bottom right photo.) Impressively forward-thinking!

Filed under: Architecture, Art, Just Plain Cool, Stuff We Like "

Needlework Trend in Product Design

Needlework Trend in Product Design: "

Recently I’ve noticed that there’s a lot of knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, and embroidery showing up in the most unlikely places.

Clockwise and spiraling in from top left corner:

Panier Percé needlepoint bowls; Lampy Cocoons; Goldilocks embroidery hoop stools by Groupa; Embroidery portraits by Daniel Kornrumpf; Action Men toilet paper cover by Sally Spinx; Jonathan Adler needlepoint pillows; Laine Blanche tea set with embroidery printed porcelain; Matt knitted lamps by llot llov; Laura Theiss innovative knit collection, summer 2011; Knitted Baskets; Granny Chair by Wadebe: Rose Trivet by Anouk Jansen; Knitted Poufs; Crocheted Bicycles by Olek

Filed under: Fashion, Fun, Industrial Design, Pop Culture "

Have a Nice Day: Jennis Li Cheng Tien

Have a Nice Day: Jennis Li Cheng Tien: "

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Berlin-based, Taiwanese artist Jennis Li Cheng Tien’s online personal project Have a Nice Day is a work in progress where she takes lost images from the internet and reprocesses them with digital filters distorting them to create somewhat eerie and ethereal images. A very interesting effect, I think.

You can see more of the Have a Nice Day series here, and more of Li Cheng Tien’s other artwork here.

via LanciaTrendVisions

Filed under: Art, Graphic Design, Just Plain Cool, Stuff We Like "

Inga Liksaite: Textile Art

Inga Liksaite: Textile Art: "

Inga Liksaite, a Lithuanian artist, works wonders with thread, fabric, and cardboard. She has even participated in videos for set designs of stage performances. In addition to her artworks, Inga has designed bags and – possibly my favorite – lamps that look like very tall spools of thread.

You can see more of her work here and here.

via the not-so-losery loserlife

Filed under: Art, Fashion, Industrial Design, Just Plain Cool "

Camilo Rojas: Consumption

Camilo Rojas: Consumption: "

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Camilo Rojas and his Create Studio in Miami presented an installation of typographic messages using nontraditional methods in place of the more classic screen-print-on-paper style. Soda-rusted nails, condoms, cigarettes, and french fries were just some of the materials used to convey powerful statements, as well as raising awareness, about health issues such as obesity, lung cancer and STDs.

You can see the rest of them at his site.

via Quipsologies

Filed under: Art, Food, Fun, Graphic Design, Typography "