Minimal and Cheery

I love this project by Osaka-based firm TOFU. I always love a good minimal design, and this is no exeption. However, one thing that makes this project different from other minimal designs is the cheery attitude it gives off. The selection of materials really keeps this home from being overly austere, even though the form is pretty rigid in its simplicity. The variations in the colored siding, the rustic wood flooring, and the gravel/concrete patio all offer visual interest and make me smile. Hope you're all smiling, too!

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Via Design Milk

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2 Panscapes

Two great minimalist bakeries by Japanese firm ninkipen!

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Both projects make use of readily available materials combined with minimalist detailing in order to let the bread take center stage. I can almost smell it baking from here!

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And totally unrelated... after an accidental hiatus, I'm going to make an effort to get back into the swing of blogging this year. Wish me luck!

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EXTERIOR DESIGN OF MODERN BUILDING GAMO NAGOYA

EXTERIOR DESIGN OF MODERN
BUILDING

DESIGN OF MODERN BUILDING
GAMO

MODERN BUILDING GAMO NAGOYA

INTERIOR MODERN BUILDING
GAMO NAGOYA

MODERN BUILDING GAMO NAGOYA

INTERIOR DESIGN OF MODERN BUILDING

How Embarrassing

So, the World Expo 2010 is taking place in Shanghai, and many of the world's best architects have contributed designs. Many countries have hired the best architects found in their own country, while others have ventured out beyond their borders... but most designs have something in common... trying to articulate the priorities and passions of their home country, exuding confidence and creativity. Of course, I say most because the US is one glaring exception. What does our pavilion say about us? We could be locate along any highway in any suburb. We value conformity and corporate culture (which we can directly link to many of the problems plaguing our nation). We don't really have any place for innovation or creativity and we certainly don't value our architects, which is why we hired a Canadian to design a metal panelled representation of an eagle (there is that lack of creativity and ingenuity again).

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Very Frustrating. An expo is not an office park.

US
UK

Spain

South Korea

Portugal

Denmark

Switzerland

Russia

Japan

Poland

Finland

Canada

Although I would prefer to see pictures of this house filled with furniture, books, etc.... I quite like this project. A simple exterior form with minimal detailing and fenestration, and yet the interior is filled with light. I also like the bridge through the main space... it helps break up the otherwise very tall room.

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St House by Taro Kono and Hiroshi Muranishi via Arch Now
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Urban Nature

Urban Nature by Naoko Ito

Light Graffiti

My favorite shots are the ones where you can see the artist in the background.

Via Behance

A White Forest In a Grey Field

“I wanted to make a space with very ambiguous borderlines, which has a fluctuation between local spaces and the overall space, rather than a universal space like that of Mies,”

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Junya Ishigami designed this lovely university studio... the thin columns look like a neverending forest of white trees, especially with the frameless glass perimeter.

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Via Archide