Design Debate

It is rare that I receive something so lovely in the post, but on an ordinary working day I opened a shiny envelope to find a beautifully put together story - about a building. A little black box with a copper foil letter 'c' was opened to reveal a collection of stories encased in a wooden holder. All this journey and celebration is for Centre Point , a 1960s skyscraper being redeveloped in London.  Spending time in the capitol can be overwhelming, so much design everywhere you look, you can almost miss the beauty of one building because of the impact of the whole. This little wooden box, designed by Japanese father and son team Norio and Masakage Tanno, slides opens to reveal pieces of card telling the story of the Grade II listed building.   Commanding the skyline with a great view, Centre Point's distinctive honeycomb facade fits smuggling into that decades Op art scene. However t his iconic building is not remaining in history as it is being...

I love this new identity for London Luton Airport, I think it really is summed up by their phrase 'simplicity with a smile'. Airports can be very uninspiring places, so I am all for a little bit of joy to brighten the day.  The L L A are used to great effect for the logo, very flexible and an interesting fresh palette of colours. The design was by London agency ico who were brought in right at the beginning of the project which I feel has meant that the brand and building blend seamlessly. The icons are really fun too. It is a brand that celebrates creativity and helps to create an engaging environment that I wouldn't mind killing time in. Originally found on ID .   

This idyllic Finca is actually newly designed though it still feels so established and cosy. You can almost feel the warm breeze and smell the fragrant flowers. Designed by architect Rolf Blakstad, the luxury villa is understated while being eco-conscious and filled with the latest technology. I just love that the designer has allowed this modern home to have those slightly wobbly walls in crisp white framed by chunky wood and chiseled beams together with built in storage giving this home real character. And an outside settee is rather wonderful too. See more at the Style Files .

I love a flash back. Recently my younger sister was clearing out our home recorded videos, it was a shame as there was no where for them to go. She checked online about ways to recycle and there really weren't any local options. She called her old art college but they had no use for these relics.  Artist Hollis Brown Thornton , has captured an aspect of our culture that is fast becoming a fuzzy memory. I am very much of the video generation, our living room shelves were crammed with episodes of Friends, the Star Wars movies (the good ones of course) and countless cartoons. All with titles scribbled out and re-written in mine and my siblings incomprehensible scrawl. Floppy discs and cassette tapes were also part of my everyday life.  What I love about Thornton is how he uses marker pens in a scribbly but very realistic way capturing the beautiful graphics which are now obsolete. The stacked videos create a kind of pattern. Of course ca...