Design Debate

So sad to hear of Frank Gehry's passing, but at 96, he has left us quite a legacy behind. Perhaps best know for the otherworldly Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. A building that totally transforms as the light changes, warmly undulating as well as shear and metallic. The Guggenheim was pretty revolutionary in 1997 when it opened, heralding a new era in computer-led design. It transformed the northern Spanish town into a tourist destination, adding $400m to the city's coppers. Of course not everyone's cup of tea, this was architecture that shouted, perhaps a little louder than the works it housed. But you can't deny the impact Gehry's style had on the architecture scene. Born in Canada to Jewish immigrant parents, he changed his name to try and avoid the anti-semitism he had witnessed, however his roots where a strong part of his identity. He moved to LA, first working as a lorry driver before exploring building design. Gehry worked under Victor Gruen, the inventor of th...

Kind of love this idea, a collection of the world's weirdest buildings has been published by Hoxton Mini Press . Its the antidote to the rather soulless boxes that keep popping up. I drive by a new estate it seems everyday and just can't help but feel the lack of individuality. Sometimes you just want to see something to make you stop and go 'wow'! Okay, so best case scenario you get some architecture that challenges your perception of what is possible, something that elevates a space, that answers problems and poses questions. But sometimes I would just settle of the quirk-factor, something to make me take a second look. This little book has some impressive buildings that twist and turn and assert their presence in the ground they now sit, but I think I love the ones most that make me crack a smile. The Portuguese house that is squished almost painfully between two rocks, the teapot gas station or the very random duck house, a delight to behold.  Imogen Fortes provides...

Well this is a rather clever garden shed! A multipurpose space that serves the clients well, a mini hang out, a library, a shelter from the rain, an extra bedroom, a potting shed.  Located just 20 minutes from Prague (love Prague!) designers Byró Architekti created this lovely little hub for their clients, with one pretty cool surprise. The front lifts up to reveal the great outdoors, providing shade and shelter. Clad in dark blackened spruce the doors fold away revealing the polycarbonate window. This lifts to open the whole space, one person can lift it. The roof has solar panels and the whole thing just sits happily in its green environment. Love it.  Originally found at Remodelista . 

I love the how pristine this home is but also how it embraces texture and imperfections. There is something quite wonderful about painted white brick, I don't know why but I just feel instant calm! This Cape Schanck House by Studio Goss is located on Australia's Victoria Mornington Peninsula but I feel there is an Italian nod with the design, Roman really. It feels like an elegant villa of importance, solid, established with its influence far-reaching. The design makes practical sense, this is a weather-worn site as well as being a family home. It needed to be batter-proof. I think it is perhaps the exterior and landscaping I like the most, every angle pleases.  The interior stays true to the vision with plenty of white-washed brick on display. The house has been designed to allow light to play, the dappled shadows all adding to the beauty of the place. Slabs of marble, smooth wood and subtle textiles bring tonal warmth.  Every element considered and purposeful, it's minima...

Oh I kind of love these paintings, just slithers of life preserved in all their vibrant beauty. You can feel the sun on your face, the textures of the wooden surfaces, grass under foot and basque in the wonderful everyday. Bobby Bowers of Melbourne Australia seems to capture a nostalgic suburbia that feels comforting and cosy. I love the titles too, 'What Night is Bin Night?' and 'A Shake of a Lambs Tale'. Just lovely.   The acid yellows and verdant foliage speak of a different world to mine, and I love to visit it through his works of art. Originally found at The Design Files . 

I do love the act of scribbling a note. I mean I use my phone for note taking all the time but there really is no substitute for picking up a pen and scrawling a note, or a sketch or a message as you head out the door to a loved one.  The issue is post-its are not brill for the environment, they curl up and fall away and can only be used once. So a clever company has come up with M Note . These do work well as they can be wiped clean, stick to most surfaces and come in some rather jolly colours. Will they replace such a familiar favourite? Time will tell!    

I thought I would share with you lovely people the calendar we have just produced at Pickle Design . We've been doing these limited edition calendars as gifts for clients and local businesses for about 20 years. Each time with a new theme, we have illustrated in various styles everything from collective nouns for birds, time travel, an alphabet of graphic design, Cornish food, and drinks from around the world. For 2025 we decided to present twelve design classics, in a minimal style.  Some icons are just instantly recognisable, the Anglepoise lamp, the Coca-Cola bottle, we wanted to illustrate them as partial silhouettes, allowing your mind to fill in the rest. Picking the colour palette is one of my favourite parts, I love all these shades. The hardest part though was working out what to include, back in 2014 we created a calendar celebrating iconic chair design, picking just one was tricky! We also provide free digital downloads of our calendars so you can use the months as back...