We’ve taken a look at various surfaces made from unusual materials – notably tiles from salt created by Chilean architect Mále Uribe Forés, sunflower surfaces from Thomas Vailly, and algae infused tiles from the Bio-Integrated Design Lab – and today we’re sharing something that utilises all three – Frank Gehry’s tower for the Luma Foundation in Arles. The project’s innovative material use is designed to … Continue reading Sunflowers, Salt, and Seaweed
Around our local region (Kent and Sussex) we’re lucky enough to be near the majority of one of England’s more unusual historical building designs – Oast houses. Despite being around since the 1500s, the majority were built in the mid 1800s for the very specific purpose of drying hops before being sent to the brewers. Nowadays they mostly function as beautiful homes, with the pointed … Continue reading Beauty at Bumpers Oast
Architect Timothy Robinson offers a triumph of terrazzo at his new studio and workshop that has the perfect balance of tranquility and stylistic panache – enough to make any working-from-homer a little jealous. Continue reading Terrazzo Cladding
Tile of Spain have announced the winners of The Tile of Spain awards, a competition designed to promote and celebrate the creative use of Spanish ceramics in interior design and architecture. This year in its 19th edition, ASCER has awarded 39,000 Euros in cash prizes to winners throughout the categories. First prize in the Interior Design category is for the Atlantis Gastrobar in Barcelona by … Continue reading Tile of Spain Awards 2020
We’ve covered some of the colourful work of Adam Nathaniel Furman (notably his gateway at Design Junction and his Chelsea and Westminster Hospital designs) and now it’s his vision for town halls that we need to share. Continue reading Colouring Collaboration
When looking to compile a list of our favourite façades we noticed a very clear front runner in the race for beguiling buildings – architecture firm MVRDV. Undeniable style, elegance, creativity, and flair are found amongst many of their projects, and three have been chosen for our selection of Five Fascinating Façades. Continue reading Five Fascinating Façades
Tile Addict loves ceramics with a bit of whimsy. The nature of tile formats means they can be used playfully in a range of tech-inspired ways, for example, Invader‘s pixelated video game tags. In a similar vein, on a much larger scale, this apartment block in South Korea has brought Minecraft to life. Continue reading Pixelated Apartments
Green and red triangular tiles signify the separation of spaces in this Barcelona apartment. Carrer Avinyó in the Gothic Quarter is a strikingly angular building, with a tight corner protruding out and enabling public walkways on either side. When it was refurbished in 2012, with the help of David Kohn, the plan was to take advantage of this premade quirk and reflect it within the … Continue reading Dividing Spaces
Hemp is fast being recognised as one of the most important crops to tackle climate change due to its prolific growing potential, carbon-sequestering nature, and its capacity to be used in almost any industry. Its ability to sequester carbon begins from the moment it is seeded, with one ton of harvested hemp fiber sequestering approximately 1.62 tons of CO². Continue reading Hemp House
Nothing makes a statement quite like an uninterrupted expanse of pink and nothing creates an imposing industrial impression like coarse colourless concrete. Forgoing all convention, greatly honoured and notable architect Sir David Adjaye has combined these two defining features to create an incredible signature. Continue reading Pink Concrete
Combining ‘Kabanchik’, typically used in Soviet pre-fab apartment blocks, with modern fibre cement panels, this housing project attempts to breathe life and colour into the surrounding area. With traditionally soulless towerblocks in varying shades of grey and beige in mind, Italian architecture firm Iosa Ghini Associati designed these exteriors with a little more joy. Continue reading Multicolour Moscow
As the Tile of Spain Awards Award Ceremony approaches, it’s time to take a look at some of the most enticing designs across the Architecture category. In order to promote the use of Spanish ceramics, all entries must make significant use of them throughout their designs to be considered. The competition is open to designers both in Spain, and worldwide with the Architecture and Interior … Continue reading Tile of Spain Awards 2019
London based architectural design firm Urban Mesh have created an extension with a twist. Designed for the firm’s director – James Beazer – the project enabled Urban Mesh a little extra space for experimentation, and in this case it’s the humble brick receiving attention. Continue reading Twisted Brick
An inspiring 3D printing project presents levels upon levels of creative solutions. The structure was designed and created by architecture and design professors Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello and revealed in May of last year. It went on to recieve the 2018 3D Pioneers Challenge, and it’s clear to see why. Continue reading Cabin of Creations
In a quest to find a new way of living, an entirely novel form of building was proposed by architecture firm Gramazio & Kohler. To demonstrate this method an installation was created at the FRAC Centre – a museum in Orleans, France that has a heavy focus on architecture, radical design, and historically ground-breaking construction. Continue reading Flying Free-Form
Incredible, innovative non-profit architectural design research consulting group Terreform ONE are doing wonderful things. With one core message at their heart “Design Against Extinction”, their aim is simple – to create functional habitats that work for both humans and the animals we share the planet with. Continue reading Butterfly Focus
In an exhibition started earlier this month, French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel presents a mysterious set of sculptures. With his signature style and preference for materials that have more than one character, materials that reflect or reverse, these pieces are ambiguous and enticing. Continue reading Sculptures des Îles Singulières
Colourfully welcoming visitors to the arts district in Munich is the Museum Brandhorst – its façade varied and enticing, like a box of crayons. Designed by architecture firm Sauerbruch Hutton, the exterior was created as an indication of what lays behind it. Using around 36,000 TERRART®-Baguette ceramic rods in 23 custom colours the building itself becomes an abstract display. Continue reading Brightly Barred Brandhorst
Each year since 2000, outside the Serpentine Gallery in London’s Kensington Gardens, a pavilion is erected by a selected architect. Usually highly experimental and visually exciting pavilions are created by those brimming with creativity and vision. This year it’s the work of Japanese architect Junya Ishigami that’s on show. Continue reading Slate Shapes Serpentine
At Coverings. Lea Ceramiche presented what has to be the most carefully-considered and fully realised concrete portfolio to date. Concreto, designed by Fabio Novembre is a varied and original reinterpretation of this iconic construction material. Continue reading Consummate Concreto
