The figures in the background are 'The Warriors' by artist Bruno Giorgio and were created as a tribute to the thousands of workers that built Brasilia.
The plan for the city was meant to be two arms embracing its people but the common explanation of the city is that it is built like a plane with wings. If you do not have a car you can pretty much forget getting around. Everything is really quite spread out. The city was originally built for 500,000 people but now there are at least 3,000,000.
Above Gabriel Rajao & DP and Robb Young hiding from the bright winter sunlight.
THE OOMPA LOOMPA STYLINGS OF DESIGN COLLECTIVE DFC
My friend Tony Moxham's company DFC has introduced their new collection of fiercely collectible design objects for Fall/Winter 09/10 in the most amusing way. Who is responsible for the creation of DFC's new collection, you may very well ask? Meet the DFC Factoritas! DFC is working this season with a grand troupe of these hard-working design, art, style, and production experts and would be lost without their genius!! Resembelance to the Ooompa-Loompa is purely coincidental. All Factorita fotos by David Franco. Styling by the genius Vera, and hair and makeup by multi-talented Maripili. Model: Momo. Mil Gracias! For more info please contact tony@dfcasa.com or tony@tonyworld.com - Walt Cessna
The High Line Park in New York. Photos & text by Glenn Belverio
Dear Shaded & Sun-bathed Viewers,
Yesterday, after 49 days of rain and gloom, the sun came out in New York. The city's vitamin D-deprived dwellers bolted from their gulag-like offices and shoebox apartments and ran through the streets, stripping off the majority of their clothing and heading for nearby parks or anywhere where they could expose their pale, corpse-like flesh to the healing rays of ultraviolet radiation. Some NYers exorcised their rain rage by setting huge piles of umbrellas ablaze in the middle of Times Square; others sacrificed squirrels and pigeons to the sun goddess in the hopes that She would stay with us for the rest of the summer.
I took the sunny day as an opportunity to visit the recently opened High Line Park in the Meatpacking District. For those who don't know, the High Line is a 1.45 mile-long (sorry, we don't do meters in the US) elevated, steel structure built in the 1930's to carry freight trains. It runs up Tenth Avenue from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street--but the new park ends at 20th Street. The remainder of the High Line will be completed next year. (As far as I know, the only other elevated rail park in the world is the Promenade Plantee in Paris).
Inspired by the wild-seeded condition left after the line had been abandoned, the landscape architecture aesthetic of the High Line is carefully controlled chaos. "Keep it wild, stay on the path" signs constantly warn. The lines between "authentically overgrown" and "calculated cultivation" blur nicely. Having grown up on a farm in New Jersey, I've seen my share of abandoned, weed-covered railroad tracks. Like the pre-renovated High Line, those country landscapes have--depending on your viewpoint--either a melancholy appeal or a quasi-apocalyptic hopelessness. Now that the High Line's vegetation is interwoven with pristine cement pathways and surrounded by trendy architecture, the promise (or illusion) of a better future pleasantly intrudes.
The Standard Hotel straddles the park.
I wasn't sure what I would think of the High Line before I visited. I thought it might be a one-time look, like walking through a gallery show or visiting a monument in a foreign city. I thought it would be too claustrophobic a place to spend my (considerable amount of) downtime in. Like the (unemployed?) lounging NYers above, I found the park very inviting, very relaxing, and will probably return with a sandwich and a good book to while away a weekday summer afternoon.
In one of the park's tunnels, artist Spencer Finch has installed a piece entitled "The River that Flows Both Ways." The 700 laminated glass panels with color film interlayer is "inspired by the Hudson River and documents a 700-minute journey on the river in a single day. The title is a translation of the Muhheakantuck, the Native American name for the Hudson that refers to the river's natural flow in two directions. Like the rail line that existed on the HIgh Line, the Hudson Rivers was, and still is, an active route for transportation of goods into Manhattan. The river and the High Line have always been linked in their geography, their function, and the imprint on the industrial legacy of the city."
These tiered wooden seats afford a peculiarly chosen view: traffic on Tenth Avenue. I think it is the least appealing view in the park This section of the High Line reminded me of Rem Koolhaas's design for the Soho Prada store which is arguably considered a flop.
Two views of Frank Gehry's IAC building.
Daisies and decay
Of course there is a luxury rental apartment building attached to the park.
P.S. - It might be a bit of a stretch to compare the renovated High Line to a (imaginary) developed Death Valley--but because of the luxury rental building attached to this little vision of Utopia, I couldn't help thinking of this scene from Antonioni's "Zabriskie Point" which features a realtor's pitch for "Sunnydunes."
David Lynch collaborates with EC 1 in Lodz and the creation of a new cultural center for Europe
This is the building that will act as the home of film workshops by David Lynch
Dear Shaded Viewers,
If you listened to my video posts you have now had a preview of David Lynch's involvement with the creation of the new cultural center for Europe in Lodz. Monika, one of the architects on this massive project took time away from her work to explain EC 1 to us. Today, probably right now, she will be presenting the EC 1 project to the government for final approval. She tells us about the visits of David Lynch to Lodz and how when he saw this abandoned power station he had the strongest desire to bring it back to life. Imagine being able, as a film student or graduate, to be able to take workshops with David Lynch....
All Diane's pictures taken with Samsung ST-50.
Inside one of the power station buildings
The tower will be restored to its original condition and a resto will be situated on the ground floor.
Zuzanna Mieszek, Monika (one of the architects on this project) and Agnieszka Malecka
Giuliano Fujiwara's new home furnishing collection
Dear Shaded Viewers,
Giuliano Fujiwara will present his home furnishing collection again this year during the Milanese design week.
The collection concept is Wabi-Sabi, the beauty of imperfection, led by the brand's creative director Masataka Matsumura. His work is on the concept of dominoes, geometric with an inlay like a leitmotiv that links one piece to the other.
Some of the most representative pieces designed by Masataka Matsumura will be displayed exclusively from April 22 - 27th at the Giuliano Fujiwara flagship store on Via Borgospesso, 11.
Stefano reports from Milan: Mauro Grifoni's boutique opening
Dear Shaded readers,
There were a few interesting boutique openings during the recent Milan fashion week. I was impressed by the new Mauro Grifoni headquarters. It is their first in Milan which is the fifth shop for them in Italy and probably their best. The 300 sq. mt. building is divided into 3 floors and was designed by the Italian architects Pasti and Perbellini, in collaboration with the Grifoni style team. The building is located on Via Santo Spirito 17 and was once known as the Residence Santospirito. Their remain traces of the past which merge with the new designs giving a cool nonchalant touch. The furniture is made out of recycled and reassembled pieces, the parquet floor is created out of recycled bamboo. The result is a wonderful mix of luxury and simplicity, elegance and eclectisism.
A visit to FASANO hotel with Dudi Machado in Sao Paulo
Dear Shaded Viewers,
Since the shows started late today, Madeleine Czigler and I decided to go to the Museum of Modern Art only to find out that most of the museum was closed. We saw a great dress made from razor blades and some recuperated art made from old tin cans but....we wanted more. Madeleine suggested that we visit the Fasano Hotel, off we went and with the help of Dudi Machado, the PR for Fasano we discovered one of Sao Paulo's little treasures.
The main dining room is lovely but when possible, I will always prefer the private dining room with a view below of the main area.
I love the idea that you can see into the kitchen or....not.
Dudi Machado, Fasano's PR and CBC's Madeleine Czigler
After a lovely lunch we went back to the Bienal and the first person I saw was Daniel Wakahisa and then we met with the Director of the Sao Paulo Fashion Week, Paulo Borges with his beautiful son.
Daniel Wakahisa and SPFW Director, Paulo Borges with his beautiful son.
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Video: Hyeres Fashion + Photo Festival 2006/07/08
