Grupo Habita, working with designers Frida Escobedo and Jose Rojas, and antique curator Claudia Fernandez, have restored the 1950s architectural gem of Boca Chica, on a small peninsula near Caletilla beach in Acapulco.
Ever since the first time I visited I fell in love with the old Acapulco side of town, famous for being THE celebrity hangout of excellence in the 50’s, with its International style architecture, it still has a certain Mediterranean flair, a bit forgotten and neglected but always there. But some people (Habita Group) know about the potential this old beach neighborhood has and refurbished a key landmark that I believe leads the way to a slow rebirth of the vintage/savoir vivre side of Acapulco.
Acapulco is the consummate Mexican resort town, and its long history as a destination for global sun-seekers is evidenced by its practiced hospitality: this place knows how to show visitors a good time. See the rest….
This is one of those objects that is so beautiful I didn’t really care what it did. Then I discovered that it was the Green PC by Design Hara, built for disassembly out of recyclable parts. Wow. This 4G Intel Core2Duo/Quad computer has a recyclable chassis handcrafted from your choice of Canadian rose wood or Italian cypress. The front cover can be made of natural sheep leather.
The components are assembled by nuts and bolts so that it can be disassembled for recycling. See Design Hara for more specs.
I have to say I was pretty jealous of your architecture tour, at least here the weather is warmer and cacti are also pretty awesome structures =P. Seriously though I Loved the Rookery’s lace-like lattice decor!
Speaking of architects, even if it might be a bit of a cliche here, I grew up loving the works of Luis Barragan, Mexico’s great modern master (and I’m not the only one) his former home (pics below) is one of UNESCO’s world heritage sites. I always remember his “Butaca” chair, a collaboration with Clara Porset (available in miniature thanks to Vitra) and I’m surprised not to see it being reproduced in real scale, I mean I believe there’s something pretty attractive about it, and I remember it’s pretty comfy. I wonder why someone like Vitra doesn’t bring it back.
Maybe it’s the use of warm materials and the “simple” execution that makes me like it so much.
The sofa above looks related ( it could very well be the Butaca’s cousin) =) inside his home studio.
I was in Chicago this weekend for the first time. What a fabulous city. I was staying with friends on Michigan Avenue (view from their balcony above), and they just happened to live above the Chicago Architecture Foundation. So I took a little tour….
It’s amazing to think that the Sears Tower, by Skidmore Owings & Merrill, 1968-74, was designed and structurally engineered without a computer.
That Mies van der Rohe’s 1956 Crown Hall is still a thriving home to architecture students at the South Side Illinois Institute of Technology
That the interior of the Burnham & Root’s 1888 The Rookery was remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright between 1905-07
The Harold Washington Library Center, designed by Hammond, Beeby and Babka and completed in 1991, is the result of an architecture competition, the concept being a post-modern building that reflects Chicago’s conflicting architectural ideas (the side not visible here is of steel, glass and aluminum construction)..
And that OMA/Rem Koolhaas’ McCormick Tribune Campus Center was built in 2003 while maintaining service to the El.
Thanks to that nice NY blog The Scout, I found out that there’s an Eames auction to be held April 8th at Wright’s (amazing stuff really) their online store is really cool and I also loved one of the staff picks (A Castiglioni plant stand!) But back to Eames’s, I wish I had some Benjamins to spare and get that awesome “Cloud backdrop”! Or at least the cute “Sea things plastic tray” =).
I believe someday soon we should try to do a collaboration with cool illustrators don’t you think? It’s very nice to see how objects come to life when combined with art. I’ve loved Julia Schonlau’s (aka Juju) work since I saw it for the first time at ROJO mag’s website a couple of years ago. I love to go back to her site/blog and see whats new. Well, we’ll just have to create a nice canvas ;)
Customized skateboards and a design for angst skateboards, Berlin
Illustration for the article “Die neue Schule” published in Kid’s Wear, Germany
I’ve always had a Lego obsession – this Lego Table made of 22,742 lego pieces snapped together (no glue), designed by abgc, would keep any meeting interesting. The only drawback – I’d be hard pressed not to play with the Lego.
And always wanted. I can’t help but imagine the possibilities to develop my little kid’s mind and skills combining cool tech with simple tactile and social activities. I’m no expert but I would love to see a classroom with a couple of those cool Strukt tables (equipped with amazing apps) designed to interact with old-school crafty toys perhaps enhanced with RFID tags =)
Just place a toy on the surface and a cool story or puzzle will unravel…Well you get the idea =) Easier said than done but why not?
These polymer clay evening bags by Kathleen Dustin are absolutely exquisite. I’d love to have one on my wrist at my brother’s wedding next weekend. I can also imagine using them as lovely little sculptures in the sunroom.
Lately I have this thing for Brooklyn – it currently tops my list of places I’d like to live. On Monday Pier 1, the 85 acre Brooklyn Bridge Park, opened and is now approximately seven percent complete. Pier 1 includes waterfront promenades, large lawns, a playground, and the “Granite Prospect,” an impressive riverside staircase made out of more than 300 pieces of salvaged granite. This video provides a good preview of the park-in-progress.
(via Metropolis P/O/V)
