Inspiration

François Lévy, AIA, a principal architect at Lévy Kohlhaas Architecture in Austin, Texas, recently j umped at the opportunity to create a residence for Hope House, a nonprofit that started out housing special-needs children who’ve now become adults thanks to advances in medicine. With this one project, Lévy found a chance to combine his personal philosophies…

MAD Architects’ pursuit of an urban landscape at one with the natural environment has produced anoth er organic icon in Northern China. Following the opening of its wave-shaped China Wood Sculpture Museum in the burgeoning metropolis of Harbin in 2013, the Beijing-based firm has completed a remarkable venue for music and theater in the same city,…

The spaces we inhabit shape the way we live, yet they do so at different scales. Where we work refle cts our values or our circumstances. Where we gather reflects our larger sentiments or shared necessities. And our homes reflect who we are, our preferences and the furnishings we organize by our daily rhythms. These programmatic…

Recreating a spa-like environment in the home need not be a full-on renovation project. Even small t ouches can upgrade an ordinary bath space to a retreat. From larger comprehensive systems to simple accessories and luxurious fixtures, these products can help you begin injecting serenity into your next residential project. Americh Americh: Vibro Sonic MassageThe Vibro…

Estonia is small, but mighty. A coastal country with over 2,000 islands, it borders both Latvia and Russia as part of the Sarmatic ecoregion. As one of the least populous countries in the European Union and Schengen Area, Estonia has high living standards and a high-income economy. Described as one of the most wired countries…

Richard Rogers of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has been awarded the J.C. Nichols Prize for Vision aries in Urban Development given by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) to those who demonstrate a “longtime commitment to the creation of communities that reflect the high standards of design and development.” The ULI commended Rogers for a “more…

A pioneer of the New York art scene of the 1960s, Donald Judd is not commonly associated with his wo rks in COR-TEN steel. These particular pieces are rare, and currently the subject of a show curated by Judd’s own son at David Zwirner Gallery, on view through December 19th. Flavin Judd is no stranger to…

Flat tops and legs make up a large part of most interior spaces. Though it is often the things place d atop tables that define them. As objects primarily for utilitarian use — eating, writing, working, or playing games — they are usually not the piece of furniture in a room that gets all the attention.…

Japanese architecture has become synonymous with exquisite craftsmanship, minimal surfaces, and play ful spatial experiences. With designed simplicity and careful attention to ephemerality, Japanese architecture invites speculation and wonder. As we’ve covered through our previous collections on Japan, including themes of concealment, origami, transparency, and concrete, Japan is known for rigorous and restrained design. Often, some…