Indesign saw a new unprecedented sport introduced into the Brisbane work environment, Office Chair Hockey. The idea originated from Herman Miller’s “design of the decade” winning, office chair commercial which advertises their well known, high-performance, ergonomic Aeron Chair. Living Edge, supplier of the chair, held an Aeron Office Hockey Tournament, inviting top design and architectural firms of Brisbane to battle it out. The day was not short on excitement with matches containing an unbridled rich, competitive rival between industry leading firms.
Monthly Archive for November, 2008
It’s Thanksgiving weekend in the US, and what follows are big retail sales like Boxing Day sales are to Christmas. For many years, people have been protesting this consumerism in “Buy Nothing Day” which is today, November 29th. It’s a day where you challenge yourself to switch off from shopping and tune into life. The rules are simple, for 24 hours you will detox from consumerism and live without shopping. Anyone can take part provided they spend a day without spending.
who’s your city
Why do live where you do? I’m currently living in Toronto and at some stage next year I have to make a decision about whether I stay, live in Brisbane, or live elsewhere. I’ve lived in Brisbane for most of my life, so being there has never really felt like a conscious ‘decision’ until now. In his latest book, ‘Who’s Your City”, urbanist Richard Florida, says where you live (place) is arguably the most important decision we make, as important as choosing a spouse or a career. He says place exerts powerful influence over the jobs and careers we have access to, the people meet and our “mating markets” and our ability to lead happy and fulfilled lives. It’s USA-centric, but “Who’s Your City” provides the first ever-rankings of cities by life-stage, rating the best places for singles, young families and empty-nesters. Seems like San Francisco is the place to be. Continue reading ‘who’s your city’
christmas inspiration
With only a few days left until we hit December, Christmas is fast approaching. Some people are getting out their Christmas trees and dusting off the decorations, while others have had the carols pumping for a few weeks already. Christmas also means Christmas shopping so here are a few ideas if you’re a bit stuck for inspiration. The Gallery of Modern Art is hosting the first-ever Gallery Store Christmas Design Market on Saturday December 6. For one day only, 22 established local artists will set up stalls in the GoMA forecourt. Handmade ceramics, jewellery and other craft items will feature by artists such as Kylie Johnson, Liana Kabel and Shannon Garson. On the other side of town, BrisStyle will also be holding its first ever Christmas Market on Saturday December 13. A collective of Brisbane-based Etsy shop owners will be taking their wares to Hamilton Town Hall for a one-stop Christmas craft shopping experience. Offering gourmet food in the outside courtyard as well as acoustic music to accompany the day, the BrisStyle Christmas Market will feature handmade handbags, children’s wear, jewellery, footwear, and artwork.
Australia’s freshest and most innovative film festival, Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (or HRAFF – [ pronounced her-aff] as they like to call it) kicked-off in Melbourne on November 12. The festival was founded in 2007 by Evelyn Tadros, Naziath Mantoo and a dedicated team of her-aff-ers who had a wish to make human rights accessible, relevant and significant to the broader Australian community. In less than two years, HRAFF has grown into a nation-wide festival showing in Melbourne (November 12–30), Perth (November 28–29), Sydney (December 4–7),) and Brisbane (March 6–7, 2009). The festival aims to bring human rights issues to the stage and to challenge, inspire and touch all walks of life. Continue reading ‘haraffing’
off-the-grid
‘Off-the-grid’ homes refer to houses that are able to exist without the reliance on public utilities, such as the electrical power grid, natural gas and sewer systems. Alternative energy sources, such as solar, biothermal and wind power, as well as on-site water supply, are often employed instead. American architect and author Lori Ryker dreams of modernising architecture and bringing about a revolution of greener, more sustainable contemporary homes. Her book, Off The Grid Home: Case Studies for Sustainable Living, uses beautiful large-format photographs and written case studies of six houses from around the world that utilise modern design principles to create off-the-grid homes. Without compromising design or aesthetic, Continue reading ‘off-the-grid’
we are all born free
On December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Assembly called on all member countries to publicise the declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories”. The 60th anniversary of the declaration’s proclamation is being celebrated with the publication of We Are All Born Free, a children’s book brought to life by renowned illustrators and translated into more than 30 languages. The State Library is also hosting a couple of free events, including one in its Living Library. Image: Debi Gliori, from We Are All Born Free.
If there is any city that can bring the fantastical the momentous and the garish together in one explosion of deplorable architecture … it is Dubai. World, meet Dubai’s maddest hotel Atlantis, inspired by Plato’s enchanted legend of the great empire, the “Lost City of Atlantis”, founded by the sea-god Poseidon. According to Plato, inhabitants of the city were punished for their greed and decadence by being submerged in a deluge. If there is one thing this hotel and Dubai do successfully it is capture, true to Plato’s word, decadence and water in abundance, everywhere. The oceanic tribute was brought to life by Sol Kerzner a billionaire South African property developer, who formerly opened a replica in the Bahamas. The extravagant 1,539 room, $1.8 billion megaplex is located on an artificial Island in the azure Arabian Gulf. The Island, illuminating Dubai’s true kitsch mentality is in the shape of a palm tree, giving the area 520km more length of shoreline to exploit. Reveling in the ridiculous, the fun park hotel guests can stay in the top suites at $33,000 a pop or in one of the Lost Chamber suites which houses underwater rooms, halls and tunnels looking up into the Ambassador Lagoon. The aqua walls are jam packed with 65,000 marine animals which includes two hundred and fifty different species of fish and sea creatures. Never short on stimuli the bathroom is even enclosed by the aquarium where you can sit and watch sharks, eels, manta rays, piranhas, and multitudes of exotic fish glide by while you are in fact on the toilet.
Before the world’s next new tallest building is even finished, plans to out do the Burj Dubai are already underway. There’s the Mubarak Tower in Kuwait, the Nakheel Tower in Dubai and the Mile Tower in Saudi Arabia and the most outlandish of them all – the Jumeirah City project, which is expected to include six different towers that twist into one 2.5 km-high tower. Continue reading ‘the world’s tallest building x 5′
paper rings
The traditional gift for a first wedding anniversary is paper, which may feel fairly limiting to some. A card, a letter, a gift voucher or books are all viable options. But what about a ring? Product designer Tithi Kutchamuch and jewellery designer Nutre Arayavanish met while studying at the Royal College of Art in London and have collaborated under the name of TT:NT to create a range of laser-cut, fold-out paper jewellery. Printed on textured white paper, the rings come in flat sheets, for the user to assemble at home. The two ranges include ‘all year rings’, which come in a sheet of twelve and allow the user to create a new ring for every month of the year. ‘Birthday rings’ are flower-shaped paper rings that can be folded into the shape of the user’s birth month flower. While it won’t be the most expensive ring you’ll ever own, it’s a fun way to engage in the act of jewellery wearing.
“It’s time to turn your televisions off and your computers on.” Declared Katy Perry as she opened the first ever YouTube Live event last Saturday night in San Francisco. The event resembles a live festival featuring everyone’s favourite YouTube personalities and shows just how much YouTube has affected pop culture. Gavin Newsom the Mayor of San Francisco, also opened the event with the announcement of the inaugural YouTube Video Award. He shortly explained how YouTube has changed social networking and political campaigns and then later awarded Queen Rania of Jordan the award because of her use of YouTube for breaking down stereotypes and combating misconceptions about the Arab world. Along with the Mayor, Discovery channel’s Mythbusters painted a portrait with Leonardo 2.0, Freddy Wong played Guitar Hero with guitar legend Joe Satriani and Blendtec inventor Continue reading ‘youtube live 08′
On November 24, 1859 British naturalist Charles Darwin published his groundbreaking scientific work On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. Darwin’s theory argued that organisms gradually evolve through a process he called “natural selection.” Most scientists quickly embraced the theory that solved so many puzzles of biological science, but orthodox Christians condemned the work as heresy. By the time of Darwin’s death in 1882, his theory of evolution was generally accepted. In honour of his scientific work, he was buried in Westminster Abbey beside kings, queens, and other illustrious figures from British history
Remember when stamps didn’t come with a self-adhesive back? Christmas card season would be accompanied with a slightly queasy feeling from licking stamp-after-stamp and from the strange gluey residue that would linger on your tongue. Even though you can now get rolls of self-adhesive stamps, there’s something about the old-fashioned ritual of licking stamps. Designer Tony Ng has come up with an innovative alternative to combat the strange aftertaste but celebrate the ritual of licking stamps. Chocolate Mail is a set of 24 first-class stamps that are made to look like a bar of chocolate and comes in three flavours – white, milk and dark chocolate. Although only currently available as British stamps, perhaps an Australian version will be developed in time for next Christmas card season.
harbingers of a new season
The rains are coming, or so they say. You can tell by the dark clouds ominously encompassing the city; pregnant and expecting, yet not delivering.
It’s the time of the year that most locals I’ve met love the most; The Build-up. The time of the year when you know you are in the tropics. It feels like the air, the trees, and the city are about to come to fruition. The Top End is heavy with palpable goodness and possibility.
Mango trees dangle over fences, laden with fruit. Sweet-smelling frangipani trees line the streets, covered in white and yellow blooms. Flaming red Poinciana trees and wine-coloured bougainvillea embrace suburban sidewalks. Green frogs move in to most people’s houses; their nightly echoes heralding the approach of the distant downpour.
Most tourists leave town to escape the sultry climes. The locals breathe a sigh of relief. The streets become quiet again. Most waterholes close for the wet. Locals spend their time lolling in the pool, sitting in louvred houses under fans and walking by a spectacular sunset. Laksas still seem to be consumed with gusto.
People start mentioning the ‘c’ word. Cyclone. Workplaces brief staff on emergency action plans, shelters and surge zones. The council holds a collection day, to cart away anything that can’t be tied down. People stock up on torches, first aid kits, and battery-powered radios.
And so we wait. For the rains to come, for cyclone season, for Christmas; while soaking up the anticipation and perspiration of the Build-up and watching the wet season loom.
Li Xiaofeng is a Chinese artist that makes clothing by stitching together pieces of China dishware. The piece above is priced at $85,000, but considering the artist uses China dating back to the Qing Dynasty this price is justifiable. Using only shards of China, Li Xiaofeng is able to construct beautifully shaped clothing out of a solid material, which can actually be worn. I’m not sure if you would be able to sit down in this dress but these images show how striking the garments are when worn. This is a magnificent display of craftsmanship and excellence in design. I can’t imagine how much planning and time goes into something like this!
the rough side of luxury
What is luxury? According to the creators of Rough Luxe, it’s not what you might think, especially when it comes to a hotel. To them, luxury is a moment in time rather than just part of an object of consumption. Luxury is an enriching personal experience and not only an ownership of an expensive object. It’s time for reflection, personal encounters with people, nature, architecture and environment as well as food and social and cultural experiences linked to geographic locations. It’s the intellectual solicitation, listening to one’s own feelings as well as comparing objects and time and thinking of their hierarchy. Suffice it to say that the Rough Luxe Hotel experience is about your surroundings, the intrinsic value of objects, art, culture and the people around you, as well as the ‘consumable’’ items that you encounter in the hotel itself. With hotels in London and Cape Town, the Rough Luxe Group aims to create an experience that will no doubt appeal to growing flashpacker market – one that is one part rough and one part luxury. While your room might be small and you might even share a bathroom, the wine will be exquisite, the bed linen luxurious, and the service unparalleled. For the Rough Luxe philosophy is simple: “You are staying with us in our home, so just ask.”
Following on from our 100-mile diet experiment, our ears have been open to more opportunities to source local produce and handy hints for picking greener and more sustainable sources of food. One such discovery is the Vera Street Community Garden in Toowong. Started in 2005, the garden in a not-for-profit collective that encourages locals to help create and sustain a community vegetable garden. Based on the principal that the more you put in, the more benefits you can reap, members can come together to get involved in organic gardening and creek rehabilitation, and get to take home a beautiful assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs as a reward. Continue reading ‘community garden’
