Connor Renwick

Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Archi-Tectonics Wraps 8-Story 512GW Townhouse in 3D Envelope in NYC

Archi-Tectonics completed a jaw-dropping project – the conversion of a narrow industrial structure in New York City into a light-filled 8-story (yes, eight) family residence in SoHo. The square footage was doubled with the addition of a 4-story structure built on top of the original 4-story townhouse, both united by a 3D lattice envelope made from lightweight steel and folding panels. The resulting 512GW Townhouse is dramatic, but practical with attention devoted to sustainability.

Photo: Evan Joseph

The Climate Skin sheath gives homeowners the ability to adjust the operable exterior screens to control ventilation, light, shade and temperature allowing the structure to easily adapt to outside conditions. When closed, the facade looks as though it’s one piece, but as the panels are opened and folded out, the townhome takes on a different appearance.

From the interior, the lattice panels offer varying degrees of privacy from the outside world while creating ever-evolving displays of light and shadow.

Photo: Evan Joseph

Black steel saved from the original building is used throughout the new design, like the open staircase which unites all eight floors. A glass roof keeps the stairwell lit as natural light filters down through each level. Double-height windows that separate the stairs from the living spaces create a sense of larger space with longer sight lines while allowing light to pass.

Photo: Federica Carlet

Brick walls are restored to keep the character of the original industrial structure.

Photo: Federica Carlet

Photo: Evan Joseph

Photos by Archi-Tectonics, except where noted.

via http://design-milk.com/

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LEGO Unveils World Map: The Largest Set Ever With 11,695 Pieces

Marking their largest set ever made, LEGO just unveiled the LEGO® Art World Map set featuring 11,695 pieces in total. The new addition to the LEGO art collection, the World Map spans 25.5″ high x 40.5″ wide (that’s just over two feet x 3 feet!) and includes a hanging hook so you can proudly hang it on the wall when complete. Enjoy the colorful finished piece or add LEGO “push pins” to track all the places you’ve been or want to go.

The set includes 40 interconnecting base plates that are divided into three sections that allow you to arrange it in one of three different ways. That allows you to place your favorite part of the world in the center of the map.

By following the instructions, the colorful ocean tiles are arranged as if they were bathymetric maps showing the topography of the ocean floor. There’s always the opportunity to go rogue and express yourself how you like by rearranging the ocean tiles to create different patterns.

If you and your family are exploring a new activity to do together other than jigsaw puzzles, this World Map set is the way to go. It will keep you busy for quite some time. The largest set I’ve built so far is around 4,600 pieces so I can only imagine the time investment in this one, but I’m dying to find out!

There’s even a curated soundtrack of travel experts tellings stories to listen to while building. If at some point you get bored with the current map layout, take it down and rebuild it for a new challenge.

The LEGO® Art World Map (31203) set is available today via LEGO.com and LEGO stores globally for US $249.99/EUR 249.99. Come August 1st, 2021, the set will be available through other retailers.

via http://design-milk.com/

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Desktop Wallpaper: June 2021

New month, new Designer Desktop! It was quite difficult to choose a design from York Wallcoverings to feature this month because all of the company’s designs are immaculately beautiful. York is the oldest and largest wallcovering producer in the US, with an archive of document designs dating back to the early 18th century. Using both rare turn of the century presses and the latest printing technologies, York’s wallcoverings are timeless but modern, an example of what happens when you blend pioneering innovation with heritage expertise.

This Hexagram Wood Veneer design is from the new Ronald Redding Traveler collection and is an authentic wood veneer pattern that’s inlaid to form a fractured six-sided geometric resting on a bed of burnished metallic. Stunning just on a desktop screen, the pattern is show-stopping in real life. Paired with a quote from John Lubbock, a British anthropologist, we’re tempted to keep this design on our desktops all year round!

DESKTOP: 1024×768 \\\ 1280×1024 \\\ 1680×1050 \\\ 1900×1200 \\\ 2560×1440

MOBILE: iPhone XS \\\ iPhone XS Max \\\ iPad Pro

Learn more about York Wallcoverings here.

View and download past Designer Desktops here.

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/desktop-wallpaper-june-2021/

MODERN TONES Breathes Fresh Life Into L.Ercolani’s Classic Furniture

Timeless design sometimes likes a change of pace, like L.Ercolani’s new MODERN TONES collection of stains. Curated by Christian Møller Andersen, the bold palette complements qualities the furniture brand is known for: solid construction and natural materials. The stains are transparent enough to play up the wood grain, yet rich enough to provide impact. The new colors include Off White, Ochre, Warm Grey, Golden and Vintage Red.

These curated tones marry the brand’s historic past with L.Ercolani’s forward-thinking approach through an intense use of color. I wanted to use Lucian’s mid-century designs as a foundation and build upon this idea of tactile warmth with richer tones, atypical of the time the pieces were originally designed.

– Christian Møller Andersen, Art Director

The new colors break with tradition, leaning towards more modern qualities that are rich, warm and unique. The application is a beautiful example of how color, material, finish and treatment define the brand’s creative direction.

MODERN TONES is offered on pieces from the Originals collection, as well as contemporary designs from L.Ercolani by ercol, available through select retail and showroom partners in North America.