"Zaha Hadid – World Architecture" Exhibition at the Danish Architecture Centre

[New York], July 5, 2013 - The summer exhibition at The Danish Architecture Centre features the work of the internationally acclaimed star architect Zaha Hadid in her first solo exhibition in Scandinavia from 29 June to 29 September 2013.

The Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid is one of the most admired and discussed architects in the world. She also happens to be the only woman in the "premier league" of architecture, and the first female architect to receive the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize - "the Nobel Prize of architecture".

For the past 30 years, Zaha Hadid has challenged the boundaries of architecture with her sensual, expressive architectural language which has become an icon for our vision of the global architecture of tomorrow. Examples of her work include: the MAXXI Museum of Contemporary Art in Rome (2010), Guangzhou Opera House (2010), the BMW Central Building in Leipzig (2005), London Aquatic Centre (2012) and, in Denmark, the extension to the museum Ordrupgaard (2005), situated north of Copenhagen.

For this summer's major exhibition at the Danish Architecture Centre, Zaha Hadid Architects have created an extraordinary exhibition experience. You will enter a world of towers, floating shells, selected projects and designer objects. Everything is presented in a borderless scenic universe, showing how Zaha Hadid's spectacular buildings and designs arise out of a progressive digital and geometric universe.

Interactive Installation
At the exhibition you can experience an interactive installation that changes in form and expression by the visitor's movements in space. Here you can see a video of the installation from the exhibition.
Parametric Space from Kollision on Vimeo.

Zaha Hadid Architects [www.zaha-hadid.com] worked together with design office Kollision [www.kollision.dk], CAVI [www.cavi.au.dk] and Wahlberg [www.wahlberg.dk] to create the interactive installation 'Parametric Space' for the exhibition 'Zaha Hadid - World Architecture' at the Danish Architecture Centre [www.dac.dk] 29 June - 29 September 2013.

The installation is a fully parametric space that reacts to the visitors' movements by changing shape and expression. At first glance the installation is a dark rectangular space - four walls, floor and ceiling. But the space change when visitors enter. What appears to be a normal flat ceiling reveals itself as a flexible membrane that starts to glow and physically move down into a funnel shape that slowly reaches out. Stepping closer to the funnel it moves further down; stepping back the membrane draws itself back, too. But the membrane does not only change its shape it is also brought to life by thousands of dynamic light particles inhabiting the surface reacting on the membrane movements, creating an almost dreamy but still tangible experience related to the parametrically architectural language that Zaha Hadid Architects are known for.

TECHNICAL SETUP
The installation is brought to life by two laser scanner sensors that continuously gather information about visitors' positions in the space. The positions are used for calculating the heights of the four actuators pushing and pulling cylindrical volumes on the topside of the membrane. The cylinders are equipped with RGB light sources that express the cylinder height by color and intensity. Finally, four projectors built into the floor, project the particles of light onto the membrane. The particles are spatially calculated on a virtual 3D surface of the approximate membrane shape.

CREDITS
The exhibition was developed by Zaha Hadid Architects in collaboration with the Danish Architecture Centre, supported by Realdania [www.realdania.dk] and Kvadrat [www.kvadrat.dk]. Kollision managed the design process and the technical project development of Parametric Space together with Zaha Hadid Architects; CAVI programmed the infrastructure and the parametric actuator and lighting control; Wahlberg constructed the membrane installation together with the actuator and the light source integration; and Zaha Hadid Architects developed the real-time graphics projected onto the membrane.

Get a glimpse of behind the scenes: https://vimeo.com/69127016

For more information see kollision.dk/en/parametric

Furthermore see the following link for more media architecture projects from Kollision: vimeo.com/album/1809263

For more information please visit http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-life/exhibitions-1/2013/zaha-hadid/

Trends From the 12th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Interior Designer Antony Todd's Scoop on the Show's Hottest Home Innovations

 
[New York], March 31, 2013 - It's the mecca of inspiration for the home...and we caught up with interior designer Antony Todd for some of his favorite finds....

"I think what I found so special this year about the show is how many artisans are here showing their products. Be it more sort of authentic design or whether is something let's say high-geared and technical like Jenn-Air. It's a wonderful mix of form and function all mixed into one, These kitchen appliances look more like luxury design pieces," says Todd.



Jenn-Air General manager, Steve Brown tells us, "The brand has always been a pioneer in advanced ventilation systems. From the introductions of the first down draft cook tops to parametric ventilation, which hangs on your wall like a flatscreen TV to our latest the Accolade. It's beautifully handcrafted in stainless steel and glass and it's got this beautiful curved shape so when it comes up it puts the ventilation power closer to the actual source of the cooking. Not only is it very efficient but its also beautiful and sculptural on your countertop and then with a press of a button when you're not using it, it just elegantly disappears into the countertop."
Brown also talks about their latest in steam ovens..."It's self-contained so it doesn't need a water line running to it. Cooks fish and vegetables beautifully but its also a traditional convection over so you can do roasts in there as well. So its like a supplemental oven to your main one. It also has functions for bread proofing and even a function for making your own yogurt at home."

Todd's other favorite hot spots, furniture company...Karkula. "I think their style is good, it's still contemporary but classical and therefore has a timeless appeal to it."

And good lighting Todd says is one of the most important touches in a home...and one of his favroties is Fiyel Levent Atelier. "It's the key to everything it makes people look good. It lights, it personifies beauty. I mean lighting I think is the key to any design, " says Todd

But the finishing touch to any home...great textiles. Todd likes Hiro Kota Kata, "They have a beautiful sense of textiles that are so soft and so manageable. People are really living and breathing, and loving the work."

For more information please visit:antonytodd.com
www.archdigesthomeshow.com
www.facebook.com/ADHomeDesignShow

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2013

Artisan living room 1-walls: pittsfield buff (HC-24), accent walls: silhouette (AF-655), ceiling & trim: monterey white (HC-27). Photo courtesy of Benjamin Moore & Co. - http://www.benjaminmoore.com

[New York], December 21, 2012 - Inspired by emerging trends in art, fashion and interior design from around the world, Benjamin Moore's color experts have created four exciting new color palettes to help you find the perfect colors for your home.

See before-and-after photos of room transformations using different paint color schemes… and get inspired!

Benjamin Moore & Co. Paint Company has been founded by Benjamin Moore in 1883. Since the beginning, the company is producing the highest-quality paints and finishes in the industry, and delivering them directly to their customers through their nationwide network of knowledgeable, customer-friendly retail store operators in the United States.

Please visit http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/color-trends-2013

Heimtextil Trends 2013/2014 "Being"

The Heimtextil Trends 2013/2014 offer you an in-depth view on influential developments in the area of home textiles. Reflecting the spirit of the times, they relate to the complex lifestyles of contemporary consumers. We present the current trend themes using four representative personalities, each with his or her own hopes, desires, aspirations and ideas:: the historian, the eccentric, the inventor, the geologist.