storm from the east

Brazil’s Girrasol Building wins MIPIM AR Future Project Awards

A distinctive residential block formed by unevenly cascading levels situated on a sloping topography in São Paulo, has been named the Overall Winner in the 10 annual MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards.

Glow in the dark stickers by Gecko

I absolutely love these new glow in the dark wall stickers and decals designed by Leo Conrado.

They're the perfect thing to brighten your night and you can choose from ten designs available from Gecko.

Highlighting great design: Gijs Van Vaerenbergh

Young Belgian architects Pieterjan Gijs and Arnout Van Vaerenbergh attracted a great deal of attention last year for their amazing Reading Between the Lines church construction, but their other work is equally impressive and thought-provoking.

Surya Restaurant, Amsterdam, by Dot Kite

Surya Restaurant, in the centre of Amsterdam, is the latest project by the Dot Kite team.

Featuring a modern interior with hints of India’s cultural past, Dot Kite developed the entire restaurant, branding applications and a complete online experience.

Find out more at: http://www.dotkite.eu/#/portfolio/tce/surya-restaurant/

InBetween House wins World’s Best Villa Building at World Architecture Festival Awards 2011

InBetween House, designed by Koji Tsutsui & Associates, has won the ‘World’s Best Villa Building’ award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards 2011. Surrounded by Japanese larch trees in a mountainous region of Karuizawa, Japan, this 178sqm house sits on an artificially levelled area of the site created thirty years ago and left unused. Since the client wanted a house that seamlessly blends into the natural surrounding, topography and local culture, the architects designed this house as a cluster of small mountain cottages using local materials. The judges commended the project, saying: “It is simple and sophisticated in its formal language, which is articulated in both the social and private space, from the spatial configuration of its interior to the exterior detailing. What makes this villa stand out from the other entrants is the social ambition of the project. It is not just a project for one client and their family, but also offers the potential to extend the typology to larger iterations (such as a small community or even the expansion of this dwelling)."