An Office Of Illustrations For JWT Amsterdam

March 8th, 2013 – With a founding year of 1864, advertising firm JWT (aka the oldest advertising firm ever), can now match their surprisingly young hot-shop mentality with a clever new workspace. Two talented Dutch designers Alrik Koudenburg and RJW Elsinga came together to create a playful workshop full of dreamy illustrations, upside-down castles, and a greenhouse. Here, having a conversation with a family of life size toy robots is a new possibility.

For ‘Do’ a city setup was created, which functions like a busy beehive where JWT staff organize the idea, getting it done with a team of concept producers, online- / activation- / and print producers.

Les Cloches Bistro, Paris

March 7th, 2013 – Les Cloches Bistro has a soulful address with an eye-catching design,  located in a neighborhood brasserie in Saint-Germain – des-Prés naturally. Parisian designer José Lévy created an inviting space to welcome neighbors, tourists, and friends alike. Levy wanted Les Cloches to be captivating for people on the street – passers-by are drawn by a black canopy outlined with neon lights. On the door, the logo for Les Cloches –three wine glasses which cross stems – resonates like a bistro coat-of-arms.

However, the exteriors of the Bistro is only a small glimpse as to what is inside. Once inside, guests can dine under and admire the gold plated ceiling, and reflecting arches playing with the light. On the oak tables designed custom by José, transparent tableware highlights simple and sincere fare. Top quality products, a Parisian spirit inspired by dishes of old world with evident concern for modernity. Open for drinks until late at night in the black lounge where the furniture can be freely moved whether for tête-à-têtes or groups. Les Cloches is truly a modern place which toys with memory and rupture. The good and the beautiful. Generosity and comfort. A vibrant, simple and cultivated place.

Photography By Matthieu Salvaing

Areias Do Seixo Charm Hotel, Lisbon

March 7th, 2013 – Less than an hour away from Lisbon, the Areias Do Seixo Charm Hotel is nestled deep into the dunes of Portugal’s shoreline. Algrave-based architect Vasco Vieira dreamed up a magical place where originality, comfort, and sophistication move in perfect synthesis with the land. The eclectic hotel is full of an array of charming decorative accents and maintains an environmental conscience philosophy. When the owners purchased the property to build the Areias Do Seixo, they found that the land was riddled with the ruins of an old aviary. In an eco-minded response, Vieira made sure that the rubble and ruins from the old aviary were recycled into the foundation of the new hotel.

The 14 dreamy rooms are extraordinarily unique, taking the bold colors and designs of exotic destinations like India and Morocco as a starting point, and blending them with modern minimalism and imagination to create beautiful color pallets, earthy aesthetics, and irresistible bathrooms. Beds are framed with driftwood; warm gold Chinese cabinets; pod-like woodburners suspended from the ceilings, and burnished silver lamps. For those wanting privacy, there are 4 self-catering villas, each sleeping up to 7.

The overall experience that the hotel wants to give to its guests is a a trip filled with smells, tastes, and colors – a chance to reconnect with earth. The upmarket eco design doesn’t just come in the form of bed sheets and recycling, the food served at the hotel comes fresh from the hotel’s garden each day. The insulation of the building was conducted using cork on the wall cavity. The heating and cooling of water is done through the use of Geothermia, an ecological system that allows the efficient usage of the temperature existent within the earth. Circuit of compost transforming the organic matter produced in the unit into natural fertilizer for application to agricultural land to explore in the unit. To top it all off, the company is being completely transparent with their consumption data as they have implemented an Eco Clock on their website where anyone can check how much water, gas, and energy the hotel is using at the moment.

Photography courtesy of Fernando Guerra and Areias Do Seixo Hotel

Solestruck Shop, Portland

March 6th, 2013 – When it comes to online indie shoe shops, Solestruck is the spot to find something unique for your feet. The quirky company was looking explore the outernets when they decided to set up shop in their first brick and mortar store. On their search for a design team, it seemed fitting that they bring one of Portland’s most creative and respected design firms, Skylab Architecture, to outfit the new space. Jeff Kovel, principal architect at Skylab, and his team transformed a rustic space, in the upcoming West End neighborhood of Portland, into a glamorous shop.

Something worth noting, the store is actually located in an adaptive reuse building called Blackbox, here Solestruck is one of six micro-retail storefronts. The idea of micro-retail storefronts is becoming more prevalent as eco-minded designers, architects, and entrepreneurs, are developing new solutions to use existing spaces. Take a peek at Boxpark in London to see another example of micro-retail spots.

The shop is defined by swaths of light displaying a curated runway of interesting shoes. To allow the exhibit of shoes to visually ‘pop’, the architects created a mostly dark space with black concrete floors, dark textured walls and brake-form metal shelves that fade away. The existing columnar structure was transformed into the central cabinet that features notched seating as well space for storage and display.

The back of house makes use of materials like cork and exposed brick, creating a warm and expressive contrast to the dramatic display zone. Drawing on a wine cellar concept, the backstock is exposed as a collection, made visible to the public through a floor to ceiling glass wall. The backstock shelving and hanging bars are removable to adjust to merchandising requirements for Solestruck’s clothing company collaborations.

For Solestruck, versatility of the space was necessary, because of this demand, the architects made it easy for the shoe store to convert into a functional event space.

Ketel One Vodka’s Modern Craft Project

Ketel One Vodka is the product of the Nolet family and over 300 years of family expertise and one individual’s innovative vision. The Nolet family believes that this hard graft mentality and creative ingenuity are qualities worth celebrating. To cultivate modern craft, the vodka makers have teamed up with Wallpaper* magazine to present the Modern Craft Project. Up for grabs is the chance to be featured in a unique Modern Craft Directory  – plus coverage in Wallpaper*, and the extraordinary levels of international exposure that comes along with it. Ketel One Vodka will also be helping selected craftspeople to take their work to the next level and to an even wider audience by giving them the chance to win a share of the Ketel One Legacy prize fund. You don’t have to be a Jack of all trades, but if you are a Jack of your trade then you don’t want to miss this opportunity. Come on then, show us what you got. Start crafting your journey. Enter now.

Last month Ketel One Vodka held the Modern Craft Workshop in New York City to kick off the Modern Craft Project. Six highly skilled craftspeople were hand selected to showcase their original work, chosen for their ability to combine expert technique with modern sensibility to create beautiful, functional products. Ketel One explained that “each craftsperson in attendance has dedicated their professional life to mastering a time-honored discipline.” Inspiring.

At the workshop, Paul Cunningham’s table was covered in a variety of handsome American footballs. Cunningham was previously a Photo Editor for Major League Baseball, when he started honing his skills as a passionate leather craftsman. His love for sports and passion for crafts lead him to create the LEMON BALL™ baseballs and LEATHER HEAD™ footballs. With old world craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, he has carved out a niche in distinctive, finely crafted American leather goods.

Former carpenter Aaron Ruff was in attendance showcasing a collection of jewelry from his Brooklyn-based company Digby & Iona. As a young boy growing up in Maine, Ruff was fascinated with the idea of stumbling upon hidden treasures and unearthing ancient relics. fast forward a few decades and Aaron is pursuing his inner passion  by masterfully crafting playful pieces that are inspired by history, literature, nature and the tools of his trade.