Munich

It is difficult to sum up such a beautiful city and cultural oasis that offers sensory appeal of just about every kind imaginable. This post is an overview to a city well worth a visit of at least 5 days. In terms of when to visit, the weather is beautiful from May through the summer, and there’s also  Oktoberfest in the fall!

Munich’s cityscape is  recognized by one of the largest city parks in the world, The Englischer Garten (English Garden, named after the landscaping style). Visitors and locals can be found sunbathing in the green pastures among trees, pathways and the picturesque Kleinhesseloher Lake.

Famous for Oktoberfest, the beer in this Bavarian capital is seriously delicious. If you are not in Munich for the celebration, visit the Hofbräuhaus or a local beer garden to enjoy a fine selection of beer in oversized mugs.

Art lovers: museums are not to be missed. While there are dozens to choose from, The Haus der Kunst provides an excellent selection of rotating modern and contemporary exhibitions. Other contemporary galleries can be found closer to and around the University. Head to the Alte Pinakothek for works by European masters from the 14^th to 18^th centuries: Dürer, Titian, Rubens, Rembrandt and Tintoretto among others.

Food lovers: you must visit the Viktualienmarkt, or Victuals Market. This large, open-air market located in the city center has an abundance of fresh produce, flowers, seafood, herbs, wine, cheeses and freshly prepared meals.

So what else is there to love about Munich, and Germany overall? Bike lanes! Germany has designated bike lanes that are separate from the road and pedestrian sidewalks. Open air markets, biker friendly and safe, plus large green city parks equals healthy living in Munich (minus the beer and schnitzel, but it all balances out in the end).

Sleepover Tip: stay at Hotel Louis

Englischer Garten

Viktualienmarkt

Bavarian State Chancellery

Palace Nymphenburg

Palace Nymphenburg

Pagodenburg

Pagodenburg

HINT: Only one of the  countries home to these 3 cities remains in the World Cup, and one did not qualify at all.

More information  about each of these locations to come.

Where am I?

Where am I now?

Final destination!

Stefan says:
This project is a promessionarium composed of a set of interior spaces dedicated to the functions of mourning and caring for the dead. There are many interiors designed to accommodate mourners and this is an integral piece of this design problem, but the larger and more challenging problem is the recognition of death in an interior space, resulting in:

• Interior that evokes an equal, non-denominational feeling
• Interior space that conveys a spirit of tenderness and intimacy
• Space instills a deep sense of awe without inflicting god-fearing terror and pompous ceremonies

This process is reflected in the design which moves from dramatic to lyrical.

Sustainability became an integral part of the project in terms of rethinking the environmental impact of cremation. Green Walls, for example, have been incorporated as a new method of space-saving burial.

For more information, visit: www.stefansteil.com

Hall of Remembrance

Chapel Interior

Meadow walkway

Meadow

Chapel at night

SPOILER: Stefan traveled to 3 beautiful cities in Europe after his graduation commencement. A preview  of his chosen destinations will arrive this week, and whomever guesses the right locations gets a lucky penny.

200 Eleventh Avenue Duplex Tour, Courtesy of Urban Muse/Gaia House from Betty Elrod on Vimeo.

Video courtesy of Urban Muse/Gaia House.

Monet (New York) & Picasso (London)

Gagosian Gallery New York is currently exhibiting works from Monet’s Late Years, while the  Gagosian Gallery London displays works from Pablo Picasso’s Mediterranean Years. The  Picasso exhibition follows the Picasso: Mosqueteros show at the Gagosian Gallery in New York last spring. These exhibitions were designed by Vica founder Annabelle Selldorf and curated by art historian John Richardson (Picasso shows) and Paul Hayes Tucker (Monet show).

Monet
Late Work
Gagosian Gallery, New York
through June 26
Details: 212.741.1717

For more information, read the press release here

Picasso
The Mediterranean Years (1945-62)
Gagosian Gallery, London
through August 28
Details: 0207 841 9960

For more information, read the press release here
Read the The Guardian review here

www.gagosian.com

Installation view of Monet show

Installation view of Picasso show

Live in New York long enough and life without the light will become unimaginable. A light so close to the sea that it captures the mood of the ocean. A light that is most spectacular on the east side of Central Park, where the afternoon sun literally bathes the palaces on Fifth Avenue in gold. Here, on the so-called “Gold Coast,” is where Annabelle Selldorf was commissioned to carefully redesign the apartment of a married couple of art collectors.

The architect has made a name for herself in the US with interiors that counterbalance American extravagance with European minimalism. In the entrance hall, the marble floors and mahogany doors installed by New York interior designers Stephen Sills and James Huniford in the 90s were left untouched, while the teak parquet in the other rooms was lightened by staining it white.

In order to accentuate the couple’s collection of modern art - from Alberto Giacometti, Joan Miro and Fernand Leger to Richard Serra, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and Ellsworth Kelly - the colors of the walls and ceilings were changed. For this, Selldorf cooperated with color expert Donald Kaufman. His work is based on using a multitude of pigments, often between six and thirteen. “This helps the paint react better to the incidence of light,” the architect explains. For example, the white in the living room contains a touch of  magenta mixed with red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. A good example of the effect this creates can be seen in the dining room, where gray walls have a purple tone at day-light, while artificial light creates a rosier hue in the evening.

Other interior designers would have seen the project as an opportunity to get rid of every piece of furniture, yet Selldorf only replaced the designer pieces. Tailor-made furniture from her Vica collection, adapted to blend in with the impressive dimensions of the apartment, now features alongside 18th-century chairs in the living room. “Minimalists remove things, I tweak the details,” she says.

Text: Doris Chevron, Photographs:  Nikolas Koenig.

For those of  you who did not make it to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, here are some photos of our booth.  All in all, it was a good four days.   That’s Franklin on the right building a Herbert Chair as part of our display.

Here, have a brochure:

The Cube Chair

Pier 94, New York, NY - Vica (www.vicadesign.com) and its upholsterer, Baron (www.baronnyc.com), announce their debut at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in New York, showing a collection of original and classic furniture designed for Vica by Annabelle Selldorf.

This year Vica and Baron have combined efforts to show more than a display of furniture; they want you to see you how it’s made. A representative from Baron will be constructing and upholstering a Vica Herbert Chair from start to finish during the show, giving visitors the opportunity to observe and ask questions about the materials, process, and reflect on the hand-crafted, custom quality created by both designer and craftsman.

Sustainability equals quality
In case you haven’t noticed, everyone is asking, “Where do you stand on sustainability?” Vica and Baron choose carefully vetted materials and pioneering and innovative manufacturing practices that deliver products that conform to the most stringent sustainable standards.

Beyond Architecture
Don’t miss Annabelle Selldorf on this design panel, Thursday, March 18, at 11 a.m. Ms. Selldorf and Alex P. Lamis will participate in a panel discussion about contemporary architecture and the growing trend of architects venturing beyond architecture into interior design and product design. Lamis and Selldorf will discuss their multidisciplinary design practices at length, with a special opportunity for Q&A following the presentation. Donald Albrecht of the Museum of the City of New York will moderate.

“A world of design inspiration awaits at the 9th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show. Explore the latest ideas and products for the home-from furniture and lighting to kitchens and baths.”
AD Home Design Show, 2010

ABOUT THE VICA COLLECTION
www.vicadesign.com

Vica is a collection of interior furnishings, lighting and objects by architect Annabelle Selldorf. The collection upholds the European tradition of hand workmanship and exceptional finishing in designs imbued with the edge and innovativeness of New York, her adopted home.

Selldorf’s ability to create distinctly modern, yet intimate, architecture and interior design attracts a loyal clientele, particularly artists, gallery owners, and art and antique collectors. The furniture designs reflect her love of fine materials, her high regard for balanced proportion and understated elegance, and a commitment to sustainable practices.

Vica also offers several furnishings by her father, Herbert Selldorf, a designer and architect. The company, Vica, was founded by Selldorf’s grandmother in the 1950s as an interior design studio based in Cologne.

ABOUT ANNABELLE SELLDORF
www.selldorf.com

Recognized on both sides of the Atlantic as a uniquely thoughtful and artful architect and designer, Annabelle Selldorf combines an understanding of European tradition and aesthetics with an American sense of energy and pragmatism. She was born and raised in Cologne, Germany, in a family that exposed her early on to the design world of buildings - as well as to the interior furnishings that complement them.

Selldorf Architects has established itself as a major international presence. The firm has received particular attention for its international cultural portfolio - including museums, galleries, studio spaces, art foundations, and the homes of numerous high-profile collectors. Other areas of significant completed work and expertise include commercial and retail, institutional, and high-end single- and multi-family residences

ABOUT BARON
www.baronnyc.com

Dennis Gonzalez: dennis@baronnyc.com

Baron is a second-generation custom upholstery and drapery manufacturer recognized for its museum-quality workmanship. Under the direction of owner Paul Baron von Urban, the Baron approach is rooted in time-honored European traditions and techniques known to produce heirloom furniture that lasts for generations.

Baron’s work is particularly noteworthy in today’s environment for its pioneering and innovative sustainable practices. Through an unwavering commitment to the idea that natural materials and environmentally effective practices can be combined with design, luxury, quality, and comfort, Baron has developed a completely unique process for creating furniture built to the highest environmental standards, unmatched in the industry.

Photography: Manolo Yllera. Interior design: Selldorf Architects.

This is a quick, easy and elegant way to add a splash of color to your domestic setting. Colorful textiles liven up your living area and keep you warm this winter.

These textiles from ABC Carpet and Home range from $125- $395. Browse here

By Vajra Tibet

http://www.louisedespont.com/

via butdoesitfloat.com