I’ve always been a fan of the work of Peter Zumthor. And a recent article that I’ve read in Icon Magazine has reinvigorated the joy that I get in his work. This work in particular, the Bruder Klaus Chapel, has inspired me to go to souther Germany to see this work in person. Rarely do I want to make a pilgrimage to see architecture. It used to be that I would travel half way around the world to see work by Italian architect, Carlo Scarpa. Now, I feel that urge again. But with a kid on the way, I might have to wait several years to experience this building with my future son. But the closest thing to experiencing it comes from Danda’s fantastic Gallery of images from the chapel. I compel you to have a look.

I was recently rummaging through dozens of French design websites when I found this ring. I wish I spoke French because France has so many wonderful designers, but consistently French websites never translate any of their pages for an English audience. It’s fine if they don’t, I just wish I could read the French. Because if I could read French, then I would tell you all about Lydia Courteille and her amazing Paris Jewelry design house. Instead, all I can say about this ring is that it is one design in a series called: “Collection Translucent” which in English I think means “The Translucent Collection”. The collection includes many of Frances most talented jewelry designers creating works from semi-precious translucent stones. I was drawn to this one simply because of its name: Cocaine. It’s a ring made of a large, dreamy quartz stone encased in dozens of diamond stars that appear to look like ice crystals. The quartz, as you’ve guessed, looks like a powdery white bag of cocaine or maybe a highly refined crack rock. Whatever the metaphor was meant to be, the ring is addictively beautiful, and I hope to snort one in the future.

Ensamble Studio, a Madrid based architecture firm, is solidifying their place within architectural history by creating solid, monumental, and almost alien buildings that truly create a new paradigm in architecture with each building. For instance, the still under construction SGAE (the Spanish equivalent of the RIAA, blah) Central Office is unlike any building ever constructed outside of Stonehenge. It’s main focus is obviously the massive, undulating stone wall traveling the length of the site. This wall appears to buckle and bow under its own weight, but it’s solid enough to support the comparatively light steel frame which comprises the rest of the building. I think rather than writing too much about this building, I suggest you read the multi-page treatise on the building which does an adequate job explaining. I will leave you with a plea that you visit this site. It’s not the easiest to navigate, but look at some of the other amazing projects done by Ensamble such as the gravity defying Martemar House. You will not be disappointed.

This is one of those pieces that skirt between art and design. Marc Newson’s Voronoi Shelf looks simple enough at first glance, but after further inspection you may ask yourself: What is this thing made of? How about white Carrara Marble. I know what your thinking. I thought the same. How the F**k did Newson make this? My answer as of 8 am is I don’t know. But it is absolutely incredible. I, of course, think there is one drawback which is what if you crack this piece when your moving it into your house? The answer is: you don’t.

Object: Cut Chair

Designer: BLOKmeubel

URL: http://www.blokmeubel.nl/

Category: Furniture and Housewares

Price: $1,400

Lust Factor: Warm

Description: Last week was the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. I, unfortunately, am too poor to go to any international design events this winter, so I’ll feature a few of the designers that have been featured in the Dutch Design Week in recent years.

The work by BLOKmeubel, to me, is pure and simple wood furniture that is solidly built. The Cut Chair series is a play on their traditional styling, but creating a wood chair, and making an exact replica of the wood chair in glass, steel, and stone is a special play. I worked in a furniture shop for several years before I started my architecture career, and to translate a design from the material it’s originally intentioned for to something with completely different properties is nearly impossible. This is what makes their design so special. Imagine how much the steel chair must weigh, for instance. Hundreds of pounds?

Object: Pancake Rock Vase

Designer: Yksi

URL: http://www.yksi.nl

Category: Tchotchke

Price: $N.F.S.

Lust Factor: Warm

Description: Last week was the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. I, unfortunately, am too poor to go to any international design events this winter, so I’ll feature a few of the designers that have been featured in the Dutch Design Week in recent years.

Yksi is a design house (or bureau as they call it in Holland) that are virtuosic in a number of materials. Wood seems to be their material of choice, however, I’ve chosen their only stone object. Why? It just speaks to me, I guess. I’m sure there is a brilliant concept behind the vase, like it’s made out of hundreds of layers of recycled paper scraps, or something like that. Unfortunately, I don’t read Dutch, so I’ll never know. DEFINITELY check out their site where they have a number of cool products for sale.