Video-mapping at Duomo..charming and magic!

For people living in Milan, the Duomo is not only a Cathedral but also a meeting point in the heart of the city and the symbol of majesty, history and beauty for this city. Symbol and silent protagonist, but also an overshadowing presence of this city that tries more and more to open itself to the future and to Europe.
Per chi vive a Milano, il Duomo non è solo la Cattedrale ma anche un punto di ritrovo nel cuore del centro cittadino e il simbolo di questa città nella sua imponenza, la sua storia e la sua bellezza. Simbolo e protagonista silenzioso ma imponente di una città che cerca sempre di più di aprirsi al futuro e all’Europa.

Yesterday night on my way home after a dinner with some friends, I passed across the city center and a magic, unique and moving show was welcoming me. Duomo Cathedral was different and more “spectacular” than usual.

On the Cathedral’s front face 3D images with lights, sounds and fantastic colors were playing.
Wonderful and non-invasive, the “visions” have been realized with the video-mapping technique. The project named “Ti illuminerà” has been promoted and provided by IGPDecaux(outdoor communication agency and an over years collaborator of Milan’s archdiocese) and Ammiro Y2K (marketing and communication agency which follows the communication campaign), which also shared 50.000 € project’s cost.

Ieri sera di ritorno da una cena con alcuni amici, siamo passati per il centro e ad accoglierci abbiam trovato uno spettacolo unico, magico ed emozionante! Il Duomo era diverso e più “spettacolare” del solito.

Sulla facciata della Cattedrale c’erano giochi d’immagini in 3D con luci, suoni e color fantastici. Magnifiche e non invasive, le "visioni" sono state realizzate con la tecnica del video-mapping.

ll progetto dal nome “Ti Illuminerà”, è stato promosso e offerto da IGPDecaux (agenzia di comunicazione outdoor che da anni collabora con l’Arcidiocesi di Milano) e Ammiro Y2K (agenzia di marketing e comunicazione che si è occupata anche dalla relativa campagna di comunicazione), che ne hanno condiviso la spesa di circa 50.000€.

For those who missed the “Ti illuminerà” show last Tuesday, the 28th of February… you still have the possibility to watch this incredible event in the following dates: 6, 13 and 20 of March. So, if you are in Milan please…don’t miss it!
Ti illuminerà prevede che questa rappresentazione non si limiti alla sola giornata del 28 febbraio ma, per chi se lo fosse perso e volesse assistere dal vivo alla proiezione, possa farlo anche il 6, il 13 ed il 20 Marzo, sempre a partire dalle 20 sino alle 23, ad intervalli di ogni 20 minuti circa. Quindi se in quei giorni vi trovate a Milano, mi raccomando non perdetelo!

xx Gavy

Origami inspired Architecture and Interior Design

Origami is the traditional Japanese Art of paper folding. The Japanese word “origami” is a compound of two smaller Japanese words折り紙 “ori” meaning to fold and "kami" meaning paper.

One of the most famous origami designs is the Japanese crane that represents an auspicious symbol in Japanese culture. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.

Two years ago I had the pleasure to visit Japan, in my honeymoon, and in our trip to Hiroshima, we visited the Sadako Sasaki memorial whose touching history I invite you to read here. The Sadako Sasaki memorial is an important symbol in the Nippon culture.

Con il termine origàmi s’intende l'arte di piegare la carta, termine derivato dal giapponese 折り紙, “ori” piegare e “kami” carta.

Uno dei più famosi disegni origami è la gru che rappresenta un simbolo di buon auspicio nella cultura giapponese. Un’antica leggenda giapponese promette che chiunque faccia mille gru di carta otterrà che si realizzi un desiderio, come ad esempio una vita lunga o la guarigione da un’infermità.

Due anni fa, ho avuto il piacere di visitare il Giappone in occasione del mio viaggio di nozze e nella nostra tappa a Hiroshima abbiamo scoperto la storia toccante di Sadako Sasaki che v’invito ad andare a leggere qui. Il monumento dedicato a Sadako Sasaki è un simbolo importante nella cultura nipponica.

Obviously, Origami is not only this, but much more… and nowadays is not only Japan and Japanese art.

Such an elegant and distinguished Art has become an important source of inspiration for Architects and Interior designers.

A brief look at the following amazing and astonishing creations helps to understand what I mean…

Ovviamente origami non è solo questo ma molto, molto di più…e oggigiorno non va più a rappresentare solo il Giappone e l’arte giapponese.

Un’arte così raffinata ed elegante non poteva non diventare fonte d’ispirazione per il mondo dell’architettura e dell’Interior design.

Una carrellata di creazioni meravigliose e sorprendenti a seguire, vi farà capire cosa intendo…

Klein Bottle House is an inspirational architecture designed by McBride Charles Ryan, situated on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, Australia.

With the opportunity to be folding and unfolding like origami, the Bengt Sjostrom Starlight Theater in Rockford (USA) brings flexible opportunities to its audiences…. leaving them to enjoy starlight when possible.

Origami Modern Sofa is a leather sofa design by Andrea Lucatello for Cattelan Italia. The cool thing of this sofa is that when needed, can be convert into a bed with a simple maneuver of the frame, giving to an overnight guest all the comfort and pleasure of a bed.

Stealth pendant light, designed by Antonio Arevalo.

Composed from a single plane of smooth Perspex, and folded into an origami like pyramid, light bursts out of this striking lamp.

This origami chair called “Cardine” came from the imaginative mind of the Korean designer Sooin Kim. It is formed with only one sheet of plastic and two pieces of Velcro and it is also easy to fold whenever and wherever you want!

“Tangram” designed by Daniele Lago, is a particular and versatile bookcase inspired to an ancient Chinese game.

It is compound by 7 different geometric pieces that can be assembled in many different ways sometimes taking a curious and funny bookcase shape.

The table “4foldlow” designed by the English designer George Rise for Formtank. It is made by cutting a standard sheet of steel and then folding it by hand, giving to the table an origami shape.

Images Source:

 www.arthitectural.com; www.archdaily.com; www.tucasainteriors.com; www.freshome.com; www.yankodesign.com; www.lago.it; www.dezeen.com

xx Gavy

Organized House Entryway

When you think about furnishing your house…there are a lot places and spaces that should come to your mind and important details to consider.

The entryway, beyond representing a pleasant welcome showcase of the house (for you, when come back home, but in particular when friends come to visit you), is also a strategic space, especially for small apartments.

For this reason, is appropriate to put furniture and home decors in the entryway giving the right attention to aesthetics and without losing practice.

There are some elements that can help you obtaining a cozy and appealing solution, especially in small apartments. Here below you may find few advices and some images showing you very nice and practical furnish-solutions:

Quando pensate ad arredare casa…ci sono molti posti e spazi che vi vengono in mente e importanti dettagli da considerare.

L’ingresso di casa, oltre a rappresentare una piacevole vetrina di benvenuto (per voi quando tornate a casa ma principalmente per gli amici in visita), è uno spazio importante da un punto strategico-organizzativo, specie negli appartamenti di pochi mq.

Per questo motivo è opportuno arredarlo dando la giusta attenzione alla funzionalità e al gusto estetico.

Ci sono degli elementi che possono aiutarvi a ottenere una soluzione accogliente e ottimale, specialmente in piccoli appartamenti; qui sotto sono riportanti pochi consigli e alcune immagini che mostrano delle graziose e pratiche soluzioni d’arredo:

1.   The Entryway Utility Closet (for example using an old desk readapted or a bench) is a great way to maximize space and helps you organizing and de-cluttering your lovely home.

2.   Putting a beanbag chair under the desk could help you obtaining a seat and it will also be a place where to keep a slippers basket or to put scarves, hats, sheets etc.

3.   A mirror (perhaps a big one), fixed at the wall or leaned to the desk, offers a stylish, convenient and elegant aspect to the Entryway. Furthermore, it is useful for a quick peep to your look before going out, but also it gives you a strategic contribution to widen and brighten the entryway in small flats.

4.  A coat hanger and an umbrella stand, both really useful and practical elements to welcome guests, helps you in keeping the entryway clutter-free.

5.   Change-tray and key-case: fundamental to leave cell phone, keys and tickets etc.

6.  A memo board is a good solution for those who are always in a rush and need help with post-it or messages as “reminders”.

7.   Eventually, a vase of fresh flowers provides a bright and colored contribution to the Entryway and gives to the newcomers, the possibility to enjoy of a fresh, scented and pleasant welcome in the house!

1.  Mettere un mobile d’ingresso, tipo una vecchia scrivania riadattata, una panca o un mobiletto può essere una soluzione ideale per migliorare la presenza estetica di uno spazio che spesso si sottovaluta e aiutarci nell’organizzazione degli oggetti.

2.   Mettere un pouf portaoggetti sotto la scrivania può aiutare a ricavare una seduta e sarà anche un posto dove tenere un cestino per le pantofole, mettere sciarpe, cappelli, coperte, ecc.

3.  Uno specchio, magari grande, fissato sul muro o poggiato sul mobile offre stile, comodità ed eleganza all’ingresso. Inoltre è molto utile sia per una sbirciatina al proprio look poco prima di uscire ma anche per il contributo strategico che offre nel gioco di amplificare luce e volumi, soprattutto in quegli spazi piccoli e poco illuminati.

4.   Attaccapanni e portaombrelli: entrambi molto utili e pratici per accogliere chi arriva e per tenere tutto in ordine e a portata di mano quando serve.

5.   Svuota tasche e porta chiavi: fondamentale per lasciare bigliettini, cellulare, chiavi etc.

6.   Lavagnetta e magneti memo…per chi è sempre di corsa e ha bisogno di un post-it come “remainder”.

7.   Un vaso di fiori freschi infine, dà quel contributo di luce, leggerezza e colore all’ingresso che permettono a chi entra di assaporare un tocco fresco, profumato e piacevole della casa!

Images Source:

 www.thedormyhouse.com; www.housetohome.co.uk; www.apartmenttherapy.com; www.casasugar.com; www.shabbychicinteriors.blogspot.com; www.ikea.com

xx Gavy

Vintage Style in your House

I love modern style in a house, it is neat and elegant. This style is often characterized by using basic colors as black and white pleasantly mixed with brilliant warm colors as red and orange, highlighting details and giving personality to the house or apartment. However, I personally think that an ultra modern house becomes a bit sad and aseptic.

For this reason, I like to mix modern style with some retro and vintage objects. That’s gives to a house a charming timeless style and a romantic atmosphere.

My favorite vintage objects? Here below….

Amo lo stile moderno in una casa perché la rende ordinata, curata ed elegante. Questo stile è spesso caratterizzato dall’uso di colori basici come il bianco e il nero piacevolmente mischiati con colori più forti e caldi come il rosso e l’arancio, evidenziando dettagli e dando cosi maggiore personalità alla casa o all’appartamento. Tuttavia, penso che una casa ultra moderna sia però un po’ triste e asettica. Mi piace per questo accostare allo stile moderno, oggetti dal fascino vintage e un po’ retrò.

Questo dona alla casa un fascino senza tempo e dal gusto romantico.

I miei preferiti? Ve li mostro…

The round Vintage bathtub provides elegance and just a touch of another time to any bathroom.

Alarm clocks…. will be nice to have one, if it doesn’t bother too much the sound.

Big Chill retro fridge combines the iconic look of a 50’s style vintage refrigerator with the amenities of contemporary appliances.

Different bedsides or decorating table?!…Here above a Louis Vuitton vintage luggage set…simply wonderful. 

Vintage phones…lovely! Please give me a call…

Phonograph. Music in timeless but a phonograph brings you completely in another era…so fascinating.

A popcorns machine and cart. What a great solution…I like eating popcorns while I’m watching a movie! 

Standing ashtray. If you want to smoke, I might be better using this! :)

Flipper! Because game as flipper as well as a Gameboy cans still match the new generation games! 

I’d like to have Jukebox, only for the atmosphere that creates in a room and maybe to try to do this:

 

xx Gavy

Wash at 30° C

In the post Don't Waste, Create! I wrote about design made by recycling and the interesting way to give another chance to some objects that otherwise we would have thrown away.

One of those objects was the washing machine drum that in that post I showed transformed into a fantastic coffee table.

Well…there is someone else that decided to recycle a washing machine drum making a lamp! Actually he believed so hard in his idea that he designed many different types of lamps. I’m talking about the Portuguese designer Antonio "Tó" Martins’.

Basically, Martinsrecycled a washing machine drum and using a photography tripod stand made a lamp; then he wrapped the lamp’s drum in surprising materials…here the result:

Nel post Don't Waste, Create ho parlato del design realizzato dal riciclo dei materiali e del modo interessante di dare un’altra chance a oggetti che altrimenti butteremmo via.

Uno di questi era il cestello della lavatrice che in quel post mostravo trasformato in un fantastico tavolino da caffè.

Bene…c’è qualcun altro che ha deciso di riciclare il cestello della lavatrice facendone una lampada! In realtà ha creduto fortemente in questa idea tanto da realizzarne vari tipi. Sto parlando del designer portoghese Antonio “Tó” Martins’.

In pratica, Martins ha riciclato un cestello della lavatrice e utilizzando un treppiede fotografico ha creato una lampada; dopodiché ha avvolto il cestello in materiali particolarissimi ed ecco il risultato:

Aren’t they beautiful?!

Non sono stupende?!

The lamps, in their twelve bold and original combinations, are all handmade by Martins himself. Here below I show you the collection made of materials like pingballs, wine corks, Astroturf, steel wool, PVC tape measure, tweed etc.

Le lampade, nelle loro dodici audaci e originali combinazioni, son state tutte realizzate a mano da Martins in persona. Qui sotto vi mostro la collezione fatta di materiali quali palline da ping-pong, tappi del vino, prato sintetico, pagliette d’acciaio, metro, tweed etc.

Which is your favorite lamp? Mine is definitely the first…I like the elegant result obtained by using black and white industrial fabric!

Qual è la vostra lampada preferita? La mia è certamente la prima…mi piace il risultato elegante ottenuto dall’uso di stoffa industriale bianca e nera.

For more informations, please visit the official website www.rewashlamp.com

Per maggiori informazioni potete visitare il sito ufficiale www.rewashlamp.com

xx Gavy

Goes with Wine

The pleasure of wine tasting is a fantastic excuse to enjoy some good wine with your family or your friends.

Most of us are used to keep wine bottles in the house, especially in wintertime, but few of us consider that the exhibition of wine bottles in a nice organizer can be practical solution to pick up easily them and a good way to show them proudly as collection.

And here comes a perfect home decor complement: the wine rack.

Wine racks can be placed on the kitchen counter, directly on the floor or hanging from the wall. Wine racks can have different styles and shapes and can be made of different materials to satisfy all your tastes in term of Interior design. Here below is a list of some interesting models:

Il piacere di degustare vino è una fantastica scusa per bere del buon vino in  compagnia di amici e parenti.

Molti di noi solitamente hanno almeno un paio di bottiglie di vino in casa, soprattutto durante il periodo invernale, ma non tutti considerano che l’esposizione delle bottiglie di vino in un bel contenitore può essere una soluzione pratica per prenderle facilmente quando servono o semplicemente per mostrarle con orgoglio come collezione.

Per questo ci viene in aiuto un perfetto complemento d’arredo: la cantinetta del vino.

Le cantinette possono essere d’appoggio, da terra stile colonnine o appese al muro. Esistono di differenti tipi in base allo stile, al materiale e alla forma per soddisfare ogni stile d’arredo. Qui di seguito vi propongo una selezione:

BRILLO by KUBEDESIGN – A particular wine rack made of laminated corrugated cardboard. Finish in natural cardboard or available in fuchsia, red, black, white and green showerproof coating or lined with elegant black, white and bordeaux “eco-leather” fabric.
Price 105 € circa - Dimensions 60 x 40 x 20 www.kube-design.it

FSC* Wooden Wine Rack – Made in wood from FSC certified oak, this attractive wine rack similar to a small tree is an environmentally friendly way to hold up your collection of bottles giving to your house a rustic and elegant style.

Price 95£ circa - Dimensions H45 x W30 x D15cm You can find it here.

CRU by UMBRA – available in 2 colors (white and black) is an artistic wine rack that links a practical use destination to an artistic style.

Price 157,50 $ (175 €) circa - Dimensions: 30 x 43 x 15 cm. www.umbra.com

INFINITY by KARTELL - Available in four colors (blue, white, yellow and orange). It’s a counter wine rack where it’s possible assemblages more wine rack and create a nice composition based of your fantasy and needs. 

Price 50 € circa - Dimensions: 14,5 x 9,5 cm x 5,7 cm. You can find it here.

LOOPSEY by UMBRA - A wine rack made of clear acrylic that cleverly fits 6 bottles and simultaneously stands out in its blossoming shape.

Price 162,50 € circa - Dimensions 32 x 32 20cm www.umbra.com

VINELLO by UMBRA - Available in two colors (black and red). A single ribbon of painted steel is rolled and fastened to create this elegant wine rack that holds seven wine bottles

Price 126 $ (175 €) circa - Dimensions 56 x 26 x 15 cm www.umbra.com

BALI by OENOPHILLA – Available in 4 colors (red, natural wood, ebony, avocado) taking inspiration from Bali’s wages, this nice wine rack is a nice home décor that holds 12 bottles.

Price 78 $ circa - Dimensions 25 x 53 x 19 cm www.oenophilia.com

PUZZLE by DAGAN DESIG – Available in 4 colors (orange, yellow, dark grey and red). It’s a funny wine rack and can be easily assembled with other units to create different rack in sizes and shapes.

Price 59$ circa - Dimensions: 48x48x21 cm. www.dagandesign.com

WINE TREE VAL-836 by VALSECCHI – Available in two colors (cherry and wengè). It’s an elegant wine rack with 18 bottles hung on the tree branches.

Price 180 € circa - Dimensions 25 x 181 x 25 cm. You can find it here.

ARSENAL by CALLIGARIS - Available in a choice of bleached beech, wengè-stained beech or walnut-stained beech. This wine rack is designed to hold up to 12 bottles, this wine rack and I’s a practical and perfect save spacer without losing in design.

Price 80 € circa - Dimensions 75 x 5 x 8 cm www.calligaris.it

CACTUS by J_ME – Available in two colors (green and mirror finish stainless-steel). if you are looking for a wine rack with a little more style than the average one, this is perfect! Its cactus shape makes this funny wine rack and original home decor.

Price 95 £ (105 €) circa - Dimensions 43 x 40 x 10 cm www.j-me.co.uk

DROP by CATTELAN – It’s not a wine rack…but much more. It’s an authentic Design Home Complement. Original in its shape gives a great personality to the room where is located. Available in polished stainless steel with shelves in white or black color. 
Price 700-800 € circa - Dimensions 121 X 70 X 23 cm www.cattelanitalia.com

And if after this looong list you are not satisfy yet?! Here some websites where you can carry on your research and make your choice!

www.wineracks.com

www.target.com

www.ewineracks.com

www.piccolobottaio.it

www.esigo.it

www.chiasso.com

http://accessori-sommelier.twenga.it/portabottiglie.html

Cheers! 

*FSC - The Forest Stewardship Council works to safeguard the world's forests. FSC certification provides a credible link between responsible forest management and the consumption of forest products, enabling you to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment.

xx Gavy