SPOGA 2009

Cathedral of Cologne

Kölner Dom– This photo was taken right before boarding the train to Amsterdam. It was undergoing some preservation works, it being really old and being named a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in 1996. For more information on this magnificent piece of architecture, click here.

So what brought us to Cologne? It was the venue of SPOGA  2009 (and SPOGA Horse, that was staged simultaneously). Trends? In this show, there were still a lot of wicker furniture.

So it was not surprising to see Viro as an exhibitor. For colors, earth colors like beige and cappuccino abound. Lilac, green and orange provide just the right kind of bright pops of colors. In fact, it was a surprise to see the Sunbrella booth all done in lilac and gray. We also found two exhibitors from the Philippines. One of them was Agile Stone, a manufacturer based in Cebu using stonecasting for furniture and accessories. Check out their website for more information on their products.

Maison et Objet Indoor_Outdoor 2009

Color Trends: Orange and Feiry Pink

The color purple? As seen at the Exhibition grounds. "Nomadic chic"-- this is how the trend is described.

It was Sept 5. The weather was “perfect” as the Europeans described it. It was sunny and cool at the same time. Paris Nord Villepinte was packed. After a few international trade shows this year, this was a pleasant surprise. The exhibition was huge and vibrant, with brands like Gloster, Kettal,  and (surprise!) Fendi. A lot of whites traditionally used for the indoors but in this show, on many outdoor furniture and accessories. The theme was bringing the indoors–the comfort and style—to the outdoors!

Later, went to Lamorlaye, a darn pretty village in northern France. It was a short drive from Radisson SAS (near the Charles de Gaulle) about 30 minutes. The drive was leisurely, with tall, slender trees far and near. Really lovely!

Modern apartments of Lamorlaye at daybreak

 

P.S. This is totally unrelated to Paris but Pauline just gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, 7.11 lb bundle of joy. Congratulations to Serge and Pauline.

Charming Amsterdam

Amsterdam is such a charming city. While the apartments have the same number of floors, every facade is unique. We learned that taxes were based on the facades length (so they go as deep as possible which is good) and that the reason why apartments had really small staircases because cranes can easily take up the goods into these structures.

A longer story soon!

Manila Then and Now

MANILA TRANSITIO 1945

March 7, 2009

In February of 1945, history tells us that the City of Manila was completely destroyed in a battle between the United States Armed Forces and the Japanese Imperial Army. An estimated 120,000 people were lost and our beloved City of Manila was never the same again.

Manila Transitio is a multi-media event organized by the Intramuros Administration with Carlos Celdran and multi media artists Tad Ermitano, Donna Miranda, Mabi David, Kawayan de Guia, Malek Lopez, Caliph8, Ringo Bunoan, and several other artists that will celebrate Manila – the city that was and the Manila that will be.

An evening of performances, music, vintage photographs and films, video art, installations, open mic, food, drink, poetry and dance within different sections of The Fort Santiago, this will be a lovely alternative to spend your night.  Guest readings will be performed by Shamaine Buencamino, Roslyn Perez, Peter Serrano, Jake Macapagal, Jamie Wilson, and Aida Santos while  flamenco music wille be provided by Yerbaguena.

The symbolic release of 120 illuminated spirit lanterns into the night sky by the gates of Fort Santiago will cap the evening.

And the best part is, this multi-media event is FREE!

*Reasonably priced buffet and beer will be sold in Fort Santiago before the event. Or you can bring your own bottle of wine/picnic.

YPDC’s Traveling Exhibit

Did you know that the winning and notable entries from the 2008 YP Design Challenge: Ideas for Sustainable Communities will be on exhibit at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines – College of Architecture and Fine Arts (PUP-CAFA) frpm tomorrow, February 24 (Tuesday) until February 27 (Friday)? Now you do.

The YPDC exhibit is being presented as part of the celebration of PUP-CAFA’s 9th Foundation Anniversary. On display will be the presentation boards of the winning entries in the Sustainable Shelter and Portable Playground categories, along with the entries’ scaled models done by architects/model- makers Edra Belga and Ave Casono.

 

The traveling exhibit has been previously mounted at the SHEC (St. Hannibal Empowerment Center) Phase 2 Housing Project, Green Papaya Art Projects, and during the Shelter Design and Development (SDD) International Course at Imperial Hotel.

 

See you there!

The IDEAS Festival

A walk at Southbank, Queensland

The Ideas Festival was started in 2001 to present ideas, promote public debate, and to foster and celebrate innovation. This year, the Festival is proudly presented by the Queensland Government as part of the Q150 celebrations, with Griffith University as a major sponsor.

The Ideas Festival covers a broad range covering five streams of IDEAS: I- nvention and innovation, D- evelopment and design, E- cology and ethics, A-ction and advocacy, S-elf and society.  New ideas, old ideas in new manifestations and the exchange of ideas across sector, across industry, across generations and across the room make this fest.

The Festival presents local, national and international speakers, alongside thinkers, doers, makers and observers. It aims to  to provide Queenslanders with access to and exposure to diverse ideas; present, celebrate and debate the quality ideas and inventive work of government, business, academia and community; and promote Queensland locally, nationally and internationally as an innovative, diverse and forward thinking place.

For more information on the festival, log on to www.ideasfestival.com.au. We loved the flash video created by artist Sue Loveday of the Brisbane design studio, Designfront, using found objects.

Let’s Help the Economy

 

and this…

Yet some more big shows coming our way this March. Who of you will go?

We all should! Now that the world is experiencing some economic difficulties (well, we know we do have this every year), it is also the best time to travel and support our industries.  Go out and go to every design fair that you can afford. Not only are flights are getting cheaper, but the little money we put back into circulation can keep businesses afloat until the economy is able to pick up. Not to mention, if people went to the expos and fairs, it inspires our designers to remain creative despite everything.

We all need to consume. It is our obligation to. Okay, we are not advocating excessiveness here but if you can, do go out and travel by design.

Abaca Resort

Dafal loungers line the poolside

There are certain reasons why Cebu is a favorite for many, locals and foreigners alike. One of the fancier reasons would be to stay in any of its luxury resorts like Abaca Resort where one finds a restaurant, a spa, a pool, and access to the sea. Abaca is ultra-exclusive, uber private and prides itself for being a sanctuary.

What is amusing, though, is that right next to Abaca is the Microtel Inns and Suites which has whiter, and finer sand. While the brand is Microtel, this particular hotel followed the boutique route and is actually a full service hotel. We were just wondering why not have this hotel in a different brand name since previous Microtel Inns and Suites already have established a different position? We were just wondering. But this Microtel is really, for the lack of words, nice.

A Northern Star

The province of Ilocos is known to be the turf of many of today’s powerful political figures, but by far, the most known of this lot is also the province’s favorite son and one who has exerted much influence over the whole country—former president Ferdinand Marcos.
During his rule, Marcos took residence in what is now known as Malacañan Ti Amianan, which translates to Malacañan of the North. A large mansion with its very own man-made lake, it was the site of many of the Marcos’s lavish parties.
The design is very much similar to the Hispanic bahay na bato (stone house), and shortly after the ousting of the former president and his family, the new government had seized ownership of the mansion.
More than 20 years had passed, the house shows signs of its age and has fallen into disrepair—wallpaper is already peeling off the walls, the pool had turned into a swamp—despite the efforts of its caretakers. It is such a shame that we are slowly losing another piece of history and perhaps thanks to the neglect and lack of funding from the government.
We do hope that we could still save whatever’s left of the Malacañan of the North before it’s too late.

the house

A Lost Art

One of Vigan, Ilocos Sur’s traditional crafts, the burnay jars are still made to this day the traditional way by adept potters. Each jar is shaped on a wheel almost in no time at all, as seen in this video. Each jar is then baked in a kiln dug from out from the earth.