Esoteric Survey

Hotel Il Palazzo by Aldo Rossi and Morris Adjmi (1989) with the original interior design by Shigeru Uchida. Located in Fukuoka, Japan. Uchida was actually commissioned to design the hotel and called on Rossi to do the architectural design while Uchida did the interior.   It's a post-modern icon and is seen as one of Rossi's most important projects.  Here is the original 1989 design by Shigeru Uchida.   Photo: Nacása & Partners Inc The hotel has changed hands at least couple times over the years. The original furniture was sold off long ago and for very cheap according to a collector friend in Japan.   Photo: Nacása & Partners Inc This is what one of the original Japanese style rooms looked like. All the rooms are western style rooms now as far as I know.  Photo: Nacása & Partners Inc The latest redesign was done by Uchida Design Studio in 2021, since Uchida passed away  in 2016. It's great that they went back to his firm. ...

Craft geek stuff  Richard Mills from the Artist-Foundary Movement that was happening in San Jose in the 1960s. Dave Hampton wrote a book about it: Pouring Metal in the South Bay Lamps Alvar Aalto stools Sottsass, Peter Shire and a metal Raymor vase Japanese things

   The William H. and Barbara Kaiser Levit House (1961) by Richard Neutra is the setting for the fourth BLAKEHAUS, curated by Peter Blake Gallery.  As described by the gallery, BLAKEHAUS BEVERLY HILLS is a site-specific installation traversing the disciplines of art, design, and architecture, bringing historically significant modern design and museum-quality contemporary art into dialogue with Neutra's geometric architectural sensibilities. Willy Guhl Scarpa, Angelo Mangiarotti and Pierre Laporte A classic Neutra fireplace KEM Weber Percival Lafer Ettore Sottsass and Carlo Mollino Sculpture by  Stephanie Bachiero The site is pretty incredible. The wildfires in LA were still burning when I was there so the view that day was eerily smokey. However, on a clear day, the San Gabriel mountains can be seen on one side, the skyline of downtown LA on another side and the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the poolside of the house. I remembered the name William Levitt a...

  This was my first weekend out shopping in the new year.  Bauhaus dishes by Isamu Kenmochi They were sold at Pottery Barn and similar retailers in the late 1970s and 80's. Bloomingdale bags by Ettore Sottsass and Sergio Baradat In 1979, John Jay Senior Art Director of Men’s and Home Furnishings and then Creative Director of Bloomingdale’s advertising and design, launched an art bag series. Michael Graves and Neville Brody also designed bags for the series. More about it at The Daily Heller . More books

I haven't heard all that much about the Brooklyn Museum (although they are getting some flack as of late). In fact, a few people who live in New York mentioned they have never been to the museum when I posted some pictures on Instagram. It was well worth the trip. Museum Spotlight: Mid-Century Decorative Arts and Design is a current exhibition taking place. There are many examples by designers you would expect, like Eames and Nelson. However, as you'll see, the museum's collection is pretty interesting and includes a wide range of more obscure names. The age old question. Natzler Aalto, Eames and Mollino Japanese Modern:  Ubunji Kidokoro and Sori Yanagi. Kind of a missed opportunity not to display the Aalto next to the Kidokoro chair if you ask me. After all, that's what Perriand did.  More about that here .  Gerrit Rietveld The POMO and Contemporary section Sottsass There is an Art Deco room you can peer into.  My favorite part of the museum is the Luce Visible S...