by Leslie Long

Julius Shulman and Juergen Nogai, Sunnylands, A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons, 1966,

photo 2007, © Juergen Nogai, courtesy Palm Springs Art Museum.

With its wealth of midcentury architecture, one could argue that every week in Palm Springs, California is modernism week. But mid-February brings back what’s become an anticipated yearly tradition — when this stylishly retro town celebrates everything modern.

Modernism Week is an event-filled 11-day celebration of mid-century modern design, architecture and culture. On center stage is the design aesthetic that took hold in the area during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. It’s a look that’s is defined by clean, simple lines which came to define desert modernism.

Modernism Week is filled with a variety of events including architectural tours, films, lectures, an architectural symposium and educational events — along with a cool parties in mid-century modern homes.

Among the highlights of this year’s offerings are tours of Sunnylands, the former Annenberg Estate in Rancho Mirage, recently opened to the public. Frank Sinatra’s original Palm Springs home, Twin Palms is also open for self-guided tours in all its Rat Pack glory. Take a look at the full list of events.

There’s two in Europe (Denmark and England) and now there will be one in Carlsbad, California: a LEGOland Hotel. Don’t worry, the place won’t be built out of LEGO’s – at least not the whole thing.

The hotel, complete with a dragon-guarded entrance is slated to open in early April of next year right outside the LEGOland theme park and will feature “interactive LEGO features, themed play areas, family pool and kid’s entertainment,” according to LEGO’s website. The 250 rooms at California’s LEGOland Hotel will all have a theme: Pirate, Kingdom, or Adventure.

The hotel is aimed at housing families who are in town to visit the LEGOland theme park, each room has two sleeping areas, one with a queen-sized bed and the other with sleeping spaces for up to three kids. After all, it’s hard to beat a brand extension you can sleep in.

Continue reading “LEGO Expands Business With U.S.A. Hotel” »

If Colonel Norman Macalister returned to the capitol of the island he governed 200 years ago, he’d be in for a surprise. Formerly a British shipping port, Penang’s George Town is now a vibrant international metropolis that proudly displays its English, Chinese, Indian and native Malaysian influences. A UNESCO World Heritage Site city, George Town strives to strike a balance between past and future, preserving its heritage buildings as it continues to develop into a vital center of industry and tourism. Experience this unique combination for yourself at Macalister Mansion, a quirky and sophisticated lifestyle destination that nods both to Penang’s colonial past and to its colorful present. Continue reading “Malaysia’s 100-Year Old Macalister Mansion” »

One mirror by itself is just a shiny surface. But bring many mirrors together, and the result is a multifaceted, seemingly infinite series of reflections that changes every time you look. Visit Kiev today, and the experience might be similar. The bustling Ukrainian capital is a fairytale city of onion domes and frescoes, a progressive center of science and education, a hub of business and economics, and a highly desirable culture and leisure destination. Experience every facet of modern Kiev at the city’s first and only design hotel, 11 Mirrors.

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This modern “2 Verandas House” in Erlenbach, Switzerland, was designed by Gus Wustemann Architects with some very unique features, namely its two verandas (hence the name), no windows, and wonderfully complex interiors that tempt further exploration.

Continue reading ““2 Verandas House” Of Erlenbach, Switzerland” »

While most new builds are being crammed onto their sites, stretching every last inch to the max, this modern house by Studio MK27 located in Sao Paolo, Brazil is scaled to its site here in this densely populated region. From the street, the V4 House all but disappears from view, thanks to its low profile design. The V4 House has been nominated for a prize in the 2012 World Architecture Festival.

Continue reading “Sao Paulo’s V4 House” »

In honor of South African politician Nelson Mandela and to mark the 50th anniversary of his arrest by the apartheid police, artist Marco Cianfanelli was commissioned to produce a sculpture to stand in Howick, South Africa, on the exact unassuming spot that he was captured. The installation consists of 50 steel columns which symbolize the prison bars that held him for 27 years. When viewed from the right angle, the quietly powerful sculpture forms a profile portrait of Mandela.

The creation of an aqua leisure center provided an opportunity to organize the region around these new facilities that are the pride of Arras. The center is placed so as to be seen from the bridge that spans the river Scarpe, the new entryway into the city.

The pleasures and playfulness of water were the guiding principle for an aqua leisure center that is at once modern and rooted in tradition. From ancient baths to modern spas, water is present in all of its forms: as a means for exercise, family recreational activities and well-being.

Continue reading “The Aqua Leisure Center in Val de Scarpe” »

While preserving two of the city’s most iconic buildings, QT Sydney is destined to become a new landmark by reviving a rich and colorful past of theatre and retail. Set within the historic Gowings department store and heritage-listed State Theatre in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, the surrounding area is brimming with culture, art, fashion, cuisine and design, while still being within easy reach of sandy beaches. With stars from stage and screen having performed in the State Theatre over the past 80 years, and the classic retail of the Gowings department store, the QT Sydney captures the intrigue and excitement of the past in an edgy, contemporary design style.

Continue reading “Australia’s QT Sydney Hotel” »