P A W S O F F

Black, white and animal themed you say? Don't you just love it when you find all your favourite things combined together? These don't really look like the most practical items ever, but actually who cares when they're that pretty. You can find them (and lots of other cuteasabutton products) here.

A - L I S T E D

Since its heyday as the stomping ground of Glasgow’s aristocracy, this art deco building suffered an untimely fall from grace. Fortunately, Surface ID were on hand to restore it to its former glory.

When it opened its doors in 1913, the Hillhead Picture Salon was one of the first suburban cinemas in the city. Showcasing a full orchestra, handsome furnishings and 'the best pictures the world can supply', it was an extremely popular venue amongst the West End elite. The exposed concrete structure offset with belle èpoque plasterwork was a marvel, and an early example of the ‘Hennebique Ferroconcrete System’ – a method of strengthening concrete with iron and the predecessor of reinforced concrete construction commonplace today. Sadly, the glory days couldn’t last forever and dwindling numbers finally forced the cinema to close its doors for good in 1992.

Fast forward eighteen years, and after several disastrous refurbishments in the noughties that saw the balcony walled up and the ornate ceiling hidden from view, the former cinema building is back to its glorious best. Redesigned by Glasgow based Surface-ID as a restaurant and bar, the renamed Hillhead Book Club reads like a rule book for smart restoration. Entering through the glitzy canopy scattered with tiny fairy lights, and passing by the patio with its assortment of furniture, the Book Club is already looking pretty special. Inside, the magnificent architecture once again takes centre stage, but the crisp, formal whites of years gone past are replaced with softer mushrooms and taupes that echo the faded elegance of the old building. Grungy, pseudo vintage wallpaper is used to soften the elaborate plasterwork, while dark mahogany pews and gently glowing light fittings bring unexpected warmth.

In classic Surface ID style, a few bold choices help to launch the interior into the contemporary. The most obvious is the double height, wood panel partition that splits the room in half, creating quiet, intimate nooks behind it and a focal point for those at the bar in front. Adorning it, in the centre of the hall is the pièce de résistance - an illuminated moose head that pretty much embodies the quirky, off the wall nature of the Book Club. Leaping between eras, medieval banquet tables are clashed with steam punk light fittings, and a gramophone sits proudly at the bar amongst an old-school projector and shabby suitcases. The result is a haphazard jigsaw puzzle of eras and ages, that collectively form a pretty picture, an apt tribute if ever there was one. (Pictures: Surface ID)

H I G H L A N D B L I N G

With its weathered appearance and classic narrow plan, Rural Design’s proposal for a family home on the Isle of Skye has all the hallmarks of traditional Highland architecture.

The Longhouse is probably described best in the words of the architect himself, as a lesson in ‘complicated simplicity’. It adheres to Highland practice of being small and contour hugging, and with its muted palette of greys and browns, it still fits in with the local vernacular. What prevents this home from becoming a simple Skye cottage however, is in the manner in which it seamlessly combines tradition and high tech, creating a new typology. Cumbersome materials like stone and thatch are discarded, and replaced with a quick to assemble timber frame, super insulated walls and locally sourced cladding.  Solar gain is maximised, and utilised alongside an air source heat pump, heat recovery and ventilation system which give the house enviable eco credentials. It is a format that Skye architects Rural Design have become masters of in recent years. 

For the most part, the house reflects the classic open-plan layout of a Scottish longhouse. A vast living, dining, and kitchen area dominates the front of the house, with a central fire forming the heart of the home. Two bedrooms, bathrooms and a small study complete the modest program.  What sets it apart from tradition are the contemporary touches, that include the optimistically named sun room to the rear, and the sizeable mezzanine level that overlooks the living area. Another highlight is the projecting window which punctuates the front of the house, breaking the classical form and extending the living area considerably. The panoramic views of the surrounding countryside are not to be sniffed at either!  

 Externally, the house is clad with weathered larch, which reflects the colours of both the sea and sky. Already fading to a silvery grey, the wood is testament to the stormy conditions the house has to withstand. A corrugated metal roof and a modern take on a lean to are clever touches, and help to create a dialogue between the house and the farm buildings and sheds native to the area. Openings in the building’s shell are perfectly in tune with the surroundings, and connect the house with magnificent views of Loch Dunvegan, the Western Isles and the jagged outline of the Cuillin mountain range. If we need a reminder about keeping it simple, this is most definitely it.  (Pictures: Rural Design)

D O T D

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I'm always the first person to get irritated around Easter time, when Daybreak presenters and the trash magazines start saying things like 'egg-cellent', 'eggs-citing and 'eggs-actly', but OMG I have to say it - this light cracks me up! Please indulge me. The fact that it's called an Omlamp just seals the deal.

D O T D : S E C O N D N A T U R E

My favourite buildings fall, without fail, into two categories. The most instantaneous of these is striking, quirky architecture - the visual type that’s full of bright colours, weird shapes and cleverly reworked forms and that make you gasp in amazement. I have these moments on design websites all the time, with Will Alsop, OMA, MVRDV, Herzog and De Meuron typically being the guilty parties. I love them all. 

The other type of architecture is near enough the polar opposite: evocative, poetic architecture that is totally stripped back and more to do with the feeling of a space rather than anything it contains. Peter Zumthor is the reigning master of this type of design. It’s not something I’ve really blogged about as yet, as I don’t tend to come across buildings like that too often, and I guess if you’re not into architecture the buildings may not be as accessible, or then again perhaps more so. 

This one that I’ve found is a great example. It’s by an Architect I’ve never heard of, in a place I’ve never been, and at first glance I even couldn’t tell you what it’s used for, but somehow the design and context just fit – like the building has always, or was always supposed to be there. It’s so understated and effortless. It’s supposedly inspired by the notion of a roman road, which I think speaks volumes about the timeless quality the building possesses. It's called 'Museu da Geira Romans' and is by Carvalho Araújo in Gerês, Portugal.
 

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D O T D : A R M S C H A I R

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Yes I am posting about yet another chair. What of it? This one - naturally called the Arms Chair - has been designed by Oleksandr Shestakovych and would sit very well with the Mr and Mrs Chair that I've already bought in my head.  

D O T D : P U Z Z L E

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Oh my goodness I just can’t keep up with the design world! I’ve seen so many things over the weekend that I’d like to blog about but I’ve had no time whatsoever. And all the spare moments I’ve had have been spent watching the wonderful tennis. Did anyone see Andy Murray win at Queens this afternoon? I sneakily watched it in the office, hiding behind my computer!  

I saw this lovely little table earlier, which I think reminds me subliminally of my current mood (not quite with it). I should explain. It’s called Missing Pieces, and is made up, unsurprisingly, of all the missing pieces from hundreds of jigsaw puzzles. Designed by Rupert McKelvie, it reflects the notion of creating something of worth with objects that would otherwise be redundant, which is a nice idea. It’s recycling at its best!

D O T D

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Ok so today's Design of the Day is ever so slightly off topic, in that it's not anything to do with architecture! It's a one off, I promise! I just think it should be mentioned as it's the reason I haven't been blogging as much as I should because I've been stressing about it. I'm attempting to make myself a costume for a party, and this is the challenge I have set myself. The theme is under the sea, which I think is actually pretty difficult, unless you want to go as the Little Mermaid! ( I have heard that Ursula is going to be there, so I'm V excited about that!) So, last week at work whilst I was 'researching' images of jellyfish, crabs, shrimp, and any other sea creatures I could think off, I came across a pic of Gaga sporting a lobster and that was me sold. Easy, I thought, all I need is a plastic lobster and some spray paint. Hmmm, quite.

So,yesterday I received my lovely red lobster through the post and last night I spray painted, glittered glue-ed and diamanted my little heart out. The result is semi-decent, which is a relief as I was having doubts about the whole outfit. Now I'm left with the impossible task of getting it on my head, as it's actually quite heavy. I'm thinking wire coathanger...? I'm also going to try and do the dress out of the polythene or whatever I can pick up in B&Q later today. I will be wearing slightly more clothes though, rest assured! The last thing is the hair. My hair is blonde already, but I've bought some lovely yellow spray for the underneath parts. I just don't know if (as my hair is highlighted already) the colour will stay in permanently. Does anyone know? I really don't want to be sporting out-of-date Gaga locks on a permanent basis!   

D O T D : M O M E N T O M O R I

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If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, right? Not so for Pool, who have given the ubiquitous white garden chair that we all know and love a bit of an emo makeover. Cheerily entitled ‘Souviens toi que tu vas mourir’ which translates as ‘remember that you will die’, the chair is supposed to remind us of our own mortality, and the fragility of life. Not exactly a hot topic of conversation at the average garden party I would imagine! In spite of its gloomy nature I really like it, and kudos to the designers for making a basic object a little bit cooler.