LOGIFACES - Concrete puzzle designed by architects

LOGIFACES is a new puzzle made of concrete that is a great decoration for a home or office with a challenge from the world of 3D modeling.  It’s a unique mix of digital and analogue design, touching on a very current subject about how the ever digitalizing world effects our everyday lives and aesthetic.  Concrete in interior design has been an emerging trend for a few years, but this idea puts a spin on it by making the concept into a game.

LOGIFACES is a set of 16 prisms, each with different top angles, hand-poured from concrete. There is only one rule to the game: Create a form by placing the prisms next to each other to form a continuous surface.

The 16­piece set contains 11 different types of prisms, each of them identifiable by the height of their three vertices. For those who love puzzles, this concept might be familiar from the world of contemporary games like color­ or number­coded versions of LOGIFACES, or even ancient toys like Tangram. But LOGIFACES is a whole new experience by creating these challenges in the 3D world. The simple rule of only putting matching heights next to each other is an opportunity for many situations to play LOGIFACES. Some prefer to use it to let go of everyday stress alone, some find that it helps them develop their creative thinking skills by figuring out solutions to given forms like the equilateral triangle, and some like to tackle this challenge with a group, even competing in the speed of solving the game. And for experienced gamers, there’s the most advanced challenged: figuring out the exact number of solutions to a given form. What might seem like a simple game at first glance, turns out to keep busy everyone at all ages.

Though the first designs were created for a set made of wood, the inventors’ accidental meeting with the VPI Hungarian Concrete Manufactory gave them the idea of using one of the up­and­coming materials of contemporary design. The new material just gave the game that special finish it needed to capture the essence of the concept. Thus taking the LOGIFACES puzzle experience to a new level with its different touch and mass. The specialty of the game lies in the special recipe and the Manufactory that pours, grinds and polishes each set by hand, making each set unique. With this recipe, they offer the concrete sets in three different colors: Marble White, Basalt Grey and Charcoal Black. Packaging was also important in creating the best experience, especially because LOGIFACES is not only a toy, it’s also great for decorating a home or office, when you’re not playing with it. That’s how the idea came up to create a box, that allows users to see the essence of the game even when it’s packed in the box.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Info and images courtesy of Logifaces

LOGIFACES - Concrete puzzle designed by architects

Daniele Di Martino - Join (Original Mix)

Daniele Di Martino - Join (Original Mix)

Volatevia shelves by Livia Chisari

Perfect to optimize space with sophistication and creativity Volatevia shelves are made of bent metal sheets, very simple to fix to the wall. A creative and original solution, perfect at the entrance as empty pockets, in a living room as original bookshelf, in the bathroom and even in the bedroom instead of the nightstand. It is available in three different colors: white to create shadow tricks on the wall, in the green recalling springtime or in yellow, for the autumn nostalgic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Info and images © Formabilio

Volatevia shelves by Livia Chisari

konstantin kofta

The Kiev-based label of designer  Konstantin Kofta blends seemingly opposing elements outside the traditional canons of the fashion industry, with garments and wearable accessories that evoke sensuality and surrealism while maintaining their functionality.

“BORN”- Imagine water as the solemn foundation of our existence in our world ever so in turmoil. Touched by perennial elements, our water dries up and consequently deforms and destroys the ground, leaving behind patches of eradicated and polyhedral soil. Yet, with the death of one surface, others are born, allowing water to give meaning and energy to our continuous lifecycle. It is in this infinity of life, where KOFTA finds it inspiration for this SS13 collection. Inspired by the existence of natural phenomena and natural transitions, all garments were carefully crafted in the hidden Ukrainian design studio, enveloped by the pure serenity of time. Henceforth, a clear reference is suggested to the erection of the human spine, which evolved as a natural reaction to the raging elements, to strengthen us and develop us into independent, spiritual and conscious beings. It is this transition of materials and anatomy, which inspired this collection, presented by KOFTA for SS13.

 

 

“ROOTS” – When you are overfilled with information, emotions and words so you might need quietness, clarity of thoughts and space for fitting it all in your further ambient perception. You are able to feel deeply this veritable perception just with poring over the core, the origins of the story, going back to the roots, to one’s eternal sense. Is about revealing the answers without even thinking, just contemplating around with a great silence…To feel the truth and verity of origin indeed. Verity is the information which lies inside you from the beginning and always stays there. It is exactly what brings you back to the life.

 

 

 

 

 

“HUG” – From birth, We try to stand up and take our first steps. We yearn to touch and be touched and to feel sensations for the first time. We can perceive objects with an unclogged consciousness. Pure perception without comparison . We know nothing other than that which we can see and feel… Spirit does not have form, but some forms can have spirit, vibration does not have a color but color can have vibration, mood does not have a texture, but textures can have a mood. In this collection we focus for the first time more on feelings than just on physical forms And we have created forms, colors and textures according to these sensations…

 

 

All Images & text © Konstantin Kofta

 

konstantin kofta

M68 Apartment by Widawscy Studio Architektury

Residents of the apartment are people who value simplicity, good design, high quality materials and courageous designs arranged. Three-level apartment occupies more than 120 m2 and is located in the center of Sosnowiec. Presented interior relates to the first level of the apartment where there is an open living space that allows residents and their guests to spend time together. The biggest challenge for the architects was to organize in a narrow interior attractive entrance area. The functional bookcase, which acts as a castellated “wall” separating the entrance area from the daily space. A form of stairs hidden inside a spacious wardrobe and shoes.

Minimalist white kitchen in the form of an annex was decorate with plates in black and white geometric patterns and rolled lacquered legs – accent from a distant era. The architects decided for a such contrasting statement of forms and patterns to give the interior an intriguing character. Because of a combination of monochromatic colors, various shapes, furniture and materials space is not monotonous. Glass elements and lacquered furniture surfaces used in the interior visually enlarge the space and give it elegance. Three-dimensional, black wallpaper introduced into the interior another structure and gives to interior a cozy, as well as class and style.

The interior of the apartment has many roomy cabinets, eg. In the black furniture wall of the kitchen or under the stairs. Just behind the openwork shelf is the entrance to a small bathroom. Its interior is also an example of a monochromatic play of textures and patterns – patterned floor , raw concrete, black lacquered MDF or mirror. White, free-standing sink looks great against the mirrors and patterned floor. The architects used a few accents in the interior, which gave to it a character of photo studio. On the walls there are pictures of famous photographers and next the sofa there is stylized floor lamp inspired of studios lamps. On the next level in the area of communication was organized recreation space with a TV and comfortable armchairs. The walls of the corridor are finished with graphic, white-gray wallpaper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Info and images © Widawscy Studio Architektury

M68 Apartment by Widawscy Studio Architektury

Apartment Building by C. A. Doxiadis and Divercity Architects

Divercity Architects: ‘One Athens Apartment Building, currently under construction, is a conversion of a well known 1950s landmark, originally designed by Constantinos Doxiadis, one of the leading figures of modern Greek architecture. Located in the foothills of Mount Lycabettus, the site was also the headquarters of Doxiadis and home to Athen’s technological institute and first computer. One Athens will be a luxury housing complex consisting of 4 multi-storey buildings containing 26 lofts, apartments, duplexes, penthouses, and townhouses.’

‘The key idea is to keep the volume of the original building, where the modular grid, based on the programme of the office building is updated to include three different materials, distinguishing levels of privacy needed for the diverse programme of a housing complex. Private areas are covered in opaque panels of concrete. Translucent concrete is used for the mid-zones- interactive shadows create a theatre of movement by the inhabitation of the space. Glass is used extensively to make the most of the show-stopping views of the Acropolis on one side and of Mount Lycabettus on the other.’

‘The ground floor is dedicated to communal amenities, including a gym and spa, swimming pool and children’s play area. An exhibition space dedicated to Constantinos Doxiadis’ work and the history of the building welcomes the public into the marble-clad atrium. Original features are retained to preserve this iconic landmark, including the fountain that marked the ancient source of the Iridanos river. The apartments retain key existing features such as the exposed ceiling and concrete framework. These are combined with new elements, such as the herringbone wood floor and the minimal window frames, which reference the architectural features of housing complexes of the modern movement of the 50’s and 60’s, and bought up to date with contemporary finishes.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Images © One Athens (Nikos Daniilidis)

Apartment Building by C. A. Doxiadis and Divercity Architects