Portable Melt Lamps by Tom Dixon. Image courtesy of Tom Dixon…
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Now You Can Take Tom Dixon’s Lamps On the Go
The mesmeric Melt Pendant has become one of Tom Dixon’s most recognizable fixtures since debuting nearly a decade ago. Designed in collaboration with Swedish studio Front, the blown-glass luminaire resembles a melted orb and emits a hallucinogenic glow thanks to its mirror-finish effect. The fixture is now available as a table lamp thanks to Dixon releasing the battery-powered Portable range, which also includes his Bell and Stone collections. “No longer do we want to be tethered to a fixed desk or power outlet, so increasingly we want our light to move with us,” Dixon says. Each lamp combines battery power with low-energy LEDs, offering nine hours of power with each charge. Each comes with dimmable settings, making them ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. —Ryan Waddoups
MVRDV and LOLA Landscape Architects have unveiled the Grüne Mitte development in Düsseldorf, Germany, which emphasizes community involvement and sustainability. The project aims to introduce 500 new apartments and community spaces, with approximately 50 percent designated as social or affordable housing. A community input process resulted in a design centered around a central green space that reduces paved areas and promotes biodiversity. The community also influenced the inclusion of sustainable elements such as cross-laminated timber flooring, photovoltaic panels, green roofs, and urban mining for recycling.
König Galerie is set to open a new branch in Mexico City on February 5, marking its first presence in the Americas. Collector Corina Krawinkel, an equal partner with dealer Johann König, will be the director of the Mexico branch, located in the vibrant creative neighborhood of La Condesa. The inaugural exhibition, titled “Surreal Surroundings,” will feature young artists from Mexico City and explore Surrealism’s impact on the region in the 1930s and ‘40s. Krawinkel envisions creating a gallery with an intimate, home-like atmosphere reminiscent of old-fashioned salons where artists and intellectuals exchanged ideas.
FKA Twigs for Calvin Klein. Image by Mert and Marcus…
FKA Twigs denounces “double standards” after her Calvin Klein ad is banned in Britain.
Calvin Klein’s ad campaign featuring FKA twigs was recently banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for presenting her as a “stereotypical sexual object.” The artist and singer criticized the decision on Instagram, highlighting what she perceived as double standards in advertising. The ASA ruling came nine months after receiving two complaints about the campaign, which also featured Kendall Jenner. FKA twigs argued that she is not a “stereotypical sexual object” and noted discrepancies in how similar campaigns are treated. The controversy brings attention to the portrayal of women in advertising and the differing standards applied to male and female models in provocative campaigns.
Startup hospitality brand Not a Hotel has unveiled a collaborative residential project with Danish firm Bjarke Ingels Group on Sagishima Island that integrates into the island’s topography with a curved scheme that embraces the landscape’s contours. Not a Hotel offers vacation villas for rent, promoting a departure from traditional hotels and focusing on shared usage among members to minimize waste. Previous projects include Sou Fujimoto’s green villa on Okinawa’s Ishigaki Island and the Suppose Design Office-designed steel residential project, Masterpiece.
Elton John is auctioning off items from his former penthouse residence in Atlanta, with Christie’s estimating the collection to bring in around $10 million. The auction includes items like Elton John’s Yamaha conservatory grand piano, Julian Schnabel’s portrait of him, and a Banksy painting. The decision to sell the items was prompted by the sale of their Atlanta residence for more than $7.2 million, giving John and his husband, David Furnish, a chance to consolidate their collection of artworks and mementos. The auction offers items with various price points, and it marks the first time a selection from his collection has headed to auction since 2003.
Gush’s rebrand by Pentagram. Image courtesy of Gush…
