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| fruit bat (current home The Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney) © decoro creativity 2011 |
Where ever you are hanging out this weekend, have a good one.
Friday, March 4, 2011
hanging around?
Where ever you are hanging out this weekend, have a good one.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
monkey island
Like many boys, my son choose a pirate theme for his party. As a party does not happen without invitations, I set to work on a few sketches for them, and went with this.
We had already got a 'Happy Birthday' banner with a monkey on, so Monkey Island had to be the party island for all these young pirates. The finished invites were washed over with paint to give an aged look and painted (unfortunately, I did not make any spares nor did I take a pic of the finished invitation to show you).
The same design was applied to the cake.
Then one sunny day the pirates arrived, played their pirate games, found pirate treasure, ate a pirate's feast and of course some pirate cake.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
We had already got a 'Happy Birthday' banner with a monkey on, so Monkey Island had to be the party island for all these young pirates. The finished invites were washed over with paint to give an aged look and painted (unfortunately, I did not make any spares nor did I take a pic of the finished invitation to show you).
The same design was applied to the cake.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
Thursday, February 24, 2011
something old, something new & everything blue
Did you know that blue is the most favoured colour in the world?
It is a colour that is with us where ever we are - just look upwards and even if you can't see it today, you know that it is there behind the clouds. You can go swimming or diving in it, sailing on it or just watch the tide come in. In the right shades it has a calming, soothing and relaxing nature. How could you not love blue when it is such a part of our everyday life?
What something blue did you enjoy today...
It is a colour that is with us where ever we are - just look upwards and even if you can't see it today, you know that it is there behind the clouds. You can go swimming or diving in it, sailing on it or just watch the tide come in. In the right shades it has a calming, soothing and relaxing nature. How could you not love blue when it is such a part of our everyday life?
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| a few years ago in the waters of Fiji © decoro creativity 2011 |
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| a past creation designed and made © decoro creativity 2011 |
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| a creation made this week © decoro creativity 2011 |
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| another creation this week © decoro creativity 2011 |
What something blue did you enjoy today...
Friday, February 18, 2011
inspiration: harry seidler
They are many places to find inspiration. What to do with that inspiration can sometimes come quickly, other times there can be many steps of development to not only come up with a design, but where and what it can be applied to.
Having in mind that Seidler like to connected the indoors with views to the outdoors, as was the case at Rose Seidler House which has large floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the bush, the product subject to the design became curtains.
He like to incorporate art to his buildings, so the aim was that the curtains could be seen in some small way be seen as a piece of art.
His commercial work were many high-rise buildings, I wanted to portray this grandeur of tallness.
I'm particularly fond of Australia Square in Sydney, and have lovely memories of taking my parents to the revolving restaurant at the top, which of course has some wonder views. I also am partial to patterns, so the lines from the window frames and waffle slab ceiling leapt out at me.
Image by roryrory via Flickr
Turning these lines 180° created the pattern for the curtains. The heading was kept simple and helped to emphasis the lines to create the tallness.
Taking it several steps further can lead to a design that can be difficult to recognised from the original inspiration. The curtains kept to the straightness of the lines, in this design those lines became more fluid and playing with colour creates new patterns within the design.
Don't you find it amazing that the same inspiration can result in drastically different results?
Have a good weekend.
Having in mind that Seidler like to connected the indoors with views to the outdoors, as was the case at Rose Seidler House which has large floor to ceiling windows looking out onto the bush, the product subject to the design became curtains.
He like to incorporate art to his buildings, so the aim was that the curtains could be seen in some small way be seen as a piece of art.
His commercial work were many high-rise buildings, I wanted to portray this grandeur of tallness.
I'm particularly fond of Australia Square in Sydney, and have lovely memories of taking my parents to the revolving restaurant at the top, which of course has some wonder views. I also am partial to patterns, so the lines from the window frames and waffle slab ceiling leapt out at me.
Image by roryrory via FlickrTurning these lines 180° created the pattern for the curtains. The heading was kept simple and helped to emphasis the lines to create the tallness.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
Taking it several steps further can lead to a design that can be difficult to recognised from the original inspiration. The curtains kept to the straightness of the lines, in this design those lines became more fluid and playing with colour creates new patterns within the design.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
Have a good weekend.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
incredible journeys: harry seidler (part 2)
The start of the journey click here
His designs were always forward looking. He thought that trying to preserve historical buildings on the facades, with modernism behind did not do justice to either element.
Australia Square, Sydney Image via Wikipedia
Walking around the centre of Sydney the first 3 principles can be recognised in many of his buildings.
From researching Seidler's work this lead to inspiration, which will be the subject of another post later this week.
His designs were always forward looking. He thought that trying to preserve historical buildings on the facades, with modernism behind did not do justice to either element.
He won his first of five Sulman Medals (for outstanding architectural achievement) for this house. Soon he had many requests to design more houses, leading him to stay and add significantly to the Australian architecture landscape over a 50 year period.
The biggest impact he had was on the Sydney skyline – Blues Point Tower, Australia Square, MLC Centre, Grosvenor Place, Capita Centre, The Horizon, The Cove, Meriton Tower.
Australia Square, Sydney Image via WikipediaHe broke new ground with Australia Square at 170m, completed in 1967. With new techniques, each of the 50 stories took just 5 days to put up: no scaffolding, light weight concrete. New design principles included:
- The tower taking up just 25% of the site area, with the remaining public social outdoor areas
- Large open foyer
- Integrated art work
Walking around the centre of Sydney the first 3 principles can be recognised in many of his buildings.
From researching Seidler's work this lead to inspiration, which will be the subject of another post later this week.
Monday, February 14, 2011
you don't need roses
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
Let today remind you of the love - not just of the people around you, or that special person in you life but also of the world you live in.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
We could not live without them both - maybe that is why food and love go together so well?
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
Of course a bit of candle light always helps create a romantic setting.
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| © decoro creativity 2011 |
and remember, you don't have to wait 365 days until you again do something wild and extravagant, or a small gesture in the name of love.
Friday, February 11, 2011
incredible journeys: harry seidler (part 1)
Next month marks 5 years since the passing of the great architect Harry Seidler. Today we look back at his incredible journey that brought him to Australia.
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| Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga, NSW Australia |
Born in Austria, as a young boy building work caught his imagination. During the Second World War he was sent to England where he studied building and construction. He attended Harvard and another place in America, where he studied under and was greatly influenced by Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, former Bauhaus teachers Marcel Breuer and Josef Albers. The space in America was also a key influence in his designs.
His parent emigrated to Sydney, but he was reluctant to join them. When his mother, Rose, asked the 24 year old Harry to design and build their home, it was an offer he could not refuse.
He brought the Bauhaus philosophy fully for the first time to an Australian residence. The Rose Seidler House (1948-1950 in Wahroonga) was a design not seen before, challenging many conventions and had several firsts. His input was in all areas, they were part of his design! The furniture (including pieces by Charles Eames), furnishing, artwork, he decided what they would be and where they would be placed. Most items were also new to Australia, either they were imported with him or custom made locally.
He brought the Bauhaus philosophy fully for the first time to an Australian residence. The Rose Seidler House (1948-1950 in Wahroonga) was a design not seen before, challenging many conventions and had several firsts. His input was in all areas, they were part of his design! The furniture (including pieces by Charles Eames), furnishing, artwork, he decided what they would be and where they would be placed. Most items were also new to Australia, either they were imported with him or custom made locally.
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Grasshopper chair in main bedroom, Rose Seidler House
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Seidler said he had no particular style over his career, rather the design evolved to embrace the elements of:
- Social Use
- Technology
- Aesthetic Expression
All of his 3 elements can be seen in the Rose Seidler House: Breuer influenced flexible open plan living areas (the scene of many social gatherings); modern labour saving devices (especially in the kitchen); connected the indoors with views to the outdoors; artwork (all Josef Albers) as an integral part, including his focal mural using the bold colours seen throughout the house.
Rose Seidler House has been maintained as Harry envisioned it by the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, open to the public at 71 Clissold Road Wahoroonga On Sundays (10am to 5pm)
Harry Seidler's incredible journey continues in part 2
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