LAVA to launch giant digital origami tigers to celebrate 2010 Chinese New Year

shearyadi — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:04:21 +0000

Two giant digital origami tigers will playfully celebrate Chinese New Year on the forecourt of Customs House, Sydney from 11 February – 14 March 2010.

The crouching digital tigers fuse ancient lantern making methods with cutting edge digital design and fabrication technology, bringing east and west together through tradition and innovation.

Commissioned by Customs House to raise awareness about the endangered status of tigers in this the Year of the Tiger, giant origami tigers were designed by multinational architectural practice Laboratory for Visionary Architecture (LAVA).

The tigers are inspired by “zhezhi”, a Chinese term for paper folding, more popularly known by its Japanese name “origami”. The Chinese or Lunar New Year is the most important Chinese holiday and starts with a Lantern Festival.

The tigers are the size of a truck at 2.5 metres high and 7 metres long yet weigh only 200kgs and use fully recyclable materials, aluminium and barrisol. Low energy LED lighting brings the sculptures to life.

Apart from raising awareness for animal rights and extinct species the project continues LAVA’s mission in lightweight structures to build MORE WITH LESS.

“We also believe that humour belongs to architecture, too, and so the tigers are playing soccer to kick off the FIFA world cup starting later this year,” said Chris Bosse, Australian director of LAVA.

“The design concept for the giant tigers evolved from digital origami Tasmanian tigers that we developed with architecture students in Launceston last year. These thylacines took over Tasmania during the Ten days on the Island Festival and then turned up in Malaysia as part of the inaugural KL Design Week last May.”

About LAVA

Founded in 2007 with offices in Sydney, Stuttgart and Abu Dhabi. LAVA won the international competition for the city centre of Masdar in UAE, the world’s first eco city; recently completed the Michael Schumacher World Champion Tower, an ultra-luxury residential tower in Abu Dhabi; the Future Hotel Showcase suite in Germany; an architectural installation Green Void, runner up at the 2009 AA|FAB Awards, Architectural Association UK; the Sherman Bibliotheca at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation, Sydney; and the set for the 2009 Vodaphone MTV awards in Sydney.

Giant Digital Origami Tigers

11 February – 14 March 2010
Customs House
1 Alfred Street, Circular Quay
For more information:
www.l-a-v-a.net
www.sydneycustomshouse.com.au

LAVA LABORATORY FOR VISIONARY ARCHITECTURE

72 Campbell Street Surry Hills
Sydney NSW 2010 Australia
PH: +61 2 92801475
Email: bosse@l-a-v-a.net

John Kelly’s delicate angles furniture, the RHO series

shearyadi — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:10:48 +0000

Introducing John Kelly’s Rho Series, a collection of contemporary furnishing that is a perfect high-tech solution for any outdoor space.

Rho also translates as creative female power; and means fruitfulness, vegetative growth, adaptability and fluidity.

The Rho Series consists of lounge chair, dining arm chair, round/square table and chaise lounge included with tray table.

Available in ten different colors that offers endless possibilities for you to create colorful combinations, or the opportunity to be minimal and blend with the natural tones of a specific area.

Inspired by its name, the Rho Series Furnishings are composed of graceful curves, and delicate angles to insure comfort and repose in any outdoor environment.

All Rho Series Furnishing are constructed with powder coated aluminum frames that are light-weight with a high degree of rigidity. Available in a wide range of colors, they are resistant to corrosion and UV rays; and are recyclable and ecologically safe.

For table tops and more high impact surfaces, John use ROM [Recyclable Outdoor Material], a perfect substitute for genuine wood, made of high impact polystyrene [HIPS]. Available in several colors, ROM is strong and durable, resistant to corrosion and UV rays; and is recyclable and environmental friendly.

JOHN KELLY FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES

35 East 35th Street
NYC 10016
PH: (800) 291-1301
Info@JohnKellyFurniture.com
www.johnkellyfurniture.com