Italian Restaurant by Sotovikis

The so-called “Soho of Athens” – the district of Psirri – has a brand new and quite charming attraction. The elegant Il Buco is an Italian restaurant designed by the Athens-based, Sotovikis, and is located on the third floor of a neo-classical building.

Three separate spaces cluster around a cocktail bar. The whiteness of walls, ceilings and floors interact with strong black door frames, fine iron drapery bars and stylish light fixtures from Droog and Danish. Mismatched wood-frame chairs collected from the antique shops of the neighboring Monastirak give the restaurant a spontaneous and light climate. (mais…)

BNP Paribas by Zoevox

In order to establish a renewed and more humane connection between individuals and capital, the Paris-based architect, Fabrice Ausset, of Zoevox, has conceived this ground-breaking bank concept store for BNP Paribas; located in the historical building of 2, Place de l’Opéra.

In ten specific zones, all regular banking functions from daily banking to stock-market info, private meetings, staff training can take place with the emphasis on breaking the age-old banking set-up where the client and the teller/banker are on opposite sides. (mais…)

by Podvaal

Conceived by the Russian studio, Podvaal, the Revolve Watch Bracelet is a creative new concept arising in the always interesting and fertile intersection of design and fashion. Three individual bracelets allow hours, minutes and seconds to swirl freely around the user’s wrist. The watch can be solar power operated (LED display), battery operated or fully mechanic. The more complex the operating mechanics, the more unique the Revolve will be. (mais…)

by Lorenzo Vitturi

The Venetian artist, Lorenzo Vitturi, lives and works between London, Milan and Venice. Graduated in photography and design at IED in Rome, he makes the most of this interdisciplinarity to set the scenes of thoughts and ideas through the manipulation of space.

This series of images is a site specific project that took place in a palace in Vitturi’s hometown. The main idea of this Neon Intervention was to transform the historic environment of the palace into a metaphysical space playing with the contrast between classic and contemporary. (mais…)

Masdar Institute campus by Foster + Partners

The Masdar Institute, a facility devoted to sustainable research in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is the first of four buildings planned for the urban quarter, and will generate more solar energy than it consumes. (mais…)

Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch

Also driven by the passion for 1920’s automobiles, the American style magnate, Ralph Lauren, searched for inspiration in his most prized vintage vehicle, the 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic, to conceive his new Sporting Watch, which is named after him.

The new Ralph Lauren Sporting Watch is a stylish fusion of fashion and motorsport: the elm burr wood frame is the same fine veneer found in that beautiful Bugatti’s instrument panel. Within, a set of hands rotate around a matte black galvanic dial, where Arabic numerals legibly display the time. (mais…)

by Studio Toogood

Visiting a second-hand store can be amazingly fruitful for those who do not suffer from the lack of imaginative fibre. The London-based, Studio Toogood, has presented us with the fine result of the interplay between creativity and ingeniousness.

Called Binbags, these stylish handbags are made from old binocular cases sourced from stores of antiques. Then, the former cases are individually adapted with golden linings plus useful additions like makeup mirrors and travelcard pockets.

Elegant and charming, these bags nicely represent the transforming power of design by turning the second-hand into the exclusive and desired. (mais…)