FIRST LOOK

INTEL

New and noteworthy in global design. By Rachel Gallaher

BOTTLED AMBITION

American artist James Turrell is known for working with light installations and space to create immersive environments that challenge a viewer’s perception of the world around them and create wonder. When French crystal brand Lalique asked him to collaborate on a collection, the scale of the work was much different—the Crystal Light release includes two perfume bottles and a series of decorative crystal wall panels—but Turrell’s approach was not. “The light I am interested in is the one we see with our eyes closed, the one in our dreams,” he says. “The aim of my work is to enable people to perceive this same light while they are awake, with their eyes open.” Inspired by the 1912 Zane Grey novel Riders of the Purple Sage, Turrell attempted to capture the beauty of the American West through the ethereal tones of the arid desert and its brilliant sunsets.

IMAGE COURTESY LALIQUE

HOME COUTURE

THE RUG COMPANY

Deck out your home runway-style with the recently released collaboration between the Rug Company and renowned Chinese couturier Guo Pei. Comprising seven new rugs and two cushions, the Opulent Nature collection is inspired by Chinese history and designed with Pei’s customary attention to detail. Incorporating nods to traditional Chinese tailoring—as well as motifs that include waves, clouds, florals, and lions—the elegant, intricate patterns are informed by centuries-old storytelling and a deep respect for beauty. “In developing the Opulent Nature collection, I wanted to tap into the rich heritage and tradition of Chinese culture,” Pei says. “It was important to reflect its beauty through the carefully curated application of motifs, symbols, and ideas, and to develop them in a visually engaging manner.”

GOING SOLO

©BURO-OS, IWAN BAAN

Opening on December 10, 2022, the first major solo exhibition featuring the work of Ole Scheeren will examine the German architect’s career, his innovative approach to design, and his buildings’ impact on cityscapes around the globe. Known for his complex and technologically advanced structures, Scheeren has won several awards for his work, including the inaugural Urban Habitat Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat in 2014. The exhibition, titled Ole Scheeren : spaces of life, will focus on the human experience of architecture with immersive installations in the large atriums at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Germany. “Ole Scheeren’s projects are the result of intensive experimental urban field research,” says Peter Weibel, artistic and scientific director of the ZKM. “They are stunning aesthetic solutions to social and ecological considerations.”

MOD SQUAD 2.0

AYLOTT + VAN TROMP

The latest newcomer to the modular cabin market is Nokken, a company that’s bridging the gap between glamping and luxury hotel accommodations by offering hospitality operators adaptable units that can be easily launched and scaled. Designed by London-based interiors and branding studio Aylott + Van Tromp, Nokken cabins come in 15 base footprints, all with customizable luxury fixtures and finishes. (Standard Edition models have dark-stained softwood paneling and natural softwood ceilings and flooring to contrast with black walls.) Nokken also offers interior styling packages that feature top contemporary furniture, lighting, and accessory brands, including Verden, Menu, Ferm Living, Takt, and more. In addition to being completely customizable, the units are available in both on-grid and off-grid versions, and are designed to have a minimal impact on the environment.

GARDEN OF DESIGN DELIGHTS

FINBARR FALLON

Singapore’s newest high-rise, one of the city’s tallest buildings, unites nature and community with its dynamic interplay of public space and greenery. Designed by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group and Carlo Ratti Associati, CapitaSpring is located in the heart of Singapore’s financial district on the site of a former parking garage and hawker center (an open-air complex with stalls for food vendors). The 51-story building—which includes offices, residences, public spaces, restaurants, and a new hawker center—offers street-level garden paths that lead into a large, pedestrian-friendly plaza at the foot of the tower, a space designed to integrate the new structure with the surrounding neighborhood. A rooftop garden with sweeping views of the city is home to more than 150 species of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers that supply the building’s restaurants.