Foldaway - Pop-up specialist bookshop that features the latest must-have high quality publications and most coveted architecture classics by RIBA Bookshops. A bespoke interior of walls, shelving and sales counter constructed entirely from cardboard and recycled at the end of the festival. Lovely shelving and table. Click here for more info or visit it at 10 Heddon Street (off Regent Street), London W1B 4BX,opening: Tues 22 June – 4 July Opening times: Sun-Fri 10-5, Sat 11-6.
Rainbow Church - A glass window made of 500 crystal prisms. The eight metre-high installation will create rainbows within the space as light is refracted. Inspired by a trip to the Chapelle du Rosaire, which Henri Matisse, a French painter, created in his last years, Tokujin embraced the beauty of the light that the chapel created. A space filled with the light of Matisse. An architecture where people can feel the light with all senses. Beautiful. Click here for more info.
Nana-Han - Which means seven half in Japanese. It is 7.5 square metre. Designed to accommodate the homeowner and his motorbike. Simple yet interesting. Click here for more info.
Ofis - This unique and colourful structure was constructed as a low-income residence for young families and couples in the industrial district of Izola on the Slovenian coast. Inspired by the rhythmic structure of honeycomb, the layout helps in solar shading, natural ventilation and offers great views of the sea. Balcony modules are designed to provide shading and ventilation for the apartments by having textile elements fixed on the front of the balconies which blocks direct sunlight and accumulates"air buffer" zone. During summer, the accumulated area behind the shadings is naturally ventilated through 10cm holes. During winter, the warm air stays in the area and provides additional heating. This social housing has been nominated for Mies van der Roche Award 2006 and I guess the idea of using honeycomb pattern as a design is really cool. If only the Housing Board in Singapore adopts such creativity, our flats wouldn't look so rigid. More info can be found here.
