DESIGN FOR MEN

Since I saw the Excel floor lamp in the April issue of Details, I have been pining over it and the rest of the collection including the table lamp and chandelier are also great. The fixtures were designed for Roll and Hill by Rich Brilliant Willing, a studio composed of a trio of designers in Manhattan.   The floor lamp comes with a hefty price tag ($2000) so I have of course been locating cheap alternatives.  Here are some of my favorites:

West Elm Loft Floor Lamp ($150) Task Lamp ($80)  Can someone say knock off?  These are surprisingly similar to the Excel floor and table lamp.  I am certainly not complaining because I love the prices!

CB2 Beacon Floor Lamp ($250) – adding a touch of a 1940s spotlight

CB2 L_MP Floor Lamp ($200) Brought to CB2 by Italio design team A/R Studio
IMAGE CREDITS: Images 1 from Rich Brilliant Willing, Images 2-3 from Roll and Hill, Image 4 from West Elm, Image 5-6 from CB2

Flipping through an issue of Dwell at the airport, I came across a fascinating article on the design of the ATNMBL or Autonomobile, a concept for driving in the year 2040. Why is this fascinating? For ages, driving hasn’t really changed. Cars even look the same year after year. I am hard pressed to tell if a car I am admiring is the latest model or was released ten years ago.
San Francisco designers Mike Simonian and Maaike Evers took their cues from how we use technology in creating the ATNMBL. GPS devices and social networking sites were considered as they developed a driving experience centered around not driving. You provide the ATNMBL with coordinates and it takes you where you want to go. The cool part is what happens while you get there. The computer in the car acts as chauffeur while you relax in an interior that resembles a Zaha Hadid living room, freeing up time to work or catch up with friends. And the size of the car is comparable to those on the road today. Imagine being able to actually tell your car where to go and have it not only take you there but also retain directions like we store contacts on our phones. And you can create a network of trusted friends and family that can use your car when you’ve been dropped off.

The design concept reminds me of the cars from Minority Report, driving along a computerized MAG-LEV system developed by Lexis which uses electrical/magnetic energy.  Haven’t seen the movie?  Rent it!  By the far the closest we’ve come to envisioning the future.  There is something very realistic about the approach of this new ATNMBL concept as well.  I can see similar cars on the road in the near future and how cool with that be?  Check out the Dwell article for more information on the design of the ATNMBL.

Images from core77

Not really a car person but when I laid eyes on the Bugatti Galibier 16C 4-door concept my jaw dropped. This concept is intended to be the most exclusive and elegant sedan on the market. Equipped with a front mounted W16 engine and the capability to go up to 217 MPH. So not only is it functionally sick, the sporty vehicle is aesthetically stunning.  Simultaneously new and old are juxtaposed in a way that is seamless.   I am sure at this level of luxury that elements will be customizable but I wouldn’t change a thing about the design.

An homage to cars of the 1930s,  the car boosts a long hood which used to be for large engines. Perhaps the most prominent element of the design is the silver along the sides as if the black exterior has been peeled away.  This sophistication continues on the car’s interior. The inside is perfectly crafted with the integration of plush leather, rich wood, and sparkling metals.  I love the simplicity -  no buttons, knobs, slides, or unneccesary clutter.

The Galibier is slated for production release in 2012 at merely $1.6 million.  Excellence comes at a cost.  I am hoping by then that I’ll be able to afford one.

Images from Sub5zero