BOOTLEG PROJECT - NEW TECH VS. OLD TECH

Too many design obsessed people I know are a little too willing to give up function for style. I saw at the Centre Pompidou that Markus Badler and Max Wolf explore this idea with their "Bootleg Project"

Here they have taken iconic, although technologically outdated, audio equipment and worked them over. Deiter Rams' Audio 1 for Braun 1962 (aka the "white coffin"), Jacob Jensen's Beocenter 1400 for Bang & Olusfsen 1972, and Technic's SL1210 MkII turntable were functionally altered by kitting them out with contemporary technologies. Added were Wi-Fi, DVD readers, USB ports, MP3 players, RFID chips and more.

Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion Car - 1933

The only remaining of three Dymaxion Cars on show as part of the the Buckminster Fuller show currently at the Whitney Museum in New York.

Designed with help of a wind tunnel and friend Isamu Noguchi the three-wheeled car got a then unheard of 30 miles to the gallon.

It got a bad rap when a crash at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair killed the driver. Fuller blamed another vehicle but the bad press was enough to keep the car from going into production.

The Dymaxion car represent for me the best things about Buckminster Fuller. So innovative in so many ways that a variety of ideas are ubiquitous today and many others now seem ridiculous. Pure Bucky.

RICHARD NEUTRA'S KAUFFMAN HOUSE

I generally generate all the content on this blog, but my friend Dan Chavkin sent me these beautiful photos he took of the Kauffman House, so I could not resist posting them.

A lot of drama surrounds this piece of architecture these days. A spectacular restoration by Marmol Radziner (with invaluable contributions by my good friend Eric Lammers).

An attempt to sell for several times its actual value thought the "Art Market" by Christies. Rumors of shill bidding, unqualified bids etc, a super rich couple divorcing and unable to amicably decide who gets the house etc. All very glamorous and exciting.

In any case, a great house, beautifully photographed by Dan. Check out his website at www.danchavkin.com.

JITENSHA STUDIO (NOT BIKE SHOP)

Hiroshi at his "Bicycle Studio" in Berkeley sells bikes and parts for those of us who like high-quality bicycles, that look like bicycles. With a focus on Japanese bicycles that mirror the best ever made in Europe, he is a valuable resource for the bits and pieces that make a bicycle right.

Eric Zimmerman (yes, "that" Eric, creator of "The Zimmerman") introduced me to his website. Best value, a custom Nitto handlebar that Hiroshi has produced, based on an old no-rise ttt bar. Only $35.

He works with a friend at a shop in Tokyo and couple of times each year and luckily for me will be there when I am in Tokyo for the "Stockist" design show the first week of September. Will keep you posted.

JOHN LAUTNER - HARPEL HOUSE 1956

A beautiful house, beautifully restored by Decades owner Mark Haddawy. Not much to say about this one - the pictures kind of speak for themselves. I always find Lautner's work to be interesting but not always the best spaces to be in. This one feels great. The spaces are intimate. Both spectacular and modest. A truly great house.

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