Sculptor Andre Volten's Residence, Amsterdam...

A few, somewhat random, images from the Dutch sculptor Andre Volten's residence on the outskirts of Amsterdam... 

QF Headquarters Rising, Education City, Doha...

A few images of the, OMA designed, future QF Headquarters here in Education City... 

Design Details No. 9 - Railings, Display Cases/ Niches, Handles and Shadows at the Neues Museum, Berlin...

A few images of railings, display cases/ niches, handles, and shadow details from the Neues Museum in Berlin, completed a few years back by David Chipperfield Architects...

Some additional images from the museum can also be found in the latest posting on the Kuwait School blog...

- Railings - 

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- Display Cases/ Niches -

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- Handles (& a Hinge) -

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- Shadows -

Design Details No. 8 - Tactile Map at the Musiikkitalo, Helsinki...

A few images of the tactile guide map at the Musiikkitalo (Music House) in Helsinki, which not only includes a tactile/ topographical representation of the building's various layers and spaces, but also uses a select set of different materials - each with its own unique texture and temperature - to distinguish and amplify the readability (including visual clarity) of the guide... 

Design Details No. 7 - Bronze Handle & Door-Frame, Academic Bookstore, Helsinki...

Following on from the previous post, included is an example of a different, but equally expressive, door-handle and door-frame, here made of bronze... 

The door can be found on the second floor of the Academic Bookstore (designed by Alvar Aalto) of the Stockmann department store in Helsinki... 

Hand-print discoloring the brass door frame... 

 

Design Details No. 6 - Leather Covered Door Handle, Stockholm...

I've always had an penchant for handles and railing that retain a residual mark of their users. Such subtle evidence of wear can often be observed in many a wood railing in a bit older residential buildings, on brass handles of (more historic) department stores, and leather covered handles... 

The above leather handle belongs to the Svenskt Tenn shop in Stockholm. I've also come across leather covered railings in a few more exclusive shop interiors. 

There is something inherently tactile about using leather on handles, entities that inevitably entail direct 'skin against skin' engagement in their operation. The unique friction, temperature, and even subtle sound and smell of such leather covered artifacts entertain an almost intimate quality. The sensation is more deep-rooted or intrinsic compared to handling comparable objects made of, say, fiberglass or some of the more generic plastics. The connection is almost emotional, bonding, in its perceptual attributes. The way it weathers is comparable to how our skin ages and responds to wear and tear... 

And as handles and railings go, leather functions very well as a surface material, providing a comforting level of grip to sate and complement even the most discerning door or stairwell...