This is one of the most amazing architecture models I've seen recently. The Magic Mountain by Cero9 architects is an ecosystem mask for Ames thermal power station, a 2002 competion in Iowa USA. I dont know much about Cero9 other than that they are Efrén García and Cristina Díaz, and they are based in Barcelona and maybe Sao Paolo too. This project was included in the last architecture Biennial and was extensively published in El Croquis 118
"Anti-Design objects break the magic spell of pure contemplation and visibility to destroy usefulness, even if they use smooth finishes and traditional leather, forcing us passively to experience and mirror various formal approaches ; we do not, in fact, contemplate them voyeuristically or celibately but posses them like lovers!" Ennio Chiggio from "The Rock Furniture: Il Design della Gufram negli anni del Rock" published by Castello di Rivoli.
I saw this show in Spetember 2002 but took so few pictures. The long space (Manica Lunga) of the Castello di Rivoli didnt help much since I think any show there is bound to look a bit weak. Still the book-in-a-brick-wall catalogue is amazing, and I'll post more stuff from it. The Gufram Multipli collection is heaven translated into foam.
80's architecture is almost everywhere the same, and I find myself strangely attracted to it. Its hysterical, it ages really badly and manages a subtle over-simplified complexity, and I dont even know what that could mean but I also love any building with mirrors. 
Ok, so I'm not gonna post my entire library, but I was so surprised when I found this book. I had entered Form Zero in Downtown L.A. a couple of years back and asked if they had something on Paul Virilio and Claude Parent, thinking I might finally find a copy of "Bunker Archaelogy". Instead I found this fantastic facsimile of their manifesto magazine Architecture Principe, published in part by the bookstore itself, in collaboration with Les Editions De L'Imprimeur.
This is Constant's "Model for a Gypsy Camp" (1957) a piece that floats somewhere between Architecture, Sculpure and Fabulous Fantasy. From the excellent "Exit Utopia: Architectural provocations 1956-76" Editions Prestel. I got this at PRO-QM, one of the coolest architecture bookstores (along with the now defunct Form Zero in Los Angeles). just be careful, PRO-QM can be a serious source of credit-card debt.
These paintings by Andreas Dobler are so scary its not even funny. They remind me of the weird paintings you find in summer rent-a-rooms in tacky places like Myconos, painted by the german artist who decided to leave everything behind and move to the south to be artistic, and then he/she spends the whole winter doing these phycholandscapes. So cool actually. Its the inaugral show of the ultra hip Alex Pollazzon gallery in London, check it out.
Elmgreen & Dragset: Monument to Short Term Memory. Again I'm not sure where I saw this one, but this time it makes sense to have forgotten. I almost always love their work, because its gay, political and funny too. I cant seem to find any of the overly gay works, but I remember seeing a park bench with "no homos" on it. Or was it"homos only"?
This is a prison tower from somewhere in Florida. Looked interesting enough to save in my Misc Image folder of Dec 05. I must have been thinking about something for sure.
Grayson Perry's "Map of an Englishman" is just one of the most amazing print pieces I've seen. I wish I had a great scan of it, just to spend hours and hours traveling the mountains of Despair, the villages of Anger, Hate, Spite, crossing the rivers of unloved, unwanted and of course uninspired, to end up in the sea of stupid.
Ok so I dont remember all these places, I'm sure the map is very different and I'm just projecting (!) I saw it in full scale at Perry's Victoria Miro show two years ago. He was there with all his fabulous tranny entourage.
Ok so maybe its the extra weird music, or maybe its the weather, or maybe its me. I'm supposed to be filling in my Agenda for the catalogue of the New Trends exhibition, instead I'm obssesing (tsk tsk spelling) with anything tropical, exotic, polynesian, deserted-beach life and lost kind of thing. I just googled tiki image and this weird rock (bottom) came up. Is it a house? Is it a sculpute? Is it a rock? why its all of the above.
Around this time last year I was a lot in Holland, finishing off my Blue Wave exhibition at MU, in Eindhoven. For such a small place Eindhoven (which means "End of the Fields") has a number of very cute buildings, starting off from the train station.
The super funny Evoluon, a flying saucer with rotating lights, made in the 60's as a Phillips showroom.
And the De Bijenkorf department store whose facade was designed by Gio Ponti. I liked this other building too, but only when its upside-down and reflected in water;
Speaking of water, right next to this building is the Eindhoven City hall, and in the lobby you can still see the main maquette from the Blue Wave. It was too big to travel so we just parked it there, but I wonder if it gets lonely in the lobby, since it was really made for a public space.
These birds are from Jim Lambie's show Byrds that took place somewhere, and I randomly happened upon them when I remebered how super-inspiring his work is. Does this make sense? Was this a valid sentence? And is this golden door zig-zagging over this stripped floor while eating an oval mirror?
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