SD  We are so excited about the design of ’100 Chairs’ (an outdoor furniture collection consisting of 80 chairs, 10 deckchairs and 10 tables in 20 colors, 7 models and 21 variations) by Marni, but even more so we love the thought behind it.  Composed of concrete reinforced bars and colored PVC plastic, the production of the chairs was done in San Gil, as part of an effort to rehabilitate former inmates and to teach them craftmamship.  The project was for Milan Design Week 2012, and all of the proceeds go to ICAM Institute, an organization which helps the children of imprisoned mothers spend their first years of growth in a stable family environment.

SD  Sometimes understated goes a long way, and LEVEL Architects has done just that in this unpretentious, raw space.  Situated in Shibuya, Tokyo, the House in Kitasando has a sort of elegance and casual nature that is hard to achieve, but accomplished with sophisticated interior, industrial, and architectural design.  We love the open loft space that creates a starck quality when combined with the rough concrete and wood.  The unexpected warmth and fun is brought in by elements such as the oversized boots and dinosaur perched on the coffee table in the living room.  It does not get any better than that…

SD  Well known for his funky twist on design, Karim Rashid has done it again and created an interesting, quirky seating installation for the airport in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

SD  in-ei Lampshades by fashion designer Issey Miyake for one of our favorite Italian lighting companies Artemide.  Sustainably constructed from PET bottles, these amazing shades fold flat and extend in to geometric shapes.  2D and 3D mathematic principles define their shape and how they explore light and shade.

SD  Graffiti Cafe in Varna, Bulgaria by Brooklyn based architecture and research firm Studio Mode has to be one of our favorite interior spaces.  The concept and execution is flawless, very skillfully marrying function and design.  Taking in to consideration that the Gallery of Modern Art is below, they extended the artistry to maintain consistency with the building’s architecture.  They rectified the issue of acoustics, ventilation, and sound while also creating a beautiful systematic structure that moves from the ceiling through the columns.  An extension of Studio Mode is Mode Lab where they very intensely study iterative design processes and hold workshops.  Very interesting and definitely worth checking out at http://studiomode.nu/profile