The Radavist

Photo by Julien Lanoo

Julien Lanoo recently visited the new Vitrahaus designed by Swiss architects Herzog & Demeuron. It’s been a while since I last posted some Architecture on here and it’s mostly because I’ve been waiting on something good to post. The Vitrahaus meets is certainly worthy of a post. Nestled in Weil am Rhein, Germany, the project peeks over the vernacular buildings in the area as it mimics its surroundings with familiar roof pitches and fenestration.

Looking at this project, it’s easy to see how the parti influenced the final design. By stacking and sliding various volumes together, Herzog & Demeuron was able to carve out the intersecting volumes into a showroom for the Vitra campus. Check out some more photos below.

It’s way too late to start my weekend recap post, so I’ll leave you guys hanging with this teaser photo. Adam Wallacavage designs and fabricates octopus chandeliers. He’s based out of Philly and has cranked out custom fixtures for each of Mishka‘s retail locations; 350 Broadway in Brooklyn and more recently, LA’s Echo Park store. I’ve got a ton of photos of the Echo Park store’s chandelier and I’ll work on that post tomorrow. This thing is rediculous!

That’s a lot of stuff in that bag. LA artist Marco Zamora has an interview up on Fecal Face. Zamora has an opening with Derek Albeck at the SF Fecal Face Dot Gallery in April, so be sure to catch that one. Check the full interview here.

Not really sure how I’d describe the artwork of Mike Bertino other than a cross between John Kricfalusi and maybe someone like Gary Baseman. Even though those comparisons are a bit weak, Mike’s artwork has a great presence and stands out from a lot of other artists. Take for instance, this piece above, entitled Skid. It’s obvious why this would fit on this site. There’s another bike-themed piece, which I like more, but isn’t as psychedelic as this one.

Check it out below…

“Just Another day” | Mike Giant & Derick Montez from Justin Gallagher on Vimeo.

I don’t usually post graffiti videos, but it’s Mike Giant and there’s a bike or two in it so I’ll make an exception. Justin sent this one over this morning. Featuring Mike Giant and Derick Montez in SF.

click for full-resolution

Not every day you come across something like this. A reader forwarded me this project. It’s a 1:3 scale model of a fixed gear made from LEGO’s Technic line. The craziest shit about this is that it actually works. Every component works; the chain, the brake, the wheels. Everything. Pretty rad use of an ‘adult LEGO set’.

Thanks for the email Matt!

Previously:
LEGO Breaking Away

Wow. Just wow. I came home for a second before heading out to Peel Sessions to find a box from Portland Design Works sitting on my stoop. Inside was a generous amount of product; including two of their light sets. The first is the familiar Radbot design. I’ve posted about it before and how much it reminded me of HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Side note; did you know that HAL is IBM? Just move each letter one to the left in the alphabet. Anyway…

The packaging is what struck me as really clever. PDW worked with Shin Tanaka on the design and branding of the whole light line. Really well done. I’m sure the crew at PDW were giggling to themselves when they got the first design sheets back. The Radbot features a precision reflector and Japanese LEDs to ensure proper visibility. Another side note; these Japanese LEDs are the same lights used in the brake lights of modern cars.

Check out their other light grouping below; the Spaceship and the Red Planet.

Illustration by Chris Piascik

Part of Trick Track‘s recent face-lift was a new logo drawn by Boston-based artist Chris Piascik. The above illustration is one of two backgrounds Chris worked on for the forums, before being told that they couldn’t be bike related. Whoops is right! There’s a ton of detail in this drawing. Here’s the full-resolution image. I spent a good amount of time looking at all the little product plugs and characters. Nice work Chris!

I’ve been a bit of a fan boy over French‘s work for a while now and this is a classic example of why I dig his stuff so much. He recently drew the album art for a Sheffield-based death metal band called Parasitized. Their EP is coming out soon, so check back on their Myspace for more information.

Via Funeral French.

Previously:
French: Blood Oath
French: Cursed Scrolls Recap
Cursed Scrolls

Jon Vermilyea has done work for Mishka in the past. Last night was a special opening for his new shirt series. Accompanying the shirts were a series of silk-screened prints. The prints and shirts are still up at Mishka’s 350 Broadway for a reasonable price, so get on that if it’s something you’d want to hang in your living room or studio.

Really awesome work. Check out the whole set here.

You remember this right? One of the first posts I made on the new server was Nick James‘ pen and ink drawing entitled Streetwear. Later, Nick penned the John Prolly Adventures and other classic illustrations.

Tonight in Salt Lake City, Nick’s Streetwear piece, with color I might add, will be on display at the MCA Gallery. The show is tonight, Friday, January 29th, 7-11pm. Be sure to check it out if you’re in the neighborhood. More information to come on his blog.

Previously:
A Very Merry Nick James X-Mas
John Prolly Adventures
Streetwear

This one’s for Savannah. Give you guys a bit of time to plan ahead.

Desotorow Gallery, a non profit arts organization in Savannah GA, are having a bike festival weekend from March 4th-6th. Along with the festival is an art show, which is open to all entrees as a juried exhibition. More information about the show and festival can be found at www.desotorow.org or their blog www.spokedsav.wordpress.com.

Conceptual design is one thing, but conceptual implementation is another. In a world filled with high-end concept bikes, it’s nice to see someone designing an implementation method to help countries in need. Worldbike is doing just that; they’ve designed what they refer to as “low-cost bicycles for programs that increase economic opportunity, improve health outcomes and boost enrollment and gender equity in secondary school among the rural poor.”

As a way to support their efforts, you can now pre-order one of these newly-constructed cargo bikes. Their website notes that “the same cargo bike we deliver to rural Africa also turns heads on the streets of Seattle”. It does look nice – I wonder what they’re being spec’d with? I hope it comes with a chain!

One way that this differs from other programs like Bikes for Africa is the simple fact that Worldbike supplies new bikes, rather than used or donated bikes. These bikes can then be maintained locally and are designed to carry loads while acting as primary transportation in the rugged and rural environments.

Read more about Worldbike here.

I’ve said before that I really don’t like concept bikes. Usually, too much time is spent obsessing about form and personally, I could care less about some swoopy monocoque construction. This I can get behind though; The SSON.ORG 028. For a little background on the project, there’s this paragraph on their website:

The bike we wanted to create was a functional and timeless Fixedgear/Singlespeed bike. A bicycle and friend to live and grow with for a long time. To make sure that every aspect of bicycles and life were given the uttermost attention we contacted Erik & Erik (EE) to participate in the project

Not convinced? Well, I elaborate more below.

I’m going to this show before Peel Sessions this week. Should be a great turnout. I’ve always loved the Goblin line of clothing that Mishka‘s produced over the years. Jon Vermilyea’s work is amazing.

Check out the full flier and press release below.

Chris Piascik has a new shirt up on Print Brigade. Love the design and as always, the type treatment Chris comes up with.

Pick one up for $20 here.

Previously:
Don’t Forget the Practice of Good Sportsmanship
Chris Piascik’s Bruiser
Don’t Use Tobacco in Any Form
More…

If you’ve been reading this blog for any extended period of time, then you need no introduction to Lamour Supreme. Joel’s one of the most highly sought-after custom toy painters and designers in the circles today and his hand-painted Mongolions are downright nutty. This Hibiki Mongolion was inspired from a character in Kamen Rider. Joel decided to use a red variant for the colorway. If this is confusing to you, don’t worry, I’m right there with ya.

Anyway, check out the full photo below.

Nice one from Candy Cranks. Too bad it would need to be modified to fit an ugly American outlet. Love the graphic though. Clever!

Check out more designs from Hu2 Design here.