Man & Christmas Elf Explored In 14 Snowglobes By Various Architects

above: Magic Garden, one of fourteen snowdomes that exlpore the Nisse Landscape

This year DAC, the Dansk Architectural Center, invited architect firms Jaja, Primus and Masu to create new interpretations of the Christmas landscape in the form of snowglobes or snow domes, with modern pixies or elves (Nisse).



The project is a critical interpretation of the planning perspectives on the relationship between the elf, Santa Claus, the countryside and an investigation of the modern Nisses' influence on urban form and structural contexts, like the DAC to focus on a fundamental paradox in relation to the current pixie landscape.



On the one hand, continued development of 'modern city', with the expansion of modern nissehabitater, on the other hand, maintained the notion of 'the traditional pixie landscape' in the use of simple dichotomies 'city-country' and 'center-periphery' as understanding terms basis of planning. In practice this seems logical contradiction, however, mask or ignore. With respect to this masking plays the understanding of 'pixie landscape' as natural in contrast to the 'city' as a cultural importance.

This pixie landscape urban discourse seeks to establish the basis for a new dialectical synthesis between urban and pixie landscape planning, where pixie landscape refers to a common framework for Christmas in the urban and rural context. Based on this alternative understanding of pixie landscape, like the DAC to consider the possibility of anchoring the goblin and his little helpers in relation to the future planning of the urban-rural pixie landscape.



How does the Nisse live amongst us today? That was the fundamental question at this year's x-mas workshop at DAC. We chose to explore this seasonal topic through a variety of architectural and programmatic compositions, represented in these fourteen snow globes.

Xmas Bar:

Roof Garden:

Harbor Bath:

Xmas Rock:

Track and Bridge:

Xmas Traffic:

Stair House:

Shopping Ramp:

Bike Park:

Mix Doubles:

Double Facade:

Housing Bridge:

Stair House:

and Magic Garden shown at the top of this post.

via JAJA on NOTCOT
images courtesy of JAJA, information and text courtesy of DAC

New Modern Dollhouse is a Reproduction Of Arne Jacobsen's Own 1928 Villa

I suppose it's the combination of being a female, a wannabe architect and having a predilection for modern design that makes me somewhat obsessed with modern dollhouses.

Whenever I come across a new one, which is rare and infrequent since the discontinuance of the Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse, I get very excited.

So, when I saw that Inhabitots mentioned a new dollhouse by Minimii that is a small scale reproduction of the world famous architect Arne Jacobsens' Villa in Charlottenlund, I simply had to investigate further.

Of course, I'm going to provide you with images of the dollhouse AND the original house that inspired it... because... well, that's what I do.

While other blogs and magazines are excitedly reporting that the house can be purchased... truth is, production of the item has been delayed due to lack of investment capital. They continue to be optimistic about planning to offer the house prior to the summer of 2010 and are hoping for a retail price below 1200.00 USD. I certainly hope so because this is one cool dollhouse.

The dollhouse exterior:






Exterior photos of the original Arne Jacobsen house:








Comparing the details of the original house to that of the dollhouse:


As Inhabitots reported, "the house was designed by Linda Stenberg and Claus Hojer Hansen, the Danish creative directors of Minimii and features a roof and four walls that may be mounted and dismounted, allowing more children to play at once. A small collection of designer furniture (Egg and Swan chairs courtesy of Fritz Hansen) as well as tiny commissioned modern art pieces, and many more chic amenities which stay in place via magnets.

Stenberg and Hojer Hansen will furnish the dollhouse with the aforementioned furniture, as well as Vipp trash cans, an exclusive miniature art piece by artist Poul Pava, kids play furniture from Bobles, kitchens and bathrooms from Design by Us, and lighting from Normann Copenhagen! They are also collaborating with the famous doll maker, Maileg, to create the very fortunate, design savvy family who will live in the miniature Jacobsen home.

In addition to providing kids with an amazing dollhouse and all the furnishings, the Minimii team offers, “We want to talk to adults who have an interest in design and who see the dollhouse as a design object in itself.”


above: Minimii creative directors Linda Stenberg and Claus Hojer Hansen

Dollhouse interiors:








Architectural plans of the original Arne Jacobsen Villa located at Gotfred Rodes Vej 2, in Charlottenlund:






I really hope they meet their goals because I'm dying for one of these as well as the miniature versions of the Arne Jacobsen Ant, Egg and Swan chairs that fit within it, also produced by Minimii:






Please don't let this go the way of the Bozart Kaleidoscope Dollhouse, if you are interested in being an investor, contact them at:
Claus Højer Hansen, partner, managing director: +45 2812 1383 claus.hansen@minimii.com
Linda Stenberg, partner, creative director: +45 2084 2009 linda.stenberg@minimii.com

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A fan of modern dollhouses and miniatures? I have written these other posts as well:

•M112 PODS & Mini Modern Furnishings By Paris Renfroe

•Modern Interior Design. On a Different Scale.

•Bauhaus Mini-modernist Doll Houses Promote Karen Walker Paints For Resene

•Kathy Osborn Has Big Talent With Little Things And Little Ones.

Another Edgy Design Collection, Arctic Rock Furniture.

Sculpted entirely out of wood, the Arctic Rock series by Studio JSPR is a collection of high gloss white furniture whose unusual hard angular accents resemble both origami and of course, its namesake... Arctic Rock.




The collection consists of tables, chairs, bar stools, seats and accessories for hotel, restaurant, or home living purposes. And there is a matching vase available, the ‘Diamond Vase’, made out of Bone China, that has been developed in collaboration with Pol’s Potten.

The collection:





The Bone China vase:


About JSPR:
JSPR is an interior design brand that is always creating remarkable new collections and unique interiors. Their passion is to create designs that both stand for high quality products and for innovation and creativity realized through professional craftsmanship. Among JSPR’s clients are hotels, restaurants, shops, architects, and individual consumers.

JSPR is always experimenting with new innovative materials in its production studio. This results in a unique range of handmade product and furniture collections. Aside from this, JSPR also creates custom-made interiors, both in the Netherlands and abroad.

Studio JSPR was founded in 2005 by Jasper van Grootel who graduated at the Design Academy Eindhoven under supervision of Oscar Penya. Now, in 2007, we consist of a 6 man strong independent designer team which stands for the solid base of our company. Creative designers, supported by a technical and economical educated staff, make sure that every product or project is realised to everybody's maximum satisfaction.

Studio
Lichttoren 270
5611BJ Eindhoven
The Netherlands

Visit Studio JSPR here.


If you like angular designs, then you've gotta see these:


The works of Buchegger Denoth Feichtner Design