The official Lavazza  calandar is something of a tradition. For 19 years this historic Italian brand has produced a calendar with a famous photographer and this year it was the turn of Mark Seliger, the famous American celebrity photographer, who was asked to immortalise the essence of Italianess.

His concept was simple – ‘Falling in Love in Italy’.

Read full post

If renovating an old and disused building, rotting in degeneration and thus blotting the urban landscape, is not a fulfilling and rewarding project in itself, then perhaps the prospect of winning 30,000 euros could make the venture seem even more worthwhile.

For more than a quarter of a century the legendary architect Philipe Rotthier has explored Europe’s diverse and dynamic architecture intent on finding new structural designs that venerates the character of the urban landscape it is situated, respects ecology, is kind to the planet wasting neither space nor energy and that ascertain a link between a building’s history and the contemporary yearnings for luxury and comfort.

Read full post

For years graffiti was considered to be a blot on an urban landscape, the blight of neighbourhoods trying to preserve a squeaky clean image of a town and the bane of councillors’ lives. In recent years graffiti has lost many of its negative connotations, has reinvented itself and emerged as one of the hottest new forms of art in 2010. The curse of graffiti has given way to a surge in street art and the world of art is embracing it with respect, vigour and passion.

So intense is the renewed enthusiasm towards street art, that prestigious art galleries across the globe are showcasing the best international street artists. Façonnable takes a look at the best of this fashionably revered new artistic talent.

Read full post

Union Square, New York City – a meeting place for powerful businesses, the home of four historical monuments, including Abraham Lincoln, Mohandas Ghandi, the Marquis de Lafayatte and George Washington, or a village of huts sprouting grass and hemp causing a carpet of natural materials to aimlessly ramble across a plaza normally leached with modernity and commerce. 

It is latter image that bears the truest significance of Union Square at present caused by a novel and intriguing architectural competition. The Sukkah City competition and its dominance on Union Square has led to a subsequent transformation of one of New York’s finest and busiest of open areas. 

Read full post

Following its success and overwhelming popularity in 2009, Asia’s second Superyacht Conference is to be held from the 12^th – 14^th October this year in Singapore.

This unique event was the first of its kind last year and was set up by the Asia-Pacific Superyacht Association to encourage collaboration, opportunities and networking for superyacht owners, captains, builders, brokers, designers, repair yards, marinas, consultants, financiers, lawyers, government and regulatory bodies and the tourism industry.

Read full post