COOL FEATURE: TOM KUNDIG

Tom Kundig of Olson Kundig

Tom Kundig principal and owner of the Seattle-based firm Olson Kundig is designing Outpost Basel, an arquitectural pavilion created for the Collector’s Lounge at Design Miami. Basel Switzerland is an artistic fair that will take place from June 16 - 21, 2015. 

Outpost Basel is bringing together a diversity of geographic material and cultural elements of different parts of the world like, Japan, America, Romania, Austria to bring into existence a design space made from everyday materials.

The arquitectural firm “Olson Kundig” is founded by arquitects Jim Olson and Tom Kundig. The firm is based on the ideas that, building can serve “as a bridge between nature, culture and people, and that inspiring surroundings have a positive effect on people’s lives.

Kundig plays with the idea of being an outsider, bringing a collection of highly contrasting influences and functions, which he unifies to make a harmonious and inspirational space.  An idea of yin-yang will run throughout, shown through the interplay of shaded and well-lit areas, dark and light materials, as well as space for refuge and for being seen. The result will be an enjoyable retreat in which to reflect on the design fair, meet friends or just relax.

From the entrance of the exhibition, Outpost Basel will appear to be a simple dark cube at the west point of the hall, playing a subtle role within the vast Messe Halle. But as visitors walk closer, they will see the textures and complexity of the structural design.  Guests are going to be welcomed by hosts, who will roll open an iron-wheeled ‘X’ door, to reveal a vibrant inner sanctum of lounge and restaurant areas.

Kundig works with “commodity materials to create this high-design space from re-purposed structural elements, in a continuation of his love of ‘hot-rodding’ ”. Like wood formwork and bricks bountifully supplied by innovative Austrian company “Schweighofer”.

There is going to be two distinct adjoining volumes, one semi-open space and one a taller solid box made of wood bricks, together form Outpost. A tribute to the 10^th Anniversary of Design Miami/ Basel in the form of a repeated X- shaped pattern will surround the exterior of Outpost Basel.

Sketch by Tom Kundig, Outpost Basel 

Kundig said: “It’s a great honor to make this space for Design Miami/, and to work in Basel, Switzerland. We each carry many influences with us—both my parents are Swiss, although I am American. With Outpost, I wanted to explore this idea through bringing different elements together in Basel. I like to mix old techniques and robust materials with innovative methods of making, so there will be crafted ironwork from Seattle, and amazing wood from Austrian firm Schweighofer.”

The design of Outpost Basel is bold yet grounded. Interiors are intricate and bold. The ingenious use of space in the Collectors Lounge allows Outpost to be the protagonist of a variety of different activities.  Including the Design Talks, a series of panel and one-on-one discussions with the leading lights of the design world.

A bar is going to be serving fine champagne (Perrier-Jouët) and the presence of a restaurant where guests can regroup and refuel before continuing their exploration of the exhibition.  Collectors will be able to work, talk and relax in Outpost Basel, experiencing a microcosm of the Olson Kundig world, and the distinctive design approach of Tom Kundig himself.

This #CertifiedCOOL event is going to benefit Miami in many ways! A fusion of different creativity and ideation is what Miami needs. The city is growing up to be a multi-cultural portal to the world of the arts and technology.

By: Mckenna Martinez

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TECH TALK: THE DEZER COLLECTION

SUPER CAR ROOM UNVEILED AT THE DEZER COLLECTION

As a certified car lover, I always enjoy the opportunity of spending time with cars and with people who enjoy them as much as I do. Luckily, I was able to do that this past Saturday at the Dezer Collection on 146th Street in North Miami. I was there for the unveiling of the brand new Super Car Room, which was hosted by Michael Dezer, an Israeli-Born, New York real estate developer and founder of Dezer Properties.

The night started off with a brief meet-and-greet in the entrance room where the Mahindra Formula E Racing Team of India and special guests waited in anticipation.

  

As we roamed the museum, it was a match made in heaven. The event was a merge of fashion, tech, design and art. There was a huge “Super Car Room” mural made by the awesome London native INSA, a graffiti artist who created the Gif-iti app. With the use of his app, you can point your phone towards one of his murals and see it move! You can even view one of his murals from space when using the app. That is innovation at its best!

 

INSA Space Gif-iti:

After about an hour of roaming the museum, we were invited to have dinner in preparation for the unveil. Dezer and others said a few words and then the curtains were pulled.

From a Lamborghini Diablo to a Porsche Carrera GT, the collection was impressive. Yet the vehicles that caught everyone's eyes was first, the 650hp Mercedes-Benz Mclaren SLR 722 Edition. The Benz is a more hardcore version to the original SLR. You add 33 more horses and a stiffer suspension and you'll create the perfect car for the weekend drive to the racetrack. A little fun fact is that the 722 nameplate is derived from the victory race won by the legendary Sterling Moss in the Mille Miglia in 1955. The car was a Mercedes 300 SLR with the starting number 722 (indicating he started the race at 7:22 a.m.). 

The next car is non-other than the $2 million dollar, 1000BHP Bugatti Veyron. This car is different from just about every other car I have ever seen in the sense of presence it gives off.  

It was a perfect evening for the car-enthusiast. To see more of the iconic cars from the event, such as the Batmobile, the Aston Martin DB5 from 007 or the supercars like the Bugatti Veyron, visit the Dezer Collection.

By: Oliver R. Pernt

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COOL PEOPLE: JAMES ROBERTSON

Hard Work is as COOL As It Gets

Our lives are interesting rollercoasters, aren’t they? It is easy to say that all we have to do in life is work hard and that through hard work, we will give our lives meaning. But what about when times get tough? What do you do then? Well, if you’re someone like James Robertson you find a way to keep going.

As a 56 year-old Detroiter, James has most likely had his fair share of hard times, but I’m not sure he was prepared for what was to come. You see he works at a factory in Rochester Hills, which is 23 miles away from his home. And up until about 10 years ago he would take his 1988 Honda Accord to work everyday; but that all changed when the car died on him.

Because of that James had to find another way to get to work, so he started using public transportation. Since the public transportation system could not take him all the way to the factory he worked at, he had to walk the remaining distance. “So what?” – You’re probably asking, “people walk to work all the time”. Well, as true as that may be I doubt they’re walking as much as he is. The closest he can get using public transportation is 10.5 miles. That means James is walking an extra 21 miles every weekday.

Now here at COOL Creative we like to celebrate amazing fashion, art, design, innovation, and such, but we also believe in celebrating amazing individuals. Individuals like James, that continue to show hard work, dedication, and passion for their work regardless of profession or how tough life is. We consider this as #CertifiedCOOL as it gets. Because even though he has to embark in such a journey every weekday he still maintains a perfect attendance record. He has never missed work. And even more so he never complains, simply stating that he can’t see himself not working.

Because of this, the Internet in all of its glory has banded together to create a kickstarer campaign to get him a car, and after only one day over $50,000 has already been raised. If you’d like to be a part of helping this hero of a man, just click here: http://www.gofundme.com/l7girc

The world needs more people like you, Mr. Robertson. You are an inspiration, and in our eyes, #CertifiedCOOL.

By: Oliver Pernt

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