JEWEL BOXES: Bauhaus abundance in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv's celebrated White City is the striking group of neighborhoods that comprises the largest concentration of Bauhaus buildings in the world. Together, they contain more than 4,000 individual white cement structures, designed in the distinctive sleek, curved-corner style that embodies international Modernism.

The city's architectural riches have become more and more of a draw to art and design aficionados, and the White City recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (The only other modern city afforded this honor is Brasilia, the futuristic capital of Brazil.) Festivities included open houses, special exhibitions, talks and all-night fetes.

Above and below:
Bauhaus buildings in Tel Aviv's White City neighborhood

Photo by Michael Schonbach

Bialik Square
Photo courtesy Tel Avivi Tourism


Link here to read my PRIME magazine article 
about design tourism in Tel Aviv

EXHIBITIONS: Suddenly, this summer: Pop Art in Denver

The Denver Art Museum will host a two-month exhibition of paintings by Pop Art pioneer Tom Wesselmann this summer. His abstract collages and iconic color-saturated still lifes are celebrated as the foundation of Pop Art in America. The exhibition of 100 pieces of artwork -- including drawings, maquettes and photographs  --  runs July 13 - September 14.

The Huffington Post notes that the show is “One of 15 international 2014 summer art exhibitions you should definitely see.” 

See more info here.

Wesselmann Still Life No. 35, 1963

 Wesselman Still Life No. 60, 1973

                        Wesselmann Still Life #30, 1963

                                                         Wesselman Great American Nude #1, 1961

PRIZE WINNERS: 2014 UK Design Awards announced

Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan

On June 30, the London Design Museum announced its 2014 awards for top achievements in architecture, digital media, fashion furniture, graphics and transport. Iranian architect Zaha Hadid won first prize in architecture for her luminous and elaborately curvaceous Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan (pictured above). It's a thriving conference venue, museum and gallery. 

The fashion category was won by Prada. The judges said: "Prada's S/S14 collection loudly declares the joy of being a modern woman. It mixes colours, textures, and paintings to leapfrog over the world of tasteful bland fashion. This is serious clothing that doesn't take itself seriously."

Prada's S/S14 collection, as shown at Milan Fashion Week

Pro Chair Family line by Konstantin Grcic

Konstantin Grcic won the furniture category for his Pro Chair Family line. The designer's goal was to "absolutely shake up the educational sector, and give students a truly happier experience in the classroom." Grcic's chairs, according to the judges, are "seriously comfortable and joyous without risk of becoming a cartoon."

Volkswagen won the transport award for its XL1, a highly efficient liquid-fuelled production car. The judges noted: "Here is a car that seems like it’s come out of a dream of the future. It’s refined... and it looks beautiful -- dangerous almost -- in its dramatic shapes and lines."

UFO-like Volkswagen XL1

For more information, link here to the London Design Museum's website