Google Map of Proposed Los Angeles NFL Stadium Locations

This does not make you God....Biking Lunatics take note

Viamala Raststätte in Thusis, Switzerland

In the course of an invited architectural competition for a highway service area, a proposal of the young architectural office Iseppi-Kurath from Grisons, Switzerland was selected as the winning project. The design of the two architects achieved to translate the theme of the “window towards the region” with a complex layout and in a consequent and exciting fashion.

The Viamala Raststätte Thusis is located next to the exit Thusis-Nord at the highway A13 in Grisons, Switzerland. The unique access of an existing highway exit, that has a connection to both sides of the highway, allows this project to service the alpine traffic from south and north alike. Therefore the service area isn’t only available for transit but also local traffic and is furthermore connected via pedestrian and cycling ways to the sporting grounds of Thusis and the neighboring villages of Cazis, Sils i.D., Fürstenau and Fürstenaubruck. The service area is located at the southern end of the plot and offers an internal connection to the surrounding agricultural landscape.

The expressive roof of the fuel station combines the architectural prelude of the building and brings together the entrance and exit of it, along the 24-hour service area (restrooms, gas pumps, telephone and bancomat). When entering the building, the customer experiences a generous entrance area. Circling the building clockwise, the customer passes by the shop for local produce and products, restaurant, bar area, take-away, tourism information and finally arrives at the shop, the register and exit area.

The cross-shaped layout allows to accommodate quieter areas for conference purposes and a serviced restaurant. These areas have large-format windows opening towards and establishing connections to the Viamala canyon, Muttnerhöhe, Schin canyon and the Domleschg valley. Additionally to those great views, the wooden interior of the service area expresses warmth and cozy concealment. This atmosphere is supposed to contrast the outside appearance.

Including the gas station, the service area has a gross volume of 8,500 m3 and an underground floor below the entire building. Accessible via stairs and a freight elevator, the underground floor hosts heating, building technology, storage and staff wardrobes. The public areas like restaurant, conference room and the shop have direct access to the outside, therefore no particular fire emergency precautions were mandatory. The main load bearing elements are wood, complemented by some stiffening concrete slabs. These elements carry the interior wooden finishing and the exterior façade from metal. The building with its weatherproof and low maintenance façade from metal references through the formal design and choice of materials the surrounding landscape but also automobile technology.

The roof construction of one meter thickness, consisting of beams from laminated wood and rafters in between is not insulated and completely aerated. The insulation is installed through a suspended ceiling. The wall elements of timber frame construction where prefabricated and mounted at the construction. For the Viamala Raststätte, wood was used for the construction, interior finish and for heating, employing wood pellets.

Special edition launch: Marmite XO

Core Design has created an exclusive run of 200 hand-crafted jars for the launch of new extra-matured Marmite ‘XO’. A brand iconic in the UK, which has remained virtually unchanged for decades. The new flavour variant has been developed through an innovative social media campaign, creatively directed by The Core. In a unique example of consumer engagement, the brand offered its thirty biggest fans (so-called ‘super-lovers’) the chance to be inducted into a secret society, The Marmarati...

There they were given responsibility for refining the flavour, telling their story via blogs, social media sites and recruiting a wider group of members. Thanks to their work, hundreds of Lovers submitted proof of their love to www.marmarati.org in the hope of being initiated into The Marmarati’s ‘Second Circle’. One hundred and sixty made the grade.

Tasked with creating a beautiful, highly-collectable piece to reward this group for their efforts and welcome them into the society, The Core focussed on building rich vintage cues around Marmite’s key equities: black and gold. Each jar was hand-dipped in black wax and stamped with the gold crest of the Marmarati. The lids were finished with a watchstrap detail, individually signed and numbered by Lord Marmarati himself.

The resulting packs arrived with fans, selected press and buyers with an accompanying ‘taster’ jar of the finished XO product. Says Unilever’s Tom Denyard, Marketing Manager for Marmite, “The commemorative jar had to be something special – we were asking people to give up their time to submit proof of their love for the brand and the jar was their reward. It’s a testament to the quality of the design that when we ‘leaked’ images of how it would look, Twitter and Facebook exploded with conversation and entries increased threefold. Our Lovers just had to have one.”

The 9 Hours Capsule Hotel + Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne

The 9 Hours is the brand new capsule hotel unveiled in December 2009 by Tokyo-based Cubic Corp. Designed in a collaboration with designer Fumie Shibata of Design Studio S, it looks nothing like its predecessors and represents a revolution in the capsule concept. Gabriel Leigh visits the hotel to see what's different.

What makes a great hotel manager? Who is shaping the future of hospitality? Monocle visits the famous Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne to observe the service stars of tomorrow as they are put through their paces.

Design Miami 2009

Celebrating its fifth year, a record-breaking 23,000 people visited Design Miami this year. The event is a showcase for the world's best limited-edition design. Curators, collectors, gallerists and press descend on Miami's historical design district to take in the shows, shops and exhibitions. Monocle reports from the Sunshine State and explores how the world of design art is maturing.

Design Miami/ is the global forum that brings together the most influential dealers, collectors, designers, curators and critics from around the world in celebration of design culture and commerce. Inspired by the galvanizing effect of Art Basel Miami Beach, the founders of Design Miami/ set out to create a design fair unlike any other that came before.

They envisioned a new commercial and cultural forum that would capture the thriving general interest in design and elevate appreciation for limited-edition, experimental and historically significant design work, presented within an energetic, visually striking environment. No other design fair had ever attempted such a feat. From its inception, Design Miami/ was intended to be more than just a marketplace for high-end design.Two unique shows are held each year: Design Miami/, every December in Miami, and Design Miami/ Basel every June in Basel, Switzerland.

Ermenegildo Zegna 16 min interview on centenary + future

Editor-in-chief of Monocle Tyler Brûlé welcomes Gildo Zegna, CEO of supreme Italian menswear brand Ermenegildo Zegna, to the Monocle HQ in London to discuss the brand's centenary in 2010 and its longer-term future.

Core-toon: Stick of Buttergum

Artist: fueledbycoffee
More: View all Core-toons

Milan Furniture Fair 2009

All eyes have been on the Salone, the world's biggest and most important furniture fair, held in Milan. In the first of two films, Sarah Balmond reports from the sprawling Rho exhibition halls and the city's many design hotspots.

2009 AIA Housing Awards: Highlights

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) recently announced the 17 recipients of the 2009 Housing Awards. The AIA’s Housing Awards Program, now in its ninth year, was established to recognize the best in housing design and promote the importance of good housing as a necessity of life, a sanctuary for the human spirit and a valuable national resource.

The jury recognized projects in four award categories: One/Two Family Custom Housing, One/Two Family Production Housing, Special Housing, and Multifamily Housing.

All of the following are from the One/Two Family Custom Housing category. I wasn't too interested in the rest of the winners. You can check them out at the link above if you're so inclined.

Chuckanut Drive Residence – Bellingham, Washington
The Miller | Hull Partnership

This 1400 square foot main house and guest house/ garage is located on a heavily wooded cliff site with views out over the San Juan Islands of Washington State. The plan orients to major views south down the coast line and west out to the islands while being careful to stay outside of the drip line of the dominate Douglas-fir trees.

Laidley Street Residence – San Francisco, California
Zack / de Vito Architecture

The goal of the project was to create a modern, eco-sensitive, urban retreat that was kid tough and kid friendly. Materials, details and connections are visible expressions of the design and construction. This is exemplified in the intricate staircase where water jet-cut steel stringers support translucent acrylic treads and risers. The house was designed and built using sustainable design principles. Energy efficiency, low consumption and low toxicity were key ideas.

Montecito Residence – Montecito, California
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects

Montecito Residence is a single-family home set in the fire-prone Toro Canyon. The owners wanted a house that minimized its use of scarce natural resources and recognized the challenging environmental conditions of the area. The raised roof functions as an umbrella to shield the house from the sun, while the long central hallway allows naturally cool offshore breezes to move through the space. The hallway also creates an axis dividing the private from the public.

Low Country Residence- Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Frank Harmon Architect

The long, one-room-deep floor plan gives each room windows and porches overlooking Shem Creek. A modern interpretation of Charleston’s historic shutters provides protection from harsh weather and summer sun. Operable windows provide natural cross-ventilation and lighting. Approaching the house under a canopy of moss-draped live oaks and up a gentle ramp, the view of the marsh appears like an element in a Japanese painting.

700 Palms Residence – Venice, California
Ehrlich Architects

The objective for this eco-friendly residence in Venice, California was to: design a high-performance home that dissolves the barriers between indoors and outdoors; utilize raw, honest materials appropriate to the bohemian grittiness of the surrounding community; and have the smallest carbon footprint in balance with lifestyle. The house design takes full advantage of the local climate such that a net zero energy building is obtained.

House at Sagaponac – Wainscott, New York
TsAO & McKOWN Architects

A significant issue was how to root the house to the earth; the nearly flat site in a young growth forest offered no footing. By reshaping the topography, the architects were able to establish the first level slightly below grade and sculpted the surrounding terrain into a gentle rise. The house functions on multiple levels - as much an intimate retreat for two (or one) as an accommodating host to an extended family (or numerous guests).

Audi Shark Concept

The brainchild of Turkish design protege Kazim Doku, the Audi Shark is a conceptual futuristic four-ringed hovercraft that won Audi's most recent design competition. The styling borrows elements from the R8, TT and S5, and looks thoroughly Audi right down to the LED lighting. A front-hinged canopy and air foils replacing the wheels are straight out of sci-fi, though. It's a compelling vision of the future in which we'd love to take a ride, and it isn't Doku's first prize-winning design, either. His Ustuminki concept made the final cut in Peugeot's 2007 design competition, while his door-less KA-Design concept won first prize in his native Turkey's Ototrend competition. The Audi contest awards Doku with a 70% scholarship to the prestigious Domus Academy, but he tragically had to turn it down as he couldn't put up the remaining 30. If you're interested in helping Kazim out with a little tuition cash, pretty sure he'd be glad to hear from you through his website.

Competition Winning Border Crossing Oasis, Mexico-USA

With this proposal for a border crossing for pedestrians between Mexico and the United States, Belgian firm OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen, in collaboration with Wonne Ickx, won the first prize in an international design competition back in 2005. Not necessarily the latest competition news, but the architectural and political issue of construction projects along the US-Mexican border remains highly explosive and, yet, unresolved.

This is how the architects describe the project:

“An oblong volume provides a border crossing for pedestrians between Mexico and the US, and interrupts the endless demarcated boundary. A nine-meter high wall defines a no-man’s-land between the two countries. Within the white walls a grid of palm trees imposes order on a large, shaded garden. Pavilions for passport control and administration are spread around here and there, becoming part of the garden. The oasis is a point of reference in the vast Tex-Mex landscape, hidden within the open landscape by its walls. In all its simplicity it raises questions about the desire for the promised land.”

100 Cereal Box Design

Nothing says nutrition like a sugar loaded box of Jets or FrostyO's. theimaginaryworld.com has a pretty good collection of some really cool Cereal box design. Really makes you appreciate the good old days when you could put pretty much whatever the hell you wanted to in your product and still target kids.

mmmm, Count Chocula.

the new pepsi logo

Pepsi has sent to twenty-five lucky "digital and social media influencers" three separately-shipped packages unveiling the new identity and packaging, flaunting the old Pepsi logos as if this new work was honoring what came before it. The package also included a DVD with a little motion piece that you can watch here.

Find more videos like this on AdGabber

While a fresh look is always interesting it remains to be seen how this logo reboot will be accepted by the masses.

movable Braille timepiece, Haptica

this is really impressive. David Chavez (his website) is a designer who just won a Spark Award (Spark's website) for his brilliant Braille watch design dubbed Haptica which displays a real-time readout in Braille using a military time format. It's a little surprising that no one had thought of this before.

Banksy's Village Pet Store & Grill

fishsticks in their natural habitat

There's a Banksy show/installation in Greenwich Village which opened 10/9.

"The Village Pet Store and Grill" has pet-like displays along with items that might make one hungry. Hot dogs and salami as gerbils, a hairless Tweety bird, fish sticks in a fish tank, chicken products in a coop, a grooming rabbit, a fur coat doubling as a cat, and best of all, a chimp watching chimp porn. (It's all animatronics.)

Lest the hours on the store's business cards fool you, it's actually open from 10am - midnight (not the printed time of 12pm) through October 31st at 89 7th Ave. South (btwn Jekyll and Hyde and Sushi Samba). There's talk the show may be recreated somewhere else after the run.

Check out the official site here: Village Pet store and Charcoal Grill