This Underground Home in the swiss village of Vals has me wide-eyed. What a stunning piece of architecture. And did you see that long dining table? That’s.what.I.want.one.day!
The house is a collaboration between the Netherlands architects at SeARCH and Christian Muller Architects.
(thank you marcel)
I was featured on swiss tv in the TV show called SF Unterwegs, in a show about NYC.
You can view the segment that was filmed at swissmiss studio here.
You can view the entire show online, right here. (It’s in swiss/german!)
How incredibly cool is this Candle Light Raclette set that comes with a superhip truck-tarp pouch? Made me smile and want melted cheese at 7:16am.
Mr. Fries and Mr. Zumbühl in action
Townhouse Zurich teamed up with Zurich based design office Fries&Zumbühl and created this modern bedside lamp. The Townhouse lamp can be set up in three different positions to regulate the light intensity and can thus be used as a reading, mood or night light. Like Japanese Origami the lamp is folded from a singular sheet of metal and held together without any screws. A 2 mm plexiglas is inserted to ensure a soft glow. Manufactured 100% in Switzerland, energy saving bulb included. Design by Fries&Zumbühl exclusively for Townhouse.
Oh, this custom Book-Harp Shelf by swiss designer Hanspeter Steiger makes me swoon. Here’s what he writes about the piece on his site: “The strings of the book-harp are a play of light and statics, three-dimensional picture and bookend, transparent and complete simultaneously. Depending on the angle of the literary instrument it seems once closed, sometimes translucent – and turns to life upon passing. It captures the passer-by at the corner of his eye and draws attention to itself, the variegated content, or out into the sky.”
Here’s a product that made me look: Umgewohnt, a switzerland based company, produced these awesome felt door/window handle protectors. Just slip them on your door or window handle and voila, no more slamming of the door and making dents into the wall. Beautiful and practical. Here’s a list of stores that carries them. (But man, they need a better web presence!)
Sledding was a huge part of my swiss upbringing, so it comes to no surprise that this Sled Coffee Table and Rug made me smile. A Coffee table that interacts with its Rug, the coffee table is in the shape of a traditional child’s sled and sits neatly into a thick pile rug with two deep groves cut into it, giving the impression of compressed snow under the weight of the skis.
Last summer, Felice Varini did this installation called “Cercle et suite d’éclats” in Vercorin, Switzerland. I agree with Pieter of TodayAndTomorrow, the scale of this point of view artwork is very impressive.
(Caution, might not be considered safe for work in certain working environments:)
Frozen In Time, Switzerland is a fascinating project by photographer Nathalie Daoust. These surreal, dreamlike images began as black and white photographs, taken with a pinhole camera, then hand-colored.through life experiences, loss and sorrow as well as pleasure.
(via bauldoff)
How beautiful are these minimal Containers DS by swiss Kuno Nüssli? Inspired by freight containers they are stackable and you can outfit them with legs and wheels if necessary. Love it!
Most of the working population have to rely on their tie to show a bit of color. Freitag strives to change that and are launching two new computer bags: F76 LEO and F77 BEN. Both of them have an integrated laptop sleeve (13“ and 15“), inner and outer pockets, and lots of elbowroom, for climbing up the corporate ladder.
The Book about Swiss Cheese Makers began as an editorial project for a journalist friend. “I expected this to be an agricultural trip, meeting people who make a living through the production of cheese in a more or less industrial way,” Scheffold confesses” But far from it: I met unorthodox lateral thinkers, visionary fellows, modest canny and successful people living and working in some of the most spectacular landscapes of Switzerland. Some sell their products abroad, inventing a new cheese every other month, some work exactly as they have learned from their fathers, now sometimes just selling to hikers visiting their remote location by chance. But all of them seemed to follow an individual vision they are not willing to betray for growth and money.”
“Swiss Cheese Makers“, by Fabian & István Scheffold & Vizner, Switzerland
(via my long-distance roommate BBlinks)
Love these Recycling Awareness Ribbons by swiss designer Mayari. RRR Ribbons are made from used beverage cartons. It’s all about upcycling. Reuse, reduce and Recycle.
Here’s how to make a RRR Ribbon: (It’s subtitled but she is speaking swiss german, in case you’re wondering!)
The Swiss Cultural Center in Paris will be showing (and selling) the winners of 2008 The Most Beautiful Swiss Books competition.
(via @Piers and Swiss Legacy)
MySwitzerland.com is planning a TV shoot for Chuck Henry’s “Travel Cafe” (NBC4) and is looking for a US family with kids under 16, traveling in Switzerland anytime between September 19-24, who are willing to be interviewed. Reward: Swiss Passes 1st Class for the whole family for the time of their stay. Swiss Passes are the coolest thing ever when traveling in Switzerland. Really. Email me if you’re interested in this and I’ll put you in touch with lovely Michelle of MySwitzerland.
You like threaded conversations, googling your inbox, and you prefer labels over folders. You really love Gmail. Continue to use the Gmail web interface you know and love, but from Mailplane instead of your web browser: Mailplane brings Gmail to your desktop. (Oh, look, this nifty app has been cooked up by a swiss. Yay!)
If the folks here at swissmiss studio would have to wear a uniform, this Cross Felt Bracelet would be our accessory of choice.
(via substudio)
Here’s a Zurich based site/campaign that made me look and jump off my seat. (klugeszuerich.ch is in german only, sorry) Mission for a smart Zurich: Philosophical and ethical questions printed on white stickers began appearing on Zurich lampposts, hydrants and trash bins in fall of 2007. The mission grew into 5000 stickers, two poster campaigns and 60′000 eBoard screens in train stations. Some of the questions are: “Are you a good person. When did it start?” “When are you egoistic?” “What do you see when you look into your heart?” “Do you love your partner for what he is or for what he could be?”
I wasn’t able to figure out who’s behind it. Anyone know?
(via @blancpain)
Now here’s a completely useless but *highly* entertaining iPhone App that was just released by Bell, a big swiss butcher chain. The app basically let’s you BBQ a bratwurst in real time. By blowing into the microphone you increase the BBQ fire/heat. Two thumbs up for originality to the crew over at ROD communications. Made me laugh (and hungry).
Download the App here over at iTunes.
