Wonderwall Inc.

Fred Perry Moscow by Wonderwall

I had to post this.

I'm a sucker for retail store design - boutiques, in particular - and after doing some reading I found out that a single firm is behind creating the retail identity of several of my favourite brands.

Out of Japan, Wonderwall is the leading firm in the retail design business, creating unique experiences within commercial spaces all over the world since 2000. Their work isn't limited to interiors as they also have creative direction over architectural design.

A.P.C. store in Kita-Aoyama, Tokyo

View portfolio via Wonderwall.

Frank O. Gehry "since 1997" Exhibition

Walt Disney Concert Hall, 1999 -2003 @ 1:50 scale

Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry is being honoured with his first exhibition entitled "since 1997" currently on display at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan. The collection, co-curated by Gehry himself, brings together a selection of his iconic projects and attempts to explore how the buildings interact with its surrounding environment and human scale.

I don't know about you, but this scaled version of the Walt Disney Concert Hall would look great in my living room. Regardless, it's nice to see architecture make its way into art galleries.

More photos via DesignBoom.

For a glimpse inside Gehry's creative process, watch the Sydney Pollack directed documentary, Sketches of Frank Gehry here.

Vancouverism

Living Shangri-La is Vancouver's tallest building. Designed by James KM Cheng Architects Inc. (Photo by Uncle Buddha via Flickr)

I've seen this term being thrown around in various architecture readings, but never really knew what the term encompassed. Here is what I've learned:

"Vancouverism is characterized by tall, but widely separated, slender towers interspersed with low-rise buildings, public spaces, small parks and pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and facades to minimize the impact of a high density population."

Wedged between the sea, mountains and the US border, Vancouverism is truly a product of its environment.

Here is an interesting comparison between New York's modern architecture and Vancouver's neomodern styles and the policies that allow them to exist.

And if you didn't know before, you do now.

Campus Walk: York University

The Ross Building's framed gateway which beyond it reveals a courtyard

The Ross Building is an example of what 1960s and 70s architecture looked like and has been criticized as looking like slabs of concrete piled on top of each other. It has a charm to it, doesn't it? Walking around campus, you will notice the several different architectural styles it employs based on the era the particular building was built.

After this enjoyable autumn stroll, expect me to elaborate on the University's architectural styles in the coming weeks.

I think I'm going to need a better camera.