Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Hotel Le Germain_VICTOR 3
The design presentation was very well received and we are full steam ahead with sourcing and detailing, designing with luxurious materials, iconic shapes, custom furnishings and elements that will suit our ultimate vision and master plan for Le Germain's Victor.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Back in the World
THE HIGHLINE, NYC, taken with my vintage SX-70 Land Camera
This latest trip to New York for the ICFF was fantastic; it was an opportunity to reconnect, refocus, and engage in the sheer wealth of culture that propels design. Several hotels - new and old - proved to be grounding points for the exploration. 6 Columbus, the Ace Hotel, the Mercer, the Bowery, Crosby Street, the Gramercy, the Standard, and even the Plaza served as relevant references to reflect on for current and upcoming projects. Each of the hotels embodies a vision of luxury with complexity and personality; this typology continually influences our evolving approach to design.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Porter Air to NYC
One of the shining benefits of working from Toronto is the Porter Air experience flying out from the downtown Toronto Island Airport. While waiting for a flight to New York, one realizes how small but thoughtful details in hospitality and design can elevate an experience exponentially. Their completely civilized yet simple offering of a complimentary cappuccino, newspaper and wireless internet (to be enjoyed whilst ensconced in a comfortable lounge) transforms the usually bleak cattle call of air travel into a welcome and tranquil pause between great cities. Plus, the little ferry ride to the Island adds a childlike moment of pleasure and anticipation.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Arne Jacobsen
To continue further along our Scandinavian reflections...
Hearing New York architect Michael Sheridan speak about Arne Jacobsen at the Vola event at Gingers was a crystal clear reminder that Jacobsen has always been a fundamental role model for this practice. The holistic integration of architecture, interiors, industrial design, wallpaper and textiles was Jacobsen's indelible legacy; this vision and dovetailing of disciplines has been a constant inspiration for each of the endeavors for Jenny Francis Design projects. Even his design process using watercolour renderings bears a kinship with the meditative introspection gained by creating our own watercolour sketchbooks, and the wallpaper designs that had evolved from those. What fortune, to be able to aspire to such achievement, engagement with the world, and clarity.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Aalto
Seeing Alvar Aalto's lamps last night at Per Kristiansen's photography reception at Mjolk was a reminder of seeing the originals in situ in Finland, during a glorious four summer months touring the country and its architecture. Aalto was a master. True, during those four months the sun had never gone down, but it is not hard to imagine that the glow of these lamps was all the more precious during the long months of darkness.
This family of lamps was first designed in the 30's and then further developed in the 50's; what prolific periods to lay the groundwork for modern design.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Sketchbook 20
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Having recently become enamoured again with Venetian and Florentine cuisine a trip back to Venice is high on the priority list, to visit friends with their own bed and breakfast in a beautiful palazzo. Venice is very dear to the heart.Remembering the perfection of Michaelangelo's David it is amazing that several more slabs of marble from the very same mountain are being used for a new project. It is a rather sentimental yet fitting convergence that these slabs will be for surfaces on which to enjoy great food.
Fritz Hansen
JF
Photo Credit: Republic of Fritz Hansen
Monday, May 3, 2010
KDC Innovation Group
The new offices for the KDC Innovation Group are now complete.
Architect: JENNY FRANCIS Design
Interior Design: Mazen Studio
Builder: Parallel General
Engineers: Fu Associates
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