Entries covering the categories ‘furniture’, ‘kitchenware’ and ‘gadget’, will be judged on how much they epitomise iconic Italian style, on quality and detail, and the relevance to the aperitivo. Winning designs will be developed into prototypes and shown at the ICA in September, with the possibility of the overall winning design being developed for Alessi.

Read the interview on Wallpaper.

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This clever pen stands upright on its base. To write, simply hold the pen with its tip facing down–a pen point slides down with the force of gravity and locks in place. To retract, return to the upright position. Uses D1 mini ballpoint refill. Made of ABS plastic and steel. Buy from the MOMA store.

Just weeks after Opium shut its South Beach doors and moved to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino complex near Hollywood, the guys behind the hugely successful megaclub crobar/Cameo are opening a joint at Fort Lauderdale beach. So, is SoBe style migrating north?

Not necessarily. Exit 66, which has its grand opening Wednesday night, is about as far from glam and velvet rope exclusion as one can get. The club aims to take trucker chic to the next level, billing itself as “a fusion of American life with a dose of ’60s kitsch, wrapped up in the sex appeal of the eternal mud flap vixen.”

Cal Fortis, who designed the laid-back America’s Backyard parties at Revolution in Fort Lauderdale, says he was going for a similar vibe, but with a twist. “Instead of backyard Americana, it’s the back roads of America, which are much darker and a little dirtier and sexy. So that idea developed into a fictional character named Billy and his journey along Route 66 and all of his roadside experiences. Call it Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Road Trip.”

Exit 66 features five whimsically themed rooms: Woody’s Bar and Pleasure Liner Lounge (a rock ‘n’ roll bar), Cool Pool (inspired by Paul Newman’s 1963 billiards film, The Hustler), Madame B. Atch’s Bunny Ranch (a burlesque saloon), Chiki-Tiki (a surreal Gilligan’s Island) and the main room, Exit 66, with Billy’s Bar (inspired by the ’60s biker flick Easy Rider).

Fortis says that although Exit 66 intentionally departs from SoBe style, it’s no drop in quality. ”This is the level of a world-class nightclub,” he says. “It has the bones of what we’ve done with crobar in Miami, New York and Chicago, just in a more theatrical, economy-driven way.”

That means instead of having to spend $500 on VIP bottle service, Exit 66 will offer ”30 Pabst Blue Ribbon longnecks in a champagne bucket,” says Fortis. The club will be overflowing with tongue-in-cheek attitude.

Read more on Miami Herald.

Dangling cables result in damaged wires over time and you end up buying new ones. Well, once again the creative mind is at work with a functional design that makes us say, “why didn’t anybody think of his before”. Thankfully designer Ji Woong did. It is still at a concept level but hopefully it goes into production soon because these are just great.

The SnowCastle of Kemi by the Gulf of Bothnia is the source of great pride as well as a true showcase of architectonic snow-work of the local constructors. Every winter the SnowCastle offers wonderful experiences for both children and adults alike. Great light-effects will add to the charm of the snow- and ice-sculpting as well as to the structures about the SnowCastle.

The constructions of the SnowCastle 2009 at the Inner Port of Kemi began on December 31st. Opening ceremonies was held on Friday the 30th of January 2009.

Over its history of ten years the SnowChapel has become a long-time favourite for the visitors of the SnowCastle; it is a good place to quiet one’s mind and calm down.

The Chapel is ecumenical and is available for all church-groups. You can arrange wedding-, christening- or other church-related events there.

In the SnowHotel there are rooms for singles, couples as well as bigger groups. There are 18 rooms for doubles / singles and two group-rooms with five beds as well as a Honeymoon Suite. The whole SnowHotel and the rooms inside are made of snow.

The fresh, about -5 degrees Celsius breathing-air, will guarantee you sweet dreams inside a well-equipped sleeping-bag on a good bed. You will have a memorable sleeping-experience in the SnowHotel!

Sleeping in the SnowHotel includes also breakfast served inside the warm CastleLounge and after breakfast you will have the chance to go and take a shower and go to the sauna in a nearby Hotel.

The Castle will be closed on the 10th of April at 7 pm.

Karim Rashid’s Sound Flo

You know when you go out to a restaurant, trying to have a conversation at the table, you don’t hear a word anybody is saying… The music isn’t even loud, where the heck is this noise coming from? The ambient chatter bouncing off the untreated walls and ceilings.

One of the biggest problems entertainment venues suffer from is lack of acoustic planning. Dampening the sound is what’s needed to keep noise levels under control.

Celebrity designer Karim Rashid says he has always been interested in sound-dampening strategies, having ‘‘been to one too many restaurants where I cannot hear my dinner guests.’’

Rashid designed Sound Flo Tiles for Swedish furniture company Offecct that’s made of molded recyclable polyester fiber in a multitude of colors. The great thing about these panels is the installation. It is as easy as placing them on the wall of your living room, office, restaurant or wherever.

While you’re at it, if you are into removing clutter from your life by way of minimal design and balancing actions, go read Rashid’s book Design Your Self.