Category: Design

Dream in a drain pipe: Drain Hotel in a park

Drain Hotel

This will prove you wrong if you believed everything has been invented already:

In July 2005, under the motto “Book a Pipe Dream”, Austrian Andreas Strauss has set up Das Parkhotel/ Andi’s Place (the Park Hotel) in a park in Ottensheim, on the Danube river border, near Linz, Austria. It is only open in Summer and operates under the Pay as you wish principle: You are asked to leave as much money as you want to pay for the place. No Bad room, minibar or toilet available: You are asked to make use of publicly available toilets a couple of yards to the left or to the right and of the mini bar of a gas station in the neighborhood. Reservations via the website where you get an access code for the electronic lock.

Source: Times Online

Update: After discovering the term Notel I’ve added this post to the Notel Category.

Last edited by GJE on March 30, 2011

Mouton Rothschild 2004 label designed by Prince Charles

Mouton Rothschild 2004

When clicking on the official and worthwhile site of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A. you are elegantly welcomed by Baroness Philippine herself.

The story:

HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES ILLUSTRATES THE LABEL OF CHATEAU MOUTON ROTHSCHILD 2004
Each year since 1945 the Mouton label has been illustrated with an original artwork by a contemporary artist. Generally on the theme of wine and the vine, it sometimes celebrates an historic event. Indeed 2004 occupies a special place in our memories since it marks the Centenary of the Entente Cordiale, concluded by Britain and France on 8 April 1904.
King Edward VII is known to have played a prominent part in the agreement, which would herald a genuine alliance during the First World War and forever transform two rival powers into sisters by choice.
The commemoration of such an important milestone in Franco-British relations was the occasion for many celebrations in 2004, culminating in official visits by both Heads of State. That is the spirit in which Baroness Philippine de Rothschild approached HRH The Prince of Wales, a talented artist and a direct descendant of Edward VII. The Prince agreed that the label for Mouton Rothschild 2004 could be illustrated with one of his watercolors, inspired by a French landscape, in celebration of the Entente Cordiale. He has added in his own hand: «To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Entente Cordiale – Charles, 2004».
Standing out against an azure sky, rooted in the depths of the soil, the pines depicted by the artist are in the image of the vine, fruit of the ever bountiful union of the sun and the earth.

(via Luxist)

Qbic: Dutch answer to Easy Hotel, Yotel and Hotel Everland

Qbic

Begin November 2006 the launch of Qbic Hip Hotels was announced by Paul Rinkens, Rino Soeters en Marcel Voermans, the people behind Design hotel La Bergère and Hip Hotel St Martenslane, both in Maastricht, as the Dutch answer to cube alike hotel concepts as Easy Hotel, Yotel and Hotel Everland:

Qbic Hip Hotel Amsterdam Center (at WTC, Strawinskylaan 241) is anticipated to open in March 2007.

Qbic Hip Hotel Antwerpen (at Sint Paulusstraat 42 / Lange Koepoortstraat 6) is anticipated to open in June 2007.

Each Cube will cover 7 m2 with a living room, King Size Hästens beds, Philippe Starck design bathroom elements, TV, radio, safe and wireless Internet access.

With individually adjustable varicolored led lights guests can establish their own atmosphere. Easily changeable wall panels will give the guest the possibility to adjust the atmosphere further.

The lobby in Amsterdam will be designed by Feran Thomassen and for Antwerp by Ontwerpers.nu (i.e. Designers.Now!). They envisage a digital “concierge kiosk” where through an ‘i- touch’ screen guests can gather the necessary information about things to do, where to wine and dine and where to party, or to contact a Qbic staff member who will be available on site.

Also a self service shop is anticipated for all amenities and necessities.

Pricing will be done by the “the-earlier-the-reservation-the-lower-the-price” system and vary from Euro 39,- to Euro 139,-.

Realization by PRM.

Last edited by GJE on December 3, 2011 at 11:43 pm

The one room cube: Hotel Everland

Everland

Hotel Everland is a hotel with only one room. It includes a bathroom deluxe, a king-size bed and a lounge. It is created by the Swiss artists Sabina Lang and Daniel Baumann The L and The B of “L/B”.

It was first developed for the Swiss national exhibition Expo.02 and was located on the lake of Yverdon. Afterwards the mobile pavilion was brought to Burgdorf and placed on the factory roof at L/B’s studio.

From June 2006 until August 2007 the cube is placed on the roof of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Leipzig, Germany. During the opening times of the museum, visitors can take a peek at the Hotel. After closing hours it’s reserved to the happy ones that have booked the room for a night.

In September 2007 Hotel Everland moves on to Paris where it will be installed on the roof of Palais de Tokyo. It will also be exhibited for one year and run as a hotel, but this time with a view on the Eiffel Tower.

Den Haag City marketing Logo launch

Indeed it was a spectacular ceremony:

The storm had passed. The rain had ceased. It remained cold and the air was full of stormy clouds. The moon showed up in 3/4 th mode. A podium was built over the pond in front of the The Hague City Museum. The scaffold had survived the Beaufort 10 force storm and not as many people as originally expected attended the ceremony.

Den Haag City Logo Ceremony 01

Last edited by GJE on December 3, 2011 at 11:38 pm

A local comedian introduced all items.
Den Haag City Logo Ceremony 02
There was a violin concert by
an orchestra of the The Hague Music Academy.
Den-Haag-Logo-Ceremony-Danc.jpg
There was a dancer.

There was a rap group. There was a pop group. There were several Aldermen explaining specific features of The Hague. There was a stand up comedian who complimented The Hague as the city of International Justice, and, being from New Zealand, the Dutch as the people who discovered New Zealand.

The Mayor explained that the logo was intended for marketing purposes only and not for the city board. He hinted that the logo referred to the Victory Boogie Woogie, the famous painting of Piet Mondriaan that is in the The Hague City Museum where the ceremony took place.

Anton Corbijn

Then Anton, shy, but far from inhibited, explained that he had lived in the UK for 27 years before he choose The Hague as his favorite city to live in. He continued that he was not allowed to use the stork and that no foreigner ever would connect a stork with The Hague. In his view the logo had to be colorful and easily reproducible by a child. He added that indeed the line represents the dunes. The kite is there, even as the rudimentary spermatozoa.

Den-Haag-Logo-Ceremony-05.jpg
The Alderman, The Mayor, Anton and the local comedian launching the Logo.
New-Logo-Den-Haag.jpg

Here is the logo: not the same as the version leaked to the press, but not so much different:

  • Grey instead of white background;
  • The word “Den Haag” (or do I read Len Laag?) in black rather than red;
  • H is wider; and
  • The red blot is less like a heart. On close inspection it seems to represent the topography of the city.

Okay, from now on one should refer to The Hague only as Den Haag, even if one doesn’t know how to pronounce it.

I am very afraid they missed the boat (or is it beat?…Den Haag used to The Beat City back in the 60ies). Why not take advantage of the fact that Anton is a famous photographer of Rock stars? How to connect Den Haag with this? Why not hint to the very effective slogan “The Hague, Royal City” or “The Hague, Royal City by the sea”?
(All photos gje)