Ando’s new wave
PRESS materials trumpeting the latest from Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando said he rejects “rampant consumerism” in modern building, which must have made this project quite a challenge given its location: between Lalique and Gucci, around the corner from Tiffany & Co., across the street from Bulgari and squarely in the heart of Consumerism Central, Rodeo Drive. The Ando-designed Georg Jensen boutique scheduled to open today showcases the luxury brand’s jewelry, watches, tableware and decorative accessories -- classic Danish minimalism that gets an electric dose of Tokyo cool, thanks to luminescent walls that glow an icy blue. “I wanted the products to look like they are floating in water,” the press-shy Japanese architect, left, said through a representative. The design for the long, narrow space takes into consideration “the organic beauty and simplicity that is Georg Jensen,” he said. 230 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 860-1410; www.georgjensen.com.
-- Craig Nakano
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HAPPENING
Recycled beauty just as divine
Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design will launch its “eco-chic” collection, Woods & Fields, on Friday night. The line includes the Chinoiserie Chrysanthemum wallpaper pattern, which is printed on recycled paper and comes with custom color combinations ($10 a foot in the standard 27-inch width). Reconditioned furniture and accessories, such as these one-of-a-kind pillows (from $125), are upholstered in fabric remnants, vintage patchwork and ribbons, says co-owner Jaime Rummerfield, “because so many beautiful things go to waste.” The line’s unveiling is part of the studio’s first anniversary celebration, 6 to 9 p.m. at 724 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 659-3010; www.wandrdesign.com.
-- David A. Keeps
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FINDS
L.A. served on a platter
Call it a landmark plate: Dodger Stadium, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the ballyhooed new CalTrans district headquarters and other iconic sites of Los Angeles mapped on porcelain by notNeutral, the retail arm of Rios Clementi Hale design studios. The palate-friendly palette is a snapshot of an evolving landscape, with notable architecture in persimmon, buildings under development in tangerine, park space in avocado green and proposed park space in lemon yellow. The limited edition piece, which premiered at the American Institute of Architects convention earlier this month, measures 12 1/2 inches in diameter and is intended for wall display or coffee tables, if not the dining room. It will be sold for $48 (printed map key included) at notNeutral’s L.A. store, 6824 Melrose Ave., and on its website, www.notneutral.com.
-- Craig Nakano
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ENTERTAINING
A rainbow topping
Tie-dye takes a giant leap forward with these pieces from the west African nation of Togo. Pungent colors and hypnotic patterns have been applied to crisp cotton and silk fabrics that have a hint of Jacquard weave. The 4-by-10-foot panels ($120) are intended as table toppers but can also be used as window panels or twin bed coverlets. They come in rainbow brights and earthy tones suitable for many decor schemes. Lost & Found Etc. in Hollywood, (323) 856-5872.
-- David A. Keeps
