Church of Seed by O Studio Architects

Even though the material palette for this church is austere, the overall effect of the gracefully formed concrete seems more humane. Designed by O Studio Architects, the church sits on top of a hill in Huizhou. China. Even though the hill is “one of the seven famous Taoist Mountains in China” the new church is Christian. The addition of a western house of worship among the Taoist and Buddhist temples creates a kind of diversity that the client, who also develops housing, wanted to achieve for the villagers. I can see traces of other famous western churches in this small church (I’m looking at you two, Ronchamp and Bagsvard) and more recently celebrated techniques like in situ concrete, formed here using bamboo. The simple chairs were made by local farmers.

Alex

Pavilions in Bailianjing Park by Taranta Creations

Public art is always a great opportunity to do something exciting that can bring some joy to people. This series of small pavilions created by Taranta Creations line the Hangpu River in Shanghai. It’s a beautiful series of random installations with bold colors and quite odd, alien-looking shapes. I wish I could find a video of the pavilions to see how the windmills turn in the wind. Looking at these, I imagine the characters from Katamari Damacy live inside them.

Found through Contemporist

Bobby

Natural, peaceful illustrations from Gracia Lam

Came across these lovely illustrations by Gracia Lam and was really taken aback by how calming they are. The subject matters are quite varied for each piece, but I like that they all have a similar set of aesthetics and a common color palette. I want to say they almost have a zen-like quality to them; there’s just something so soothing about these pieces that makes me want to sit and stare at them.

Found through It’s Nice That

Bobby

‘Come With Me’ – The Unbelievable Drawings of Na Zhao

Wow! The drawings of the Beijing-based artist Na Zhao are just incredible. The detail in which she works is difficult to comprehend, and it’s hard to imagine the scale that these images exhibit in real life. Apart from the pure craftsmanship of what she does, Na Zhao’s work also looks incredible. Her images are surreal and beautiful.

The two pieces of work above are particularly mind-blowing. Both entitled Come With Me, they feel as fantastical as they do profound. Both show a girl and a large herd of animals as they stand in transit upon a short moving walkway. Na Zhao’s gentle pencil work and delicate use of color, create powerful images that will no doubt stun and amaze.

Philip

The Chinese takeout container and Fortune Cookies – Made in America?

About a month ago, an interesting little article was posted over on the New York Times pointing out that the iconic Chinese takeout container isn’t Chinese at all. I’m not sure if these containers are used globally or not; They’re not used in China, but here in America these containers are symbolic of Chinese foods and are used in every Chinese restaurant I’ve ever been in. As it turns out, though, the container was invented by a fellow named Frederick Weeks Wilcox to transport raw oysters:

Wilcox’s paper box seems to have been an advance in existing “oyster pail” technology. (The oyster pail, as described by Ernest Ingersoll in his 1880 book, “The Oyster Industry,” was “a wooden receptacle with a locked cover used in transporting raw oysters.”) At any rate, the paper oyster pail and the incipient Chinese-food industry — which was beginning its meteoric rise in the early 20th century — seemed made for each other. “It’s nearly leakproof, and it’s disposable, and they’re really inexpensive,” says Michael Prince, who redesigned the Box O’ Joe Coffee carton for Dunkin’ Donuts. “Origami can make a really cool transport device.”

Similar is the story of the Fortune Cookie which also isn’t Chinese, and was most likely invented by Japanese immigrants living in California in the 1890s or early 1900s. Makoto Hagiwara of Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is reported to have been the first person in the USA to have served the modern version of the cookie.

Bobby