HBL News: Melbourne is world's most liveable city

The results of 2011's Global Liveability Survey see Melbourne take first place, beating Vancouver - which had held the top position in the survey since 2002.

The BBC reports that Australian and Canadian cities in fact scooped seven of the top ten places, with cities assessed according to five key criteria: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure. London, sadly, ranks 43rd out of 140 cities in total. Melbourne's mayor, Robert Doyle, is reportedly "absolutely delighted" with the results.

South Tyrolean architecture

Photography by Luke Tebbutt

During a recent trip to South Tyrol, WGSN-homebuildlife was fascinated to see how contemporary architecture was being integrated into a traditional setting.

Design Indaba Shanghai

Robert Wong speaking at Design Indaba 2011

South Africa's renowned design fair and conference, Design Indaba, has announced a partnership with the city of Shanghai. As well as the launch of Design Indaba Shanghai, which sees the conference travel to the Far East for the first time, the event's organisers will also be creating an international design school in the city, and founding a Design Indaba Gallery to exhibit outstanding design from around the world.

Museum of Arts and Design celebrates fashion in film

New York City's Museum of Arts and Design is hosting a three-day event celebrating fashion, design and style in film on September 9-11 during New York Fashion Week. MAD has partnered with Vanity Fair and the Film Society of Lincoln Center to bring the public screenings, panel discussions and receptions co-curated by Barney's Creative Director Simon Doonan.

Screenings include iconic gems like William Klein's Qui Êtes-Vous, Polly Magoo? and new releases like the world premiere of Jan Sharp's new Rick Owens Documentary Rick, Michele, and Scarlett. The weekend will be a delight for fashion, design and film enthusiasts alike. Purchase tickets for the film series here.

HBL Blog of the Week: Turntable Kitchen

Turntable Kitchen

Turntable Kitchen is a blog devoted to pairing music with food. San Francisco-based founders Kasey and Matthew regularly post recipes, album reviews and hand-picked 'Musical Pairings' which combine the two. The aim is to "introduce food lovers to music and vice versa".

HBL loves: the blog's recently launched Turntable Kitchen Pairings Box - a selection of fresh ingredients, recipe cards and music pairings delivered directly to the customer each month. Described as "a curated food and music discovery experience", it's the perfect example of a blog logically extending its brand offline.

Designer dogwalk at Bergdorf-Goodman

Best In Show: Designer's Dogs Take the Catwalk; image via www.terra.com

Bergdorf-Goodman has announced that it will again stage a designer dog catwalk show during New York Fashion Week. The US department store's last event of this nature, called Best In Show: Designer's Dogs Take the Catwalk, was held during Fashion's Night Out last NY Fashion Week and was a huge hit with bloggers (more photos here).

WGSN-homebuildlife subscribers can see how dogs have stolen the limelight on the catwalk this season in our Pets lifestyle trends report.

HBL Retail: Lane Crawford A/W 11/12

Environment Captain, Lane Crawford A/W 11/12. Image copyright: Nick Maggio

Hong Kong department store Lane Crawford has categorised its forthcoming autumn/winter 2011/12 collection into three themes: Scandinavian Modernist, Eco Chic and Intersection. Here, WGSN-homebuildlife previews Eco Chic - a product direction which sees old become new again as home decor embraces upcycling.

Restoration Hardware Launches New Publication

A new print magazine from American brand Restoration Hardware showcases the most complete expression of the brand to date and represents another example of the emerging trend of custom publishing as a marketing tool. The magazine features original editorial profiles by independent journalists and photographers that share the stories of designers and craftsmen who have designed the company’s latest products.

This Is Design & Designers In Residence

Candlestick Telephone, 1920; image courtesy of the Design Museum Collection

London's Design Museum has just opened its doors to two new exhibitions, both running until January 2012. The first, This Is Design, opens today, and is an informative display of the museum's permanent collection. Organised into four themes, each object is used to consider the impact of design on both everyday lives and society at large. A highlight for us was a display of three telephones designs, ranging from a 1920 Candlestick Telephone to a 1960s 'clamshell' style.

Simon Hasan's boiled leather stools at Designers In Residence

The second exhibition, Designers In Residence, continues the museum's tradition of commissioning new and emerging designers to develop work. This year's theme is imperfection: specifically "to consider the idea of imperfection either in an object, environment or experience". Each of the four designers showed a very different response, with the show tracking their work from prototypes and developments to 'final' pieces.

Nendo's monochrome solo exhibition

Japanese designers Nendo have created monotone rooms to showcase their work at the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute. Split into two rooms, Nendo's solo show later this month will display both their Thin Black Lines and Dancing Squares projects.

HBL Retail: Jonathan Adler in London

Home Accents Today reports that Jonathan Adler will be opening s store in London. The 3,000 sq ft store with two-levels will be Adler's first international freestanding branch is set to open in early October at 60 Sloane Avenue, London SW3.

HBL Analysis: Luxury lounging

Cashmere bed socks by the White Company

Luxury loungewear is a market that has been steadily growing since 2009. Harder economic times in the West have changed social habits, meaning people are more likely to enjoy dinner and a movie at home than a frivolous night out on the town. Spending more time in the home calls for a new type of wardrobe that is both stylish and comfortable.

In stores, loungewear is often grouped not with clothing, but with soft home accessories. With this in mind, WGSN-homebuildlife analyses the growing popularity of luxury loungewear and its influence on the homeware sector.