Sol LeWitt installation at Mondrian SoHo

Sol LeWitt photo installation at Mondrian SoHo Hotel

This week, a permanent installation of photography by the late artist Sol LeWitt was unveiled at the Mondrian SoHo Hotel in New York City. Displayed on an exterior wall of the hotel, the installation consists of 120 photographs of New York’s Lower East Side taken by LeWitt in 1979. 

HBL Book of the WeekBrilliant: White in Design

Brilliant: White in Design by Linda O'Keeffe; image via core77

Written by the former creative director of Metropolitan Home magazine, Linda O'Keeffe, new coffee table book Brilliant: White in Design (Monacelli Press, 2011) aims to explore the power of the colour using examples from across interiors, art, architecture and nature.

Patrick Norguet designs French McDonald's interiors

French designer Patrick Norguet has developed a new concept for the interiors of the McDonald's restaurants in France. The new identity combines the company's motto - family fast food - with contemporary elements, such as the Still chair (designed by Norguet for La Palma) and Lines and Waves ceramic floor.

Hotel Éclat, Taipei

Image Source: Sassy Hong Kong

Located in Taipei, the design philosophy of Hotel Éclat is stylish and off-the-wall wackiness. Leading hospitality designer, Thomas Schoos, does exactly that with the styling of the hotel’s restaurant, Ming Yuen. It is a stylish jumble of mismatched chairs and tables, grand chandeliers, animal print rugs and supersized sculptures, where Salvador Dali and Andy Warhol are among the artists represented.

HBL Blog of the Week: Japanistic

US-based entrepreneurs Sydne & John use their shop, Japanistic, to sell their favourite products by Japanese-American designers, and the Japanistic blog to write about others that they come across - as well as for more widely recognising the impact Japan and its distinctive aesthetic has had around the world. A great resource for print, pattern and product inspiration.

HBL loves: the recently-showcased furniture and homewares by Oji & Design.

HBL Exhibitions: Mischer’Traxler at Novalis Fine Arts gallery, Turin

Until December 6th, Novalis Fine Arts gallery in Turin will host some of the most significant products and installations of the two young Austrian designers Mischer’Traxler. This first Italian retrospective, curated by Maria Cristina Didero, is focused on the creative philosophy of the Viennese design studio, which is often concerned with research into, and the discovery of, interactions between humanity and machines.

HBL Events: iq2 If Conference

Debating forum Intelligence² will open the doors to its inaugural If Conference at the end of this month. Running 25 - 26 November in London, the event will bring together more than 30 speakers to discuss issues that will affect our age; from scientists, inventors and entrepreneurs to architects, thinkers and futurologists.

Ballpoint by Minimalux

Ballpoint by Minimalux; photo by Peer Lindgreen

British design brand Minimalux has launched Ballpoint, a ballpoint pen made of solid brass.

HBL Events: RCA Secret 2011

The Royal College of Art has announced that its charity postcard auction, RCA Secret, has received 2900 artistic contributions this year - a record for the annual event.

HBL Retail: New products by David Mellor

British Standard Mugs by Corin Mellor for David Mellor

Prestigious British kitchenware and tableware brand David Mellor has launched new pieces for its 2011/12 catalogue, including a cutlery line designed by Corin Mellor.

HBL Book of the Week: 10x10 by Emiliano Ponzi

10x10 (Corraini, 2011) shows the work of Italian illustrator Emiliano Ponzi from the last ten years - all of which (both work and thoughts) happened in a room 10 x 10 metres big in Milan, in which the illustrator works.

Artcurial to host Cassina design auction

Dalila chairs (1980) by Gaetano Pesce

Signalling the increasing investment value of contemporary design, French auction house Artcurial Briest-Poulain-F.Tajan is to host an auction of iconic pieces from the archives of Cassina.