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WAMP Budapest

WAMPLogo

When in Budapest, don’t miss WAMP. WAMP is a community event/design fair that takes place twice a month (on Sundays) in a beautiful building on Váci utca during winter and outdoors at Erzébet tér during summer.

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WAMP is a hub for emerging Hungarian designers and presents them with an opportunity to show, and sell, their work.

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WAMP has two “legs” (if you will) – design and gastro. The Gastro part is –as the name reveals – anything “edible” i.e. jams, chocolate, bread, wine, spirits, oils, sweets, cakes etc.  Important for the gastro section is that all fine food is nicely packaged, organic and served in style (oh, it also contains cool kitchenwares – not edible really, but handy when making all these nice gastronomical stuff in your own kitchen.


Keep up with the dates and places for WAMP here

HotelRecommendation

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When you want to visit WAMP (among other things because there is sooo much more to see and do in Budapest – DMKA will keep you posted)

it is a good idea to stay at a cosy hotel with beautiful design in the central parts of Pest. We would like to recommend Estilo Fashion Hotel, right at Váca utca

budestilohotel Collage

Estilo Fashion Hotel
Váci utca 83
1056 Budapest
Hungary
www.estilohotelbudapest.com

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Food design.

Ever thought of food as being designed? I thought so. Usually we don’t. Usually we ‘just cook’ and eat. Usually a chef is the culinary designer. But we really never think of food as being designed, do we?! At least I didn’t. Before.But then along came among others Heston Blumenthal, the culinary alchemist that creates his own version of innovative style of cuisine. His search for a greater understanding of taste and flavor make him research the molecular compounds of dishes. Now that’s what I call a different style of cooking. More like….food design sort of, kind of…

You can enjoy Heston Blumenthal’s creations by visiting his restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, UK.

But there are naturally more chefs designing exciting culinary experiences, such as i.e. the two co-owners of Noma in Copenhagen, Denmark – René Redzepi and Claus Meyer. The name Noma comes from No=Nordic Ma=Mad (food in Danish), clever eh? Noma was awarded ‘The World’s Best Restaurant’ and ‘The Best Restaurant in Europe’ 2010 by The S. Pellegrino Worlds 50 Best Restaurants. Way to go, I’d say!

When you go to Copenhagen to savor Noma’s exquisite food (don’t forget to make reservations months and months in advance!) you just might want to stay somewhere…special?! DMKA recommends CPH Living at Christianshavn. The very same area where you find Noma. Besides, Christianshavn is a really wonderful, quirky area that is evolving and growing every day. CPH Living is only 3-star but really nice anyway. It is actually a boat, carefully renovated, floating in the canal with the feeling of freedom that large windows over looking water gives you.

Now, I get distracted by it all. What I wanted to tell ya’ll from the beginning was that the worlds first ever International Symposium on Food Experience design will take place in London on November 9th. Phew…it took me a while didn’t it?!

This symposium is a forum where researchers and practitioners will discuss, and speak about design, food and experiential knowledge of it all. It might get a bit academic, but it also might be very very interesting. However, it doesn’t end with the symposiom; The 6th Food Design Exhibition will take place between November 9-28 and it will open at 6 pm, just after the symposium. In order for you to take it all in. The Food Design Exhibition will give you a chance for all interested parties to meet with designers, chefs and professionals.

At the symposium Anna Cerrocchi will speak about Designing Food, Inga-Britt Gustafsson about The Five Aspects Meal Model, Fabio Parasecoli about A Cultural Approach to Food Experience, Linden Reilly about Form on The Plate, Sonja Stummerer and Martin Hablesreiter about What Should Food be Like to be Successful among other speakers and topics.

A place to stay in London? How about London Haymarket Hotel?

Have fun!

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Elegant design by Lilith Rockett.

Look at these jars. Made in elegant white porcelain and…just lovely to watch. It is like an installation, but it is actually every day household jars.Wouldn’t it make you happy to take some cookies out of one of these? It sure would make me feel…content even. I love good design in every day life. The designer behind these are Lilith Rockett, a ceramic designer who operates out of her studio in Portland, OR . You will find Rocketts designs online at Kobo in Seattle  and the OK Store in Los Angeles.  And naturally at Rockett’e own online store. Just click at the blue words and it will take you there…Don’t say I don’t look out for you!

I am even so nice that I will recommend a hotel, hence your sudden urge to throw yourself on a plane, in the car, bus, train or your bike and go see one of Rocketts gallery showings or if you want to have a little retail therapy in Seattle and/or Los Angeles.

How about this hotel?

Hotel Max Seattle is a newly renovated quite large hotel [168 rooms] but with a modern design makeover. The look of the hotel is wonderful, the minute you enter you notice all brightly colored modern furnishings against the dark masculine backgrounds. It actually looks kind of Nordic:ish rather than Northwestern rustic. But there are a lot of local color and flair such as work by Seattle artists, a collection of Seattle rock photography adorn the walls of the public spaces as well as on every guest room’s door. And the guest rooms has a simple-chic aesthetic to them, with a splash of luxury. Last but not least Hotel Max is Pet friendly, Gay friendly and…well, friendly you know. Want to go? You know you want to…click here and you will be directed to the hotel. Enjoy your trip!

For those in the mood for some California sun and fun. How about Mondrian Hotel in Los Angeles?

Look at the view, the crisp interior decorations and check out the b e d! And the mirror with orange organza draped over it (or maybe I am wrong – either way it looks adorable to me). Last but not least, you’ve got to see this

Especially look at the picture to the right. Ahhh, I want to be there so bad. Outdoor dining amongst over sized terracotta flower pots with trees in them. Isn’t it adorable?! I know, I know – I should cut to the chase. You want to make your reservations to The Mondrian. Yesterday. Well, can’t accommodate that, but if you click here you will be directed to their site. Have fun in LA! [write me a post card, will you?!]

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World Design Capital 2010: Seoul.

Right now the Seoul Design Fair is taking place in Seoul, Korea. The theme for the fair is ‘Design for All’ and is ongoing between September 17 and October 7. The theme is set with the participation of the citizens in mind. You are supposed to enjoy the festival regardless of cultural background, age and sex. But that is not all. The fair focuses on development of the design industry and to cultivate the concept of ‘Designomics’ (Design + Economics) as well as the effort to globalize the design festival itself.

Suddenly decided to throw yourself on a plane to Seoul? Don’t know where to stay? Try the W Hotel.

Have you made your reservations now? Good. Let’s get back to  d e s i g n:

It is interesting how design affects us all. Design is not at all just products or fashion, color or forms etc. Have you ever thought of that cities are designed? Yes they are. Architects regularly refers to it as ‘hard surface, soft surface’ one among other terms they use. But if you think of it, it is really important how the buildings look, where they are placed, what is in between the buildings and how is it lit at night. Just to mention a few things that are designed in a city.

The interesting part of WDC 2010 Seoul’s theme “Design for All” is that it encompasses the ultimate value of design in improving the quality of life for people. D4A aims at creating a more harmonious world in which communication flows seamlessly and that design should promote a social solution for sharing, eliminating barriers and for communicating. Interesting, isn’t it?!

2012 it is Finland’s turn. Helsinki will then be the city to visit. Exciting!

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IHT Luxury Conference coming up.

It’s time again for the IHT Luxury Conference – the International Herald Tribune’s annual Luxury business conference that has become the essential forum for discussions and exchange of ideas for the fashion and luxury industry.This year it will focus on how luxury goods companies create, nurture and manage the heritage of their brands. Speakers at this conference include among others: Alber Elbaz, Artistic Director for Lanvin; Angela Ahrendts, CEO for Burberry; Christopher Bailey, Chief Creative Officer for Burberry; Diego Della Valle, President & CEO for Tod’s; Karl Lagerfeld; David Lauren, SVP for Polo Ralph Lauren; Michele Norsa; CEO & Group Managing Director for Salvatore Ferragamo; Tommy Hilfiger; Paul Smith and many many more interesting individuals from the fashion industry.

The IHT Luxury Conference will take place at the Intercontinental London Park Lane on November 9 & 10, 2010 and will be hosted by fashion’s authority Suzy Menkes, Fashion Editor of the International Herald Tribune. You don’t want to miss this. Register here

When visiting the conference you can naturally chose to stay at the Intercontinental London Park Lane Hotel. But if you want to stay somewhere else than where you will spend plenty of hours during your London-days, Designmekka recommends MyHotel Chelsea in London.

Looks cosy, doesn’t it? Sometimes it is nice to just get away from it all. This is a cosy place to do just that. Make your reservations here