Norman Foster

This 118 story Russia Tower in Moscow is just one of Norman Foster's great designs. " He uses acrobatic engineering to break open floors normally stacked like pancakes." Just one of the many quotes from the issue on him in the Oct. issue of Architectural Digest. He has 1000 members working for him at Foster and Partners in London. He has designed huge buildings but has recently taken up designeing schools in London primarily for disadvantaged students. he also designs household goods, from tables to lighting and door handles. He really works and honors the modernist. To learn more about his work and see some pictures you can go to their website. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/Practice/Default.aspx

Yves Behar

This is the Voyage chandelier by Yves Behar for Swarovski Crystal Palace. Yves doesn't just design interesting chandeliers but also technology items and even shoes. He is an all around designer. I really enjoy his work because he doesn't limit himself to designing one thing like chandeliers, or shoes. Instead he designs everything, whatever comes to mind. His designs have been reconised with many awards, such as the chicago athenaeum good design award in 2004 and the IDEA/business week gold excellence award in 2003. He grew up in Switzerland and studied Industrial design both in Europe and the US. I really admire some of his work and that he can design anything and not just furniture of architecture pieces.

Barnaby Furnas

These paintings are done by Barnaby Furnas. He is described as alternately angry, angst-ridden and highly aesthetic. He's said as the art world's new James Dean. His paintings are highly abstract and they sell for at least a couple hundred thousand a piece. The first one is Wood gatherer I and was painted in 2003. The second one is the Red Sea (parting 2) and was painted in 2006. I really enjoy his paintings because you can almostmake out what they are but at the same time they leave a mystery about them.

Jean Prouve

Jean Prouve is well known for his metal and mass production. He's also well known for his metal-wood collections. Prouve was extremely big in the late 90's. it was the time when every big interior designer and architect wanted his collections for their uber hip lofts. The chair above is made out of Plexiglas and steel. It was meant to be a garden chair. This particular one was not only designed by Prouve but also Jacques Andre in 1937.

Bart Prince

Bart Prince opened his own Alberqurque office in 1973, and has since then been very succesfull. His designs are one of a kind. He has a view point that we should design for ourselves, and our buildings should be nothing like anything before. I think his view point on this is a good one to have for those who have the creative mind. He has designed a lot of homes in the southwestern area, and each one is nothing like one before it.

Moore Ruble Yudell

“Nature,” says Buzz Yudell, “in its endless complexity and extraordinary elegance, is our most profoundly inspiring influence.” Maybe that's why Buzz Yudell, Charles Moore, and John Ruble made a buisness together. They focus a lot on nature and the environment. This is why their buildings are so successful. In order to have a great design I think you really need to design not only for the client but also nature and things that will surround the building.

Peter L. Gluck

www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/100/peter_gluck/peter_gluck_profile
Peter L. Gluck is a New York based architect and has been around for over 30 years. I really like his work because it's very modern. He designs buildings and home for the context and usually doesn't make any traditional reference at all. I do like tradition just not a lot of it.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright is one of the most innovated architects ever. He has designed and created tons of influential buildings in the world. Including the Prairie Home, the Imperial hotel in Tokyo, 1923, Falling water at Bear Run, PA 1939, and the Solomon Guggenheim Museum, NYC, New York 1959. In his lifetime he built over 300 houses. I really like Wright because he practiced what is known as Organic Architecture. I admire him because he focused on the relationship of the site, the building, and the client. I think some designers, design just what they want, or just what the client wants, and not both.

Richard Hutten

Also in the Nov. 2007 issue is an article on Richard Hutten. I choose him as a designer I really admire, because he stresses the fact that he makes things to be used. He doesn't care when people send him pictures of his products being used. One of his most famous pieces is the Dumbo mug. He sold over 100,ooo of them for about 10 euros, it's said to be the "most expensive plastic cup." His designs are very modern and look like they shouldn't be touched but good thing about them, is that they can be used. www.richardhutten.com

F2

In the November 2007 issue of dwell they had a section on F2. F2 is a glassware company designed by Marilyn and Peter Frank. I really love their work, and when I can afford it, i'll definitely buy it. F2 crafts are original mouth blown pieces, they range from single bloom vases to hanging light fixtures. Every piece is so unique and I always have respect for designers that can create something so unique in a different way. www.F2.cc