Off the wall
Buzzing off
For wannabe beekeepers who don't have a garden, the answer could be at hand. HK Honey has designed a Pop Up Beehive for Strida, the folding bicycle company. The beehive attaches to the back of a bike (below), allowing outdoor-space-deprived beekeepers to pedal the hive to their floral location of choice. A month or so later, when the bees have pollinated, the beekeeper can return to harvest the honey - and take the beehive to another flora-rich place (bees thrive on a diversity of flowers). Following the recent auction of the prototype, similar versions of the bike are being sold at K11 Design Store (K11 Art Mall, 18 Hanoi Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 3110 5898) for HK$5,500 each.
Colour living
This brightly hued tome will not just look good on your coffee table, it presents a fascinating look at how colour influences everything in our lives, from how we feel to how we behave and even what we buy. Colour Hunting covers interiors, furniture, architecture, fashion and art, with in-depth analysis on the role of colour, accompanied by 300 striking photographs and illustrations. Author Jeanne Tan argues that as well as affecting our emotions and well-being, colour has a subconscious influence on our actions. Tan interviews professionals who work with colour, including representatives from Pantone Colour Institute and Italian fashion house Missoni. She also looks at colour throughout history and what it means to various cultures. As well as the stunning visuals, it's an engrossing read.
Colour Hunting: How Colour Influences What We Buy, Make and Feel, published by Frame, is available from Paddyfield.com for HK$472.
Breaking the mould
While experimental chef Heston Blumenthal's latest venture (Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in London) executes a modern take on traditional British cooking, the design of his restaurant also pays homage to bygone centuries. Designer Adam Tihany took inspiration from 16th-century England, using materials such as wrought iron, leather and wood. A contemporary version of a medieval rotisserie can be seen in the open-plan kitchen and pages from historic recipe books are hung behind glass as artworks. The most eye-catching element, however, is the lighting. The wall sconces (above) - made from ivory porcelain by Limoges, France-based company Bernardaud - are based on the designs of Victorian jelly moulds. As well as being a nod to one of Blumenthal's many culinary obsessions, the effect is both quirky and beautiful.
