SONIC ARCHITECTURE is the next big thing in the design and music worlds! Last night’s opening of SOUNDWALL at JOHNHOUSHMAND PROJECTS was a testament of that. We had the honor of hosting 400 guests from all over the creative spectrum. JOHNHOUSHMAND PROJECTS was packed to the brim with cultural tastemakers from the realms of architecture, music, interior design and art came together to celebrate Ed Potokar‘s musical sculpture exhibition.
Last night’s opening was indeed a feast for the senses! Guests were able to touch, play and listen to the master crafted sculptural instruments and audio architecture. Festivities came to soaring heights when Ed Potokar started live musical performances with his crew of renown musicians and friends, which included Gerry Leonard, Scott Williams, Shawn Pelton, Rick DePofi, Chris Butler and Sterling Campbell .
For those of you who could not attend the opening here are some videos of the jam session of last night’s festivities!
JOHNHOUSHMAND and JEN KAO recently teamed up to create this amazing reception desk No. 0261
Collaboration has always been a fundamental process at JOHNHOUSHMAND.We love putting our heads together with other innovative designers and creatives to produce amazing, unique, and personal works. As they say “two heads are better than one!”
Some of our favorite people we love to work with are those that belong to the Fashion world! In the past we have teamed up to create one of a kind pieces for clients such as David Yurman, Barney’s New York and Saks Fifth Avenue. This past year we had the happy privilege of collaborating with the exceptionally talented Jen Kao ! Ellemagazine has described her designs as “art-inspired, intellectually approached, and meticulously executed,” and we could not agree more!
For her new fashion showroom, pictured above, we created a one of a kind reception desk that incorporates spalted maple, blackened steel and acrylic. As rose-gold is the signature element for her brand, Jen asked JOHNHOUSHMAND to integrate this metallic detail into her desk; resulting in making this piece extra personalized and one of a kind. Watch the video to hear John and Jen speak about the creative process for this remarkable reception desk!
Over the years, our ongoing collaboration with Bob & Cortney Novogratz has given us the opportunity to work on some amazing projects. Our favorites include the new Babakul store at Fred Segal, Santa Monica and the Robert Isabell Party in NYC’s Greenwich Village.
For Babakul, the Novogratz’s were interested in developing a design which would highlight the brand’s organic, effortlessly cool, California vibe. We worked closely with Bob & Cortney to design and produce modular steel shelving – complete with white plumeria handles – a live-edge, bleached sales island, frosted glass, microslab fitting room doors, and a corner shelving unit where tired husbands could kick back and browse the literature on hand. We think the effect of these pieces, together with such stylistic touches as a custom Debbie Harry piece by artist Ann Carrington, Philippe Starck chairs, and some charming goldfish make a great combination.
For the Robert Isabell party, JOHNHOUSHMAND loaned the Novogratz’ our signature cast aluminum dining table (No. 0103.3) to act as a bar for their well-attended, house opening event. Standing aside custom made sparkle paintings by artist Camomile Hixon and vintage 1960s apple green lounge chairs underneath a halo of handmade, faux flower garlands the over all effect was breathtaking – and fun inducing.
JOHNHOUSHMAND and Bob & Cortney Novogratz recently teamed up again, this time to refinish a charming, downtown, outdoor patio (in 30 minutes or less).
The space featured a wrought iron fence, brick facade with climbing ivy, a river rock floor and a garden box – but now much else. With a garden party happening that evening we needed some magic, fast. Weaving together a dozen or so microslabs to create a warm, wooden canopy was the first step. We then suspended modified candles sporadically underneath with invisible wires to create the illusion of floating candles. Finally, to round out the effect, we built a quick microslab trestle and popped a live-edge pine slab on top of the existing, outdated picnic table – instant fix!
Bob & Cortney put on the finishing touches – an oversized, turquoise, clay vase holding burgundy calla lilies was the centerpiece between two, smaller, purple hydrangea plants. An assortment of vintage, white iron garden chairs circle the table, punctuated by seersucker cushions and brightly colored, striped throw pillows.
The overall effect is one of Mediterranean ease and effortless entertaining. Take a look at the process below.
We had a spectacular time at this year’s ICFF at the Javits Center. We hope you were able to make it out to see all the inspiring design. Take a look at our slideshow of highlights:
Included designers were hand selected for their embodiment of Audi’s dual goals of technical excellence and unparalleled style. Here is what the curators had to say:
John Houshmand found his muse in Mother Nature; he approaches all of his work allowing the naturally harvested materials he uses to guide the creative process. Before being mounted on black walnut legs, his iconic cast aluminum table was poured with pure aluminum — the same astonishingly strong yet amazingly light ingredient in the frame of the new Audi A8. Like Houshmand’s masterpiece, the Audi ASF® is liberated by a balance of sleek style and lightweight engineering that results in a breathtakingly beautiful yet efficiently sound design.
It was a beautiful evening of hors d’oeuvres and champagne, surrounded by inspiring design items in a gallery setting. Take a look at the slideshow we put together!
Photographs were taken by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for New York.
JOHNHOUSHMAND just finished installing a sublime fireplace mantel, No. 0210, in one of architect Jo Machinist’s creations in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. This beautifully pastoral area is home to the Hudson River School, where painters Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt, and Frederic Church painted the valley in all its romantic glory. This mantelpiece is a welcome addition to this tradition, celebrating the natural beauty of the area.
This rustic solid maple timber mantel with hand-hammered bronze pitons was installed in an airy, light-filled great room. Take a look at the slide show to see it from all angles.
This week JOHNHOUSHMAND & Sixx Design put their creativity together to exponential effect in creating a MICROSLAB HARVEST BASKET. This functional sculpture was specifically envisioned for a Sixx Design segment on an upcoming Rachael Ray Show Thanksgiving Special and is perfect for playtime and adult entertaining alike.
JOHNHOUSHMAND was first approached by our friends in design, Cortney and Robert Novogratz of Sixx Design, with an open proposition: create a structure on their elegant Manhattan patio that would celebrate the coming Thanksgiving festivities. Taking into account the West Street Townhouse’s narrow front entrance, this was no simple task, as the materials would have to be snaked in through the front door and up the stairs.
JOHNHOUSHMAND‘s solution to the dilemma was to use an assortment of flexible Spalted Maple Microslab panels and good old packing twine to “engineer” an intersecting basket / hut. The first piece was a pure sine wave that arced under the basket and over the hut… pure geometry heading towards pure artisanship.
With the help of Sixx Design’s seven energetic children and a Japanese hand saw, we created a final product that can be enjoyed best by those with that rarest of qualities: an active imagination.
To fuel your own creative bug we recommend Sixx Design’s BRAVO show 9 by Design with clips available on Hulu.com, and their fantastic website – make sure to check out their Projects Page HERE.
Working with our friends in Nicaragua, we used an expert chainsaw craftsman to carve a dished tabletop, carefully arc-cutting the back to create an elegant shape from an otherwise cumbersome tree section….
After hoisting the components of this mammoth table up to a NYC Park Ave apartment on the roof of the elevator, the piece was assembled in situ. Engineered to come apart and back together perfectly, pitons and all, the finished piece is astounding for its design, elegance, craftsmanship, and engineering….
