Issue 1: Mountainous Marvel
Hello World!
Welcome to the very first issue of The Aesthete, where each edition is like a fabulous cocktail party for your eyes – think of us as your personal mixologists, serving up a heady blend of stunning architecture, enchanting art, and objects so desirable they'll make your coffee table blush! 🍸✨
Here is what we've got for you today: An architectural wonder from the Far East, showcasing spectacular slanted roofs; the stunning dining room of a Beverly Hills home that's up for sale; a clock that resembles a wooden flower in full bloom; a book rec for those who love minimalist products, and a lot more. So let’s get started!
Serving up our first round of visual delight, we present the Hanling Museum of Fine Arts in China, a marvel conceived by Japanese starchitect Kengo Kuma and captured through the lens of Kang Chaofan. This architectural gem blends contemporary flair with the soul of traditional Chinese artistry. 155 angled facades, each mimicking the charming houses of Hanling village, perched on a thousand steel beams come together to form an awe-inspiring man-made mountain, cradling peaceful gardens. Framed against the ethereal backdrop of distant misty mountains across Dongqian Lake, it's a breathtaking blend of nature and design. Cheers to this eye-catching masterpiece!
Spatially Pleasing
Meanwhile, in celeb-filled Beverly Hills, this dining room is a masterclass in voluminous elegance. It's all about those wide-open spaces that scream “Let the good vibes flow!” White walls set the stage for a snazzy modern dining set, and a huge round mirror spotlights the view. Best part: The mansion is listed for sale.
Asian bird artwork gives major free-spirit vibes in this moody, matt-black living room. A sneaky lighting scheme jazzes up the place, like a splash of rum in a still fruit punch. And, hold on, there's a metallic staircase and a moon lamp making pure magic in the corner!
Alright, take a cozy formal dining nook, whack on a custom-cut mirror stretching the whole room and bam! It's like the place just doubled in size—talk about roomy! Tall table lamps and a giant vase play with size like pros, balancing out this big ol' column like it's a piece of cake.
Step into a bedroom where retro vibes shake hands with modern swank. The headboard's waving at you with its plush, pea-green fins, probably gossiping with the avant-garde wall art about last night's dreams. The round rug? A luscious green landing pad for night-time toe-dips. And that bedside table – it's like a cherry-topped dessert for your alarm clock. Arches in sunset hues give a nod to Roman holiday feels, while the patterns play checkers with your attention. It's a room where sleep is stylish and waking up is a design discovery.
This kitchen whispers 'chic bistro' with a Scandinavian accent. The chairs are dressed in mustard upholstery, ready to add a dash of spice to your morning coffee. Overhead, the UFO-like PH5 Mini Pendant hovers, deciding whether to abduct your toast. On the wall, a sassy coffee pot portrait, silently judging your barista skills. And that floor—it's a marble ocean where fallen crumbs go to become art. It's the kind of space where even the cookies you burn feel a little more gourmet.
Landscape Love
We love this curvy, meandering landscape design that wallows in shallow waters. With fingers of green that search the rippling surface and huge linear stones that cast anchor, this entry pathway embraces the natural world while exuding modernity and finesse. And there's a person, a solitary figure pondering life's path, or maybe just trying to figure out where they left their keys. It's a slice of tranquility pie, with a dollop of serenity on top.
Objects Of Desire
If a sunflower and a Swiss watch had a love child; this wall clock would be it. Crafted from responsibly sourced materials, its spiraled flower-like design is a blossoming masterpiece rooted in an eco-conscious ethos.
A dreamy little bulldog collared with an aristocratic Elizabethan ruff, this lamp by Haoshi is sure to light up your heart. Its cool clay body maintains a minimalist palette while the paper ruff radiates a halo of warmth.
Feast your eyes on this haute couture of the keyboard world where chic meets geek. It is a mechanical keyboard that's gone to prep school, boasting round keys that bring to mind a vintage typewriter—except someone's gone Piet Mondrian with the color palette. It's the sort of keyboard that wouldn't look out of place in a quirky designer's studio or a hipster coffee shop where the coffee is artisanal, and the Wi-Fi is strictly organic.
Art Radar
One For The Classics
On Our Coffee Table
Explore the enduring legacy of Braun in Klaus Klemp's 'Braun: Designed to Keep'. This richly illustrated 424-page tome delves into the iconic German brand's history of pioneering modern design. Celebrating Dieter Rams' minimalist mantra 'less, but better', the book presents over 500 images including rare archival materials and new photographs. Discover Braun's influence on design giants like Apple’s Jony Ive, and immerse yourself in a story of simplicity, functionality, and lasting beauty.
Wallpaper Drop
Palette Power
Oh, darling, this palette whispers tales of a chic vintage study with leather-bound books and secrets! We've got a sassy terracotta that's not afraid to stand out, a navy blue that's deeper than your last existential chat, a teal that's too cool to care, a beige that's softer than a Sunday morning, and an off-white with just enough sass to say, "I'm not vanilla, I'm classic." Perfect for those who sip their coffee with a side of nostalgia! Feel free to swipe it for your next design project.
Wordly Pleasures
The purpose of life is to discover your gift. The work of life is to develop it. The meaning of life is to give your gift away. — David Viscott