Luxpack Shanghai

China being the new frontier, Harry Allen Design headed to Shanghai the week before last. 

We were showing at Luxepack, a trade show that showcases the luxury packaging industry. The booth was given to us free as part of the Platinum Pentaward we won for the Marc Jacobs Bang bottle. All we had to do is get ourselves there. 

The trip was grueling, so I was happy to know about the URBN hotel. It is a little boutique oasis in Jing'an constructed of reclaimed material, including the amazing wall of leather suitcases behind the reception desk. 

Shirley (HAD Studio Manager) and I ended up at Fu 1088, a very fancy restaurant the first night, located in an old house. Just the two of us in a room by ourselves. Amazing food, but not a great place to take the pulse of Shanghai.

The trade show was located just a stones throw from the Shanghai World Financial Center - an incredible building designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Its hard to take a bad picture. I shot this one from the back of a taxi.

Our booth at the show was more modest in scale, but still pretty beautiful. We set up two Macs with our portfolio and made the last minute decision to black out as much of the dingy slat-board as possible. A variety of our packaging projects were on display at the back of the booth. 

We received hundreds of potential clients, and the response to our work was great. It is clear China is booming, but I'm not sure China is ready for us yet, and vice versa, but the jury is still out.

Next week Milano!

Mexico City: Food

Mexicans love to eat and drink, and they do it pretty well. I was surprised by the number of restaurants and food stands, way more than in New York City. Food is a big part of the culture and you see it everywhere. It's hard to walk by and not have a taste, especially when the smell and vibrant colors makes you hungry for more.

Making cotton candy on the streets

Flautas (taquitos) before you order

Flautas after

Candy stand (they love their sweets)

Poblanos for Chiles en Nogada (seasonal dish)

Tacos al Pastor

Churros in the making

$2 Torta

Mexico: Casa Luis Barragán

Harry recommended that I see Luis Barragán's work in Mexico. For those that don't know about Luis Barragán, he is considered the most important Mexican architect in the 20th century. His work was influenced by European modernism and often is quoted in reference to minimalist architecture.

So, I visited one of his important/personal works, Casa Luis Barragán. His house is really impressive and the tour was worthwhile. A must see when in Mexico City.

Facade

Entrance Hall

Vestibule

Vestibule

Living Room

Living Room

Guest Bedroom

Terrace

This was the house that he built for himself towards the third decade of his life. He was influenced by the rural landscapes, towns, haciendas, and the heritage of Mexico's religious colonial architecture. The house proposes a new relation between interior space and landscape architecture, where house and garden are seen as one.