IMMO KLINK.

Immo Klink was born in 1972 in Germany, and is an Artist Photographer.  His project entitled 'European Communities' houses three subject areas, one of which particularly interested me - Shelter. These images are really inspirational for the type of varied dwellings Anna and I are researching. 

~ Helena

HOBBIT LIVING.

This trend within architecture and design we have named 'Hobbit Living'. Many of these houses are based upon the concept from Lord of the Rings, this once again reflects the idea of escapism (similar to the Tree Houses) by people wanting to escape to the Rural into a child like fantasy world. 

These magical homes are also interesting as some are actually built into the hills or the cliff-sides, so they are becoming woven into Nature. The image bottom right, also reminds me of The tele-tubbies homes, once again referencing childs fantasy lands.

~ Helena

ALLOTMENTS - WE GO BACK TO BASICS.

The Growing trend of people returning to nature and the basic way of doing things. There is an increasing trend going back to people wanting to grow their own produce, and therefore a high demand and long waiting lists for Allotments! People living in urban areas without sufficient space or a garden use their Allotment as a little piece of the Rural where they can re-root themselves with nature and watch their seeds grow. I hope to explore Allotments further and take some of our own photos of the Allotments in Nottingham.

~ Helena

QUITE LITERALLY A 'GREEN HOUSE'

With the emergence of the 'urban allotmenst' shared gardens in citites, roof top veg patches and high-rise herb boxes, some companies have taken it to the next level where by you can literally intergrate green living directly into your home. Sunken beds made into sideboards and tables, to living wall frames and 'SKY' planters!

.Anna.

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE!

Styled on the popular English nursery rhyme 'there was an old woman who lived in a shoe' The Haines house, built in 1948 in America is a guest house popular with the elderly and weekend breaks. It really is an ultimate whimsical dwelling!!

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do;
She gave them some broth without any bread;
Then whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.

It is debatable what the true meaning off this ryhme is all about and it appears that no one is quite sure other than it was a comment on the amount of children some women had at the time and the way they coped and got on with their daily lives to keep them all in check. I would like to think there really was a lady that lived in a giant shoe with her children :D

.Anna.

MY COOL CARAVAN

My Cool Caravan started off as a book all about retro caravans and everything you need to know about them. The book was written By Jane Field-Lewis & Chris Haddon and they both now have their own blogs on their site www.mycoolcaravan.com
The humble caravan has had a kitsch new make over, creating the perfect environment to holdiay in. Their site has some amazing very unique caravans, here are just a few...

.Anna.

TREE LIFE

Coolhunter are planning an exhibition called Treelife. They say that the event will showcase innovative and creative sustainable architecture, and illustrate that green can co-exist with urban city life.

 Interactive exhibitions have become an integeral part of urban life and using natrual and rural elements such as trees at the basis of this exhibition is a really telling sign that the rural and urban are crossing over in so many ways.

.Anna.

CARRY ON VW CAMPER VAN!!

Again that nostalgic iconic symbol of cosy but simple living with a stylish twist. Along with 'glamping' the VW camper van has made a come back and is particularly popular again with British holiday makers. Companies across the UK hire out these vans for a no frills holiday with basic home comforts presented in a chinzty fashion.This kind of holiday is a sort of half-way house between the traditional tent -roughing it and the over the top glamour of a purpose built luxury "tent".

 .Anna.

TREEHOUSE LIVING.

"I'm absolutely convinced that nature provides all the materials for good tree living" - Treehouses, Paula Henderson pg. 120

After beginning to research this 'Treehouse Trend' it is starting to become clear how vast it is. From exploring Treehouse's there is a strong fantasy, childhood and escapism element. The visuals are beautiful, strong, and evoke powerful emotions. The idea of physically living within a tree and becoming at one with nature. Urbanists are able to escape from city life into another world within the tree. 

~ Helena

GREENHOUSE EDITORIALS.

“I wanted the mood to be gentle, romantic and about a quiet, beautiful sense of luxury ... This campaign highlights the spirit of our wonderfully crumpled classics” - Christopher Bailey, Burberry

In this quote Bailey is referencing the Burberry Greenhouse Advert. The phrase "wonderfully crumpled classics" emphasises the idea of revitalising the classic uses or appearances of things. It is also looking at the trend of going back to Tradition yet giving it a fresh face. The second and third images are editorials I discovered in Harpers Bazaar.

~ Helena

GLAMOUROUS GREENHOUSES.

This idea of Glamourous Greenhouses is something Anna and I came across while researching. The theme of turning the Rural to Glam is a concept that interests us. Taking Rural traditions and urbanising them, so in effect making them Glamourous.  Although these Greenhouses have been urbanised, the way the interior has been furnished and decorated is in a very typical country living/Laura Ashley style. 

Also, the original purpose of a Greenhouse was to grow fruits and vegetables, but here the purpose of the Greenhouse has now been converted into a Glamourous living space, with the dirt and earth being replaced by  fancy cushions and chandeliers!

~ Helena

An interesting fusing of rural and urban in the Yeo Valley ad.

I'm not sure I actually like this advert, it isn't the most tasteful thing in the world, but it is playful and an interesting clash of rural-meets-urban...
You decide:



.Anna.

A Hotel...in the Trees?

"Why not create a comfortable, well designed hotel which allows visitors to live in harmony with nature amongst the trees?"

Swedish company, aptly named Tree Hotel have created this amazing place to stay. A mirrored cube suspended in the forest. Its reflective facade, mirrors its beautiful surroundings. An interesting and unique concept!


 

.Anna.

GLAMPING.

'Glamping' is a recent trend and its name derives from the mix between Camping and Glamourous, so in effect 'Glamourous Camping'. This trend particularly interested me as camping is traditionally associated with the Rural, being close to nature, and not typically seen as being a glamorous activity. 

It appears that Camping has been urbanised and altered to suit a higher market level. 

~ Helena

STARTING POINT.

Fields of Fashion

" The starting point for Fields of Fashion is the feeling that fashion consumption, retailing and production in rural areas has been neglected in academic studies. A rash of work exists on fashion in so-called 'world cities' but the richly textured, vibrant landscapes of fashion away from the metropolis have yet to be considered through any sustained academic research. Primary work is currently focused on an exploration of consumption and retailing at rural field events (such as horse trials and county shows), examining the phenomenon of temporary 'shopping villages' at these sites. The project is based on the proposition of the 'field as mall' and aims to explore how the temporary fashion trade stand at these events forms an intriguing – and perhaps undervalued – route to market. More broadly, this research explores temporality and mobility in retailing and in so doing offers challenges both to the conventions of the traditional high street to conceptual notions of what constitutes 'the rural'."

- http://www.ntu.ac.uk/research/groups_centres/art/81396.html

This is a starting point from the Nottingham Trent website. To begin our research we have started by wanting to explore the rural in terms of 'Living'. We have began by looking at the influences within interiors, architecture, design and the ideas and feelings these buildings can evoke.