2011 Fragments.

To photograph fragments is one of my favorite things to do. Having a camera handy (mobile preferably to email it straight away to my Facebook and Twitpic accounts) is a tool I cannot live with out anymore.

Everywhere I go I see fragments that communicate with me. Here are my favorite 20 of 2011. Yes, I did my best to narrow it down to 10 though I didn't know which ones I preferred.

This stencil is everywhere in Lisbon. It says "What I want is to be happy". This on was shot in Rua do Poço dos Negros. 

Hearts I drew in a restaurant in Barcelona. Left them there.

Barcelona again - The Fish by Frank Ghery.

Another stencil in Lisbon. This one in Avenida 24 the Julho. I called it "Don't give up". 

What's better than a little break after you accomplish something? This moment was right  after I finished  my 2 weeks business trip to Norway.
Love to seat outside in a nice café, having a drink and looking at people walking around wondering what they're thinking. 

The beach I used to go every weekend. It's my home town.
Check the moon on the top left hand side. Lovely, isn't it?

And again, another stencil. This one here shot in Cais do Sodré, Lisbon.

Details: The Tram cables hook on the wall. Perfect!
(Lisbon, Calçada da Estrela)

The kids are alright. (Santa Rita, Portugal)

One of the most beautiful buildings in Lisbon: Campo de Ourique.

This stencil here I call it "Can buy me love". 

2011 was a great year for me. I moved back to Portugal, found the job I wanted, worked on interesting projects and I found the house I wished for: small, old, super cute and central. This picture actually marks that first moment when I felt at home. My mugs are in, I am in!

The basic principle of architecture is the Sun, don't you agree?
Love this structure, which we straight away link to "House" or "Home". 

This was a year of great trips, some on business other pure pleasure. Another moment in a Non-Place waiting to reack my destiny.
This picture was shot in  Scotland I think.

Love out of the blue.

Moments with friends and others alone.

The first butterfly I saw in years,

La Vie En Bleu
(Portuguese sky, isn't it stunning?)

Provincial-Chic.

One of my top 5 pictures. The Full Moon was stunning, the streets were pitch black and the red line is a car's light.
(Photo shot with my iPhone)

Tokyo #6 | Prada.

Tokyo #5 | Nezu Museum.

For Japanese architecture lovers - Nezu Museum (Designed by Kengo Kuma).

Entrance

Exit

A crack of light

Parallelism

Tokyo #4 | The Power Of Display.

Display - The eyes eat too. Indeed! Another place I get lost very easily is food markets and Japanese people definitely know display is a very important sales tool.

Check these out and tell me if you wouldn't buy just for the beauty of it.

And now, the power of wrapping. 

Tokyo #3 | Japanese Textiles.

This is the type of shops I get lost very easily. Not that I spend a fortune, but I totally forget the world exists outside. I can be here for hours wondering what I could do with these gorgeous fabrics. 

My sense of touch gets in action and here we go...

Didn't resist to get the one on the right. I've already a few options to do with it, but haven't decided yet:  to have it on my bed, to make a few cushions, to have it framed or maybe a padded panel on the wall. 

Gorgeous collage, isn't it? The fabrics in the center (with rainbows) have an amazing texture and beautiful mix of colours.

Fabrics, beautiful fabrics everywhere. 

A tip to make a nice Japanese handbag. 

Maybe I'll pop in again today to get more inspiration.

Tokyo #2 | Japanese "Tasca".

Fancy? No, but quite chic.

"Tasca" in Portuguese means something like a cheap yet delicious food house, always small and very loud (my own words).

Everywhere these spaces are gaining market and apparently Tokyo is not an exception.
The perfect choice to gather with friends for a warm meal and a good laugh. This one is located in Shibuya @ Meiji Street.

I must say I probably had the best satay chicken in my life.

Lovely kitchen + Lovely chefs = Happiness

Young chefs.

Gone!

Saturday night in Shibuya, where creativity gathers too. 

Great Japanese beer

Decoration in a form of collage. Love it.

Tokyo #1 | Muji Paradise.

MUJI. We all love Muji, the brand with no label, or is it the other way around? 
Why?
Maybe because it is simply beautiful
Maybe because it is highly functional.
Maybe because it has its only language.
Maybe because it is elegant.
Maybe because it has no age.
Maybe because it has lots of style.
Maybe because it will always be a trendy.
Maybe because you just do, you tell me.

First time I saw the products was in London. The subtle design and the huge label with Japanese characters invited me in. Love at first sight, indeed! I'm sure you all felt the same.

From kitchen appliances to clothing, and of course stationary, Muji is part of my material life since then.

Muji @ Ginza. Their biggest shop in Tokyo.

Main display product: shelving units easy to assemble and optional enough to let your imagination fly. 

Love product: Wooden hook to hang anything your imagination allows. I've to go back to buy at least one or my entrance. It's gonna look great and of course functional.

Me on my way back, happy and excited with my purchases. 

The Tokyo Ginza shop has two floors where the entire collection is on display, including the Muji Grocery Shop and the Café. Delicious! I wish we had this one in Lisbon. I'm sure it would be a success.

(No quality pictures because I sneak these photos with my phone. Naughty me, but I got so excited I didn't resist)

White Xmas @ Selfridges.

Selfridges has the most astonishing windows in the world. True stories are told, imagined and wanted.

This Xmas I will indeed miss Selfridges windows. 

Here's a space to dream for.

The art of merchandising. 

Summer Pavilion 2011 by Peter Zumthor.

The annual series of Pavilions is the world's first and most ambitious architectural programme of its kind.

2011 Pavilion was designed by world-renowned Swiss architect Peter Sumthor which includes a beautiful garden specially created by the influential Dutch designer Piet Oudolf.

From the 1st of July until the 16th October the Serpentine Gallery  was one of the most wanted spaces in London. I was able to see it on its very last day. Luckily the weather was inviting enough to explore what architecture has the best to offer - engagement. 

One of the multi entrances.

The Garden, a space within a space. 

A dark corridor around the pavilion's perimeter which created the idea of a labyrinth. 

The Pavilion is constructed of a lightweight timber frame wrapped with coated scrim to create a dark, cloistered effect. 

The materials are so fragile that, when leaning against the wall, one could feel the vibrations created by people talking, children running and walking around. 

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2011 by Peter Zumthor from Serpentine Gallery on Vimeo.

Last year's Pavilion was design by the French architect Jean Nouvel. Click here to see the photos

Music To My Ears.

DESIGN IS DETAIL

Spatial design at Oslo Opera House, main entrance.