Many architects have teamed up with product companies to create luxe objects for everyday life: Frank Gehry alone has designed boots for French shoemaker J.M. Weston, jewelry for Tiffany’s, and plastic chairs for Heller.

But Peter Zumthor, the reclusive Swiss architect who has achieved cult-like status, always seemed above this type of collaboration. His portfolio mainly consists of small-scale civic, religious, and cultural buildings in Europe—all exquisitely crafted using natural materials such as wood and stone. His singular work is intense, awe-inspiring, and at times, a bit creepy (anyone visited his “witch memorial” in Norway?). This man of mystery has earned innumerable honors, including the 2009 Pritzker Prize and, most recently, the 2013 RIBA Gold Medal.

But prestige does not always bring in the big bucks, and Zumthor might actually need cash. First came news that he was tapped to design a house for the movie star Tobey Maguire. Then we heard that he’s renting out his vacation home in Switzerland. And now we learn that he’s jumped on the products-by-architects bandwagon and designed condiment containers for the Italian brand Alessi. Made of frosted glass and stainless steel, the collection features various-sized salt and pepper shakers and cruets for oils and vinegars. Read more.

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Valentine’s Day is almost here, and you know what that means— over the next week and a half, large quantities of chocolate will be purchased and consumed by much of the world’s populations (we aren’t hating!).

If you didn’t know, chocolate has become a favorite medium of designers, used in everything from edible surfaces, hospitality design, and even 3D printing. But have you ever wondered just how long the delectable treat can withstand the elements—say, specifically, a warm light bulb? No? Okay, well admit it wasn’t our first question either, but thanks to designer Alexander Lervik and his new Lumière au Chocolate we now have the answer (as well as a tasty conversation piece).

The Poetry of Light lamp is constructed entirely out of chocolate, beginning life in complete darkness and then mimicking the rays of early morning light, spreading across the horizon as the bulb begins to melt the chocolate. See more of Lervik’s “sweet” lighting!

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Interior of the famed Maison de Verre in Paris. Photo: “La Maison de Verre” (Thames & Hudson, 2007).  

Architects like books—whether they read them or not is beside the point. Walk into any architecture studio, and there is bound to be a proudly displayed library of monographs small and large (and X-large), where philosophical treatises and novels rub shoulders (bindings?) with architectural periodicals and comic books. The mix of high- and low-brow culture is supposed to speak to the eclectic tastes of the cultivated architect who needs to broadcast that they “read” Joyce and Wittgenstein when they’re not scanning for building precedents. The library and its container, the bookshelf, are, then, the physical compendium of architectural activity itself.

So it isn’t a surprise that architects like to design bookshelves. And they do them very well, a fact that these 8 projects can attest to. Some are immaculately designed built-in units (see the Strelein Warehouse), while others are structural (the “Vertical Loft”) or even form spaces all their own (see Travis Price’s “book occulus”). Click through to see them all!

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Photo: via Bareroom

We’re not even an entire month into 2013, and trend forecasters are already making predictions for 2014. The consensus? Let’s just say that it looks like it’s going to be colorful. Earlier today, the International Furnishings and Design Association (IFDA) sponsored a presentation from Benjamin Moore highlighting the colors and emerging trends influencing the future of design. “Color Pulse 2014: From Theory to Selection” outlined what designers, architects, and enthusiasts can expect in 2014. Click through to see what will be hot in 2014!

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OMA and Prada aren’t strangers to collaboration. The Dutch architecture firm has spent the better part of a decade creating innovative designs for the famed fashion line. OMA/AMO’s latest project, a 12-piece line of furniture created with iconic manufacturer Knoll, recently debuted at the Prada F/W 2013 menswear fashion show in Milan. And yes, there was blue foam.

Swivel chairs made of pink, white, and blue foam, were staged alongside flimsy Plexiglas tables showcasing candy-colored, cardboard-crafted typewriters and rotary dial phones. The whole collection looked like a warped set from Mad Men, a far cry from the slick, dandyish show OMA and Prada put on last year. Here, black leather sink chairs are transformed into foam recliners encased in walls of Plexiglas, while films showing images of domestic interiors flickered in the background. Click through for the designs.

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We love this: Global carpet tile manufacturer Interface has partnered with conservation charity the Zoological Society of London in a new commercial venture called Net-Works, which collects discarded fishing nets from impoverished coastal communities and uses them to make yarn! The program not only helps maintain a clean and healthy environment, it also gives these poor communities a way to make money.  Read more!

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If Goldilocks ever taught us anything, it’s that the perfect chair is hard to find. Some are too rigid and hard and some are so soft it’s a wonder you can even pull yourself from the cushion. The awesome ID5 Interactive Systems faculty  and students at UdK Berlin created a piece called “1001″ that is a supportive seat and comfortable chaise lounge in one. Using the utmost in new CAD design and technology, this amazing seat bends and curls to each intuitive human movement, making it perfect for any form of enjoyment. Read more!

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Weighing just shy of 8 pounds, this suspended concrete lamp is a treat for any brutalist enthusiast. Designed by Renate Vos, the CONCRETE big is constructed primarily of concrete (a given, considering the name) with silicone rubber accents that create a layer of warmth within the minimalist shade. Read more!

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The first week of our holiday giveaways has come to a close, but don’t worry—new opportunities to win FREE STUFF recommences on Monday. We’ve rounded up an impressive selection of gifts from our favorite designers across the globe, from quirky light fixtures to architectural LEGOs. We’re giving away a prize every weekday to our loyal readers (just a small token of our appreciation for your dedication to Architizer!). In case you missed any of this week’s offerings, they’re all featured here. And good news: The LEGO giveaway is still open for entries!

Click through to see this week’s giveaways and be sure to check in next week for 5 new gifts!

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For those too lazy to plan your weekend activities by checking weather.com obsessively, Zürich-based Micasa LAB has developed the perfect product for you! Using meteorological data from MetOff, the Nebula 12, which dangles from the ceiling like a transparent light fixture, uses liquid nitrogen, WiFi, and high-powered vacuum suction to replicate outside weather patterns up to 48 hours in advance. Read more!

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