Located on the Northeast corner of Central Park, 1280 Fifth Avenue boasts design by Robert A.M. Stern and interiors by acclaimed architect Andre Kikoski. As a multi-use building, the structure houses both luxury accommodations and the Museum of African Art – the tenth institution on the famed Museum Mile of Fifth Avenue.

I had the opportunity to tour 1280 Fifth Avenue a few weeks ago. It’s stance affords sweeping vistas of Central Park to the Southwest, Brooklyn to the Southeast, and its neighboring Harlem to the immediate North. The model apartments, expertly fitted by Ligne Roset, represent each of the four seasons. This serves practical function as well as referencing Kikoski’s design strategy for 1280 Fifth Avenue, which takes cues from the mutating face of Central Park.

The building is also champions green living, not the least of which is aided by LEED certification status.

A look at the model apartments, furnished by Ligne Roset, after the jump. Photographs via PSFK.

Marcel Wanders, Dutch design legend, has produced a new line of flooring. Called “Impressions,” the collection is more about texture than it is about color. That said, the colors are bright and the effect of three-dimensionality rather impressive. Senso, the firm behind the flooring, is a leader in advanced resins (in short this makes much of the design possible).

A full look at “Impressions” after the jump. (via Frame).

Gustavo Piqueira and Samia Jacintho, partners at Casa Rex — one of Brazil’s most awarded and creative agencies — have released a new series of conceptual cushions. This second edition portrays Michel de Montaigne, the French philosopher, Kurt Cobain, the American musician and Mané Garrincha, one of Brazil’s famous football players.

We covered the first round (take a look here), which depicted Marcel Proust and the Ramones, back in September. The new set shows improvement in detail, but continues to focus on fun as the core component to these functional artworks.

View the full second set of Casa Rex cushions after the jump.

This summer The Hayward Gallery explores interior design through the eyes of 30 contemporary sculptors.

The museum’s thoughts on the exhibition -

This summer the Hayward Gallery presents The New Décor; an international survey of over 30 contemporary artists, including some of the leading sculptors of our time, who explore interior design as a means of engaging with changes in contemporary culture. By reconfiguring and reinventing the familiar objects of our domestic life, these artists look beyond design and function to create provocative sculptures and installations. Along with a solo exhibition of Ernesto Neto which runs concurrently in the upper galleries, The New Décor is a highlight of Festival Brazil, a major summer festival celebrating the dynamic culture of today’s Brazil, sponsored by HSBC.

The exhibition features work by 30 artists including: Martin Boyce (Britain), Los Carpinteros (Cuba), Jimmie Durham (USA), Elmgreen & Dragset (Scandinavia), Gelitin (Austria), Mona Hatoum (Lebanon), Jim Lambie (Britain), Sarah Lucas (Britain), Ernesto Neto (Brazil), Ugo Rondinone (Switzerland), Doris Salcedo (Columbia), Rosemary Trockel (Germany), Tatiana Trouve (Italian), Franz West (Austrian).

The exhibition runs through September 5, 2010. Selected images via Dezeen after the jump.

With ICFF and Design Week currently raging in New York, there are a few ancillary showcases worth mentioning. One, the Valencian Design Showcase, celebrates contemporary design from Valencia. Particularly impressive are the outdoor furnishing and lighting pieces. In total, twelve brands (Almerich, Bonestil, Capdell, Fambuena, Gandia Blasco, KOO International, LZF, Naturtex, Point, UNO Design, DARC and Viccarbe) are represented.

Emphasis in placed on two things – first, the legacy of design in Valencia. Secondly, newer companies that have emerged in the last decade. The duality helps promote the wealth of innovation (and fabrics play a big roll here) from the Region.

The exhibition runs through May 28, 2010 and is aptly titled Valencian Design, Live it!

Check it out at the Domus Design Collection Building, 181 Madison Avenue, New York.

Images of the display and selected objects after the jump.

Contemporist has a selection of images from the Swiss furniture maker Vitra’s booth at Salone del Mobile 2010. Not a ton to say about it, but the carefully considered interiors feature the right combination of vintage looks, contemporary pieces, and quirky home accessories and collectables. I particularly like the owl cushion in the above photograph.

More looks at Vitra from Salone del Mobile 2010 after the jump.

Delicate and handsome, David Derksen’s Copper Lamps are made of .1mm copper foil. The strips are cut and soldered together for form the pendents, with three different shapes suited to several interior applications. Derksen has worked with copper before, specifically on a cabinet project. In both cases, his interest in function vs. fragility is evident. (via Core 77).

A further look at the lamps after the jump.

As a kid, Tremors frightened me to no end. As design, these coat hooks by Josh Finkle are vaguely reminiscent of those creatures, but a tad more fun. They are produced through plaster and silicon molding and are hand finished. The shape takes well to a variety of color themes and even monochrome.

While not mind blowing design, the hooks do make playful a rather mundane household need. As such, they are quite successful. (via Industrial Design Served).

Several more looks after the jump.

London’s Fashion and Textile Museum celebrates 150 years of development and innovation in the Sanderson company. Their exhibition, Very Sanderson, is curated by Mary Schoeser, and highlights the best of the Sanderson archives and showcases new designs. Since its founding in 1860, Sanderson has been the British leader in wallpaper and printed textile. Working with influential designers, Sanderson has run through Arts & Crafts to today’s contemporary modes.

A fully illustrated catalog from Thames & Hudson complements the exhibition.

Very Sanderson remains on view through June 13, 2010.