Starchitects typically seem to operate in a some ethereal realm unknown to all but wealthiest consumers, living in that rarified world of multimillion-dollar commissions. Luckily, some of them have been convinced to exercise their creative capabilities on some more affordable fare. The Frank Gehry tea kettle (above), for example, costs $450. Certainly a sizable sum for a kettle, but just 0.003 percent of the $15M Gehry's firm banked for designing MIT's Stata Center. And hey, if this thing springs a leak, there's an actual chance you can afford to replace it.
Then there's Richard Meier, the architect behind L.A.'s Getty Museum and NYC's celeb haven 176 Perry, who recently turned out a festive holiday menorah, so festive, in fact, that fellow architect Daniel Libeskind deemed it worthy of a spot in his holiday exhibition at the Jewish Museum in NYC. Well, festive save for the fact that Meier selected eight buildings as the eight candleholders—buildings known for their role in the oppression of Jews throughout history. Yikes! Luckily for those of us who aren't into gifts with a religious message, other starchitects have turned out some affordable—some, even light-hearted—offerings over the years. Check out the gallery above for roundup our sleek, chic favorites. Below, all the pricing/sourcing:
Richard Meier | Menorah | $1,000 [The Jewish Museum Shop]
Mies van der Rohe | Barcelona Chair (1:6 Scale Collectible Model) | $430 [MoMA Store]
Ettore Sottsass | Parmesan Cheese Cellar | $112 [Alessi]
Frank Gehry | Pito Tea Kettle for Alessi | $450 [Unica Home]
Michael Graves | "Mouse" Cheese Board |
Norman Foster | Desk Accessories for Helit | $78-$270 [Unica Home]
Renzo Piano | Serving Set for Iittala | $115 [Unica Home]
Jean Nouvel | Tea & Coffee Set for Alessi | $689 [Unica Home]
Arne Jacobsen | Table Lamp | $812 [DWR]
Shigeru Ban | Scale Pen for Acme Studios | $90 [Unica Home]
Richard Neutra | Aluminum House Numbers | $48 ea. [DWR]
Alvar Aalto | Votive | $18 [Unica Home]
Zaha Hadid | Lacoste Sneaker | $265 [ShopStyle]
Frank Gehry | Star Ring for Tiffany & Co. | $300 [Tiffany & Co.]
· MIT sues Gehry, citing leaks in $300M complex [Boston.com]
· Nicole Kidman Wants $45,000/Month for 176 Perry Pad [Curbed NY]
· Richard Meier's Morbid Menorah [NYO]
· Q&A - Daniel Libeskind on a New Show of Menorahs [NYT]