Balearic Beauty in Boxes (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) Situated in a more relaxed part of Spain, this converted container hotel offers a condensed rooftop escape, a quiet private pool and crisp, unobtrusive design. The flat includes a pair of cycles to simplify your stay. Listing at Container home, a unique house!

SEP06_ACTS_BEAUTY

"Beauty," Olafur Eliasson, 1993. In this work, a spotlight shines through a layer of mist to create a rainbow that's only visible from certain angles.

Beauty parlor, Osu, Accra.

50th Anniversary: Gold Beauty Mirror by Michael Anastassiades, $2,656

Photo by: rauchdickson.

Photo by: TheSchoolofStyle.

(Film still from "The Environmental Witch Hunt") Subtle decay, a democracy of leaves.

TRANSFORMATIVE The seventh and final section features knitted garments by Laduma Hgxokolo (front); behind them are architectural furnishings by designers Dokter and Misses, which were inspired by painted African houses. "This one comes from a whole village of pieces," says Lupton, "and they all have hidden storage that's part of them."

TRANSGRESSIVE "They're just stunning, weird, otherworldly, and completely intricate," says Lupton of the Afreaks collection by the Haas Brothers, who hand-beaded each piece in collaboration with South African craftswomen, affectionately referred to as the "Haas Sisters."

Also included in the 'ethereal' section is a scent design by Sissel Tolaas, who was commissioned to create a smell based on Central Park. "It's very earthy," says Lupton.

EXTRAVAGANT "This room includes the classic makeup, jewelry, nails, hair—and a ball gown!" says Lupton. "This is what first comes to mind when people think of beauty, but these are all of those things at an extreme form." At center is a couture gown by Giambattista Valli; the portraits at left show otherworldly, bejeweled visages by makeup artist Pat McGrath. The photographs at right show experimental coifs by hairstylist Guido Palau.

"This is all knitted using a 3D-knitting process; the pattern is based on how cells form, but it's also dictated by the tension of the structure," says Lupton of a spatial installation by Jenny Sabin, also included in the 'Emergent' grouping. "It's kind of like a tent held together by the fabric, and the threads are photo-luminscent, so in theory, they collect daylight and release it by night. We've simulated that indoors by having the light cycle from day to night—right now, we're in dawn."

INTRICATE Lively patterned fabrics from African textiles company Vlisco (center) and posters by Iranian graphic designer Homa Delvaray (left) are the centerpieces of works displayed under the "Intricate" heading, alongside a iridescent wallcovering by Colombian collective Hechizoo (right), which is inspired by rain falling on the Amazon. "Intricacy is a traditional area of decorative art, including tattoos, and ornamentation, but also the body," says curator Ellen Lupton, who organized the show with assistant curator Andrea Lipps. "It's an area of fascination that's both primitive, but also very advanced. There are these intricate structures that emerge, often from manipulating a material to create that intricacy. That's really a theme throughout the whole show—stunning details, however they might be produced."

ETHEREAL "This piece is by Tuomas Markunpoika—he took a traditional wardrobe and covered it with welded steel rings, then burned away the wood," explains Lupton. "We love this idea of process, and the story of the making of the object." To the right are headdresses by fashion designer Maiko Takeda.

EMERGENT Among the technology-driven selections in this section are 3D-printed glass vessels by Neri Oxman of MIT's Mediated Matter Group, which transpire Spirograph-like, caustic patterns when illuminated from above. "These are all formal prototypes for a technique [Oxman] developed; it's a really incredible material that has potential applications for smart buildings," says Lupton. "These lines are layers of hollowed glass that are coiled up. At a larger scale, there could be liquid running through them to cool a structure, or wiring for a smart-building system."

ELEMENTAL The 'elemental' grouping collects items that display an elegantly spare use of "essential materials," says Lupton. Among the selection is Michael Anastassiades's Mobile Chandelier (center), made from black patinated brass and mouth-blown opaline glass.

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The 510 Cabin is one of Leggitt's designs, executed with the help of student apprentices.

Taken on their own, as sculptures in concrete, the region’s freeways are an unappreciated source of beauty, an experiential artwork you can drive on.

The footprint of the home was configured to accommodate all of the existing trees without risking damage to their roots. An exception was made for a tree which sat in the middle of the property which was showing signs of decay. A dense Canadian Maple, the tree was milled and repurposed as the central island/dining room table—also built by Duerksen himself—and is now located only 10 feet from its original location.

A larch stairway leads to the bedrooms and bathrooms. “We chose larch for its natural decay resistance, durability, and beauty,” Patano says.

Amateur Architecture Studio of China displays their 'Decay of a Dome,' the exploration of a western form with traditionally Chinese construction techniques.

The newly built house, just feet from the water’s edge, occupies the space where a decaying farmhouse once stood.

Simple wall-mounted strip lighting, seen here in the cloakroom, is used throughout the house. "The beauty is the light, not the fitting," explains Van Everbroeck.

The juxtaposition of raw wood, stone, and concrete brings out the beauty of each material.

The home sits in a redwood forest, so the natural redwood timbers were an obvious choice for the homeowners due to their beauty, durability, and resistance to termites and decay.

In keeping with the home’s motif, the bathroom features a wall of religious paintings. A crystal chandelier set against the decayed stone walls adds an element of lighthearted drama.

While modern in style, Heva channels the beauty of nature.

Himalayan Beauty Series 3 www.susanjablon.com/364...

The cover of Murakami Versailles.

Western Red Cedar naturally resists rot, decay, and insects. Architect Jeff Jordan also chose to leave the wood unfinished, a prominent part of the house’s look.

Along with its modern, refined appearance, the architects also relied heavily on concrete due to the material's resistance to seaside aggression—such as salt, humidity, and wind, which are unsparing agents of rapid decay.

The deck offers views and a quiet spot for outdoor dining. The Western red cedar vertical siding is naturally resistant to rot and decay, making it a hardy choice for the exterior. The bronze wolf sculpture is by Sharon Loper.

Pendant by Matthew Fairbank Design.