We absolutely love the new collection by Sweden-based gardening house, and one of the most elegant companies worldwide; Coloni. For Spring/Summer 2014 the company has explored the field of species for growing on balconies and other small spaces. By focusing on these species with a wild character, such as meadow flowers and different kinds of grasses, and combining them with species that have a graphic and dramatic character the aim is to create seed mixtures with a natural and less structured feeling. Inspired by the rhythm of day and night and its different moods, the collection named From Dusk Till Dawn consists of the seed mixtures Early Shades, Harvest Noon and Into the Night. [ Continue reading ]
In 2010 the Los Angeles-based architect Robert Stone finished his creation of something spectacular and totally unexpected on the fringes of the Joshua Tree National Park, boasting with every ingredient to amaze its spectator. Down a lonely stretch of dirt road Stone constructed this crazy amazing property, next to the sister project in all-black Rosa Muerta or 'dead rose', which both clearly show the architect's unique courage and vision and possibly even megalomania, as some have argued. With a very surreal aesthetic the project that was named Acido Dorado, which translates to 'golden acid', is a glamorous larger-than-life golden palace that shimmers like a mirage and transforms inside and out throughout the day, with the changing light exemplifying the intrinsic quality of every noble metal: to shine brightly. [ Continue reading ]
The latest work by Japanese architect Tsubasa Iwahashi is truly extraordinary. For the project named 'Hut on the Corridor' Iwahashi, who previously created the beautiful Folm Arts beauty salon in the Osaka prefecture, was asked to renovate the corridor of eleven office units on one floor of a building in Osaka's Nishi-ku district. This resulted in a garden-inspired project, in which the architect and his team created a common area where employees can take a time out from their work. The centerpiece of the concept is a wooden hut in the middle of the space, which can be used as a meeting area or a quiet relaxation zone. The hut has only three walls with people stepping inside by walking around to its rear, it has no windows, but a large skylight which ensures enough enlightenment in the area without opening up the space for by-passers. There is a small peephole in one corner of the hut, revealing the feet of anyone walking by, giving the people in the hut total peace and privacy without being totally cut off. [ Continue reading ]
Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek, who became famous for his use or rather reuse of unorthodox materials in his designs, has collaborated with textile designer Borre Akkersdijk on a beautiful new project which will be presented at Salone del Mobile from today until the 13th of April. The project started at one point at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi, a former ties factory in Milan, in which Eek found large quantities of unused silk necktie fabrics. After reaching out to Akkersdijk, the designers created a new product out of the tie garments. After careful selection through color and designs, a new larger garment was created out of the smaller pieces. First these small pieces were sewn together, subsequently filled with padding and finally it was totally stitched together, creating beautiful quilts illustrated by the designs which originally were to be found on the ties. The quilts are presented the coming days at Rosanna Orlandi which is the regular location of exhibition during Salone, creating a full circle, bringing the garments back to the place this journey originally started. [ Continue reading ]
The Norwegian Chef Eyvind Hellstrøm is part owner of the two star Michelin restaurant Bagatelle in Oslo and president of the Bocuse D´Or Europe, but also a TV personality who advocates the joy and importance of home cooked meals. 'Enkelt og Perfekt', meaning 'Simple and Perfect' in Norwegian is Hellstrøm´s mantra and when design agency Olssøn Barbieri was asked to design the bottle for Hellstrøm's to be developed liquor, they regarded it as the essential ingredient for the integrity of the brand. Authoritative, masculine, accessible and heritage were additional ingredients to shape the product and take decisions in terms of materials, bottle shape, execution, tone of voice and colors. The ingredients on the front and the measuring scale on the side are both homages to the chef's world. To silkscreen the bottle by Verallia in France was a choice to 'reduce' and aspire to an iconic and sharp brand personality, together with allowing the product to transmit a feeling of heritage and trustworthiness. In which they succeeded very gracefully in our eyes. [ Continue reading ]
The Unmonday Model 4.3 speaker represents an extremely complete solution to a very specific problem. The goal in the creation of the speaker was to fabricate something truly wireless and flexible, without compromising on sound quality and design sensibility. As a result the system streams audio from any Apple AirPlay compatible device across one to five speakers allowing for mono, stereo, multi-room or surround sound. Even if there is no WiFi available. But besides being very pragmatic, the Unmonday Model 4.3 is also hand-made by professional craftsmen; from the vitro porcelain enclosure to the custom-made amplifier, the speaker needed to be perfect in every sense. The speaker is even designed to stay on top over time. It can be updated simply by swapping out the hardware and downloading software updates, without renewing either the durable porcelain housing or the driver. The Unmonday Model 4.3 is therefore a remarkable speaker in every aspect. [ Continue reading ]
Cologne-based agency Bel Epok has again joined forces with LITOLFF, taking on full design, development and realization responsibilities for a new beautiful homewares line. The collaborative effort was released to the public at 2014 MAISON &OBJETS, where the range of products named Keepsakes was received very positively. Keepsakes is a line of products that was designed for: "the safekeeping of life’s precious objects." The Cabinet of Wonders, a flexible, functional furniture accessory to suit individual needs is the key piece in the collection. The Cabinet is a elegant wooden box in the style of simple jewel caskets of various sizes can be arranged and decorated as desired to form a personalized sculptural storage unit. Some of the boxes are partially covered with a fine paper, a touch which underscores the use of unorthodox materials and craftsmanship. Details which are a key in the holistic design and branding approach of Bel Epok. The collection also features extraordinary bowls made of a striking pairing of bisque porcelain and handwoven wicker. [ Continue reading ]
The Lotus Dome by Daan Roosegaarde is a living Dome consisting of hundreds of ultralight aluminium foils that unfold in response to human behaviour. The high-tech work of art has been travelling the world since it was created in 2012. Having been on display at a number of historical locations abroad, the Lotus Dome is now facing a contemporary juxtaposition with the Rijksmuseum’s 18th-century period room. The Lotus Dome comes to life in response to a visitor’s body heat. Hundreds of aluminium flowers unfold, a deep bass sound fills the space and light projects the lotus flowers onto the walls. Roosegaarde calls it Techno-poetry. The smart Lotus foil was designed by Studio Roosegaarde and its designers. The foil is made up of different layers of Mylar, a type of polyester, which makes the leaves fold and unfold in response to light and heat. [ Continue reading ]
Today, Vitra and our favorite online interview magazine Freunde von Freunden have started a fascinating new collaboration, in the form of an apartment in the centre of Berlin. The 'FvF Apartment by Vitra' on the Mulackstrasse 26 offers a glimpse into the world of the Vitra living collage and visualizes Freunde von Freunden’s conceptualization of urban living. The house is fully designed for the digitally oriented generation, for whom creativity, sustainability, and mobility are more important than status. Based on the common styles and experiences of Vitra and Freunde von Freunden, the FvF Apartment offers the necessary space to examine what this group of people is looking for in their home. At the same time offers the Apartment a platform for innovative products from friends and fellow partners (including New Tendency, Aesop and Paper & Tea) and will be available as an apartment, for events and for presentations. [ Continue reading ]
This beautiful passage in a public annex building in Wuxi, China, was designed by Prism Design and has been recently opened to the public. As the main building, where the passage leads to, has a concept based on Japanese culture, Prism wanted to use the image of a full-grown bamboo forrest prominently in the space, continuing the reference to traditional Japanese design and culture. The project had limited budget, time, and space within the annex building, causing Prism to take on a minimal approach in its design. Inspired by the concept of visual infinity they decided to create the illuminated passage of twenty meters, using only a limited amount of the total space and creating a clear focus on their enhancement to the space. As the rest of the room is dimly lit the beautiful passage "seeks to extent to infinity in a finite world." [ Continue reading ]
Stratifications is a beautiful collection of five objects by Paris-based designer Krzysztof J. Lukasik, based on the complementarity between the simplicity of the designed forms and sophistication of the texture of the laminated marble. One of the goals of Lukasik was to rid marble of the heaviness it is often associated with in funeral monuments, making it more suitable for the modern interiors. The technique of laminated marble used by the designer is a way to break the massive aspect of marble by slicing it and also to use otherwise unused scraps, just like with glued laminated wood. Lukasik found this approach to the natural stone collaborating with an experienced stone mason. The outcome of the laminating of the marble allows to bring forth the graphic aspect of marble by breaking the linear pattern of the natural veining. The series of objects is somewhat an echo of the natural stratified appearance of marble as found in quarries, before being transformed. [ Continue reading ]
Recently we stumbled upon this amazing collection of invitations, programs, flyers, posters, and broadsides from the period 1985 to 1987 of the legendary New York-based Palladium nightclub via recto|verso. The level of creativity and diversity is truly astonishing. The Palladium was a cinema, concert hall and later a nightclub. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb and originally called the Academy of Music, it was built in 1927 across the street from the site of an earlier venue of the same name. Opened as a deluxe movie palace by movie mogul William Fox, the Academy operated as a movie theater and concert hall through the early 1970s. In 1985, the Palladium was converted into a nightclub by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager. Japanese architect Arata Isozaki redesigned the building's interior for the club. When Rubell and Schrager took over a new important chapter started for the Palladium as the heart of the New York art and music scene, exemplified by this wonderful collection. [ Continue reading ]
From the idea that some of us have everything, Pim de Graaff, an Amsterdam-based freelance copywriter created Nothing. His Nothing is a piece of wood with a matte black finish that intends to remind people to enjoy everything they already have, which from quite some perspectives can be seen as everything. The idea of Nothing emerged from Pim’s observation of people around him that have everything they need, including himself. Pim: “Year after year we don't know what to ask for a birthday gift and many of us are searching for the thrill of tomorrow or the meaning of life.“ [ Continue reading ]
NEW TENDENCY is an interdisciplinary design company based in Berlin. Its portfolio consists of original products and collaborations with selected designers, always following an holistic approach: Products by the design company are characterized by conceptual design, clear aesthetics and functional form, as well as handcrafted regionally. Ranging from furniture to accessories this creative and technical consistency has been awarded with the German Design Nominee 2013 and Interior Innovation Award 2014 (Shift Shelf) and featured within numerous internationally recognized publications and specialist magazines. [ Continue reading ]
We are still amazed by the work of Studio Toogood, when they collaborated with Hermès for their petit h collection, at the end of last year. Hermès petit h was established in 2010 as a series of products using the brand's offcuts and rejected stock, which proved to be a highly inspiring concept for designer Faye Toogood. The entire ground floor of the flagship Bond Street store was dedicated to a custom-designed interior that acted as an antidote to London West End slickness. The created aesthetic for the store reminds us highly of the work of Anish Kapoor and is one of the more daring designs we witnessed within the field of (luxury) retail spaces. [ Continue reading ]
Our favorite Lapka has succeeded again, next to their first endeavor, in introducing yet another lovely hybrid of aesthetics and technology: the Breath Alcohol Monitor. The Lapka BAM is an accessory for your phone that allows you to track alcohol metabolism over time, compare your measurements with friends and share them with the world. The device fits in your palm and when you hold it in a fist and the edge of your hand becomes the mouthpiece. Just one blow connects the device to your phone and starts the measurement process. The overall appearance of the app reflects your reading. It adapts to your night, meaning if you take it a little too far, it will even check in on you the next morning. [ Continue reading ]
Studio Fludd, a multidisciplinary creative collective based in Venice, Italy, recently released an aesthetic handmade collection called Metamorfica - Change and Persistence. The collection of necklaces was inspired by a Geology essay from the year 1830: "An attempt to explain the former changes of the earth's surface, by reference to causes now in operation." by Charles Lyell on the Principles of Geology. Studio Flud believes in high quality materials, artisanal manufacturing and extensive visual research, which are the principles from which they also created this fascinating collection. [ Continue reading ]
Kristin Victoria Barron, a interior designer who founded the company KRIEST in 2005, recently launched a fascinating collection of classical, material-driven small scale sculptures and lighting inspired by the ‘aether element’, or dream world. Barron was influenced by both mythical archetypes and her own dreams to create the interesting collection. By honing her sculptural craft through mentor Vladimir Rodin, celebrated jeweler and painter whose work for Kieselstein-Cord is in the permanent collections of the Louvre and Metropolitan Museum of Art, Barron was able to create a unique collection of objects that act both functional and is aesthetically appealing. Barron crafted her debut collection in three categories: vessels, objects and lighting. [ Continue reading ]
New York-based designer David Weeks has proven, for many years now, to be a highly creative spirit. The designer has a very high level of production, from beautiful minimalist sofas and chairs to a nicely balanced mobile lamp. But our favorite of all his work are the wooden animals and robots that he makes in collaboration with Areaware. The first animal he ever produced was a bear of almost 35 inches high, made of 17 pieces of beech wood, put together by elastic. A beautiful and clever creature, who was able to stand in all kinds of positions. Afther the bear came a gorilla, an elephant, a rhinoceros, a crocodile, a pig, and eventually, as it is bound to happen everywhere at one point, the robot entered the scene. [ Continue reading ]
Superfront is a new swedish furniture company that designs fronts, side panels, tops, legs and handles for IKEA cabinets; the Bestå sideboards and cupboards, Faktum and Metod kitchen cabinets and Pax wardrobes. The company started online and as a pop-up-store in Stockholm Mood Gallery and has moved to a permanent showroom in central Stockholm on the 5th of October. For a fraction of the prices found on the High Street, Superfront offers customers to combine quality furniture with etched patterns and details in robust classic materials such as brass, copper, marble, birch wood and leather. [ Continue reading ]
To celebrate the fact that the first Land Rover Defender was produced 65 years ago, Studio Job was asked to take this 4x4 in hand. In their own way, they have created an ode to the vehicle that makes many of us dream of adventures. Eventually, it has turned out to be more than simply a revised or upgraded vehicle. The result is a sculpture that questions escapism, power relationships and above all Studio Job’s own work. "Designing a car is the same as when, as a designer, you’re sometimes given the chance to redefine a hotel: it’s a higher goal. You don’t get such important commissions every day," says Job Smeets, founder of Studio Job. "On top of that, Defender is an emotionally charged icon. We’ve approached that golden carriage in our own way, maybe not so much from the angle of this one car but rather from the phenomenon of the holy cow in general." [ Continue reading ]
Bang & Olufsen recently introduced the very eye pleasing wireless speakers called the BeoLap 17, 18 and the BeoLap 19: a beautiful subwoofer that really stands out. "These new speakers usher in a new era of high-end sound," says Lars Fredgaard, director of the division of speaker Bang & Olufsen. "Until now, this level of performance was achieved only with speakers connected by cables. Our newest products use a robust wireless standard with sufficient bandwidth and channels for providing a listening experience as the artist intended. Higher sound quality without tasteful interior to disrupt, can now be realized in three ways." [ Continue reading ]
We love the collaboration between Case Studyo and graphic artist Andy Rementer called People Blocks. It consists of four unique wooden characters entirely made and painted by hand. The individual pieces are interchangeable, allowing them to be re-assembled and stacked to create custom characters or abstract sculptures. The series captures the spirit of Rementer’s work, high key color, bold decorative pattern and oddly pensive characters which interact in unexpected and often humorous ways with the surroundings in which they are arranged. The characters: Antoine, Fabienne, Jean and François are sold individually and packaged in a screen printed wooden box. Each sculpture comes with a certificate of authenticity signed and numbered by the artist. [ Continue reading ]
Rozmowa is a series of five objects fashioned from copper surfaces and glass containers by French designer Amaury Poudray. The glass is imperfect, blown without using a mould, while the simple shapes of the copper are precise and perfectly fitted. Created in France, they are the fruit of multiple dialogues between the craftsmen, the designer and at an earlier stage, the gallery. The project articulates the lack of congruence between appearance and reality. It feels as if these elemental masses with their Polish forenames are still inhabited by the history which has shaped them. The individuals involved in the whole Rozmowa (or 'conversation') are Katarzyna, Piotr, Ola, Agnieszka and Maciej. [ Continue reading ]
