One of the guiding philosophy’s of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s work is leaving the end-user to decide what an object is and how to interact with it. Designer Stephan Schulz has taken the concept to new extremes with his Comfy Cargo Chair.
A high squared wooden chopping board in various sizes with handle. After the carpet "Explosion", Fabio Bortolani insists on the same trend proposing a chopping board with the shape of a detonator. The ironical transfer turns to be functional too: the chopping board acquires a practical and solid handle.
Manufacturer: SKITSCH
Exhibition: 100 Chairs in 100 Days by Martino Gamper 5 Cromwell Place, London 2–15 October 2007
Martino Gambers says: This project involves systematically collecting discarded chairs from London streets (or more frequently, friends’ homes) over a period of about roughly two years, then spending 100 days to reconfiguring the design of each one in an attempt to transform its character and/or the way it functions. My intention is to investigate the potential for creating useful new designs by blending together stylistic or structural elements of existing chair types.I see this as a chance to create a ‘three-dimensional sketchbook’, a set of playful yet thought-provoking designs that, due to the time constraint, are put together with a minimum of analysis. As well as possibly making one or more designs that might be suitable for mass production, I intend to question the idea of there being an innate superiority in the one-off, to use this mongrel morphology to demonstrate the difficulty of any particular design being objectively judged ‘the best’. I also hopes my chairs illustrate – and celebrate – the geographical, historical and human resonance of design: what can they tell us about London, the sociological context of seating from different areas, and the people who owned each one? The stories behind the chairs are as important as their style or even their function.
The project suggests a new way to stimulate design thinking, and provokes debate about a number of issues, including value, different types of functionality and what is an appropriate style for certain types of chair – for example, what happens to the status and potential of a plastic garden chair (conventionally located slap bang in the idiom of unremarkable functionality) when it is upholstered with luxurious brown suede? In essence, this exercise champions a certain elasticity of approach – both in terms in highlighting the importance of the sociological/personal/geographical/historical context of design, and in enabling the creative potential of elements of randomness and spontaneity to be brought to the fore.
M.G
xy+z suit rack by Emma Fox Derwin / Nigel Groom. The contemporary man’s xy+z suit rack is elegant, funny and modern, inspired by the traditional men’s valet clothing stand. Our suit rack accommodates your entire ensemble: jacket, shirt, tie, belt, pants and shoes. A single line, hand formed in three axes from steel, powder coated with a light texture to prevent clothes from slipping off, the piece folds up for easy assembly, disassembly and transport.
Via www.dezeen.com
Above: Schaukelkette by Johanna Richter. An accessory for the home that is also a fashion item. Schaukelkette is reductionist and subdued, but not too subdued: an item of jewellery for the home. The inspiration for this design came from the antiphonies between an object in the home and a piece of jewellery. A swing- cum-necklace, a new way of looking at what furniture is all about.
LOVE these products!Founded in 1984, Casamania by Frezza has grown rapidly in the space of a few years, both in terms of structure as well as the results achieved in the local and international marketplace. Casamania’s offers attractive products, functionally and aesthetically rich and ideal for use in a diverse range of contexts. Products are characterised by the use of colour, offering a sense of wellbeing to any space. Casamania has accumulated valuable experience in the accessories sector and particularly for its modular systems, ideal for every situation and every space: whether home, office or shop.
The work of architect and designer Vincent van Duysen is characterised by an interest in reinterpreting classical forms. His designs are both contemporary and innovative. His gorgeous collection of pots for when objects work is an exercise in restrained theme and variation. Each pieces is composed of two elements: an earthenware container and a wooden plate. The plate serves as a cover as well as a plinth.
