Among many delights of the Milan Design Week 2011 – Pinha lamp from Raw Edges is definitely the one worth noticing. The idea of the lamp is ingenious – you can pin your own shades to the cork base! The base itself is constructed of two halves that can fit over various hanging lights. The three-level tiered structure gives us creative freedom to mix and match shade components and allows for control over the direction and range of light. Choosing cork as a material was also a brilliant ecological move – it is sustainably sourced. And thanks to the low thermal and electrical conductivity of cork, the lamp is safe to use, no matter what kind of an elaborate whimsy you choose as a lampshade.
Source: Dezeen, Designboom
Bookworms – rejoice. There is a new way of storing and displaying your favorite tomes. Dutch designer Remi Van Oers created an entire furniture line, dedicated to reading. Made from wood and fabric, these pieces are not only modern and elegant, they also include a much needed book storage (the chair is equipped with the light to complete the experience). All pieces allow very generous space for books, making them a subject of showcase and a proud part of the design. A room full of book just got the whole lot cooler…
Source: Co.Design
Appliance giant Electrolux combined brainpower with the Domus Academy in Milan in the effort to rethink kitchen experiences. Master students of the Academy were commissioned to come up with innovative designs that “consider sustainability and culture based on existing technology.” The project is called ReSource and includes nine concepts. “To re-source is to re-generate, re-energize, re-mix and re-lax,” says Bruno Lizotte, Design Manager at Electrolux, “and the appropriate space for this multi-tasking is, more than ever before, the home and its vibrant centre – the kitchen.” Check the video below to see these ideas in motion!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05BW0-X98Es]
Here is a pretty straight-forward idea for a simple and functional storage – Cosmos Wall Cubes. Made from MDF, these multi-colored modular units come in three sizes and can be combined into many different configurations. You can stack them on top of each other, hang them on your walls, integrate them into other furniture pieces, – variations are endless. The Cosmos Wall Cubes can be purchased online from the Smart Furniture website.
This beautiful planter/light sculpture concept, called Schattengewächs, belongs to German designer Maximilian Winkel. Unlike its botanical relatives, these ‘flowers’ are powered by darkness rather than sunlight. The light is turned on automatically thanks to the photosensor hidden in the pot. The engineering behind the Schattengewächs is fairly simple – it is powerd either by four coin cells or by two contacts (anode and cathode) directly from the soil of the flower pot. The contrast between the real planter and the light flower projection has some subtle humor to it. The Schattengewächs can add a nice accent to a roofdeck or a balcony (if you are blessed with those) and also illuminate any dark indoor area.
Computer and refrigerator are the two most important enablers in our homes. But wouldn’t it be even more convenient and civilizing to combine them in one awesome item? This is the idea behind the iCool project, developed by Belarusian designer Alexey Dmitriev. He proposed to replace magnets, notes and other typical fridge clutter with the functional touchscreen display. The screen comes in different sizes (even door-length) and incorporates Apple or Android widgets. And from this point possibilities become unlimited: weather, music, news, shopping lists, photos, social media updates… anything you can think of! Another suggested cool feature is the face recognition program, that unlocks your widgets as you approach the fridge door. So, you can customize your refrigerator and make it truly personal.
Like many great things – this one was created by accident. One day St-Petersburg based designer Soslan Naniev was designing a street bench and came with the idea of a chair that can at the same time work as a stool. In its stool version, the item can be tucked under the table. And when the formal dining situation looms on you, you can transform it with the flick of a finger into a believably looking chair. Nice and simple.
This modular furniture collection by designer Sanjin Halilovic can play several roles – from a shelving unit to a table, chair, even chaise-lounge. The set consists of four elements that are constructed of wooden plaques fixed together with drvofix adhesive and finished in acrylic mat paint. Rearranging them is easy, and by doing so one can build different objects. Don’t we just love when one pice of furniture doubles, triples (and in this case – quadruples) in function?
This unusual planter from French manufacturer Jardin Chic is generous in size and in function. It doubles as a pet house and, thanks to its sleek modern form, can lend an air of sophistication to the room. Made from durable plastic, the planter can be used both indoors and outdoors. Perfect for cats and small dogs, it can give your pet a cool urban roof deck. Just be realistic in your greenery choice and plant something pet-friendly. This will not be a good place for your orchids…
Is it a couch, lounger, or sectional? The Fossa sofa from COR is all of the above. Created by French designer Aurélien Barbry, this unusual piece of furniture functions according to the principle of change. Not only Fossa can be used as a building block for creating different configurations, the very structure of it is also adjustable. The cushions are placed in recesses. They are inserted, moved or removed, which makes Fossa even more dynamic. These recesses, when not filled with cushions, can be used to store books, magazines and other small items. And with plentiful color combinations available, the Fossa sofa can be customized to fit any design whim.
