As the world is increasingly switching to energy-saving lighting, nostalgia enters designers’ hearts. The good old Edison’s lightbulb makes a comeback, if not in function, at least in its warm and familiar shape. This sentimental product from Vienna-based designer Maciej Chmara is called Sympathy for the Bulb. It masks the energy-saving bulb inside the more rounded and traditional aperture. Note the clever packaging – another emotional aspect of the piece.
Every home has awkward areas we do not quite know what to do with. Entryways, spaces beneath the windows, uncomfortable corners… A piece that would humanize those areas would be a blessing for any interior. Meet the Weigel Bench, a recent creation from Square Form, originally made as a shoe rack for the entryway of the client’s home. The understated beauty and functionality of the piece earned it a new licence to live. Made out of noble and natural materials (salvaged 5/4″ western walnut, salvaged Alder, and steel tubing), the Weigel Bench adds class, warmth and a much-needed storage to any space.
This little folding chair was created by the Finish born and Paris based designer Elisa Honkanen, who proved once again that even inexpensive, utilitarian and temporary things can add delight to our lives. Hasta chair consists of two components – folding tripod and a cotton cover, which resembles kids ‘tell the fortune’ paper game. The beauty of the piece comes from its lightness and naive, even childlike simplicity. But in fact, to achieve the effect, the designer had to experiment a lot with textures and proportions. The piece is currently on show at the Making Of exhibition in Paris.
It is the exhibition season, and no design dialogue would be complete without mentioning of Heimtextil 2011, which came to a close on January 15th in Frankfurt. Among the highlights of the fair was Karim Rashid‘s blinds collection for Velux, called Blackout. The product name seems a bit absurd to a design nerd like me. Rashid, the word’s biggest evangelist of light, is commissioned to create a blackout? ‘Daylight is essential for our well-being and ability to think positively, – the designer says, – However, to create an intimate and recreational space, light control is an absolute must – for sleeping, working or privacy… I was excited to get to work with light versus darkness. Blackout blinds are the key to maintaining a satisfying sleep cycle and ideal for bedrooms and other spaces where complete light control is a must.’ The collection consists of four patterns, each in three pallets. We can choose from Karim’s signature pink, acid green and conservative black-and-white. Inspired by digital technology, the designs have metallic accents creating an interesting texture.
This is the second decade of the 21st century, and even though flying cars are sill in the wish-list, some cool things are already out. This lamp for example. What can be more futuristic than drawing out light with your hands? Having been shown at Imm Cologne last week, Rima desk lamp by Dreipuls became a huge hit. Its innovative mechanism contains a series of LED lights, that are controlled by sliding rings along the metal rail. The rings are detected by the optical sensors, and the light emerges. The item had won the prestigious red dot award in 2010.
More news from the Cologne 2011. This unusual piece earned its creator Hanna Emelie Ernsting the second place in this year’s [D3] Talents Competition. Moody couch got its name for its ability to take and retain many shapes. The transformation is achieved thanks to the extended textile cover, which can be draped around the base in many different ways. A high quality cotton upholstery is reinforced by wadding, making the material more luxurious and also able to hold the desired form. Thus, the object can respond to changes in environment and user’s emotional state. The designer calls this concept – ‘form follows moods.’ By detaching cover from the base and giving it freedom, Ernsting created a piece of furniture that is as flexible as fabric. A couch that can wrap around you after a long day – who would not like that…
Source: Dezeen
Shelving is as unavoidable as human need for collecting things. Ordinary shelving, however, is possible to avoid. Consider this piece from Opulent Items and see for yourself. Justly called Contemporary Flexi Shelving, this modular collection can fit any space. The units are sold separately and can be compiled into various configurations. The choice of two sizes allows for an exciting visual variety. Each circle comes with a level base, that stabilizes the items displayed. The piece can be used as a shelving unit, a room divider, or both.
It is that time of year again, when the Imm Cologne (one of the biggest furniture fairs in the world) is in full swing. It started three days ago and will end this weekend; and some sneak peeks have already began to emerge. Here is one jewel I could not let go unnoticed – the Rewrite desk, created by GamFratesi design group for Ligne Roset. The concept of this piece goes beyond aesthetics and ergonomics. The desk is build around the phycological aspect of the writing process. A wooden table is surrounded by a soundproof and light resistant ball, made out of walnut and Kvadrat Divina wool. The user feels secure in this work bubble, even if the room is full of people. A lacquered metal box is attached beneath the desk to hide electrical cables and transformers. The shape is both traditional and surprising. And because it is so secluded in its own space, the desk can be located anywhere in the room without interfering with the overall design scheme. Rewrite has already been displayed as a prototype at the Danish Museum of Art and Design in Copenhagen.
And now for something completely different. A wooden stool made out of a series of triangles, generated by a computer algorithm. This innovative piece, created by Riccardo Bovo, only exists in a form of a prototype. But with its enormous geek appeal, it will most likely go far. Each One Hundred Triangles stool is unique; it uses a random set of triangle pieces, that are laser-cut from wood and joined together with cable ties. The result provides for a lightweight, flexible and fun sitting.
This elegant lightweight piece designed by Léonard Kadid, who gave us a notion of a lamp we need to co-create. Yes, you read me correctly. The lamp does not exist without our input, for it has no base. We are invited to provide our own base in a form of a book. Which is fun as well as pragmatic, because this concept eliminates unnecessary manufacturing costs. Made out of a single piece of plywood bent in two places, Bookmark Lamp is as minimalistic as can be. And since the choice of a book is up to us – interactive too.
