Vancouver based studio Molo brought their famous Softwall + Softblock modular system to the ICFF. For those who don’t remember, it is an innovative freestanding partition that can be expanded, contracted and shaped however you please. Each building element folds flat thanks to the clever honeycomb structure of the material. Made from polyethylene these partitions can create airy room dividers, with an option of LED lighting inside them. Recently Sortwall + Softblock has been refined by introducing different heights and colors, as well as adding accessories. The connection between the blocks is achieved via concealed magnets for a seamless, continuous wall of any shape and length. Great stuff!
Remember old wooden clothes pegs? The reason you do is that they have been around for a while, and people still use them. All thanks to a simple and functional mechanism. So, when Brooklyn based designer Steffi Min took this innocent peg shape and turned it into a lamp, it felt like one of those ‘why didn’t I think of it’ moments. The piece consists of a cord (which you can wind around a ceiling or a wall mount, bookshelf or any other object), a wooden base and a bulb itself. Rather than a traditional light socket with a twist in motion, the Peg lamp introduces a new relationship between the socket and user by clamping right on to the bulb. Innovative and graceful.
Since we are on the subject of modular lighting – consider this incredible design idea. The Guss lighting system by designer Santiago Sevillano has countless number of possible configurations. Its identical curvilinear segments can be rearranged into any light-related object of your choice. With Guss you can build pendants, wall lamps, table lamps, floor lamps, you name it!.. And the lamps are eco-friendly too, they consume 80% less energy than standard incandescent lights.
Source: Yanko Design
Branch Light is a clever modular light system that changes depending on your illumination needs. Designer Bruno Fosi created a branch-like structure you can add to (or subtract from) and transform your light fixture entirely. And the best part is that this transformation does not require any complicated assembly methods. The lightweight ceramic body of Branch Light is held together by neodymium magnets. So, no wirings, no threads and no holes are needed. Just a weightless, elegant object you can handle with ease.
Out of many design innovations shown during the Salone del Mobile 2011 in Milan, Synapse from LucePlan is my personal favorite! This modular room divider, that also produces ambient light, can be customized to fit any space. ‘The idea of Synapse came from the awareness of a significant change in the way people live today, – says the creator of the product, designer Francisco Gomez Paz, – Homes have become smaller and narrower, and people have decided to pull the walls down to create wider spaces. So, there is a well defined need for the lighter elements that would handle this new way of living.’ The Synapse divider is based on intelligent modules that can produce light, reflect the light, produced by other modules, and also transport electricity when connected to each other. Ingenious! The piece has another hidden function, that was discovered after it was made, – it reflects natural light from your window and turns it into an ambient one. Perfect for cramped spaces with not enough sunlight…
LED light is great, it is bright, long-lasting, energy efficient. It can also come in strips, which makes it perfect for various design projects. Designer Antoni Arola used these qualities of LED to create a line of luminous furniture, called BlancoWhile. He integrated light with shelves, bookcases, desks. The strips are hidden under the metal sheets and focused in the center to provide an even ambient illumination. The pieces are modular and can create multiple configurations, as big and bright as your space allows.
HT InteriorDesigningBlog
Lamps and books are interconnected in our mind, no wonder it became a trend to bind them together physically. The Book Lamp from Groupa Studio is a great example of this dual function in action. The wire frame suggests the classic lamp form with a lampshade and a base, where the ‘base’ serves as a bookmark. Fun, simple, clever item that can enhance virtually any room.
Source: Contemporist
Italian designer Enzo Berti thought it would be fun to combine two essentials of interior design – lighting and greenery. And he was right. The result – the Eden lamp – turned out to be an unusual and fun accessory. The piece is illuminated by two LED lights – one pointing upward and one downward, which makes it a sufficient light source. And LED is not harmful to plants – another reason it is perfect for this particular project. Manufactured by Torremato, the Eden lamp comes in a variety of colors and finishes. And with your own choice of greenery, the lamp can be made to fit your specific design.
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
