Design Miami Basel 2013 - a Preview

Enjoy my selection of some of the most interesting objects that are going to be presented:

This cerature is infact a chair - Leather Alligator Banquete chair, Designer/ Fernando & Humberto Campana from 2011, Materials/ Leather, Dimensions/ 88 cm x 98 cm x 124 cm. It will be part of the exhibition of Galleria O./ Rome:

Jewelry from gallery Antonella Villanova/ Milan:

Rosso consapevole, Designer/ Lucia Massei
Materials/ copper, fine gold, pigment

Gabrielle Ammann // Gallery/ Cologne:

Poire Hélène, Designer/ Florian Borkenhagen
Year/ 2013
Materials/ 300 glasses, iron
Dimensions/ 120 cm x 190 cm
gabrielle ammann // gallery

Galerie Anne-Sophie Duval/ Paris:

Pair of chairs, Designer/ Eileen Gray
Year/ C. 1930Materials/ Chromium-plated tubular steel frame and leather

Block Containers, Designer/ Sylvain Willenz
Year/ 2012
Materials/ Cast glass

Victor Hunt Designart Dealer/ Brussels

Waiting to see at Salone del Mobile 2013

- beautiful, isn't it? This is the drawing of the new lounge chair Zanotta-Maserati designed by  Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, that Zanotta and Maserati will present Salone del Mobile 2013.
 source

Gemma  - a small armchair from rotomoulded polyethylene for indoor and outdoor use, designed by Karim Rashid for B-LINE 

Vivienne Westwood in Interior Design

The lace trend started several years ago, but now you can have lace on your walls, too. As you have already seen in my earlier posts, fashion and interior design are very closely interconnected. A new example of this link: Vivienne Westwood fans can now dress their walls in some of her signature prints.

She has teamed up with Cole & Son, to create an extensive range of wallpapers  inspired by some of her most recognized fashion collections. left: 'Vivienne's Lace' design from Westwood's S/S 07 'I am Expensiv' collection

right: Cut-out Lace' from the S/S 07 'I am Expensiv' collection

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Floor on the Walls - Elegant Re-use of Materials

Frame Magazine posted photos of the new French park-café in Zürich Z Am Park that features classic elements interpreted in a modern way. Well, that is not so new, but what is new here is the approach -

due to the very low budget of the ownersParts of the former flooring, an oak-herringbone-parquet, were used to form the Bar and Couches, all contrasted by the warm grey, monochromatic space. Materials were re-used where possible; old curtains were handpicked for the shifting upholstery, and a modular vintage lamp (by Trix and Robert Haussmann, 1965), was chosen to create a glowing lighting.

'We wanted the interior to keep evolving, so instead of just placing the classic Horgenglarus Bistro-chairs in the space, we asked various artists and designers to each re-work four of them in their own way', says Christian Kaegi Aekae (designer at Ae Kae). These can be seen and used in the café during three months, after which they can be bought at an auction evening. The profit fully goes to the designers.

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"...turn business-as-usual totally upside down."

Periods of uncertainty fuel tremendous opportunity, but they also reshuffle the deck and change the rules of the game. DID YOU KNOW THAT Hewlett-Packard, Disney, Hyatt, MTV, CNN, Microsoft, Burger King, and GE all started during periods of economic recession?
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Already named one of CEO Read's ‘2009 Books to Watch', the English version of EXPLOITING CHAOS is set to rock bookstores on Sept. 1, but Trendoffice and Trend Hunter have arranged for you to have a free Sneak Peak of EXPLOITING CHAOS. Click the link below to get the preview:

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Footwear by Zaha Hadid for Lacoste

LACOSTE AND ZAHA HADID LAUNCH LIMITED-EDITION FOOTWEAR

LACOSTE will launch the footwear capsule collection designed in collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects in September 2009. The project was initially previewed in October 2008 during the Frieze Art Fair in London, and the exciting ‘work in progress’ exhibited there has now become a final design prototype poised for production.

source: Dezeen - Footwear by Zaha Hadid for Lacoste
Has recession some connection with this new destination to Zaha Hadid's creative power? I wonder who is going to wear these shoes?
I have posted many times about the fact that trends in interior design often come from fashion, but here we can see the opposite - fluidity in architecture and interior design applied to fashion.

News for Milan Design Week 2009

In addition to the already posted new products that are going to be launched at this year's i Saloni I have received news also about several more interesting designs:

Prometeo lamp from carbon fibers for I Tre will be presented at Euroluce 2009









'sof' chairs by akihisa hirata






















Memory lamp from recycled paper by Yu Jordy Fu














‘dodo’ and ‘paradise tree’ by oiva toikka for Maggies

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All posts Milan 2009


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In Grand Style - Bang & Olufsen Launches Golden Colour

Bang & Olufsen have created a new line of its products available in a luxurious gold dye finish. The new release is inspired to complement luxury interiors.
In fact, the golden colour was specifically requested by the exclusive boutique hotel Villa Rothschild in Königstein, Germany. Built from 1888 to 1894 for the financier Wilhelm Carl von Rothschild, Villa Rothschild was recently awarded the coveted five-star superior status due in no small part to points earned for the bespoke golden coloured Bang & Olufsen products installed in the guest rooms as well as in the common and recreational areas.

"I chose Bang & Olufsen for the AV-installation at the completely renovated Villa Rothschild as the company is world renowned for the exquisite quality and beauty of its products," said Bernhard L. Lacroix of the hotel's management team. "However, to match the luxurious historical buildings and interiors, I specifically requested a golden coloured product line, which perfectly complements the grand style of the Villa Rothschild."

Bang & Olufsen uses a wider range of materials than most other companies in the industry. Only real materials such as aluminium, glass, rubber and wood are used, however, and all materials are carefully selected for their quality and ability to fit naturally into any home environment.
Their skills within aluminium finishing made it possible for Bang & Olufsen designers to develop the very exclusive golden hue which will now be added to the existing colour range.

However, to preserve the exclusivity of the golden colour, only selected products - including some of Bang & Olufsen's most iconic video and audio products as well as a range of complementary loudspeakers - can be ordered as golden variants, and there will be a premium price for the golden colour which will be made to order only.

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Quadrio “Product of the Year” 2009

The Quadrio, Hotpoint-Ariston’s new 4-door fridge, was voted Product of the Year 2009 yesterday in the Large Home Appliances category of the “Gran Premio Marketing e Innovazione”. The Quadrio was voted by a panel of over 8,000 Italian consumers for its characteristics of flexibility and eco-efficiency, having two independently opening doors and two independent freezer drawers that facilitate rational storage of food.

The “Gran Premio Marketing e Innovazione” is unique in the field of product awards being the only one to be directly decided by consumers.

more details in Quadrio “Product of the Year” 2009

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REMNANT CHAIR - for a remnant life?

I do not want to be rude, but isn't this REMNANT CHAIR an abuse for the elegant lines of Mies van der Rohe's famous chair? Although the author Bo Reudler says that

"The Remnant Chair pays homage to its predecessors, the Barcelona Chair and the
PK22 but has its own distinct personality.",

I can see only some very depressing form of similarity.

"The cushions are upholstered with remnant fabrics salvaged from local
furniture upholsterers."

- didn't we depreciate sustainability and eco-awareness into a flag for gaining
popularuty? Couldn't we design and produce furniture without the feeling of
going backwards? I do not accept this trend in contemporary design - it has nothing to do with the role of design to make our lives better.

Just compare:

Can the chair at the beginning of my post be a homage to this one?


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Design Miami/ Basel 2008 - the place to be now!

Everyone is talking now about it. And obviously there is a lot to see. If you cannot be there the above can be a small substitute.
Impressions from the press preview and the vernissage of the design fair Design Miami/ Basel.
via VernissageTV

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Elegant Perforations

Ingenious design combined with modern technologies can make even stone furniture look light and elegant, and bring elasticity and transparence to unexpected materials like leather.

It seems that the trend for using leather with special form of incisions

on a metal frame is growing. We saw SKiN -the new sofa designed by Jean Nouvel for Molteni & C was designed

last year, but available only from the beginning of this year, is joined now by Loom (right). Light, elegant and modern, the series of matteograssi.it

is great addition to any contemporary interior.

The thick leather of Loom is perforated and stretches over the stainless-steel spring frame giving the leather elasticity, breathability, and transparency, properties normally associated with fabric. Artisans sew the leather and finish it by hand, while the feet are made of plastic. Offered in low and high lounges, plus a footrest. A leather headrest cushion is also available.

The greatest effect of perforations is seen in the new Table HS03, design by FRANCO POLI for Matteo Grassi, shown at 05/2008 I SALONI WORLDWIDE - NEW YORK . The table is entirely realised with the precious White LASA marble. The 270X110 cm top folds inwards until it reaches the conical junction of the two polished bases, hollowed out in the center to maintain the conture of the delicate point where the pieces meet.

Although large and heavy, the table looks elegant and light.








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Salon Maison & Objet : inspiration and trends

Design trends at Maison & Objet, according to PointClickHome.com :
Subtly Moroccan:Perforated metal work, hand-crafted leather, blown glass, and woven textiles remain characteristic materials, but styles are more streamlined and the forms softened.
Natural Glitz: Nature gets dressy. Floral pattern, on all materials, were decked out in bronze, platinum and gold.
Purple and Grey: The hot palette here ­­—and most everywhere. It’s a moody, but incredibly sophisticated combination.
Chalet Chic: Thick furs, heavy wools, raw wood and hunting themes make up the "Aspen" look.
Japanese Reign: Asian inspiration has always been a dominant force in contemporary design, but this year Japan came on particularly strong. Now, more than ever, it's about clean vibrant colors, stylized floral patterns and details like hand stitching, embroidery and oragami folds.

Right: Golden Timber dishes by Bodo Sperlein embrace the tree in its simplest form, but do so with shimmering color.Gilded tree rings in concentric circles are a stylish highlight on this salad plate, while the charger's tighter lines give it a faux bois effect.

Zenza’s hanging pendants are like those found in Casablanca, but with a twist. A hot trend at Maison & Objet, styles created from pierced materials are typical of Moroccan design.

This woven blanket, with its stylish combination of color and texture, by Zoeppritz won a Maison & Objet best-in-show award.

The ornate pattern on this pillow by Nur is another typically Moroccan trait, but the refined palette updates the look.

More on trends:

The designer for the brand Brigitte Forrestier, Jean Christophe Jalaber is well situated to analyze the evolution in consumer tastes : for him, the key words are quality and innovation

Didier Baumgarten / FNAEM: The "deco" spirit is all the rage and is pushing consumers to make much more varied and mixed choices.

Xavier Loup Landscape Architect, LOUP & Co, France: Today the yard is considered a true living space. LOUP & Co picked up on this trend very early on and works in several countries in Europe. Its suggestions for staged, vegetalized outdoor spaces have gained increasing success.

Patricia Urquiola Designer, Italy: A lover of byways and secret paths, Patricia Urquiola revisits woven outdoor furniture for B&B ITALIA. Armchairs and sofas, all XXL, can go from the patio to the living room.

Salon Maison & Objet :The news from Ligne are small versions of their 'Togo'series -'Baby Togo' for 5/12 years old and 'Mini Togo'.

Flashy colours - Ela made of Corian Sopha Industries : sofa.fr

imm cologne 2008 - news

For those of you who wish to have been there - enjoy!

LA NUOVA CASA - this is my choice:)

What are the new trends from this year's fair? Here is one important opinion:

Dirk-Uwe Klaas, chief Managing Director of the Association of the German
Furniture Industry in Bad Honnef (VDM) on three current developments at imm
cologne 2008:
"Firstly, you will realise that the quality and presentation
of what is being offered has again clearly improved in comparison to previous
years. Secondly, we can clearly see that design and a demanding use of form is
no longer a must only in the more elevated price range, but also in the middle
and lower prices categories. And finally there is one big mega trend - the fact
that there are no trends. Variety is the order of the day, whether in relation
to furniture and technology, furniture and light or furniture and
ecology."

COR Couvert

ligne roset

Although no major trends, I notice something I like - there seems to be a lot of natural wood in home furnishings this year which confirms the trend for solid wood pieces and visible woodgrain:

Dieter Knoll

Schulte Design
Scholtissek -

MDF - Italia S Table - defintely one of the most talked about products.

imm cologne - The international furnishing show -

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