At Spazio Rossana Orlandi. Rossana Orlandi entertains London’s Carpenters Workshop, Loic Le Gaillard on a bench by Piet Hein Eek.
Piet Hein Eek. In 2010 Piet Hein Eek opened his new studio and store complex in the Strijp, the ex main Phillips Factory In Eindhoven. In this way a piece of Industrial history has been saved from complete demolition.
While in the surrounding machines were destroying all the other buildings, Piet Hein Eek has recovered a lot of materials on the ground. From this salvage a new collection of furnitures has been designed utilizing beams and metal pipes, a collection for the first time presented at Spazio Rossana Orlandi.
Note: the brand new wallpaper, inspired by old wood planks.
Scholten and Baijings. A detail of felt wool carpets from Hay’s Dot Carpet Collection, designed by Scholten and Baijings.
Nina Zupanc: Self Discipline. Designer Nina Zupanc in her installation, Self Discipline emphasizes the minimalism of life choices through a purified curator installation of a cabinet, chandelier, desk chair and a desk. All the items are designed and made from durable materials with a long service life, which in itself bears the possibility that the product or object could have a long life reaching far beyond a single generation.
Nina Zupanc'sCabinet with accordion dividers held together with black satin ribbons.
James Plumb. Or James Russell and Hannah Plumb presented their new work in the courtyard. The designers sit at “The Head of the Table” a table and chairs assemblage of unique pieces. The shell of a Grandfather clock stands proudly between two halves of an antique table. Where the clockwork mechanism once worked methodically a service bell now hangs, ready to call dinnertime. The sunken surface in the middle of the table is lined with Victorian floor tiles, whilst mid century chapel chairs stand to attention at the sides.
James Plumb. Chest of Drawers Assemblages of unique pieces. Old suitcases are housed in antiqued steel and wood chests that have been tailor-made in Somerset, to form a series of unique chests of drawers. Each chest is a complete one off, and different sizes and combinations can be commissioned. On top stands a Luminaires, unique piece lamp made from an old shade-maker’s formers stand.
FormaFantasma: Botanica. Botanica is the latest project by Studio FormaFantasma, Simone Farresin and Andrea Trimarchi, commissioned by Plart, an Italian foundation dedicated to scientific research and technological innovation in the recovery, restoration and conservation of works of art and design produced in plastic.
With Botanica Studio Formafantasma is giving its personal homage to plastic materials by investigating the history of polymers. About the project, Botany, as a discipline, began with early human efforts to identify edible, medicinal and poisonous plants, making it one of the oldest sciences. More then two centuries ago plants started to be categorized also for their secretions, a possible source of material.
The objects displayed in the Botanica collection are designed as if the oil-based era, in which we are living, never took place. Almost as if historians, Studio FormaFantasma investigated the pre-Bakelite period, discovering unexpected textures, feelings and technical possibilities offered by natural polymers extracted from plants or animal-derivatives. The designers researched and hunted for information, digging into the 18th and 19th centuries, when scientists began experimenting draining plants and animals in search for plasticity.
The organic details and plant-like forms of the pieces underline the vegetal and animal origins of the resins, while the palette of colors is based on natural amber tones in combination with traditional materials such as wood, ceramic and metal. The natural textures and honey-like colors of the resins evoke the memory of 20th century bakelite objects, however, the finish and details are somewhat archaic yet contemporary. In Botanica, plastics are used as precious details, in an attempt to develop a new post-industrial aesthetic.
BCXY: Origin part II: Balance. Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto, the duo behind BCXY explain the concept behind their Origin part II: Balance installation of carpets. The general story behind our concept is about balance. During the week we spent in Lakiya (in the Negev desert, Israel) we had the chance to visit a few of the unrecognized Bedouin villages, which are being repressed and discriminated by the government for many years now. The percentage of unemployment and illiteracy are extremely high and the living standard is very low. Sidreh - the organization we work with are, besides the weaving part, supporting the education of women in those villages and helping them to get out of that circle. What struck us during the whole visit was that we hardly heard any complaint or felt bitterness. We were very much inspired by that. Following this line we decided to change the unbalance into balance. We were very much inspired by that. The rugs we created are based on 4 runners in 4 'desert' colors. By systematically cutting the runners into shorter segments and combining them in 'graph-like' compositions we tried to create a modern take on the traditional pieces.
BCXY
Gionata Gatto and Mike Thompson: Cage Light. Cage Lights or Light Traps are a collection of lights designed by Mike Thompson and Gionata Gatto. The lights are made of glass mixed with special minerals, which absorb energy and continue to glow even when the light is switched off.
Samuel Gassman. Samuel Gassman studied History of Art at La Sorbonne and since then has been involved in many multi-medial projects. He has been designing his brand of accessories for men, like these unusual cuff links below, since 2009.
