Neil Jolliffe

 

I am mad busy at the moment and struggling to post much so i suggest you have a good look around a friend of mine's site instaed. Neil Jolliffe is hard to pigeonhole, a dynamic, eclectic designer,  an avid reclaimer and recycler but who can also show restraint, as the new pieces for Madlab show. Check out some nice inspiration links on his site too, and i will keep you up to date with his amazing sounding new workshop as it develops. (Good to see some work online Neil, and very nice to see you the other week. x)

I will be back posting in a week or so.

Hotel Lounge Bookcases

First design thoughts for a potential upcoming project.

RMK Design

You'll know i like a bit of low tech, and it does not get any more stripped back than RMK Design's DIY Lamps.

Young & Norgate

Wellington Chair

Another Country

Some simple, honest furniture to balance the last post. Another Country manage to imbue some good personality into these pieces. Strong and friendly.

Postler Ferguson

PostlerFerguson investigate ideas of object and context, in a serious way. There is an intellectual understanding coupled with a thoroughness in detailing here which makes these objects really work. The construction and scale of the Buoys is absolutely perfect, and the affect of having one of these very slightly rocking in the corner of the room must be serene/absurd/unnerving, depending on the viewers mood.
The Paper AK47 is highly convincing technically,  plays on the toy gun idea but the light weight also gives another physical dimension. And way the paper is left white exaggerates the detailing, giving the most fear inducing, (and most produced weapon ever), an almost porcelain feel. Like the ghost of an original weapon.

Daisuke Motogi Architecture

This is getting quite a lot of design blog action at the moment but i think it's worth a mention anyway. Daisuke Motogi Architecture have turned the idea of 'what gets lost down the back of the sofa' on its head by designing a chair which you actually can store objects in. This works on many levels for me, firstly, it looks very comfortable, albeit with quite an upright posture. Secondly, the detailing of the fabric cubes, grey on the outside face but a patterned bright material on the internals, giving a flash of colour as you squeeze objects into the chair. Finally, i like the restraint of the form, which could easily have become something far more complicated once the designer had figured out the workings of the blocks. This pared down composition allows the placed items to alter the overall look in the most open way, essentially taking the emphasis away from chair itself.

Seeper

Evan Grant is the brains behind Seeper, 'an interactive arts and technology collective'. Grant does many things but the two ongoing projects involve Architectural Mapping and Cymatics. Check out the videos of the former, where buildings are digitally mapped, then deconstructed and manipulated in the studio, with the resulting film projected on to the original building. I would love to go and see one of these live!
Cymatics essentially deals with what sound looks like, and Grant applies a more technical approach to this study, but still sticks to his ..."self applied remit for innovation led wonderment."
Very Nice stuff, and there is even a little TED talk too.

Ink-Dot

Raw Edges

New work by Raw Edges. Felt and silicon sounds like a curious mix of materials but it seems to really work here, enabling strong personalities to be created.

Minakani Walls

Bespoke wall coverings from Minakani Walls, a Paris based surface design duo. I would imagine it would be a very satisfying and interesting process to have something like this made, as they seem to have a broad visual vocabulary, (and its not that expensive either.)

TreeHotel

 

I wrote about Living Architecture a little while ago, finding it a frustrating project, and TreeHotel in Sweden really shows how it should be done. Six individually designed Tree Houses, set in the a forest in Northern Sweden, 60 km from the the arctic circle. The design, the geography and the philosophy just seems so fresh. I really want to go!  

Geek Out

 

Not the most exciting post for some of you, but it is important for me to illustrate all aspects of making and designing, so here are some good/new/cheap things that will help any maker. Sjobergs make amazing benches, and there is £400 off at Axminster Tools at the moment. Also, I Just bought some Dakota Clamps from Rutlands, OK, they are not Bessey's, (nothing will ever compare) but the offer on sets of four is super cheap and they are more than good enough as secondary clamps in the workshop. Rutland's also have TiteBond on offer. Lastly, New Festool stuff just out, including a nice little Cordless, perfect for site fitting, and NEW Systainers!

Mieke Meijer

Yet more Dutch goodness, this time Mieke Meijer, with forward thinking, deftly detailed objects. Furniture inspired by industrial archeology, a bed morphed with two stools, a science experiment cum coffee maker, newspaper wood and much more.

Sottsass

Something to banish the Grey, dark Winter vibe. Sottsass could make very serious furniture, that was also totally free of constraints, but still brilliant fun.

Terence woodgate

Not a new one this, but i came across it again the other day and it still astounds. Terence Woodgate's carbon fibre 'Surface' table is 4 Metres long but only 2mm thick at the edges. Very challenging visually, looking incorrect to some extent but amazingly elegant at the same time.

Living Architecture

 

I have to say, whilst i get the idea of Living Architecture, there is just something a bit wrong here for me. The Balancing Barn on first glance is undeniably cool, but if you look closely it has a heap of issues. Every side elevation window is obscured by a plywood clad steel joist, needed to achieve the strength for the cantilever. Which must explain why there is no balcony or outside space? which is surely a major part of any elevated structure?

Next to open its doors is The Dune House, which really works, is very nice indeed, and is right on brief, but the Shingle and Long houses just look like traditional buildings build in a contemporary way, hardly 'modern architecture'!

Anyway, what do i know? Living Architecture is Alain De Botton's baby, (he is far smarter than me) and he will be talking about the project on Friday (the 12th) in Suffolk, Tickets are free, call 01728 453637.

Paul Evans

This is not my normal style at all, but i like it bigtime. Paul Evans made a very successful series of furniture called 'cityscapes' produced by Directional Furniture in the 70's. Each piece essentially referenced comtemporary architecture and structures of the time, finished in chrome and mirror. Although they could be seen as ostentatious, there is real interest here for me. They are unashamedly proud and monumental, and would really affect and influence the space around them.

What If The World

Yes, phew, i can upload again. Clever (and good looking) flat pack shelving unit by XK at What If The World Gallery

J1 Studio

Still having major problems with Blogger. But you will find a coulple of interesting looking pieces by L.A based J1 Studio here

Stefan Diez

Sorry, i am having problems loading images into the blog at the moment. It does not matter so much with this one though, as Stefan Diez's Houdini range is really taking off, and you are going to see a lot more of it.

The Thaler's

Serious Goodness from (Brothers?) Harry and Walter Thaler. I am presuming there is a family relationship going on here as there is collaboration on certain works, but there are separate websites which illustrate a difference in thinking. Harry Thaler keeps it suprisingly brief as lots of the work here could command large images and lots of information, but i appreciate that fresh, forward thinking attitude. Walter Thaler's work appears more elemental and considered but none the worse off for it. Both are well worth a look.

Design against the clock

Informative video documenting the recent Design Against the Clock exhibition at Established & Sons. I think its important that you concentrate on what the artists and designers are saying and doing when viewing this, as it  unnecessarily over produced.

Studio Makkink & Bey

Not many press release images to fully eye this up, but i reckon Studio Makkink & Bey's upcoming show at the Spring Projects Gallery should definately be worth a look.
"The Crate Series is an enquiry into the delineations in public and private time and space as well as the role of the objects we use within these spheres. Just as the function of a singular household appliance doesn't mark or dominate a room with its purpose of existence, so the bed hidden inside the BedCrate doesn't denote the room as a bedroom nor the bath and basin to a bathroom. This is a unifying theme of the series as the ClockCrate attempts to smother its own ticking sound and the VacuumCleanerCrate cleans up after serving tea from its built-in trolley."

Von Tundra

Von Tundra explore some interesting ideas with pieces which have succinct and precise uses. This focus is something i really appreciate, because now it seems so much contemporary furniture is supposed to be multi-purpose. Von Tundra are also showing at the brilliant Specific Merchandise at the moment.

6 Mix

A quick one for Steve and Neil, (and all you electronic music heads out there), an interesting, sometimes dark mix from Alex Paterson (The Orb) on 6 music last night. Catch it here.

False dichotomy

To be or not to be, a group exhibition,  is currently showing in the basement of Shoreditch Town Hall, a brilliant subterranean labyrinth with an amazing sense of  history. This is not easy work, these are serious artists exploring serious ideas, but it is very, very good. It's on til the 27th, and is free.

Central Table

More Aluminium stuff, this time design megastars Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec strip the Paris bistro table down to the bare, elegant essentials.

Oldest Door

It's always a pleasure to get a commisison for a piece of furniture that somebody wants to one day hand down to their great grandchildren. It's obviously not the cheapest as the materials have to be the best available and most importantly the construction process has to be very sound, but its also a very interesting process design wise, as it has to transcend current aesthetics, be timeless.
Anyway, I digress. Really looking forward to finding out more about this 5000 year old door,  recently found under the streets of Zurich which according to the chief archaeologist, "is solid and elegant, with well-preserved hinges and a remarkable design for holding the boards together".  

Cheers

Just wanted to say a big big Thank You to everyone who sent very positive emails regarding the Grand Designs episode last week. If anyone missed it, you can still catch it on 4 OD.

Fiona Banner

 

Fiona Banner's show at the Tate Britain is not getting a lot of press, why? i have no idea, because it's epic, serious and humbling, all at the same time.

20 ltd

The keener folk amongst you may have figured this lead on from the recent Matt Siber post, but for those who did not here it is. 20 Ltd sell limited edition stuff, from design to photography (including Siber). There is some amazing work on here, but it somehow feels as though there is a tiny bit too much, almost going against the 20 Ltd ethos. Anyway, highlights for me are Peter Anderson's "Set Piece" chair, Michael Wolf's micro/macro photo's, which have a circuit board feel to them, and Stanley Greenberg's, process inspired images.

Trinity Buoy Wharf

Trinity Buoy Wharf is simply brilliant. Directly opposite the millennium dome, right on the other side of the Thames, with the best view of Gormley's Quantum Cloud, architecture and studio's created out of old shipping containers, an amazing sense of history coupled with a super good contemporary/creative vibe, and for this week only, a walking boat. What more could you possibly want?

Arflex

Apologies if i have mentioned this before but have just revisited Claesson Koivisto Rune's 'Hillside' range for Arflex. From the front view the complex form is difficult enough to construct when you are aiming for this (extremely high) level of finish, but when you start playing with angles and asymmetry in plan as well it has to be admired. Also really like the light reflecting differently on the undulating facade (top), it has a kind of pantone/paint swatch tonal gradient feel to it.

Points to Note

I feel i was slightly down on Zaha Hadid's MAXXI museum in the last post and wanted to clarify. It is a very good building, i like it a lot and we need big architecture, particularly in times when arts funding is being slashed. I am sure it will have a huge impact on the city as well.
I think my frustration was the RIBA Stirling prize shortlist itself, none of the buildings could breathe. Three museums, two schools and Bateman's Row, a really interesting urban solution, but which did not stand a chance against the others. It's interesting, useful and probably right to try and pick a 'best' building, but in reality you never can. Are there any more important buildings than emergency shelters in Haiti after the earthhquake, or the flooding in Pakistan? Is there a more commendable green project than Black Architecture's Deckhouse? I there a more inspiring and boundary blurring structure than Heatherwick's Dandelion? It's impossible to pick a winner, but it creates a whole lot of buzz, which is definately a good thing.

Stirling Prize

Although i knew who won the stirling prize, i have only just managed to catch up with the programme on the i-player. I (anyone) could have told you a month ago that Zaha Hadid would win for the MAXXI museum in Rome. Unfortunately Hadid has taken a while to be accepted in this country, being a foreign national women in the male dominated british architecture clique has not helped. But, this is not reason to give her the prize alone, the buliding is not Hadid's best and not THE best either. It won the award because it is Big and Bold, that's all, the president of the MAXXI foundation admits as much.
As for..."Rome needed a building like this", what in the hell does that mean? That means, you cannot be considered a contemporary city without a hugely expensive, trophy building, a new landmark. All the other buildings have been shoe horned in, two of them are buildings within buildings, one is an extension. The only other stand alone structure is Christ's College School Guildford, the reverse of the MAXXI as it's the least successful visually, but the most successful in doing its job, as a machine.  So, where does it leave us, if you gave me about £130 million pounds to build a gallery in Rome, i reckon i could do a half decent job, but £14 million to design and build a school, which transforms the area, is a much harder brief. Guildford really.. 'needed a building like this'...in the most basic, real terms.

T.V Debut

A quick heads up, I am 99% sure that the Grand Designs featured house i recently worked on will be aired on the Channel 4 show, on 20th October. I may come across as a bit of a muppet as i found the filming quite nerve racking, so i am hoping they have edited me out and concentrated on the work, which is much more assured.

Reclaimed Rustic

Very unusual for me to be working in a farmhouse, reclaimed style, but i really enjoyed making this table. I liked the honesty of the construction, no mechanical fixings at all, just wood, joints and glue.