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.