Veerle's blog 3.0

The Bouroullec Brothers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:52 GMT

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec probably sound familiar if you have been following what goes on in the world of industrial design. The Bouroullec headquarters are housed in a former clothing warehouse in Belleville, north-east Paris. The two brothers share an office and their desks stand side by side in a space that is closed off from the rest of the studio overlooking the courtyard with north-facing light.

Small creative studio

Their studio isn't a big one filled with many employees as there are only 8 people working there with Ronan and Erwan included. They don't want to expand. I share a similar philosophy. Expanding would mean more pressure to land a project and loosing the creative outlet and become a manager instead. I can totally find myself in what Ronan says:

We turn down around 90% of all work that we’re offered. That’s the benefit with being a popular designer, the freedom.

In the office you'll also find paper models of furniture that they created. Drawing is a huge part of the brothers work. In the Bivouac exhibition which I'll talk about below there is an 80m-long wall covered in small drawings in specially designed white Corian frames. The drawings range from obscure to figurative and are instantly attractive. Emotional, sinuous, quirky and humorous, they are extremely personal. Ronan says:

If I couldn’t design any more I think I would be alright. But if I couldn’t draw I wouldn’t survive. I think Erwan expressed it perfectly the other day when he said that the discipline of drawing is very positivist and it’s a quick outcome, very different from the long process of creating a product.

There is much more to be discovered about the Bouroullec brothers in this fine piece by Sight Unseen that features an excerpt out of the biannual magazine Disegno.

The brothers have been working together as joint partners since 1999. Their work ranges from small utilitarian objects to architectural projects with a large focus towards the design and organization of interior space. Over the past decade both brothers have built up a steady reputation and developed longstanding relationships with furniture manufacturers such as Vitra, Kvadrat, Magis, Kartell, Established and Sons, Ligne Roset, Axor, Alessi, Issey Miyake, Cappellini, Mattiazzi and more recently Flos and Mutina.

Video interview

Below you can watch an interview with the Bouroullec brothers. In this video The Bouroullec Brothers give a short insight into how they approach their projects, and that their jobs as designers is not to provoke huge change in society, but to find clever ways to manufacture everyday objects.

BIVOUAC

The two brothers currently have an exhibition running called "Bivouac" until July 30th across 1,000 square meters in gallery 3 of the Centre Pompidou-Metz. It's their first major solo show in France. Bivouac highlights an exceptional international career, during which the two brothers have worked with some of the greatest names in design, been crowned by numerous awards, and the presence of their work in public collections.

This exhibition draws from 15 years of collaborative work done by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec. The brothers’ first major solo show juxtaposes furniture, housewares, drawings, and large-scale installations in an atmosphere that encourages visitors to learn through interaction. What follows is how the exhibition is described at the Centre Pompidou-Metz site.

Imagined as a temporary encampment - hence its name - Bivouac is deliberately divested of scenographic elements other than the Bouroullecs' work. Movement is imparted by contrasting scales, transparency and superpositions. Visitors are invited to wander around the gallery, moving between prototypes and finished objects, mass-produced and hand-crafted works. Bivouac highlights the immense diversity of these creations and economies achieved in production. It also addresses key concepts in the Bouroullecs' research: objects which are nomadic, ephemeral, modular, organic, flexible.

The exhibition is neither an inventory nor a retrospective of their work. Rather, it illustrates the current state of their designs and research, in constant evolution.

Photos by: Centre Pompidou-Metz and studio Bouroullec.

Tio chair by Massproductions

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:07 GMT

Massproductions is a Stockholm based furniture company, run by designers Chris Martin and Magnus Elebäck. Massproductions develop high quality, tactile furniture in a modernist spirit. The brand has been on the Belgian market for about two year and their bestseller is the Tio chair that I'll show here today.

Tio

The Tio chair has been designed by Chris Martin, who used to be Jasper Morrison’s right hand man. The chair is suited for inside or outside. In December 2009 the chair won the Golden Chair Award something that the Swedish Association of Architects gives out each year. The jury’s justification is as follows:

Using well-tried materials, a chair has been created which is consummately designed, with excellent sharpness of detailing and beauty of line, and which, is surprisingly comfortable. The Tio chair is functional, sturdy and stackable. As part of a series of furniture sharing the same character, Tio displays a consistency of idiom and an impressive flexibility.

Modern timeless appearance

A well deserved win as I like the lines of this chair. There are two versions of this chair, namely the 'Tio chair' and the 'Tio Easy chair'. Both have an elegant form and modern timeless appearance. The chair has something that attracts the design conscious eye. Tio is actually a collection that consists of chairs and tables made of steel wire produced on a computer-controlled bending machine.

A color lover like myself very much appreciates what they have done with the new colors. A few colorful items like that in your house or garden really brightens up the place. To end this, let's look at what the designer had to say about the design of this chair.

The design for Tio was the end result of a few months of thinking, sketching and sculpting. My point of departure was to arrange a fan of wires into a comfortable seat and then connect them in a straightforward and logical frame, which minimized the amount of steel used. So really the appeal comes from pragmatic thinking, executed within the restraints of the materials characteristics and according to an industrial production process. Sounds clinical, but the result is something I find very pleasing. For those who find steel wires too hard, we have developed an upholstered cushion to give extra comfort during long dining sessions.

— Chris Martin

Sori Yanagi

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:02 GMT

The world has lost the pioneer of Japanese industrial design this week. I'm talking about Sori Yangi who died Sunday of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital. He was 96 years old. He brought the simplicity and purity of Japanese decor into our everyday lives.

Butterfly stool

Sori Yanagi orginally studied oil painting but changed careers when he became heavily influenced by the French architect Le Corbusier. That's when he shifted focus towards designing furniture and everyday items, such as tableware and cooking utensils. After winning both 1st and 2nd place in the first Japan Industrial Design Contest in 1952 Sori Yanagi established his own design studio.

Worldwide acclaim in 1957

He got worldwide acclaim with his 'Butterfly Stool' at an exhibition called 'XI Triennale of Milan' in 1957. The work — made of two pieces of molded plywood fixed together with a brass pin — later joined the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Louvre museum in Paris.

Elephant stool

Another international hit was his fiberglass stackable 'Elephant Stool' from 1954. The stool is called 'Elephant Stool' because of its resemblance to the animal's chunky feet. The chair started a new life in 2000 when Vitra decided to re-release it in an injection-molded form. Below you see the 'Elephant Stool' at the Atomium in Brussels.

Photos by: Vitra.

Things that are easy to use survive

One of his famous quotes comes from an article in the Japan Times in 2002 where he shares his opinion on products.

Things that are easy to use survive, regardless of what is fashionable, and people want to use them forever.But if things are created merely for a passing vogue and not for a purpose, people soon get bored with them and throw them away. The fundamental problem is that many products are created to be sold, not used.

In addition to furniture, he also designed lighting, glass objects, cutlery, children’s toys, metro stations, cars and motorcycles. In 1977, Sori Yanagi was named director of the Japanese Folk Art Museum in Tokyo.

Modern Rustic Art

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:43 GMT

Sometimes it doesn't take very much to come up with an interesting idea. Shari Butalla from Marathon, Wisconsin, USA had such a vision and created something interesting for our walls. She only used wood and some paint to create unique modern, rustic wood art. Nothing is set in stone as it is possible to customize the size and colors of the piece that you had in mind. Perfect solution to add some color to an otherwise plain looking wall.

Some examples

More at Shari Butalla's Etsy shop.

Modern Home Design special edition part 2

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:24 GMT

It's been some time but it's finally time for another Modern Home Design special edition where I share some of my favorite recent discoveries. This one has some design from Denmark, Belgium and more. I hope my little selection has your approval. Enjoy it after the jump.

Shanghai Chair

The Shanghai Chair is manufactured by Danish brand HAY in Moulded plywood. The chair can be acquired in multiple colors and is easy to disassemble and reassemble. That makes this chair super cute because you are able to create your own hybrid design by recombining colors of choice. This beauty is designed by KiBiSi.

To see the chair how it looked at the Danish Pavilion for the Shanghai World Expo 2010 you'll have to visit KiBiSi

The name KiBiSi is a collage from Kilo Design, Big Architects en Skibsted Ideation. It's also not the first time that I've linked to something from Danish brand HAY. I have their Dot cushions and they are my absolute favorites. Perfect cushions for a color lover like me.

EJ-2800 Seesaw

Louis Campbell, a Danish designer has come up with a creative new way of the seesaw we all know from our childhood. It's not exactly something that you would expect in an office or living space, but that's just what attracts me. The "EJ-2800 Seesaw" looks ideal to brainstorm on and it shows that the designer hasn't forgotten her childhood.

More at photos at Erik Jørgensen

Louise Campbell's work is playful and experimental, and is increasingly gaining a reputation for gently twisting not only every day objects and situations, but also materials and manufacturing processes in new directions. Louise Campbell was born in Copenhagen in 1970. The combination of Scandinavian rationalism and femininity, and perhaps her dual nationality, give her work an unusual edge.

PlugBug

One accessory lets you charge two devices at once. PlugBug is made exclusively for all MacBook Power Adapters, including current and previous models. Snap PlugBug onto your MacBook Power Adapter and you now have the first ever device that lets you charge your MacBook + iPad or iPhone simultaneously.

More photos at PlugBug web site.

The product clearly situates itself in the category "How in the world did no one think of this before?". The people at Twelve South took Apple's charger thought differently about it and created something that is extremely useful and attractive at the same time. This product made it on my "want" list. Only US for now, but from their FAQ "Yes. We're working on an International PlugBug now. It should be ready early next year."

Rain series

Last item that I picked was created by Belgian Alain Gilles for Bonaldo. A table with a strong personality, and when you look at it, it seems to be always in movement. This table looks different from every angle.

More info at Bonaldo

I saw the designer Alain Gilles talking about the creation of this table this past Summer at the 20 Essentials event in Knokke. He talked about the compromises that had to be taken etc. In that respect, the process of creating an industrial design is quite similar to what we do. It's also testing, creating, refining etc.

Hang it all - Special Edition by Vitra

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:00 GMT

The colorful 'Hang-it-all' by Charles and Ray Eames is a timeless classic that has its origins in 1953. It was designed to entice children to hang their belongings on this festive rack with colorfully lacquered wooden balls. In 1997 Vitra decided to release it as a re-edition. Since then it has found its way into more children‘s rooms.

Adults will love it too

This Christmas there will be three new versions available with a sophisticated twist to the classic multi-colored version. While the shape and materials remain the same, the color combinations of the new Hang it all will be somewhat more 'adult'. In collaboration with the Eames Office, versions have been designed in natural spruce/classic red, walnut/basic dark and black beech/basic dark.

The Hang it all Special Edition will be available from Christmas till February 2012.

Brussels Herbs plant pots

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:24 GMT

Fresh herbs, I like to use them as much as possible when I'm cooking. Only problem for me personally are the pots they are in now. They aren't exactly pretty to keep on the table in plain sight. So I started doing some research to find a better solution that pleases my designer eye. After some browsing I stumbled upon some really neat ones with a familar name.

Designed in Holland

The pots that caught my attention are produced by Dutch pottery firm Elho (sorry, no link because the site plays music unwanted, and uses frames plus Flash, so I can't even link to the English version), and are called "Brussels Herbs plant pots". They are designed by Bas van der Veer and allow you to grow herbs right inside the kitchen or any other room where there is enough light for things to grow. I love it when design brings nature closer to our everyday lives.

Playful design

The design is playful and fits greatly in small-spaced kitchens. The Brussels Herbs pot comes with itty-bitty multiblade scissors, enabling you to snip herbs like chives and basil right over a plate. The scissors are held within a special handle next to the pot so you don't need to go pick them out of a drawer. I also like that there is a double version of the Brussels Herbs that was specifically designed to provide room for two different kitchen herbs in one pot. They come in different colors too.

I'm definitely buying a double one (or two) but I'll have to wait a little longer as The Brussels Herbs series will be available from the end of 2011 in garden centres, DIY stores and webshops across Europe.

Eva Solo Bird Table

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:39 GMT

If you are a bird lover like me and want to attract your feathered friends to your backyard in style, then you need to read about this slik looking Eva Solo Bird Table after the jump.

Stylish bird feeder

Bird seed is stored in an inverted 2.5 or 5.0 litres mouth-blown glass feeder and a conical hub stopper that automatically dispenses just enough seed to fill the tray. This way the remaining bird seed stays dry. The stainless steel rod is easily pushed into the ground. I've linked to a few stylish bird feeders in my design bits section but on most occasions bird feeders aren't associated with the words style, modern or design.

This Eva Solo Bird Table fits all the aforementioned words easily. The bird feeder is created by Tools Design, a studio founded in 1989 by designers Claus Jensen and Henrik Holbæk. Birds need a helping hand during winter and with his one they one they'll eat in style.

A British Design story

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 10:07 GMT

British design has invaded La Fabrika in Brussels in celebration of Design September 2011 festival. This event presents the international brands that are on the Belgian market in the showrooms of agents and importers and in the emblematic design shops of Brussels. In La Fabrika you can admire the work of Donna Wilson.

British designer of the year (2010)

In 2010 Donna Wilson was British designer of the year. Donna Wilson's creations are characterized by a playful nature and a colorful palette. All elements that tick off my boxes such as funky creatures, bright colors, quirky homeware and bold patterns.

In honor of the Design September 2011 festival the London crafts queen has created an installation around her designs, together with British manufacturers Ercol and SCP. She has been described as "a magician with wool" or a "material miracle".

Something you'll notice in her striking upholstered furniture that you can admire in the pictures featured below. I especially like her color usage and inspiring patterns.

Donna's new collection

During Design September La Fabrika shows pieces from Donna Wilson’s new collection, furniture collaborations with SCP as well as 4 one off wrapped Ercol pieces! This is what Donna has to say about the wrapped Ercol pieces:

I really enjoyed the process of winding and wrapping these pieces, using various shades of yarn graduating through colour pallets. I love the contrast between the pale natural wood and the tactile wool, both natural materials, which through the wrapping techniques complement each other perfectly. The wool adds a softness and an element of craft with references to basket weaving and knitting to these pieces which are part of Ercol’s originals range.

Vernissage

Tomorrow, September 16th there is a little vernissage at La Fabrika in the Rue A. Dansaertstraat 182, 1000 brussels where you can have a drink and ask Donna Wilson some questions about her work. You can visit the installation (runs until September 30th) from Monday to Saturday from 11am - 6.30pm. You can also follow Donna on her blog.

Photos by: La Fabrika.

Achielle

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:33 GMT

I wanted to write something about what follows for a long time but somehow it got lost in my long list of ideas for subjects. Luckily when cleaning up my folder I rediscovered it. It's all about the bicycle after the jump.

Made in Belgium

When you talk about cycling most foreigners immediately think about The Netherlands. That's just because the Dutch are better at marketing. Belgium has a great history with the bicycle too. That brings us to Dija-Oostcolor, a Belgian family company that builds and sells bicycles since 1946. They produce a handmade bicycle line called 'Achielle'.

Sex and the City fame

Thanks to the 'Sex and the City' star Sarah Jessica Parker, the 'Achielle Craighton Pure Oma' bike became popular worldwide. Nothing special except for the fact that they are completely handmade. Unlike other 'Belgian' bicycles that import parts and assemble them here with parts that are manufactured mostly in Asia, the steel frame and bolts of an Achielle are 100% made in Belgium.

Custom tailored

Every Achielle is created when an order has been received. This means it really is a custom tailored bicyle with all the options you opted for. In essence you design your own bike. All models are retro styled. Classic looks combined with new technologies.

An Achielle bike starts at €500, excluding options.

Images by: Kemizzdotcom, gbecommunicatie, Fietsje Groningen and ubrayj02