Hasta La Ideas

Al Salone del mobile di Milano ho conosciuto Miniforms, un’azienda veneta che produce elementi d’arredo dagli anni ’60 e che ha recentemente avviato un’interessante operazione di rinnovamento, dopo che il fondatore Luigi Bardini ha passato la proprietà ai tre figli.
Sono stati ingaggiati una serie di giovani designer italiani che hanno contribuito a rilanciare un’immagine aziendale che merita attenzione, nonostante non tutto il catalogo Miniforms sia di mio gradimento. Alcuni prodotti sembrano il frutto non del tutto riuscito di una grande voglia di sperimentare, però lo stand mi ha fatto una bella impressione perché tra i pezzi più recenti si vede una ricerca stilistica coerente. Gli oggetti che pubblico in queste pagine mi piacciono perché nascono dall’osservazione di gesti quotidiani e si compongono di forme semplici e pochi materiali: legno massiccio, acciaio e alluminio.

Pandora è un versatile tavolino in acciaio adatto per ambienti interni e esterni, la versione più profonda può essere impiegata anche come glacè porta bottiglie.

Servolino è una differente proposta di tavolino, in legno, il cui top può essere rimosso per diventare un vassoio. Il manico permetta di fermare il vassoio e di trasportare agevolmente il mobile.

Trustgame è un attaccapanni che pare ispirato al gioco da tavolo orientale Shangai. La composizione sorprende perché è in grado di reggere il peso degli abiti nonostante sembri un intreccio in equilibrio precario.
Infine la madia Caxia, un prodotto interessante per come riesce a integrare la iPod dockstation. Dal piano in legno laccato fuoriescono solo i componenti elettronici indispensabili, ed i due fori circolari contenenti le casse non stravolgano l’aspetto del mobile ma l’arricchiscono.

Si tratta di oggetti chiari ed utili, che raggiungono un felice connubio di forma e funzione.

This foyer for the Royal Institute of Engineers in The Hague by Dutch practice AAArchitects has a large door which folds up from the glass facade to create a porch.

Constructed from a gridded steel frame and clad in silicone-seamed glass panels, the KIVI NIRIA foyer increases in height and width from one side to another, linking together the previously completed auditorium and another adjacent building.

Internallly, a long linear bar with a wooden top provides a surface and storage space.

Photography is by Rob ‘t Hart Fotografie

More Dutch architecture stories on Dezeen »

The following information is from the architects:

Foyer
The Hague, The Netherlands

Supplementary to the design of the adjacent auditorium for the Royal Institute of Engineers in The Hague, AAArchitects has been asked to add a foyer to the existing passageway.

Because of this double role in function as a passageway and a foyer, we have chosen to limit the physical separation to a minimum and subtly indicate it with a jump between the roof and ceiling levels.

The passageway runs from the beginning to the end straight and preserves its width, whereas the foyer part broadens towards the auditorium where the busiest junction will be.

By choosing not to separate the space and avoid any columns between the two spaces, both parts together can be used as one space for the biggest crowds.

The grid of the existing historical pawn has been persevered in the new facade and fans to the other building.

The complete new facade exists on the outside only of glass and silicone seams, which are supported on the inside by a steel frame of T-profiles.

The profiles are attached with an invisibly mechanical affirmation to the glass. To intensify the relation with the adjacent garden a big door is created. It is opened with hydraulic cylinders and creates a large porch without disturbing the openness of the facade by opening doors. The large opening part of the facade has a steel Construction of T-profiles that has been made rigid by 40 glued glass plates. Without the seemingly weak looking glass the door would simply collapse.

The existing marble of the floor is reused and the same wengé wood of the adjacent auditorium is used to complete the floor finishing to the new outlines of the foyer. The two ceiling levels are materialised in coloured polyester panels and painted rock panel. The polyester panels designed in cooperation with artist Vincent de Rijk hang in a grid that spreads out itself according to the width of the hallway. In this ceiling a line of light is created behind a transparent strip of panels.

To reduce costs and keep the façade free from visible installations, the existing heaters were reused and integrated inside a new wall. The wall is made out of long continuous wooden strips through which the hot air of the heaters can flow into the foyer, and glasses and plates can be laid aside. To make sure the climate stays comfortable during hot summer days, the façade is covered with grey solar control glass.

For the foyer AAArchitects has designed a big linear bar made out of PU coated steel. The bar which has a sufficient amount of storage space is covered with a wengé wooden top which is movable and covers a sink which can be used when it is pushed open. The doors are designed without handles in black mdf and can be opened electrically all at once by one push on the button.

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Client: KIVI NIRIA
Architect & Interior: AAArchitects
Design team: Amer Alhassan, Wim Smits, Florence Paul, Luigi Depperu, Matteo Frongia.

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Construction: ABT
Ceiling: Atlier de Rijk
Installations: ABT
Contractor: DB Bouw
Furniture: Van Eijk meubel – interieurbouw

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See also:

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KIVI NIRIA auditorium by AAArchitects	H House in Maastricht by Wiel Arets Architects	Grotto by Callum Morton

Some big news out of Architectural Record this week. Longtime former architecture critic and arts editor at Newsweek, Cathleen McGuigan, has signed on to become the magazine’s new editor-in-chief, effective at the end of this month. We’ve long been fans of McGuigan, having publicly professed our crush on her back in 2008 not once but twice in the same year (one for her writing a piece about the troubles surrounding green architecture and another for her, or her staff, deciding to include UnBeige in Newsweek‘s special issue on design, which was in of itself a terrific read), and of course generally admiring all of her other stellar work over the years. Her hiring seems like a great refresh for AR, considering the recent slew of not-fantastic news (the AIA’s leaving to join up with rival Architect as their official magazine and former editor-in-chief Robery Ivy sudden exit to go head the AIA) outshining the positive stuff, like the magazine’s iPad app. So of all the many applicants who likely saw our post about the position being open, we’re pleased as punch that it went to McGuigan. Here’s a bit about why she’s more than a little qualified:

McGuigan, a Michigan native, comes to the company with more than three decades of cultural journalism experience. After earning an English degree, with a minor in art history, from Brown University, she joined Newsweekin 1977 as a researcher and reporter for the magazine’s art critic. She rose up through the ranks, becoming a senior editor in 1992, a demanding position that entailed overseeing a weekly arts section and managing a staff of a dozen writers and reporters. That same year, she earned a Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. In 2008, McGuigan left the full-time staff of Newsweek and became a contributor to the magazine. 

In recent years, McGuigan has worked as a consultant for various clients, including the U.S. Institute of Peace (while it was building a new headquarters designed by Moshe Safdie) and the Syracuse University School of Architecture. She also served as an executive editor of HQ: Good Design Is Good Business, a McGraw-Hill pilot project. Her articles have appeared in venerable publications, such as The New York Times Magazine, Smithsonian, and Harper’s Bazaar. Presently, she is conducting research for a biography of the critic Aline Saarinen.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

From the mountain to subway, six situation-specific headphones for all your listening needs

Even audiophiles will tell you that sourcing the ultimate headphones is a hunt for the Holiest of Grails. Rather than look for an all-purpose solution, we surveyed the latest models to come up with the following favorite pairs tailored for different uses. Matched with some recent tracks that have been on heavy rotation in the CH offices recently, consider this your guide to total listening pleasure.

Corner Office

Ideal for workaholics, the wireless Sennheiser RS170 means you’ll never miss a beat of your favorite song—whether typing at your desk or grabbing the twentieth coffee of the day. Features include bass and surround-sound on/off options, incredible acoustics, 260-feet of free range mobility and impeccable comfort. Absolutely worth the $280 price tag, pick up a pair from Adorama.

Listen: “House of Balloons – Glass Table Girls” by The Weeknd

Grinding

Sony brings pristine audio and clear tones to the table with their MDR-ZX700s. An extremely lightweight design fits over the entire ear, relieves the typical ear pressure and isolates the outstanding acoustics. Long the brand of choice for video and audio production both in the field and studio, these will stand up to hours of recording and editing. At $120 (available from Sony), there’s good value for the dough here too.

Listen: “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele

On the Bus

Urbanears’ Plattan, a full-sized, not-too-bulky headphone, is ideal for hitting the road. With a fabric cord at just about waist-length, the mobile-friendly design helps avoid tangles on the go. And with their “zound plug,” your new best friend sitting next to you can plug directly into your ‘phones to share the sweet tunes. Available in tons of on-trend colors and running $60 a pop (from Urbanears), they’re a good one for parents to gift to college-age kids.

Listen: “County Line” by Cass McCombs

Getting Action

For the record, we never, ever encourage wearing headphones while snowboarding, skating, biking or any other activity requiring a full set of senses. But our homies over at Frends sure do. Enter the Alli, designed by snowboarders for snowboarding. These small, over-ear headphones sound great even if it feels like you’re going Mach 10. Hit the smartphone-compatible pause button to chat with buddies, then hit play to drown out the chatty weekend warrior next to you on the lift. Plus, at $35 (from Frends), they’re cheap enough to be replaced after a nice biff.

Listen: “Standing at the Station” by Ty Segall

Commute

Long flights, missed trains, loud engines and babies crying equals no fun. Add the Phiaton PS 20 NC and enjoy your music without the distractions. The superior noise-canceling technology and comfortable in-ear design allow for amazing acoustics that make any song sound better. No more listening to your fellow subway rider’s less tasteful music, keep yours at a comfortable level while blocking out the world. Well worth the retail price of $130, they sell from Ritz Camera.

Listen: “Battery Kinzie” by Fleet Foxes

Work It

Small, sleek and solid, Moshi Audio’s Vortex stays in tune while you literally run around. Dial in the superb bass to get through your workout and rely on the braided cord to avoid tangles. Amazingly enough to actually stay in your ear during fast-paced activity, $80 gets you great sound and beautiful design—from Moshi’s online store.

Listen: “Boom” by jj

Contributions from: Karen Day, Graham Hiemstra, Ami Kealoha, Evan Orensten and Tim Yu