Sep 07
Collecting: Less than 100g
Posted in: Collecting
Tony Xia has started a new blog that celebrates small things such as erasers, stamps and bottlecaps. Head on over to Less than 100g and check it out!
Sep 07
Greg Tran – "Mediating Mediums: The Digital 3D"
Posted in: Uncategorized
Greg Tran recently completed his degree at the arvard Graduate School of Design, where he won the Thesis Prize for his research on “Digital 3D,” a fascinating, if highly theoretical, exploration of the future of augmented reality.
People assume we have digital 3D already but this is a fallacy. When you rotate your model on ascreen or watch a Pixar animation is actually just a digital 2d REPRESENTATION of material 3d.What people are calling 3DTV and 3D movies are just a form of shallow depth or Bas Relief, not true digital 3D.
The critical/operative imperative of the digital 3D is that there is a subject moving through space. The digital 3D is in its beginning stages, but will evolve in a similar way to the digital 2D. The digital 2D began as a specialized, singular medium which was largely used for documentation purposes, but has evolved towards personalization, interactivity, fluency and distribution.
True digital 3D—if (or when, according to Greg’s account) it becomes a reality—would essentially blur the line between web sites and real-life ones, including social networking and communication. Tran reimagines the traditional Graphical User Interface as an architectural feature in itself, envisioning a future in which these staid sci-fi tropes will eventually allow for more fluid interpretations of digital 3D-activated interior and exterior spaces.
The full 18-minute version is after the jump…
It’s heady stuff for sure, maybe a little more than lunch-break fare, but it’s not so much that Tran bitten off more than he can chew; rather, it’s a coherent vision for a digital future, where a virtual architecture is not just artificially superimposed on reality but exists as a tangible, interactive framework embedded in space and time.
Sep 07
Unitasker Wednesday: The Olive Oil Dispenser Pump
Posted in: UncategorizedAll Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!
“Portion control” is one of the latest buzz phrases in the healthful eating movement. You can’t hear a nutritionist speak without the phrase coming up numerous times in the conversation. As the phrase has risen in popularity, so have contraptions and doodads related to portion control. For instance, the 2 pc Olive Oil Measure Dispenser Pump that was recently featured on Dr. Oz:
At first glance, the device seems like it could be useful. However, after thinking about it for a good while, I’ve realized how wonderful of a unitasker candidate it is. For starters, although it says it is just two pieces, it is really five — the oil reservoir, the internal straw, the pump, the measuring head, and the lid. Five pieces are a lot to clean compared to just a traditional measuring spoon, which performs exactly the same task. I imagine that if you don’t clean the device regularly, oil can get caught in crevices in the pump and go rancid. Also, with so many parts made of plastic, it just seems like there are a lot of pieces that could crack, shatter, or simply stop working properly. In my lifetime, I’ve never had a measuring spoon break on me. Finally, if you have one for oil and one for vinegar (as the site suggests), you’re out at least $40. If you keep on using the measuring spoons you already own, you’re not out a dime.
Although, the device does look fun to use … pump, pump, pump!
Thanks to reader Mary for sharing this device with us.
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Sep 07
TOKENnyc Catenary Dining Chair
Posted in: Uncategorized
The Catenary Dining Chair is equally suited at a dining table or stationed alone at a workspace. Comfortable, durable and visually profound like the b..
Sep 07
The Secrets of My Success
Posted in: Secret to My Success
We know the drill. Grab a coffee, roll into the office and strap into your office chair for the day. Knoll and Core77 want to gift you a better foundation for workday success. Share your secret to a successful day in the office and in return Knoll will help you sit how you want with a brand new Generation chair. From September 6 through November 5, follow @core77 and tweet an element of your day that helps you do your best work and include #secret2success @core77. Every other week, we’ll share our favorite secret to success and award the tweeter a Knoll Generation chair!
The Generation by Knoll family of work chairs promotes comfort and freedom of movement, supporting the range of postures that address a variety of workstyles. The family reflects insights gathered by Formway Design through research that revealed that sitting upright and facing forward is just one of the many positions people assume in their work chair. Armed with that knowledge, Formway and Knoll joined forces to create chairs that don’t force users to choose between freedom of movement and continuous support, but instead provide both, simultaneously.
Winning tweets who receive a Generation chair will be able to then share their experiences with Knoll and other Generation owners at www.sithowyouwant.com. And just for following and tweeting your secret to success @core77 we’ll DM you with a special discount code for 15% off any of the Generation family of chairs at www.sithowyouwant.com
So, start sharing!! Tweet @core77 and get ready to sit how you want! See full contest rules and information here!
Sep 07
Decorex International 2011 preview
Posted in: Uncategorized
Dezeen promotion: here’s a preview of work by young and upcoming designers at trade show Decorex International 2011, which takes place 25-28 September in London, including furniture by Gareth Neal (above).
Top: Gareth Neal
Above: Barneby Gates
Wallpaper designer Barneby Gates will present designs based on horses and antique chairs, La Lou will show lamps made of glass and bamboo, and Kelvyn Smith will exhibit stationery and gifts made using a traditional letterpress.
Above: Barneby Gates
Decorex International takes place annually and showcases a hand-picked selection of products for interiors.
Above: Kelvyn Smith Letterpress Workshop
The show will open from 25 to 28 September 2011 at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3.
Above: La Lou
Trade visitors can save £10 by registering in advance. Click here to buy tickets.
Above: Soca
See more Decorex highlights on Dezeen here.
Above: Louise Body
Here are some more details from Decorex:
Young and new designers at Decorex
Decorex continues to surprise. After 34 years the celebrated interior and design show still attracts young and new exhibitors each year, many of whom are contemporary designers launching themselves on an international platform for the first time. This year is no exception, with many young designers on show, each displaying their own fresh new approach. While traditional techniques and designs are used the end result is totally contemporary, both in form and colour.
Design duo Barneby Gates, are showing at Decorex for the second year, after debuting last year. Their wallpapers bring the past to the future, by using a mix of old and new, with two new collections being launched at Decorex, Chairs, and Horse Trellis. Chairs was designed by their simple love of the object, using a selection of their favourite designs. From the traditional antique Chippendale, Louis XV’s and Windsor chair to the Cherner armchair and modern classics by Philippe Starck. Horse Trellis shows the use of a classic subject the horse, in bright acid yellow on a classical grey background; yet another traditional to modern design approach, that this duo enjoy creating.
French based company Soca may be an established furniture company, however they work with a number of younger designers. Their Frizz chair collection mixes the old with the new, drawing inspiration from a 1980’s ice cream brand, with seats in acid ice cream flavours. The Oxoye chair was inspired by the conclusion that past experiences and modern technology are the future of design, based on the style of the 1950’s car, retro and dynamic.
Louise Body is another young wallpaper designer who, having designed the restroom entrance at Decorex last year, is returning to Decorex with a twist to her decorative Victorian tile designs. Her retro tile print wallpaper, Paper Tiles is officially launching at Decorex, offering an alternative to traditional ceramic tiles.
The Crafted initiative enables young designers the opportunity to gain insight and advice from experienced names in the design industry. Young entrepreneurs gain valuable mentoring and business advice over the year to increase their sustainability and stimulate business growth. Among the handful chosen this year are:
Textile designer Margo Selby has a bold approach to creating her fabrics, which can be used within both traditional and modern interiors. Margo is mentored by Mark Henderson, Deputy Chairman, Gieves & Hawkes.
Kelvyn Smith Letterpress Workshop creates contemporary, bespoke ephemera using traditional letterpress processes and materials. Kelyvn is being mentored by Richard Stevens, Creative Director, forpeople While Furniture designer
Gareth Neal uses wood as his core material, which he then sculpts in a variety of interesting ways; his technique combines traditional forms of craftsmanship with contemporary tools and design.
La Lou is a further example of a young British lighting designer showcasing at Decorex for the first time. Her collection sources beautiful handcrafted pieces from local craftsmen, markets and antique fairs around the world, that are fashioned into exquisite lamps. Each piece is unique.
DECOREX INTERNATIONAL 2011
Dates: Sunday 25 September to Wednesday 28 September 2011
Location: The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London SW3
General contact number: 0844 557 2306
Opening hours – trade only:
Sunday 25 September: 10am – 6pm
Monday 26 September: 10am – 7pm
Tuesday 27 September: 10.00am–7.00pm
Wednesday 28 September: 10.00am–5.00pm
Opening hours – general public:
Tuesday 27 September: 1.00pm–7.00pm.
Tickets for trade visitors are £15 per ticket for pre-registered trade visitors and £10 for an additional colleague; otherwise £25 per ticket on the door. Tickets for the general public are £30 each.
Sep 07
Covington Farmers Market by design/buildLAB
Posted in: design/buildLAB, Virginia, Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design
Rural Studio alumni Marie and Keith Zawistowski led 17 students of the Virginia Tech School of Architecture + Design in the design and assembly of a farmers market shelter in Covington, Virginia.
All produce sold at the market is sourced from within 100 miles and the same principle was applied when selecting construction materials.
The structures comprises a long canopy shaped like the wing of a plane.
The faceted pine roof is covered with sheets of steel, while reclaimed oak and pine were used to fabricate the frame.
An office, storage room and toilets are located beneath the canopy at the rear of the timber deck and are coated in blackboard paint.
The pioneering undergraduate programme Rural Studio was co-founded by the late architect Samuel Mockbee, who is the subject of a 60-minute documentary released last year – see our earlier Dezeen Wire here.
Here’s a more detailed description of the project from design/buildLAB:
Covington Farmers Market
134 W Main Street, Covington, VA 24426
Program Description
The design/buildLAB is a third year architecture studio at the Virginia Tech, School of Architecture + Design focused on the research, development and implementation of innovative construction methods and architectural designs. Students collaborate with local communities and experts to develop concepts and propose solutions to real world problems.
The goal of this course is to teach students the skills necessary to confront the design and realization of architecture projects, with a consciousness for social and environmental issues. By removing the abstraction from the making of architecture, the course engages students’ initiative and encourages them to ask fundamental questions about the nature of practice and the role of the architect.
By framing the opportunity for architecture students to make a difference in the life of a community, the hope is to show them the positive impact Architecture can make and inspire them to high professional ethics.
Program Funding
The project budget was $150,000 which was primarily funded by a $119,000 grant from the Alleghany Foundation.
In addition, substantial contributions were made in support of the project by local contractors and material suppliers, as well as national and international companies. These include material donations, in-kind contributions or substantial discounts on the purchase of products or materials. The students solicited donations, ordered materials, and managed the project budget.
Project Design
During the fall semester, the students spent a number of weeks studying existing Farmers Markets around Virginia – which they visited – and around the world – which they studied through publications, drawings and photographs. Using that information, a list of requirements given to them by the client and their own interviews of the Covington Farmers Market vendors, the students were able to establish guidelines and specific requirements for the project.
All 17 students first made individual design propositions for the project. From those, a master plan was determined then a design for the building. In this way, all of the students contributed ideas to the discussion. It was very important from a pedagogical perspective that not one “scheme” was chosen. Rather, they collaborated to develop the final design for the project.
The project is conceived as 3 parts: Ground Plane, Occupied Space, and Pavilion Roof. All component parts are based on a 10’ wide module to facilitate prefabrication and transportation to the site. At the scale of the town, the building reads as a seamless gesture. At the scale of the occupant, the details express the modular construction. A locust deck serves as the market floor. It folds up to allow the nesting of an office, storage room and toilet room. It extends beyond the market and into a sloped earth park to provide a stage and seating. A sculptural roof and ceiling of reclaimed heart-pine and galvanized sheet steel floats over-head.
This market pavilion is the modern expression of timeless agrarian sensibilities.
Sustainability
Because all goods sold at this market are required to be produced within a 100 mile radius, this distance became a goal for the procurement of construction materials. Essential to this approach was the use of recycled building material in the construction, in particular the re-use of wood salvaged from an old barn in a neighboring town. Additional, new lumber, including locust decking and yellow pine cladding for the project were sourced from locally sawn timbers.
Digital fabrication played a substantial role in the sustainability of the project by maximizing structural efficiency and minimizing waste.
In terms of limiting water and energy use, the project incorporates a rain water collection system, LED lighting and natural ventilation. A 1200 gallon cistern collects water from the roof and is used for watering the park and flushing toilets. LED lighting ensures long bulb life and extremely low energy consumption. Further, the pavilion roof was designed with an inverted ceiling to facilitate stack effect ventilation and eliminate the need for mechanical cooling.
Finally, the asphalt surface from the site’s previous parking lot was milled and stored through construction to be repurposed as a new permeable, compacted, parking area.
Prefabrication
The students prefabricated the Market structure, including floor, conditioned buildings, and pavilion roof at VA Tech’s Environmental Systems Laboratory. A local contractor was hired to complete the foundations and utility connections. This allowed for two phases of construction, site work and framing, to happen simultaneously. In total, the students prefabricated and assembled the structure in less than four months. The efficiency of working in a controlled environment, with easy access to tools and equipment was essential in achieving the schedule of one academic year.
Project Recognition
The Covington Farmers Market was awarded a 2011 Design Excellence Award from the Virginia Society AIA.
Design and Construction: design/buildLAB
Student Design Team: Anne Agan, Emily Angell, Zachary Britton, Chris Cromer, German Delgadillo, Chris Drudick, Cody Ellis, Jacob Geffert, Rachel Gresham, Shannon Hughes, Elizabeth Madden, Ryan McCloskey, Andrew McLaughlin, Brett Miller, Elizabeth Roop, Erin Sanchez, Sara Woolf
Professors: Marie Zawistowski, Architecte DPLG – Professor of Practice, Keith Zawistowski, Assoc. AIA, GC – Professor of Practice
Structural Engineer: Draper Aden and Associates – Dave Spriggs, PE
Owner: City of Covington, 333 W Locust Street, Covington, VA 24426
Project Timeline: Design – Fall 2010, Construction – Spring 2011
Major Materials: Locally Sawn Locust Decking, Reclaimed Heart Pine Ceiling, Reclaimed Oak and Pine Framing, Flat-Lock Galvalume Metal Roofing, Traxon LED Lighting, Toto Plumbing Fixtures, VT Industries Doors, Assa Abloy Hardware, Marvin Windows
Project Budget: $150,000 ($119,000 grant was provided by the Alleghany Foundation)
Software: Rhino 3D (Educational Version), AutoCAD 2011 (Educational Version)
See also:
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| Metropol Parasol by J. Mayer H. | Forest School by Robert Gaukroger | Holiday Cabana by Damith Premathilake |
Sep 07
Collecting: Typewriter Tins
Posted in: Collecting
Chris from Seattle shares pictures of his typewriter tin collection, displayed with magnets. As most collectors can attest, he started with just one!
“I bought a ribbon tin (unknowingly) several years ago with my daughters at an impromptu “garage” sale underneath Pike Place Market in Seattle. Loved it. Looked it up (big mistake). Found them on eBay (of course), but became enthralled after seeing your flickr collection (beautiful).”
Sep 07
RolaTube Technology: Using Materials Science to Get a Lot of Structure in a Compact Package
Posted in: Uncategorized
In describing his design for the KwickScreen, Michael Korn mentions that RolaTubes enable it to work. So what are RolaTubes?
Made from thermoplastic composites, RolaTubes can curl up across two axes, rather like a tape measure that either rolls up inside of its case or bends width-wise to maintain structure when deployed. But their manufacturer, UK-based RTL Materials, has done the tape measure one better by using materials science to precisely calibrate their composite material:
Sep 07
Dezeen promotion: British design retailer SCP will host new product launches and a seven metre-high installation by Michael Marriott at their east London store as part of Shoreditch Design Triangle during the London Design Festival this month.
Top: Donna Wilson
Above: Channel desk lamp
Their event will be open until 8pm from 17 to 25 September under the banner Design Department Store.
Above: Maude shelves by Kay + Stemmer
Pieces on show will include furniture by Matthew Hilton, graphic prints by Rob Ryan and textiles by Donna Wilson.
Above: Marvin coat hook by Gareth Neal
Find out more at the Design Department Store microsite.
Above: Delta by Rich Brilliant Willing
Dezeen are proud to be media partners for Shoreditch Design Triangle, which will include thirty four shops, galleries, studios bars and cafes in east London with a late-night opening on Tuesday 20 September. Download a map and guide to the area here.
Above: Donna Wilson
The London Design Festival takes place 17-25 September 2011.
Above: Ruler for Measuring the Growth of Human Beings by Rob Ryan
Here are some more details from SCP:
SCP Design Department Store
London Design Festival 17 to 25 September 2011
Meet. Browse. Relax. Have a beer. All the bases are covered at the Design Department Store during London Design Festival, 17th to 25th September 2011. This inaugural event is both a design exhibition and a working department store taking over both floors of SCP East.
Above and below: Joyce extending table by Gareth Neal
Open until 8pm every night, we will have exclusive international launches and installations with items on show available to purchase. All accompanied by music, coffee served by Olypmia Express and beer by East End stalwart, Truman’s Beer. Pop down, stay a while.
The departments:
Furniture
SCP 2011 Collection – see our latest range of upholstery and furniture from Donna Wilson, Faudet-Harrison, Gareth Neal, Kay + Stemmer, Lee Kirkbride, Matthew Hilton, Terence Woodgate and Rich Brilliant Willing.
Above: grasshopper lamp by Gubi
Design product
SCP 2011 Collection – new accessories by Rob Ryan, Donna Wilson, Rich Brilliant Willing and Sylvain Willenz.
Above: Cobra lamp by Gubi
Michael Marriott – Michael is launching his Roto Stacka stool in conjunction with his installation.
Above: Donna Wilson
Textiles
Donna Wilson presents AW 11 Collection – perennially popular Donna will be showcasing her latest range. Her trademark kaleidoscope of knitted colour will be ever-present in new homewares, knitwear and accessories.
Above: Donna Wilson
Lighting
Gubi presents Grasshopper and Cobra – innovative Danish design company Gubi are relaunching Greta Grossman’s iconic Grasshopper and Cobra lamp designs from the late 1940s.
Rich Brilliant Willing present their new lighting ranges including the Delta series, Channel collection and the Quart floor and table light.
Above: Donna Wilson
Books
Max Fraser presents London Design Guide 2012-13 – following on from the success of the first edition, the publication returns with totally new and updated content. It breaks the city down into digestible areas and reviews the best design shops, galleries and institutions.
Above: Donna Wilson
Installation
Michael Marriott presents Product & Homage to Constantin Brancus – this seven metre-high installation will be situated outside SCP’s Curtain Road store, providing a beacon, table surface, lighting and seating.
Above: Donna Wilson
To promote the Design Department Store event we are launching a microsite at www.designdepartmentstore.com in September. Here you will be able to follow the individual stories, find out the latest news and download images and information.
Above: Donna Wilson
SCP East
135–139 Curtain Road
London EC2A 3BX
Monday 19 September 12.00 onwards: press preview
Tuesday 20 September 18.30-21.00: launch party
Tuesday 20th September: Shoreditch Design Triangle late night. A fantastic evening involving local galleries, shops and studios opening late and putting on a variety of events. Make a night of it.
See also:
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| SCP 2011 Collection at Maison&Objet 2011 | SCP at Maison & Objet 2010 | Kiosk at SCP by Michael Marriott |
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