Hasta La Ideas

Collaborations with artists, architects and designers are key to ensuring the longevity of a heritage brand and modernising design classics for a new generation, says Longchamp artistic director Sophie Delafontaine in this interview.

Speaking to Dezeen at the luxury handbag brand’s showroom in London, Delafontaine said that though the push-and-pull of collaboration can prove tricky, it ultimately serves to force a heritage brand like Longchamp to develop outside of its comfort zone.

“It’s our own responsibility as a company to make the best products that we can,” Delafontaine explained. “[We create] iconic products that have a very strong character [and] are very well made, but my role is to push them.”

The brand has recently launched a collaboration with Italian art magazine Toiletpaper.

Best known for its origami-informed Le Pliage tote bag, Longchamp was founded by Delafontaine’s grandfather, Jean Cassegrain, as a tobacco and smoking accessories brand in post-war Paris.

“We don’t need the same type of product now that we did 15 years ago”

Delafontaine, who grew up above the brand’s first shop in the city’s 9th arrondissement and previously designed for French luxury childrenswear brand Bonpoint, has been at the helm as artistic director since the early nineties.

She noted that some Longchamp products, like the Roseau leather shoulder bag, have gone through several redesigns over that time in order to keep up with changing trends.

“It’s like Chanel’s number five perfume – the juice has been remade many times. The quality of the material has improved, as well as the shape, detail and proportion.”

“We certainly don’t exactly need the same type of product now that we did 15 years ago because we have everything in our mobile phones and the bags are smaller,” she added.

“It’s hard to collaborate with architects”

Collaborations have become a mainstay of Longchamp during Delafontaine’s tenure, with Turner-nominated artist Tracey Emin, Japanese design firm Nendo, Hood By Air design director Shayne Oliver and British designer Thomas Heatherwick all producing highly-publicised collections for the brand in the past three decades.

The key to managing these collaborations successfully, Delafontaine says, is “to keep the DNA of Longchamp” – in most cases, the structure and design of a Longchamp bag – while introducing “the DNA of the people [the brand] is collaborating with”.

“The idea is for [collaborations] to feel both Longchamp and their universe,” she says. “I don’t like to impose too many restrictions because, for me, the idea is really to catch as much of that creativity as I can.”

“The only restriction is our capability to produce it. It’s always a challenge, but it’s a great challenge for our know-how.”

One such designer who challenged the brand’s ability to produce was Heatherwick, whose 2004 Zip Bag was “very hard” to realise, Delafointaine recalls.

A zip wound in horizontal concentric rings ran the length of the cowhide leather bag, allowing it to expand and contract like an accordion.

“It was really nearly like an architectural bag,” Delafontaine explained, citing the malleability of leather as counterintuitive to Heatherwick’s carefully engineered design.

“And Thomas also has a very precise vision,” she added. “So it was super hard, but we were very happy to be able to make it.”

Though now a rare find on resale sites, the bag that Heatherwick pitched and produced for Longchamp was the beginning of a long-running relationship, which saw the British designer commissioned to design the brand’s global flagship store in Manhattan in 2006.

Now, Delafontaine says, Heatherwick is currently in the process of completing a “very surprising” renovation of the same store.

The Heatherwick collaboration wasn’t Longchamp’s first foray into architecture: the brand tapped French architect Paul Andreu, the lead architect on Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, to design a bag for its 50th anniversary in the late nineties.

“It’s hard to collaborate with architects,” she admitted. “They are used to doing hard things and I am used to doing soft.”

“So sometimes it’s difficult because their product is going to stay exactly as it is. My products are going to live.”

Toiletpaper is a “very optimistic, playful vision of life”

If architecture is an outlier for Delafontaine, then Longchamp’s latest collaboration with art title Toiletpaper has a richer precedent.

It follows on from collections with Emin – which Delfontaine cites as the brand’s “first major collaboration” – Swedish-French graffiti artist André Saraiva and American-British artist Sarah Morris.

“I think [art] is a way of being creative without constraints, which is not my case as a designer – I create with constraints,” says Delafontaine.

“Of course, I’ve been following Toiletpaper for a very long time. It’s really a very optimistic, playful vision of life, which I really love and which is also something I try to input when creating at Longchamp.”

Founded in 2010 by Italian artist and photographer duo Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari, the bi-annual photo magazine is known for highly saturated images that satirise the zeitgeist.

Toiletpaper’s designs for Longchamp’s Le Pliage range feature everything from a French bulldog smoking an archival Longchamp pipe designed by Delafontaine’s grandfather to a flying horse.

Despite its many modern reinventions, Longchamp has retained the same logo for the past 70 years – a jockey on a galloping racehorse that nods to the origin of the brand’s name, which Delafontaine’s grandfather borrowed from the Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.

“I think we have an emblem that is speaking about what Longchamp really is,” says Delafontaine. “He’s a winner.”

Asked why the brand has chosen to keep the same logo, she replied: “Well, because we like it.”

The photography is courtesy of Longchamp.

Dezeen In Depth

If you enjoy reading Dezeen’s interviews, opinions and features, subscribe to Dezeen In Depth. Sent on the last Friday of each month, this newsletter provides a single place to read about the design and architecture stories behind the headlines.

The post “It’s hard to collaborate with architects” says Longchamp’s Sophie Delafontaine appeared first on Dezeen.

Danish studio Spacon & X preserved “different layers of unique history” when designing the Folk Kombucha brewery, which is set within a listed building in Copenhagen‘s Meatpacking District.

The factory belongs to fermented-tea brand Folk Kombucha and features a production area for kombucha brewing overlooked by a mezzanine level used for workshops and other social events.

Local firm Spacon & X aimed to balance the history of the 1930s functionalist building with its contemporary needs when designing the interior, which is led by cobalt blue, orange and pink accents.

“The buildings in the Meatpacking District are from the 1930s and have a strong character,” said architect Malene Hvidt.

“Our design team aimed to preserve different layers of unique history,” she told Dezeen.

Spacon & X maintained the building’s “archetypal Meatpacking white-tile walls” as well as mustard-yellow and green marble floor tiles.

Translucent iridescent panels were placed behind the various stainless steel fermentation tanks to delineate spaces within the brewery.

Stainless steel was also used to form the extensive network of pipes connected to the tanks as well as custom tables and benches topped with bright blue rubber.

This tangle of tubes was echoed with the addition of spaghetti-shaped wire lighting.

“The buildings in the area are all known for their white facades with windows and panels painted in a strong cobalt blue colour,” explained Hvidt. “Cobalt blue was chosen to pay tribute to the area itself.”

Spacon & X created lounge tables by recycling plastic packaging salvaged from fish and other food waste, which was industrially produced at the site before it became the Folk Kombucha brewery.

“Instead of throwing out this long-lasting hygienic material, we transformed it into unique custom-made tables,” Hvidt said.

Artwork made of scoby — a culture of yeast and bacteria that kickstarts the kombucha fermentation process — was used to decorate the interior alongside bespoke hand-hammered steel lamps.

Other spaces within the multipurpose building include offices, a separate lounge, a laboratory and various storage areas.

“The brewery’s spatial design was created in a way that resembled and preserved the listed building’s long history and strong character,” said Hvidt.

“The design also incorporates subtle, organic and innovative spatial solutions with functionality and uses the building’s industrial nature as a guiding principle.”

Elsewhere in Copenhagen, Spacon & X previously created the interior for a burger restaurant filled with natural materials and plants.

The studio has also completed an Ace & Tate glasses store in the city, taking cues from colourful artists’ studios.

The photography is by Hedda Rysstad.

The post Spacon & X adds kombucha brewery to 1930s functionalist building in Copenhagen appeared first on Dezeen.

Personal mobility devices are all the rage these days, but among all of them, the electric bicycle or e-bike is the most satisfying option. It adds motorized assistance and smart features to the equation without removing the enjoyment of using your body’s power to move forward. E-bikes combine the best of both worlds, allowing people to travel farther, faster, easier, and safer, while still offering the unique thrills that only foot-powered bikes can bring. Their popularity has resulted in a dizzying number of options in the market, but this new urban e-bike rises above the rest with its combination of advanced features, sleek design, and a price tag to die for, taking your rides to the next level and beyond.

Designer: ADO Design

Click Here to Buy Now: $1,417 $2,405 (41% off). Hurry, only 21/50 left! Raised over $110,000.

There are a number of criteria that an e-bike needs to meet the challenge of daily commutes, and the new ADO Air 28 manages to check all the right boxes and then some. Performance is definitely not an issue thanks to its 250W/350W (depending on the model) brushless hub motor that delivers the boost you need without making its presence heard. The Samsung Battery disguised as a seat post delivers an astounding range of up to 100 km in a discreet and stylish design that makes it trivial to remove and charge as needed.

Smart Torque Sensor – Conquer steeper slopes with ease, maintaining effortless control throughout.

Care-free Carbon Belt – “Unchain” your ride with the maintenance-free carbon belt that can last up to 30,000 KM.

Long-Range Samsung Battery – Provides up to an impressive 100km range.

Convenience and comfort don’t take a backseat either. A smart torque sensor detects your pedaling with precision to determine how much boosting power you need, ensuring a smooth and effortless ride even on steeper slopes. A care-free carbon belt throws away the biggest and dirtiest problem of traditional bikes, promising noise-free, maintenance-free, and rust-free riding for up to 30,000 km. An adjustable lockout suspension fork puts you in control of different terrains, and puncture-resistant tires bring peace of mind when navigating roads of all kinds.

All-Weather Power and Comfort – Hydraulic disc brakes deliver powerful stopping power in all weather conditions.

Double Anti-theft System – Keep your battery secure with their unique lock design, while the street wise bell hides an AirTag/SmartTag, adding extra security against bike theft.

Of course, rider safety is also a priority, and the ADO Air 28 e-bike proves its smart design here once again. Hydraulic disc brakes deliver the stopping power you need, no matter the kind of weather you’re riding in. An E-Mark headlamp lights up your path with its bright, wide-angle LED, and its IPX5 rating makes sure it keeps working when it rains. At the same time, a waterproof taillight keeps you safe from behind, rain or shine. The ADO Air 28 can also keep itself safe, thanks to a unique lock design for the battery and the ability to hide an AirTag or Smart Tag inside the street-wise bell. All of these come together in a lightweight and elegant aluminum frame that’s sure to grab the attention and envy of anyone you pass by.

Comfortable Ride, Easy Control – Access real-time data and ensure safety during high-speed rides through our 3.5-inch waterproof display.

But wait, there’s more! This already advanced e-bike also carries its own 3.5-inch waterproof display that can access real-time data to ensure rider safety. It can even adjust the headlamp brightness depending on the environment. Combined with an intelligent mobile app that gives quick access to navigation and customer support, the ADO Smart System makes every ride a breeze. Don’t suffer through grueling traffic and exhausting cycling when you can get the ADO Air 28 e-bike and turn every commute and every ride into a joyful memory.

Click Here to Buy Now: $1,417 $2,405 (41% off). Hurry, only 21/50 left! Raised over $110,000.

The post This all-rounder urban e-bike will make any commute a smooth and joyful riding experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

On Mars, every vehicle’s an off-roader…

Say hello to Outlander, the red planet’s first “MTV”, or Mars Terrain Veloce. Designed by Seongho Kim, the Outlander aims at being the one definitive vehicle to help you conquer the red planet’s inhospitable terrain. The three-wheeled format gives the Outlander a great balance between maneuverability and weight, and a 3D-printed metal chassis, coupled with CO2 blasters and airless tires allows the rider to effortlessly navigate Mars’ undulating surface without any hiccups whatsoever.

Designer: Seongho Kim

It’s entirely conceivable that we’re probably going to see a manned mission to Mars in our lifetime, and if we intend on inhabiting the planet, we need to be able to explore it too. That’s where the Outlander comes in, helping you effectively do a ground mission on the planet’s uneven surface without requiring any complex vehicular assistance. The Outlander is practically the ATV’s distant cousin, optimized for a foreign environment.

The single-seater trike combines a compact and lightweight structure with a capable design that maximizes fun and minimizes failure. The two tires on the front are perfect for being able to adeptly navigate undulating land, while LiDAR sensor between them helps the Outlander understand the road ahead. A set of CO2 canisters right underneath the rider fire when the ‘MTV’ needs vertical lift, giving the vehicle an upward push to help it climb and jump higher. Meanwhile, cleverly engineered airless tires absorb any sort of rough impact without bursting or crumbling like conventional tires and wheels.

The entire trike has an otherwise skeletal design from head to wheel. Carbon fiber and 3D-printed metal parts help give the trike its sturdiness and lightweight structure, and a cargo unit right between the rider’s legs lets them carry important equipment from A to B. Under the cargo hatch sits the Outlander’s battery unit, which supplies power to the rear-wheel motor.

The post Meet Outlander: An ATV Trike designed to dominate on the rough, red terrain of Mars first appeared on Yanko Design.

Local architecture studio Stanaćev Granados has created an oceanside holiday house shaped like a cube and clad in wood on the coast of Chile.

Located in the village of Matanzas, Casa Kuvo was designed using simple, geometric forms and a largely white palette to complement its coastal site.

At 70 square metres, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom house spans two levels. At six metres in its height, width and depth, it was designed to be perfectly cubic.

Its cubic form was a result of “extreme rationalization” by Stanaćev Granados in order to maximise floor space.

The south and west-facing facades of the building, which face powerful winds and nearby neighbours, are more closed-off with smaller and fewer windows for privacy.

The north and east-facing facades feature large, square windows and a sliding glass door that open to the ocean and a vegetated ravine behind the site.

An elongated concrete wall stretches out from the back of the house and ends in a bench to create a pseudo-patio.

Two storage exterior storage closets were placed next to the front door and blend seamlessly with the facade.

It is clad in a monochrome white vertical pine wood siding, which the studio said gives the house an overall appearance that is “rather abstract and barren”.

The white colour was chosen to reflect the bright sun and disappear into the mist on overcast, foggy days.

On the interior, utilities, storage, and the staircase were placed along the perimeter “like a clock” to open up the central space on each floor.

At ground level, the house contains a small kitchen, bathroom, and a living area with a wood stove.

An atrium was tucked into one corner that spans both levels of the house and is topped with a skylight.

On the ground-level ceiling, the opening was covered with netting for safety and visual connectivity.

Two bedrooms and an additional bathroom were placed on the second floor, each equipped with square windows of varying dimensions and heights.

At ground level, the studio designed the staircase to be confined, accessed by a narrow opening in the living room wall.

As it ascends, the stair opens up, with windows placed alongside it and a generous landing and skylight placed above. An additional skylight was placed in the upstairs bathroom.

Concrete floors were used for the ground level, while the upper level was made using light wood flooring. Planed wood panelling treated with a white stain was used for the interior of the house.

The ceilings feature exposed beams, which provide additional height throughout the relatively small structure.

Elsewhere in Mantanzas, ERRE Arquitectos recently completed a stilted beach house and Croxatto and Opazo Architects designed two wooden cabins perched on cliff

The photography is by Manu Granados. 

The post Stanaćev Granados clads cube-shaped Chilean house in white wood appeared first on Dezeen.