Hasta La Ideas

Czech design graduate Jan Plechac has put his “Icons” range on show at Tent London this week. By wire-framing a number of design classics including the De Stijl Red & Blue chair and Fat Boy bean bag Plechac attempts to take the homely qualities of indoor furniture to the outdoors—bringing into question the boundaries between interior and exterior furniture.

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When visiting our friends from dezeen in their “pop-up gallery, store, video studio and micro-event space” during London Design Festival, we were particularly intrigued by these Moments in Time, designed by London based Dominic Wilcox. Watch the video to hear the designer talk about his new work.

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Forget flat-pack, the future of self-assembly furniture is clearly in “Whackpack”—a range on show at Tent London this week. By Be Benny, the stools and tables are put together entirely without nails and screws—the only tools needed being a mallet and a bit of brawn. Ikea take note.

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With London Design Festival in full swing, we finally had a chance to sit down for a drink and what better place than the opening of Designmarketo’s newest pop-up project: Bar Alto. Everyone who has ever been to Salone Milan Design Week, will be familiar with the infamous Bar Basso—the ultimate afterhours hang out where designers and design lovers make a pilgrimage to after all the shows have closed.

With Bar Alto, London Design Festival now has a similar spot (at least for the duration of this year’s festival), Designmarketo teamed up with Maurizio from Bar Basso in Milan, to create a pop up twin location in the British capital.

Designer Harry Thaler in front of the glass shelf that he designed for Bar Alto—in loving memory of the very wonderful Nicola Zocca, who sadly passed away this year.

They commissioned Harry Thaler to design the interior space in which they not only served exclusive locally brewed beer, but also Bar Basso’s famous Negroni cocktails in the most authentic tumbler you can find: The Duralex.

Maria Jeglinska’s Duralex re-design, featuring Maurizio’s face.

Various designers were asked to re-design this classic drinking vessel, the results of this brief being exhibited on a large table in the middle of the bar.

Lars Frideen’s Narcissus, with a mirror reflecting inwards and the back of the mirror being outside the glass.

Harry Thaler’s Handy Duralex re-design.

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“Plastic Classic Loop” Collection,” Pili Wu. Resin coated solid wood.

Reflecting the philosophy behind Hong Kong-based creative space Ilivetomorrow, the chimera is a mythological creature composed of multiple animals—the body of a lion with a tail that ends in a snake and a goat’s head that sprung from the beast’s back. Founder Nicola Borg-Pisani explains:

Our collaboration with designers, craftsmen and manufactrues is based on the synchronization of past, present and future…ilivetomorrow proposes to experience the production of fictional (not narrative) ‘objects’ and ‘environment’.

Wen Fang’s oversized bone and straw broom and mop.

At Beijing Design Week, the gallery produced a provocative show with a collection from European and Chinese designers that explored the theme of collaborative fictions. Along with some more familiar pieces from established designers, there was also a small handful of pieces produced in collaboration with Ilivetomorrow. (Warning, somewhat NSFW after the jump.)

Chimera Pavilion
751 D-Park
Park Building C
Through October 3rd

“Fire and Desire” pendant lamp, Pili Wu.

Freserique Morrel’s tapestry taxidermy. DAZ’s “Atlas” mirrors

“Main” wall sconce, David Dubois. Created in collaboration with ilivetomorrow

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