Hasta La Ideas

Dezeen promotion: the winners of the garden unique competition to design outdoor dining products will exhibit their work at spoga+gafa garden trade fair in Cologne from 2 to 4 September 2012 and Dezeen readers can apply for 100 free tickets to the event.

Above: Canorta by retogni – Jury Winner
Top: Glade by Tim Kerp – Community Winner

Entrants were invited to design items under the theme of dining outdoors and submissions ranged from parasols and furniture to barbecues and cooking utensils.

Above: a charcoal barbecue for any ground surface by jayno – Community Winner

The three Jury Winner designs selected by a panel of industry experts are being built as prototypes to be put on display at the trade fair.

Above: I’m an alien by additio – Community Winner

Twelve Community winners were voted for by members of the public on the website and ranked in order of popularity.

Above: Flaschenkühler und Flaschenständer by MMDesign – Jury Winner 

The first 100 Dezeen readers to email visitor@spogagafa.de with “Unique Dezeen” in the subject line will be sent a code that can be redeemed at the online ticket shop for free tickets to the event. Click here for more details about garden unique.

Above: LINEA by Marco Gottardi – Jury Winner

See all our stories about outdoor furniture »

Above: Compact & Comfortable by Pleata – Community Winner

Here are some more details about the garden unique competition:

The task

Develop items that are perfectly suited to a culinary event in the open air. From furniture that can be conveniently moved around and transported, to a sunshade for a picnic with family or friends, down to an outdoor kitchen, seating or shade for the professional and exclusive catering needs of a larger group. Show how your design and the occasion come together to create a unique experience!

The background

spoga+gafa is the world’s leading trade fair for the garden industry. It takes place every year in late summer (2 – 4 September 2012) in Cologne, Germany. What makes spoga+gafa special is garden unique, its premium area for outdoor furniture, which is developed together with leading manufacturers. Here, in an informal atmosphere, manufacturers, retailers and designers can find out about the latest trends and innovative ideas. The results of this contest will be presented to the international exhibitors and visitors in a central exhibition and published in an exclusive yearbook.

The expert jury

The project is accompanied by a prominent jury: as well as Patrick Nadeau (architect of products for Authentic) and Marc Sadler (designer of outdoor products for Slide, Serralunga, Magis, Skitsch, Pedrali), the team of experts also includes Herbert Seckler (CEO of Sansibar Sylt), Tobias Lutz (architonic.com), Ralf Ferdinand Broekmann (editor-in-chief of build magazine) and Rüdiger Sprave (event manager of the imm cologne, spoga+gafa by koelnmesse).

Benefits for the creatives

The expert jury will award three jury winners whose designs will be built as a prototype and exhibited at the garden unique. In addition the three jury winners will get three prizes each of the value of 1,000 EUR. The community prize money amounts to a total of 12,000 EUR.

garden unique is offering the creators of selected ideas extensive media coverage at the spoga+gafa 2012, as well as access to direct contacts in the industry and the opportunity to turn their concept into a reality together with manufacturers.

The post spoga+gafa garden unique competition
winners announced appeared first on Dezeen.

Promotion: entries are now being accepted for the Wood Awards 2012.

The annual awards showcase outstanding design, craftsmanship and installations using wood, including furniture, small projects, staircases, large-scale public buildings and more.

The main categories of the Wood Awards 2012 are:

» commercial and public access
» private
» small project
» structural
» repair and adaptive reuse
» bespoke furniture
» production-made furniture

Enter for free via the Wood Awards website. Deadline: 1 June 2012.

Here’s some more information from the organisers:

The Wood Awards 2012 – Calling for entries

The Wood Awards is once again open for entries for the UK’s premier award scheme for the world’s only naturally sustainable material. The Wood Awards is free to enter, with no administration charge, and entries are now open via the website www.woodawards.com. The closing deadline is 1st June.

As Britain’s premier architecture and furniture competition celebrating excellence in design and craftsmanship using timber, the aim of the Wood Awards is to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation in wood. Over the last nine years since its re-launch, the projects entered in the Wood Awards have ranged from exquisitely designed and executed staircases, furniture and timber frame buildings, to iconic public buildings from the UK’s leading architectural practices.

Previous Gold Award winners include the Weald and Downland Museum by Edward Cullinan Architects, Norwich Cathedral Visitors Centre by Hopkins Architects, Pinions Barn by Simon Conder Associates, The Savill Building by Glenn Howells Architects and last year, the Rothschild Foundation, using European oak, by Stephen Marshall Architects.

The categories for the Wood Awards have been updated for the 2012 competition with the introduction of ‘Small Project’ as a main category, the renaming of the ‘Conservation / Restoration’ category as ‘Repair & Adaptive Reuse’, and the extension of one ‘Furniture’ category into two: ‘Bespoke Furniture’ and ‘Production Made Furniture’. In separating the small projects from the ‘Private’ category this year with their own ‘Small Project’ category, the Wood Awards has the opportunity to give much smaller projects, from bespoke staircases to garden buildings, the specific recognition they deserve. The category ‘Repair & Adaptive Reuse’ still incorporates both the careful conservation and ingenious restoration seen every year, but intend to encourage entries where the decision to repurpose an existing building has been made over simply moving or rebuilding completely. There will also be a more specific focus on the wood species and timber products used in each project. Commenting on this evolution, chairman of the judges, Michael Morrison of Purcell Miller Tritton, said: “Both judges and sponsors wanted to respond to the interesting challenges the awards often present, and these changes will help give us another fascinating year.”

Canada Wood, the joint initiative between the Canadian government and timber industry association partners representing producers in Canada, and the timber industry’s sustainability and promotion campaign Wood for Good, have both this year become lead sponsors of the Wood Awards, alongside long standing supporters the American Hardwood Export Council and the Carpenters’ Company. Other sponsors include TRADA and American Softwoods. The Wood Awards is a showcase, a flagship for wood in the best of British architecture, furniture and design, and with the enthusiastic commitment of its sponsors, the Wood Awards, and excellence in design and craftsmanship using wood, is thriving.

With permission from the owner, anyone associated with an eligible building or furniture project can enter. Visit www.woodawards.com for more information on how to enter, criteria, details on each of the categories, and inspiration.

Wood Awards on Twitter | Wood Awards on Facebook | Wood Awards on Linkedin

Dezeen promotion: this video shows Basque woodworking company Axalko crafting a bicycle frame from wood.

Enrique Ardura and brothers Aitzol and Andoitz Tellería are carpenters who chose to develop the bicycle to showcase their expertise in thermal wood modification.

They spent two years developing a frame that makes the most of the strength of wood, combining an ash core with a micro-laminated finish that optimises its rigidity and resistance.

A hollow structure reduces the weight, resulting in a lightweight bicycle that is as strong as aluminium or steel.

The frame is handmade and can be customised to match the client’s choice of colour or laminated finish.

The project is supported by the Spanish Confederation of Wood, Confemadera and there are more videos about wood craftsmen working in Spain available on Vimeo.

You can see a previous story about Spanish designers working in wood here and all of our stories about bicycles here.

The following text is from Confemadera:

Two Basque carpenters develop an advanced wood bicycle frame that optimizes both resistance and weight

Bilbao (Spain), April 2012 – Six years ago the Tellería brothers (Aitzol and Andoitz), both professionals in the wood industry and fans of bicycle culture and mountain sport, joined up with fellow professional Enrique Ardura. Together, they were inspired to develop a project that combined their knowledge of wood modification technology and all its potential.

Working from their joinery called Txirbil (meaning ‘wood shaving’ in Euskera, the ancient language of the Basque lands), the design team came to the conclusion that the tubular fibers of wood were perfect for creating a fast, sturdy bicycle frame. As well as having an interesting natural aesthetic, wood is resistant, can absorb a high level of vibration and can result much lighter than generally perceived.

Axalko is the name given to these new wooden bicycles, inspired by a character from the brothers’ childhood – a quick and ingenious fox who appeared in fables their grandmother told them.

An in-depth study was called for, looking at the effect the various forces would have on the bike frame in motion. Its micro-laminated finish allows for the utmost levels of resistance and rigidity. On the other hand, its hollow structure makes it really lightweight.

The core of the frame is made with ash tree wood, a species indigenous to the region and that can also be found all over Europe, including the Britain and Ireland. The bike has been favorably tested by members of professional teams as well as in two demanding races in France – the París-Roubaix and the Flandes Tour.

Like if it were a luthier atelier, most of the Axalko bike’s manufacturing process is done by hand, meaning care is taken over every detail, whether technical or aesthetic. Clients can have their model customized by choosing the colors and laminated finish. Durable, practical and elegant, the Axalko bike sets the bar high for stylish commuting.

When asked about their innovative technique, Axalko’s creators simply answer that they have bridled a technology already found in nature.

Mechanical Properties
Average density – 670 kg/m3
Static bending strength – 1140 kg/cm2
Compressive strength – 520 kg/cm2
Tensile strength – 1400 kg/cm2
Elastic modulus – 130000kg/cm2

It is widely believed that wood is one of most sustainable materials because it is natural, renewable, recyclable, biodegradable, non-toxic and only requires low, CO2-free energy to be transformed.

Additionally, these two elements found in wood provide a magnificent weight- strength ratio:

− Lignin makes the cell walls rigid with a compressive strength of 2,400 kg/cm2, which is higher than the concrete.
− Cellulose fibers held together by a lignin binder have a tensile strength of 10,000 kg/cm2, which is superior to steel.

www.axalko.com

Content promoted by Confemadera
Sponsored by Spanish Institute of Foreign Trade (ICEX) and EU European Regional Development Fund

Dezeen promotion: the Cubit modular shelving system is specifically designed for the standard dimensions of music and books.

Each module has a groove in the back so they can easily be jointed with an insert and no tools, while brackets mount them simply to a wall.

An online “configurator” helps customers design their own layout, or Cubit can put you in touch with an interior designer.

See customers’ photos of their installed systems on the Cubit website.

Here are some more details from Cubit:

Boxing Clever – Cubit Modular Shelving System

Cubit is a patented modular storage system. It is simple, functional, easy to install and incredibly cheap. Cubit comes in 21 sizes and 8 depths, all of which can interlock or be used alone. You can buy one or 1001. Cubit storage is ideal for awkward areas (like under the stairs) or for making a bold storage statement using an entire wall. Cubit is a high quality German concept and prices start from 22 € for a CD24 module.

It’s so easy to use and it has a world of infinite possibilities. Customising and creating bespoke configurations can be done at the drop of a hat, whether you want lean, mean linear shelving for your minimal space or a quirky configuration to house your vintage collectibles.

Cubit comes ready made – so no self-assembly is required. No tools are required to join Cubits together.

Cubit boxes can be configured to whatever design you want, to match any budget. You can start with one and build your collection or you can design your own storage area. You can use them at home or in the office – Cubit can be used anywhere that storage is needed.

On the Cubit website you can see a vast array of customers installations to inspire you. There is also an easy to follow step-by-step planner to help determine how many units are required for your room. It couldn’t be easier.

Cubit launched in Germany to huge success in October 2008 and have sold 55,000 units to date.

Cubit has been awarded 3rd best interior design solution by architecture magazine DETAIL in April 2011.

You can buy Cubit boxes in a variety of sizes starting at 22 € each (for Cubit CD24: 24L x 16H x 17.2Dcms).

www.cubit-shop.com

Dezeen promotion: Austrian brick manufacturer Wienerberger will reward the most innovative contemporary brick architecture at the fifth biennial Wienerberger Brick Award ceremony in Vienna next month.

A panel of experts will select winners in five categories from a total of 50 projects that have been submitted from around the world.

Top image: 2010 Special Award – Architecture Museum for the Island of Hombroich Foundation, Germany by Álvaro Siza, Rudolf Finsterwalder
Above: 2010 third-placed entry – Morjan-Poeten House, Germany by Nikolaus Bienefeld 

Above: 2010 Grand winner – State Forum and Parliament of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein by Hansjörg Göritz Architecture Studio

The awards promote excellence in buildings constructed using clay products based on criteria including sustainability, energy efficiency, functionality and innovative exterior design.

Above: 2010 Special Award – Public Buildings, Republic of Mali by Emilio Caravatti

An accompanying book, titled “Brick’12” and published by Callwey Publishers, presents the nominated and winning designs alongside text by international architecture writers.

Above: 2010 second placed entry – South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, India by Anagram Architects

Find out more about this year’s awards here, click here for a list of all 50 nominees and see images of the winning projects from 2010 here.

Here are some more details about the awards from Wienerberger:

Wienerberger Brick Award 2012: Global market leader presents award-winning brick architecture for the fifth time

Vienna, 29 February 2012 – On 3 May 2012, Wienerberger AG will present its internationally announced Wienerberger Brick Award in Vienna for the fifth consecutive time. With the award, the world’s largest brick producer and the largest roof tile manufacturer in Europe recognises internationally outstanding examples of modern brick architecture in five categories. Selection criteria include the innovative exterior design and skilful use of brick as a material, as well as the functionality, sustainability and energy efficiency of the buildings.

Above: 2012 jury panel. Photography by Christian Dusek.

This year’s winners will be selected by a jury of renowned experts consisting of the architects Plamen Bratkov (Bulgaria), Zhang Lei (China), Hrvoje Hrabak (Croatia), Rudolf Finsterwalder (Germany) and John Foldbjerg Lassen (Denmark) – (image from left to right).

The globally outstanding buildings constructed using clay products were submitted by international architecture critics and architecture journalists. The worldwide research conducted by these “architecture scouts” helps Wienerberger identify brick buildings that leave a lasting impression. Possible applications range from building solutions with classic wall and façade bricks to the creative use of roof tiles and clay pavers. Special attention is paid to how the building blends naturally into the surroundings as well as to the geometry, personality and quality of the building and its lighting conditions.

Above: 2010 second places entry – South Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, India by Anagram Architects

Above photograph is by Christian Richters.

“With the Wienerberger Brick Award, we want to cast a spotlight on how innovative and versatile brick can be when used as a construction material in architecture today,” says Heimo Scheuch, CEO of Wienerberger AG. “Especially in modern, future-oriented architecture, the choice of material plays an increasingly important role. Brick is not just timeless and innovative, it also is a durable and environmentally-friendly construction material that makes an important contribution to energy-efficient building.”

Above photograph is by Ian Ehm (APA).

For the fifth time, the Wienerberger Brick Award will have an accompanying book, titled “Brick’12” and published by Callwey Publishers, featuring the nominations and award-winning buildings presented by international architectural writers. The second part of the 240-page book includes the new magazine Brick+, in which readers can learn where top architect David Chipperfield goes on holiday, why Literature Nobel Laureate Elfriede Jelinek is crazy about ceramic artist Kurt Ohnsorg, and how a new generation of architects from all over Europe has developed a passion for building with brick. “Brick’12” will go on sale in May 2012 at bookshops in German-speaking countries and will also be available from the Callwey online shop at www.callwey-shop.de/brick-12.html and from other big-name online retailers.

www.wienerberger.com