Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer for Royal VKB

Product news: London designer Roger Arquer has created a salt and pepper mill with removable silicone lids for mixing and serving seasoning (+ slideshow).

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

Arquer‘s Pinch&Grind product range, designed for Dutch brand Royal VKB, also includes mixing jars with the same square silicone lids for blending and storing herbs and spices.

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

“Taking salt or herbs between your fingers and adding them to your food has become common practice,” said Arquer. “The silicone lids of the mill and jars allow users to open them easily, and pinch directly from them. Also, by turning the lid upside down it can be used as a pinch dish.”

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

The transparent mixing jars are available with a range of red, white, green and yellow coloured lids. The taller mills are available with black lids and have a transparent section to reveal the seasoning inside.

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

Arquer has also designed a triangular-shaped jug with a different sized pouring spout at each point. A large spout is designed for pouring thick batter, a medium one for vinaigrette, and a thin one for filtering fruits and ice or to drizzle salad dressing. “It is perfectly capable for pouring anything you mix, in any consistency,” said Arquer.

Spouts by Roger Arquer

See all our coverage of Roger Arquer »
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Photographs are courtesy of Roger Arquer.

Here are two project descriptions from the designer:


Pinch&Grind

Pinch&Grind takes a new inside into spices. There is the traditional salt and pepper mill, with the addition of mixing jars for preparing your own blends.

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

Taking salt or herbs between your fingers and adding them to your food is nowadays a common practice known as “pinching”. We are often extracting some salt or peppercorns from the mill itself to add to a spice mix.

The silicon lid of the mill or jars, allows to open them easily, and pinch directly from them. Also by turning the lid upside down it can be used as a pinch dish.

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

The transparent jars with coloured lids (red-chilly based, white-salt based, green-herb based and yellow-curry based) so that you can easily identify a particular spice mix you have created. The contents of the jars can then be simply transferred into the mill followed by switching the coloured lid to the mill so then you know which spice mix is in the mill.

Pinch&Grind by Roger Arquer

The main body and the top have a square profile for a better handling. The top lid is made of silicon, which gives an excellent grip, even if the hands are oily (when cooking).

Spouts

Spouts is a multifunctional jug with three different pouring ends. Its soft triangular shape holds a different spout on each corner. 

A wide and raised spout for pouring thick batter, a medium one for vinaigrette, and a thin one for filtering (fruit, mint, ice…) or drizzle salad dressing. It is perfectly capable for pouring anything you mix, in any consistency.

Spouts by Roger Arquer

Spouts have a big enough base so it is ideal to use with a hand blender to prepare your favourite smoothies or shakes.

Spouts have the international measuring indicator (cups, ml and fl.oz) discreetly engraved one each of the three different sides walls. So it is possible to accurately measure the ingredients desired to create your mixes. As the indicators are so discrete, they can be used for preparing and serving directly onto the table.

Spouts by Roger Arquer

Incase of any leftovers, then simply close the Jug with our airtight silicon lid to keep the ingredients fresh for longer, in or out of the fridge.

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for Royal VKB
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"In the future, design thinking is going to be called emotionalism" – Roger Arquer

Designer Roger Arquer explains why emotion is the guiding force behind his practice, which includes lampshades that work with condensation and experimental fish tanks, in this next movie filmed at our Designed in Hackney Day.

Roger Arquer

Above: Birdland birdhouses

In the movie, Roger Arquer introduces his studio, which he set up after completing his Design Products MA at the Royal College of Art.

Roger Arquer

Above: Non-lethal Mousetraps

The three pillars of his practice are function, beauty and emotion, he explains. “Emotion is probably the most important; something that moves you inside and tickles your soul. I would like to think that in the future, design thinking is going to be called emotionalism.”

Roger Arquer

Above: Fishtanks

He introduces his trilogy of work about animals, which included a collection of bird houses based around one simple shape and a series of non-lethal mousetraps, which catch the animal inside everyday objects like pint glasses.

Roger Arquer

Above: the painting that Arquer says “triggered” his work on variations

Arquer also made a collection of fish tanks that ask questions about the relationships between animals. “This one talks about two different fish living in the same space but still separately,” he explains with reference to one of the tanks (pictured in this post). “The small one can go into the big place, but the big fish can’t go into the small place.”

Roger Arquer

Above: Dramprom condensation lampshade

He also mentions a painting done by a friend of his depicting variations on a circle, which he describes as a “trigger” for his own projects.

Roger Arquer

Above: Sputnik stool

One example of emotion in Arquer’s work is the Dramprom glass lamp, where a light bulb rests in an indentation in a glass jar, inside which is a small amount of water. “The heat of the light bulb creates condensation inside, so it makes its own lampshade, and it makes this emotional factor that I always look for in every project,” the designer explains.

Roger Arquer

Above: Funnel Friends kitchen equipment

He then introduces a stool that uses just one metal rod to clamp its legs together and a family of funnels for use in the kitchen, which won him a Red Dot Award.

Roger Arquer

Above: Funnel Friends kitchen equipment

Next is a ceramic lamp that doubles as a flower vase and switches on and off when the flowers are touched.

Roger Arquer

Above: Touch ceramic lamp and vase

Finally he introduces a stool and chair made for his daughter’s first birthday, which he describes as “half readymade”. “I used cooking spoons for the spindles and rolling pins for the legs, and a pastry brush for the little stool. I wanted to bring this emotional bit into the furniture,” he says.

Roger Arquer

Above: prototypes of the Touch vase

Last year Roger Arquer contributed a wooden bench to the Dezeen-curated Stepney Green Design Collection – see all our stories about Roger Arquer.

Roger Arquer

Above: the stool and chair Arquer made for his daughter

Dezeen launched its Designed in Hackney initiative to highlight the best architecture and design made in the borough, which was one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices.

Watch more movies from our Designed in Hackney Day or see more stories about design and architecture from Hackney.

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called emotionalism” – Roger Arquer
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“This bench is a tribute to a local hardware shop” – Roger Arquer

In this movie filmed by Dezeen, east London designer Roger Arquer talks about the benches he made for the Stepney Green Design Collection using materials sourced from his local family-run hardware shop just before it closed down.

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The thick planks of wood and coffee-table-legs used to make the benches plus the screws, sandpaper and oil used to finish them were all bought from the General Woodwork shop.

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The store in Stoke Newington was close to Roger Arquer‘s studio as well as the Dezeen office and sold hardware for over 60 years before it closed down earlier this year.

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

“The shop was family run and quite useful for me and other designers and makers in north or east London,” says Arquer. ”I would go there quite often to buy lots of bits I would need to build prototypes or projects.”

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The Stepney Green Design Collection consists of 10 products selected by Marcus Fairs of Dezeen from creatives who live near to VIVO, a new housing development in the east London district. The project also includes objects chosen by east London bloggers Pete Stean of Londoneer and Kate Antoniou of Run Riot.

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The collection is on show at the Genesis Cinema, 93-95 Mile End Road, Whitechapel, London E1 4UJ, from 10am to 10pm every day until January. After this, the objects will be given to VIVO residents.

Roger Arquer on his benches for the Stepney Green Design Collection

See all the items in the Stepney Green Design Collection here and watch the movies we’ve featured so far here. The music featured in the movies is by American designer and musician Glen Lib. You can listen to the full track on Dezeen Music Project.

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hardware shop” – Roger Arquer
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General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

East London designer Roger Arquer has made a bench out of materials he salvaged from his local hardware shop before it closed down, which he is contributing to the Stepney Green Design Collection curated by Dezeen.

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

All of the materials in the bench, from the wood to the screws and even the sandpaper Arquer used to make it, are from General Woodwork Supplies, a hardware shop near Dezeen’s office in Stoke Newington that closed down this year after over 60 years of trading.

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The seat of the bench is made from a plank of English chestnut that Arquer found in the back of the shop, while the 12 beech legs that are screwed in to it are replacement parts for old 1950s coffee tables.

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

Talking about his affection for the store and the concept behind the project, Arquer told Dezeen “General Woodworks has been a reference hardware shop for many makers based in the creative hub of East London. This was the place to go – they had everything and they knew everything – but it sadly closed down in August. This one-off bench is my tribute to the shop.”

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

Dezeen has been commissioned to curate a collection of products designed by east London creatives that live near to new housing development VIVO and we have been publishing the designs as they are added to the collection all month. See all the stories we have published so far here.

General Woodwork Bench by Roger Arquer for the Stepney Green Design Collection

The designs will be on show as part of a collection of 30 works of art, fashion, sculpture and furniture celebrating local talent that will be exhibited at the Genesis Cinema in October and then donated to the VIVO residents – find out more here.

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for the Stepney Green Design Collection
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Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetrapsby Roger Arquer

Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger Arquer

Designed in Hackney: next up in our showcase of local designers is Roger Arquer and his non-lethal mousetraps, first published on Dezeen in 2007 and still one of our most-clicked stories of all time.

Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger Arquer

Modelled here by gerbils, the traps make small modifications to household objects like a pint glass, bottle or plant pot using springs, wing-nuts and paperclips.

Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger Arquer

They’re now in production with Thorsten Van Elten, who’s based in neighbouring Tower Hamlets.

Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger Arquer

Read more about the project in our earlier story or in the Dezeen Book of Ideas, which is on sale now for £12.

Designed in Hackney: Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger Arquer

See all our stories about Arquer’s work here, including a set of adapted fish bowls that were also very popular with our readers. We filmed this interview with Arquer last autumn when he took part in Dezeen Platform at Dezeen Space.

Watch this movie on Dezeen Screen »

Like Dezeen, Arquer’s studio is in Stoke Newington.

Key:

Blue = designers
Red = architects
Yellow = brands

See a larger version of this map

Designed in Hackney is a Dezeen initiative to showcase world-class architecture and design created in the borough, which is one of the five host boroughs for the London 2012 Olympic Games as well as being home to Dezeen’s offices. We’ll publish buildings, interiors and objects that have been designed in Hackney each day until the games this summer.

More information and details of how to get involved can be found at www.designedinhackney.com.

Dezeen Screen: Roger Arquer at Dezeen Platform

Dezeen Screen: Roger Arquer at Dezeen Platform

Dezeen Screen: in this movie filmed at Dezeen Space, Spanish designer Roger Arquer talks about the furniture he made for his daughter using wooden spoons, rolling pins and a pastry brush. Watch the movie »

Today at Dezeen Platform: Roger Arquer

Roger Arquer_platform

Dezeen Space: Spanish designer Roger Arquer is next up on Dezeen Platform, our micro-exhibition at Dezeen Space, with his Alba chair and stool.

Roger Arquer_platform

Alba comprises a child’s chair and stool made from wooden kitchen implements including rolling pins and wooden spoons.

Roger Arquer_platform

Back in 2009 Arquer’s non-lethal mousetraps were one of the most popular projects ever published on Dezeen and they’re featured in the Dezeen Book of Ideas, which you can order online or buy in person at Dezeen Space.

Roger Arquer_platform

See all our stories about Roger Arquer here.

Roger Arquer_platform

Each day, for 30 days, a different designer will use a one metre by one metre space to exhibit their work at Dezeen Space. See the full lineup for Dezeen Platform here.

Roger Arquer_platform

More about Dezeen Space here and more about the London Design festival here.

Roger Arquer_platform

Dezeen Space
17 September – 16 October
Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

54 Rivington Street,
London EC2A 3QN

Roger Arquer_platform


See also:

.

Funnel Friends
by Roger Arquer
Skeleton
by Roger Arquer
Dramprom
by Roger Arquer

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

Milan 2011: London designer Roger Arquer has designed these lamps which are operated by touching the flowers in the adjoining vase, presented in Milan earlier this month by design brand Bosa.

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

Using touch sensitive technology the Touch Lamp Vase is operated by the flowers in the vase.

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

More about Milan 2011 »

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

More vases on Dezeen »
More by Roger Arquer on Dezeen »

The following is from the designers:


Touch Lamp Vase for Bosa by Roger Arquer Studio:

This piece has been launched at the Salone di Mobile, Milano 2011.
Touch is an hybrid between a lamp and a flower base. The flowers work as a switch for the light: when touched, the light goes on or off.

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

Touch invites you to a playful experience combining water with light, yet being 100% safe. Touch sensitive technology is being used here, while the high content of water on the flowers makes them conductive and sensitive when touched. This piece will add an accent of colour as an ambient light. It can be placed in restaurants, hotel rooms, lobbies, home entrance or hallway…

The vessel is made of one entire ceramic piece. The lampshade is made of fabric. Electricity runs on 12V. The water can be easily replaced when need it.

Touch Lamp Vase by Roger Arquer for Bosa

Roger Arquer. Born in Barcelona in 1975, Roger Arquer graduated from ESDI (Escola Superior de Disseny Industrial, Sabadell) in 1998. Soon after graduating, he moved to New York, where he worked for several designers and artists. In 2003, he 
moved to London to attend an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of 
Art (2003-2005).

He opened his studio in London in 2005 and since then has 
worked for companies such as Royal VKB, Eno, Thorsten Van Elten and Mathmos. He teaches at Central Saint Martin’s and in Camberwell.

Arquer is interested in how quotidian objects have the capacity to give us pleasure as we use them, “good designs have that extraordinary power of making life easier and more enjoyable”.
His work has been exhibited around the world, from Milano to Tokyo and his native Barcelona.


See also:

.

Funnel Friends by
Roger Arquer
Funnel Vase by
Roger Arquer
Fish Bowls by
Roger Arquer

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

These duck-shaped funnels for transferring liquids from one container to another are by London designer Roger Arquer.

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

Called Funnel Friends, the vessels come in three sizes and can be stacked together by slotting them inside one another for easy storage.

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

The products have been produced in collboration with Dutch homeware brand Royal VKB.

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

See also: Funnel Vase by Roger Arquer.

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

All our stories on Roger Arquer »
More homeware on Dezeen »

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

Here’s some more information from Arquer:


Funnel Friends

Funnel Friends Transferring ingredients but wondering how to do it? ………Funnel Friends from Royal VKB offer the perfect solution!
Funnel Friends is a multi usable and practical cross over set between funnels and containers that can be perfectly used for transferring liquids, cereals and grain. No matter whether large or small quantities need to be transferred, Funnel Friends offer unlimited possibilities.

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

Our Funnel Friends are not only extremely practical to use, but possess an extra dimension due to their unique and organic styling. The flowing shape of each of the Funnel Friends is cleverly designed to make the complete set fit together perfectly. This allows the Funnel Friends to be easily stacked and stored so taking little space in what is often an already crowded kitchen!

Funnel Friends by Roger Arquer

The RVKB set of Funnel Friends includes three different sizes:

Small Funnel
The smallest funnel is ideal for transferring liquids, for example while decanting wine or filling spice jars like a salt and pepper mill. Because of the oval shaped spout a vacuum is prevented when pouring which improves the flow of liquids.

Medium Funnel
The medium funnel is ideal for transferring not only liquids but also ingredients as sugar, rice and other grain. The open shape is perfect for scooping large quantities of ingredients and transferring them through the spout in smaller quantities as desired.

Large Funnel
The large funnel can be used both to store and pour large amounts of liquid, for example lemonade and pancake batter. This makes the funnel multi usable.

Funnel Friends, your ‘friends’ for in and outside the kitchen! The set of Funnel Friends is available in white only and is packed in an attractive full colour gift box.


See also:

.

Funnel Vase by
Roger Arquer
Non-lethal mousetraps by Roger ArquerTeapot/cup by
Louie Rigano