Parsons The New School for Design x Poltrona Frau: Designing for Wastelessness, Part 5 – Winning Students Visit Tolentino

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Reporting by Jenny Hsu

Earlier this year, Parsons The New School for Design and storied Italian furniture manufacturer Poltrona Frau presented Wasteless, a competition where students were asked to repurpose leather scraps from the production floor into new and exciting products. This competition culminated with a visit to Poltrona Frau’s factory, museum, and research and development center in Tolentino, Italy, by the three student winners: Yuna Kim, Benjamin Billick and myself. For one week in July, we were immersed in the brand, its history, and its manufacturing and production processes, as we experienced a unique opportunity to further develop and refine our winning designs. Our time in Tolentino was marked by a rich and open exchange with everyone at Frau, from the brand director to the marketing and communications team, the designers, leather technicians and the master artisans.

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We began our week at the Poltrona Frau Museum to sharpen our understanding of the company’s century-long history and identity. This was an essential step in further refining our design into the language of Poltrona Frau. We then were introduced to the Poltrona Frau factory and research lab, which was certainly one of the highlights of our trip (well, come to think of it, everything we did while there blew our minds). We were amazed to observe the artisans at work on a range of projects, from iconic furniture models to the interiors of the latest Ferraris and Maseratis. It’s one thing to read about a technique from a book and trying to master it—but utterly fail every time—and another to witness the artisans perform their magic.

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Howard Shatz Photography

Focus sur le travail du photographe américain Howard Shatz. Déjà connu pour ses séries comme Model and Mothers Series ou Underwater, il a été récompensé par de nombreux prix et publié par des magazines comme Vogue, GQ ou le New York Times. À découvrir en images dans la suite de l’article.

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Drawing the facts

Central Saint Martins graduates have produced a series of illustrations highlighting facts about human decision-making to promote economist Noreena Hertz’s new book, Eyes Wide Open: How to Make Decisions in a Confusing World.

Hertz’s book, published by HarperCollins, is described as a guide to making informed choices when bombarded with data. Using findings from scientific studies, Hertz warns against becoming over-reliant on expert opinions, massaged figures and marketing speak – in a study of 82,000 predictions by 284 experts over a sixteen-year period, she says, experts got no more right than a monkey randomly sticking a pin on a board.

It also offers practical advice on how to make “smarter” decisions, encouraging readers to eat before making tough financial choices and meditate to improve their rational thought.

Images: Top, Clio Isadora. Above, Nicholas Carter

The finished collection will be used in press coverage of the book, on the Eyes Wide Open website and on social media. The project was led by Tanya Brennand-Roper, a content producer at HarperCollins and a lecturer and former student at Saint Martins.

Above: Jack Averill

“As Hertz’s book is full of facts and statistics – something that might be considered quite dry, visually speaking – we wanted to create a visual language for online communications,” she explains. “We hope they get the message across and offer something different to a traditional pie chart or graph. It’s a little lighter, and more engaging for a younger audience who can like or share the images with their friends,” she adds.

 

Above: Josh Philip Saunders

It’s one of a series of projects HarperCollins has worked on with Saint Martins – students recently designed a cover for the late novelist William Wharton’s book, Birdy – and Brennand-Roper says the recent graduates offered a fresh take on design.

Above: Aya Arden-Clarke

“Sometimes, working with more experienced designers can produce a more corporate finish. People fresh out of art school have a different way of looking at things, as they’re still experimenting and developing their visual style and everything they’ve learned is fresh in their mind. And for the students and graduates, it’s a chance to gain experience of working with different clients on live, high-profile briefs,” she says.


Above: Josh Phillip Saunders

It’s a witty set of designs from a promising group of illustrators, and an interesting alternative to traditional data visualisation. “It kind of adds an extra layer to the book and the way we as book publishers as choosing to market our content,” says Brennand-Roper.

Eyes Wide Open: How to Make Decisions in a Confusing World is published by HarperCollins (£14.99, ebook £7.49). To listen to an interview with Hertz about the book, click here.

Maggie merch

The Tory faithful attending this week’s Conservative Party conference will be able to purchase a range of Margaret Thatcher merchandise designed by Spring

 

 

Available at maggieshop.com as well as at the event, the Maggie Collection includes an ‘Our Maggie’ tote bag featuring the late Baroness’s trademark Launer handbag as well as key rings, fridge magnets and T-shirts.

 

According to Erika Clegg, co-founder of Spring, “Our goal was to honour this important brief and Margaret Thatcher’s future position in the public psyche by stripping away some of the charactures that surround her….We wanted to create a range by which we felt Margaret Thatcher would be amused and gently flattered. She was never stuffy, and so this witty appreciation of her approach to life feels right for her.”

Strangely, this is the second time the late Baroness Thatcher has come to our attention here at CR in the last few days: Roger Law was accompanied on stage at the AGI Open conference last Thursday by the life-size Thatcher puppet he created for Spitting Image. According to Law, three versions of Thatcher’s head were made for the show: angry, happy and condescending.

Of course all political parties now sell merchandise – anyone watching coverage of the Lib Dems conference earlier this month may have spotted the Lib Dem Image stall in the background of some shots. Here could be purchased such delights as a set of badges featuring ‘wacky’ MP Bob Russell modelling his special conference waistcoats

 

While UKIP offers this lovely T-shirt (good for wearing while cleaning behind the fridge, ladies)

 

Labour merch has had its fair share of naffness too but CR readers may be interested in a few items currently on offer via its website – reproductions of vintage campaigning and election posters such as these from 1945

 

From 1924

 

And this from 1966

 

 

 

Use Your Engineering Skills to Make Unique and Compelling Products with Sundberg-Ferar

Work for Sundberg-Ferar!

wants a Mechanical/Electrical Engineer
in Detroit, Michigan

Sundberg-Ferar is a very well established product development firm with diverse and well-known clientele. They are dedicated to identifying how to make a product uniquely and compellingly differentiated in the marketplace.

With the help of your Mechanical/Electrical Engineering skills, they’ll continue to produce products that defy the “porridge”… products that are warm, mushy and bland. If you share their passion for cool and their distaste for me-too, and you are extremely talented, Apply Now

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Oke collection by Nendo

Product news: Japanese studio Nendo has made this range of drinking vessels and wine bottle holders in the same way as pails and barrels (+ slideshow).

Oke collection by Nendo

Nendo worked with traditional Japanese barrel maker Nakagawa Mokkougei, using wooden bucket-making techniques to create smaller versions for the Oke collection.

Oke collection by Nendo

The range includes a tumbler, drinking cup, shot glass, sake cup and sake pitcher.

Oke collection by Nendo

Nendo altered the silhouette of the buckets, which normally have straight edges. “We added a slight curve at the base to create a soft feel both visually and in the hand,” the studio said.

Oke collection by Nendo

The lighter-coloured pieces are crafted from Japanese cypress and darker items are made out of Jindai cedar, a rare wood removed from the ground after being buried for 2000 years.

Oke collection by Nendo

Both woods are treated with urethane to prevent warping caused by sunlight, dirt and moisture.

Oke collection by Nendo

One metal hoop rather than the usual two is used to bind the wooden slats. The hoop is sandblasted for a matte finish.

Oke collection by Nendo

The slats forming the larger Uneven-Oke Bucket are different heights so a bottle neck can rest against them. It has two hoops instead of one so it looks distinctly barrel-like.

Oke collection by Nendo

All designs will be available from Seibu department stores in Japan from 22 October.

Nendo has also designed a collection of office furniture that is screwed together with a coin rather than tools and a chair inspired by the spike heels on a pair of stilettos. See more design by Nendo »

Photos are by Akihiro Yoshida.

Here are some more details from Nendo:


Oke Cup, Oke Carafe, Uneven-Oke Bucket

Nakagawa Mokkougei is a traditional Japanese cooper whose pails, buckets and other wooden items have long been beloved of exclusive Kyoto inns and restaurants. We designed a collection of drinking items – a tumbler, guinomi drinking cup, shot glass, sake cup and sake pitcher – that utilise the same barrel-making skills and techniques. Somewhat unconventionally, we decided to bind the wooden slats with one hoop, rather than the usual two. We made the walls thicker than usual and created nearly imperceptible spaces between the slats, a new construction that disperses the stress around the structure.

Oke collection by Nendo

Using only one hoop makes for a clean look, and the thicker wood has a strong, comforting feel against the lips when lifted to the mouth. We also played with the cups’ silhouette. The walls of Japanese wooden buckets ordinarily lie straight. We added a slight curve at the base to create a soft feel both visually and in the hand.

Oke collection by Nendo

To soften the hoop’s metallic gleam, we sandblasted it to a matte texture then coloured it with a powdered paint, developing another new technique. The pieces are made from a combination of Japanese cypress (hinoki), the traditional material for buckets, and Jindai Cedar, a rare, darker wood uncovered from having been buried in the earth for more than 2000 years.

Oke collection by Nendo

We treated both woods with urethane to keep warping from ultraviolet rays, dirt and moisture to a minimum. A collection that combines old and new techniques to bring out the best in its materials. All the items will be sold at Seibu department stores in Japan exclusively from 22 October.

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by Nendo
appeared first on Dezeen.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski

Minnesota architect Josh Lewandowski has started a blog where he’ll post one meaningless architectural diagram every day for a year (+ slideshow).

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Up and Over Aaltoesque

Since 7 September, Lewandowski has been publishing a single drawing to his Pointless Diagrams blog every day, and intends to continue for a whole year.

“I started the blog because for as long as I can remember I’ve always drawn and doodled 3D sketches that have an unapologetic dearth of meaning,” Lewandowski told Dezeen. “I’m doing it because of my sincere belief that setting aside time to doodle useless stuff is extremely useful.”

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Imaginary Religion

The drawings depict imaginary structures and architectural scenarios, and some of the diagrams also feature directional arrows. “I like that people I’ve shown them to see different things based on their own experiences,” he said.

“I draw my inspiration from architecture, furniture, engineering, geometry, cereal boxes, Lego instructions and Etch A Sketch memories,” explained the designer. “I always use pen and ink because an early art teacher told me erasing is for wimps.”

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Walk Carefully

The original drawings are made in pen and ink on buff acid-free paper and are available for purchase from Lewandowski.

Lewandowski studied Art and Architecture at the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Architecture at Yale University. He is the founder of furniture design firm Nordeast Industries.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Monument to the Pink Flags

Other illustrations featured on Dezeen include Toby Melville-Brown’s drawings of impossible architectural structures and Tom Ngo’s Architectural Absurdities series featuring a building made of stairs and an impossible lighthouse.

See more architectural illustration »

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Parallax in Teal and Pink

Images are courtesy of the designer.

Here’s a full description from Lewandowski:


Pointless Diagrams

I started the blog because for as long as I can remember I’ve always drawn and doodled 3d sketches that have an unapologetic dearth of meaning.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Deco Aqua Lake

Whether it was in a 6th grade English class, during a Peter Eisenman lecture in grad school, or when I should have been CADing while employed at Robert A M Stern Architects; I was drawing.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
I Can’t Stop

The sketches are usually meaningless and aesthetically could be described as equal parts Draw Squad and James Stirling.

I draw my inspiration from architecture, furniture, engineering, geometry, cereal boxes, lego instructions, and Etch A Sketch memories. I always use pen and ink because an early art teacher told me erasing is for wimps.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
A.13

This blog chronicles my attempt at a year-long endeavor to draw one diagram a day, because of my sincere belief that setting aside time to doodle useless pictures is extremely useful.

Pointless Diagrams by Josh Lewandowski
Climb, then Leap

They appear meaningful without actually being helpful. Some might seem to reference real things or show some sort of relationship between things, but that is merely coincidental. Enjoy.

The post Pointless Diagrams by
Josh Lewandowski
appeared first on Dezeen.

Unbalanced Hotel

Nouveau symbole de Lima, la capitale du Pérou, ce projet « Unbalanced Hotel » proposera près de 125 chambres perchées sur le flanc d’une falaise. Un projet impressionnant proposé par les architectes madrilènes de OOIIO qui est à découvrir en détails et en images dans la suite de l’article.

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London Design Festival 2013: iMakr

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Reporting by Kristin Coleman

Given 3D printing’s meteoric rise over the past year, it’s no surprise that crowds were swarming around the iMakr booth at 100% Design. Inside the skeletal frame of a 100 square meter “house,” the UK-based online retailer (and owner of the world’s largest 3D printing store) brought its “Factory at Home” concept to the show floor, displaying various 3D printing models and 3D printed objects ranging from lighting, furniture and architectural models to cutlery, jewelry and sculptures.

iMakr staff gave live demonstrations using some of the industry’s best desktop 3D printers from companies like MakerBot, Ultimaker and FlashForge.

100% Design was also the occasion for iMakr to launch its new Print on Demand service called My Mini Factory, allowing designers to upload their own models or download free 3D printable files from the company’s in-house team of designers.

Combining the latest in 360-degree scanning and 3D printing technologies (along with a healthy dose of narcissism), iMakr gave people the chance to walk away with a full body, full color replica of themselves—a service the company plans to offer in London’s department store, Selfridges, this winter.

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House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara and Assistant Studio

Three separate sections built in different cities make up this steel-framed house in Nara, Japan, by Tokyo architects Megumi Matsubara and Hiroi Ariyama (+ slideshow).

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Megumi Matsubara worked alongside Hiroi Ariyama of Assistant Studio to design House of 33 Years, which is made from a mixture of exposed raw materials including steel, timber, concrete, steel cables, clear corrugated plastic and glass panels.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Located next door to an ancient Buddhist temple, the house was designed for an elderly couple who decided to move house after 33 years living in their original home together.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Each part of the house was simultaneously built in three separate locations – the cities of Nara, Sendai, and Aomori – before being transported to the site and put together as one unit, which the architects felt would create an architecture that “moves”.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

The roof shell was built in Nara, while the main rooms were built in Aomori from local timber. Meanwhile, a section of the first-floor was built at the Sendai School of Design and housed a farm in the school’s courtyard, before being transferred to Nara.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Architect Megumi Matsubara said the house’s location has a special meaning for the couple. “The husband is originally from Nara and had an attachment and melancholic nostalgia with the temple, having spent a considerable amount of his childhood there,” Matsubara said.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

A layered arrangement of glass panes and wooden structures through the interior create different visual perspectives depending on where you stand inside the building.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

“By framing views across different areas, images are continuously produced by the inhabitants’ movement,” Matsubara said. “Every image is given its own space of possibility, then overlaps as multiple additions to the home to update the family’s memories.”

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Accessed by steel staircases and a wooden ladder elevated at different heights, the first-floor bathroom is cantilevered and offers residents a view of the temple’s bamboo forest while bathing.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

This floor is the brightest part of the house, while the smaller, darker room on the ground-floor level is used as a bedroom. The combined living, dining and kitchen space is positioned at the back.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Another project we’ve featured by Megumi Matsubara is an installation in Tokyo featuring 10 conceptual machines all beginning with the letter ‘B’.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Other recently completed houses in Japan include a narrow timber house in Tokyo and a residence with angular cutaways create through the walls, floors and ceilings. See more houses in Japan »

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

Photography is Tadasu Yamamoto, Shinkenchiku-sha.

Here’s a project description from the architects:


House of 33 Years

Megumi Matsubara & Hiroi Ariyama of the architecture firm Assistant are pleased to announce the completion of House of 33 Years after five years since the project’s inception. The House of 33 Years is a residence located next to the world heritage Todaiji Temple in Nara, Japan. The house was designed for an elderly couple who decided to move to a new house thirty three years after living in their first house.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

The House of 33 Years is a house for a collector who collects memories, whose memory and future exist simultaneously in the same space. By framing views across different areas, images are continuously produced by the inhabitants’ movement. Every image is given its own space of possibility, then overlaps as multiple additions to the home to update the family’s memories.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara

In 2012, during the construction process, the fabrication of the house was partly supported by Aomori Contemporary Art Centre and Sendai School of Design. Its design/fabrication process has been an academic research subject of Adaptable Futures, Loughborough University, UK. The house has been awarded SD Review prize in 2010.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Axonometric diagram – click for larger image

The house consists of multiple pavilions and rooms in wood structure that stand under the big steel-frame house. The relationship between the individual elements defines the character of the house as a whole. Its construction process has been pursued in three separate locations simultaneously; Nara, Sendai, and Aomori. In Nara, the exterior steel roof to cover the whole residence has been constructed on-site.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Section A

Then, having accepted offers by two public institutions, Sendai School of Design and Aomori Contemporary Art Centre, to participate in their artist-in-residence programs, the duo decided to build an unknown experience by linking the two institutions through a single residential housing project, to eventually constitute the house in Nara.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Section B

They broke House of 33 Years, which had been designed as a single house, into parts suitable for making in the two programs, so that the architecture would “move,” so to speak. Each work was also realised as an individual installation piece on which additional features were elaborated, responding to demands from the institution, characteristics of the space, and the chosen method of exhibiting.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Section C

In Sendai, Ghost House, a pavilion to sit on the roof, was built with the students of Sendai School of Design. The pavilion is an homage to Ghost House, one of the pavilions scattered on the large premises of the famous house of Philip Johnson and was given the same name. Over the summer it was sitting in the courtyard of a university campus and the students had grown a farm inside.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Section D

In Aomori, the main rooms in wood-structure was built and developed together with local carpenters, using materials available in Aomori, as an installation piece Obscure Architecture (House of 33 Years, Study), then to become a part of ‘Kime to Kehai’ exhibition at Aomori Contemporary Art Centre. This work always had a fresh look depending on the movement of the sunlight. Physically, this architectural work remained present in the same position, whereas the natural phenomena created by it kept flowing without stopping. After the exhibition period in each city, those elements were disassembled and loaded on a 4-ton truck, and carried to the destination, Nara, where they were recomposed to form the House of 33 Years.

House of 33 Years by Megumi Matsubara
Section D

Project name: House of 33 Years
Location: Nara, Japan
Architects: Megumi Matsubara and Hiroi Ariyama (Assistant Studio)
Client: private
Purpose: private residence
Structural engineer: Mitsuda Structural Consultants
Site area: 189 square metres
Building area: 76 square metres
Total floor area: 104 square metres
Structure: steel frame, wooden
Number of storeys: 2 storeys
Construction period: March 2011 – June 2013

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Matsubara and Assistant Studio
appeared first on Dezeen.