Hasta La Ideas

Designer Paolo Ulian’s humble use of marble in a series of sculptural furniture

Italy’s Le Fablier, known for its impeccably-crafted classic wood furniture, in recent years has worked with a host of innovative designers to show how traditional style can translate in the future. In 2010 they collaborated with Gaetano Pesce on a series of architectural sculptures and now they’ve tapped Paolo Ulian to demonstrate his talents using marble.

A natural fit for the project, Ulian was born in the Tuscan town of Carrara, the capital of sculptural white marble. Deciding to use medium quality marble, he explains, “I think it’s even better than what’s considered to be the first choice: it’s more robust and humble, perfect for my projects.”

Ulian’s limited collection consists of bookshelves and tables, all of which were designed and produced in order to minimize or totally eliminate waste. “Marble is a sacred material, it will not last forever, so I have a deep respect for this material,” he told us. Sustainability and irony are present in the entire line, but a real standout, the “Numerica” bookcase, subtly reproduces Roman numerals in standard marble tiles.

Milan 2011: German designer Stefan Diez presents this new upholstered version of his Houdini chair plus new pieces in the range for German brand e15 in Milan this week.

The range now includes an armchair called Leo and footstool called Dash.

The chairs will are shown with colours and fabrics selected in collaboration with fashion designer Farah Ebrahimi.

The pieces remain on show at Tortona Design Week until 17 April. See all our stories about Milan 2011 »

See all our stories about Stephan Diez »

The following is from e15:

E15 DEBUTS NEW RELEASES BY DESIGNER STEFAN DIEZ AND PRESENTS INSPIRING NEW SHADES AND FABRICS FOR ITS COLLECTION

With a gallery style presentation e15 debuts its collection of new releases in April at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2011 in addition to the exhibition in its showroom on Via Tortona in Milan. For the new releases presentation in Milan e15 extends the successful collaboration with designer Stefan Diez, introducing the compact and versatile lounge chair EC04 LEO, a new upholstered and contract version of the chair CH04 HOUDINI with armrest and the complementing stool ST11 DASH to accommodate the EC03 EUGENE lounge chair.

THE LOUNGE CHAIR EC04 LEO

At Salone del Mobile 2011, e15 introduces EC04 LEO, a compact and versatile lounge chair showcased in Milan in fresh shades of nude, khaki, honey yellow and in the new European walnut veneer. Taking up the aesthetics and produc- tion technique of the side chair, EC04 LEO is a natural continuation of the CH04 HOUDINI seating family, reflecting its abstract organic form and the modern use in material. With a wide and comfortable seat shell that exudes lightness and leisure and with its small dimensions, EC04 LEO, also made from flexible lacquered oak or European walnut veneer is the perfect side and complementing small lounge chair. EC04 LEO is ideally suited for most living and public spaces, working as a complementing seating item for the sofa SF05 BESS or SF03 SHIRAZ, or as an individual piece on its own.

NEW UPHOLSTERED AND CONTRACT VERSION CH04 HOUDINI

With particular focus on the contract market, e15 introduces an upholstered version of the chair CH04 HOUDINI with a distinctive upholstered armrest, offering five fixed upholstered contract versions whilst providing for optimised costs and larger commissions. A wide range of fabrics and leather will also be available for more individual choices in the upholste- red version of the CH04 HOUDINI. The upholstery of the seat, inside back along with the armrest, offers ample com- fort and padding for CH04 HOUDINI whilst not covering the chair’s form and aesthetics. The upholstering and armrest padding respond to the special requirements of the contract market whilst also adding an artistic dimension to the chair. E15 offers its CH04 HOUDINI CONTRACT with armrest in upholstered combinations of contract proof Trevira CS, wool, cotton and soft, durable leather.

THE STOOL ST11 DASH

Complementing the comfortable and iconic EC03 EUGENE lounge chair, e15 introduces the stool ST11 DASH in Milan, also made from flexible oak- or European walnut-veneered and lacquered plywood. The rectangular stool, reflecting key details and proportions of EC03 EUGENE, takes up the seat height of the lounge chair as well as the rounded finishes of the seat in its front sides, offering perfect leg comfort. The optional seat cushion CU11 DASH S offers additional padding for the stool.

COLOURS AND FABRICS BY FARAH EBRAHIMI

In collaboration with designer Farah Ebrahimi, e15 introduces at Salone del Mobile 2011 a range of fresh shades and fabric combinations for the entire Stefan Diez seating series along with offering new fabrics and leather for upholstered products suitable for public and private spaces. Each shade of material and fabric was carefully selected with a variety of needs and moods in mind.

With the intention to create a subtle and elegant atmosphere while avoiding the generic, Farah Ebrahimi developed a new selection of colours and material surfaces for the e15 collection. Creating an unpredictable contrast to the existing shades of neon red and bright blue, a subtle and daring shade of nude, a utilitarian shade of khaki, a brassy shade of honey yellow, a dark shade of Umbra grey and luxurious European walnut interact and balance with the existing colour range of natural oak, white, black and grey in an inspiring and original way. Fabrics in various textures and patterns along with soft leathers in shades of cognac, olive and espresso compliment the range, creating a unique and enduring impres- sion with a variety of moods – from classic to modern – for the entire e15 collection.

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Chassis by Stefan Diez	Eugene lounge chair by Stefan Diez	Houdini Chair by Stefan Diez

Milan 2011: Slovenian lighting brand Vertigo Bird present new lamps by designers including Mathias Hahn, Uli Budde and A + A Cooren as part of Tortona Design Week in Milan.

Hahn’s design, called Jinn, is based on the form of an oil or gas lamp, while Uli Budde’s Balloon design reflects light off a plate ballooning out of it’s cylindrical base.

A + A Cooren’s Hippo lamp can be angled by changing the position of the shade on its magnetic base.

Called Cabinet Bestiarium, the show presents the new collection in wooden cages with cut-out flora and fauna designed by Ljubljana studios Bevk Perovic Arhitekti and graphic designers Luks Lab.

The installation is on show at Opificio courtyard in Via Tortona 31 until 17 April.

See all our stories about Milan 2011 »

The information below is from Vertigo Bird and Bevk Perovic Arhitekti:

Vertigo Bird, a young Slovene lighting brand, is proud to present its new collection of lights during Milano Furniture Fair, at Opificio courtyard in Via Tortona 31, under a project title Cabinet Bestiarium. Cabinet Bestiarium project has been conceived by Bevk Perovic arhitekti in association with graphic designers Luks Lab, both from Ljubljana.

The new Vertigo collection, including some items from previous seasons, is ‘imprisoned’ in 4 birdcage-like objects, taking over the small space in Via Tortona 31 Opificio courtyard.

Directly inspired by the natural museum’s dioramas, each wooden ‘birdcage’ cabinet presents a series of lighting fixtures in a jungle-like setting, the natural environment of the Vertigo Bird’s Bird/Beast Chimeras, designed especially for the occasion by Luks Lab.

New lights presented during this years’ Fair include proposals by international group of designers – Mathias Hahn (Jinn table lamps), A+A Cooren (Hippo – a collection of floor, table, wall and suspension lamps), Ulli Budde (Baloon table and wall lamps) and Bevk Perovic arhitekti (Bikini ceiling lamps), as well as brand new items from Vertigo’s Naked Collection, a collection of ‘anonimous’ lighting fixtures devised by Smoke Detektors. Some of the ‘oldies’ from previous collections will also be shown, complementing the Cabinet Bestiarium setting.

JINN

Jinn is a floor and table lamp, based on the idea to create a reinterpretation of a classic decorative lamp comprising a base and lamp shade. In opposition to the traditional build of a central structure holding the shade and light source in place, Jinn is deconstructing this typology by removing the stem. The metal shade is supported by a glass piece that is mounted on top of the base. The light source itself is located in the base so that the light is reflected from the lamp shade and emits through the glass. Being reminiscent of oil or gas lamps the control for dimming and switching is positioned on the base of the lamp. Using the wheel on the side, the intensity of light can be adjusted in a very intuitive manner.

Design: Mathias Hahn
Material: glass, metal
Colours: white, warm grey

BALLOON

Balloon owes elements of its form to the typical antique oil lamps and candle holders with a reflector placed behind the flame to reflect and direct the light. Besides, the natural occurrence of what we often consider the moon to be a light source (next to e.g. fire and the sun) although it is just a reflected light from the sun, gave further stimulus to work with idea of the indirect light. LED light source is situated inside lamp´s cylindrical base. Light shines upwards and enlightens the reflector, which tilts forwards, re-directing and reflecting a diffused glimmer of light. It is available in table and wall version.

Through its simplicity and figurative character, the lamp leaves room for associations and fantasy – is it a balloon soaring into the air, a small glowing sun or an oversized light bulb?

Design: Uli Budde
Material: metal
Colours: white, yellow

HIPPO

As joyful as a hippo’s head and as playful as a magnet, Hippo is never exactly in the same position as everything in nature. Hippo is a series of lamps attached on a magnetic spindle. The rounded glass volume with the reflective metal calyx stays stable by the pull of magnetism.

Hippo is unique, friendly, poetic and full of personality with endless possibilities of arrangements in the interior space. Easy to be set and changed by the user, it possesses a sculptural and modern presence with its soft and cozy diffused light.

Available in ceiling, suspension, wall, table and floor versions, with an economic fluorescent bulb.

Design: A + A Cooren
Material: glass, metal
Colours of rosette: white, copper

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Funnel by Bevk Perovic for Vertigo Bird	Slim by Bevk Perovic for Vertigo Bird	Force Lamp by Nika Zupanc for Vertigo Bird

Donald is a stackable chair inspired by old school metal designs. Created from two entangled steel tubes, the chair features a plywood seat.

Milan 2011: London studio Doshi Levien will present this chair with a tubular base and cantilevered arms for Italian design brand Cappellini at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan this week.

Called Capo (leader), the chair has thin, flexible arms and a tall back to envelope the user.

Inspired by a gentleman in a suit and felt hat, the design is on show in combinations of leather, faux leather and felt.

See all our stories about Doshi Levien »

See all our stories about Cappellini »

See all our stories about Milan 2011 »

The following is from the designer:

CAPO Armchair & Ottoman

The first collaboration between Doshi Levien and Cappellini gave rise to Capo, an armchair with a slender yet enveloping form.

Its shape and materiality came from the image of a dapper gentleman in a well-cut suit and a felted hat.

As the name suggests, Capo with its wide cantilevered arms and upturned lapel, transforms the sitter into a boss.

The thin flexible edges of the chair provide shelter without being closed and also emphasise its lightness.

Capo is available in several variations that make it suitable for various settings.

Leather, faux leather, felt and Alcantara can be used to upholster the entire armchair or be used in different combinations for the front and back.

Armchair – cm 119 x 72 x 36/89 h.

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Impossible Wood by Doshi Levien	My Beautiful Backside by Doshi Levien	Rocker by Doshi Levien