Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

Milan 2013: Fabio Novembre presented these giant skull-shaped chairs for Italian brand Gufram at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile last week.

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

Jolly Roger by Fabio Novembre for Gufram comes in black and white and is made from rotationally moulded polyethylene.

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

“When people ask me why I wear a skull on my finger, I always answer that it belonged to my grand-father, who was a pirate, and I think I came to believe it myself,” says Novembre. “Everybody should have at least one pirate grand-father in their family tree: it would represent a strong branch to cling to.”

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

This isn’t the first time Novembre has sculpted giant body parts to form furniture: two years ago in Milan he presented huge faces for sitting in and prior to that he launched a pair of chairs that look like kneeling naked figures.

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

Fabio Novembre gave us a tour of his home city to kick off the Milan leg of our Dezeen and MINI World Tour. Watch the movie »

See all our stories about Fabio Novembre »
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Here’s some more information about Jolly Roger:


The product is a demand for freedom; a synonym of intellectual independence that follows a brave path, by keeping away from the standardized typological doldrums of the interior design project, and marks a new planning horizon.

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

And here is the homage; the scornful tribute to these unwritten codes of audacity and derring- do: Jolly Roger. A chair that formally hints to the skull – the symbol of swagger painted on the red standard of French and then English corsairs and freebooters, terror of the seven seas.

Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre for Gufram

And it is the globe itself to remain suspended in the internal frame – a map surrounded by the oceans; the desire for insatiable conquest; almost an exhortation not to keep still; a warning: never forget you are sitting on the world.

The post Jolly Roger chairs by Fabio Novembre
for Gufram
appeared first on Dezeen.

Bookshelf’

We usually tilt the last book on the shelf in order to prevent the books from falling. Likewise, a wide variety of bookends are on the market for the ..

Sparkle by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell

Milan 2013: Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka presented plastic furniture that resembles cut-crystal glasses for Italian brand Kartell at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile last week.

Sparkle by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell

The Sparkle stool and side table by Tokujin Yoshioka have ridges that gently curve around the sides and fan out across the tops, giving the furniture a twisted appearance.

“Sparkle shines by refraction of light from the prism effect like a crystal glass,” says Yoshioka.

Sparkle by Tokujin Yoshioka for Kartell

Kartell is famous for plastic products and also launched a sofa by Philippe Starck that’s the largest single-piece injection moulding in the world on its stand at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile. See all our stories about plastic furniture by Kartell.

Yoshioka meanwhile is known for transparent objects and has previously created a see-through armchair and set of almost invisible tables for Kartell, plus an installation with hundreds of transparent plastic sticks. See all our stories about design by Tokujin Yoshioka.

See all our stories about design at Milan 2013 »

The post Sparkle by Tokujin Yoshioka
for Kartell
appeared first on Dezeen.

Live M1

Live M1 is a bench in which design and innovation go together. It interacts with the physical space that surrounds it thanks to its led system. Thus t..

Interview: Nendo’s Oki Sato: We speak with the ambitious designer and architect on color, scale and time

Interview: Nendo's Oki Sato


Arguably one of the most influential—and certainly one of the most prolific—contemporary design studios, Nendo is everywhere. From furniture collaborations to large scale architectural installations, the Japanese studio, led by celebrated designer and architect …

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Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid for Cassina Contract

Milan 2013: Zaha Hadid launched a sofa based on natural rock formations at an exhibition of her new furniture designs in a former foundry last week.

Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid Architects for Cassina Contract

The shape of the Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid for Italian firm Cassina Contract is derived from erosion patterns, resulting in fluid banks of seating with deep platforms and backrests to encourage sprawling. The pieces have no front or back and can be joined together to create larger configurations.

Hadid explained the origins of her flexible furniture designs in a talk on the opening night: “When I was doing plans years ago, people always said ‘what kind of furniture will you put against this kind of curved wall?’ So it emerged from that – this idea of making islands or spaces in a modulated form, a sequence or a fluid movement within a space.”

Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid Architects for Cassina Contract

“These pieces are very communicative, they are never meant to be pushed up against a wall,” added partner Patrik Schumacher. “You can put them in any direction, you can seat more people and it’s slightly ambiguous how you can congregate.”

The outside surfaces are finished in glossy lacquer and topped with foam upholstered in tactile fabrics.

Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid Architects for Cassina Contract

The piece was shown at Multiplicities, an exhibition of furniture designs by Zaha Hadid in the north of Milan last week, which also featured the Array auditorium seats by Zaha Hadid for Poltrona Frau Contract.

Elsewhere in Milan, Hadid also presented a limited edition of tables for marble brand Citco at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, two lamps for Slamp at the Euroluce lighting show and a bench based on glacial crevices in the Tortona district.

Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid Architects for Cassina Contract

Photographs are by Jacopo Spilimbergo.

See all our stories about architecture and design by Zaha Hadid »
See all our stories about design at Milan 2013 »

Here’s some more information from Zaha Hadid Architects:


The sinuous shape of the Zephyr sofa has been inspired by natural rock formations shaped by erosion: the application of subtractive processes that carve solid matter. The resulting formal language gives the Zephyr sofa increased ergonomic properties without compromising the design’s fluidity or proportion; translating into a concept that allows for multiple seating layouts.

The carved profile incorporates deep backrests and generous undercuts for unrivalled comfort. A lacquered finish applied to Zephyr’s structural elements highlights every subtle nuance of its composition, and is contrasted by the tactile qualities of its bespoke upholstery and cushioning.

Zephyr showcases Cassina Contract’s unrivalled technical experience and longstanding tradition of artisan excellence.

Architect: Zaha Hadid Design
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Design team: Fulvio Wirz, Mariagrazia Lanza, Maha Kutay
Manufacturer: Cassina Contract
Dimensions: 265x284x73cm

The post Zephyr Sofa by Zaha Hadid
for Cassina Contract
appeared first on Dezeen.

Industrial Elegance

The WELDED Table, a Red Dot Design Award Best of the Best recipient, leaves little to be desired in both substance and aesthetic. The design is based around the use of a minimal amount of material and simplified construction process. The tridimensional shape of the legs is achieved with a near-invisble weld that gives it a sleek, refined look while providing structural strength. Loving it in neon!

Designer: Alain Gilles for Bonaldo


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(Industrial Elegance was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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Normann Copenhagen by Simon Legald: A minimal update on a classic credenza and shoe rack from the young Danish designer

Normann Copenhagen by Simon Legald


Always a go-to for smart, accessible Danish design, Normann Copenhagen holds a spot on our must-see list each spring during Salone del Mobile, and their showing last week in Milan only further inflated our confidence…

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Curytiba Chair

The design of chairs not upholstered and comfortable at the same time is always a challenge. Especially when one of the requirements of this project i..

Croix

Recently presented at Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2013, the CROIX armchair has been our latest treasure. Designed by the designer Cláudia Melo fo..