Hasta La Ideas

Product news: Danish design studio KiBiSi used a compound of stone and resin to produce these candle holders for Danish design brand Menu (+ slideshow).

KiBiSi’s Weight Here candle holders for Menu are made from Polystone, a mixture of plastic resin and powdered stone often used in kitchen countertops.

Cast iron rings separate the candles from the Polystone bases

The collection comprises a thin candle holder and candelabra plus a chunky candle holder and candelabra.

The objects are intended to reference the shapes of traditional chamber candlesticks and candelabras, according to KiBiSi.

Other candle holders we’ve featured on Dezeen include one that looks like a half-finished sketch and another set with handy inner compartments – see all candle holders on Dezeen.

We’ve published lots of products by KiBiSi, including magnetic bike lights that turn on when snapped together and a desk that can be raised and lowered by cranking a handle – see all design by KiBiSi.

See all candle holders »
See all homeware »

Here’s some more information from KiBiSi:

Weight Here is a family of candle holders featuring distinct historic references to the iconic typology of chamber candlesticks and candelabras. The designs revisit the standard candlestick appearance and dimensions, and are natural extensions of these made to fit today’s candles.

Weight Here comes in four versions: S and M for ordinary candles and L and XL for block candles. The cast iron parts acknowledge historic artisanal techniques and the Polystone references KiBiSi’s link to modern architecture. These materials provide the candlesticks with a grounded feel and a solid no-nonsense appearance.

The post Weight Here by KiBiSi
for Menu appeared first on Dezeen.

Cologne 2013: squishy stools shaped like animals and a family of multi-storey glass jars are among the objects designed for an exhibition during last week’s interior design event Passagen in Cologne (+ slideshow).

Above: Pets stool by Hanna Emelie Ernsting

Objects for the Neighbour took place at Passagen, which runs alongside trade fair imm cologne, and featured eight designers’ work inspired by the concept of neighbourhood.

Above: Pets stool by Hanna Emelie Ernsting

Among the objects shown were the Pets stools by Frankfurt-based designer Hanna Emelie Ernsting, a collection of stools with loose fabric seats that fold into animal shapes. In 2011, Ernsting won the [D3] Contest in Cologne for a couch that’s perfect for stroppy people.

Above: Sample Avenue by Karoline Fesser

Cologne-based designer Karoline Fesser contributed Sample Avenue, a family of glass vessels with stacking floors that line up like houses. Last year in Cologne, Fesser launched a modular seating collection made up of giant cushions.

Above: Sample Avenue by Karoline Fesser

Inspired by a foreign neighbour who moved to the watchmaking town of Biel to be with his partner, Swiss designer Florian Hauswirth designed a pair of clocks for two time zones. We’ve featured lots of designs by Hauswirth, including an experimental game of chess.

Above: (T)here by Florian Hauswirth

Also included was a pair of room dividers by Cologne-based designer Thomas Schnur, whose previous work includes a wooden bench that sits on logs instead of legs.

Above: Barrier by Thomas Schnur

Wiesbaden-based designer Sarah Böttger came up with a collection of household objects including a broom, dustpan and door stopper.

Above: Common Things by Sarah Böttger

Frankfurt-based designer Kai Linke contributed stoneware vessels that also serve as side tables, inspired by the canning jars used in his home town to preserve food. We previously featured vases and side tables that Linke made by sand-blasting timber and casting the resulting shapes in ceramic.

Above: Buurman by Kai Linke

Belgian designer Julien Renault’s trio of chairs was inspired by his elderly neighbour’s habit of reading the newspaper on a park bench. Renault previously won the [D3] Contest in Cologne with a collection of hand-forged aluminium furniture.

Above: Park Chair by Julien Renault

Finally, German designer Hanna Krüger came up with a lighting collection inspired by ballet costumes, where each light represents an individual character with its own silhouette.

Above: Figurines by Hanna Krüger

We published lots of products from imm cologne this year, including the interlocking wooden shelving that won the [D3] Contest – see all designs from Cologne 2013.

Above: Figurines by Hanna Krüger

Here’s some information from the organisers:

From 14th through 20th January 2013, the exhibition Objects for the Neighbour envisions what initially is out of reach. The focus is on the neighbour: eight designers create objects on the subject of neighbourhood, which they will display throughout the Passagen in Cologne.

The designers Sarah Böttger (D), Hanna Ernsting (D), Karoline Fesser (D), Florian Hauswirth (CH), Hanna Krüger (D), Kai Linke (D), Julien Renault (B) und Thomas Schnur (D) have already displayed their work at national and international fairs. They are united by friendship and their interest in serially produced products. With Objects for the Neighbour they engage in a joined topic, which is generally accessible. However, individually it can be very different in detail and complexity.

The neighbour – is it an actual person or rather a vague guess? Perhaps he is a mirage, wishful thinking or memory. Where is the start of a neighbourhood to begin with? At the own front door, the boundary of the city, the region, the country, the continent or the planet? Or does neighbourhood start within the family, friendship or a relationship?

Thus the subject neighbourhood therefore appears vague and fuzzy. Only through approaches and decisions it obtains an identity, which in turn can be divined based on the actual product.

The post Objects for the Neighbour
at Passagen appeared first on Dezeen.

Maison&Objet 2013: these ice-cream coloured poufs and rugs by Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola for Spanish textile brand Gan were launched at Maison&Objet design fair in Paris this week.

Patricia Urquiola’s Lana Mangas collection for Gan, a division of the Gandia Blasco design brand, comprises modular components that can be arranged in a variety of configurations.

The range includes cross-shaped rugs that form an interlocking floor covering.

A seating module with a small backrest can be combined with square and rectangular poufs to form flexible seating arrangements.

The designer selected a palette of yellow, coral, pink, grey and ivory for the collection.

We’ve featured lots of projects by Urquiola, including a sofa with a quilted leaf pattern and another inspired by traditional patterns from Uzbekistan – see all designs by Patricia Urquiola.

Other products launched at Maison&Objet design fair this year include a family of terracotta pots by Benjamin Hubert and a collection of furniture and lighting inspired by camping – see all products from Maison&Objet 2013.

See all our stories about rugs »
See all our stories about seating »

Here’s some more information from Gan:

Gan is launching a new concept: Gan Spaces.

One rug, one image, endless possibilities. The rug is the starting point, the main concept, and now you have the option to elaborate on its design by adding coordinating cushions, poufs and accessories.

Mangas Space design by Patricia Urquiola

The first of its kind, the Mangas collection revolutionised the rug industry. An exceptional design by a unique designer, Patricia Urquiola is now expanding the collection by presenting Mangas spaces. With the same texture and comfort of the rug collection, the spaces collection is comprised of modular components that can used interchangeably to create a multitude of different configurations. The combination of the rugs and modules will guarantee a warm and harmonious environment.

Modular pieces creating different compositions and ambiences.

Modules: Size 47”x3´x24”h / 120x90x60h cm. 100% wool. Foam rubber + polystyrene filling. Colours: Yellow-Plait, Coral-Plait, Pink-Plait, Ivory-Rhombus, Pink-Rhombus.

Square poufs. Size 3´x3´x12”h / 90x90x30h cm. 100% wool. Foam rubber + polystyrene filling. Colours: Yellow-Plait, Coral-Plait, Pink-Plait, Ivory-Plait.

Rectangular pouf: Size 47”x3´x12”h / 120x90x30h cm. 100% wool. Foam rubber + polystyrene filling. Colour: Ivory-Rhombus.

Big rectangular rugs. Size 7´11”x4´11” / 240×150 cm. 100% wool. Colours: Yellow-Plait, Coral-Plait, Pink-Plait, Ivory-Rhombus, Pink-Rhombus.

Small rectangular rug. Size 5´11”x4´11” / 180×150 cm. 100% wool. Colour: Ivory-Rhombus.

Square rugs. Size 4´11”x4´11” / 150×150 cm. 100% wool. Colours: Yellow-Plait, Coral-Plait, Pink-Plait, Ivory-Plait.

The post Lana Mangas by Patricia Urquiola
for Gan appeared first on Dezeen.

Maison&Objet 2013: London designer Benjamin Hubert has created a range of terracotta pots with rubber lids for Danish homeware brand Menu.

The collection, called Pots, was created by Benjamin Hubert and Menu using the contrast between traditional terracotta and industrially produced rubber lids.

Each pot has a natural exterior and a glazed interior, while the lids are injection-moulded silicone.

The collection comprises a tall and top-heavy pot for spaghetti, a container with a wide spout for dispensing pasta or grain, a small pot with a long neck for controlled pouring, and a wide cookie jar that rotates on its angled base for easy sharing.

Last year we published a rustic restaurant interior in Copenhagen by Menu in collaboration with Norm Architects.

We’ve featured lots of products by Hubert, including a ceramic lamp, also launching at Maison & Objet, and a lighting collection made of underwear fabric – see all designs by Benjamin Hubert.

Other designs from Maison & Object we’ve reported on this year include a speaker shaped like a volume icon on a computer and whimsical wallpapers by Fornasetti – see all products from Maison & Objet 2013.

See all stories about containers »
See all stories about homeware »

Here’s some more information from the designers:

Pots by Benjamin Hubert X Menu

Pots is a series of storage jars launching at Maison & Objet in January 2013. The project is a result of a close collaboration between Benjamin Hubert and Danish brand Menu. The storage jars stem from the studio’s “materials driven, process led” industrial design approach, researching the typologies and language associated with ancient and contemporary methods of keeping products cool and dry utilising terracotta.

Pots feature an exterior of natural, raw terracotta contrasting with the gloss glazed interior and soft rubber lids, providing a multitude of experiences for your senses. The collection represents an uncompromising contrast between the ancient traditions found in terracotta and the industrial modernity embedded in the mass-produced rubber lids.

Pots provide an earthen landscape of sculptural but functional objects for your kitchen table, desk or windowsill. The series consists of four vessels, each holding a specific function – or ingredient – of your choice:

1. A tall djembe-like sculpture with a distinct waistline, whichgris holds your spaghetti or grissini so you can easily grasp it without lifting the pot.
2. A container with a wide pouring area making it easy for you to control the dispensing of pastas and grains.
3. A small pouring device with a long neck allowing for controlled dispensing of seeds, grains and sugar.
4. A stout cookie jar that can be twisted and turned to encourage sharing. This contains biscuits, tea bags, bonbons etc.

Materials:
Terracotta ceramic
Injection moulded silicone

The post Pots by Benjamin Hubert
for Menu appeared first on Dezeen.

Product news: French designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have come up with a DIY kit for making curtains using a hanging cord that winds up like a guitar string.

Launching at trade fair imm cologne this week, Ready Made Curtain is a collaboration between Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Danish textile manufacturer Kvadrat.

The curtain is designed as a flexible hanging system that users can adapt to fit any window.

The kit comprises a hanging cord, wall fixings, pegs and your choice of Kvadrat textiles.

The hanging cord can be adjusted to fit any width of window using its winding mechanism, which the designers say was inspired by the tension in a guitar string.

The cord can be wound tighter when needed in order to maintain the right length and tension, and is easily transferable to another window.

“Little skill and few tools are needed, margin for error has been considered and perfection isn’t an absolute requirement,” Ronan and Erwan Bourourllec explain. “In fact, the charm of the imperfect in opposition to the overly sanitised interior is something we believe in.”

The curtain is available in a lightweight, semi-transparent fabric and a woollen fabric, both of which come in three colours. There’s also a variety of colours for the winding mechanism, cord and pegs.

We’ve featured several projects by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, including a collection of cutlery for Alessi and a range of wooden furniture for a Danish university – see all our stories about the Bouroullecs.

We also featured a huge purple curtain installed as a room divider at the Venice Architecture Biennale last year.

See all our stories about curtains »
See all our stories about textiles »

Here’s some more information from the designers:

Kvadrat and designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have come together to solve the challenges posed by a little explored area of domestic interior architecture: the curtain. The result is Ready Made Curtain, an original and simple hanging system to suit every window. Kvadrat’s first direct to consumer product will launch at the IMM in Cologne, January 2013.

The Ready Made Curtain is the culmination of Kvadrat’s lengthy research into the world of the domestic curtain. Working with ReD Associates, an innovation and strategy consultancy firm, Kvadrat started by investigating existing curtain solutions and comparing them to the requirements of the homeowner. Based on their findings, Kvadrat approached Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec to create Ready Made Curtain a simple yet novel approach for consumers to introduce high quality curtains to their home.

The Ready Made Curtain requires the participation of the owner in its making. Everything one needs to fix the curtain is provided: a hanging cord, wall fixings, pegs, and a selection of Kvadrat textiles.

“The ambition was to create a new system that allows anyone to install a quality curtain in record time. Little skill and few tools are needed, margin for error has been considered and perfection isn’t an absolute requirement. In fact, the charm of the imperfect in opposition to the overly sanitised interior, is something we believe in,” note Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

The mechanics of the new hanging system have been refined over and over again by the designers until the absolute minimum required material and skill were achieved. This is a purposefully elementary product. The process of installation is straightforward as well. “We wanted to escape a hi-tech situation but we didn’t want to make something rustic or heavy either. We reflected on the popular method of fixing a poster to a wall, just simply with a staple.” Similarly, Ready Made Curtain is an enjoyably effortless method of fixing fabric to a window.

The ingenuity of the hanging cord – a replacement for the traditional curtain pole – is found in the winding mechanism that enables it to fit any window: “The starting point was a picture in a Japanese book from the fifties. The book was a catalogue of objects and in it was a guitar. From there, we began to explore the system of string tension in guitars.” The cord is an efficient and elegant solution to hanging a curtain. It can be rewound when need be, in order to maintain the right tension, and is easily transferable from window to window.

Anders Byriel, CEO Kvadrat, adds: “A curtain is, we believe, much more than something to keep light out and privacy in – a curtain offers the opportunity to control light and create or completely change the atmosphere in a room.” To that end, Ready Made Curtain is available in two different Kvadrat fabrics: a light, semi-transparent fabric or a woolen textile. Both are available in three different colourways and, in turn, a different colour palette of the mechanism, cord and pegs.

Ready Made Curtain is an evolution of previous collaborations between the Bouroullecs and Kvadrat in that it offers the customer the opportunity to adapt, change and enhance their interior through the use of textile. “One of the ambitions of our work with Kvadrat is to bring more fabric into interiors. The difference between this and previous products, such as Clouds and North Tiles, is that here we chose not to do any intervention on the fabric. The system is very simple, we have used the lightest touch.”

The post Ready Made Curtain by
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec appeared first on Dezeen.