Hasta La Ideas

Milan 2013: a map of genetic code generated the forms of a table and sculpture on show at Dutch studio Tjep.’s stand at Ventura Lambrate in Milan.

Produced with Netherlands-based company Dutch DNA, Tjep. has utilised gene mapping to create patterns that can be manipulated with specially designed software, producing forms that can be translated into furniture pieces.

To create the DNA map, a sample was taken from the saliva of Dutch contemporary dancer Giulia Wolthuis, whose father Eric founded Dutch DNA. “The process starts with a simple and very established genetic profiling test, the same that’s used by the police or in parental tests,” Tjep. founder Frank Tjepkema told Dezeen.

Analysis completed at a laboratory in Holland is fed into a program that charts the data, then the lines are built up into 3D forms. “The mapping process is based on a designated design map that we put together ourselves,” said Tjepkema. “We map the unique genetic markers, which are essentially numbers, against design points and then can use a range of modelling tools to visualise the patterns and create the final forms.”

As everyone’s DNA is unique, the patterns created by mapping the genes of individuals will each be slightly different and could be used to create personal furniture pieces. Wolthuis’ sample was used for the sculptural glass-topped Darwin table, which was milled on a CNC router, and the Torus sculpture, which was 3D printed from resin. Both pieces are finished in lacquer: the table in white and the sculpture in pink.

Tjep. is also showing a dining booth inspired by old train compartments and a chair with legs like ice skates at Ventura Lambrate, which continues until Sunday.

See more designs by Tjep. »
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Read on for more information from Tjep.:

Tjep. introduces DutchDNA and the world’s first DNA driven furniture designs.

Dutch design house Tjep. introduces Dutch DNA and the launch of the world’s first DNA furniture and jewellery collection at Milan’s International Furniture Fair in April.

DNA is the life code, representing every unique aspect of mankind and the living world. This pattern is what enables everyone to become the people they are. Dutch DNA enables people to capture this life essence in a timeless mode. Offering people the opportunity to visualize this individual expression of life, this most unique of patterns, through exclusive jewelry, furniture and home accessories.

Above: Giulia Wolthuis with the Darwin table and Torus sculpture created using her DNA

Tjep., who are exhibiting in the Ventura Lambrate area of Milan, will crown their new collection with this ultimate expression of design individualism. “There is no limit to the extent of personal expression that can be modeled through our own DNA – it is the unique record of who we are, but also where we came from and connects us to our past,” says Tjep. founder and lead designer Frank Tjepkema. “Your home is a personal reflection of self, now we can offer people the most intimate reflection of our innate identity to embellish and decorate this environment.”

The first display pieces are made from Giulia Wolthuis’s DNA. Giulia is a Dutch contemporary dance performer and model, and daughter of Eric Wolthuis, the founder of Dutch DNA. Dance sits at the pinnacle of human achievement, a resplendent art form showcasing human endeavor: a fusion of will, passion, and pure physical ability. To capture and express Giulia’s life, Dutch DNA samples her life code and through the language of design translates Giulia’s distinguishing genetic characteristics into visual forms. Based on Dutch design house Tjep.’s compositions, these beautiful and haunting forms capture the organic, dynamic and eloquent essence of human life. This is then expressed through jewelry, home accessories, sculptures and furniture. The Darwin table is crafted through precision 3D milling and hand-finished in the Netherlands by the same artisans that create Joris Laarman’s furniture.

Eric Wolthuis initiated the investigation into how genetic patterns could augment design. “I first looked at jewelry, which is very personal, but knew there was more. Furniture is a natural extension of our desire to create original and personal habitats; what is more personal than modeling your home through your own DNA?”

The DNA patterns used to form designs can be anyone’s. Just like nature, combinations can also be used to create a unique articulation of a couple’s love or a family’s remembrance. “I see two lovers creating unique artefacts for their shared home that is truly a conjoint reflection of both individuals,” notes Frank Tjepkema.

Eric, who has commissioned designs based on his daughter’s, his wife’s and his own genetic patterns, states “Seeing yourself and your family visualized in this way is very powerful, it’s a deeply emotional way of embodying everything that they represent to you.”

The post DNA furniture by Tjep.
and Dutch DNA appeared first on Dezeen.

Dutch design studio Tjep. will launch a dining booth inspired by old train compartments at Ventura Lambrate in Milan next week.

Il Treno by Tjep. is a standalone dining booth inspired by the secluded compartments found on luxurious old trains like the Orient Express.

A table hangs down from the overhead rack and small metal steps on the side of the booth help diners into their seats.

The unit is made from ash or oak and comes in two versions, one with cupboards behind the seats and one without. It’s available through the studio’s website and will be presented at Ventura Lambrate in Milan from 9 to 14 April – see more news and products from Milan 2013.

The booths are based on a previous design by Tjep. for the interior of a Dutch pizzeria, while the studio’s other work includes a departure lounge with a slide in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and a chair with one side hacked down to a skeletal form – see all design by Tjep.

Here’s some more information from the designers:

Amsterdam-based Tjep. seek to infuse Milan with some of their ‘tjepology’ in an exhibition at the Ventura Lambrate area of Salone Internazionale del Mobile. Founded in 2001 by prominent Dutch designer Frank Tjepkema, the studio has garnered a reputation for iconoclastic work across a broad field of expertise that includes award-winning interior, architectural, product, furniture, and jewellery design. Countering globalised uniformity, Tjep. design for those who seek to rediscover individualism.

Il Treno

A standalone piece, this daring item creates an intimate dining experience reminiscent of the old secluded train compartments on the Orient Express. Il Treno is about intimacy and romanticism: for there is nothing better than enjoying fine cuisine while being transported to new landscapes. This modular unit is handcrafted in Ash or Oak wood and comes in two versions, one with storage for your fine china and one without.

Location: Plusdesign gallery, Via Ventura 6, 20134 Milan
Opening times:
Tue–Sat 10:00–20:00
Sun 10:00–18:00

The post Il Treno by Tjep. appeared first on Dezeen.

Diners can climb into wooden booths modelled on railway carriages in the second Fabbrica pizzeria completed by Dutch design studio Tjep.

Located in the coastal village of Bergen, the restaurant repeats the most successful features from the earlier Rotterdam restaurant, including its mosaic-patterned pizza oven.

The wooden seating booths line one wall of the Bergen dining room, featuring suspended tabletops and chandeliers.

Wood for the oven is stored on a wall of criss-crossing shelves, where electrical socket clusters are mounted on large red squares.

You can compare this restaurant to its predecessor by following this link to our earlier story, or see all our stories about Tjep. here.

Photography is by Yannic Alidarso.

Here’s some more explanation from Frank Tjepkema:

After the success of Fabbrica Rotterdam (completed in 2005) we were asked to design a second Fabbrica in the famous costal artist village of Bergen in The Netherlands.

We revisited several of the original elements, for example the train cabins with a new look and feel, we like the concept for it’s intimacy and romanticism for there is nothing more relaxing and engaging then enjoying a nice dinner on a train while looking at nice landscapes.

This installation is lifted from the ground and suggests travel and movement.

The large Pizza Oven covered with Bisazza tiles is an absolute eye-catcher and the very industrial wood containers hold all the wood to fuel the oven and all the electricity to fuel the lights!

As for the general looks we decided to take a more earthly and less gloss and shine approach as compared to Fabbrica Rotterdam.

In Bergen we show materials instead of using painted surfaces.

We did this to be more in touch with the economic context of the moment.

It’s not time for Bling Bling anymore, people want more authenticity and less entertainment.

Il designer olandese Tjep ha voluto rappresentare con questa sedia la grave crisi economica che stiamo affrontando. L’immagine dice tutto, il modello, se avete l’occhio attento è la Lanni di Ikea.
{Via}

Dutch brand agency THEY have commissioned designers including Eindhoven collective La Bolleur (above) and Amsterdam designers Tjep. (below) to design bottles for their own brand of champagne.

Above: Zarb special edition by Tjep
Top: Zarb special edition – Rocket by La Bolleur

Called Zarb, a French colloquialism meaning ‘bizarre’, the brand has a pop-up shop in Amsterdam until January where the bottle designs are on display.

Above: Zarb special edition by Aarsman & Sola

Here’s some more information from THEY:

THEY UNVEIL NEW DESIGNS FOR OWN-BRAND CHAMPAGNE

THEY, the Amsterdam-based communications agency, introduce the latest collection of designer bottles for Zarb, their own-brand champagne. Following the successful launch of the champagne in the Netherlands in 2009, Zarb has also been introduced in Belgium, France, Asia, the United States and beyond.

Above: Zarb special edition – Fire extinguisher

For the new collection, THEY (Ad Age’s Small Agency of the Year 2009) are again working together with international pioneers such as deep sea photographer David Shale, underwater photographer Zena Holloway and renowned costume designer Vin Burnham.

Above: Zarb special edition by Edhv

The new collection was officially launched at the opening of a pop-up store in Amsterdam’s trendy ‘Nine-Streets’ district. Divers surfaced from the canal and delivered the collection to the store, which will be open from 15 December until the beginning of January.

Above: Zarb special edition – Dress

Zarb is a unique combination of traditional champagne with an unconventional look. The brand owes its name to French slang – ‘zarb’ means ‘bizarre’. Following 2009’s Skin Collection with photography by Cornelie Tollens, the new collection Deep Black: The Underwater Exploration has taken the wonders of the underwater world as its inspiration.

Above: Zarb special edition by Miktor & Molf

The first new bottle in the collection is a journey through the eyes of deep sea photographer David Shale. He has taken pictures down to depths of 5000 metres in order to show us a marvellous world that we have never seen before.

Above: Zarb special edition – Life by Cedric Laquieze

Zarb designed the bottle as an adventure into the unknown, modelled on the magnificent creatures of the deep.

Above: Zarb special edition by Cedric Laquieze

For the second bottle, we swim from the depths up to the surface, where angelic mermaids can be found. Zarb’s design was brought to life by photos from London-based underwater photographer and director Zena Holloway.

Above: Zarb special edition – Fragile

She has previously worked for famous names such as Vogue, Nike and Mastercard and has also won several international awards.

Above: Zarb special edition – Feathers

In addition to the three new designs, selected artists and designers have been commissioned to create special edition magnums.

Above: Zarb new collection – Octopus by David Shale

The costume / product / brand / packaging designers include

• Tjep
• EDHV
• La Bolleur
• Champagne Valentine
• Crabsalad
• Miktor & Molf
• Cedric Laquieze Deux d’Amsterdam
• Hans Aarsman & Claudia Sola Nepco
• Pinky & Lennart Hansje van Halem

Above: Zarb new collection – Angel by Zena Holloway

Zarb is made in the Marne valley using grapes from the vineyards of the Baron family. Zarb is a modern champagne with an elegant bouquet with notes of apple, peach and pear.

Above: Zarb new collection – Surface by Zena Holloway and Vin Burnham

The palette is balanced with aromas of wine and fruit, carried by a perfect structure. Zarb champagne is owned by THEY and stands on its own as a business in its own right.

THEY are a group of nice people in Amsterdam who form an international communications agency. THEY love to make brands grow. Some of the clients THEY work with are AEGoN, Vodafone, CoffeeCompany en Max Havelaar

THEY challenge anybody to a game of ping pong.

See also:

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Black Box by Marc Newson for Dom Pérignon	Water-shaped bottles by Xiaoli Wen	Waater bottle by Tjep