'Plywood: Material, Process, Form' - exhibition view; photo courtesy of MoMA
Cheap and widely accesible, plywood gained its popularity thanks to a number of renowned early-20th century as well as mid-century modernist designers who favoured what was once described by the American magazine Popular Science as ‘a layer cake of lumber and glue’. Now, to celebrate this versatile material, New York’s MoMA has gathered a number of examples from its collection of modern designs which have been developed in plywood. Titled ‘Plywood: Material, Process, Form’, the installation features a number of instantly-recognisable exhibits such as Alvar Aalto’s iconic Armchair 41 Paimio, pieces from Charles and Ray Eames’ Plywood Group, Sori Yanagi’s beautifully simple Butterfly Stool as well as designs by Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, Tapio Wirkkala, an architectural model for a prefabricated house devised by Marcel Breuer in 1943 and ‘experimental designs for plywood in the aeronautics industry.’ (more…)
Photo tour of imm cologne 2012, Design Post
Join us on our photographic journey through the exhibition halls of this year’s edition of imm cologne and Design Post. In the next five parts of Architonic’s popular photo tours, we focus not only on the products, but also on their setting and context.
to Architonic’s tour of imm cologne 2012, Part 2
including: B&B Italia, Böwer, Bordbar, Classicon, Hey-Sign, Holzmanufaktur, Interlübke, Kartell, Kettal, Kettnaker, KFF, Ligne Roset, Limited Edition, Living Divani, Livingzone, LND Design, Loehr, Mafi, MDF Italia, Miinu, Möller Design, MOX, Naver, Nielaus, Oligo, Paschen
to Architonic’s tour of imm cologne 2012, Part 3
including: Poliform, Poltrona Frau, Cassina, Cappellini, Nemo Italia, Accademia, Potocco, Accente, Accupunto, Arketipo, Artek, Artmodul, Bocci, Bodema, Brühl, Cane-line, Chat-Board, Christine Kröncke, Draenert, Driade, Durlet, Erba Italia, ex.t, Fjordfiesta, Flötotto, Flux, Frag, FSM, Geberit, Intertime, Jori, Leolux, Pure Position, Raumplus, Reflex
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'Jo' stool by Eric and Johnny Design Studio at imm cologne 2012, photo: © Architonic
While we caught ourselves glancing at this plywood stool for an above-average period of time before we finally unravelled its intertwining form, the structure of ‘Jo’ is, in fact, surprisingly simple. Developed by two Taiwan-born Berlin-based design students Eric Chang and Johnny Hu of Eric and Johnny Design Studio, ‘Jo’ is made up of three, j-shaped legs which all connect in six points. Member of ‘J Family’ collection of moulded wooden furniture, the stool was presented at the [D³] Contest during last week’s edition of imm cologne. (more…)
The award-winning 'Apollo' modular lamp shades by International
Two young British designers and former fellow students Marc Bell and Robin Grasby of the International design studio have created this multiway modular light system which was awarded the Interior Innovation Award at the [D³] Contest during last week’s edition of imm cologne. Made of laser-cut, anodised spun aluminium, the simple-yet-striking ‘Apollo’ series comprises a number of opaque as well as perforated shades which can be layered and customised according to the desired visual appearance and intensity of the emanated light. (more…)
impressions from the D3 Design talents
A show within a show, the superbly-curated [D³] Design talents has been taking place during Germany’s imm cologne fair since 2006. An unparalleled springboard for young creatives, the forum is dedicated to promoting and launching the up-and-coming talents who present their innovations and inspiring products and materials within the Pure Village hall. This year, from among nearly 700 applications, the [D³]‘s jury selected 28 imaginative and out-of-ordinary products by the bright design stars of tomorrow such as Lee Sanghyeok, Jolan van der Viel, Ryan Yoon and Harc Lee of Ryan Harc, Caroline Olsson, Martin Solem, Raphaëlle Bonamy to name just a few.
And in case you’ve missed it while at imm, Architonic was there, with our ubiquitous camera on hand. Visit our Facebook page to view no less than 94 images from this hugely inspiring and decidedly resourceful show.
Photo tour of IMM Cologne 2012, [D³] Contest
imm cologne 2012, as seen by Architonic
The new fair season has kicked off with imm cologne 2012, which took place earlier last week (16-22 January) and naturally, Architonic was there once again.
But if, unlike us, you were not among those 115.000 visitors who explored the fair, despair not. Instead, follow the link below to join us on a photographic journey through this year’s edition of imm cologne. With more than hundred images featuring the most interesting novelties from Conde House, Desalto, de Sede, team by wellis, die Collection, Flexform, Kristalia, Kymo, lapalma, Porada, Porro, Punkalive, Walter Knoll, Wittmann, Woodnotes or Zeitraum just to name a few, you might even end up thinking you were there yourself. Enjoy!
to Architonic’s tour of imm cologne 2012, Part 1
'Shift' sideboard by design duo Scholten & Baijings for Pastoe
The Dutch manufacturer Pastoe has launched this new ‘Shift’ sideboard developed by the design duo Scholten & Baijings at this year’s Design Post at imm cologne. The overlapping sliding doors of the cabinet create an interesting effect, due to the varied gradient of the colours of the semitransparent acrylate.
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Monteagudo Museum by Amann Cánovas Maruri; photo by David Frutos
Yet another hotspot on Spain’s already-impressive map of wonderful, if sometimes bizarre, museums, this Monteagudo Museum has been realised by the Madrid-based practice Amann Cánovas Maruri in 2010. Known also as Centro de Visitantes de San Cayetano, the two-storey building is located on a site of high archeological importance, on a hill of Monteagudo, in the south-eastern Region of Murcia. Featuring an intricately-detailed, weathering steel façade which envelopes the otherwise austere, concrete building, the museum ‘tends to adapt to multiple boundary conditions, responding to the preservation of the remains, with special attention to the integration into the hillside.’
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