‘Eclipse mirror’ by Uli Budde

Known for their well-curated and undeniably insightful shows, the Czech creative collective Okolo strikes again, this time with an exhibition focusing on the ‘trend of creating mirrors in the context of contemporary experimental design’ which emerged in the recent years. On view at at the Superstudio Clam-Gallasův palác during the upcoming Designblok 2012, Prague Design and Fashion Week which opens on Monday (1 October), ‘The Mirror’ will present various forms of the mirror perceived by contemporary designers and artists such as, among many; Uli Budde, Oscar Diaz, Tomáš Král, OS ∆ OOS and Martin Žampach. (more…)

‘Shadows’ pendant light by Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova for Brokis; photo by Martin Chum

The Parisian-based designer duo Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova have recently presented their latest collection of simple glass pendant lights called ‘Shadows’. Manufactured by the Czech lighting brand Brokis, the series is composed of four variously-shaped shades which are available in three colour versions: black-tinted semiopaque glass with a black ash neck; opaque, matte black glass with a black ash neck, and a matte white model with natural oak neck. (more…)

Alfa Café, Zbyněk Hřivnáč and Jan Šrámek, chandeliers by René Roubíček, Prague, 1965; image courtesy of Zbyněk Hřivnáč archive

Zbyněk Hřivnáč, who was born in 1932 close to Opava, Moravia, belongs to a group of creative minds that could participate in designs from the large architectural and interior commissions of the former Czechoslovak state between the 1950s and 1980s.

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‘Poly’ bowls by Martin Žampach

Young, Prague-based designer and founder of the Designeast.eu webzine Martin Žampach has created this series of hexagonal bowls made of innovative, lightweight-yet-resistant material composed of veneer and cork. Developed in various sizes and proportions, the bowls were recently showcased as part of Colabseries project during this year’s edition of DMY Berlin. (more…)

'ICON 03' chair by Jan Plecháč for NgispeN

Drawing his inspiration from the iconic De Stijl Red and Blue Chair designed by Gerrit Rietveld almost one hundred years ago (in 1917), a young award-winning Czech designer Jan Plecháč has created this bold, wire chair for Gispen’s ’Playing With Tradition’ brand NgispeN. Launched last week at the Temporary Museum For New Design in Superstudio Piu, ‘ICON 03′ can be used both indoors and outdoors thanks to its durable steel structure. (more…)

'Light Sculptures, Czech Lights 1950 – 1990' at Lodz Design Festival; photo courtesy of Okolo

Earlier last week during Lodz Design Festival, the Czech Republic-based creative group Okolo has presented this intriguing exhibition focusing on the Czechoslovak table lamp design created in the second half of the 20th century. Titled ‘Light Sculptures, Czech Lights 1950 – 1990′, the exhibition ‘comprised a curatorial selection of several table lamps made during this period in the former Czechoslovakia, or in the territory of the present-day Czech Republic.’ Not a retrospective, it was viewed by its curators as ‘an unrestricted selection that depicts the development of the style of this typology on the example of several prominent designers or unique individual designs.’ (more…)

'Wave' rocking chair by Michal Riabic for TON

Inspired by the iconic rocking chair by the bentwood-process inventor Michael Thonet, the young Slovak designer Michal Riabic has created this ‘Wave’ rocking armchair for the Czech manufacturer TON. The simple, curvilinear ‘Wave’ encompasses a leather upholstery and the design has won ‘the best redesign of a standard rocking chair’ competition held by TON on the occasion of the manufacturer’s 150-years anniversary of the traditional bentwood furniture production. (more…)

'Atonehenge' wall panel by Vladimír Ambroz

The Czech manufacturer and studio AMOS design, founded in 1990 by the architect Vladimír Ambroz is specialised in high quality interior design and contract furniture. As authorized manufacturer of DuPont™CORIAN® they recently launched this new range of wall panels for interior use. The panels are shaped on CNC machines in a way that they create an unbroken, linked motif on the wall.

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