'Corniches' shelving system by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Inspired by an idea of ‘impromptu storage area,’ France’s famous design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have realised this versatile, customisable shelving system for the Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra. Available in three different sizes and in either high-gloss black, white or Japanese red, ’Corniches’ ‘are neither regular shelves nor simple horizontal surfaces, but rather individual, isolated protrusions’ which can serve many purposes within practically any environment. The design was launched earlier this year at Salone del Mobile in Milan. (more…)

The woollen cushion is held in place by a leather lace which has been simply tied around the seat

Born to a Swedish mother and Danish father, the Copenhagen-based designer Christina Liljenberg Halstrøm‘s designs are characterised by the quintessentially Scandinavian simplicity, lightness of form and effortlessly casual flair. Now, following her Gym the Luxe, Beddo and Norr projects, all of which feature a sombre, minimalist colour palette limited to charcoal grey and natural wood hues, she has created this equally reduced stool named after designer’s eldest son, Georg. The four-legged ash wood and wool stool was developed for Danish Crafts‘ MINDCRAFT12 exhibition which was organised on the occasion of Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2012 fair and showcased 16 new works by 12 contemporary Danish artists and designers. (more…)

Detail of the 'Bamboo-steel' table by Nendo for HAN Gallery

A result of a research on the history of Taiwanese bamboo furniture, these intricate, delicately hand-woven stainless steel tables were realised by the acclaimed Japanese practice Nendo as part of HAN Gallery‘s ‘Yii Designers’ series. Presented earlier in April at Milan’s Ventura Lambrate, the series features traditional hexagonal weave pattern which, instead off bamboo, has been achieved by weaving a number of thin steel strips into adjoining triangles. (more…)

'Candy Table' by Sylvain Willenz for Cappellini; photo by Nicola Zocchi

In Milan’s Zona Tortona, on Via Solari 35, the Italian design powerhouse Cappellini has presented an array of brand’s 2012 novelties, among them this pared-down table created by a Brussels-based designer Sylvain Willenz. Named ‘Candy Table’, the piece is part of Willenz’s Candy Collection, which explores and reinvents the steel reinforcement bars normally used as construction material for concrete structures. The steel tables are available in two various shapes and sizes (with a square or round tabletop) and in five different matt colours such as; blue, black, green, white and red. (more…)

Milan 2012: 'K%: black & black collection' by Nendo: photo © Architonic

Yesterday evening, on the eve of the official opening of this year’s edition of Salone del Mobile, we took a stroll around Via Tortona, where the coinciding Tortona Design Week takes place. Located in Milan’s creative district, the event brings together some of the biggest names in industrial design as well as young, emerging designers who present individual, site-specific exhibitions and installations in a limited and coordinated area of Tortona. And that’s where, at number 32, we have wandered into a spacious, darkly lit room where Oki Sato of much-acclaimed practice Nendo is showcasing ‘black & black’ – the first collection launched by K%. (more…)

'Holo' pendant lamp by Patrycja Domanska; photo by Paris Tsitsos

A young Polish-born Vienna-based designer Patrycja Domanska has recently created this simple metal pendant lamp whose colour changes once the design heats up. Made of spun aluminium, ‘Holo’ is coated with a special thermochromic paint which fades from vivid turquoise to white when the lamp reaches 31 〫C (as seen in the video below). The design will be presented at Designersblock Milan 2012 which will take place as part of MOST during this year’s Salone del Mobile. (more…)

Ricochet light, Daniel Rybakken 2012; photo by Kalle Sanner & Daniel Rybakken

On the occasion of the upcoming Salone Internazionale del Mobile fair (17 – 22 April), Norwegian designer Daniel Rybakken has developed two separate installations which will showcase his most recent designs. Featuring ‘Ricochet’ and ‘Coherence’ lights and ‘Single Flower Vase’, the first project will be on view during iSaloni at Spazio Rossana Orlandi - a former tile factory in Milan’s Magenta neighbourhood. The second installation, on show at Luceplan Temporary Design Gallery on via Procaccini 1 will focus on a wall-mounted ‘Counterbalance’ light which was presented in 2011 and will now be launched by Luceplan. (more…)

Detail shot of the 'Arms chair' by THINKK + Studio248; design by THINKK Studio

Two Thai design studios THINKK run by Decha Archjananun and Ploypan Theerachai and Studio248 founded by Jakkapun Charinrattana have joined their creative forces to develop a new series of furniture and the outcome of this collaboration, a four-piece collection of beautifully simple, everyday designs will be presented at Ventura Lambrate during this year’s Salone del Mobile fair. Comprising a chair, a multifunctional, adjustable closet, a crane-inspired table lamp and sculptural stackable vase, the entire collection has been developed in ash wood, bar the ‘Merging Top’ vase whose design is composed from ash wood, marble and ceramic. (more…)