‘Nie mehr Kabel entwirren’ project

Everyone has good ideas. Few have the time, the space, the tools and the team to get an idea into action and give it the right shape. The FabLab Zurich is more than a workshop, it is a melting pot for creative people, a showcase of Zurich, a FabCafé, a guerilla development site (“designing instead of consuming”), a design free-space for social innovation, a global experiment.

FabLab literally stands for Fabrication Laboratory = manufacturing laboratory. A FabLab offers users access to the latest manufacturing techniques with a focus on digital production. The idea was originally developed at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) by Neil Gershenfeld. The first FabLab started there in 2002. Widely used are 3D printer, laser cutter, CNC machines. But each FabLab is different and therefore unique and follows the principles of the Fab Charter. Worldwide, there are already over 150 FabLabs (September 2012). (more…)

Two Single-Family Residences by Arndt Geiger Herrmann; photo by Thomas Züger

Located on the left shore of Lake Zurich, this seemingly unitary four-storey development is, in fact, composed of two, entirely separate single family houses. At 150-square-meters each, the floor plans of the apartments have been interlaced while maintaining ‘maximum privacy for each residence’ with the parking floor being the sole shared space. Completed in 2010 by a Zurich-based practice Arndt Geiger Herrmann, building’s striking, opalescent façade is made of ‘manually tin-coated copper panels.’ (more…)

Sleeping on the bridge: alternative usage of a former connection of two buildings; Photo © Pierre Kellenberger / Architonic

At a former industrial site in the North of Zurich, young people show the potential of an open floor plan, how to build sustainably using recycled materials, how to be resource conscious, and demonstrate that food from Aldi – a discounter – can well be in line with an ecological and anti-consumption attitude. (by Susanne Fritz)

read this article in full on Architonic

visit Architonic’s Facebook page to view the ‘Living in an Open Floor Plan’ photo album

Townhouse Horgen by moos. giuliani. herrmann. architekten. photo by: Beat Bühler

Boasting panoramic views across the Lake of Zurich, this generous, four-storey family residence has recently been completed by a Swiss architectural practice moos. giuliani. herrmann. architekten.. Located near Zurich, in a small town of Horgen, the minimalist, 260-square-meters townhouse comprises a studio, two bedrooms, master bedroom, dressing room, dining room, kitchen, living room with fireplace, roof terrace, showers, bathroom, double garage with driveway, patio and air-conditioned wine cellar. (more…)

The intricate detailing of the 'Plug and Play' table leg by Studiokepenic

Next up in our imm cologne 2012 preview series we would like to introduce you to this novel, customisable modular table system devised by two young designers; Mia Kepenek and Nicholas Frei of the recently-established Zurich-based label Studiokepenic. As its name aptly suggest, the table design enables the user to convert the object from a coffee into a dining table without a hitch but by ’simply by plugging together the shapely, turned leg elements.’ The table will be presented as part of the D3 Design Talents show at the fair which opens on 16 January. (more…)

Impressions from this year's edition of 'neue räume'

Following yesterday’s opening of the ‘neue räume 11′ fair, we unveil a second photo gallery with images from the exhibitions of; Holzmanufaktur, Element, Erba Italia, Wiesmann Küchen, Hugo Kretz, Blueroom, Gabaan, Wald-Haus, Materia, Manufakt and many more.

Be inspired!

to Architonic’s ‘neue räume 11, Part II′ album on Facebook

to Architonic’s ‘neue räume 11, Part I′ album on Facebook

find out more about the fair in our special ’neue räume 11′ newsletter

Impressions from the press preview of 'neue räume 11'

It’s no news that here at Architonic, we very much enjoy our ritual travels and across-the-globe ventures in the pursuit of the latest architecture and design discoveries. And while, unlike The Wizard of Oz’s Dorothy, we do not feel the need to tap our heels together three times each time we are away, there really is no place like home.

Especially when at home is where one of the best-curated furniture fairs in the world takes place. Of course, the fair we have in mind is ‘neue räume 11′, which opens today (1 November) within the stunning, historical, old industrial hall of Swiss power and automation technologies company ABB.

Showcasing a carefully selected and curated range of contemporary Swiss as well as international design, the bi-annual trade fair has been given a uniform exhibition architecture by Stefan Zwicky which, apart from the numerous fair booths also encompasses Architonic Concept Space designed by the Polish designer Oskar Zieta. See you there!

to Architonic’s ‘neue räume 11, Part 1′ album on Facebook

find out more about the fair in our special ’neue räume 11′ newsletter

'feuille blanche' by Christian Horisberger

Just over a week ago, we had a chance to attend a vernissage of a diminutive, yet undeniably inspiring, exhibition surveying the work of 20 young contemporary Swiss designers organised by

Sachenmachen.ch. Entitled ‘feuille blanche’ – French for ‘blank page’ – the show focused on the very first, preliminary stage of a creative process and a variety of approaches adopted by each of the designers.

Working methods, which differ among various creative disciplines, have been juxtaposed with each other thus revealing a highly-imaginative, conceptual, almost artistic aspect of industrial design. A large, rectangular 40x50cm wooden board, the said feuille blanche, served as a focal point of the show, onto which each of the exhibiting designers has projected their work in a very individual, unique manner.

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