Category Archives: Design, designers and online finds

A little bit of history repeating


CPB 2101 fire screen

CPB 2101 fire screen

His royal hunkiness Swedish Prince Carl Philip had designer aspirations. To prove his abilities he designed a series of cutlery and more recently, this cast iron fire screen. The design has historical references: On May 7th 1697, a large fire broke out in Tre Kronor castle in Stockholm, burning most of it down to the ground. It has since been restored, but this screen works as a constant reminder of what fire can do. Set in the fireplace, it will be almost like a small theater stage, with the blazing fire behind the black iron.

Available exclusively through Svenskt Tenn, a Swedish high-end department store.

 

Cape Town’s own Frank lloyd Wright


Cape Town based architect Antonio Zaninovic recently designed this private residence at the base of Table Mountain. Despite it being a very modern structure in rich contrast with the natural surroundings, it does not impose itself onto the landscape. Preferable to some buildings that are designed to resemble natural structures but hopelessly fail to fit in.

Image courtesy of The Cool Hunter

Bridle Road Residence, as the home is called, is reminiscent of homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Open structures, glass facades broken by small metal panes.

 

Image courtesy of The Cool Hunter

Image courtesy of the Cool Hunter

The Santiago, Chile-born, Zaninovic graduated from the University of Chile’s School of Architecture in 2000 and spent five years at Steven Harris Architects in New York before establishing his own practice in 2005 with Madrid, Spain-born architect, Ana Corrochano.

Diane von Furstenberg’s Manhattan rooftop studio


Inventor of the much appreciated wrap around dress, American Diane von Furstenberg Studio’s recently moved all her business ventures into one building. The new headquarters fit perfectly in New York City’s fashionable Meatpacking District. The six-story building has been beautifully restored in keep with the surrounding buildings. But once inside be prepared to be surprised. The center of the building consists of one gigantuous stairway slicing the building diagonally past all floors. One corner of the structure is topped by an Olot, Spain-made faceted glass sphere that is part of the penthouse suite.

Photo © Elizabeth Felicella

Basically, von Furstenberg wanted to bring together her business’s activities in one building that would include a flagship store on the street level, a 5,000-square-foot showroom and event area, along with office space for 120, plus her own office and living quarters. How’s that for working from home?

New York based architecture firm Work Architecture Company (WORKac) was in charge of the renovation and design.

H&M home collection spring 2011


Yesterday I went to the press preview of the H&M home collection. The display was rather disappointing and I am not sure I like all the products as much as I usually do. Lot’s of repeats on previous themes albeit slightly toned down. Many graphic prints of Club55-esque drawings, texts about imaginary towns or ports, fruit prints etc. I somehow feel I have seen it before very recently or too long ago. Often in colours I am not sure are ready for their revival yet…..None of the items seem to grab me like many items in the previous line did. I might not be their target audience though.  Below  a preview and the new collection in H&M’s own words.

 

Agrican and exotic influences

 

It’s time for a total spring clean with Home, as the new season arrives bursting with ideas inspired by the gardens that are beginning to bloom outside. The 21st century urban gardener is a big influence this season. Natural coloured linen gives every room in the house a simple, raw feel, which is combined with shades of green and earth tones to create a no-fuss minimalism that contrasts with the romantic femininity of spring flowers. There is also a modern styling mix for the home which is heightened by an injection of bold ethnic prints with a dramatic African feel, alongside nautical stripes and playful prints of hearts and cherries. This is all part of H&M’s ever-expanding Home range, where fashion and interiors are united to create a constantly changing collection which is affordable, accessible and full of energy and life.

 

Marine, Disney; it's all there.

 

“Spring 2011 is all about rawness, simplicity and nature, with inspiration taken from botanical green, industrial settings, utility garments and ethnic graphics. It’s a season when you want to bring new light, new colours and flowers into the home. And, after a very decorative autumn, we feel the need to clean up and bring a more subtle, minimalist feel to our homes,”says Evelina Kravaev Söderberg, H&M Home’s head of design.

 

Micro gardening, urban greens and vegetal prints