Reclaiming Seduction

Continuing the Barbican’s Radical Nature summer exhibition ICON editor Justin McGuirk chairs discussions with Jan Jongert from Dutch design firm 2012Architecten. Famed for their use of recycled and re-used materials they adapt to create innovative and ecological design which avoid the gimmicks and cut right to the point. Most famous was the use of Audi 100 windscreens as shelving units for the Duchi shoe shop in Scheveningen, The Hague. Including a central sitting area produced from left-over wood from a Rotterdam window factory it forms a bench as well as a footrest. Shoes can even be tested on a conveyor belt constructed from reclaimed supermarket cash desks. The entire shop design is composed from an astonishing 90% waste, yet in the talented hand of 2012 it is transformed into a seductive and smooth retail boutique.

Jan Jonhert discusses this and the projects on 20 August 2009 in the Redgrave Suite, Barbican Centre London.

Elle Decoration

The September issue of Elle Decoration features the stunning Stockholm apartment recently completed by Swedish architects Tham & Videgård Hansson.

The initial riot of colour which greets guests on arrival, is found to be more controlled on closer inspection. Strong, bright colours are used throughout, but colours are blocked to define areas. Each room was carefully developed as a reaction to the adjacent spaces. The design is painstakingly detailed.

To counter balance the colour, the decision was made that all furniture and lighting should be pure white. Svenkst Tenn and Artek pieces sit alongside new classics from Moooi and Design House Stockholm.


The main living space is dominated by a large U Form chandelier, designed by Elisabeth Henriksson for Örsjö.

Could we live there? Hmmm. That's a difficult question to answer, but are we glad someone had the vision to design it and they, in turn, had a client brave enough to commission it? Absolutely!