Thursday 17 February 2011

SHOW 2: Zeitraum / Wrap at Viaduct

Viaduct are regarded as one of the UK's leading exponents of the best in contemporary furniture and lighting. In September 2010 they launched their dedicated exhibition space and we are delighted to work with them on SHOW 2.

A collaboration between Zeitraum and the new illustration magazine Wrap, SHOW 2 will feature key pieces from the Zeitraum collection, including the UK launch of Morph Lounge (fresh from IMM Cologne), Side Comfort Home and Bondt amongst others. It will be the first time many of these products are exhibited in the UK.


The exhibition runs from 2nd March until 2nd April

Viaduct

1 - 10 Summers Street

London

EC1R 5BD

020 7278 8456


Weekdays 09.30 - 18.00

Saturday 10.30 - 16.00



Keep checking the Viaduct blog for further news and updates.

Friday 11 February 2011

Ӧrsjӧ - The hotel designers choice


The new Nobis Hotel in one of central Stockholm's best locations was the talking point of the design week. With interiors by Claesson Koivisto Rune, the new 5-Star hotel opened its doors on 1st December to universal acclaim. CKR designed furniture and lighting was, as you can imagine, used extensively throughout but a significant number of new products (from furniture to textiles) were developed for the project. Key amongst them were Baklava and The Great White designed by CKR and produced by Ӧrsjӧ.

Baklava, as mentioned in our previous post was produced in both table and floor versions, and in the suites you will also find The Great White - a wall-mounted light light with an incredible 2 metre arch.

Also in the Nobis Hotel you will find Pin lights by Matti Klenell in the bathrooms and Aria lights by CKR in the restaurant.


A new book detailing the project, with photography by acclaimed architecture photographer Åke E:son Lindman was launched during the Fair and can be purchased from Konst-ig.

Should you find Nobis to be full, you can always check in at their sister hotel Hotel Skeppsholmen, next to the impressive Moderna Museet and with stunning water views. With interiors by CKR again, Aria graces both the public areas and the bedrooms.


However, we checked ourselves into the wonderful new Radisson Waterfront for more personal reasons. Next to the brand new Stockholm Waterfront conference centre designed by White Architects and only open 2 weeks, each of the 418 bedrooms feature lighting by Ӧrsjӧ.
We worked closely with London hotel design specialists RPW Design on the specification of the bedroom lighting. They chose a combination of Minipoint, Puck and Aria along with a bespoke Aria wall light. Minor changes to the construction, such as removing the base from the Minipoint desklight and fixing it directly into the desktop to save space, were easily accommodated and designers, clients and guests (as we can now testify) are all happy!


Stockholm 2011 Highlights

It's fair to say we always enjoy the Stockholm Furniture Fair. It's comfortable to walk around, not too big so you don't worry you're going to miss something and most importantly the standard is always high. This year was no exception. While some of the big brands like Vitra and Moroso had a presence, Stockholm is all about the Nordic manufacturers showing what they are capable of and that is simplicity, subtlety and quality. Our favourite new non-Relay product was almost invisible (which is part of the appeal) - Isaac Chen's Riddle magazine rack for Swedese was simplicity itself. Seven strings hang from a simple piece of lacquered wood with a wooden ball on the other end and gravity adds the magic. Use it as a bookmark and turn your magazines into a piece of art.

Swedese also presented Ivy by Thomas Bernstrand, a deceptively simple bookshelf. Stack the units on top of each other, as usual, or arrange them at angles to add some interest in a plain space. Ivy was awarded the Form +1 award for best product. Further Bernstrand designs were on show at Muuto, Nola, Materia and Horreds. Busy boy!


Also ticking the busy box were Form Us With Love, who went for the "keep 'em wanting more" approach by staging a show in a top secret location (an old church in central Stockholm). Showcasing some of their new designs for manufacturers as diverse as Träullit and Santa & Cole,
their party proved the big draw of the week.

Within the walls of the main fair, new FUWL pieces were shown by Mitab. Highway easy chair and table were launched to compliment the existing Highway family. Mitab also showed the Stereo sofa system by Joel Karlsson, designer of the Butler family of lights for Ӧrsjӧ.

Källermo and Klong both used leather belts and buckles on their products. Mama Look by Anna Kraitz gave a 60's-ish sofa an hour-glass figure (very Mad Men!) while Strapp by Britta Teleman keeps your books and documents safe behind its buckle.



We have added an album of highlights to our Facebook page. Check them out here.

Ӧrsjӧ shine at Stockholm Furniture Fair

The Ӧrsjӧ stand at this weeks Stockholm Furniture Fair was a hive of activity all day, every day. New product launches from Benjamin Hubert and Claesson Koivisto Rune certainly help draw the crowds.

Crane by Benjamin Hubert marks the first collaboration between the 64 year old Ӧrsjӧ and a British designer. A bank of LEDs is shrouded in perforated aluminium, an industrial material deliberately chosen by Hubert as a nod to Ӧrsjӧ's rich manufacturing history.
An articulated arm with knurled aluminium detailing which can be adjusted horizontally as well as rotated makes Crane a playful yet practical desk light.

Claesson Koivisto Rune took an altogether different approach with Baklava. Designed for the recently opened Nobis Hotel in the centre of Stockholm, Baklava is a soft and pillowy triple layer fabric shade on a simple stem. The light within is split so the bottom part of the shade emits a warm glow. Two sizes of table light have been released, but if you are lucky enough to stay at Nobis you will see giant, over-sized floor versions filling the large central atrium space.

CKR were named Elle Interiӧr Designers of the Year 2011.


Also officially launched at the show was a new family called Butler, designed by Joel Karlsson. We had a sneak peek back in November at The Sleep Event and the reaction was just as positive this time around. Based on the premise that modern technology should act like butlers of old and make our lives easier without us even knowing they are in the room, Butler stands ready behind your favourite reading chair to shine a light.