Zeitraum in Milan 2013

Zeitraum always hold back a little bit of their News for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile and this year was no exception - a new bed, a new bench and a new light all debuted this week in Milan.

MIUT is a new box-spring bed system by Julia Fellner with a tremendous amount of options. A combination of technology, comfort and quality construction, MIUT is suitable for both domestic and contract environments. The box contains 250 individually wrapped pocket springs per square metre and the height above the floor allows for easy maintenance. 

MIUT Basic is as simple a it sounds - just the box frame and mattress in the fabric or leather of your choice in all the standard sizes you would expect. From there you can get creative - MIUT Comfort adds a tapering headboard to the basic version. MIUT Panel is available in natural oak or the new stain colours and in 2 heights. The geometric grid of the panel determines the positioning of 6 optional storage "boxes" - open boxes, drawers or shelves. These boxes can themselves be in natural oak, stained to match the panel or to alternatively stained to contrast the panel itself.

See? A lot of options to choose from ensuring each MIUT is unique. MIUT will be available in September 2013. 

In the above image, you can see the new NOON 1 SMALL pendant light with black textile cable, conceived as a simple bedside companion to MIUT, but work equally as well over a bistro dining table.

E8 Bench by Mathias Hahn is a companion to the E8 Table launched at IMM Cologne. The table was shown in Milan in its original zinc yellow finish and the new benches are available with a simple oak seat or with a discreet upholstered pad. Available in sizes that correspond with the table, there is a pleasant simplicity to the benches that make them ideal for modern, casual dining.

The smallest version of E8 Table (120 x 70 cms) was also shown - perfect for a home office!

The Zeitraum News 2013 will form the basis of our presentation at Clerkenwell Design Week in May, so make sure you register early to see it for yourself. The new Zeitraum News 2013 brochure is also now available. Just send us a note and we'll send you a copy.

Zeitraum NEWS 2013

Zeitraum made a bold and colourful statement at IMM Cologne this week with the launch of a major new colour stain programme. For the first time, the majority of the solid wood collection is available in 10 standard colours, in addition to the standard wood finishes, substantially expanding the possibilities.

The top image shows Kihyun Kim's 1.3 Chair in the new colours (which will be stained on oak) - chalk white, 5 grey tones and 4 trend colours. The idea is to bring colour into play, without hiding what Zeitraum is all about - WOOD! So a sophisticated staining technique was chosen to ensure the natural structure and grain of the wood is still visible. 

The stain colours were developed with Formstelle, Zeitraum's long-standing design partner. Their inspiration came from the stages of exposed wood weathering naturally. Combined, they allow for an interesting depth effect or a bright spot of intense colour to create focus in a space.

The colours were shown on several new items, including E8 by London-based German designer Mathias Hahn. E8 is based on a post-war kitchen table that sat in Mathias' flat in Hackney, east London (hence the name - Hackney's postcode is E8). Long and narrow with extreme projections, it allowed the table to serve as a dining table and work surface at the same time. Perfect for city living. All surfaces apart from the top, are available in colour - a detail which underlines it's functional character. This is a table to be used and enjoyed - not covered with a tablecloth!

PELLE by Lorenz*Kaz was previewed at Interieur Kortrijk in October. The final production version is now ready. An homage to Scandinavian classics, Pelle sees a return to beech, a wood associated with the early days of Zeitraum, but not seen much in recent years. The combination of beech and saddle leather is particularly appealing. The leather seat hangs freely and is shaped by an aluminium inlay. This adds stability without losing any flexibility (or visual lightness). 

The LOW, SIDE, PODEST and PODEST TV sideboards are now available with a new Atelier frame. This 25cms wooden trestle gives the units a contemporary, crafty look as well as a higher alternative to the original pieces. The unit and/or the Atelier frame can be finished in the colour stains allowing a wealth of options and contrasts. 

The original sideboard frames are now also available in a matt black powder-coat finish.

Kihyun Kim's 1.3 COLLECTION launched last year, was a runaway success. For 2013, slimline fabric and leather upholstery options are now available. Their space saving design makes 1.3 perfect for smaller cafes, bars and bistros.

The MORPH Edition chairs also shown at Kortrijk are all signed, numbered and ready to go. Based on Chinese posters from the 1920s, there are 3 motifs and only 100 of each available. When they're gone, they're gone!

IMM Cologne runs until Sunday 20th January.

Zeitraum at IMM Cologne 2013

Zeitraum: Editions and Additions at Interieur Kortrijk

At the recent Interieur biennale in Kortrijk, Zeitraum gave us a sneak peek at some additions to the range which will be officially launched at IMM Koln in January alongside a limited edition Morph chair.  

Images of Asian women have been printed directly onto the oak veneer, before the seat is bent into its final shape. There are 3 women to choose from, all with a tale to tell. Some are printed on the front and back, some on the front only and they are limited to 300 of each style.

Pelle by Lorenz*Kaz made a brief appearance in Milan in April. Blink and you missed it (and a lot of people missed it), but the design is much more honed and almost ready for its formal debut in January. A beautiful saddle leather sling, supported by a refined, slightly oriental wooden frame, Pelle is fit for a king.

Side will soon be available with a new leg detail - adding extra height and creating a more traditional sideboard.

We've added more images from our Kortrijk trip to a Facebook album. Check them all out HERE.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2012

1.3 Chair wins Designs of the Year, Furniture Award 2012

We were honoured to join Kihyun Kim at the Design Museum last night for the 5th annual Designs of the Year Awards, especially as he walked off with the award in the Furniture category. 

Inspired by the British WWII wooden bomber, the De Havilland Mosquito, Kihyun developed an innovative chair design in balsa wood and lime veneer. Weighing an incredible 1.28Kg, Kihyun presented it as his graduation project from the RCA in 2011.

A strong category in the awards, 1.3 Chair was nominated alongside Barber Osgerby's Tip Ton chair for Vitra, Stefan Diez Chassis chair for Wilkhahn, Jasper Morrison's Lightwood chair for Maruni and the Bouroullec brothers two nominations in this category (the Osso chair for Mattiazzi and Textile Field) amongst others.

The overall award for Design of the Year was presented to Barber Osgerby for their 2012 Olympic Torch. The full list of winners can be found on the Design Museum website here.

 

Zeitraum have produced a solid wood version of 1.3 Chair in ash, oak or walnut and presented it at Salone del Mobile in Milan last week with a companion bar stool and low stool. 

The Designs of the Year show continues until 4th July at the Design Museum but you will also be able to see the 1.3 Collection at Clerkenwell Design Week in May.

Zeitraum News 2012 - Part 2 The Milan Issue

Zeitraum unleashed their 2012 Collection at IMM Cologne in January, but kept a few pieces under wraps. Until now that is.

The 1.3 COLLECTION by RCA graduate Kihyun Kim is a progression on the superlight chair he first presented as part of his graduation work at RCA SHOW 2011. The project involved extensive research into lightweight technology and ecology. First presented in fast-growing balsa wood and lime veneer, this unpretentious little chair weighed in at less than 1.3Kg (hence the name!). Reaction was immediate, and several parties expressed an interest in developing the product. 

Zeitraum have worked closely with Kihyun Kim to develop 1.3 Chair into a family of products suitable for contract use and the result is 1.3 COLLECTION - chair, bar stool and low stool. For commercial production it was decided to produce the frame in solid oak or walnut, as balsa can be unpredictable.

The contours of the back and pillow-like seat appear wafer-thin yet inviting. The modest proportions make it eminently suitable for spaces where space is at a premium - city centre restaurants and cafes, for instance. 

1.3 Chair has been nominated for the Designs of the Year 2012 Award at the Design Museum, where it can be seen until 4th July. Winners will be announced on 24th April. Fingers crossed!

Also new for Milan is FRIDAY from regular collaborators Formstelle. Designed with that TGIF feeling very much in mind, FRIDAY is a decadent mix of soft, supple leather, down filled cushions and tactile wood.

Sturdy butt leather acts as a sling for the seat and back cushions within the wooden frame. Practicalities have been considered and the seat and back cushions are fastened to each other with a discrete zip so the form is not disturbed. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

These new products along with KONTUR, TURNTABLE, PLAISIR, NOON 3 and NOON 3 SMALL, TWIST STONE, STRIP and MORPH POUF, launched at IMM Cologne, all adhere to the Zeitraum ethos of honesty, character and substance and make the collection stronger than ever.

Zeitraum at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, Milan

IMM Cologne Highlights

The prevailing trends at this years IMM were natural materials like wood, leather and marble and pale grey/brown background colours accented by a pop of fluorescent yellow or pastel and jewel tones.

Left: Müller Mӧbel, Centre and Right: Schonbuch

Mellow Daybed by Formstelle for Zeitraum

Das Haus by Doshi Levien was an update on the Ideal House concept and showcased their taste for the eclectic and colourful. A house crammed with design and arranged around a courtyard, classics by Alvar Aalto and Nelson sat alongside their own designs for Moroso, Authentics and Cappellini as well as pieces from e15 and Flos. You could also find some religious icons and family photos pinned to the walls. 

It was certainly more engaging than the surprisingly lacklustre Patricia Urquiola A&W Designer of the Year show in the city centre. Of more interest was Patricia's decision to pass the baton, via the Mentor Award to young British designer du jour Benjamin Hubert. He is certainly making a name for himself in the international design world.

The Ineke Hans Collection was shown in the Pure Village area. Simple rough wooden planks, almost as if they had been recycled from pallets were fixed to precision metal joints and painted in candy colours to provide a cheerful and almost childlike alternative to the slick designs elsewhere.

 

Studio Kepenic attracted some blog attention even before the fair, with a post appearing on the influential Dailytonic for their new Plug&Play series. A simple idea of how to make flat-pack furniture less of a chore, Plug&Play comes with 2 sets of beautifully turned wooden legs - a main set and a second extension set which enables you to turn your coffee table into a dining table with ease.

  
Finally, a mention to Richard Lampert who revitalised their classic Hirche lounge chair from 1953 (shown below in the outdoor version) and showed it alongside Dish's Island by Alexander Seifried.

So, as the door closes on IMM Cologne for another year, we're keeping our luggage close to hand. Next stop Stockholm!

Zeitraum News 2012

Barely 2 weeks into the new year and IMM Cologne opened its doors to the international design trade. The first major fair on the design calendar, IMM Cologne is the launchpad for Zeitraum's new products.

The 2012 Zeitraum collection encapsulates many of the trends visible at the show - quality, traditional materials left unadorned to allow their beauty to shine through and simple grey backgrounds offset with a flash of bright jewel colours.

The successful relationship with designers Formstelle continues apace with Turntable - a traditionally turned wooden table hiding a steel base which allows large diameter tops. Reminiscent of salon tea tables, Turntable is both elegant and statuesque, instantly adding a sense of gravitas to any room. Smaller scale Turntables are also available as side and coffee tables.

Organic has always been a word associated with Zeitraum and never has it been more appropriate than when describing the new Kontur family of tables. A central pillar is supported by a twin-layered amorphous base, reminiscent of a map's contour lines. The pillar supports a solid wooden top, which again can be organic, square or round and will be available as coffee, cafe and high bar tables. 

The amoprhous detail continues through to Twist Stone. Designed by Formstelle as an extension to the popular the Twist family, Twist Stone juxtaposes the sharp angles of the base with a curvaceous top.

 

A graduate project by Stephan Schmid, Strip combines beautiful materials in a charmingly lo-fi extending table. When packed away, twin tops lie above above each other on brass runners, with the lower one easily pulled out to give a little extra space when required. When extended, both tops sit in the top rails making Strip the perfect option for the occasional entertainer.

Plaisir seeks to make life a little easier, acting both as a side table and a tray. Carry your guests drinks and remove the empties with ease, simply by lifting the tray off the wooden frame. Formstelle have designed two versions of Plaisir - Plaisir 1 is tall and slim, topped with a shallow wooden bowl while the lower, wider Plaisir 2 has an aluminium tray with soft-touch powder coating and polished aluminium edge. Apart from being a pleasant sensation, the soft touch coating is also non-slip.  

A new version of the Noon lighting family made a welcome appearance. In keeping with the family's strong graphic lines, Noon 3 is available in 2 sizes, making it ideal for smaller cafe tables as well as larger dining tables.

The Morph family has been extended and tweaked, with the addition of Morph Pouf to make your experience of Morph Lounge even more relaxing. Morph and Morph Bar also featured on the stand in their new fully upholstered formats. The emphasis was on flexibility, with two complimentary fabrics (or fabric and leather) on the same chair and contrast stitching now a standard option.
 

We've been promised another couple of new products in Milan, but they are still top secret, so you'll just have to wait for April. Our lips are sealed.