Celato Storage by De Castelli

Monolithic storage units with birch drawers and surfaces available in maistral copper, acid-etched iron and acid-etched brass–an object so desirable you may need house insurance. As a living object, its material is cut by the nature which emerges from it. And so nature turns into the main character.

Celato, R&D De Castelli, for De Castelli

The Zoo by Jaime Hayon for Baccarat

“The Baccarat Zoo reinvents the art of collecting animals while giving them a real function. Receptacle or Art Toy, every character exudes its optimistic narrative strength, full of magic and imagination.”
– Jaime Hayon

The Zoo , by Jaime Hayon, for Baccarat

Alvar Aalto: In the Master’s Home

NOWNESS invited Finland’s top contemporary design talent to showcase their work in the home of the country’s greatest most celebrated aesthete, Alvar Aalto. Today preserved as an atmospheric museum, the Alvar Aalto house, which was the architect’s domicile and studio from 1936 until his death, is an intimate memorial to the modernist master. The clean lines, functionality and unpretentious nature of classic Finnish design pioneered by Aalto, Ilmari Tapiovaara and Kaj Franck still permeates much of the work by the discipline’s current stars. Here we select our top Finnish designers for further scrutiny.

Jussi Takkinen “Untitled” folding chair and “Osio” wall clock, Matti Syrjälä “Riuku” stool and “Loiste” storm lantern, Hannu Kähönen “Kapeneva” bench, Ville Kokkonen “White 4″ table lamp, Ilkka Suppanen “Kaasa” lantern, Klaus Haapaniemi “Rabbit Throw”, Marko Nenonen “Lounge Chair”, Harri Koskinen “Remain in Light”

Alvar Aalto: In the Master’s Home, via: NOWNESS

BE Light by QisDesign

The BE Light, is an LED desk lamp that folds and sports a unique articulated design. With its clever hinge design, it can be fully extended to a height of 33.4 cm, and an angle of up to 135 degrees. It also provides adequate task lighting with white LED. When not in use, it can be folded down flat to a minimum height of 1.8 cm, taking up the least amount of space on a desk.

BE Light, LED Task Lamp, by QisDesign

Fold Wall Lamp by Odoardo Fioravanti for Foscarini

“Reflecting on the concept of a screen, we devised devised Fold, a wall lamp of extreme formal simplicity that is so adaptable it can be inserted into a vast array of environments of different styles and functions. The design has been developed from a basic gesture: turning a two dimensional sheet of paper into three-dimensions by simply folding it in the middle. This search for simplicity has an almost abstract graphic result that conceals its careful research into design and technology– research that is clearly perceptible but not flaunted. Fold is a thin, softly concave sheet slightly protruding from the wall to hide and screen the light source without compromising its function. When switched off the graphic outline of the diffuser takes center stage. When Fold is switched on the opaque, polycarbonate diffuser fully screens the light source and the large glow projected onto the back wall emphasizes its soft shape.”

Fold Wall Lamp, by Odoardo Fioravanti, for Foscarini

Ceramics by Harumi Nakashima

Japanese ceramic artist Harumi Nakashima is most well-known for his free-form sculptures with spotted polka-dots. At once both stoic as well as tortured, the organic forms are reminiscent of some type of odd plant this claims it’s home in a science fiction novel. Nakashima is a member of the modern Japanese ceramics movement Sōdeisha. As is apparent from his own work, the movement was a reaction against the hegemony of folk-craft style and philosophy that claimed dominance in Japan.

L’exposition Ceramics by Harumi Nakashima, Gallery Nilsson and Chiglien, Paris, October 14 – November 26. via: Spoon & Tamago

American Standards Lamp by Peter Bristol

For better or worse, construction materials, methods, and dimensions are quite homogenized in the United States. From the 2×4 wall studs to the cheap light switches, it seems that when building a wall, location is really the only decision left to make. The utilitarian relationship between these standard materials, dimensions, and parts comes together to create a modern icon that is hidden in plain sight. By deriving its character directly from this set of rules, the American Standards Lamp’s is instantly familiar and intuitive to use (for people living among these standards). Flipping on the American Standards Lamp is as routine as unlocking the door. The lamp creates diffused light and provides an accessible extra power outlet.

American Standards Lamp, by Peter Bristol

Heima Series by Francis Cayouette for Normann Copenhagen

It’s time to spice things up. Its time for colors — and lots of them. Got a candlelight with a white candle. Let them burn down and get your hands on color-candles. Can’t get hold on colored candles! — add some colors around the candlelight.

The Heima series is designed by Francis Cayouette which consists of five products.

Heima Series, Heima Candlestick, by Francis Cayoutte, for Normann Copenhagen

Bistro Chair by Robert Stadler for Thonet

“To design a new bistro chair for Thonet is a touchy task. Initially I was proposed to customize a typical Thonet chair for the Corso restaurants of which’s design I am in charge of. But I preferred to elaborate a new chair instead of producing one more Designer comment on this essential piece of furniture. My starting point was the fact that today chair 214 (historically baptized Nr. 14) is rather expensive, which represents a certain break in regards to Thonet’s history. Indeed the company is renewed for being the first having achieved a world wide distribution of their furniture thanks to it’s ingenious conception based on dismantling. Yet, after more than 40 millions sold chairs the manufacturing of the backpart is still rather traditional. With chair 107 I focussed on a new design of that element which is now being produced in an almost totally automated process.”

Bistro Chair, by Robert Stadler for Thonet

Chantal Table Lamp by Stephen Burks for Ligne Roset

Table lamp with base and shade in clear mouth-blown glass. Red textile cable and black manual switch.

Chantal, by Stephen Burks, ReadyMade Projects, for Ligne Roset