The Bauhaus #itsalldesign by Vitra Design Museum

With the major exhibition »The Bauhaus #itsalldesign« (26.09.2015 – 28.02.2016), the Vitra Design Museum presents, a comprehensive overview of design at the Bauhaus for the first time. The exhibition encompasses a multiplicity of rare, in some cases never-before-seen exhibits from the fields of design, architecture, art, film and photography. At the same time, it confronts the design of the Bauhaus with current debates and tendencies in design and with the works of contemporary designers, artists and architects. In this way, “The Bauhaus #itsalldesign” reveals the surprising present-day relevance of a legendary cultural institution.

The Bauhaus #itsalldesign, by Vitra Design Museum

Optical Variations by Damien Bénéteau

The M.A.D.Gallery is hosting “Optical Variations”, an exhibit by French artist Damien Bénéteau, featuring four of his illuminated, hypnotizing monochromatic mobiles. A photographer by training, Bénéteau creates art dedicated to light, capturing it in a playful and energetic way that renders it nearly tangible. Bénéteau’s kinetic sculptures reflect his fascination with how an object’s volume is perceived in various lighting situations and his interest in mechanics and machines. “My greatest influences come from minimalist sculpture, seen in the mixture of geometric aesthetics, austerity and simplicity found in my work” says the artist.

In three of his installations for the M.A.D.Gallery – “Length Variations”, “Circular Variations” and “Spatial Variations” – the French artist plays with pendulums, pairing their oscillating movement with light to create a trio of mesmerizing phenomena. “Sphérolithe”, in contrast, sees the former photographer moving away from the continuous movement of the pendulum, rather letting light emanating from a stationary point speak for itself. The light pulsates like the throbbing of a heartbeat: consistent, calm, calculated.

Operating from his own atelier in the suburb of Paris, Bénéteau, a connoisseur of machinery, uses milling, polishing and metal turning machines to create his structures, each one requiring between three and six months of work.

Optical Variations, by Damien Bénéteau

Reproduction of Taliesin 4 Table Lamp by Yamagiwa

Reproductions of original masterpieces from legendary architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Taliesin 4 Table Lamp, by Yamagiwa

Apartment 50 by ECAL

In September 2014, twelve Master Product Design students of ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne were invited to reflect on a collection of objects to meet everyday needs in the Cité Radieuse in Marseille. The outcome of this research is being displayed as part of an exhibition staged in Apartment 50 from 4 to 19 July 2015. Apartment 50 was restored by two enthusiasts, Jean-Marc Drut and Patrick Blauwart, as close as possible to its original condition. Listed as a historical monument, the venue occasionally hosts exhibition projects.

World-renowned designers have already exhibited there, such as Jasper Morrison, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Konstantin Grcic and Pierre Charpin. Thus, under the direction of Thilo Alex Brunner, head of the Master Product Design at ECAL, and of ECAL professor Augustin Scott de Martinville, a series of objects was produced over one semester by the Product Design Master students. The project began in September 2014 with a three-day workshop in the Cité Radieuse, allowing students to experience life in the building.

Apartment 50 in Le Corbusier’s famous Cité Radieuse housing complex in Marseilles, France, by Master Product Design students of ECAL
Photography by Michel Bonvin

Equilibrium by Nathan Burkett

The garden, titled ‘Equilibrium’ has revealed some key new trends in landscaping for 2015 and signals a return to soft, useable spaces where greenery is used in place of traditional ‘hard’ landscaping elements to create structure and symmetry in nature. Some of the garden’s key features include a cantilevered arbor which wraps around the perimeter to create an architectural ‘frame’ in which the rest of the garden sits.

In the centre of the garden a custom-designed fire pit is framed by two perennial garden beds which inject colour and fun to break up the formality of the surrounding features. The seating area is paved with intricate stone work which continues along the garden’s base, interspersed with soft lawn areas and a pond which is subtly tiled with Italian glass.
The living pergolas, which stand approximately 3m tall and have been grown over a five year period, represent a return to nature as an architectural centerpiece, using organic material to create the built form, which Burkett says is a key recurring theme in his design.

Equilibrium, Melbourne, Australia by Nathan Burkett
Photography by John Wheatley

Mad Men Monument by Lorenzo Apicella

Over the course of seven seasons, the landmark series “Mad Men” has charted the rise of ad man Don Draper in the “Golden Age” of advertising in 1960s New York. The bench is located in front of the Time & Life Building, fictional home of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Designed by Pentagram’s Lorenzo Apicella, Michael Bierut and Emily Oberman, the monument takes the form of a sleek, elegant bench that features the iconic graphic of Draper from the show’s opening title sequence.

The idea behind the bench is strong and simple. The silhouette of Don with his arm draped over a couch has become a symbol of “Mad Men,” seen in the final moments of the opening titles designed by Imaginary Forces. The show’s story is told against the backdrop of massive cultural changes in the 1960s, and the graphic pictures Don sitting back, taking it all in. The bench invites visitors to do the same, to take a moment and observe the excitement of New York around them. Fans are welcome to “drape” themselves on the bench like Don, and take and post photos.

“Mad Men,” and Don in particular, are known for their cool, consummate sense of style, and the show has been credited with renewing interest in mid-century modern design. Rather than recreate the look of the period, Apicella’s design for the bench echoes it in clean, smooth lines that make the monument the chicest, most sophisticated piece of street furniture in the city. Comprised of only two pieces, the 12-foot-long bench combines a ½” thick-rolled steel plate seat and back, balanced on a 10-foot-long cast concrete base. Don’s silhouette is cut from the seat, which has a powder-coated black finish with white painted graphic elements. The concrete base color was selected to complement the existing plaza paving pattern.

Mad Men Monument, by Lorenzo Apicella with Michael Bierut and Emily Oberman

IKEA – Everyday Heroes

In a new campaign, IKEA honours the things at home that usually get very little recognition. In an epic homage, the toilet paper holder, clothes hanger and even the wall-mounted hook behind the door, are all portrayed as true heroes.

Without thinking, we rely on them daily and it’s not until they’re gone that we miss them dearly. Unlike furniture we proudly place in the centre of a room for people to gather around and admire, the life of an everyday hero is secluded and sometimes, quite dreadful. But still, day in and day out, they do their best to improve our lives at home.

IKEA – Everyday Heroes, Twitter: @everydayhero365

Basket Chair by Nanna & Jørgen Ditzel

Created in the 1950′s by danish designers Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel, the woven chair, made from oak, is offered in its ‘original’ version and in an outdoor adaptation. The traditional Ditzel chair has hand-braided wicker, while the outdoor version is made from artificial fiber and teak to protect against the elements. The ‘basket chair’ is accompanied with custom cushion fabrics that are also designed by Nanna Ditzel, who has been coined the ‘queen of Danish design’.

Basket Chair, by Nanna and Jørgen Ditzel, Edited by Kettal

Room 506 by Jaime Hayon for Raddison Blu Royal Hotel

Jaime Hayon reveals a total design for Room 506 at the iconic SAS Royal Hotel (now Radisson Blu Royal Hotel Copenhagen). In 1958, Arne Jacobsen designed a room in this hotel – Room 606 – which is still preserved to this day. Both designers are known as rare multi-talented artists with the ability and the courage to create designs on any scale. Hayon’s total design of the room that includes furniture, works of art, bedspreads, lamps etc.has a playful expression, with passion for organic shapes, exclusive materials, extraordinary craftsmanship and a clear aesthetic expression.

“In our past six years’ collaboration, I think we have achieved a great evolution for the Fritz Hansen brand but also a great evolution in my own work, moving forward my design with the idea of making the most of minimum means. Coming from the Mediterranean, to be able to make an imprint on Danish design has been an incredibly special experience for me. The idea for this room is to create a luminous space that brings joy and genuine comfort through the Fritz Hansen designs along with some of my own designs and art. Together with Fritz Hansen, I have created bespoke designs just for this room, always in reflection of our shared principles of working with the best materials and aiming for simplicity and maximum comfort,” says Hayon.

Room 506, by Jaime Hayon, for Raddison Blu Royal Hotel

Loftcube by Werner Aisslinger at Hotel Daniel

The Loftcube based on the new urban concept to establish rooftop living on high rised buildings around the world has now been installed on top of the Hotel Daniel in Graz. The interior of the 1950s hotel building has been designed by studio aisslinger in 2005 and won in 2006 the expo real “hotel of the year” award. Now finally the unique 44 square meters loftcube featuring all-round panoramic views like to the Graz clock tower or Schloss Eggenberg has found its way to the rooftop. A unique nomadic architecture on an iconic building will be a new Graz attraction. The special Hotel Daniel – loftcube also tops everything in terms of its furnishings and appointments, including a specially made bed measuring 2,20 x 2,20m, a jungle feeling in the huge raindance shower, a comfy sofa unit and a superb home cinema experience.

Loftcube, Graz, Austria, by Werner Aisslinger, at Hotel Daniel
Photography by Hotel Daniel Graz