Exploratory Week: 3D

Marcel Breuer: The Wassily Chair
 

Designed in 1925-1926 while Breuer was the head of the cabinet-making workshop at the Bauhaus, and first manufactured in the late 1920's, I would imagine was quite a revolutionary design in the early 20th century.

Resembling what I have seen in the offices of solicitors and suchlike professional people, if it hadn't have originated from Bauhaus, it would appear to be aimed at the higher end of the market, as a potential statement piece, rather than furniture to be sat on.

I have seen the designer sat on it in pictures and he looks rather comfortable, with the black leather "giving" in the seat and back. I personally wouldn't chose this as furniture for my apartment, not because I dislike it, but because there are other designs I prefer that you can really relax into... However, if I had an office, I probably would.. but I wouldn't sit on it.

Josef Albers: Nesting Tables

 

Originally created for the Moellenhof House in Berlin, Albers’ 1926-7 design combines clear geometrical shapes with use of colour. On the under side, the glass table tops are lacquered turquoise, yellow, red, or blue.

A cute little set, the likes of which you might see in IKEA, and which would only really "work" in a home with modern decor. The simple lines and colours and wouldn't look out of place in a children's play centre (although in that case, they would have to be made from more durable, inexpensive materials!)

Surprisingly, I like these, I don't normally like nesting tables as a concept, as I associate them with older people, but as these have a modern feel which I'm drawn to (despite being designed nearly 100 years ago)

Ross Lovegrove: Andromeda Lamp

 

British designer Ross Lovegrove, created this piece for Yamagiwai.  I'm naturally drawn to contemporary design and am fascinated by the shadows which this light fitting casts on the walls.

A completely irregular shape, this "lamp" barely has no solid structure, but manages to create an organic, alien-like presence from it's cold, futuristic frame; which has a great impact on it's surroundings.

Paul Cocksedge: "Drop"

Exhibited outside Londons' Royal Festival Hall as part of the Size + Matter in 2010, "Drop" is a three-metre high magnetic sculpture, designed to look like a giant coin "which has fallen to earth from a giants palm" (and buckled upon impact).

The piece was initially bare, put the public were invited to attach their own pennies; many choosing to make letters and shapes, such as love hearts.

At the end of the exhibition, it's sponsors turned every penny into £1, which was donated to Barnardos. Such a simple yet innovative concept made this piece very accessible to the public and in doing so changed the pieces' texture and tone; and ultimately, raised a lot of money for charity.

Arti & Mestieri: "Rest or Escape" bookends

I came across these quirky little bookends on line by accident and they caught my eye. The type of thing I would buy myself, I was intrigued by the concept; does the designer intend to link the stances of the figures to the psychology of what books mean to their readers?

Perhaps "Rest" means the relaxation and comfort some people get from reading, and "Escape" means for some, the way in which we get "lost" in books (either purposefully or accidentally).

Whatever the intention of the designer, I can imagine they would spark conversations on any bookshelf.