Category: Artek
The Historia Supellexalis: “J” for Jongerius
Jongerius
A Hella; A Lab; An Open-ended exploration
The Historia Supellexalis: “B” for Bouroullec
Bouroullec
A Ronan; An Erwan; An unassuming, poetic, connection.
smow Blog Design Calendar: January 25th 1894 – Happy Birthday Aino Aalto!
In 1936 Aino Aalto opined that “homes can be given interior design in other ways than before – not by buying expensive complete suites of furniture, but by concentrating on low-cost furnishings which can be used – with the aid of flowers, carpets, drapery and colours – to create hitherto more practical and more comfortable homes.”1
A break not only with the understandings, the ways, of generations long past in terms of what constitutes appropriate furniture; but also a break with the ways of many of the functionalist modernist practitioners of the immediately preceding decade in terms of what constitutes an interior design.
And an opinion, an understanding, which underscores why Aino Aalto stands as an important moment in the (hi)story of interior and furniture design…..
5 New Architecture & Design Exhibitions for March 2020
Back in the days of the Roman Republic Martius was the month in which troops mustered in preparation for the coming battle season, to prepare, as it were, to March into war.
Please don’t! The world’s out of control enough as it is!
Rather use the coming spring as your incentive, to (a) make up for some of those New Year’s Resolutions you’ve long forgotten you’d made and (b) to march into a future of new impulses, new understandings, new perspectives, a new world. To march into an architecture and/or design exhibition.
Our five recommendations for new showcases opening in Martius MMXX can be found in Ulm, Gent, Vienna, Kobe and Dresden…..
Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020: High Five!!
With the 2020 edition Stockholm Furniture Fair celebrates its 70th birthday.
Grattis på födelsedagen!
We did think about taking along a cake, but knew the halls of Stockholmsmässan would be filled to the rafters with Kanelbullar, as indeed would we.
And so by way of a present, a Stockholm Furniture Fair 2020 High 6!!
Vitra – Work @ Orgatec Cologne 2018
At Orgatec Cologne 2016 Vitra staged, in effect, their own trade fair, renting an entire hall and inviting family and friends along to share the space and their ideas on the future of work.
And obviously had a lot of fun and/or success with the concept.
For at Orgatec Cologne 2018 they once again staged the Vitra Fair……. Work
NeoCon Chicago 2016 Interview: Josef Kaiser, Chief Sales Officer, Vitra
Although geographically the (hi)story of Vitra begins in Basel, spiritually it begins in America and arrives in Switzerland in 1957
smow blog compact Milan 2015 special: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec
It was invariably more through good fortune than good planning; however, at Milan Furniture Fair 2015 Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s
smow blog 2014. A pictorial review: April
As all old thesauruans know “April” is merely a synonym for “Milan” And lo despite all promises to the contrary
Alvar Aalto – Second Nature at the Vitra Design Museum
Everyone knows Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto. Everyone knows his flowing, free-formed buildings and his moulded plywood furniture. What
Architektur Design Industrie – Vitra Campus. Ein Jubiläum at Aedes am Pfefferberg, Berlin
1989. A year of social, culture and political upheaval whose effects are still being felt today. The Berlin Wall falls. George
5 New Design Exhibitions for September 2014
The inescapable chill in the morning air and the deep-seated boredom in the eyes of school aged children can only
(smow) blog compact Milan 2014 Special: Artek @ Salone del Mobile
If we’re honest, we really, really, should have seen it coming. We didn’t. Having been acquired in 2013 by Vitra,
(smow) blog Design Calendar: February 3rd 1898 – Happy Birthday Alvar Aalto!
“One of the typical activities in modern architecture has been the construction of chairs and the adoption of new materials
(smow) blog 2013. A pictorial review: September
After the relative calm and civility of July and August, September sees a more than inconsequential upping of our professional
(smow) blog 2013. A pictorial review: January
January 2013 was, as every January, dominated by IMM Cologne, and all that that entails. In particular IMM Cologne 2013
Vitra acquire Artek. Eames meets Aalto. Again.
At Design Miami Basel 2013 one of the more impressive presentations was without question the collection of Alvar Aalto furniture
IMM Cologne 2013: Stool 60 by Alvar Aalto at Ungers Archiv für Architekturwissenschaft
In our interview with Michel Charlot about his lamp U-Turn for Belux he told us that “I like it when
Depot Basel No.5: Seats
Much like those who doubted that the Stone Roses would ever get back together; there are also those who doubt
IMM Cologne 2010: Artek 75 @ Droom/Design Your Room
At IMM Cologne Finnish producer Artek continued their 75th Anniversary celebrations with a small show at Droom/Design Your Room in