Tag: <span>Belgium</span>

Published November 13, 2008 by

The Feisty Future of Design

hinges shaped like bugsWhen I was at the Interieur Design Biennale in Belgium, I did a few short blogs on all the new manufacturer introductions, but I’ve been saving the goods from the Young Designers Fair until today. Of all the things at this prestigious European furniture festival, these no-name designer prototypes were the things that impressed me most. The entering students and start-ups weren’t necessarily designing for mass appeal, for beauty, or even functionality; they were designing to shake things up. The call to entry was a search for a new creative process, an answer to current questions, and a source of motivation and inspiration through design.

Above is a hardware series by 28-year-old Johan Brunix that I simply adored. The hinges don’t move any differently than an average set, but by adding delicate wings, that movement becomes the flutter of a butterfly. From innovation that tips the scale to the small detail that makes you smile, the Young Designers Fair shows the future of design is in good hands.

Click here to see the winning designs and the future of furniture

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Published October 22, 2008 by

Why Belgian Design is Just That Good

Belgium_Antwerp_Square.jpgDuring a group lunch at Chez Fred in Antwerp with Interieur Designer of the Year Stephan Schöning, this topic came up: Why is there such great design in Belgium? The Belgians at the table mused about their history as the forefront of creativity in the Middle Ages and joked about their gloomy weather as source of productivity, but my reasoning? It’s the awe-inspiring cultural and governmental support for design across the country.

WinkelhaakDesignCenter.jpgEXHIBIT A: Winkelhaak Design Center
Twenty-seven start-up design firms occupy this Antwerp building and each is given a furnished office for four, conference rooms, gallery space, a marketing team, a secretary, and basic catering—for free. The only down payment they make is a commitment to improve their business and a promise to leave within five years. With this government-subsidized program, the average design team leaves within three years because their company has outgrown the space.

Be_DesignPlatfomrLimburgMembers.jpgEXHIBIT B: Design Platform Limburg

When the factories shut their doors in the mining town of Limburg and unemployment shot up, the community turned to design as a their salvation. With financing from Belgium and a Euregio (an organization of like-minded European regions) they founded Design Platform Limburg: a network of educators, financiers, marketers, and manufacturers especially created for young designers looking to launch their career. The town is now nationally recognized as a talent-breeding ground and design haven.

BE_SofieLachaert.jpgEXHIBIT C: Designer Give Back
On this trip we were introduced to a number of accomplished designers. I was inspired by the creativity in their work, but their humility and generosity impressed me the most. Fabiaan Van Severen who has an award-winning furniture line, also teaches design at four schools in Belgium. Sofie Lachaert, who designs for the ever-influential Dutch Droog, runs a gallery in Ghent where emerging talent gets the opportunity to present their work and get the necessary practical experience to succeed.

Belgium_Kortrijk.jpgEXHIBIT D: Interieur
On the surface Interieur might look like a trade show, but it’s a national festival of design. It is open to the public for ten days and families, schools, local companies, and designers of all talents will all attend. The biennale was advertised in each of the four cities I visited and truly celebrated by all.

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Belgium Interieur

Published October 20, 2008 by

Top Ten Decor from Interieur

arctic wall light1. Artic Wall Light by Andrea Bastianello
The glow of this oversize sconce drew me in from across the room, and when I read the title Arctic, the look of the jagged pattern and partial orb became that much more visceral.

rocker by Frederica2. Rocker by Fredericia
This chair has a truly modern grace. Diagonally sewn seams create a subtle pattern, the curved seat flows into the open arms, and a wood veneer bottom warms the stark white leather.

buzzilights3. Buzzilights
In a trade show of seriously modern furniture, these colorful felt lights looked refreshingly cheerful. They cast fabulous shadows, but the best part is that the shape is adjustable; the fixture is made with a flexible frame, so you can scrunch them up or stretch them out for different looks.

Diamond Bathtub4. Diamond Bathtub by Aqua Mass
I’ve been seeing this diamond cut-trend a lot in vases and dishes, but in bathtubs? That’s ambitious.

modern-firepit5. Lotus Fire Pit by Tulip
Unless a fire pits is built into the ground, it usually feels a bit phony. The Lotus by Tulip has a presence that rarely comes with portability.

Giorgetti bed6. Bed by Giorgetti
This Giorgetti piece is not new, but I’m in love with it.

poliform chandelier7. Poliform Chandelier
Cords used to be things you try to hide, but not at this show. I must have seen five to ten lighting companies flaunting bright red cords and weaving them into their designs. This Poliform light was my favorite example.

pings bench8. Pings Bench by Bocci
Pleating as a form of cushioning was a clever and fashion-forward choice by Bocci.

bert and dennis chair9. Bert and Dennis Chair
Bert and Dennis was a company showing within the Young Designers Fair, but their work looked more polished and professional than the majority of their peers. Where many of the other designers just go for a “sculptural” look, this chair also looks comfortable.

De Padova coffee table10. De Padova Coffee Table
Coffee table styling tends to be a central display of books + bowl + tchotchkes. This cut-out metal table makes each section its own decor pedestal, and the negative space highlights items on the forgotten lower level.

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Belgium furniture Interieur tradeshows

Published October 17, 2008 by

Interieur Biennale

ramblahallInterieur 2008 is truly one of the best trade shows I’ve ever been to. It’s not a huge show compared to the one in Milan, but the quality of design makes up for its size. It’s a very well curated with the best of the major players and a promising crop of emerging designers. There were so many inspiring products it was hard to digest it all in one sitting, but here is a smattering of the most eye-catching displays at the show.

(Above) The La Rambla section of the show was like a contemporary design hall of fame featuring the best products of the past few years; a large portion was dedicated to the guest of honor, Jaime Hayon.

alessiAlessi’s iconic wine opener man and teapot cast a playful but powerful presenting companies shadow at the show. Although an Italian brand, Alessi was one of the few presenting companies that has a major presence in the U.S and the international market. Other familiar powerhouses in attendance were Cassina, Vitra, Minotti, and Thonet. Many of the convention center’s 300 companies don’t even do business in the U.S.

designer of the year
At the end of the Rambla was the work of Stephan Schöning, Designer of the Year. Featured on his own pedestal are his two light cages and the Parker sofa.
porsche
A Porsche covered in highly-tailored tweed hid behind the curtains of a luxury linens booth.
light pillars
The Delta Light booth stacked their tube lamps to make glowing tables and towers.
kortrijk
This handsome standing lamp was one of the pieces in the Kortrijk design section where local designers paired up the with the town's biggest companies to create experimental work.
sacco
This hall display is celebrating 40 years of Sacco, the designer beanbag.
anne at YDF
That's me testing out one of the young designer's seats and resting after eight hours of walking through the show.

YDFFor me the highlight of the show was by far the Young Designers Fair. Filled with fresh ideas, I’ve decided I need to create a whole photo gallery to fully describe the talent Ive seen (coming soon). Here, designer Sandor Bokkinga stands behind his seat made of garden hoses while holding his pitchfork chair.

It’s 10:00 AM Belgian time and I need to get back to the show. Check back for more of my favorite finds from Interieur.

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Belgium Interieur tradeshows