Emeco has partnered up with designer Michael Young to produce a new collection that combines their iconic aluminum with a new material (new to Emeco, that is), wood. I adore the combination of the hard, industrial surface of aluminum combined with an organic, material that grew under sun.

Lancaster Collection - image: emeco.net

The collection includes stacking chairs, tables and barstools. All the pieces are available in light or dark stained ash wood and either polished aluminum or “nano” powder coat. The ash wood is sustainable, durable, and harvested from, you guessed it, Lancaster Pennsylvania. As wood isn’t Emeco’s specialty, the wood components are being hand crafted in a local Amish factory in Lancaster with a long time reputation for wood working.

Lancaster chairs - images: emeco.net

Lancaster chair shown stacked. image: emeco.net

Lancaster Table - images: emeco.net

Lancaster Barstool rear and front view - images: emeco.net

The way that Young designed the connection between the aluminum and wood components makes this chair really unique. He doesn’t hide the fact that there is a joint there, and celebrates the contrast between the materials by accentuating the join with visible bolts, and large tab like connectors. These details speak to the industrial side of the design, although the beauty in which all the elements are finished illustrates the craftmanship that Emeco is known for. The Lancaster collection is perfect composition of hybrid raw material, elegant design, and enduring quality.

Lancaster chair detail - image: emeco.net

Designer Michael Young at the Trussardi store in Milan, 2011. image: emeco.net

Michael Young is an accomplished industrial designer who has worked with many international furniture manufacturers. He has this to say about Lancaster’s design story:

“I feel passionate about working with natural materials that live forever.  Wood and metal are really the materials that connect to the human so there was no question that the richness of their aging processes is a perfect combination.”
Michael Young, quote source: Emeco Newsletter, July 2011

We are currently working on getting the Lancster collection up on our online store. If you have questions about pricing, availability, etc., contact us, here.
Visit Emeco’s website for information and images, here.
Visit Michael Young’s website to see more amazing design projects, here.
Read Designboom‘s up close and personal interview with Michael Young, here.

George Nelson ca.1965, photo: okcmoa.com

The Oklahamo Museum of Art with Vitra Design Museum is featuring “George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher” February 3rd – May 8th. The first complete retrospective of Nelson’s work will include over 120 objects including chairs, clocks, lamps, benches, etc., and also over 50 documents that include drawings, photos, and films.

photo: www.modernica.net

Nelson was one of the most prominent American designers of the 20th century in various areas spanning architecture,  industrial design, and photography. He was also an influential lecturer, curator, writer and publicist. For over two decades Nelson was the design director for Herman Miller, allowing him the opportunity to work closely with other canons of mid century modern design such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi.

Nelson Bench by George Nelson for Herman Miller

Marshmallow Sofa by George Nelson for Herman Miller

Swag Leg Desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller

Coconut Chair and Ottoman by George Nelson - photo: Photo: Vitra Design Museum Archive

Herman Miller just recently re-introduced the  Nelson Basic Cabinetry series – an excellent collection of cabinet coordinates that can be put together to create a built-in look or used individually as nightstands or side tables. The introduction included Nelson’s bench with a new metal base option. View these products on our website, here.

Nelson Bench with Bookcase Cabinet for Herman Miller

As if you need another excuse to visit Oklahoma… but in case you did, this retrospective show is it.  There may be opportunities to see George Nelson’s original product designs in retail stores (although, even these are few and far between), but this is a rare chance to get a glimpse of the artist’s personal world and thoughts through his drawings and writings and connect it all together in one space.

Read more on this exhibition on the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s website, here.
View and purchase George Nelson products on our website, here.

300 Coloured Vases, Hella Jongerius - photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

Hella Jongerius featured this installation of 300 vases at her a recent show: ”Misfit”  in the museum Boijmans van Beuningen, 2010.

Misfit, Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

 The vases are documentation of the designer’s experiment in colour and glaze application. She used industrial paint in standard colours for the first 82 vases and then collaborated with the experts at royal tichelaar makkum to combine historical mineral recipies with contemporary formulas in a layering effect that resulted in new, unique and dynamic colours and patinas.

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

photo: gerrit schreurs fotografie - courtesy: designboom.com

The rest of the show appears to have followed suit – arranged by colour across the walls of the gallery.

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

"Misfit" by Hella Jongerius - photo: lotte stekelenburg - courtesy: designboom.com

We offer some of Jongerius’ noteworthy designs right here at gabrielross.com! Click on these links to find her Polder Sofa and Bovist Cushions.

Polder Sofa by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

Bovist Cushions by Hella Jongerius, for Vitra

To view these products and more at gabrielross.com, click here.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec - photo credit: ola rindal

Maison et Object have selected Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec as one of their “Creators of the Year” as result of the large impact that they have made on the French design scene. Interior architects Gilles and Boissier and architect Edouard François join the Bouroullec brothers in the honour, having also been named “2011 Designers – On the Cutting Edge of Creation”.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are the designers of many favorites here at Gabriel Ross including the modular plastic screen Algue, Slow Chair, and the Vegetal Chair for Vitra, and the Panier Basket for Kartell.

Algue, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Slow Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Vegetal Chair, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Vitra

Panier Basket, by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Kartell

See these products and more at gabrielross.com, here.
Visit Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s website, here.
Visit Maison et Objet’s website, here.

Karim Rashid

“The Cult of Karim Rashid” is a major feature in this month’s issue of BC Home Magazine, and along with it, some of Gabriel Ross’ favorite products by this prolific designer. The magazine illustrates a retrospective of Rashid’s work including the “Blob” light for Foscarini, “Kaj” watch for Alessi, and the “Cadmo” floor lamp for Artemide (which, I might add, happens to be on sale right now).

 

Blob Floor Lamp

Blob Wall Lamp

Kaj watch

Cadmo Floor Lamp

Banal objects need life, they need presence – but they also need to make awful tasks more pleasant.
Karim Rashid

See these and other products designed by Karim Rashid on our website here.
Visit Karim Rashid’s website here.

Konstantin Grcic

Konstantin Grcic has been named Designer of the Year, 2010 by Design Miami.  Grcic’s “Netscape” installation will be a featured at the 6 day event held in December.  Grcic is a prolific German industrial designer with many works well recognized in the furniture industry.  Magis, one of Gabriel Ross’ newest partners, produces his “360°” series and “One” family of products:

360° Family by Konstantin Grcic

One chair by Konstantin Grcic

His “Netscape” chair is a hammock style hanging seat meant to promote movement and environmental engagement, rejecting a static sitting experience.  24 of these chairs will be hanging at Design Miami and Grcic suggests that you might find him sitting in one of them during the event looking to chat with his viewers. Check out this video interview on the Huffington Post for a preview of “Netscape” and a unique glimpse into this designer’s studio practice.

Visit Konstantin Grcic’s website here.

Visit gabrielross.com for a link to Magis’ website here.

"One" chair by Konstantin Grcic

 

Designed by Verner Panton in 1969, the Living Tower embodied the spirit of the 60′s interactive ‘living’ landscapes.  Verner designed many great pieces, breaking away from the more traditional techniques and materials being used by his fellow designers. 

Hans J. Wegner Wishbone Chair

He took the living landscapes theme to a whole new level with the “Fantasy” Landscapes he created for Bayer in 1968 and 1970. 

"Visiona II". One of Verners Fantasy Landscapes

The Living Tower is still available through Vitra today, although not an inexpensive piece.  The Tower serves as Art, interactive furniture and a fantastic, eye-catching way to divide a room.

Verner with family

The Living Tower is available in red, matt blue and chocolate.  It is constructed of a Birch Plywood Frame, uses polyurethane foam, classic upholstery and the outer dimensions are 78 3/4″ square.  There are 4 levels at which you can lounge on the Living Tower.

4 Levels of the Living Tower

A fun,  funky piece of furniture sure to be a conversation piece for years to come.

Why do so many great architects also have the mind to create such timeless and recognizable furniture.  The group is great and have contributed to influence the growing future generation of designer architects.

Mies Van Der Rohe has influenced the design of many houses and put together a collection of furniture that will fit in any style home. Not only great in a home, Mies furniture looks great in an office setting as well.

If you have a property that requires a thoughtful and imaginative structure to get the most out of the land, taking some ques from any Frank Lloyd Wright house may work well.

Utilizing the lines from the surroundings, Frank lloyd Wright has created classic furniture that looks great in a west coast modern, homes with rich wood and exposed beam structure.

Another great who liked to use organic shapes for those of you that are into more of a modern look is Eero Saarinen.  He has problaby the largest selection of notable furniture that can funk up an area or really morph your home into a fresh modern space.

One example of furniture that may drastically change the look of your living room is the Womb chair.

Another great notable is Le Corbusier

The big question is – Who is next?

EIGHTY SIX, 86, Hmmmmmm, a century ago, a guy would probably have been quite happy to have made it to half of that. I’m quickly approaching half of that and when I look at a resume like Warren Platner’s, I am starting to feel like I better start accomplishing something, Quick !! Warren Platner was not only an amazing architect, but also a designer of several great modernist pieces from the last century. His tables and chairs from the 1960′s still stand out for their simplicity and their beauty. The first time I saw one of these pieces, I was at a clients place and she had an original table that she had bought from Knoll while living in the U.S. in the late 1960′s. The amazing thing is that it looked exactly like the one that we now show in our showroom. It is a great design, that has stood the test of time. The side table just happens to also be one of those pieces that can be purchased quite reasonably. So even the smallest of budgets, can add this as one of your favourite pieces. What is truly amazing is the impact it can have on a room for such a small scaled piece if furniture.

So, Mr. Platner, thanks for the memories. You will definately live on in the lives of those that your great designs have touched and those they will touch in the future.