Design Wee featuring great design, architecture, fashion, graphics and innovation from across the globe.
The Haleiwa weaves sustainable rattan into sweeping curves and casts a distinct silhouette. The natural materials pay homage to the artisanal tradition in the Philippines, remade for present times. Paired, or used as a statement piece, the versatility of the design makes this chair adapt to different styles. Creating a balance between form and function, grace and strength, architecture and design, the Haleiwa is as comfortable as it is beautiful.
The Rainforest vases are a mixture of 3D designed shapes and traditional Scandinavian steamstick technique. The hand shaped pieces have extremely thick glass with weightlessly floating splashes of color. The studiomade collection is inspired by the contrasts of nature, and how it creates harmony.
The Augusta reinterprets the classic dining table. Representing the generations before us, the design seems to grow from an invisible root. The table legs are oriented to this common core, reaching up to hold the book-matched tabletop. Solid European walnut wood was selected for its meaning of wisdom and growth. Wood usually discarded by furniture makers is used for its challenges to work with. The knots, the cracks, the wind shakes and the unique swirls tell the story of the tree's life. The uniqueness of the wood allows this story to live on in a piece of family heirloom furniture.
Motichair is a bar chair designed for seating and conversation. The frame uses circles to connect the support points, which balances the forces and reduces material loss. Mortise and tenon joints together with fully hidden dovetail joints make the structure stable. The chair is made of carbon fiber composite material combined with steam bent wood. The form is inspired by arches and moon gates in ancient Chinese gardens, and the circular openings give a broader visual sense. A two color treatment separates the circles visually.
Aggregate is a collection of three floor lamps made from recycled and discarded materials. Each lamp is built on a welded skeleton formed from discarded steel scraps. The body is sculpted by hand from a mixture of concrete, silica sand and shredded plastic bottles, applied over a thin alkali-resistant fiber base. The concrete mixture is worked like clay rather than cast in a mould, so each lamp has its own texture and silhouette. LED tube bulbs supply the light, and a step switch at the base turns each lamp on and off. The collection aims to give urban waste a new use.
Cecilia is an armchair made from reused and discarded materials. The structure is built from pressed slats of leftover wood, shaped with wide feet and a broad seat so that short offcuts can be used. The backrest is formed by small pieces of leftover fabric tied to a flexible base with foam inside, creating a soft volume and added comfort. The seat is made of discarded leather, which can receive patches and details, so each armchair is unique. The low and reclining form invites rest and follows a Scandinavian style.