Category — Design Surveillance

The fashion world’s loss is the interior design world’s gain. In Janaury, we saw Christain LaCroix’s brillant collection for Designers Guild and now he recently launched his furniture collection for Sicis’ Next Art Mosaic Factory. With designs inspired from the famous mosaics of the Byzantine empress Theodora, who LaCroix describes as “an archetype of femininity”, the furniture  reflects  a heady mix of styles with a touch of flamboyance and extravagance .

Christian Lacroix has been a recognized force in interior decoration for some time as he dreamt up several illustrious hotels, cinemas and theatres. The new furniture collection made up of 12 chairs, light fixtures, tables  and ottomans combining fabric and leather, accented with lace, passementerie, and embroidery is set for worldwide distribution from June 2011 in all of SICIS’s showrooms.

Mr. LaCroix on his inspiration for the collection…..

“Having the privilege of being brought up between monuments, museums and 17th century houses – all well-steeped in the history of art – gave me the confidence that everything could be mixed up, particularly the most extreme styles such as baroque, neo-classical, post- modern, kitsch and pop.”

With regard to the furniture’s enviably sensual shapes, Mr Lacroix demonstrates his practical and grounded side, stressing that amongst the curves and contours, comfort was a key consideration. Meanwhile, to enhance the magnificence of the mosaics – exuberantly colorful and jewel-like in appeal – he used them sparingly, opting for a light, subtle hand. Elegant as ever, Mr Lacroix’s main goal was to create furniture conjuring up “refinement and individuality.”

I am so hoping we’ll get a up close and personal look at Maison et Objet in September. (BTW- LOVE! the lace applique on the ottoman.) This is a ceramic tour de force about the art of living.

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Here are some highlights from day 3 at Heimtextil, the world’s largest textile fair including wallpapers and a discussion on sustainabilityfrom a European designer’s point of view.

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“This distinction is incongruous as we always believe that we could have done things better… prizes are quite a healthy form of pressure; they force us to do better each time and always”.

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, 2011 now! design à vivre designers, show how this pressure can encourage even more precision. Designed to meet present-day needs but to resist the assault of time and fashion, their objects are sustainable by definition and consequently need to be precise. Their designs themselves are part of a long-term industrial process where design, in their opinion, owns the top spot. The importance of draftsmanship seems incongruous in these days of 3D technology. Yet it is natural for Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

Slow Chair for Vitra

Ronan born in 1971 and Erwan born in 1976, have worked together for over 10 years. Their partnership is a permanent dialogue, nourished by their differences and guided by their need for precision and delicacy.

At the Salon du Meuble in 1997, they were noticed by Giulio Cappellini who assigned them with their first industrial design projects. In 2000, Issey Miyake asked them to design a space presenting his new Apoc clothes collection in Paris. Then came the decisive meeting with Rolf Fehlbaum, president of Vitra, which led to the design of a new typology of office systems called Joyn in 2002. They have worked with Magis to design two complete furniture collections: Striped and Steelwood.

Steelwood Chair for Magis

Finally, the textile walls  North Times and  Clouds designed through a  partnership with Kvadrat.

 In 2010 they presented two separate collections for two new editors: a tableware collection, called Ovale, for Alessi and a bathroom collection for Axor.

Alessi Oval Collection 2010

UPDATE: Being introduced at M&O  next week in the  Nanimarquina booth is ‘losanges’ , a new rug collection designed by the  Bouroullec brothers.

Intrigued by traditional persian rugs and the ‘kilim savoir-fair’ which the designers consider to be a delicate mix of rusticity and fineness, the ‘losanges’ project is carried out by craftsmen in northern Pakistan who weave the rug’s thirteen colors into a geometrical rhombus shape. ‘losanges’ is crafted by hand, and the afghan wool used to craft it is hand spun, allowing for particular color tones to be highlighted,making each one a unique piece. Can’t wait to see it in person.

 For those of you interested in the process; see below.

Full scale sketch by Bouroullec brothers

Traditional weaving process by Pakistani craftsmen

Photos Courtesy of Maison et Objet.

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Every season at Maison et Objet, has its creators. These three cutting edge, push the envelope designers are definitely someone you should know.

The January 2011 edition’s Designers of the Year are:

 Maison et Objet – Edouard Francois

scenes d’interieur- Gilles and Boissier

Now!- Ronan and  Erwan Bouroullec

In 2011, scènes d’intérieur pays tribute to this expression of French fine decoration, embodied by the original style that Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier manage to develop.

Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier met at the start of their careers at Christian Liaigre in1995. He worked eight years there and became studio manager whereas she rapidly moved on to join Philippe Starck’s team where she stayed 9 years, reaching the top levels of responsibility in the interior design field. They decided to join forces in 2004 to create their own agency Gilles & Boissier. Winning clients like The Maison Boulud in Beijing, the Buddakan in New York with orginial and imaginative scenarios, they quickly acquired an international reputation in the worlds of hospitality, restaurants, and luxury. Their powerful, theatrical, narrative style inspires stagings that give the spaces they work with a unique sense of soul.

Apartment Plan

“We are condemned to bear this cross and flaunt it!”

Makato Cafe

Gilles & Boissier is the meeting of two rich and sometimes contrasting aesthetic approaches that come together in the design of varied spaces where staging often plays the starring role. Art holds a privileged place in their projects. Borrowing and breaking the rules and taking free inspiration from cultures and styles; their talent consists of a clever balancing act, perfect mastery of lines and proportions, constant attention to noble materials, often the know-how of top level artisans and young artists.

Murals in Artcurial cafe a collaboration with Cybrien Chabert

The secret of Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier also hangs on the confidence and complicity they forge with their loyal clients. Rémo Ruffini, of the Moncler brand assigned them to design a boat; then he submitted his quilted jacket brand to the designer couple. This was followed by new stores, residences and a new yacht. Alain Yau, the London restaurateur, founder of Hakkasan and Wagamama assigned them to a new address in Istanbul and continued the adventure with them in Miami, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Mumbai. Stephen Starr, another visionary entrepreneur, met them for the Buddakan project. Impressed by their work, he asked them to create Steak 954 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida then a brand new restaurant, Makoto, in Miami which will open in late January 2011. Ian Shrager, a pioneer in designer hotels  and initiator of new lifestyle concepts recognized the talent of Gilles et Boissier by entrusting them with the interior design of the Gramercy Park Hotel’s restaurant in New York, the Wakiya.

Artcurial Cafe Paris

 Dorothee and Patrick say it best…

Tomorrow: Edouard Francois

Photos Courtesy Maison et Objet

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I am making my list and checking it twice… here are a couple of things on my wish list I am coveting. What’s on your wish list? Tell me by leaving a comment. Happy Holidays.

Hang and Level

I saw this on late night TV (I know its cheesy, but sometimes you can find a gem) and immediately put it on my list. Any designer who works with art, accessories, staging or makeovers should have Hang and Level in their toolbox.

ipad Moleskine

 I love my ipad, but I would love this hybrid cover from Moleskine even more.  Think I need one for my iphone too!

Vitra Chandelier

I adore chairs! This gives me the best of both worlds. I can fuel my affection for chairs and still have space to move around in my lab- oh, I mean house.

Vitra has been making minature versions of its chairs for years. inspired by them Paola Pivi  made this chandelier entirely from these small chairs with an aluminum structure to hold them together. Each one is composed in a ball formation that measures approximately 28 inches in diameter and is made from a unique selection of the miniature chairs.

Appy Holiday – an itunes card for my favorite apps. If you’re in the design business and you aren’t tech savvy. Well, been nice knowing you. Design is riding the tech wave and if you’re not on it, well….

Flipboard

I am an avid magazine reader and this app has gotten me organized and away from all the tear outs and piles of articles to be read. Now  I curate my own magazine through Flipboard. Flipboard has managed to publish arguably the prettiest, most fluid content app without paying a single editorial team, photographer or journalist. The souped-up news aggregator launched this year as a reader that transforms links from social networks into a slick e-magazine with images and copy pulled from the source. My favrorite way to read these days.

Mark on Call

Mark on Call

Keynote/Pages/Numbers

Pages for iPad combines robust writing and advanced layout tools with the simplicity of Multi-Touch. So you can create all kinds of documents — including newsletters, reports, brochures, and flyers — using just your fingers. use these apps for presentations, proposals etc. for clients.

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