I have crazed on this event since last year, but haven't had the chance to visit. 2012/2013, perhaps? ;) Say hello to Salone del Mobile 2011. Two weeks have passed, but the products exhibited mostly will be timeless. That's what I like about great companies with great designers with greatly-designed products. When they design, you can see and feel the beauty. There is a connection between the maker and the audience. They design not just for the sake of showing new products every event or just for the sake of income, but they design from the heart. They let it all out. =)
Oh, a short insight, Salone del Mobile is basically a furniture exhibition happening at Milan Fairgrounds in Rho, which held and started by
Cosmit 50 years ago. In addition to Salone del Mobile, several events such as Euroluce (Lighting Exhibition), Eurocucina (Kitchen Furniture Exhibtion), SaloneUfficio (Workplace Exhibition), Bathroom Exhibition, Accessories Exhibition and the Salone Sattelite (exhibitions held throughout the city of Milan) are held and organized to support the whole design week. These exhibitions are held yearly, biennial, and also on even years.
So, design fetishes people, imagine how awesome it is if you could go to Milan for the whole month in April to just stroll places to another and seeing all of the staggering pieces. *fingercrossed*. And to cheer myself up, I scrolled up and down to some of my favorite design websites. And let me tell you what, I go weak on the knees every time each product pops on my screen.
Here are some of my favorites from the event.
*click on image for hi-res
“Design needs to solve the problem and be long lasting - off-course. But it is important to remember that my design is made for humans - to be used by humans. I believe that design should provoke emotions. Design should make you feel good. Create happiness.”
- Jaime Hayon -
Take a look at that sofa, called Favn, designed this year (2011) by
Jaime Hayon for
The Republic of Fritz Hansen. But when they placed it next to the worldfamous iconic chair,
The Egg (1958) by Arne Jacobsen, which is also one of Fritz Hansen's designers, together, Favn and The Egg creates a harmony. I love how the beautiful lined edges flows subtly, delicately, from end to end, soft, yet so firm and strong. The rectangular cushions also adds up a chic look to it. Love it!
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*click on image for hi-res
I have the hots for wooden chair. When I scrolled down and had a glimpse of this chair, I had to scroll back up again! It was love at first sight. Well, I've fallen for many chairs before, but this definitely goes to the love list ;) There's something with bended woods that always caught my eyes that hit my heart and bring it all fluttery. Oh love. Maritime is designed by
Benjamin Hubert and will be manufactured by
Casamania.
"Inspired by traditional wooden shipbuilding techniques, Maritime is a solid wood range of chairs that are skinned internally with a formed plywood shell. The construction technique where the supports are visible on the outside allows for a distinctive design language that is in harmony with the material and production. The ribs allow for a structurally robust chair with minimum use of material."
(Quoted from Dezeen)
Normally, a chair's construction would be hidden with some kind of upholstery or else. But not with Maritime, instead of covering it with another bended plywood to create a clean look, Hubert let the ribs shown, which resulted in a gorgeous piece. And look at the wood texture, flows gracefully following the shape of the chair. Astounding isn't it? I love how the little details create the look.
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*click on image for hi-res
Meet the french designer, Mr. Pierre Favresse. Called the Perch Collection, the light-creamy-soft wooden color is the first thing that caught my eyes. And the color combination, oh.. if I was an ice cream, I'd melt. The chairs, I'm lovin the chairs. Pointy edges is nowhere to be found! Which is somehow gives it a hint of lightness and playful image. One more thing why I adore this chair so much, is the bended backrest, which supports the lower part of your back and is functional for armrests. That armrest can also be the hook for your handbags! Which I always think it is very classy to hang your bag to the chair you're sitting on.
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Aside from furniture design, the next one will be on an exhibition stand. Say hello to
Kartell's.
*click on image for hi-res
I was literally wowed when I saw this.
Kartell's products, ranging from its classic icons, newly launched designs until the prototypes to be launched in 2012 was displayed in fun categories. Creatively amazing isn't it? Definitely my favorite exhibition stand for now.
Wow, this is one long post! (Well, I've got lotsa images here) So yeah, to close up this post, I quoted Jaime Hayon's: "I believe that design should provoke emotions.". This, I like, and totally agree if one product is well-thought of and beautifully designed and carefully produced. Although the function is still the same, adding up style is a must. We're in 21st century anyways, industrial revolution is so yesterday ;)
Loves,
Andrea