Contract - May 2013 - (Page 52)

exhibition: Salone Salone Internazionale del Mobile and Euroluce Highlights A number of notable architect-designed products debut in Milan “Alone together” is the new mantra when it comes to public space. Werner Aisslinger’s bikini island sectional seating system for Moroso consists of modular components that can work in unison or individually. Available in varying heights, offerings include a daybed, a sofa, a shelf unit, adjacent coffee tables, and plant holders, as well as curtains to provide privacy. The system could be specified for hotel lobbies or even an office break room. Reader Service No. 210 Dutch architects Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos of UNStudio collaborated with Swedish manufacturer Offecct to create Studio, a new seating system. Designed with lobbies and waiting areas in mind, the modular, laminated wood unit comes upholstered in fabric or leather and consists of several versions, including the Studio Twin (shown at right), an ideal arrangement for an on-the-fly tête-à-tête. Reader Service No. 211 Rain and insecurity in the global economy failed to dampen the spirit of the more than 324,000 enthusiastic visitors who attended the 52nd Salone Internazionale del Mobile, which took place in Milan in April. Although there was a slight dip in attendance from previous years, the furniture fair remained active throughout the week, while displays in and around the city were more subdued. Euroluce, the biennial lighting expo, had the most to offer in terms of magic, creativity, and design integrity. The trend toward LEDs continues, and prototypes manufactured with 3D printing made a subtle yet impressive impact. Numerous Pritzker Architecture Prize winners were represented, including furniture and products from Tadao Ando and Zaha Hadid, furniture by UNStudio, and lighting by Daniel Libeskind. Also on display was a photo-worthy presentation at Prada's exhibition space by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas for Knoll (page 53). French architect 52 Jean Nouvel’s homage to the way we work, titled “Office for Living,” was illustrated through various scenarios, including a home office, warehouse space, and open plan offices. While the mise-en-scène was impressive, the ideas presented were not exactly nouveau. Across the board, companies scaled back, tweaking existing product lines, while numerous manufacturers presented reissues of classics such as Gino Sarfatti’s lights for Flos and Gio Ponti’s furniture for Molteni & C. And though many brands were content to just apply new color, pattern, or upholstery, there were still plenty of introductions of thoughtful chairs, tables, lighting, and sofas to be found. Here are a few of Contract’s picks for 2013. —Melissa FeldMan contractdesign.com MAY 2013 http://www.contractdesign.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2013

Contract - May 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: Attending NeoCon® to Enhance the Knowledge Base of You and Your Client
Exhibition: GlobalShop 2013
Exhibition: Coverings 2013
Exhibition: Salone Internazionale de Mobile
Product Focus: Midcentury Made Modern
Product Focus: Uninterrupted Workflow
NeoCon® preview
BBC North
Paul Hastings Atlanta
3M Headquarters
Federal Center South Building 1202
Adobe
Atlassian II
An interview with Vijay Kumar, author of 101 Design Methods: A Structured Approach for Driving Innovation in Your Organization
Designers Select: Office
Sources
Ad Index
Commentary: On MoMA’s Plans for its Modern Neighbor

Contract - May 2013