By Robert Monk, on April 11th, 2013
The idea of bringing staff and customers together to relax and enjoy quality sustenance and refreshment in the same space is a relatively new idea. It certainly may not appeal to every business, but the Tokyo based lifestyle and fashion brand and shop Arts & Science seems to be making a good effort in creating a stimulating environment for such activity.
The cafe [...]
By Robert Monk, on February 19th, 2013
Perhaps it is a feeling related with the winter, but sometimes all of us want to curl up into a bubble. With this feeling firmly in mind, Micasa LAB‘s Cocoon 1 should come as great interest. The idea behind the design is to allow people the solitude that they desire with several conveniences that most of [...]
By Robert Monk, on February 15th, 2013
However one experiences it, records it or conceptualises it, time is always moving on. In a modern society we are often beholden to the clock, but when it looks as good as this one, that might not be such a bad thing! This imaginative design for a pendulum clock from the Cologne based Christian Kim is [...]
By Robert Monk, on January 3rd, 2013
A healthy sampling of wooden materials can make all the difference to a room’s make-up. Versatile, elegant and strong and practical, wooden furniture items have stood the test of time and show no signs of relinquishing their popularity now. This superb collection entitled ‘Splinter’ from Japanese studio Nendo look as though it is ready to [...]
By Robert Monk, on November 22nd, 2012
Being a lover of books can be an up and down experience – in some cases, quite literally! This fun and smart bookshelf from Japanese design company BCXSY puts that to the test by creating a playful seesaw for your beloved printed volumes.
By putting the weight of printed works to the test, you can finally [...]
By Robert Monk, on November 14th, 2012
Bamboo is such a useful and versatile plant with hundreds of uses – from culinary, medical and architectural applications to many others, it is an ideal material for so many different ideas. In Western homes and buildings it is usually contained to flooring and room dividers but it is in the East where it truly makes its presence felt. [...]
By Robert Monk, on October 17th, 2012
The creative combination of Budapest based designers Zsanett Benedek and Daniel Lakos have come up with a stunning piece of heavenly furniture design entitled the Alba collection. Working as Tervhivatal studio, the pair have succeeded in their aim of finding a perfect balance between larger and smaller working areas.
Originally conceived in beech wood, the more [...]
By Robert Monk, on September 26th, 2012
Milan has long been seen in many circles as a city sitting at the summit of international style and fashion. Entering this glamorous arena the designs and ideas from Italian house Francesco Librizzi studio do well to stand out. This metal staircase designed for House C, a Milanese house initially built in 1900, is a [...]
By Robert Monk, on September 3rd, 2012
Amongst many other things, London is famous for its welcoming restaurants and diners. When you add tiles salvaged from the Underground system, you are left with a truly capital experience. This, at least, is clearly what design studio Very Good and Proper felt when they took on the refurbishment of this branch of the chain Canteen, located [...]
By Robert Monk, on August 30th, 2012
The first delicate rays of light in the morning, or a new born chick saying hello to the world - both have the capacity to inspire, motivate and fascinate. This natural love of rebirth is explored wonderfully in Outofstock’s design for Singaporean cafe, Hatched at Holland Avenue.
Birds’ nests are the number one creative inspiration – and [...]