I N T E R N A T I O N A L INTERIOR DESIGN ART + M O R E d12
OBJEKT INTERNATIONAL LIVE THE DREAM
In spring 2022 Salone del Mobile Milano, the most important interior design top fair in the world made a glorious come-back after the pandemic. With Maria Porro as the new President of the Salone it was all about design and celebrating beauty with the key values: quality, innovation, beauty and, now more than ever, sustainability. She characterized the event as a ‘blank canvas ’ for all its protagonists, companies, brands and designers, allowing them to project their own identities, promote their own content and tell their own stories. This edition of OBJEKT International includes an extensive report on the famous designers Charles + Ray Eames in celebration of the studio’s 80th an niversary. This took place in Isetan’s gallery for modern and contemporary design ‘Isetan The Space’ in Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan The exhibition demonstrated how the optimistic philosophies and human centered design solutions that Charles and Ray introduced, are more relevant than ever through unique, rare, and vintage works, the revival of pivotal designs from the archive, and new special editions and collaborations with long standing partners. With this edition of OBJEKT International we are shining a light on the brighter side of design averse to conventions as source of inspiration
Founder and editor in chief: Hans Fonk Editor in chief: Izabel Fonk Corporate head office: Raadhuislaan 22 B NL 2451 AV Leimuiden Netherlands t:+31 172 509 843 info@objekt international.com www objekt international com Honorary editor in chief USA and Canada: Alexander Sasha Josipovicz, Studio Pyramid Inc 1232 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M4V 1E4 sasha@studiopyramid com Head Office Berlin, Germany Rneé Wilms Unique Company Group Oberwallstraße 14 D 10117 Berlin, Germany
Contributing writers: Izabel Fonk, Sasha Josipovicz, Susan Grant Lewin, Milosh Pavlovic, Ruud van der Neut, Lorenza Dalla Pozza, Robyn Prince, Raphaëlle de Stanislas, Rene Wilms, Vanja Bannan, Sheldon Rose
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OBJEKT© iNTERNATIONAL Living in Style no D12, fall 2022 Published by Hans Fonk Publications Distripress member issn 1574 8812 Copyright ©Hans Fonk
Contributing photographers: Marc Eggimann, Alaia Fonk, Hans Fonk, James Gerde, Tantan Lei, Dinesh Mehta, Mitsuya Okumura, Maxime Prokaz, Suzuki Shimpei, Jacob Snavel, Alberto Strada, Timothy Street Porter, Topia Vision, Joshua White Graphics: Hans Fonk Studio Art directors: Hans Fonk, Alaïa Fonk Video productions: Alaïa Fonk Illustrations: Eveline Lieuwma Puijk
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OBJEKT International A S I A / C H I N A Cora Feng Xi Tang Art Center No 2 Xi Ba He Road, Chaoyang district, 100028 Beijing, China
I N T E R N AT I O N A L D I G I TA L P U B L I C AT I O N B Y H A N S F O N K P U B L I C AT I O N S C O V E R : G I A N T P I N O C C H I O B Y A L C A N TA R A AT M I L A N D E S I G N W E E K 2 0 2 2 P H O T O : H A N S F O N K Honorary ambassadors OBJEKT International OBJEKT USA CANADA George Beylerian Eric Booth Martyn Lawrence Bullard Tony Chi Massimo Iosa Ghini Jacopo Etro Mar va Griffin Wilshire Ralf Ohletz von Plettenburg Glenn Pushelberg George Yabu Rene Wilms INTERIOR DESIGN A R C H I T E C T U R E ARTS, ANTIQUES GARDENS, YACHTS
02 06 10 12 20 30 36 40 56 64 66 82 90 96 108 112 122 132 142 FOREWORD SUPERNOVA SEATTLE THE SOUND OF WHISKY RIVA AQUARAMA TORONTO’S BRIGHT GEM YACHTING THE SKY DESIGN MIAMI/BASEL EAMES FOREVER RAJASTHAN INTO THE COOL TOUAREGS IN BRUSSELS SALONE DEL MOBILE.MILANO SALONE SATELITTE SUSTAINABLE BEAUT Y SALONE ON THE WAKE OF SALONE AAMIR KHANDWALA SIGNS OF WABI SABI THE UNIVERSE OF THEO WILLEMSE SOUNDS OF THE LOON OBJEK T INTERNATIONAL INFO PAGES WHAT’S UP
BEIJING 798 - 1 by HANS FONK PHOTO ON CANVAS PAINIED OVER WITH ancient CHINESE and dutch PIGMENTS
S u p e r n o v a S e a t t l Se u p e r n o v a S e a t t l e
Bold enough to take its name from an exploding star, Supernova is the vision of Zac Levine who teamed with Mutuus Studio, GMD Custom, and artist friends to establish Seattle’s most culturally inclusive atmospheric arts and entertainment nightclub. Supernova’s guiding principle was to create a safe and welcoming environment for women, BIPOC, and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community as employees, patrons, and entertainers. Catering to diverse audiences, and selfexpression, Supernova welcomes everyone to enjoy a night of dancing, music, and art.
photos: James Gerde
Fonk Sporthorses Top Quality Horse Training and Breeding www.fonksporthorses.com Izabel Fonk on Kyrasinda D&E Everdale x Trento b Mare, 2015
W, ow me the way To the next whiy b ar Oh, don't a why Oh, don't a why Kurt We , Berto Bret f rom the Alama song the sound of whisky phtos: Topia Vision
“In the design for the XMacallan Bar, we continued our commercial logic based philosophy, not only endowing the space with beauty but also providing practical solutions to maximize its profitability and values,” said the designers and founders of the studio Zhou Bo and Cai Yuyang. In the huge space, hundreds of oak barrels, like a grand art i nstallation in an orderly arrangement, reflect the light and shadow with the traces of time, which becomes the folding metaphor of contemporar y art and constructs the experience across time and space. With its wood and metal texture, the bar counter gleams in the light, allowing people to experience the classical atmosphere of the bar, while its metal background will bring people back to reality.
Without trivialities, distance and limitation, the design for the XMacallan Wiskey Bar in Shenyang, China by Jingle Design interprets the scene of drinking whisky, composes a melody of classic style, and creates an immersive space beyond the hustle and bustle of city life.
ICONIC BEAUTY RIVA AQUARAMA
Aquarama
The Riva icon enjoyed a mythical status and was beloved by movie stars, heads of state and royalty: everyone from Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Gunter Sachs and the royal family of Monaco, among countless other luminaries, have been enchanted by the Aquarama’s spell. Of the about 760 completed Aquaramas made in the Sarnico shipyard, Riva experts estimate around 650 are still in existence, which only adds to the boat’s legendary status. To celebrate its 60th Anniversary, Assouline published a special book edition of the iconic Riva run about.
In this tribute to the Aquarama, author Michael Verdon tells the story of the legendary boat and brings to life its dolce vita charm illustrated by photos by Oliver Pilcher. The book is also published in a special edition, in a luxury mahogany box that is crafted to express the beauty of the Aquarama’s magnificent hull. Riva is a true Italian icon of beauty The Riva story is all about the unique, inimitable savoir faire that is the secret of its style it always has had from the very
When it comes to glamour and high style on the seas, there’s nothing more captivating than the Riva Aquarama. Dreamed up by the legendary Carlo Riva, the wooden run about has become an icon of Italian design. Beloved for its clean lines, mahogany, glistening chrome details and signature robin’s egg blue and cream upholstery, the Aquarama reflected la dolce vita optimism of early ‘60s Italy.
Above: the Riva Aquarama reveals al l h er fi ne te chn ica l a nd ele gan t det ails. Ri g ht : i t ’s i m po ssi b le t o p i ct u re t h e gl it t e rin g Cô t e d ’ Azu r an d coasts of Europe wit hout visions of e nd l ess su m me rs sp en t l o un g in g o n th e b ac k o f t h e b o at i n t h e warm summer sun, and the gen tle ro a r o f t he en g in e as t h e cuts throu gh th e su rf .
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16 OBJEKT Abo ve: ro mancing t he woo d, th e Riva Aquarama celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special book published by Assouline. The run ab out is a exqu isit e ex ample of timeless form and quality built in the world f amous tradit ion. O n the im age trunks of m ahogany as th e basic material for the Aquarama. More than just a trophy, the run ab out i s fiercely b eloved b y conno isseurs around the world: it’s not just a boat, it is the realization of a dream beginning. It was 1842, and on Lake Iseo, a sudden storm had devastated the fishing fleet. Yet the young shipwright Pietro Riva was working wonders, restoring many of the vessels to full seagoing health and earning the local people’s respect and admiration in the process The Riva legend was born there, in the little town of Sarnico, where Pietro Riva, with his son, opened the yard. The ‘50s belonged to Carlo Riva, whose talent and passion turned the brand into one of the brightest stars in the nautical firmament. In November 1962, the legend was born: Aquarama,
OBJEKT 17 the Riva icon, ‘the boat’ par excellence, a brand within a brand. In May 2000, Riva became part of Ferretti Group, who restored it to where it is today, at the vanguard of world boating as a recognized icon of fine Italian yachting artistry. This felicitous journey is down to the knowhow of the collaboration between Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee, led by Mr. Piero Ferrari, the Engineering department and the designer Mauro Micheli, co founder with Sergio Beretta of Officina Italiana Design, the studio that exclusively designs for the whole Riva fleet from 8 to 90 meters: open, sport fly, flybridge and superyachts.
Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group
“There are no limits to the beauty of the Aquarama, how perfect it looks and how timeless. It was an instant classic. You could have an eighty-meter yacht, but people will always look at the Aquarama first.”
creat ive director of Studio Pyramid f ro m Toronto , Can ada, Sasha Josipovicz: ‘ Desi gn Rebel wit h a Cause’. Text : Vanja Bannan All phot os: Hans Fo nk
T O R O N T O T’S O R O N T O ’S B R I G H T G E BM R I G H T G E M
Right:
The designers expected this new challenge to be as exciting and visually rewarding as all the others from the past. The task on hand was to facilitate their lifestyle, downsizing and creating a Toronto Pied a Terre. Keeping in mind that they would spend no more than few weeks a year in the Canadian city: to visit family, friends and attend to their many charities.
It was project No 9 that Studio Pyramid in Toronto designed for an international couple (she is Brazilian born, he has Canadian roots and they are both banking executives) with multiple residences across the globe.
Studio Pyramid created a bright gem on a small scale. These pages: the south facing 3m ceiling heights living room has unobstructed views of Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto. The black lacquered chair is by Aldo Tura purchased at Sotheby's NY from Lilly Safra Rio apartment. The Vienna sofa is upholstered in Pierre Frey velvet The pair of French art deco chairs upholstered in Larsen fabric were purchased in Paris flea market and fully restored. The black metal and glass side tables are by Donghia and the antique rug is from Persia. The Rob John Gibbings Biomorphic coffee table was purchased at Sotheby's New York. The Timbuktu chief's crown in bronze is by Kiondo, Toronto. On the left, the Walking Woman sculpture by Michael Snow from the 1964 New York Eye and Ear Control series. Black Lava painting is by Canadian artist Ron Martin.
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OBJEKT©International has published the couple’s Windsor, Vero beach residence and their other homes before documenting the evolution in the design style for both the client and Studio Pyramid as their design curators. “The clients are long standing art collectors and trustworthy partners in our design process. For their Toronto apartment, the key design/curating question became, what to keep and to save and what to depart from Easier said than done!” said creative director of the studio Alexander Sasha Josipovicz
L eft: the o pen co ncept dinin g room is crowned by Entler's red ceramic chandelier, Los Angeles. Din ing chairs by Aldo Tura, pu rch ased at Sotheby's NY from Lilly Safra Rio apartment. Bronze sculpt ure Son ambient is by Harry Bertoia, Christ ies New York. Above: entrance wit h Gabriel Viard ot F rench art Nou veau Japon ism o mi rror pu rch ased at Decorum Decorati ve Fin ds, Toronto . Chest of drawers is by R& Y Augo ust i pu rch ased at So uth Hill Ho me, Toron to. Th e Bell Punt o chan delier is by Baxt er and t he wall p aper in th e powder room is by Pierre Frey and inspired by Hans Hartu ng art.
Right : th e TV roo m do ubles as a guest bed ro om with a General Idea ‘ Macaroni’ pain ting. Th e Bourgeoisie Boh eme Pigalle chan delier is hand made in Biot , F ran ce.
“Mixing and matching different styles of furniture , carpets, lightings with art has always been the focus of our attention We minimized new
He continued: “As the collected artifacts from our mutual global trotting, all had personal meaning or memories attached to them, facilitating this downsizing from few residences of apx. 10,000 sq ft to a single 1800 sq ft apartment had to be done without tears shred. Our plan was to create a visually elaborate memory lane of things from the past and to stick to it ”
“The final result was overwhelming for all of us, especially with the decision to have only one imposing design element to set the tone for the new home ” “We selected the Red ceramic chandelier found at Entler Studio in Los Angeles. It was the perfect addition to the long design road, we embarked together with the clients some 20 + years ago, ” Sasha added Studio Pyramid Inc. from Toronto is multi disciplinary company with aim for originality and design integrity. The main team exists of Alexander Sasha Josipovicz, Milosh Pavlovicz and Elaine Tan.
The studio has collaborated on the designs of both residential and commercial projects: from a Caribbean beach house to an Istanbul pied a terre, from Charter bank headquarters to editorial offices of a National newspaper organization, in addition to grand residences in the major capitals of the world
Right-hand page: grand view of the main bedroom with vintage Mazzega chandelier purchased at Residential Lighting Studio, Toronto. Curtain fabrics are by Lorie Weitzner, NY and the chest of drawers in front to the windows is by Molteni.
purchases only to fill gaps. We gave precious pieces, no longer needed, to friends and family and we made numerous donations. One must keep element, we all agreed on, was the Viennese Secession Bar. After all that is where all the Caipirinha glasses are stored ”
Above: the master bathroom was refurbished with Makassar floating vanity to match existing mahogany details The religious sculpture was purchased in Kathmandu, Nepal. The painting is by Melanie Authier. The orange leather bench is by Holly Hunt. The main bedroom was stripped down of its heavy elements with the dark mahogany coffered ceiling remaining. The bed is by Maxalto, Studio Como. The Marilyn Monroe Eye painting is by Tony Scherman from Winston Watcher, NY and the two smaller art pieces above the bed are by Canadian artist Ron Martin (photos: Steven Miric)
These pages: t he art salon wit h ‘Red Walking Women ’ by Canad ian art ist Michael Snow an d ‘Thun der’ art by Canadi an Paterso n Ewin . ‘L a Religiou se Nu n’ alab ast er floor l amp is by Pierre Chareau, Paris. The Art Nouveau maho gany bar was purchased in Vienn a, Austria The antiq ue Persian ru g was purchased at Sot heby's NY. The hand blown glass lamp is by Po rt a Roman a. On the left t he view t o th e kit chen with Cole and Sons wallp aper, a S aari nen chai r and t able f ro m DWR and a sm all p aintin g by Canadi an Shel ley Adler.
The tiny apartment is located high in the Murano Towers in downtown Toronto, Canada. Interior designer Ivana Cortez approached the project as the interior of a super yacht, where every inch counted. She created flexible spaces transforming the space into an oases of luxury and comfort.
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YACHTING THE SKY
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These pages: in terior d esign er Ivana Cortez, S he designed a sm all ap art ment in Toron to, Canad a inspired on the in terior of a lux ury yacht All p hot os: Hans Fo nk
Ivana Cortez was born and raised in a family of architects and painters in Belgrade, Serbia It is a wonderful centuries old city where the many cultures that passed through it left an influence on the architecture and living From early age she was surrounded with art and architecture and it became her passion and dream to pursue in life. She finished the Academy of Applied Arts, Interior Architecture and Furniture Design in Belgrade and after she completed her studies she moved to Canada She opened her company for Interior and Furniture design in Toronto year 2000. Her approach of each and every project is each time different Ivana: ”The feeling that I get when I'm at the beginning of a new project is like sailing a boat in unknown waters Pushing myself to think outside of the box while always keeping in mind that the design should be advanced but still provide the experience of traditional materials and comfort of my client's vision and taste.”
A super yacht interior as the guidance for the design of the condo meant using every inch of the space and transforming it into a luxury and comfortable place Ivana created different experiences, which changes throughout the space while bringing unique experience Flexible spaces where the keywords. The bedroom can be converted into a yoga and Pilates studio and the concept of the traditional kitchen is transformed into dining fusion experience It can also easily be transformed into a dance floor and the balcony into an outdoor lounge area with a custom built in hydroponic garden
The indirect lighting system has custom made light fixtures which help to create an engaging and unique atmosphere during the night time Top left : t able designed by Ivana Cortez and produced by ICo nic Int eri ors Design. Beside that, a small corner near the entrance. Ri ght h and p age: th e kitchen with o n th e foreground glass sculp tures by Vasa Velizar M ihich ( born 193 3, Yugoslavia) .The chandelier/p endant s are M urano gl ass by Eurol ights.
One of her recent projects that was a condominium in one of the Murano Towers in downtown Toronto Murano Condos sums up what many residential glass towers aspire to be a fusion of art, architecture, and glass Having only 800 square feet of space to work with, surrounded with large glass windows with spectacular views of the lake and the sky, her vision of a sailing yacht design approach for the interior and furniture for this space was born. The client's need for the space was simply: to have a retreat in a heart of the ‘concrete jungle’ with a comfy atmosphere to relax but also to be able to host parties
The key for the design was finding the right balance and contrast between the elements. By using natural stones, various types of wood, leather and glass for the furniture design she composed different tones and textures achieving a warm, neutral simplicity throughout the rooms. Incorporating the use of color for some details and a carefully curated selection of art she personalized the living space and gave it the luxury feel of a yacht and more fluid way of living in a condo
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Th ese p ages: the l iving annex dini ng area. Behind the b ack wall is a second bedroo m lo cated that can easily b e trans fo rm ed in to a stu dy or yoga space. The sof a, t ri angular stool , din ing t able and bar stool s are d esigned by Ivana Cortez an d mad e by ICo nic Interiors Desi gn
power of dimensions
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Previous pages Choc Chisel, 2022 by Mari e Piselli . Im age: cour tesy of Marie Pisel li
Right: Prickly Pear Cactus Lounge Chai r, 2022 by Naih an Li at 20C Gallery. Im age cour tesy of Naihan Li and 20C Gallery.
Design Miami/ represent a special dimension in the world of interior design: on the edge of art and design, vintage and avant garde Born in Miami Beach and held alongside Art Basel Miami Beach it has stretched its wing through the years to Basel itself. In 2022 it returned to Swiss capital for the Sixteenth edition with a lineup of 30 international galleries and designers. For the first time in Basel, Design Miami/ introduced the Podium exhibition concept, a selling exhibition of museum quality works curated by the recently appointed Curatorial Director Maria Cristina Didero This in line with overarching 2022 curatorial theme, The Golden Age which for Basel explored a historical perspective as The Golden Age: Rooted in the Past Design Miami/ Basel also presented a program of Special Satellite Projects, a series of collaborations that punctuate the fair with varied and exciting presentations Jennifer Robers, CEO of Design Miami/ commented: “At the heart of Design Miami/’s ethos is a dedication to creative exchange We were especially excited to see this unfold through the diverse set of collaborations presented at this year’s Basel fair From the monumental beauty of the Special Satellites, to the diverse dialogues set to be presented through our talks program, we aimed to inspire and surprise our global audience through the impactful presentations planned together with our collaborators and partners” Design Miami’s Vice President of Fairs, Grela Ori huela added: “As an international platform, it has never been more important to offer opportunities for galleries and designers to present exciting projects that don’t necessarily fit the traditional fair mold through our Curio program Each year we are completely blown away by the exceptional talent and unique perspectives our Curio exhibitors offer and this year was no exception”.
These pages Top: lamp Antropomorphe by Jacqueline & Jean Lerat (c .1960) , presented by Lebreton. Image cour tesy of Lebreton. Bo ttom: sm al l quar tz l ow tabl e set, 2019 by Juan & Pal om a Garr ido at D am ia n Ga rrido Orfebre. Photo: cour tesy of Garrido
Charles Ormond Eames, Jr. (1907 1978) and Bernice Alexandra "Ray’ Kaiser Eames (1912 1988) were an American couple of industrial designers who, with some other geniuses from that time span, redefined modern architecture and furniture design through their timeless works Although Charles was the public face of the Eames Of fice, Ray and Charles worked together as creative par tners. One of their most recognized de signs is the Eames Lounge Chair and the Eames Dining Chair In celebration of the studio’s 80th anniversar y, the Eames Of fice presented 80 Years of Design at Isetan’s galler y for modern and contemporar y design ‘Isetan The Space’ in Shinjuku Tokyo, Japan, beginning of 2022. The exhibition demonstrated how the optimistic philosophies and human centered design solutions that Charles and Ray introduced, are more relevant than ever through unique, rare, and vintage works, the revival of pivotal designs from the archive, and new special editions and collaborations developed with longstanding par tners Herman Miller, Vitra, and Ravensburger, and new par tners Globe, Reebok, and Ar t of Play.
charles + ray eames forever
Today, the Eames Office remains dedicated to communicating, preser ving, and extending the work of Charles and Ray Eames as a manifestation of one broad, all encompassing goal: enriching and positively impacting people's lives and environments. The Eames Of fice works closely with authorized manufac turers to bring original Eames designs to market, introduc ing their work to new generations through educational programs, curated exhibitions and collaborations. The Of fice also extends Charles and Ray’s overall legacy through its ongoing suppor t of the Eames Foundation.
© Eames Office . Below that: the Molded Plywood Division, headed by Charles and Ray, staff members Norman Bruns, William Francis, Marion Overby, Harr y Ber toia, and Gregor y Ain posing with an airplane glider nose section, 1943.
Right hand page: Charles and Ray Eames in their Eames House they designed an built in 1949 as their home and studio.
These pages Above: Charles and Ray on a Velocette motor cycle which belonged to the son of friend Warren Kerkman,1948.
Charles and Ray Eames founded their Los Angeles based design practice Eames Of fice in 1941, producing significant contributions to the various mediums of architecture, furniture design, film, textiles, toys, exhibitions, and beyond Through their work and its ongoing impact, the Eames Of fice reconceived the concept of a design studio in terms of philosophy, work ethic, and process Since Charles’ passing in 1978 and Ray's passing in 1988, the Eames Of fice has continued its mission as led by the next generations of the Eames family.
“The Eames Of fice actively seeks to both preser ve historical work and create innovative designs and experiences that extend the Eames legacy into the future. We’re thrilled to be able to present iconic works alongside special projects and collaborations that continue to bring Charles and Ray’s power ful ideas to life today , ” said Eames Demetrios, Director of the Eames Of fice .
Voracious adventurers, Japan’s impact on their worldview and work was paramount, and solidified through a formative par tnership with Isetan that dates to 1961
The multi faceted exhibition 80 Years of Design at Isetan Tokyo highlighted the impact of the work of the Eames on society across three par ts: influential experimentations in Ar t & Technology, groundbreaking innovations in Architecture & Interiors , and the joy brought to people of all ages through designs that encourage to Play & Learn.
From their first trip to Japan in the 1950s, and the many trips that followed, to an ongoing exchange of ideas with some of the 20th centur y’s most well known Japanese designers both in Japan and in Los Angeles, Charles and Ray drew inspiration throughout their career from the countr y’s approach to both tradition and modernity.
Previous pages: ar tist impression by Hans Fonk of the Eames exhibition windows at Isetan, Tokyo. Original photos: Suzuki Shimpei.
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The sculpture would give rise to some of the most impor tant furniture designs of the 20th centur y
The formative years af ter marr ying, moving to Los Angeles, and beginning the work of the Eames Of fice in 1941 would ser ve as an intense creative incubator for Charles and Ray.
Charles’ rich experiences in architecture, photography, ar t, filmmaking, and his time in Mexico had led to two years teaching design at Cranbrook Ray’s own ar tistic practice drew from her years in New York, classes with Mar tha Graham and, above all, her extended studies and work with painter Hans Hof fmann
“80 Years of Design brought to life a prolific, multifaceted legacy and encapsulates the dynamism with which the Eames Of fice is forging ahead into the future,” according to Kentaro Shishido, General Manager of Isetan Shinjuku.
This remarkable combination of the two would ser ve as a fer tile foundation for their new creative life together
The Eames Office takes shape with Charles and Ray’s cour tship letters and begins with a wedding held at a friend’s Chicago apar tment on June 20, 1941. This was the moment when Charles and Ray Eames became par tners in life and par tners in design, joined together by their love of creation, and passion for solving problems that needed to be solved.
Charles and Ray Eames were married in 1941, and moved west and lived in a Hollywood hotel as they got to know Los Angeles.
John Entenza, publisher of Ar ts and Architecture magazine , introduced them to Richard Neutra. The architect had recently completed his Strathmore Apar tments, which is where the Eameses came to live . It would be two years before the Eames Office moved to 901 Washington Boulevard in Venice , California. There they designed the iconic Eames house , where they worked and lived from the date of completion.
Few of their earliest breakthrough ar tistic experiments in the molding of plywood would be as impor tant as their iconic 1943 Molded Plywood Sculpture, which embodied the pioneering spirit of Charles and Ray’s personal relationship, multidisciplinar y working par tnership, and wholly original thinking
Top left: the facade of the Eames House’s residence structure. In 1949, Charles and Ray’s designed and built the landmark1949 house as their home and studio. Photo: Joshua White.Top right: the Eames House residence and studio, featuring the eucalyptus trees and meadow. Photo:Timothy Street-Porter. Below: Charles Eames inspecting the Modular House model in 1951. Photo: Eames Office, LLC .The Eames Modular House was designed in 1951 by Charles and Ray as a structure, which could be simply pre-fabricated and relatively quickly assembled.The scale model of the Eames Modular House was created in 2021 from a careful study of archival blueprints and photographs. Photo: Marc Eggimann.
From the book ‘Connections: the Works of Charles and Ray Eames.
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Above: a corner of the Eames house interior with Eames Elephant (Plywood), Wooden Doll, Cat Nelson, Fan Clock Eames, House Bird black, Akari 1A lamp, and Eames Wool Blanket.
Top right: the living room and the interior collections. The one of a kind Eames-designed bookshelf in the living room is filled with the personal collections of Charles and Ray. Below that: the study with Grand Repos & Ottoman, Gueridon Bas table , Akari 55A light sculpture , Eames Wool Blanket, Tabouret Solvay and Ceramic Clock. Photos: Mitsuya Okumura. Eames Office is a founding sponsor of the Eames Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the legacy of the Eames House's architecture , collections, and landscape with for generations to come . photos: Mitsuya Okumura.
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“Charles and Ray’s sculpture represents a pivotal moment in their work, in their lives, and in design histor y and continues to inspire all that encounter its beauty today. For Charles and Ray, ar t was the best way to test the technology and the technology was the best way to make the ar t,” said Eames Demetrios
In 1956, af ter Vitra founder Willi Fehlbaum became Her man Miller’s licensee for continental Europe and would begin its par tnership with the Eames Of fice
Above: board spor ts heritage brand, Globe , recently released the Eucalyptus Skateboard Deck, the first in a series of collaborative projects between the brand and the Eames Office . The project has seen Globe create a limited run of collectible skateboard decks crafted from a eucalyptus tree felled for conser vation purposes at the iconic Eames House , designed by Charles and Ray Eames and built in the Pacific Palisades of Los Angeles. Beside that: Classic Eames tray with dot pattern by Vitra and the Heman miller Eames lounge chair. The Isetan exhition. Photo: Suzuki Shimpei. Right-hand page: installation of the “Design for Use” exhibition at MoMA, showcasing the Eames molded plywood output. © Eames Office , LLC .
In 1946, the Eames Of fice and Herman Miller relationship began. In celebration of their historic par tnership, Miller has developed five special editions that honor the Eames’ dedication to material exploration.
The collaboration would leave an indelible mark on Vitra, forever transforming the company’s ethos and output from a shopfitting firm to furniture manufacturer.
Ravensburger Eames Design Classics Puzzle
Photo: Marc Eggimann.
54 OBJEKT Above: a three-dimensional assemblage created by staff member Herber t Matter for the 1946 MoMA exhibition ‘New Furniture Designed by Charles Eames.’ © Eames Office , LLC .
Right-hand page: The Eames Molded Plywood Sculpture , created in 2021 from archival drawings, notes, and a detailed scan of the original sculpture of 1942 by Charles and Ray Eames.
R AJA STHAN I N T O T H E C O O L
These pages: the Mirai villa in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, designed by Sanjay Puri Architects. The cur ved outer shell protects the house against the climate and creates covered patios.
Photos: Dinesh Mehta.
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Mirai is a contextual house built with the hot desert climate of Rajasthan, India, in mind. The residential villa is located on a small 622m² corner plot. The southern & eastern sides have mini mum open space, with adjacent villas on those sides planned for development in the future. The northern and western sides front a road junction and have more open spaces, including garden areas and existing trees. It was designed by Sanjay Puri Architects, listed as one the best 100 architecture firms worldwide, Mirai was created for a family with 3 generations living together. The house has 3 levels, with 4 bedrooms, 2 living rooms, a gym, and a study. The heights within the house are varied with an interesting play of volumes in each part of the house, including bedrooms of a single volume, a dining area of a double volume, and a living area of an intermediate 1.5 level volume.
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The sculptural house is contextual to its sur roundings, the climate, and the owner's needs, resulting in an interesting play of volumes, open, enclosed, and semi enclosed spaces at every level
A curved outer structure surrounds the house, creating semi open spaces all along the perimeter, with deeper recesses on the garden facing sides. This reduces the heat gain substantially, while providing sheltered open spaces around the house to each room.
Designed to mitigate heat gain in response to the hot avid climate of its location, this design keeps the entire house cool in the hot summer months, when temperatures rise in excess of 40°C for 8 months of the year.
The design created energy efficient spaces with reduced heat gain and indirect natural light in each part of the house
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These and following pages: in collaboration with local craftsmen and contract labor from the immediate vicinity, the house was built using locally sourced bricks, sandstone, and lime plaster, and includes processes for water recycling, rainwater har vesting, and solar panels for energy generation
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When two brothers from Brussels approached design studio WeWantMoreto make their bar an exciting new place, the studio designed an elegant space that felt like a desert hallucination, M.C.Escher lithograph and dreamy trip to Morocco all at once: Touareg, the name of the nomadic inhabitants of north Africa.
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Coline Jarry, Product& Interior Designer at WeWantMore
“We wanted to play with the senses of the visitor by designing an upside down riad A wavy metal ceiling creates the illusion of a floating pool and the reversed arches further magnify the distorted atmosphere.”
TOUAREGS IN BRUSSELS
Traditional Moroccan lights with a smoke pattern add a warm hue to the space, and an Escher like round mirror and inverted riad on the ceiling intensify the distortion of the senses.
The first floor of the project houses the cocktail bar Le Fay For the design of this space, WeWantMore goti nspired by Morgan le Fay, the legendary sister of King Arthur and a powerful enchantress and potion maker.
The Touareg design features a revisit of several Moroccan architectural elements The arches made from chains add a visual surprise and make for a sensual reference to Arabian belly dancers.
Left: overview of the seating are with the i n ve rt ed r ia d d esi gn co n ce pt . I n t he u pst airs cock tail b ar L e Fay il lusions of t he sun an d organi c sh apes made from M oroccan b rass climb up t he wall.
Phot os: Max ime Prokaz.
Above: the colorful presentation reflected in mirrors by the Italian brand Edra. All photos: Hans Fonk
Salone del Mobile.Milano is the most important interior design top-fair in the world. In 2022 the event pandemic made a new start after the Covid with Maria Porro as the new President of the Salone del Mobile. Milano.
OBJEKT International/Hans Fonk made a sunny impression of this glorious come-back.
ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF SALONE
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A point of reference for the entire design community We cannot stand still, in fact we have a duty to move even faster in the direction of design, production and distribution solutions that are as sustainable as possible. What we need today is an ethical approach to design ” She continued: “ We will see many companies at the Salone that are working hard to create furnishings with the wellbeing of the environment and of people in mind. The Salone firmly believes in the need for a real and immediate ecological transformation, which is why it has decided to be an accelerator of ethical and vir tuous behaviors, investing in a large project curated by the architect Mario Cucinella Companies and creatives will be able to physically touch alternative materials that are already a reality and let themselves be inspired
Left hand page: presentation of showerheads by Fantini This page: Maria Porro, the new President of the Salone del Mobile . Milano. (photo: Alber to-Strada).
The key values: quality, innovation, beauty and, now more than ever, sustainability Af ter two really tough years due to the pandemic, to which the organizers responded with SuperSalone in the fall od 2021 , the Salone is alive and looking ahead, mindful of its lengthy histor y Maria Porro, the new President of the Salone del Mobile. Milano: “The Salone del Mobile has always been a catalyst for creativity, positivity and energy: a place of dialogue and construction, in Milan and at the Shanghai and Moscow editions. Now, we are as shocked as ever yone else by the war in Ukraine and believe even more in the impor tance of being a cross roads of cultures and styles open to the world. This is why we have made sure that the work of the exhibiting exhibitors takes center stage again The event acts as a ‘blank canvas’ for all its protagonists, companies, brands and designers, allowing them to project their own identities, promote their own content and tell their own stories
Designing sustainability and celebrating beauty, the Salone del Mobile. Milano, the most impor tant design event in the world, celebrated in 2022 its 60th milestone edition
Above: Philipp Plein’s colorful extravaganza.
Right: Azul is the new capsule collection born from the collaboration between Turri and Paola Navone . Meticulous manufacturing meets the eclecticism of Paola Navone . She reworked the tradition of Turri's brand by reconfiguring propor tions and dimensions and experimenting with materials and finishes.
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Salone, and how far the event is able to attract talents, recount creativity and projects, and ser ve as an exceptional place for getting together, sharing and exchanging ideas that produce work and business.
The Salone del Mobile, Milano paid tribute to the 1 2 companies, all ambassadors for the creativity and craf tsmanship of Italian design, that have taken par t in ever y single edition of the trade fair, from 1961 to the present day, believing and investing in what has become the most impor tant design event in the world: Ger vasoni, Giorgetti, Flexform, Medea 1905, Minotti, Misuraemme, Molteni, Pianca, Porro, Potocco, Turri and Visionnaire. The 2022 edition had once again shown, three years af ter the previous one, that quality furniture has its most impor tant global showcase in the Above: creations by Eileen Gray produced by Classicon, the only authorized producers granted by the world license holder Aram Designs, London. Right: architectural spaces, formal purity, research into materials, attention to detail and sustainable thinking: as one of the leading brands on the international design scene, Porro is approaching its 100th anniversar y faithful to its values.
The concern for the sustainable component on the level of both the organization and management of the event, and in research and the proposal of value and concrete and feasible solutions, presented by ‘Design with Nature’ and SaloneSatellite, They contributed to making the event a global stage for ideas and technological solutions capable of protecting the environment, improving housing and ensuring the most ef ficient use of resources, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by a vision of urban areas as potential ‘mines’ of raw materials and reflect on the function of our homes as cells that make up a more complex organism: the city ”
Left: table by Glas Italia. This page: the scenographic approach by Clan Milano.
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Below left: presentation by Zanotta at Salone by studio Calvi Brambilla and styling by Studio Salaris. Beside that Giorgetti.
Giovanni del Vecchio, CEO of the Giorgetti Group: “We are aware that the design sector cannot exist with only 'digital' and cannot do without the physical: the last two years have shown how integration and balance between the two modes is the way forward. Customers, professionals and par tners must have the oppor tunity to touch our products, our refined materials, our environments and our projects. In a business like ours, the human component continues to play a fundamental role . "
Top right: Minotti presented itself with a refined place: a pavilion and a walked through experience where the new creations took center space .
OBJEKT 77 Random inspiration at Salone del Mobile .Milano.
Top left: Nolte Kuchen Beside that: Baxter‘s new outdoor line as a manifesto of renewed values: careful study of forms and materials that expressed the desire to lend not only creative but also structural, tangible coherence to the space and the imagination.
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Left hand page: Cloudscape sofa and Nebulone table by Diesel Living with Moroso.The Diesel suspension lamp was made by Lodes. Above: pure simplicity by Van Rossum, creators of contemporar y furniture , the Netherlands.
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S a l o n e S a t a l l i t e
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SATALLITES AND STARS
Left-hand page: architect Hideyuki Yamazawa presented at SaloneSatellite ‘The Child Who Wants to Be the Sea, Child Who Wishes to Be a Flower’ inspired by gender freedom while integrating the dignity of imagination’s diversity into his work.
photos: Hans Fonk
Above: the winners of the 11th edition of the SaloneSatellite Award 2022 1st Prize RemX, walker designed by Lani Adeoye from Nigeria. The walker exudes a sense of dignity, helping to empower the user, something they would happily have in their own environment and that they would be glad to use . According to the jur y, elegance and dignity come together in an object useful for all. It is contemporar y craftsmanship that com bines local processes with global design inspiration. It responds to the theme of SaloneSatellite 2022: Designing for our Future Selves. 2nd Prize Lamps designed by Studio Gilles Werbrouck (Belgium is Design), Belgium . It is a limited series of lamps merging two techniques. Pouring white plaster onto black VHS crochet tape creates a unique piece: the crochet lampshade and a simplified plaster cylinder. This project harnesses memor y, bringing playful elements together with craftsmanship and design.
3rd Prize Meenghe , urban furniture designed by Djurdja Garcevic (Young Balkan Designers), Serbia. The concept involves molding shreds of tirse into urban furniture such as rubbish bins, bumpers, flowerpots, stools, etc . The aim is to steer clear of virgin materials, making new products and doing away with waste .
SaloneSatellite, the brainchild of Marva Griffin Wilshire, Founder and Curator of SaloneSatellite, has seen its impor tance rising through the years. Reserved for designers under 35, the event has become the benchmark worldwide for young designers presenting an all around reflection on design without barriers. The goal of the SaloneSatellite: to promote encounters between designers and the world of production in the wake of ever new ideas. During Salone del Mobile.Milano it celebrated its 23th edition with a varieg ated
FUTURE SELVES / PROGETTARE PER I NOSTRI DOMANI, resonates with inclusivity and sustainability. We are not all the same and each of us, for reasons of health or ag e, has quite different needs. The aim is to encourag e the sor t of design broad enough to take the need for autonomy and inclusion into consideration, g eared to society as a whole. This sor t of open minded design is, in itself, sustainable, because it is long last ing. A world within everyone’s reach!” multitude in creativity, languag es and orig ins at the exhibition layout, curated by Ricardo Bello Dias. The theme: ‘Designing For Our Future Selves. Sustainability’. The impor tance of the event is underlined by the par ticipation of around 600 young people from 48 different countries, including Cyprus, Congo, Cuba, Nig eria and Qatar for the very first time, along with 24 international design schools and universities and the international collectives Belg ium is Design, Design Week Lagos, Young Balkan Designers. Marva Griffin Wilshire: “The subject for the 2022 edition, DESIGNING FOR OUR
Mar va Griffin, founder of SaloneSatellite since 1998 and the ‘godmother’ of many young talents worldwide . photo: cour tesy Salone del Mobile .Milano.
More and more design academies from all over the world have recognized the impor tance of SaloneSateliite to present themselves. This page: the Escuela de Ar tes y Oficios Santo Domingo, Bogotà, Colombia with Cacaos designed by EAOSD. The photo was taken on the premises of the school. Below that: Design VA, New York founded by the Mexican duo Viviane Hernandez and Armando Mora. The studio aims to bring the ordinar y to life in order to execute the extraordinar y. Right-hand page: presentation ‘Smash Social Ceilings by the Fachhochschule Potsdam / University of Applied Sciences Potsdam, Germany.
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SaloneSatellite 2022
Above: design from Lagos with yellow armchair Ijoko Abeti Aja and the Perch Stool are designed by the Nigerian Architect Tolulope Adebayo. She par ticipated to SaloneSatellite 2022 within the presentation of Design Week Lagos. Perch Stool is inspired by West African folklore , and depicts the Benin Bird of Prophecy. Handcrafted in salvaged ironwood, the table is car ved sustainably by local ar tisans.
Right hand page: the rising lamp by Paolo ASH Cente , ASH, created from recycled disposed surgical covid 19 masks. The cabinet is designed to contain memories. www.salonemilano.it/sites/default/files/catalogue/Catalogo
Salone del Mobile.Milano 2022 was, stronger than ever, dominated by the concer n for the sustainable component on the level of both the organization and management of the event, and in research and the proposal of value and concrete and feasible solutions. The special manifestation ‘Design with Nature’ was a strong proof.
SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY SALONE
All photos: Hans Fonk
Left: a Conifer root fossil at the Design with Nature installation designed by the architect Mario Cucinella as part of Salone del Mobile.Milano 2022. It symbolizes the forest playing a key role in stabilizing the climate.They mitigate and regulate the climate by s ubtracting and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Maria Porro the new president of Salone del Mobile.Milano described the key values of the event: “Quality, innovation, beauty and, now more than ever, sustainability Designing sustainability and celebrating beauty.”
Mario Cucinella himself has shown great integrity by embracing a circular vision and design approach for years. This fundamental consideration formed the basics for the three themes that the installation embodied and amplified: the urgent need for ecological transition, the home as the first building block in the urban fabric and the city as a mine
Environmental and social wellbeing defined the theme of ‘Design with Nature’, the installation designed by the architect Mario Cucinella for the Salone’s birthday with S.Project: 1,400 m2, narrating a virtuous ecosystem that represented ideally the future of home living. The architect’s inspiration was the idea, that while the events of the last few years have made us to rediscover the importance of sociality and sharing, we still need to find a balance with what is around us, with the spaces we inhabit and the territories we occupy (home, city, planet), and with the resources available to us.
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Left: Shikada produces panels, made in Japan, by extracting bamboo, which is used in interior design. It is made from 100 pct. re used materials, while 90 pct. can be recycled again.
Bottom: 3d wall panels made from Ecopixel, a recycled waste material, used in interior design. It is totally recyclable .
Below: a pioneer in sustainable design and recycling is Kar tell, here with the iconic Ghost chair designed by Philippe Starck.
Below: Structure Nature is a domestic garden for a new lifestyle passed on biophilic habitat, sharing spaces with other living species. The multi functional structure is designed to adapt to its surroundings and to adjust parameters like the distribution of light, air and vision.
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Right: paper skyscraper is metaphor for changing the perception of an energ y-hungr y city as a problem and to turn it into an oppor tunity. Italy is leader in the recycled paper world and about 87 pct. of the paper in circulation in the environment got a second life . Three shy scrapers made of more than a thousand newspapers are representing sustainability. Paper is used as a material for construction, furniture and architecture: a material for the city.
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In the wake of the Salone del Mobile.Milano the Italian city is undergoing with every event a complete metamorphosis. Under the title Fuorisalone and Design Week almost every corner breathes design.
Photos: Hans Fonk
Remarkable in 2022 was again the colorful contribution of the famous fashion brands.
At Superstudio Milano during Fuorisalone: Resonance , Vor tex to Diversity by Toyo Aluminium, an installation coated with Toyo’s Chromashine® pigments. The object was inspired by the formation of a vor tex when two qualitatively different states come into contact. It was the visualization of the process where different things meet and fuse together to create new values. Concept and design by Toshiya Hayashi and Hokuto Ando of we+, a Tokyo based design studio.
BOARDING ON THE WAKE OF SALONE
Right hand page: Sparks of Tomorrow installation developed in par tnership with Lexus and Germane Barnes at Superstudio Milano. The ON/ installation gave a vision for an electrified, carbon-neutral and human-centered future . The display showcased the Lexus RZ, the first Lexus dedicated batter y-electric model. Rendered in a wire frame that is suspended just above the ground, the vehicle’s interpretation embodies Lexus’ vision for a sustainable future . The RZ was illuminated by Aqua Creations’ Code 130° silk pendant lights. Visitors of the installation had the oppor tunity to explore the work of the six finalists of the Lexus Design Award 2022.
Top left: Fromm. a design platform and company launched between Qatar and Italy to create the ideal fusion of Design and Manufacturing, connecting the local, Italian and international design communities to the global market. Beside that: the presentation of Entler Studio in a classic Mialese Villa during Fuorisalone . Entler is a ceramic lighting and design studio based in Los Angeles. Founded by Jonathan Entler with a small line of table lamps, the studio has expanded to produce a full collection of lighting and other furnishings. All our work is made to order in their Lincoln Heights Studio by their team of five .
Fuorisalone 2022 presented a set of events distributed in dif ferent areas of Milan, featuring the endor sement of Milan’s Municipality. Conceived to turn design and some of the leading brands active in the sector into the protagonists of various areas of the city, known as Design Districts, the Fuorisalone event included themed events, exhibitions, pop up shows, per formances, presentations, concer ts, DJ sets and special projects related to the world of design, furniture and innova tions in living solutions. The theme of the 2022 Fuorisalone: Between Space and Time. It was an invitation to reflect on the changes taking place in the world, in order to achieve sustainability goals that allow look to the future.
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The Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana Casa presented its furniture and accessories collections, home textiles, Murano glassware , and Sicilian ceramics. Suppor ted by a bold new campaign, shot by photography duo Mer t Alas and Marcus Piggott, D&G promoted four distinctive collections.
The quest for lightness, as a challenge to gravity, expressed in the creation of objects for the home staged by Hermès in four structures by Her vé Sauvage and Charlotte Macaux Perelman. These forms are vast but still light. Made of wood and covered with translucent colored paper, they radiate light. Inside , each object expresses an area of know-how whose power lies in its precision. Perception of the creations changes as light plays over them when they are backlit against the structures, each a poetic colossus and a point of anchor for these miracles of balance .
Blu Mediterraneo with sea-colored motifs, Caretto inspired by Sicilian aesthetics and colorful Maiolica-like patterns and the objects in the Zebra and Leopardo collections were dominated by prints of animals.
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Right: coinciding with this year’s Milano Design Week 2022, Louis Vuitton celebrated ten years of the Objets Nomades collection of furniture and design objects. At a specially designed exhibition space within the iconic Garage Traversi, Louis Vuitton unveiled new additions to the Objets Nomades collections as well as a wide selection of recent and classic pieces. Louis Vuitton also brought Studio Rochel’s ovoid work Nova House to the hear t of Milan as par t of the Maison’s tradition of exhibiting nomadic architecture . Designs by Marcel Wanders Studio and Cosmic Table and Dolls by Raw Edges.
Above: a monumental Pinocchio ‘Someone is Lying’ at Superstudio, a project by Alcantara, cer tified Carbon Neutral since 2009, to raise awareness among a cross section of the public about the impor tance of engagement based on science and facts and not on the misleading communications circulating on the sustainability front. Under the patronage of Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.
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Promemoria by Italian Romeo Sozzi: one of the grand masters of interior design.
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w h a t c o l o r i s v i r t u e
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T h e U p p e r E a s t S i d e d u p l e x i n M a n h a t t a n w a s u n t o u c h e d f o r 3 0 y e a rs P re v i o u s l y d e s i g n e d b y M a ri o B u a t t a , i n t e ri o r d e s i g n e r A a m i r K h a n d w a l a w a s a s k e d t o re v a m p t h e 5 , 0 0 0 s q u a re f o o t p ro j e c t b y b l e n d i n g h i s o w n c o m p o s i t i o n s a ro u n d s p a c e s T h ro u g h o u t , n o w c l a s s i c m e e t s c o n t e m p o ra ry w i t h v i n t a g e a n d c u s t o m f u rn i s h i n g s a n d a n p e rs o n a l a r t c o l l e c t i o n t h a t i n c l u d e s a B a l t h u s o i l p a i n t i n g a n d B e t t y W o o d m a n c e ra m i c s.
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Photos: Jacob Snavel
Aamir: “This project was an exciting challenge for us. We were hired to design our client’s generous living and dining area, powder room, office, and bathroom and blend the new design with the old by styling some of the other areas in this duplex apartment. The main challenge in working on this apartment was to find clever ways of blending new with existing without either iteration feeling out of place.” Topic design features are the soothing color palette, the white lacquer ceiling to reflect light, the white oak paneling, the custom 10’L Corian desk and the silk wall to wall carpeting For the furnishings Aamir opted for Egg collective dining table, Egg Collective blue sofa, Allied Maker lamp, Vintage Italian Armchairs (1940's) from Bernd Goeckler, custom designed hammered bronze console table, hanging vintage lamp, Avenue Road chairs, and a set of leather tables by Cristina Z Antonio The art came from the clients personal collection including a set of Betty Woodman ceramics and a Balthus Oil painting. Aamir Khandwala is seem as a top interior designer, based in New York. He was born and raised in the cosmopolitan melting pot of Karachi and went to New York to earn his bachelor’s degree. Since then his star is rising. He began a 14 year career at the office of Robert Couturier. As Head of Decoration at Couturier, Aamir led multimillion dollar luxury resi dential projects At the beginning of 2015 he founded his design studio, ‘Aamir Khandwala Interior Design’
Above: blending old and new into a limeless image at the Upper East Side apar tment in Manhattan.
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Right: par t of the main living roo and dining section.
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Signs of Wabi Sabi
SYY Decoration Design under the guidance of Xie Ke, the chief designer, rejuvenated the vividness and liveliness of the Sisan project, which was previously used as the house of the military attaché of US embassy and a temporary site for Xinhua bank. One of the prevailing methods to restore such a historic building is to make it perfectly preserved for maximum effect Xie took an alternative solution: he tried to retain a decent amount of history visible. Moreover, upon his close observation, he managed to distill the essence of history and impart it to a modern hotel through the design Wang Chi, the lead architect in this project, leaned more towards expressing the modernity. Ostensibly her view was wrestling with Xie’s, but granted, the emphasis on the ‘Present’ was a shared view of them both. Sisan now is characterized by the old brick masonry and wood framed structure with structural steels and the glass elements are as distinctive indications for the present
The heritage building Sisan Hupao 1934 is an ancient heritage building in Hangzhou, China. It was recently restore by SYY Decoration design with Xie Ke and Zhi Hongxin as principle designers and Wang Chi as lead architect. The lighting consultant was Zhu Lidong. Photos: Tantan Lei.
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The piece of land, adjacent to Hupao Spring in Hangzhou, China, was bought by a vicar of the Catholic Church in 1934 Here, a villa was constructed that some years later was accredited as a historic building. The bygone 82 years seem to have erased of its prior history and its recognition from the people’s memory
The villa had recently undergone thoroughgoing repairs and refurbishment from 2016 to 2020. It made a glorious comeback and was christened 'Sisan Hupao 1934' (Sisan).
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The designers let the original facades intact as much as possible “We intended to display the real texture and true color of the materials and carried out the essential repair work to the K37（ferric manganese umber) bricks Basically, minor changes but without any amount of dis ruption of its historic characteristics ” Xie Ke said The steel structure was adopted to fortify the building but also to make it possible to implement the fenestration in a wider space In such an enlarged terrace, Boston ivy could sneak reddish tendrils into the area, squirrels could steal the nuts on the table and have them stashed away and the terrace became a small garden to provide a space for small creatures to thrive in A serene bamboo flanked gateway leads to the entrance Bamboo groves on both sides release the refreshing scent. The bamboo outside was continued into the interiors,with their bamboo woven products, creating a story of the connectivity to the nature as opposed to the futile superfluity of complex structure. In the bedrooms the beds are facing opposite to the window The natural light and the lamp light convert the rooms into sanctuaries. A staircase leads up to the rooftop, where the dining room is located overlooking the West Lake and featuring a panoramic view of the Qiantang River The interiors of Sisan Hupao 1934 are designed in a simple quiet way in harmony with the surrounding nature . Leading designer Xie Ke managed to distill the essence of histor y and impar t it to a modern villa. The bamboo woods outside were continued into the interiors with the bamboo weaving products, creating a stor y of the connectivity with nature .
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All photos: Hans Fonk
T h e R u l e o f T w o THE UNIVERSE OF ARTIST THEO WILLENSE
Left: ar tist Theo Willemse with his par tner Patricia Thornton and their dog Orlo in the garden of their house/studio in Lemoine Point Estate in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Above: Sea Queen (Limestone car ving with patina on pedestal) by the ar tist. Original text: Sheldon Rose
The artist Theo W illemse, bor n in Amsterdam (1951), lives and works with his life and business partner Patricia Thor nton, at their studio home in the historic Lemoine Point Estate (1840s) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada "The core of my work is to expose the beautiful balance that lives within ourselves, a perfect balance of the masculine and the feminine, allowing the humanity to speak through the forms and layers of skin W ith each breath comes a new level of understanding, a clear vision and a fearless execution.”
“All this is threaded with humility and vulnerability. A rising love of consciousness that's flowing with inspiration then echoes into mywork," said the artist OBJEKT Inter national visited the estate where he lives and works
This page: Ar t works by Theo Willemse at his Lemoine Point Estate Home . Tree with car ved pedestal (fiberglass cast with patina) and painting Thrust (mixed media on handmade paper). On top shelve the ar tworks Shield and Horizontal Swimmers. Below that Totel, Gaze Reclining Head and Arrow #1 and Arrow #2. On bottom shelf: Suspended Forms 1, 2 & 3. Right-hand page: hallway with on top shelf: Oceanic Beauty (cast polymer matrix), below that Orbit (cast polymer matrix) and below that Fluted Male (cast polymer matrix). On the bottom shelves Vessel #2 (original wood car ving with patina) and Double Swimmer (original for casting). On the floor Turbo, a limestone carving with patina and on the right Cloudburst, a two part limestone carving. Behind that side table Patheos with Bullet (marble car ving with patina) resting on top and opposite of that Vessel #3 on custom made wire pedestal. At the end of the hallway the wooden sculpture Spire.
“There are still artists whose work is not overshadowed by appended narratives nor by the need for one. There are artists whose work not only recommends but requires occasionally even commands us to stop, to take several moments, to connect with our breath, to deeply 'be' in that space with the art. Theo Willemse is such an artist.”
Rose: “Willemse's works often border on the iconic. The work is often so comfortable with itself that it feels inevitable. Somebody had to bring this or that form into three-dimensional life, for it is a part of the natural order of things. It seems sometimes to announce the very possibility of its own history with its own appearance. I claim this space and also this time! his pieces sometimes seem to declare, assimilating and re expressing the quantum reality that we now know is a truer expression of our reality, even as we strive to carry on with 'normal' everyday life. Like all authentic artwork, Willemse's work helps us to understand that the infinite, the mystical, and the eternal are all parts of normal everyday life.”
Above: the central living space in the home of Theo Willemse with his ar tworks ever ywhere . The Orinoco Bench in the center is a unique piece and behind it stands the ar twork Hear t Speak (original plaster model for casting). The painting on the right is titled Por tal (oil on canvas).
Left: Historic Lemoine Point Estate Home (1840s) with its original limestone terrace in the grove of Black Locust trees.
According to the curator, Willemse has persisted with a fundamental 'two ness', the bilateral, the dual element construction through the decades It resurfaces again and again in his quest to find the simplest and most beautiful expression of material and form The depth of his creative sources is clearly beyond the individual, connecting to ineffable sources.
“The sculptures are often combinations of two primary elements (the role of two) that marry into a new integral form. They bridge opposites like old and new, light and dark, good and evil, traditional and contemporary, organic and geometric offering up forms that take on a life of their own, often as combinations of just two principal elements that fuse into a new integral form.”
Although the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) acquired the current conservation area land in 1975, part of the land remained as farmland belonging to the Coverdale family.
Theo Willemse lives and works as an artist in residence at the histofric
The interior of the Lemoine Point Estate Home now is a tribute to the artistic work of Willemse According to art curator and gallery owner Sheldon Rose embodies his work 'simple', 'original' and 'beautiful' with purity.
Rose: “There are artists shaping traditional materials and finding new and fresh expressions that are fully respectful of their materials' qualities Every art-lover seeks artists who produce work that provides opportunities to deeply engage, to contemplate; work that calms or agitates as the case may be, that elevates and satisfies. There are a few artists who can still find seemingly 'new' and seemingly 'elemental' forms that convey a sense of the timeless qualities of their materials, and yet sit comfortably in modern settings.”
Lemoine Point Estate Home (1840s) Lemoine Point Estatei is a 136 hectare domain west of Kingston, Ontario. The history of the estate dates back to 1784, as Johan Jost Herkimer, a Loyalist, was granted a land allotment of 3,450 acres (1,400 ha) in the township west of the village of Cataraqui (modern day downtown Kingston) for his service to the English Crown during the American Revolutionary War. He also received two acres (0.81 ha) in the village. In 1836 the land was sold to Captain William Lemoine and after that to William Hugh Coverdale as a summer vacation property.
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This page: see through in Theo’s house full of his ar tworks from the living to the study
Left-hand page: Torso (cast polymer matrix) and behind that Resurrection (mixed media on paper from the recent 2022 Series of 9). In between Talking Heads (limestone car ving with patina) and in foreground Ancient Vessel (original for casting).
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Above: Balance , coffee table by Theo Willemse. Left: detail of the living room with he Orinoco Bench (unique item) and behind that Blade (medium density fiber board graphite , wax, pigment) and Spring (limestone car ving). The Por tal painting (oil on canvas) hangs over Grand Tulip (sculpture for mold ing and casting).
s o u n d s o f t h e l o o n
The interior and conceptual architectural design was by Goran Tijanic, GOGO Design from Toronto and the millwork was done by Line To Line Inc, Mississauga, Canada.
Left: the cottage with interior and conceptual architectural design by Goran Tijanic at the shore of Lake Muskoka, nor th of the Canadian city of Toronto. It is a sturdy, well propor tioned and elegant house for year round living in nature. Above that: one of ar tist John Guy St. Julien’s Loon (bird) creations from his Mckellar Ar t Galler y not far from the town of Parr y Sound
The sturdy and well propor tioned cottage was designed and built to enjoy the beautiful Muskoka lake year round. It is located right at the shore of the lake some 10 km from Por t Carling, the small city in between Lake Muskoka, Lake Joseph and Lake Rousseau nor th of the Canadian city of Toronto.
Cindi spent most of her childhood on this property in the old cottage she later inherited from her parents. The old cottage that still exists and is in relatively good condition was built in the 1950s.
The Muskoka Lakes are a triple A destination to enjoy water and nature. The shores are a favorite spot to build cottages and boat houses, which seem to grow in size year after year. Unlike most of these cottages that only used during specific times of the year, this cottage was created to live and enjoy year round. It was designed and built for the owners Cindi and Jeff Jones, who have been enjoying the Muskoka Lakes almost all their lives.
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Left: Goran Tijanic . Right: the Muskoka room, a typical phenomenon of the region for a bug-free enjoyment of nature and lake.
Cindi and Jeff decided to keep the old cottage for family gatherings and to build a new cottage as close to the shore of the lake as possible and enjoy the beautiful views of Lake Muskoka. The layout and interior concept of the new cottage was based on their ideas. Designer Goran Tijanic tried to fulfil all their wishes and gave his distinctive stamp to the appearance of the interior.
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The walls are covered with white shiplap to freshen up the space and accentuate the large windows and sliding doors through which the views of the lake dominate.
The windows and doors are framed with black aluminum, manufactured by Big Foot from Toronto. These pages: the living, kitchen and dining are designed as one integrated area. Built-in millwork cabinets were done by Line To Line from Mississauga, with walnut veneer and oil finish Floor and ceiling are covered with European white oak with an oil finish Counter tops and backsplashes in the kitchen are porcelain slabs from Laminam. Behind the Stuv see trough wood bur ning fireplaces is the Muskoka room next to the entrance. All acces sories in the house from Roche Bobois, Toronto.
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On the main floor is the living room, which includes a kitchen and a dining area, created as a unique open space. Next to the entrance is the Muskoka room, which is separated from the living area by a see-through wood-burning fireplace and the glass partition. Behind the living is the primary bedroom and bathroom. The walk-out basement contains a lounge area separated from the office by another see-trough fireplace and glass partition. The second part of the basement has a fitness room, guest room, laundry, and bathroom. All rooms except the laundry and powder room have a lake view. Goran used only natural materials for the interior. The stone used on the floor at the entrance, for all fireplace surrounds and in the bathrooms is natural local Muskoka granite. The cottage floor and ceiling are covered with European white oak with an oil finish.
The size of the space fully met their needs, and the idea of contact with the lake and nature was fully realized.
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Right: the kitchen with built in mill work cabinets in walnut veneer and oil finish by Line To Line from Mississauga.
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Left-hand page: the bathroom adjacent to the master bedroom. The floors and ceiling are covered with European white oak with an oil finish. Counter tops and backsplashes in the bathroom are porcelain slabs from Laminam Above: the pride of the owner : a Donzi Shelby speedboat in the boathouse. Following pages: the walk out base ment with a lounge area separated from the office by see-trough fireplace and glass par tition. The woodbur ning fireplace is by Stuv. For the cladding of these fireplace, in addition to Muskoka granite, heavy gage blackened cold rolled steel is used. The designer chose fumed European oak for the background of the stairs and, at the same time, the feature wall that r uns from the basement to the main floor to achieve contrast and emphasize the floating effect of this staircase
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UNIQUE EXPERIENCES Selected Retreats for Family & Friends WWW.UNIQUE EXPERIENCES.CH L a C o q u i l l a d e , L u b e r o n , F r a n c e p h o t o : H a n s F o n k
