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A note from Italy has long been the home of iconic imagery. Whether it was birthing the Renaissance, fostering Fellini, or fashioning the fashion industry, Italy draws from the fonts of passion, craftsmanship and attention to detail that marks it out as a natural home for innovative design and style. le cool Dublin has, for the past four years, been Dublin’s online culture guide to the very best aspects of our vibrant city. Whether it’s celebrating great creative work, promoting independent initiatives or shining a spotlight on those who make Dublin a special place to live, our design-led publication also draws from a variety of expertise that marks us out as a natural home for this knowledge for better living.
At le cool, we appreciate style that can boast substance and flair that is backed by heritage. That’s why we are delighted to work with Peroni Nastro Azzurro, who not only cherish these ideals but demonstrate them with their premium Italian lager, in bringing you this guide to The New Icons of Italian Design. This is a celebration of the passion that both Italy and le cool share for authenticity, artistry and ingenuity. We want to talk about beautifully crafted bikes, sleek product design and timeless art. Good design makes a positive impact on our lives and great style allows us to live that life beautifully. This is La Dolce Vita as prescribed by le cool.
Roll call: le cool Dublin dublin.lecool.com Editor: Ciaran Walsh Publisher: Michael McDermott Deputy Editor: Kate Frances Coleman Designed by: Dominique McMullan dominiquemcmullan.com ©2013 Peroni Nastro Azzurro + le cool Dublin. All rights reserved. All information was checked at time of going to press. The publisher and the brand partner cannot be held responsible for any errors. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited.
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SUPER fabio
Italian architect and designer, Fabio Novembre, proves the placebo effect with his Happy Pills.
Fabio Novembre likes his happy pills with floral arrangements inside... These vases, made for the Venetian glass company Venini, combine the traditional and historical craft of Murano glass with a pseudo-industrial, pharmaceutical aesthetic - chemical symbols painstakingly etched into the glass - creating something modern but timeless. They are created with perfection. Each vase must fit exactly on top of its partner; no overlap, no little gaps, just a sheer drop. The Italian design maestro has made his presence felt within several spheres; from fashion to fine art. Belying the architectural lines and modernity is a wit - mannequins have comic red lippy, robots double up as bookshelves and chairs are abstractly petal shaped - perfect for Thumbelina herself.
MUS ICA
And if you’re lucky enough to be walking the walk in Milan anytime soon, check out his design for Who’s Who, the concept store taking the world by storm. The interior is lined with meshed figures holding up chrome rails of clothing, and a painstakingly tiled mosaic floor.
When it comes to Italian music, there is only one Sir Bob.
Fabio Novembre is the suave design son of Milan - the cosmopolitan sophisticate, whose attention to detail makes everything he turns his hand to into gold. Figuratively, of course. Gold is so passé.
le cool Dublin talked music and inspiration with Italian electro maestro and 35-year-old dance-punk, Sir Bob Cornelius, of The Bloody Beetroots, whose latest album TBD is on our most-played list.. “The history of Italian music runs deep and it has roots in composition and writing. I think every Italian is quite passionate about music and can easily recognise and respect the tradition of Italian music. It’s often seen as comedy or dramatic but extremely capable of expressing a varied palette of colors and styles of music. My music is influenced by my desire and vision to create art and illustration. I am inspired by the classics, both musically and visually. The contemporary world we inhabit is always just a reflection or an update on something that is classical. It is what happens when we all reinterpret the art that has come before us and it gives new music and art a sense of space and depth. Sir Bob [the persona] is everything and nothing, he’s the personification of my inner being in a way that allows him to communicate with the world. I love to listen to great music and I love to be heard, but I guess the greatest thing all musicians have in common is the music and having the ability to create.”
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The Bloody Beetroots latest album TBD is available now.
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ITALIAN RIDES Consider this Italian starting XI: Bertelli, Cipollini, Cinelli, Gios, Pinarello, De Rosa, Pergoretti, Colnago, Guerciotti, Tommasini, Bianchi. This isn’t a World Cup winning Italian side, they are far more important than that. This group of italian manufacturers redefined the two-wheeled world, for there are bicycles and then there are Italian bicycles.
As with every winning team, these companies are a collection of different personalities, inherited from their founders. Ernesto Colnago was relentlessly inquisitive, Ugo De Rosa was methodically calm, and both iconic frame builders contributed immeasurably to the racing victories of the legendary Eddy Merckx. Cino Cinelli’s competitiveness led him to victory in the 1938 Giro di Lombardia but it also drove him when he began making frames and components in the 1940s. His success still resounds today. Bianchi, as the world’s oldest bicycle-making company still in existence, brings with it an unmatched wealth of experience. Together, these makers of Italian ‘bicis’ have set the standard for bicycle design.
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There are bicycles and then there are Italian bicycles. They are built with a passion to race and to win and yet their functionality doesn’t cramp their style. They are fast and they are beautiful. Italian bike brands have deep roots, some tracing their lineage back more than 100 years to the early days of the velocipede. They also share a hunger for technology, pushing engineering to new heights with exotic metal alloys, elaborate weaves of expensive carbon fiber, and aerodynamic studies that help their riders cheat the wind. Although Italy has a rich history of bike design, the future of this industry also lies within its borders: greater technology and greater attention to detail, aligned with unique aesthetics should permit Italian brands to acquire even greater world leadership.
For Italian bicycles, its less about the mud guard and more about being the vanguard.
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Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Alessi are collaborating to bring the Peroni Design Awards exclusively to Ireland in 2013. This national competition seeks to push the boundaries of excellence and aims to discover Ireland’s most talented designers. The brief is simple: create an original item designed to enhance the enjoyment of Peroni Nastro Azzurro during a special occasion and which celebrates the iconic Peroni Nastro Azzurro blue ribbon. Matteo Alessi will be on the judging panel in conjunction with key members of the Institute of Designers in Ireland. Ten finalists will have their designs exhibited as part of Dublin’s Design Week in front of Ireland’s design influencers in November 2013. The overall winner will win a €2,000 cash prize. For more information and full T&Cs see www.facebook.com/lecool.dublin. The competition is open to ROI residents aged 25 or over. ROI residents 25+ only. To enter: design an original item for the enjoyment of Peroni Nastro Azzurro on a special occasion, in bar or at home, incorporating PNA’s blue ribbon and inspired by PNA’s brand values (passion, craftsmanship and attention to detail). Send by email or post (“PNA Design Awards 2013” with full name DOB and address), for submission requirements see web. Enter between: 9/5/13 – 17:00 27/09/13. Prizes: 10 x finalist designs to be exhibited during Dublin Design Week at PNA Design Awards Dublin 6 – 16/11/13. Main Prize: €2,000. For Full Terms & Conditions see www.facebook.com/lecool.dublin . Promoter: Miller Brands (UK) Ltd, Woking GU21 6HS.
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Icon Factory
Through its products, Alessi continue to make the everyday extraordinary. In the age of industry, Alessi is constantly innovating: addressing typical industrial needs with a ‘research laboratory’ approach in the field of applied arts, which drives its tireless research and experimentation processes, leading to the use of new materials and technologies. Since its foundation in 1921, this family run operation has remained unchallenged as the epitome of Italian style and design. They distill objects down to their minimalist forms; fluid lines, a smooth metallic sheen, form and function respected equally. Innovation without forgetting their legacy of authenticity. That’s what Alessi’s about. Their household items; bat-like bottle openers and spidery, tarantula-like lemon juicers make the kitchen a brighter place to be, but it isn’t all about household goods - there can’t possibly be any sleeker or more stylish desk accessory than their recent Beaver pencil sharpener, a must-have in any self-respecting office.
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It’s the underlying wit that makes an Alessi product so much more than just a tray, or a corkscrew - it’s got attitude. And what is style without attitude?
1994 Anna. G corkscrew designed by Alessandro Mendini
1999 Girotondo tray designed by King Kong
1990 Juicy Salif lemon squeezer designed by Phillipe Starck
2008 Pop up Bottle cap remover by Giovanni Alessi Anghini
Recently, Alessi have made you want to get your eyes checked by releasing their AlessiEYES range designed for Alessi by Frederic Gooris and produced in collaboration with Studio 101 Limited which use magnets to ensure you never have to tighten those arm-screws again, while the spire-esque Todo cheese grater will add Italian cool to your meal whether the cheese is Parmigiano Reggiano or Cheddar. And then there’s the Pop Up, a sculptural mystery that... whips the pesky lids off beer bottles. Stylin’. The attention to detail is what makes Alessi so covetable; the gleaming finish, the A-Team of collaborators (who doesn’t want a hunk of Phillipe Starck in their house?), and their ability to stay resolutely modern despite being almost a century old. Centenarians never looked so good.
2004 Todo Giant grater by Richard Sapper
1985 Alessi Kettle with bird whistle designed by Michael Graves
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Bien nale di Venezia Fantastic art returns to the floating city.
The Venice Biennale is one of those things, like a fine wine, or Bill Murray, that just gets better with age. Since 1895, it has been at the forefront of artistic exhibitionism, consistently pushing the boundaries of art, culture and design. Every two years, Venice hosts this epic display of contemporary creativity, setting the art agenda until it comes around again.
The Biennale was one of the first revered bodies to throw itself behind the Pop art movement by granting its top prize to Robert Rauschenberg, while it got political in 1974 by dedicating that year’s Biennale to Chile, as a form of protest against Pinochet’s regime. Even now, it presents the most pertinent trends to monied collectors amongst the backdrop of super yachts and Prosecco flowing pavilions.
As Mosse himself said: “The Venice Biennale is rather like the World Cup of the Visual Arts, it’s the most important event in the contemporary art world and it’s a huge honour for me to be wearing the green jersey there.” From 1 June to 24 November, the eyes of the art world are focused on this floating city, for here is where tomorrow’s icons are born.
This 55th Venice Biennale will see the world’s finest exhibiting; the controversial Ai Wei Wei will be representing Germany, while the main exhibition, curated by Massimiliano Gioni, will feature the surrealist work of George Condo, Cindy Sherman’s photography and Steve McQueen of Shame and Hunger fame. But the real strength of this celebration is its showcasing of the new and emerging. Kosovo, the Maldives, Kuwait and Bahrain show works for the first time and Ireland will be represented by Kilkenny’s Richard Mosse and his wildly-coloured images of African militarism, presented under this year’s theme of ‘The Encyclopedic Palace’.
Richard Mosse. Nowhere To Run, South Kivu, Eastern Congo, 2010 Image: Nico Saieh
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Where to imbibe in style Dublin has long been associated with notorious watering holes, but as the city has become more cosmopolitan, so has its public houses and bars. Salute!
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Images by Sean and Yvette.
1. The Market Bar, with its cavernous interior, is one of the hottest spots in Dublin to meet friends and get that Friday feeling in the convivial bar. Architecturally stunning, friendly, and noisy, there’s nowhere better to shed the weekday blues, drink in hand, and friends by side. 2. The Gibson offers startling views over East Wall and beyond. Stand out on the balcony with a drink watching the sun set and the city’s skyline flicker to life. 3. The Exchequer hums with chatter - the perfect place to chill with friends in booths built for crowding around over post-work beers, to catch up, make up, and shake it up. 4. The Bath is a characterful, bath-ful delight. It’s homely design gives it an edge on the other Aviva-side bars that jostle for your attention. The only place to watch the Sunday match, the atmosphere is jovial - no matter the end result! 5. For good, old fashioned getting in touch with your Brendan Behan side, you can do no better than Neary’s, cosy, velvety and inviting, and nestled off Grafton Street, it’s like an escape to 1930.
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6. The Dylan is more than a hotel. Cooler than its über cool namesake; tipples come no more stylish, company no more sparkling, and interiors no slicker than this. 7. The Odeon, the architecturally breathtaking Gatsby-esque building at the end of Harcourt Street, is aglitter with luxurious speakeasy style; the perfect surrounding for a saucy date or illicit tipple. 8. Searson’s is a traditional Baggot Street boozer - with a heady mix of characters, city boys and the odd arty type, if you walk away without a story - or at least someone else’s story - that’ll be an achievement.
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