Designer Stories: The TriBeCa Series

Translated from original article by Louise Foged at BoBedre.dk, here: http://bobedre.dk/design/en-designer-fortaeller-tribeca-serien

The TriBeCa series of lamps are a tribute 1930s New York. Søren Rose found the inspiration for these lamps while hunting for bits and bobs in the hardware stores of New York.

Where did you find the inspiration for TriBeCa?

The design style in the US is more industrial than it is in Denmark. I found the inspiration in hardware stores in Manhattan, where I saw thousands of little gadgets and gizmos I hadn’t seen before. I grew up with Danish oak and brushed steel, so it was truly a joy to work with brass – the core material in this series. The oxidation of the metal adds an entirely new dimension to the lamps. Over the course of just 12 months the oxidation of the lamps changes their expression significantly.

What was your vision for TriBeCa?

The TriBeCa series is a collection of lamps, pendants, and chandeliers, inspired by 1930s New York. The TriBeCa area of New York, short for “Triangle Below Canal Street”, has been the home for my studio for the last four years. The lamps are named after streets in the TriBeCa area. I wanted to pay tribute to Manhattan’s historic glamor.

What has the development process been like?

With Menu A/S onboard as the producer, we’ve made several adjustments to the collection – all for the better. Menu have the parts manufactured themselves, and in unbelievably high quality. The old sockets and parts have been updated to modern demands, and the collection as a whole has been adjusted for usage in both the European and American markets. With these changes the lamps have acquired a more consistent expression, and the quality has improved, though the basic expression still matches my original ideas.

How is the final design different from your first ideas?

In the beginning we produced the first lamps in our workshop on Franklin Street, deep down in a basement. We created many prototypes, as is typical for our studio, and there were frankly some awful creations along the way. However, by continuing to iterate on the concept, the lamps became stronger, and suddenly, we created the Leonard chandelier – the first in the series. To this day, I still have the original prototype for it hanging over my dining room table.

What does the future hold for TriBeCa?

We have been truly overwhelmed by the great reception of the TriBeCa series, both on on the private and contract markets. When the series was launched it consisted of four lamps; Franklin, Reade, Leonard, and Warren. Later, we added the fantastic Duane design, and I will say that this won’t be the last addition to the TriBeCa series.

Designer Spotlight: Signe Hytte

Born 1985, Signe Hytte lives and works in Copenhagen. She aims to create functional objects that can be of everyday use. The essence of her work is simplicity – often with the most simple expression and aesthetic possible, creating solutions that are honest in terms of materials and construction. Reducing a design to its core is the most challenging and difficult aspect of designing, but also the most rewarding.

Uncover is a small side table with a removable – and reversible – tray. The tray has wood on one side and bright shiny metal on the other. Take the tray into the kitchen and fill it with coffee and lovely cakes, bring it back and place it on top of the table.

Signe Hytte explains, “I wanted to create a small side table, which also had an extra function. I like the idea that you can take off the tray and still have a fully functional table. The tray is part of the table’s narrative and identity, but at the same time the table can easily function without the tray.”

From the beginning of the design process she worked with the idea of creating a table with different expressions. She succeeded. Uncover has three different looks: one without the tray and two different looks with the tray on – depending on which side is facing up.

Designer Spotlight: Theresa Arns

Theresa Arns is an architect and furniture designer based in Copenhagen. She graduated in July 2013 from the School of Architecture at The Royal Danish Academy of Arts and is now working on various furniture and interior design projects.

She set out to design a simple side table with built-in storage space for magazines, remotes, extra chargers, gum and chocolate, or whatever you need at hand in the living room; and the Turning Table was born. The design is elegant, distinct, and very welcoming. You’re drawn to see and feel how it works when you’re near it.

Theresa Arns explains, “I was looking for an unpretentious but elegant way to open the storage container under the top plate and got the idea to open the lid by rotating it around one of the legs. The metal sticks help stabilize the construction and complements the expression of the wooden table.”

Jewelry box is made to store all your small, precious, personal items. Use it to store jewelry, make-up, or tiny office items. Sort your stuff just the way you like it in the small partitions of the box and use the built-in mirror when you’re putting on make-up or jewelry – or when you just want to check your hair during the day. The mirror is hidden when the lid is closed.

Designer Spotlight: Murken Hansen

The design office Murken Hansen was founded in 1999 in Berlin by Hauke Murken and Sven Hansen. They like: clarity, simplicity, intelligence, traditions, idea ping-pong, german functionalism, working on ideas for a long time, knowledge that is not hardened to certainty, people that make things happen.

“We think people should own less but better things and so we try to create products with an outstanding usability and top quality. Many of our products are long selling items because we avoid to follow trends. So our products are staying up to date for many years. This is our contribution to sustainability.”

Spoonless is a small series of smart containers that create a warm atmosphere in your kitchen. Simply remove the cork lid from the small spout and pour without using a spoon. Hauke Murken and Sven Hansen love simple and easy-to-use products. They work with abstractions and reduction while still aiming for a maximum of function, smartness and beauty. The Spoonless series is a great example of how that theory works in real life.

The idea came in the kitchen in their Berlin studio as one of them was adding tea to a tea egg using a spoon. They instantly got the feeling that this was one step too much and felt like putting the spoon away and simply pouring the tea directly. Spoonless was born.

Designer Spotlight: Nick Ross

Designer Nick Ross studied at Gray’s School of Art in Aberdeen on the Industrial Design program where he was awarded the Arts & Heritage prize for his graduation project in 2008. In early 2009 he moved to Rotterdam to work under Tomáš Gabzdil Libertíny and later moved to Stockholm to work for FRONT until the spring of 2010.

In 2011 he became a tutor at Gray’s School of Art and worked there until enrolling on the masters program in Interior Architecture and Furniture Design at Konstfack in Stockholm where he received his MFA in 2013. Upon graduating he worked as assistant to Matti Klenell until founding his own studio in early 2014.

Soft Capital is a fine, practical marble candle holder. You can use the narrow end for regular tall candles and turn it around and use the wide end for tea lights. The design is done with reference to the great, impressive pillars of Ancient Rome. Nick Ross explains, “Soft Capital is inspired by the capitals in ancient Roman temples. A Capital connects the pillar to the ceiling or the arches, which it bears. I wanted to take this basic but beautiful form and give it a new softer look.”

When asked where he gets his inspiration, Nick Ross replies, “I am inspired by history and how it affects the way we see things today. Ancient crafts or values in craft give them a magical quality today. I believe we can add this lost magic to contemporary domestic goods as well. By understanding the past we can add more soul to the present.”

Designer Spotlight: Sarah Böttger

Sarah Böttger lives and works in Wiesbaden, Germany. After finishing her apprenticeship as a furniture maker, she studied product design at the Hochschule für Gestaltung in Offenbach am Main. During her studies she spent one semester at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki where she focused on furniture and glass design affected by a strong influence of the northern culture.

Her approach to design is based on everyday experiences and the habits of people which leave their marks in her creations. While being conscious of the used materials and their processing, she believes traditional and modern techniques can create exciting intersections. She does not focus on diverting trends, but the ambition to develop functional objects that ought to be used and lived with in the long term. In order to achieve a unique identity and appreciation, every detail needs to be thought through carefully.

With its fine incisions and small details Round Box is a mix of graphic design and product design. Beautiful and aesthetic while practical in use. You can use Round Box to store jewelry, keys, accessories, or knick-knacks in the bathroom, the kitchen, or to gather loose items on your office desk. The center compartment even works as a holder for your smartphone and tablet. In fact – it’s almost like it cleans the desk for you.

Designer Spotlight: Studiopepe

Studiopepe is a design studio founded in Milan in 2006. The founders and creative directors, Arianna Lelli Mami and Chiara Di Pinto, are both graduates from the Politecnico di Milano. Beginning from solid interior design experience and the strong emotional value of our eclectic design research, Studiopepe has carried out styling projects and iconographic shoot concepts for major international magazines.

“Our philosophy is based on a conceptual approach inspired by the unexpected, and on an extensive iconographic and visionary background, generating results that are unique of their kind. Our attention to details, and the emotion they can generate in people, is fundamental in our projects.”

Pepe Marble Mirror is solid, durable and meant to last. Year after year after year. The classic design and clean aesthetics, inspired by the style in late 50’s Italy, give the mirror a great iconic value. An object to be used and enjoyed everyday – and some day, maybe even passed on to future generations.

Designer Spotlight: Alexa Lixfeld

After working ten years as a model, Alexa began her design career with studies in Germany and at the Design Academy Eindhoven, Netherlands. Upon graduating, she went independent in 2007. Alexa Lixfeld is a design studio, consultancy and production company in Hamburg, Germany. The studio engages in designing extraordinary items as much as in delivering them to the public. With its kaleidoscopic portfolio, Alexa Lixfeld is deeply a project enterprise. Alexa takes on building an economy of the special. Each of her productions is a non-industrial, non-standard, non-exploitative, individually approved good. Doing so allows to create goods that, in the integrity of the project, would not be viable the industrial way – or, in other words, would not exist.

Circular Bowl is a great example of her work and how she manages to turn something as simple as a bowl into something quite spectacular. Use it for egg-smashing, dough-making, spectacular salads, pretty fruits, still life displays or just as it is – a distinct and decorative piece.

Designer Spotlight: Anker Studio

Christian Troels and Jonas Birkebæk Poulsen work on industrial design projects within a wide field of tasks and product ranges.

Christian Troels has a very playful approach to design and always strives to give some characteristic features and personality to the products, something that will make it stand out from the crowd. “I have worked within many categories, from futuristic electrical cars to pink horse stables for Lego. Working with new fields and continuing to learn, these are very motivating factors for me.”

Jonas Birkebæk Poulsen has a very strong passion for design that focus on new technologies and the play between function and aesthetics, “In my design process I rely heavily on digital design processes and 3d conceptualization. I use 3D as a tool to communicate and showcase processes and visualisations of products in a realistic way before they even exist.”

Anker Clothing Rack is a neat and foldable clothing rack suitable for hotels, offices, restaurants, or bedrooms and spacious home hallways. The frame is made of powder-coated steel and has a simple hook system that holds everything in place – while also making it easily foldable. Anker Rack comes with a 58.6″ bar for hangers and coats and a big 18.9″x58.6″ platform for shoes, bags and other loose items. Clothing Rack is easily stored away as it folds almost completely flat.

Designer Spotlight: Jan & Henry

Czech designers Jan Plecháč and Henry Wielgus, who in recent years have earned recognition for their design philosophy, are as grounded as their designs, and when asked about the most important aspect to consider as a designer, their answer is unanimous: “Being as responsible as possible to the planet and to the people that inhabit it”.

Wooden sticks and joints of steel are the components that transform the versatile Stick System into a shelving system, a clothing rack and a worktable; interior elements of strong constructions that are easily assembled and offer multi-functional solutions for residential use. As an add-on to the shelving system, light steel plates work as mobile shelves for placing books, plates, lamps and other objects.

Stick System is presented in various color combinations and wooden hues, and with maximum attention to detail, the combined wood and steel structure perfectly harmonizes with the chosen color palate for a clean, soft and light appearance we refer to as Soft Minimalism.

“We wanted to create a clever and aesthetically beautiful design solution for a modern generation: Stick System can be extended and adapted to fit different spaces. It enables multiple options, which makes it a pragmatic interior solution to today’s increasing needs,” comments Jan Plecháč. Jan and Henry are equally as grounded as their design, and when asked about the most important aspect to consider as a designer, their answer is unanimous: “Being as responsible as possible to the planet and to the people that inhabit it”.