Dream Design
"8 out of 10 first call us Italian, and 2 out of 10 German," laments Lithuanian design firm Contraforma. Preconceptions easily mislead us with regard to European design. However, a growing interest in Eastern Europe, combined with the emergence of reputable fairs (e.g. BIO in Ljubljana), is quickly changing our traditional perceptions.
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New Baghdad by Ezri Tarazi for Erda
Ezri Tarazi, who was recently honoured by the Israeli government for his outstanding contribution to industrial design, has created the New Baghdad Table. Seen as one of the highlights of the 2005 Milan Furniture Fair, the table is a construction of aluminum profiles that depict a map of the Iraqi capital. The table is intricately assembled as a patchwork of industrial metal components: it is the spacing between these elements creates haunting shadows through the table. |
King by Autoban
The Istanbul-based design and architecture partnership Autoban have previously worked on public spaces, café-bars and retail stores. Their ability to turn client requirements into product innovation guaranteed then the Best Newcomer award at 100% Design. Their King Lamp takes inspiration from classic 1950s designs while evoking a particular resemblance to the chess-game figure. An ergonomic and inspirational product, the King Lamp should be placed as strategically as the leading chess piece. |
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Romance by Neringa Dervinyte for Contraforma
Established seven years ago, analytical design company Contraforma takes pride in embracing modern manufacturing technologies and materials yet remaining ‘against the pattern'. Patterns are an integral feature of the new range of Romance tables: the perforated and painted is a diversion from the traditional industrial material. With its interesting light play and shadows, the laser-cut table evokes an atmosphere of romanticism. |
Chatchairs by Mihajlo Jurić
Serbian designer Mihajlo Jurić graduated from the Milan Institute of Design in 2000, after a 5 year stint of industrial design studies. Initially designed for Internet cafés, his fibreglass-enforced chairs take an obvious inspiration from the trend in computer smileys. These cheerful chairs will be on display at the Milan Furniture Fair as part of an exhibition dedicated purely to East European design. |
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