Bent plywood and QR codes

When we were at the NeoCon trade show earlier this month in Chicago, we noticed a number of recurring themes emerging at many of the furniture showrooms.

Furniture designs were geared more toward casual interactions and ad-hoc group collaboration.  Fabrics were especially plush, with a lot of felt used for seating and upholstery.  There was an emphasis on efficiency of materials, with a broad use of bent plywood and thin structural frames.  And new and innovative forms were being developed in seating for both aesthetics and ergonomics.

The most notable example of many of these themes – the piece that best seemed to have its finger on the pulse of furniture design today - was the Ginkgo chair by Davis Furniture.

The designers of the Ginkgo sought to create an iconic chair with an instantly recognizable form.  It is influenced by the classic Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen.  (You may remember this video we shared with you in February that tells the story of its graceful construction.)  But the Gingko provides a very new form, with a provocative silhouette that differentiates it from other plywood shell chairs.

Another recurring theme in the product presentations this year was the use of technology.  From free iPad offers to customized smartphone apps, everyone seemed to be trotting out the latest hi-tech gadgets.  And of all these technology trends, the biggest one by far was the use of QR codes, those little bar codes that you now see with more and more frequency in magazine ads, on real estate signs, and even on bags of potato chips.  NeoCon verified for me that the ubiquitous little bar code has now found its place into the world of Interior Design as well.

For those who still need a little tutoring, one showroom offered this primer on what these codes are and how to use them:

When any piece of new technology rises so rapidly, it’s almost inevitable that it makes its way into some very unrelated facets of our cultural life.  Here, for example, is some QR-code "art" that found a prominent place on the wall of one showroom:

Look closely: in the bottom-right corner of each piece of QR-code-art is: a QR code.  You can presumably scan the artwork for more information.

The QR code was evident throughout NeoCon on much of the tradeshow literature, painted onto the sides of the furniture delivery trucks parked out front, and integrated into the furniture itself.  This brings us back to the bent plywood:  one company, FurnitureLab, was showcasing these chairs with a large QR code imprinted right onto the back.

The idea is that customers can scan their seat before taking their seat to get valuable info from their school or hotel.  Here’s the card that explains the concept:

But what happens when the technology changes – as it will surely do – and is replaced with the next big thing?  Then I suppose you will be left with a room full of chairs adorned with yesterday’s brand. 

You can always call it art.

Future Furnishings: The Best and Worst of NeoCon 2011

posted by Matthew Bushey

Last week a couple of us from the office travelled to the fantastic city of Chicago for NeoCon, the largest contract furnishings trade show in North America.

Unlike most other architecture and design trade shows, NeoCon does not take place in a large convention center, with vendors setting up temporary booths to display their wares.  It is held every year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, up until recently the largest commercial building in the world with 4.2 million square feet spread across 25 stories, 50% of which is occupied by the wholesale showrooms that open their doors for this trade show that attracts 50,000 people.

This is the event that most contract furnishings manufacturers use to roll out their new products for the year.  You can also find lighting, flooring, fixtures, and finishes throughout the Mart, but furnishings are really the main attraction for this 3-day show.  Here is our short list of the best and worst of NeoCon 2011:

Aloft Lounge by Arcadia

design by Qdesign

First up: the Aloft Lounge chair by Arcadia.  I love that this is totally different, very unique, but still comfortably sensible.  The lightweight steel base delicately holds up a folded wood frame with a comfortable upholstered seat.  The three elements come together – and complement each other – rather nicely.  The series also includes a love seat, occasional tables and benches.  I think the elongated length of the love seat is a bit too much for the scale of the frame, but I do really like the tables: substituting a glass top for the upholstered seat as the third element in the composition.

OMHU desk for Linak U.S.

design by Rie Norregaard

This table is one that I could easily imagine at home in one of our Vermont projects.  Rie Norregaard is the creative director of Omhu, a product design firm guided by Scandinavian influences.  For NeoCon, she designed this table for Linak, a company that makes electric linear actuators.  (Those are the devices that make the table move up and down at the push of a button)  But this table is all about the natural wood top.  Norregaard took a 200-year old slab of ash wood and had it sandblasted, resulting in an extreme texture of woodgrain that pops right off the surface.  The simplicity of the design allows the natural materials to be fully appreciated, but the treatment of the wood is also very unique.

Sketch chair by Davis

design by Burkhard Vogtherr & Jonathan Prestwich

 

I was really impressed with the Davis showroom.  Bent plywood frames, duo-tones and textures, and supple upholstery.  The Sketch Chair series is one of eight new collections that Davis introduced at this year’s NeoCon.  The Sketch is a conference or side chair that looks and feels just right.  It has a small footprint, with slender base designs and an upholstered seat that wraps around you just enough.  The horizontal stitch across the back gives it just the right amount of definition and interest.  It’s not a large chair, but in its form and detailing it projects a refined elegance.

Breathe Living Wall by DIRTT

One of the best showroom experiences we had was the hour we spent at the DIRTT showroom, at their “Green Learning Center” across the street from the Mart.  DIRTT is a company that was formed about 7 years ago to address the shortcomings in the marketplace at that time for modular, demountable wall systems.  They make factory-built walls that offer many benefits over conventional drywall construction, literally spelled out with one of my favorite acronyms: Doing It Right This Time.

 

DIRTT introduced a number of new products at NeoCon this year, including this one we liked best: the Breathe Living Wall.  Breathe is not a modular wall system but is actually an accessory item that can be mounted to any DIRTT wall, or to any standard wall surface: be it gypsum, stone, or concrete.  I was a bit surprised to realize that DIRTT had more to offer than just modular walls, and Breathe seems to reinforce this fact that they are now expanding beyond their core product.

The Breathe system is composed of a series of modular pots that fit into a slat-wall system to create a living wall.  There is a built-in gravity-fed water irrigation line that runs along the entire installation, separate from the individual pots, providing water to each plant through special devices in the bottom of each pot.  It is low-mess and low-mantenance, and is an opportunity to bring a living wall indoors where before it just wasn’t practical.

Proximus casegoods workwall by Halcon 

design by David Grout and Donna Corbat for Gary Lee Studios

 

This is a product that was actually released at last year’s show, winning a Best of NeoCon Gold award, but still held a prominent spot at NeoCon 2011.  The Proximus casegoods collection by Halcon is a private office workwall that really works.  Each component of the system is built up to maximize function, with storage, filing, and stacking relocated at eye level, not hidden beneath the worksurface.  Huge panels slide across the entire wall, concealing what you might not want to see or revealing what you do.  The panels are finished with stunning wood veneers that coordinate beautifully with the primary desk and all parts of the Proximus family.

 

 

Occhio chair by Martin Brattrud

design by Jeffrey Hollander, Guy Painchaud, Lee Pasteris, Banning Rowles

Martin Brattrud is known for upholstered seating, but this is one piece that stands out from their regular collection of standards.  The Occhio lounge chair has a distinctive wood back, kind of a weave pattern of wood veneers, with an angular wood base and arms.  The chair looks lower than it feels, thanks to a comfortably thick seat cushion.  So often, the backs of chairs are not something we want to look at, but this chair would be perfect for locations where you see it from all sides: the back is its best side.

I did say this was my Best and Worst list of NeoCon 2011, so let me wrap up with what I thought was the biggest bomb at the show:

The Chakra Chair by Karim Rashid 

for Raynor Contract

The 7^th floor of the Merchandise Mart is full of booths by smaller companies, so you can usually find a few surprises.  I did a double-take when I came across this chair by Karim Rashid.  Rashid is, of course, a popular industrial and interior designer who you are probably familiar with through his work with Umbra and Target.  I’ve got to say, I’ve never been a big fan of Karim Rashid.  Let’s just say there are a few too many gratuitous curves in his palette for my tastes.

This is his latest chair, the Chakra, which he designed for Raynor Contract.  Chakra is the Hindi term for the body’s power centers, and the design of this chair is based on these pressure points.  It is a comfortable chair, but I wouldn’t say it’s relaxing.  It definitely has a very unique form, but it’s not one that I find inviting.  More alien than anthropometric, this chair is something that subjects you to its grip, ready to receive each muscle independently for what could be a traumatic experience.  As one online reader put it: “Finally, a chair that supports my kidneys!”

This is not a chair for sitting.  It is more of a device for holding humans. 

There’s something for everyone at NeoCon.

 

The Suite Life

 

We are so happy to see one of our current projects in the current issue of Hospitality Design, the premier trade magazine of the hospitality industry. The project at hand is the guestroom renovation of the 22 hillside cottages of the Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa in Sausalito, California

The short article, titled the "suite life", describes how Kim Deetjen, the head of our Interior Studio, has created a niche for herself: suites.  At the Casa Madrona, the design of the guestrooms incorporates the property's history and location, and reflects the area's nautical and artisan influence.

The renovations are currently underway, so to accompany the article, we included a photorealistic rendering of what one of the completed suites will look like. Thanks to Lincoln Brown for his marvelous 3d skills.

You can find the article on page 37 of the May/June issue of Hospitality Design, or by viewing it online at this link.

Larz Allen, metalsmith mastermind

 

The best projects are a result of creative collaboration.  In our line of work, we are always looking for builders and craftspeople who bring their own talents and style to a project, working with us to come up with creative solutions.

Larz Allen is an artist in Jeffersonville, Vermont who creates furniture, sculpture, lighting fixtures, and architectural elements. While his original passion is working in metal, he now works in metal, wood and stone.

Our interiors studio had the pleasure of working with Larz on the interior fit-up of a timber-frame mountain home designed by architect Sam Scofield. Rebekah Bose was the lead interior designer on this project, which included: a custom metal staircase; two large metal chandeliers up to 60" in diameter; and a fireplace with built-in copper-clad doors that open vertically with a pulley system, assisted by counterweights.

Larz did a spectacular job creating all of these components. For the staircase, he fabricated a custom system of supports, stringer, treads and railing.

On his website, Larz describes his approach:

"With this stair system the desired effect was to harvest the natural light. The architect was enthusiastic about using the chandelier wheel material to support the stairs. This stock was particularly small. The stringer frame was bisected at each joint and all its fasteners were hidden. For treads we selected recycled Douglas fir with curly maple nosing. The railing system is blackened steel with a solid bronze hand cap; the steel and bronze had to be formed together, further increasing the challenge. The product proved to be stable, and we effectively harvested the natural light."

The main feature of the Great Room is a massive stone fireplace with a mechanical fire gate that closes off the opening. Larz engineered a change to the design that provides counter weights to assist with lifting the heavy door, operable with a built-in crank handle set into the stone surround. He also fit up the fire screen with a similar pulley system. The doors are faced with annealed copper, in a design that mirrors the view of the mountain range beyond.

The man behind the magic is just as compelling as the products he creates. Here is photo of Larz Allen, coutesy of Seth Cashman, a portrait photographer from Manhattan:

Larz recently shared these photos with us of his latest project, a series of wood tables with sculptural metal bases, characterized by a pattern of distinctive bowtie fasteners set into the wood surface. The wood is from a 32" diameter White Oak that was sliced and left to dry for 5 years. Larz took on the challenge of working with each slice in its widest form, with two "live" edges. Large boards such as these with two live edges have a natural tendency to cup. To accommodate this movement, Larz came up with a clever solution: "By forcing the wood flat, encouraging the cracks, and trapping the cracks with the bow-ties, I made the pieces usable while maintaining the two live edges. I fancy them as kite tails. The bow-ties always follow the crack."

It is always rewarding to work with talented craftspeople like Larz who are willing to take these journeys with us. We may know where we want to end up, but sometimes it is only through creative teamwork that we figure out the best way to get there.

Samoset Construction Update, Part II: The Story of a Table

 

In our last post, we shared some interior renderings of the Samoset Resort lounge, restaurant and spa, now under construction and soon to be open for business. The dining tables shown in the renderings are a joint project of TruexCullins Interiors and one of our preferred furniture makers, Lyndon Furniture, based in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

We have worked with Dave Allard of Lyndon Furniture on many Interiors projects, and they always come through with beautiful, hand-crafted made-in-Vermont pieces that exceed expectations. At the Samoset, we worked with Lyndon Furniture on the design and fabrication of the feature dining tables in the restaurant and lounge.

The largest table is thirteen and a half feet long and is made from two planks of 1 ¾" thick solid black walnut. The gap that runs down the center of the table accommodates the natural movement of the wood that can be significant in such a large piece. We think it also adds to the character of the table and highlights the beauty of the wood itself.

The legs of the table are fashioned from a single piece of welded steel, 3" thick, that protrude up through the wood top and are visible from above, seemingly tying the two wood planks together. The fusion of the natural materials provides a fitting surface for the presentation of the Italian cuisine. Like the food it is designed to support, the table is simple, elegant and authentic in how it is made and assembled.

Our friends at Lyndon Furniture have described their process that led to the creation of these tables on their blog, the Designer's Corner. We continue to work with Lyndon Furniture on other projects and look forward to more creative collaboration opportunities ahead!