More than any other piece of furniture, the chair has been subjected to the wildest dreams of the designer. The particular curve of a backrest, or the twist of a leg, the angle of a seat or the color of the entire artifact; each element reflects the stylistic consciousness of an era. From Gerrit Rietveld and Alvar Aalto to Verner Panton and Eva Zeisel, from Art Nouveau to International Style, from Pop Art to Postmodernism, the history of the chair is so complex that it requires a comprehensive encyclopedic work to do it full justice. They are all here: Thonet's bentwood chairs and Hoffmann's sitting-machines, Marcel Breuer's Wassily chair and Ron Arad's avant-garde armchairs. Early designers and pioneers of the modern chair are presented alongside the most recent innovations in seating. This dedicated compendium displays each chair as pure form, along with biographical and historical information about the pieces and their designers. An illuminating tome for design aficionados and an essential reference for collectors! About the series Bibliotheca Universalis - Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe!

From the white plastic bed for the Prisunic catalogue (1966) to the Culbuto armchair issued by Knoll, and from the Lip watch to the private apartments of the Elysee Palace, Paris, (1983), the furniture and objects conceived by Marc Held have been emblematic of the renewal of French design, following the line of Scandinavians such as Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen...With his gallery L'Echoppe on the rue de Seine, Paris, and then with his agency, the designer and architect Marc Held also took part in major projects for IBM and Renault. This book traces fifty years of design, whose success with the public at large has contributed to a great liberation in our style of life. The generosity of his vision has remained faithful to the humanist values that guided his childhood in Bagnolet, where he was born in 1932. Having settled in Greece, on the island of Skopelos, over twenty years ago, Marc Held still continues to build houses and furnish them with his creations, working closely with Greek craftsmen.

Following the huge demand in contemporary societies to decorate homes in a "green" style, this book offers a more environmentally conscious approach to design and production processes by presenting a wide range of eco furniture products made with natural materials as well as using recycling and more environment respecting technologies. It presents the latest eco-furniture pieces from the world's leading design teams, and aims to encourage more people, especially professional designers to consider a more environmentally conscious approach to their design ideas and processes. * A showcase of the most striking examples of product design in furniture. * A response to an increasing demand concerned with home interiors. * An excellent and inspiring resource for designers and artists. * Few competitor titles in the market: most books are focused on architecture, this one offers an in-depth study of a quite new area of eco-product designing.

Moving Objects deals with emotive design: designed objects that demand to be engaged with rather than simply used. If postmodernism depended upon ironic distance, and Critical Design is all about questions, then emotive design runs hotter than this, confronting how designers are using feelings in what they make. Damon Taylor's original study considers these emotionally laden, highly authored works, often produced in limited editions and sold like art - objects such as a chair made from cuddly toys, a leather sofa that resembles a cow, and a jewellery box fashioned from human hair. Tracing the phenomenon back to the 'Dutch inflection' that began with Droog designers like Jurgen Bey and Hella Jongerius, Taylor conducts an analysis of the development of Design Art and looks for its origins in the uncanny explorations of surrealism. Offering a critique of Speculative Design, and an examination of the work of designers such as Mathias Bengtsson, whose work involves 'growing' furniture inside computers, Taylor asks what happens when the tangible melts into the datascape and design becomes a question of mobilities. In this way, Moving Objects examines contemporary issues of how we live with artefacts and what design can do.

"Eames: Beautiful Details celebrates the seamlessness and fluidity in which Charles and Ray Eames operated as both a husband and wife team and as designers unrestricted by traditionally professional boundaries. Select details of their life and work, from their refined designs to their innovative experiments, and even including images depicting the everyday poetic moments of their lives, and are shared here in this exhibit within a book. Inspired by Charles's immersive and original slideshows, in which he expertly selected and grouped images together that communicated information in an aesthetic, direct, and accessible way, this book strives to visually create the Eameses' life and work by taking the viewer through a delightful journey, focusing on their ""beautiful details."" The packaging design of the Eames: Beautiful Details slipcase is a pattern inspired by the triangles and colors of one of their most inventive, if lesser known, designs for children, simply called, ""the toy."" It also pays homage to the patterns they used on their well loved House of Cards. The Eameses brought a sense of humor and joy to everything they created, and the design and layout of the book aims to convey that spirit in a visual feast for the eyes. It is a testament to the Eameses and the lasting value of good design that their Eames lounge chair, created in 1956, endures today as perhaps the most recognizable and coveted piece of mid century furniture design. Their experiments in technological innovations, like molded plywood and fiberglass, resulted in such classic pieces as the bent plywood LCW and DCM Chairs, the Molded Plastic Chairs, and the Aluminum Group; all of which are still in production by Herman Miller. Likewise, Charles and Ray designed and built their own home in 1949 in Pacific Palisades, and it is still revered as a landmark of modern architecture. Built as part of the Case Study program in California, sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine, it was one of the earliest experiments in pre fab construction, using off the shelf industrial parts. But unlike the austerity of much of modern architectural design, their factory like shell was lovingly lived in along with their personal collections of folk art, treasures from their travels, and everyday objects refreshingly displayed with affection and without pretense. In exhibition design as well, ""Mathematica: A World of Numbers ... and Beyond, 1961,"" for IBM is considered groundbreaking as an interactive, educational, and experiential way to communicate the wonder and magic of math. Similarly, their seminal film, Powers of Ten, 1977, expresses the mathematical concept of multiplying to the tenth power, in a very direct, simple, and powerful way. Unlike any other book previously published on Charles and Ray Eames, this unique monograph is a visual celebration of their work and life, and was created in true collaboration with Charles s grandson, Eames Demetrios, and other members of the Eames family."

By what means did so much beauty and ingenuity appears in articles of everyday rural life in Portugal? How did the shape of these objects balance necessity and formal perfection so skillfully? This book explores the effect that generations of trial and error, individual craftsmanship, and an instinct to carve out the essential with the slenderest of means brought to objects that made life both livable and meaningful to a pre-industrial society. The objects photographed and described by designer Jasper Morrison may be appreciated both for their beauty and for the example they set of design at its purest.

Add a touch of retro appeal to your stationery rotation with this off-beat refrigerator journal, featuring classic-cool colors, adorable illustrations, and a split binding that gives two distinct areas for writing! Everyday tasks, notes, and to-do lists can be recorded in the lower refrigerator section, while long-term plans and goals can be kept "on ice" in the freezer compartment. Show off your mid-century aesthetic and keep everything organized with the cheeky, on-trend Vintage Refrigerator Journal. This journal features: Split hardcover binding treatment; journal cover and interior pages are divided into two distinct sections that can be opened independently. Full-color illustrations throughout the interior. Matte laminate cover with spot gloss on "metal" elements.

With the first decade of the twenty-first century behind us, it is time to reassess the concept of "modern," a term that dates to the Middle Ages, when it signified current or recent events. Not until the eighteenth century did it become a stylistic term; more recently it has generally referred to the aesthetic that evolved from the Bauhaus and flourished in the mid-twentieth century. Though proclaiming freedom from the limitations of style, it became as formulaic as most of its predecessors, as Modern architecture and furnishings conformed to prescribed specifications: geometric forms, industrially fabricated, unadorned, and studiously ahistorical. Those guidelines are no longer relevant. As Midcentury Modernism has receded into history, Modernism has been redefined, reenergized, and in the process transformed. Today it embraces a cornucopia of design in an almost limitless range of materials: design studios are laboratories for experimentation; design concepts can be as important as finished objects; and furniture has crossed barriers to become a new art form. Tools and technologies never before possible have provided new approaches to decoration, and may incorporate influences from the past. The design profession has broadened its horizons; interiors and furniture are being created by architects, interior designers, furniture makers, industrial designers, artisans, artists, and even fashion designers. Design After Modernism offers an overview of developments in design over the past four decades-some evolutionary, some expected, and some extraordinary. It identifies the diverse influences that have generated new directions in design and illustrates many of the most characteristic, most noteworthy, and most innovative objects in this rich and variegated mix. All are representative of their time, and many of the earlier designs have already gained iconic status. Of the more recent ones, whether or not they will be admired in decades to come is something that only time will tell.

In line with the works on decorators of the 1940s, '50s, '60s, and '70s, this book plunges us into the world of '80s and '90s. These have witnessed unprecedented experiments in the world of design and architecture. Composed of a rich introduction which gives a synoptic vision and 38 monographs that describe its many faces, this book makes and exceptionally creative period intelligible, and reveals through an abundant iconography, often unpublished, its formidable aesthetic richness. A new generation of designers stands out; among them Shiro Kuramata, Philippe Starck, Ron Arad, Bob Wilson, Elizabeth Garouste and Mattia Bonetti. All regenerate creation by refusing the elitism of their predecessors and by favouring the use of new materials. Some turn to recovery, such as the Creative Salvage group, and offer inventive and provocative furniture thanks to welding and assembly. Others, gathered in Italy around Ettore Sottsass and Memphis, combine unexpected colours and patterns to the playful use of plastic laminate. Sliding until the end of the '90s, the achievements presented in this book mark the desire for a dialogue between artistic references with a new relationship to the industrial aspect, at the dawn of the 21st century and its technological innovations. Text in English and French.

Berlin-based architect and rapper Van Bo Le-Mentzel is the founder of the popular Hartz IV Moebel initiative and website, whose rallying cry is "Build more Buy less " Hartz IV Mobel was born when Le-Mentzel registered for a weekend woodwork class. At the end of the class, he had constructed a chair; he posted the design online, dubbed it the "24-Euro Chair" and Hartz IV Mobel was born. Crowd-sourcing further ideas online, Le-Mentzel created a subculture of DIY enthusiasts, who are constructing beautiful modernist furniture at incredibly low cost. Proudly declaring itself a "crowd-sourced book," "Hartz IV Moebel" shows you how to build your own furniture with minimal resources and cost (Hartz IV is the name of Germany's social welfare benefit). Amateurs worldwide have followed these instructions and built a cube sofa, a "Berliner Hocker," a "24-Euro Chair" or a "100-Second Lamp." This inspirational volume offers both a practical guide and manifesto for affordable furniture.

An essential new look at the design philosophy that interrogated modern living against the turbulent political landscape of 1960s Italy In the mid-1960s, reacting to contemporary social and political upheaval, young Italian architects and designers began developing a new style that openly challenged Modernism. Known as "Radical design," this movement probed possibilities for visually transforming the urban environment. Radical design's proponents also applied it to items such as furniture and lighting, utilizing alternative materials and an innovative formal vocabulary. Radical: Italian Design 1965-1985 surveys the work of these pioneering designers through nearly 70 objects and architectural models-including rare prototypes and limited-production pieces. Cindi Strauss insightfully explores the aesthetic inspiration and changing cultural mores that informed the movement, and her research is complemented by an essay from Germano Celant, the acclaimed author and curator who coined the term "Radical design." Importantly, the book includes seven interviews with Radical designers and architects, offering fresh insights into the individuals who were at the vanguard of this groundbreaking movement. Published in association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Exhibition Schedule: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (February 14-April 26, 2020) Yale School of Architecture Gallery (September 3-November 20, 2021)

Later recognised for his work in interior and furniture design, Charles Locke Eastlake (1833 1906) had shown early promise in making architectural drawings, and he was awarded a silver medal in 1854 by the Royal Academy. His passion for Gothic style developed during a tour of Europe in the late 1850s, and his History of the Gothic Revival (1872) is also reissued in this series. Focusing on interior design, the present work was published in 1868 and influenced the style of later nineteenth-century 'Modern Gothic' furniture. It contains many illustrations of Eastlake's own designs for furniture, tiles and wallpaper, including colour plates which can be viewed online at www.cambridge.org/9781108075343. The book moves from the street into the home and then from room to room, finishing with chapters on crockery, cutlery, glassware, and dress and jewellery. It gives a fascinating insight into the late Victorian taste for the medieval, also fostered by the Arts and Crafts movement."

After the success of his richly illustrated Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture (1833), which is also reissued in this series, the landscape gardener John Claudius Loudon (1783 1843) received a great deal of correspondence from interested readers. This prompted him and the Encyclopaedia's contributors to publish this supplement in 1842. Loudon and his colleagues had continued to study a range of rural buildings - from homes to farms and schools - in England and Scotland, while at the same time receiving architectural designs and detailed letters from North America and Australia. The supplement draws on this wealth of material to discuss developments in the use of building materials as well as innovations in design. The focus is on cottages, farms, pubs, schools and almshouses. Construction methods and furnishings are also discussed. As with the volume it supplements, this work contains a plethora of detailed illustrations."

Upcycling is the process of transforming seemingly low value items into something new. Today's upcyclists are creating stunning furniture, lighting and art objects that combine values of superb craftsmanship and design with ideas of how "waste" can be both inspiring and informing. While the environmental and financial benefits of upcycling are readily acknowledged here, these designers and makers show how the practice can result in pieces that are as aesthetically exciting as anything created using only raw materials. Based on the author's popular website, upcyclist.co.uk, this book extends far beyond the site's contents. Featuring hundreds of creations from an international collection of today's most exciting designers, the book is organised by material, with chapters dedicated to wood, metal, glass and ceramics, textiles, plastic, paper and mixed media. Reclaimed tree branches and barn doors are transformed into exquisite pieces of furniture; bicycle chains into chandeliers; t-shirts into rugs; saris into upholstery. Filled with an enormous range of materials and objects, this unique book will inspire any designer or design-conscious consumer to incorporate upcycling into their creative practice or interior design projects.

Furniture Design is a comprehensive guide and resource for students and furniture designers. As well as discussing pioneering contemporary and historical designs, it also provides substantive answers to designers' questions about function, materials, manufacture and sustainability, integrating guidance on all of these subjects - particularly material and manufacturing properties, in one accessible and structured volume. Many leading contemporary furniture designers from around the world are included, with case studies carefully selected to highlight the importance of both material and manufacture-led design processes. The book is also intended to provide an insight into furniture design for those considering a university education in product and industrial design.

By Western Hands: Decorative Art from the Heart of the West celebrates the history of rustic design - from the Adirondacks and National Park "parkitecture" style to the work of legendary western furnituremaker Thomas Molesworth - and describes its evolution to the art form it is today, one that is born of an individual artisan's creative process and uniquely inspired by place. The book includes leading voices in the movement, features original examples of bespoke mountain and rustic interiors, and showcases one-of-a-kind artworks from fifty of the best rustic and western decorative artisans working today. By Western Hands: Decorative Art from the Heart of the West is at once a history, a compendium and a curated showcase full of design inspiration, whether one owns a rustic, western or country home, or simply dreams of one.

Although renowned for his work as a verrier, lamps did not form a significant part of Galle's repertoire in glass until immediately prior to 1900. Indeed, only in the last few years of his life does it appear that he realised the full aesthetic potential of opalescent glass viewed by transmitted light. In an Art Nouveau context, Galle's creations reached their apogee between 1900 and his death in 1904, a brief period during which he adapted the shape of much of his glassware to its theme. Vases decorated with lilies became lily-shaped in a marriage of form and function. Fully-ripened gourds pendent on their vines glowed from within at the touch of a switch. Mushroom lamps brought the concept to full embodiment in the metamorphosis of the giant fungi into light fixtures. This comprehensive volume catalogues the full range of light fixtures produced by the Galle cristallerie, from those made during his lifetime to those manufactured for more than twenty-five years after his death. Including table, bedside, hanging and wall models, 'Galle Lamps' reveals the extraordinary variety of thematic shade-and-base combinations introduced by the firm: butterflies, moths, dragonflies, swallows and eagles hover, flutter, glide or swoop over flora and mountain vistas in a seemingly endless interplay of Nature's decorative motifs. This volume is a companion to 'Galle Furniture' ISBN:9781851496624.

An inspiring collection of the writings of two of the 20th century's most brilliant and influential designers An Eames Anthology collects for the first time the writings of the esteemed American architects and designers Charles and Ray Eames, illuminating their marriage and professional partnership of fifty years. More than 120 primary-source documents and 200 illustrations highlight iconic projects such as the Case Study Houses and the molded plywood chair, as well as their work for major corporations as both designers (Herman Miller, Vitra) and consultants (IBM, Polaroid). Previously unpublished materials appear alongside published writings by and about the Eameses and their work, lending new insight into their creative process. Correspondence with such luminaries as Richard Neutra and Eero Saarinen provides a personal glimpse into the advance of modernity in mid-century America.

The work of Kohn Pedersen Fox is international in scope, collaborative in design, and a product of individual voices focused on a single objective - making an architecture, of our time, which creates strong bonds with the the specific place it occupies. While William Pedersen founded the firm, with partners Gene Kohn and Shelley Fox, he never aspired to be a 'director of design.' They had the components with Gene's entrepreneurial drive, Shelley's management and Bill's design leadership - to be a large firm. 'Directing' the work of a large firm was not Bill's desire, instead he wanted to focus on a body of work which he could call his own. The example that work set would inspire others, and it did. Now there are several voices leading their design - all of them rose to their position within the office. The purpose of this book is to define the work of one of the voices - Bill Pedersen's. Pedersen has worked with many different designers, in close collaboration, throughout his career, though his work speaks with a singular voice. Here it is represented chronologically and concludes with the latest phase - furniture. Working from the largest scale to the smallest has always been a preoccupation of those who lead design in KPF. Many of Pedersen's architectural heroes designed chairs, and he strives to follow in their footsteps.

Pulmo Marina is a film and it is a publication. It is the story of a living creature that was raised for display behind a window in the tank of an aquarium. Then it has been filmed and projected onto the big screen and now it is fractioned in discrete units printed on paper. It is the story of a living form which is always the same, always different. It is the first book in the series In Alphabetical Order.

Peter and Gerard make clothes for ten years. Each season's outfits are inspired by the fantastic excesses of their muses: Artist Gertrude Stein's dinners, Tonya Harding's attack on rival skater Nancy Kerrigan, the request of Christina of Denmark to marry Henry VIII only when she'll have a head to spare, the freckled eternal teen face of Sissy Spacek (covered in pig blood in De Palma's Carrie or murderously innocent in Malick's Badlands), the delusional Shelley Duval, the Guardian-reader-type righteous Candice-Marie from Mike Leigh's Nuts in May etc. They are strong, they make mistake, they dress well. Also contains essays by Emily King and Susannah Frankel.