Danish Design doesn't just have a rich heritage it also has an incredibly bright future. For me one of the most creative forward thinkers in the Design, not only in Denmark, but arguably the world is that of Bjarke Ingels. B.I.G, his architectural company, get a lot of publicity so I wanted to focus on some more of his side projects. Kibisi is made up of Bjarke Ingels, Lars Holme Larsen and Jens Martin Skibsted who are a collective of Industrial and architectural designers. Their Design ethos stems from a wide range of experiences and merging these together into a philosophical approach to Design. My attention was first made to Kibisi when I saw the Shanghay Chair. The term "not another chair" is thrown around a lot but I really think the way that components of the seat, back and legs undulate and fold underneath each other to create a structurally sound and stunning design is simply genius. Other ventures have included high end personal audio headphones and clever interior storage solutions. For me though it is their furniture that really stands out. Influences are definitely taken from past Danish greats that we have covered over the past month, but there a sense of revived freshness about the approach to presentation, aesthetics and materialism that promises a whole new legacy for Danish Design. For more information please visit- www.kibisi.com
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Efterklang are one of those bands that you think you haven't heard of until you hear their music and think 'I recognise this, ah yes from that Audi advert on the tele'
Produced by arty director Kristian Leth the video has some stunning landscape and natural scene imagery coupled with the whimsical vocals and delicate tones of Efterklang that make this one beautiful song. www.efterklang.net www.kristianleth.dk When Danish Design Store and Carolyne Worman of 'By Way of The Green Line Bus' blog were asked the question 'What piece of furniture epitomises the Danish Design ethos?' there was no hesitation. The response was Poul Kjaerholm's and in particular the PK26 chair. A wall mounted module that can be utilised as a single unit or paired to create a double or triple sofa. Designed in 1956 for Kold Christensen, it bares resemblance to Mies Van Der Rohe's Barcelona chair and the classic Chesterfield Sofas. The levitating chair effect was very much down to modern manufacturing and materiality. The frame is a continuous piece of shaped steel that gives the PK26 its hidden strength. Connected to the wall with steel mounting clips this provides enough lateral support to take the weight of whoever has the pleasure of being able to sit on one. There is a sense of unequivocal artistic splendor with Kjaerholm's work. What the Danes do well is defining and executing balance and harmony. Balancing aesthetical prowess with functionality in a seamless manner that acts as an example for all designers to build upon. Kjaerholm died in 1980 and left a back-catalogue or 'legacy' that inspires. Sometimes overshadowed by other renowned Danish designers, the work speaks for itself. Thanks to friends of Paper Plane Design for their creative input. http://carolynelw.wordpress.com/ and http://www.danishdesignstore.com/ Other Notable Designs.
There is more to music than UK and American bands, step back with an open mind and enjoy one of the many Danish music scene talents. There are hints of Mumford and Sons and Band of Horses to this 4 piece band. More to come. This post needs no introduction. A Danish company created in 1949 that continues to inspire and challenge children and adults alike. Versatile, easy to construct and with endless possibilities, Lego is simply a design that attracts millions of people on a global scale.
I've created a Pinterest board that shows just some of the innovative uses of Lego across a variety of sectors. Everything is possible. Enjoy. Bang & Olufsen have released the Beolit 12, Denmark's answer to the boombox. When boomboxes are mentioned it conjures up images of 1980's Compton, somewhat more Run-DMC than run of the mill Danish Design. Boomboxes, or Ghetto Blasters as they were pinned, were a lot more abrupt, forthright and made an 'in your face' statement simply by the exaggeration of size and scale. This re-interpretation plays to the strengths of B&O. It's sleek, suave and very Scandinavian. The inconspicuous exterior shell hides the modesty of the space age gadgetry that lies within. Wireless I-Pod streaming, 2.1 stereo system and 120 watt class D amplifiers. What made the original boomboxes a success was their portability which automatically meant that R-Pain, T-Kelly and DJ Jazzy Jeff looked extremely cool blasting their tunes. The Beolit 12 is a bit more subtle, it boasts a full grain Italian leather strap and the whole unit weighs less than 2.8kg. It's the perfect statement for the preppy school kid with a bit of extra cash. The Beolit 12 is available from store.beoplay.com and RRP is £599.99 and is available in a modest range of colour finishes.
Klint, not Verbal or Eastwood (Clint), but Kaare. He was arguably one of the 20th century's most prolific designers, meticulously researching projects for years at a time. Whilst other designers at the time such as Alvar Alto were turning projects around at formidable rates, Klint sat back and painstakingly focused in on every small detail. What was the end product of this detailed eye are some spectacular pieces of crafted furniture that embraced traditional craft skills. Avant garde graduates and teachers who resided at the Bauhaus were embracing new industrial processes and creating visual pleasing pieces that could be distributed to the masses. Klint was the anti Bauhaus ethos, he believed that industrial processes should be embraced but not the neglect of more traditional ideals and methods that had stood the test of time. The Propeller chair (above) is a perfect example of this statement in practice. The stool legs have been warped and twisted to resemble that of airplane propeller blades using new industrial processes but the means of assembly and the style is very traditional. His more traditional styles as seen in the example above derived more from previous movements like the Shaker movement. Klint's first work was a combination piece with his mentor Carl Peterson when they were commissioned to design pieces for the Faaborg Art Museum. What resulted from this is one of Klint's most recognisable pieces, the Faaborg Chair. Klint is a very interesting subject as he was probably more of a revolutionary than that of his peers at the Bauhaus. he could have easily joined the band wagon for the extreme popularity that modernism was gaining from drawing on pop culture influences. He stood back, analysed this movement, took the good bits from it without totally disregarding it, but somehow merged it with more traditional styles and techniques. The sign of a true design revolutionary is somebody who has a vision regardless of what the masses are telling them and sticks to it.
For more information on Kaare Klint please visit: www.danish-furniture.com Starting our Danish themed September issue is arguably the man who defines Danish Modernity. The irony in that being that the designs are used affluently across the world now but were actually conceived in the 60's. He worked initially at the architectural firm of another prominent Danish Designer, Arne Jacobsen. During his time there he gathered an appreciation and near obsessive nature towards the use of geometry and patterns within interior spaces which merged into a range of textile designs. Panton is more acclaimed for his furniture designs but unknowingly to some has created equally prolific Interiors. The Private House at Binningen is one example of this. Soft undulating forms that act as informal seating areas which are upholstered in an array of linear colours resembling that of an LSD induced dream. The creative and playful use of space encapsulates what Panton was all about. Panton sadly died in Copenhagen in 1998 but his designs will continue to inspire generations to come. The cantilevered Panton chair symbolises a long and healthy relationship he had with Vitra and is arguably the poster piece of furniture for Modernism. I'll leave you with some more of his designs below. For more information on Verner Panton please visit: http://www.verner-panton.com
The concept of the paper plane design blog is changing. To make sure that you are getting more focused and quality content I've decided to make each month themed. This means the most obscure, obvious and outrageous design areas can be covered.
To kick start this new direction, September will be Danish Month. Everything that makes Danish Design great both past, present and future will be celebrated and covered. To mark this Scandinavian theme I will be creating a new piece of digital artwork which will adorn the background of the webpage for the duration of the month. |
Designer. Did a blog. Starting blog again. Early Thirties. Like Food. Like Drink. Like Music. Like travelling. If you like this blog get involved, comment and send me a story or a product, lifestyle, or way of life to promote.
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