I Saloni 2015

Decastelli

Buster and Punch

It is  Design Week in Milan. It is I-Saloni, one of the biggest design calendar events. Before I have even got on the plane I am excited as to what there will be to see. There are also 2 factory visits planned.

With over 2000 exhibitors and 201,000 sq metres of exhibition space, I Saloni is huge. While the exhibition is divided into different areas there were some interesting recurring themes.

Some very interesting use of mixed metals, copper, brass, rose gold in both furniture and lighting. Also seen quite a bit of block colour .

 Euroluce is the lighting arm of the show with 475 exhibitors showcasing the best in indoor, outdoor, and commercial lighting systems. There were some spectacular chandeliers with the focus on LED.

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I was impressed with the lightbulbs and accessories from Buster and Punch They have a fantastic range and their website definitely worth a glance.

Decastelli  were another company with some innovative designs. Primarily working with metals, there are funky chairs, wall art and storage in different metal finishes. They describe their American vine leaves as "theatrical vertical garden".

Fraumaier

 Fraumaier have some excellent block colour lamps in a vast array of colours. The frames are colour co-ordinated to match shades.

Decastelli

Also noted birch plywood lampshades, the use of pink and lavender and more black fittings than chrome.

Opinion Ciatti designed the statement chair and stool shown here. I can't find it on their website, but they do have more products of interest. I had to ask a young man to remove himself from chair so I could take photograph - he was way too comfortable!

Other companies seriously impressed with include Brand Van Egmond , Bodema,  and Ameli Sedie. Fabulous chain and floral design chandeliers by Brand Van Egmond

Caught up with Ercol too! Classic furniture that seriously stands test of time. We had a chat about Mid Century influences, something that sits comfortably in 21st century interiors.

Zero

Kartell

Kartell had a great show with their theme of going Sottsass in tribute to the 80's Memphis Milan design movement . Some great fabric choices as you would expect, and a lot of Philip Starck chairs and mirrors.

Brem Radiators

 Brem are an Italian company who design and manufacture high quality steel radiators and towel rails.

Their literature states "Radiators for Architecture" and their products are quite literally an architect's dream.

Visually they look like fabulous pieces of art, available in a multitude of sizes, finishes, and colours.

Technically they operate at low temperature of 50 degrees C, ensuring uniform heat. The larger surface areas conducts heat in a very efficient manner through both convection and irradiation. Although most of the radiators are plumbed to the central heating system, electrical versions are also available. Remote valves and digital thermostats are also options on certain models.

Why we like them is because of their fantastic range of designs and extensive colour choice available in high gloss and sable finishes.There are also textured pieces available.

Lame Up

I recently had the opportunity to visit their Italian factory, where I could see the manufacturing and design processes at work.
Invisible welds and expert painting ensure the radiators look superb as a finished product.

The Paco is an interesting design. A combination of heating and storage.

Cross

Paco

The "So-Flex" takes the notion of a radiator and towel rail further than many will have encountered. Designed by Gabriella Almagioni, it is a stylish radiator with an upturned corner of steel that. Available in sizes ranging from 77cm high to 2-20, it looks particularly stunning in the 19 Sable colours that include dark copper, ivory, mouse grey and oxide orange.

"Lame-Up" looks very much like a modern totem pole. Designed by Davide Brembilla, Rectangular tubes of differing heights are grouped together as 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 pieces and erected on a colour co-ordinated stand.

S Barra

Vision

Where space is at a premium then the "Sbarra" is perfect. At only 8cm per unit, it can be manufactured as a 1,2 or 3 bar radiator. Remote valves, electrical model and fantastic choice of colours add to the versatility of this high output and energy efficient system.



"Vision", designed by Luigi Brembilla is a 3 dimensional towel heater which as well as being available in differing sizes and colours, can be square or horizontal.

This unit can be plumbed or available as an electrical version. The valves are located at the back so as not to affect the aesthetic visual design.

There are designs which incorporate lighting and mirrors.

If you want more information, and to see some of the range on show, go visit their UK stockist.

A Very Modern Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution that took place in the United Kingdom in the 18th an 19th centuries was hugely important for many reasons. In engineering terms it led to the use of new materials, the capability to mass produce goods and to bring them to a bigger market.

In interior design the industrial revolution allowed the population to have access to items that were once only available to the few who could afford to pay someone to manufacture their own design, or replicate another.

Of course with all revolutions there is rebellion. The Arts and Crafts movement saw this mass production as having nothing to do with craftsmanship and strove to create interior products of quality. But of course this invariably led to their products being more expensive and unaffordable to many.

 Our new interior design industrial revolution seems focused on using industrial materials in a new way in the home.

While concrete was seen solely as a material to be used in the architecture and building industry, it is now seen to form sinks, be used in its natural state for flooring and increasingly in kitchen work surfaces. Polished and hardwearing, it is certainly a material with great possibilities in interiors.

Exposed brickwork is now lauded, rather than plastered over and covered with some hideous shade of paint. While not everyone may have great exposed walls, faux brick panels offer an alternative.

Pipework once almost always condemned to be concealed is becomingly more obvious. Copper as a material is regaining renewed popularity. As a material that does not allow bacteria to thrive one does wonder why it is not used more in areas where hygiene is of importance.

While this new design revolution relies on basic materials it is ironically not too far from the thoughts of the Arts and Crafts fathers. After all it is the craftsmanship of the materials that is priority, rather than a mass produced item widely available.

There is nothing here that suggests minimalist, if that was the term for stripped back bland design. Rather there is much in the way of great design. Exciting that some manufacturers recreate concrete and leather floors with vinyl tiles, Everday household objects are brought to new life as in the mason jar chandelier.

What we love here is the honesty in designing interior elements with an industrial feel.

It is a recognition of the materials that brought this country and many others into the 20th century.

We even think that William Morris might approve.

Classical Elements

Burgbad

Burgbad

Earth, Fire, Air and Water have for centuries been acknowledged as the Classical Elements. Where better position to bring these forces of nature to life than in a bathroom.

Clay is a material of the earth long used in the manufacture of domestic items. It is often used as a symbol representing the beginnings of life.

Fire as a symbol represents passion and assertiveness. In science and religion regularly  acknowledged as the force that brought all life to creation. Fire is used to form the clay into a durable material as in ceramics and pottery tiles.

Air is the medium in which we perceive  and are inspired. It is the space, void, atmosphere.

Water, well what is the most important feature of any bathroom? That life giving force that without life would cease to exist.

Of course in the context of this article, the topic relates to the use of clay and other base materials formed to create stylish and hardwearing bathroom tiles and furniture.

And why should bathroom furniture have to be bland and often out of sync with the interior design of the rest of the home.


Burgbad is a supplier whose name is barely known to domestic end users and rarely used by interior designers.

Their range of bathroom furniture is available in so many finishes and colours with fabulous shapes, a seemingly endless range of sizes and plenty of styles. Their Elysee range is evocative of the Italian brand Selva, although what is shown here is fabulous German design.

With their products being  dimensionally flexible allows for small, medium and larger bathrooms to be well supported in their extensive product range which includes shower trays, basins, baths, cabinets and mirrors.

While their use of ceramics is extensive, they also have basins which are mineral cast which allows them to manufacture unique shapes using quartz, rock powder and pigments. The processes used to fire the material make their basins incredibly hardwearing, seamless and stain resistant.

The front surfaces can be made of veneer, lacquer, thermoform, melamine and glass- all in a wide selection of colours. And we like the choice of different handles, especially the glass on the Elysee range above.

There is also a range of mirrors and lighting which completes the overall look.

It is time to rethink the way bathrooms are designed. The bathroom is part of the overall interior design of a home and is not just a purely functional room.

For more information on these products contact 80 Market Street 

Tile Trends

It is hard not to be inspired by the selection of tiles at Topps Tiles. Not forgetting the plain white square tiles and limestone effect favoured by developers, there are some exciting designs worth considering for your home.

For a pop of colour the Metro is bang on trend with its brick shape. Purple, red, green  and bright blue will certainly add interest to a feature wall in a contemporary kitchen.

The highly polished finish seems to give the appearance of glass.

The Diamante range is another brick ceramic effect with a popular elongated shape and five exciting colourways which include white, cream, teal, mocha and a deep blue. There are even some textured ceramic bricks which with the right shade of grout will give a stylish industrial feel to wall surfaces , as well as being practical to keep clean. Minton ticks all the interior design boxes too. The range includes plain tiles, contrasts, borders and skirting tiles to create a complete finished look to any room.

The Victorian are a selection of square tiles in red, black and white with co-ordinating borders which look particularly stunning in traditional hallways. Made of porcelain, they are hardwearing and suitable for both interior and exterior use. Geometric shapes were seen in abundance at the Cersaie Trade Show in Bologna this year and Topps Tiles have a great selection of porcelain tiles making them suitable for both walls and floors.. The Hexa range is a great shape and the Cement and Cement Centric among my favourites. For walls The Renaissance Blend is a mosaic mesh with a Moroccan inspired design and made from recycled glass. 

Topps Tiles also have recycled wood effects, concrete, lava and polished wood tiles- and their knowledgable and enthusiastic staff, if Ian, Dave, Tony and Martin at St Helens branch are anything to go by, will advise and help you decide what's best for your project.

For more information and the full range visit Topps Tiles

Social Lives in a Built Environment

In an ever altering environment, the need to anticipate social change is crucial to ensuring that the infrastructure that supports individuals as well as communities is in place.  Reading the research material recently published through Adam Urbanism was a reminder how tough the relationship can be between designers, architects, developers, planners and government in creating a positive built environment.

"Tomorrow's Home" ( Lily Bernheimer- Space Works Consultancy and ADAM Urbanism) is a timely reminder about the need to understand and act upon social lives in anticipating and creating flexible and happy work/ home environments. The research predominately looked at the socio-economic changes affecting the Millenials- young adults born towards the end of the last century, effectively an 18-34 age group.

The study looked at the differences between the aspirations of this generation and the previous one.  Where home ownership was feasible based on average incomes, it would seem that this generation will continue to see rental as the only way forward with mortgages and housing stock unavailable.

Workers still migrate towards urban areas with greater employment options, however there is also a greater element of self employed working from home.

There is always the issue of multitasking work and home space.  It appears new housing stock still needs to take into consideration the need for larger living spaces.

While agricultural farms were isolated in many respects, those same families enjoyed social interaction with other farms.

Today individuals, working alone, share their lives with online support , some  via social network groups prompting real interactions.

The creation and development of outside spaces is important. Parks, gardens, areas to gather and chat. The "KIOSK" idea from AJ and various at Bologna Water Design being actually a very good idea.

Great humanitarians and industrialists Robert Owen, the Cadbury family and Lord Lever all created great "towns" for their workers with enhanced living conditions, compared to local housing, in New Lanark, Bournville and Port Sunlight respectively. They considered the needs of their workers first, then realised the environment. Truly front runners of town planning in a built industrial environment.

Now too often town planners meet the requirements of a political party, developers are greedy about maximising units of land in often inappropriate sites ( flood plains eg) , architects are concerned with price they can achieve per square metre to satisfy clients - often compromising the finish to suit the budget - and interior designers are brought in to make impossible spaces work for the inhabitants.


It is time for policy and decision makers to take heed of such information as contained in the Tomorrow's Home report, and properly plan and implement living conditions that will enhance lives and be flexible to support near future generations.

Bologna Water Design , Tubes and Zucchetti

 A 16th century palace becomes the backdrop to a creative  experience that forms the Bologna Water Design Show. Entering the building in search of the Italian radiator company Tubes Radiatori felt rather like entering a theatre in the middle of a Shakespear play while all the Acts were happening at once, and having no idea what it was about, but wanting to stay.

In one room a short animated film was being shown to a captive audience of young children sitting in rows of Starck chairs.

Tubes Kangeri

 A pixar styled animated figure nodded its head against a watery coloured background, while the earth felt rain and a shadow pulled a shower curtain across. The only colour was a bright yellow rubber style duck.

There was something mesmerising about the sequence which led me to watch it a second time.

Then I realised this was a short promotional film to advertise a showerhead by the Italian company Zucchetti . 

Zucchetti Kos

While fresh mozzarella balls with cherry tomatoes, and stuffed fresh figs were served with the obligatory and delicious Prosecco in the architects room - Tubes radiators blended in with the half plastered walls and Hansgrohe Axor.

In other rooms water being used to create patterns was in evidence as well as designs for open pools such as found in many open spaces, or public water fountains as found in "Kiosk"

Tubes

Tubes Scaletta

Ofcourse like many things that look simple on the surface, there is very likely some skilled and great creative forces involved, and this exhibition was a great example of just such an abundance of  talent.


While each room seemed impossible at first to reconcile with another, somehow the Acts all fell into a natural order and the overall experience of taking part in such a theatrical exhibition was well worth the extra glass or two of Prosecco.


Here is to great design, enjoy.

For more info on Tubes Radiatori contact www.radiatinginteriors.co.uk
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Cersaie 2014 Bologna and more

Bologna has long been known as a centre of culture.  Historical buildings, well preserved architecture and  great transportation links all add up to this city being a destination for creative fairs and tourism. Little wonder it was voted European Capital of Culture in 2000.

Cersaie is a firm fixture in the ceramics world calendar. Major suppliers showcasing what is new and bold in the world of porcelain, ceramics, glass, designer walls, bathrooms and fittings. There was certainly a lot to see.

Glass glazed ceramic tiles and funky displays of lava basins made appealing and interesting displays. There was certainly a fair amount of lava products on show. Whether the material was used as wall tiles , or cast as basins or worksurfaces, this was certainly an interesting product.

I really liked the  bricks on show. Whether they were porcelain or designer brick, there was something really appealing about them. Not only were there different sizes and shapes- but some really exciting colourways and suggestions for patterns.

I'm quite into the designer brick- and very excited one supplier. Something a little bit different.

We saw at Decorex a few years ago a bit of gold/ brass displayed in bathroom hardware, this year a bit more in Bologna. It's a resurgent market, impressed to see some really good partnerships hardware and sanitaryware.

How can you not love these radiators by Ridea Schema Bird. There is Wolly, Schema Cat and Schema Bird- who incidentally was tweeting through Cersaie 2014 . Who says radiators need be boring.

We tend to think of heating in this country as being wall mounted boring white, or portable grey blowing hot air.

There are alternatives, and some imagination and great designs.

Excited was I by Cordivari, Italian style fantastico, shown here.
Fiore, a Spanish company with electric and water heaters and again great designs.


My journey continued to visit Tubes Radiatori. So here I am in a 16th century palace Ex Ospedale dei Bastardini in via D'Azeglio in Bologna, it's the Bologna Water Design festival. The building itself is beautiful, courtyard, vaulted ceilings- a place to stay and explore. That's where we found ourselves looking for Tubes. We found them, but the journey much more more interesting.

The international partnership between Turkish Ceramics, The Architect's Journal and 6 of the best architecture practices around was a highlight. The Architect's Journal teamed up with Turkish Ceramics, who represent 37 Turkish ceramic manufacturers, to create a design challenge called "Kiosk". The word kiosk is derived from the Turkish "kosk" which translates as small communal space. And of course the brief included an aspect of water as well as the use of Turkish ceramics in the design.

 The clue was probably in the introduction by AJ's acting editor Rory Olcayto, "Kicking the Bottle". Water is beneficial for health and millions is spent on bottled water. Why not tackle the problem of readily accessible free water in a unique and environmentally friendly way. How could a water fountain be exhibited and used in 21st century London and by incorporating Turkish ceramics into the design.

The wow factory definitely kicked in. How different could six architectural practices view something that's mostly sole purpose was to distribute water? How different indeed. The architects in question were Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, Adam Architecture, Hopkins Architects, Eric Parry Architects, Studio Weave and Zaha Hadid. Each practice had its own unique take from single fountains that could refill water bottles and offer water to a dog, to elaborate fountains.

For more info re Italian radiator products contact Radiating Interiors

Related post Bologna Water Festival