Formafantasma watch for Rado is a "modern take on a historic tradition"

Rado Design Week continues with the launch of a special edition of Rado's True Square watch by Formafantasma, which the Italian design duo explain references traditional pocket watches in this exclusive video by Dezeen.

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the Italian duo behind Formafantasma, have designed a minimal version of Rado's True Square timepiece that features a small opening on the front to tell the time.

Called True Square Formafantasma, the watch revives a design feature of many traditional pocket watches, which feature a small window on the front of the case so the time can be viewed without opening it.

"We were inspired by traditional pocket watches and closed watches so our design is a modern take on this historic tradition," Trimarchi said in the video.

The monochrome watch's dials sit behind a small window that floats in the middle of the True Square's watch face, which blends into the linked strap of the watch.

The designers worked with Rado to develop their watch design using the brand's injection moulding technology and signature high-tech ceramic material.

"Working with Rado was engaging because the level of expertise in watchmaking is obviously excellent," Farresin said in the video. "There is a clear understanding of the potentials of design."

Trimarchi and Farresin founded Formafantasma in 2009 after graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2009.

Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, founders of Formafantasma

Their work often investigates materials through their historical context and attempts to act as a bridge between their research-based practice and the wider design industry.

The pair have recently curated a research-focused exhibition at the Serpentine Sackler Gallery in London investigating the global impact of the forestry industry and in 2019 they designed a collection of tiles glazed with volcanic ash.

The duo also recently won Designer of the Year at the 2020 Dezeen Awards.

Trimarchi and Farresin will be speaking about the watch to Dezeen founder Marcus Fairs and Rado's CEO Adrian Bosshard and its vice president of product development Hakim El Kadiri, in a live talk at 4:00pm London time today as part of Rado Design Week.

Formafantasma's True Square watch is one of four watches by a roster of global designers that will be revealed during Rado Design Week, a week-long collaboration between the Swiss watch brand and Dezeen.

Dezeen will publish exclusive videos revealing special editions of Rado's True Square watch by designers Formafantasma, Tej Chauhan and Thukral & Tagra, followed by a live conversation with each of the designers. Click here to check out the schedule.

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Yinka Ilori's first homeware collection turns functional items into artworks

Dezeen Showroom: London designer Yinka Ilori has translated the characteristic, joyful patterns that grace his large-scale installations into a limited-edition homeware collection.

The 20-piece range marks Ilori's first foray into household items, spanning rugs, cushions, stoneware and tablecloths alongside more unexpected utilitarian items such as melamine trays, tea towels and enamel mugs.

Above: Yinka Ilori's homeware collection has 20 pieces. Top image: The Omi tray is styled with the Aami Aami plate and tablecloth

"I like the idea of turning something that we normally don't pay much attention to in the home into something artistic, a statement piece that has a narrative behind it," he told Dezeen.

"I think we spend so much time being distracted by other things that we tend to not appreciate functional design as much as we could."

It includes three rectangular pillowcases, each with a different pattern

Rather than collaborating with an established design company to realise the pieces, Ilori took control over their creation from start to finish to maintain creative independence.

The results are being released by Ilori's newly established, self-titled brand, which will be for sale primarily on his own website.

"I wanted to establish a homewares brand in-house as I felt it was important for myself and the studio team here to have a complete, self-sufficient understanding of the whole process, from design concept through to production and retail," he said.

"Lockdown cancelled many of our projects this year so it gave us the time back to start making this idea into a reality."

The same pattern is emblazoned on different pieces from mugs and bowls to plates and pillows

Each piece is created in collaboration with different craftsmen and suppliers, with stoneware bowls and plates made in Portugal while rugs are hand-knotted in Nepal.

Much like streetwear, they will be released in limited edition "drops", in order to feel out where there is most demand from the public and allow this to guide the direction of the business.

The Omi plate (left) can be paired with the Parable placemats as well as the Aami Aami plate (right)

The motifs themselves were taken directly from the designer's previous work and scaled down to fit onto the different homeware pieces, which "act as mini canvases".

A series of circular coasters and placemats are emblazoned with some of the seminal seating designs that launched Ilori's career, while other pieces feature patterns directly transposed from his installations.

The Aami Aami print is also turned into a tablecloths

Like much of Ilori's work, these prints combine both his Nigerian roots and impressions from his childhood in north London.

"The patterns I've used in this collection were based on the idea of a cultural exchange – a merging of African and English cultures and customs," he said.

"For me, these patterns represent both the past and the present, uniting two cultures together in the London of today and celebrating the society we have now."

Waves and rum barrels feature on the Omi print tea towel (right)

One print, named Omi after the Yoruba word for water, nods to the river Thames and the London Docklands as historical gateways for trade, which facilitated a meeting and mingling of different cultures.

This is visualised through a pattern of lapping, azure blue waves and oval rum barrels, that can be found throughout the collection.

Similarly, two rugs feature the abstracted, repeated motif of a pineapple, which was such a rare luxury item when it was first brought over from South America that London socialites would rent one for a single night to display it at their dinner parties.

The Gangan rug is adorned with a pattern of pineapples

Elsewhere, the collection features enamel mugs, a "classic British design" that nods to the country's industrial history, alongside household linens, which Ilori says carry a particular nostalgia for him.

In his childhood, hand towels were a democratic object in the house, used by all different members of the family for different purposes, while a tablecloth invariably signalled a special occasion.

Decked out in Ilori's joyful patterns, these simple, functional pieces are allowed to become decorations in their own right.

Ilori will also be selling socks independently of the homeware collection

The drop is available from today via Ilori's website as well as SCP and luxury fashion retailers Browns and Matches.

This year has also seen the trained furniture and product designer stretch his creative muscles to create a skate park near Lille in France as well as the interior for London boutique Mira Mikati.

In September, he was accepted London's 2020 Emerging Design Medal with the words: "I just hope my work inspires the next generation of young designers with a similar background to me."

Collection: Yinka Ilori homeware
Designer: Yinka Ilori
Contact: hello@yinkailori.com

About Dezeen Showroom: Dezeen Showroom offers an affordable space for brands to launch new products and showcase their designers and projects to Dezeen's huge global audience. For more details email showroom@dezeen.com.

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Abin Design Studio creates latticed concrete and glass temple in India

Narayantala Thakurdalan by Indian practice Abin Design Studio is a concrete Hindu temple with a glazed corner that opens onto the street in Bansberia.

Precast concrete jalis, or lattices, are stacked to create a screen wall around part of the shrine.

Glass doors open at the sides

The column-free space allows for unobstructed access for worship, and during festivals, via a wide door on one side.

If all the glass doors are opened, the whole external corner can be opened up to turn the interior and the plinth into a larger gathering place.

Concrete screens are made of pre-cast blocks

Abin Design Studio was working on a residential project called Wall House next door on this busy intersection when it was asked to redesign the existing thakur dalan.

This covered courtyard is next to the house but open to the public and hosts local religious ceremonies.

A side door allows for everyday access

The architecture studio studied how people were using the space before presenting their proposal.

"Some people would offer their prayers twice a day while many visited only occasionally, how a few devotees spent considerable amounts of time offering obeisance while others simply bowed their heads from their cycles as they rode past," said Abin Design Studio.

"This place of worship played a different role in each person's daily life and this provided cues for the design of the space," added the studio.

A shrine sits inside the temple

The porous facade allows people to have a visual connection with the shrine even in passing while maintaining a dedicated space for daily worship at a slight remove from the bustling intersection.

On high days and holidays with the open doorway, the temple can accommodate a crowd.

"Although the existing structure held immense sentimental value to the people of Bansberia, they were quick to take on our suggestion to rebuild completely when they saw how the new proposal respected the same idea and sentiment of the place," it said.

The temple is used by the community throughout the year

Local craftspeople cast the concrete bocks according to specification.

Narayantala Thakurdalan took six months to construct, opening in time to host the annual Durga Puja, a 10-day-long festival honouring the goddess of protection.

The temple took just six months to build

While well-received by Bansberia, some local people took a while to acclimatise to the new temple.

"While the final outcome was well appreciated by the community, it must be noted that some feedback was received where it was felt that the previous structure, having had a long-term association with the members, seemed more 'at home' than the new one," said the studio.

Abin Design Studio was already working on a residential project next door

Abin Design Studio was founded by Abin Chaudhuri in 2005. The studio's recent project Wall House was longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2019.

More design for temples includes a stepped Hindu temple made from black limestone in Andhra Pradesh and a top-heavy concrete Buddhist temple in Tokyo.

Photography and video are by Edmund Sumner, music is by Craig Pruess.

---

Project credits:

Architect: Abin Design Studio
Principal designer: Abin Chaudhuri
Team: Qurratul Ain Maryam, Debkishor Das

The post Abin Design Studio creates latticed concrete and glass temple in India appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/3lryGbH

Abin Design Studio creates latticed concrete and glass temple in India

Narayantala Thakurdalan by Indian practice Abin Design Studio is a concrete Hindu temple with a glazed corner that opens onto the street in Bansberia.

Precast concrete jalis, or lattices, are stacked to create a screen wall around part of the shrine.

Glass doors open at the sides

The column-free space allows for unobstructed access for worship, and during festivals, via a wide door on one side.

If all the glass doors are opened, the whole external corner can be opened up to turn the interior and the plinth into a larger gathering place.

Concrete screens are made of pre-cast blocks

Abin Design Studio was working on a residential project called Wall House next door on this busy intersection when it was asked to redesign the existing thakur dalan.

This covered courtyard is next to the house but open to the public and hosts local religious ceremonies.

A side door allows for everyday access

The architecture studio studied how people were using the space before presenting their proposal.

"Some people would offer their prayers twice a day while many visited only occasionally, how a few devotees spent considerable amounts of time offering obeisance while others simply bowed their heads from their cycles as they rode past," said Abin Design Studio.

"This place of worship played a different role in each person's daily life and this provided cues for the design of the space," added the studio.

A shrine sits inside the temple

The porous facade allows people to have a visual connection with the shrine even in passing while maintaining a dedicated space for daily worship at a slight remove from the bustling intersection.

On high days and holidays with the open doorway, the temple can accommodate a crowd.

"Although the existing structure held immense sentimental value to the people of Bansberia, they were quick to take on our suggestion to rebuild completely when they saw how the new proposal respected the same idea and sentiment of the place," it said.

The temple is used by the community throughout the year

Local craftspeople cast the concrete bocks according to specification.

Narayantala Thakurdalan took six months to construct, opening in time to host the annual Durga Puja, a 10-day-long festival honouring the goddess of protection.

The temple took just six months to build

While well-received by Bansberia, some local people took a while to acclimatise to the new temple.

"While the final outcome was well appreciated by the community, it must be noted that some feedback was received where it was felt that the previous structure, having had a long-term association with the members, seemed more 'at home' than the new one," said the studio.

Abin Design Studio was already working on a residential project next door

Abin Design Studio was founded by Abin Chaudhuri in 2005. The studio's recent project Wall House was longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2019.

More design for temples includes a stepped Hindu temple made from black limestone in Andhra Pradesh and a top-heavy concrete Buddhist temple in Tokyo.

Photography and video are by Edmund Sumner, music is by Craig Pruess.

---

Project credits:

Architect: Abin Design Studio
Principal designer: Abin Chaudhuri
Team: Qurratul Ain Maryam, Debkishor Das

The post Abin Design Studio creates latticed concrete and glass temple in India appeared first on Dezeen.

from Dezeen https://ift.tt/3lryGbH