Favorite Design pieces: A series… Part one: the chair.
… I have several favorites in the same category. My favorite category and piece of furniture is the chair or chair category. I love chairs. I could go on and on and on. The chair is utilitarian, aesthetic, eye-catching, easily moved, small, and interchangeable.
…People change many things in their lives over time. They change apartments and condos, flats and houses, even offices. With change, what physical attributes contained with each of these spaces changes as well. I find it interesting that people usually keep a favorite chair. Whether it be an old Windsor or Biedermier or Louis the XVI passed down through the family, the chair ranks high in its ability to be retained. No other piece of furniture per se has such an attachment to being a favorite as being a chair. People may change their living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. They may replace their outdated office furniture and ways to store the things that are stored. The chair however, is different.
My “Cliche – everyone knows these” favorites include:
The Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe. It’s famous. I’d be surprised to hear that there are people that interest themselves with furniture, art, design, architecture, etc. who haven’t seen it. I love the polished chrome frame and the way the leather feels. It’s gorgeous. The knock-offs are bad no matter how good they are. There is simply no exception. The only thing better than the Barcelona chair is the matching ottoman when paired with the chair. The leather comes in a few different colors, but I prefer the original: black.
The Cherner Chair. Available as a side chair, captain’s chair, and even a stool, the Cherner is a true gem. Having 8 side chairs and 2 captains’ at a long rectangular shaped dining room table is perfect. The only thing missing? You and seven of your closest friends.
The Herman Miller Eames Chair and Ottoman set are also classics. Together or separate, they are functional, comfortable, reliable, and somehow manage to feel comfortable in just about any arrangement. Imagine yourself (or me) nestled into it reading the New York Times Sunday edition.
Okay.. one more. The Bertoia Chair. Timeless and comfortable contrary to what you may be thinking by looking at it.
Of Special note:
Design Within Reach, one of my favorite love/hate retail outlets, did a competition in conjunction with Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Take a look at the finalists, or go and see them for yourself. Visit www.designwithinreach.com for more information on how a few creative types managed to become inspired in their own ways.
…Stay tuned for “not-so-cliche” chair favorites.. and more!
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…I noticed while travelling through certain parts of Argentina a fascination with graffiti. From a design perspective, I found some of it quite good. Grafitti isn’t just found in the underground or sprayed on tunnels. It can be found on the outside of buildings (vacant or not), homes, businesses and schools…wherever. I was surprised not to see a strong presence of graffiti per se, but in the quality of the images. I will list a few of the images I thought were interesting (some in content, some with messages that reflect my own, and some just because I thought they were original enough to include). Argentina, with Buenos Aires in particular, has an extremely charged political environment. Not suprisingly, the Portenos I spoke with shared more than a love for food, art, culture, love, and of course Tango, they shared an extreme dislike for our current Governmental Administration. Feel free to email me your favorite shots of graffiti if you would like. I’d especially be interested in viewing politically charged graffiti from other parts of the World or anything of great interest to you. Again, I thank you.
Disclaimer: I share no connection to any of the images below. I am sharing them with the intent to share another perspective in Design presense within a different medium.
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What may seem obvious is actually a more complicated system structured by the whims of a few who determine “Cemetary Design.” Cemetary Design? Is there such a disapline or is this yet another unrecognized form of artistic expression? A Visual documentary of Politics in action – even after death.
Please join me in taking a look at the Cemetario de Recoleta in Buenos Aires. I will provide a series of amateur photographic shots to serve as examples of “Cemetary Design & Architecture.”
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Welcome to my Blog. “Design” is a broad term used to capture all forms of creative energy. It is my hope that we as a community can expand on “Design,” and take a non-traditional approach to better define “Design” as we know it. With collaboration it is my hope that we may benefit from such contributions, ideas, exchange and support. Feel free to bring up conversational points you would like to see broadened either here, or via email.
Thanks!
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