Instinct Furniture

Vennesla Library Norway – We don’t like it!

Paul White — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 05:01:56 +0000

Norwegian practice Helen & Hard have created the ‘Vennesla Library and Cultural Center’, a multi-level public facility in Vennesla, Norway. Serving as a spatial connector between an existing community house, learning center, and a public square, the design is a direct result of the synergetic coupling of structures, manifesting as a series of gradually shifting ribs that provide structure in addition to furniture and storage for technical devices.

(IF)…and we aren’t impressed!

A large glass facade serves as an open interface between the interior and the city’s main square. In order to reduce the energy needs of all three buildings, two long facades of the existing structures were used to minimize on total surface of the exterior walls. all new walls, floors and roof have been equipped with high-standard energy solutions.

(IF)..Great but this is why we are not impressed….

The layout is defined by twenty-six structural ribs. each building component consists of a glue-laminated timber beam and column, CNC-routered plywood boards, acoustic absorbents, air conditioning ducts,and bent glass panes for lighting. Intimate reading niches are generated between members, with shelving and storage built in to their structure.

(IF)..Take a look at the pics – this beautifully crafted, wonderfully aesthetic library is TOTALLY INFLEXIBLE. At Instinct Furniture we believe a library should be an infinitely variable stage ready to respond to the demands of today and tomorrow.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool libraries, furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world. (source: Designboom)

Lux Craft Lighting Pavilion at Origin Craft Fair

Paul White — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:22:19 +0000

The Origin Contemporary Craft Fair in London featured Lux Craft, a new platform for lighting installations.
Defining ‘lux’ as the measure of the light intensity as perceived by the human eye, the Crafts Council established this focused exhibition in response to Origin’s new audience of architects and interior designers in town for the London Design Festival.

Centrally located within the Origin pavilion, the micro-show showcased the works of ten selected designers.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world. (source: Designboom)

Plural + Totalstudio: Alexis

Paul White — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:50:30 +0000

‘Alexis’, a bookshop and coffee bar in Bratislava, Slovakia has been conceived by Slovakian practice Plural and Totalstudio to create a flexible space which sells books as well as holding collateral events. The interior is comprised of a series of stepped platforms
which double as seating and parallels two continuous bookshelf walls. the auditorium arrangement is suitable for projections, readings, small scale concerts, and workshops with the intention of creating a distinction between firmly established booksellers.

Customers begin in the entry at ground level and gradually rise through the volume towards the elevated cafe and gallery. individuals choose from the selection and then sit, read and relax next to the shelves. Displayed upon mobile stands, new titles and best sellers are integrated into the floor plan. Permanent program elements such as the storage, deposit, office and restroom are placed below the stepped floor, accessible from a staircase within the elevated cafe.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world. (source: Designboom)

Murúa-Valenzuela: Taltal Public Library Chile

Paul White — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:19:37 +0000

South of the city of Antofagasta, within the coastal town of Taltal, Chile is the recently completed ‘Taltal Public Library’ by Chilean practice Murúa-Valenzuela. Overlooking a central square, the building forms a cultural network by linking to the historical theatre
while creating a variety of internal reading atmospheres with diverse roof and ceiling heights. Placed upon a 40 meter long and 7 meter wide site, the long and narrow configuration defined the spatial organization, utilizing large skylights to brighten the interior’s three stories.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world. (source: Designboom)

Dalian Library China

Paul White — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:35:02 +0000

Vienna-based practice Architects Collective has designed the ‘Dalian Library’ for the city of Dalian, China. The curving exterior shell is conceptually derived from a rose, the city’s flower, blossoming towards the sky revealing a focal garden.
With a triangular footprint, the transparent structure creates a strong relationship with the nearby ocean. Positioned within a park setting, the center will become a landmark for both residents as well as visitors while serving as a symbol for creativity and environmental harmony to the community.

All programmatic areas will provide contemplative atmospheres with visual connections to nature within a central courtyard and the encompassing landscaped grounds which continue a petal motif. The undulating building profile will allow views towards the bay from the upper level reading room. Circulation will occur through a grand spiraling stair which wraps the central void while stacks are placed at the outer perimeter.

Gross floor area: 50.000 m2
Construction costs: 50.000.000 EUR

Pointing finger bookmark – clever : cool

Paul White — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:05:39 +0000

An elegantly simple solution to an old problem this extra finger will point to your last line, working double time to hold your page and save you time!

The pointing finger bookmark is just like a highlighter. the finger indicator points to the exact line where you last read so you don’t have to spend time skimming through the text.
The flexible material and y-shape design easily adapt to books of various sizes and thicknesses.

Made from silicone, the pointing finger bookmarks come in a set of three colors: fluorescent pink, blue and yellow.

Available from the designboom shop.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world.

Ezri Tarazi: free falling mannequin chair

Paul White — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:30:36 +0000

Tel Aviv industrial designer, Ezri Tarazi is presenting a new work, still in its prototype phase called ‘free falling’. The seating object is produced by transforming a trapezoidal box made from perforated metal sheets into a chair, as a result of a female mannequin
filled with concrete, being dropped freely onto the three dimensional, hollow form. The action of dropping this 100 kg mannequin shapes the seat through air pressure that has been released through the material’s holes.
Tarazi’s concept for the piece was to create a chair made by the ‘human figure’ without any tools.

In design history, a number of metal chairs were produced by press of heavy industrial machines or hand tools, but ‘free falling’ was made solely by the sitting mannequin. The work is meant to suggest a number of interpretations, but above all to raise the question about the role of design and human interaction today.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world.

André Chénier opera on the lake at Bregenz

Paul White — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:11:50 +0000

We came across these amazing floating stage sets designed by David Fielding for the Bregenz Opera Festival lakefront performance of Umberto Giordano’s ‘André Chénier’ just held in August.

The waterproofed set was built directly into Lake Constance, mounted upon a concrete core anchored into the base of the lake, while wooden poles support accessory structures of the stage. Fielding’s design for ‘André Chénier’ is dominated by an oversized face and torso– modeled after the revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat– from whose left eye
streamed a series of stairways. an open book to stage right of the figure was frequently highlighted throughout the performance with special lighting effects, ranging from sculptural installations to elaborate gobos that cast shadow scenes along its pages.
At water level, a floating platform, ‘carried’ by what appears to be the hand of the statue, moved in response to plot action.

Fantastic!

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world.

Well done LIANZA – Wellington was Brill!

Paul White — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 05:59:38 +0000

LIANZA conference in Wellington, truly a vibrant celebration for our library community. Congrats organisers and well done!

The Instinct Furniture stand was very busy as we showed off our latest designs.

The WOW Wave display with its curvy lines proved popular as did GLO our sharp new help station. Visitors loved our popular OVERLAP Table sporting electric blue graphics and our GALAXY Ottoman upholstered in Flower Power eco-wool.
Our TWIST Laptop Chair crafted in solid American Oak attracted much attention – everyone wanted one for home.

Thanks to all our visitors and our wonderful customers for your ongoing support. Well done to all the organisers for a smooth running conference – see you all next year in Palmy.

Mecanoo Architects: Library of Birmingham celebrates top out

Paul White — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:51:24 +0000

The new ‘Library of Birmingham’ by delft-based practice Mecanoo has celebrated its topping out with the last piece of concrete laid at its highest point. Due to open in 2013, the nine-storey project will accommodate in addition to the library a theatre, elevated garden terraces, storage for archives, and a state-of-the-art exhibition space.

Featuring a central rotunda that will house the books of the library, the design organizes the internal programs around this focal point. An outdoor amphitheatre located on a basement level provides a common space for the public that will host a variety of functions and events. Connecting the building together is a system of wide travelators and escalators that overlook different areas of the facility. Abundant natural daylight enters the interior through a facade finish that is wrapped in an intricate metal skin.

Instinct Furniture BlOG – mostly about cool furniture and design in general – keeping you abreast of our world.