The art of diy manifests itself in this new “false replica” by designer Peter Jakubik, which takes directly from the iconic Panton S chair of the Danish maestro, Verner Panton.
It’s remarkable how the use of materials and the very concept of design have changed since 1960, when Panton created this first single-form injection-moulded plastic chair, made for production en masse. Now Jakubik shows us how to re-use design with more noble materials, such as wood.
There’s a new iniciative in Barcelona. It’s been subsidised by the government and it exists in a little workshop near Plaza España. It’s called Millor Que Nou (better than new) and it’s located on Calle Sepúlveda 47. It has free mini seminars on furniture restoration and space with tools, so that you can bring in your broken objects and furniture and give them new life.
It includes a carpinters, a textiles area, one part devoted to anything electronic and other facilities such as bike repairs etc. The opening hours are flexible, based on the walk-in hours of “assessorament” by professionals and practical seminars or “tallers”.
The discovery of this fantastic space coincided with an equally fabulous find in June of 2011. Left on a street in Poble Sec was a super-50’s armchair, completely ruined on the seat with straw sticking out of it. But the fabric and form were so evoking that it had to become the next Caer en Gracia project. Article and photos here.
This is something pretty common in Barcelona. Walking on the street of any neighbourhood (depending on which night; see the BCN Throw-out Map), you see a chest of drawers. It’s pretty, the wood doesn’t seem stained, it’s from a nice era, but what’s missing? Well, someone’s taken the drawers out already.
But, thanks to an idea by architect and designer Maurício Arruda, this doesn’t have to be a problem, more an opportunity for putting a bit of colour into the home. Simply have a look around for some empty fruit and veg trays (something which Barcelona has aplenty) and play with the sizes a little.
New Ways to Enjoy...Fruit Trays
However, if the problem is the opposite and walking around all you find are a few loose drawers, then perhaps you can dedicate a little time and work to re-make something similar to that of Tejo Remy. It’s worth the while to regress to this Dutch designer whose iconic idea reached us just before the last millenium. Good luck in your search!
A Good Solution for Random Drawers
Great for lounging around with
Instead of trying to stuff the old coat you never wear back into the wardrobe again, cut it into pieces and make it into a cushion, to be enjoyed forever.
It’s best to use a coat that is made of an interesting fabric, like for example in this case; fake sheepskin. This makes for a more eye-catching cushion, it even feels like a soft toy. Sweet dreams guaranteed!
That’s it really. After a bit of a wait and some extra work, Caer en Gracia is now bilingual. Catalan version due sometime in 2011…
Bread and tomato anyone?
Armengol says that the bread chairs represent the trends in the “consumption” of furniture of this century; that they have a short lifecycle, they are consumed and therefore, decomposed. Have a look at more images of these remarkable bread chairs, along with some other green ideas for interiors that help the environment.
Trends are of course, an important thing to consider, in Spain as well as in other prominent countries of design. So I interviewed a new interior designer on the UK scene, Sarah of Sarah Jane Glibbery Interior Design.
Sarah explains what she thinks of the current style in England, compared to Barcelona and its vintage extravaganza. Read the interview.
