I thought these birdhouses were simply part of an art installation, being that they are on the High Line in New York City. Then I heard a "chirp." One google search later, I learned that the birdhouses are the work of Sarah Sze, who wanted to create an artwork that is "simultaneously an observatory, an experiment, and a metropolis, evoking urban construction, scientific models, and attempts to capture nature in situ." Translation: lucky birds.
“We can tell the age of a city,” said George Nelson, “roughly by the patterns of buildings and open spaces seen from the air.” Could you tell by looking at him that he’d be 104 today? Since the mid-century master missed the chance to share his birthday with his colleagues Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Girard, he gets today’s blog post all to himself. And that’s as it ought to be – modern American design would look very different without the influence of Herman Miller’s groundbreaking design director (1946–1972). Learn more about this legendary designer’s legacy here.
Ready to wear, and ready to read, the DWR Atlanta Studio created this dress out of DWR catalog pages and materials from our products. The dress was honored at this year's IIDA Dressed event, which pairs interior designers and architects with industry manufacturers. The goal was to create a one-of-a-kind wearable garment out of non-traditional materials. Keep reading to see how they did it.
The folks at Partners and Spade are thinking big with their exhibition of little chairs. Thirty of them, to be exact, all from the collection of Mondo Cane Gallery. The chairs are all for sale, but how to choose a favorite? A daunting task indeed.
The Noho Design District is one of the hottest design destinations in New York City during Design Week. It is produced and curated annually by Sight Unseen in partnership with NoHo-Bowery Stakeholders to coincide with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Here are a few highlights from this year's event, May 18-21.
The CP Lounge Chair by Charles Pollock. Concrete Wallpaper by Piet Boon. Both at The Future Perfect satellite show at 2 Cooper Square.
Sonos Soundalier by Kiel Mead and Lindsey Adelman. A combination of Adelman's iron chandeliers with Sonos Play speakers, the Soundalier introduces a new way to produce a 360 listening experience.
(I'm a bit freaked out by the man on the left, perfectly aligned inside one of the bulbs, with "antenna" coming out of his ears. Photo gremlins...)
Run, don't walk, to the 3,500-square-foot temporary showroom opened by lighting company Roll & Hill. As you know, we have a number of R&H items in our assortment and we're huge fans of their work. The space also includes a satellite show for The Future Perfect. Here are a few of the items to see at 2 Cooper Square in in Noho. (Shown above: Rudi by Lukas Peet for Roll & Hill.)
Designer Todd Bracher, Laura Ann Young of Areaware, Susan S. Szenasy of Metropolis, John Edelman CEO of DWR
"If a designer loves something when designing it, you'll feel better when using it," said DWR CEO John Edelman. "That passion comes through." And so began the Design Week panel discussion moderated by Susan S. Szenasy of Metropolis magazine. Read more about this topic in Tough Love on the Metropolis blog.
I can't tell you anything about the little man (do you know anything about him?), but I do know about the chair. Arc En Ciel, or “rainbow” in French, is a foldable chair that has filled Parisian parks and cafés since the 19th century. Shown here on the High Line near the West 14th Street entrance.
Is it me, or do these chairs look like they're turning their heads to look at us? These playful, albeit anthropomorphic, chairs are a new design from Vitra. The Waver Chair is currently making its debut during Design Week NYC. If you're in the Meatpacking District, check out this sidewalk display at 29 Ninth Avenue.
I missed the 20-foot reclaimed wood seesaw on my first trip through WantedDesign, so dense was the space with interesting things (and people) to see. WantedDesign is a four-day event featuring the work of designers from around the world. Here are a few of the highlights.
DWR is proud to be a sponsor of the Design Week NYC shuttle. You can catch the NYC Design Express on May 19, 20 and 21. Two buses on a 35-minute loop will travel this route from 11am to 6pm.
Be sure to catch the Shuttle to W 28th Street, where you'll find DWR at WantedDesign. Click the Continue Reading link for details about what you'll find at each stop.
Kudos to Alice Rawsthorn on her piece "Reflections on a Soup Spoon" in the New York Times. So concise is her description of this functional piece of cutlery designed by Arne Jacobsen in 1957, that I was convinced to purchase as set of my own. I am also a huge fan of Jacobsen's Series 7 Chair, so I figure this guy knew what he was doing in the dining room. But it's worth noting that the 5-piece cutlery set shown in her article does not include the coveted Soup Spoon. Instead, this spoon, called the Bouillon Spoon or Breakfast Spoon by manufacturer Georg Jensen, is sold separately in sets of two. Have you had the pleasure of slurping your soup with such a spoon? If so, please let me know what you think. And I'll be sure to report back after I receive mine.
Here are a few highlights for the upcoming Design Week in NYC, including our exhibition at WantedDesign and a DWR SoHo Party.
May 19–21: Visit us at WantedDesign Featuring a rich program of design workshops, conversation series, school projects, a pop-up store and lounges and cafes for people to relax and connect, WantedDesign is a must-see during Design Week. Stop by the DWR Booth to vote in our Live/Work Design Contest, co-sponsored by Dwell magazine. Open 10am–7pm daily. Location: The Tunnel, 269 11th Avenue (at 28th street)
Jens Risom with his iconic lounge chair, designed in 1943.
We celebrate Jens Risom every day at DWR -- and especially today, his birthday. Risom designed the first chair for the company Knoll in 1941, and he's still designing today. "Basically, my whole life has been in the design of pieces that make the living environment more enjoyable," says Risom. "Many designers lose sight of this. They want their work to be looked at like art. I prefer design that is neutral and not the center stage, furniture that is for people."
To the man who has brought us so much enjoyment in our living environments, we wish you a very happy birthday!
Have you met our CEO John Edelman? Check him out in this 90-second spot, produced to promote the Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto last January. As for our experience in Toronto, our post "The Buzz in Toronto: The Interior Design Show" covers it all.
Bonnie Edelman at Bordoneo Farm in Uruguay. Photo by Marcela Ganly.
DWR's Bonnie Edelman is featured in Wag Magazine this month. Journalist Mary Shustack reports on the photographer's special connection to Uruguay, horse breeder Althea Ganly, and a special training method called imprinting. "What happens is you get these very calm, docile horses, friendly horses,” says Edelman. "So while they look wild, they are quite easy to work with." Read the article at wagmag.com.