The Velvet Sofa by Sand and Birch

Velvet Sofa
Velvet Sofa

Sand & Birch are the makers of the Velvet Sofa.

This bewitching velvet ribbon sofa – “Velvet” – is a spiral shaped sofa upholstered in a sensual and luxurious smooth velvet. Its wooden frame is covered with a thin layer of polyurethane.

“Velvet” is the latest work by Sand & Birch Luxury Design.

Designers: Andrea Fino and Samanta Snidaro

About:

Sand & Birch Design Studio was founded in 2003 when Andrea Fino and Samanta Snidaro decided to join their different cultural backgrounds and experiences together for a unique project: to re-interpret the concept of furnishing and to bring other meanings, other senses and other lives to Objects.

The Diamond Sofa is an example of how this project has become reality by turning a sofa into a piece of jewellery without losing its original functions.

Andrea Fino has studied law and at present is working in the field of Communication for Government Institutions and has gained experience in Visual Communication for the realization of social events.
Samanta Snidaro has studied architecture in Italy and Spain and has had various experiences in the fields of Photography and Graphics.

Together they began to focus on shapes and design, devoting their efforts mainly to take other natures, hidden or sacrificed for the production demands, out of ordinary objects.

They participated in different national and international contests such as NuoviSegni (Il Sole 24 Ore) with a design of a multifunctional centre for suburbs, the Mitsubishi contest with the design of a concept car and the Nespresso contest with the design of a coffee stick.

In the field of food design they have created products that are still in progress.
Their next project is a sustainable-energy-supplying concept house.

Kezu

ABCD 01
ABCD Sofa by Piere Paulin in fabric Momentum
Photo thanks to Artifort

No, I have no commercial interest in this post! I simply am impressed by Kezu‘s website: It is clean, well designed and has a very high usability, even though some parts are in Flash. The Flash items they use are very clever.

Kezu represents inter alia Artifort, a Dutch Firm that in my opinion can learn a thing of two from Kezu’s site.

Why am I ranting about Artifort’s site? Simply because once I wanted to post here about Artifort’s celebration of Pierre Paulin’s 80ieth birthday, 60 years of design and 50 years of designing for Artifort and couldn’t find enough information on Artiforts site that I could easily reproduce here.

Thanks to Kezu I am now able to download high resolution photos.

Artifort took ABCD in production for this celebration. It is a 1968 design of Pierre Paulin, here shown with the the original fabric ‘Momentum’, (designed in 1967 by Jack Larson).

Pierre Paulin Portrait removed

Oops while revisiting Artifort’s site I now see Artifort has changed its site and moved away from its former flash only lay out……like many should do. I hate Flash as it is used on most sites without thinking about the web surfer who wants to get information rather than mere stylish flash presentations of products without details….but even now the Kezu site is my favorite.

Kezu on the ABCD Sofa:

The shape of the ABCD seems to be derived from
an egg carton, powerful, protective and elegant. Its curves look like waves… organic, soft, relaxing yet supportive. The ABCD is available in two sizes, ideal for hotel lobbies and lounges. At the time, Pierre Paulin’s designs were revolutionary, now they have become timeless, an evergreen.

Well, this is the same comment as on the Artifort site.

Kezu on Kezu:

KE-ZU supplies furnitures that makes people feel good. Since its founding in 1992, the company has focused on this singular vision delivering an extensive range of residential and contract furniture that has become synonymous with the way we work and live in today’s better environments.
KE-ZU specialises in the sales, marketing and distribution of high quality residential and contract furniture throughout Australia. We exclusively represent a select portfolio of innovative manufacturers supplying interior and exterior products for residential and commercial projects. Our nationwide distribution network makes available a broad mix of European and locally manufactured products through both contract and retail markets.
KE-ZU is also a major shareholder in Andreu World Pacific – a partnership with Comax Australia and Andreu World s.a. of Spain. This operation imports and stocks significant volumes of unfinished furniture components which are then assembled, stained, foamed and upholstered in Comax’s state-of-the-art factory in Brisbane.
KE-ZU’s strong and intense relationships with manufacturers, distributors and customers combine to maximise our market penetration throughout the region.
Quality focus

Like our customers, KE-ZU is passionate when it comes to quality. We focus on the quality of design and construction, service and performance, lifestyle at work, as well as the quality of the relationships we form with manufacturers and customers.

KE-ZU undertakes a mixture of direct and indirect business through showrooms in Australia and New Zealand. Selected for their ability to exceed our quality benchmarks, we are exclusive agents for the following manufacturers:

Enjoy!

Last edited by gje on April 10, 2011 at 2:42 PM

Istanbul 2003 Biennial: A Chair Installation

Doris Salcedo Chair installation at the Istanbul 2003 Biennial

Istanbul 2003 Biennial: A Chair Installation

Recently I visited the 2007 Istanbul Biennial.

While browsing the web and preparing a couple of posts for my other Blog about this visit, I thought I had missed this installation, but now I am assured that these were pictures of the 2003 Istanbul Bienial. Thanks to Pytr75 (alias Belgian Pieter van den Dorpe).

Swiss Thonet Specialist: Dieter Staedli, Basel

Wiener Moebel
Wiener Moebel in Basel, CH

After a comment on my prior post from Fasita I was curious whether I could find a picture of the Thonet #16.

Instead I found a very interesting German Language site of a Swiss Thonet afficionado Dieter Staedeli.

Philippe Starck himself

Starck
Philippe Starck

Just a photo of Philippe Starck, famous designer and chair designer, a bit photo shopped, but as he is, a bit idiosyncratic….