[ coalesse ] expands its longstanding relationship with [ viccarbe ], a valencia-based furniture manufacturer renowned worldwide for contemporary lounge settings, to offer its imports collection throughout the americas. valencia’s abundant sunlight influences and inspires the warmth of the materials. the aesthetics are elegant, proportioned, innovative and timeless. coalesse exclusive north American distributor of this collection for the contract market.
now introducing several exciting new products from the viccarbe imports collection including a modular sofa collection, a high-back luxury chair and a unique table collection that adds fun and diversity to an already impressive group of offerings.
season sofa by piero lissoni is an innovative new modular sofa with a timeless design that was created to adapt to different collaborative spaces. the variety of pieces in the collection allow for infinite compositions which makes it an intuitive solutions for designers. the sofa features a specially designed technical fabric with a protection pad which contributes to its durability and stain resistance.
ace chair by jean-marie massaud is an attractive high back armchair that has tremendous visual lightness and looks wonderful in both commercial and residential settings. available with or without arms, ace features a timeless contemporary design aesthetic paired with extraordinary comfort. the structure is made from calibrated steel and the seat is covered in shape-holding expanded polyurethane foam of different thicknesses with removable upholstery for easy-cleaning. a two-tone upholstery option in leather, fabric or combined is available along with color options of black, green, yellow, red and blue for the zipper in the back.
burin table by patricia urquiola is a collection of sculptural auxiliary tables with a strong personality and unique design. available in two heights and new handle on top, burin is versatile and would be welcome addition to any space.
above> introducing montara650 collection by the coalesse design group and lievore altherr molina
coalesse® engages a&d as participants at neocon 2016 / #1032 – a&d community invited to take part in the design process
coalesse, recognized for forward-looking, design-driven products that foster social connection, creative collaboration, and focus and rejuvenation, is inviting the a&d community to participate in the design process through a range of new products and custom capabilities at neocon 2016.
its showroom #1032, will feature expressions of custom capabilities that can be applied through the newly launched potrero415™ tables, massaud conference seating, and the montara650™ collection, among other products, giving a&d professionals the opportunity to discover new ways of personalizing through color and pattern, materials and features, and shape and size to make it their own and enhance emotional engagement at the workplace.
showroom visitors are also invited to participate in the design process through coalesse’s new customizer web app, which demonstrates ways of applying custom color and pattern to the groundbreaking lessthanfive™ chair. the web app and degree of product offerings make customization highly-attainable, empowering clients to be curators of a more meaningful design experience.
below> vitra & artek / #1192 // north american introductions / vitra customized applications
at neocon, vitra will present a series of projects that demonstrate how it has optimized collaboration with client project teams. this provides clients a direct dialogue and unprecedented access to vitra’s top design talent, allowing for the custom-development of new product applications for large scale projects.
below> mohawk group / #377 & 3-121
elevate contemporary spaces to inspired floorscapes through mohawk’s latest production collections. inspired by nature and designed to merge fashion with function.
below> mohawk group / moving floors collection / diagonal relief, fade relief, plane high, plane low, 656 green 24by24
designed to be dynamically moving base on the user’s point of view, moving floors was inspired by the multi-layered beauty of our cultural landscape. empowers designers to create kinetic floorscapes through limitless combinations.
below> haberdasher textiles / by laura guido-clark for herman miller / 3-321
haberdasher is an array of palettes and patterns, inspired by traditional sewing materials—and tailored for projects of various sizes and budgets. giving solids and patterns license to commingle or stand alone, haberdasher gives you license to play. mix. match. curate. collaborate. differentiate. and indulge.
above> there are 5 families each with their own identity. pins and needles: a simple pattern of pins strewn about a canvas becomes iconic in a highly graphic way. / string plaid: the crosshatch pattern creates a colorful, dynamic, and graphic twist on traditional plaid. / well suited: allows vibrant and deep colors to collaborate in a small scale, two-color nailhead pattern. / fish net: the quilted hand offers dimension and explores a large line of intense, warm, and cool colors. / tailored: the tightly woven grid texture creates a subtle surface that reflects light and contours form.
below> hbf & hbf textiles / 387
hbf has returned to its roots, teaming with esteemed designer and longtime partner michael vanderbyl to create introduce conexus, a work/lounge chair designed to function across any contract setting — offices, lobbies, hospitality environments…
designer michael vanderbyl notes, “i strive for timelessness. conexus plays with the shape of a classic lounge chair and transforms it into a more organic form that showcases the exceptional craftsmanship in the woodwork and the upholstery. the wood merges with the upholstery in such a seamless way that the piece takes on a sculptural quality, an engineering feat that hbf executed masterfully.”
below> hbf textiles highlights color, texture, yarn, and hue in spring 2016 collection
known for their artful and authentic approach to design, hbf textiles is going back to the classics for its spring 2016 collection. hbf textiles vice president of design mary jo miller started with le corbusier’s infamous lc palette of colors from the 1920s, and used these fresh shades as a catalyst for the collection.
below> tek pier / teknion / 1048
tek pier “is the first product of its kind to successfully merge wall-mounted monitors with height-adjustable worksurfaces,” said paul kruger, teknion’s director of design, architectural products. tek pier takes advantage of teknion’s altos demountable wall cable routing, structure and acoustic performance. the innovative origami mount allows for fluid positioning to share a large format monitor, maintain viewing privacy, or engage in touchscreen applications.
below> designtex / moquette / 1032a
moquette is a textile mash-up that blends a classic velvet weaving technique with the creative possibilities offered by digital printing technology. the woven structure employs a “moquette” construction produced on a modern wire loom, allowing some areas to be woven as flat bands while elsewhere selected yarns are lifted and then cut to create a short, dense pile. beginning with a simple pattern of alternating horizontal stripes of varying widths, the moquette technique adds complexity by introducing a sense of dimensionality, which is enhanced by the luxurious combination of lustrous and matte yarns. finally, the raised, plush surfaces of the woven fabric are printed digitally with a non-repeating and random color pattern.
the result is an intricate layering of textures and colors that evokes natural landscapes, reflecting biologist e.o. wilson’s concept of biophilia—the theory that human beings are instinctively drawn to the natural world, and thus that design following this principle provides a heightened sensation of comfort and repose. below> parentesit freestanding / by lievore altherr molina for arper / 339
arper extends the functionality of parentesit to include freestanding models for increased privacy and comfort. architectural in scale, these modules carve out a three-dimensional space for concentration or quiet conversation in shared workspaces or collaborative environments.
parentesit was created with a dual inspiration of minimalist art and classic japanese interiors. to shift this approach to an architectural scale, the screen is capable of dividing a room in half, or partitioning off a space for quiet, independent thought.
below> wolf-gordon / & 10 – 161
following dazzling installations of sculptures and interactive digital displays in past years of neocon, wolf-gordon has again transformed the market space in a new way. office_excavate re-envisions the cubicle-enclosed office by creating a colorful, open seating space that can be easily rearranged for meetings, coffee breaks, and recharging of phones and humans alike. the furniture, which can be used alternately as seating, desks, tables, or stools, will be upholstered in over 100 different wolf-gordon textiles. office_excavate is a collaboration of karlssonwilker inc., new motor, graham kelman and wolf-gordon creative direction. below> humanscale / 351
they’re not only previewing a brand new line of diffrient occasional chairs they’re unveiling never-before-seen niels diffrient designs. take a journey through human-centered design innovation and chat with founder and ceo bob king, visionary designer todd bracher and the rest of the humanscale team.
below> carnegie / 10 – 112
reflectacoustic is a groundbreaking design that controls sound and delivers heat and glare reduction through yarn, weaving and metalized backing technology. the textile absorbs and reflects back a great deal of light; all validated through 3rd party testing.
below node with sharesurface / sharesurface was designed by steelcase design studio / steelcase / 300
steelcase health research reveals exam rooms not designed for the modern healthcare experience . findings uncover five ways exam space is failing physicians, patients and family members; informs new design framework and product, node® with sharesurface
node with sharesurface features a rotating sharesurface that provides dynamic access to information, a central part of the exam experience. physicians using mobile technology are able to chart while maintaining eye contact, pivot the surface to share their screen with the patient and family for education and shared decision making, all while having mobility in the room. the chair’s back and arms allow doctors to have more conversational postures during consultation and the rotating surface arm moves out of the way for examination activities.
below> northern parallel / cf stinson / 10-1150
[ collection summary ]
• 7 new textiles, 72 colorways.
• a collection of coordinating textiles that explores the connections between michigan (where stinson is headquartered) and maine (where stinson houses their design studio).
• shared michigan/maine discoveries:
• similar geographic latitudes
• rigorous climate with diverse seasons
• inhabitants with an appreciation for nature and willingness to embrace the seasons
• michigan/maine ideals include work hard, build with integrity and if you are going to be unique – be honest. shared mindset explored through textiles that are hard working, unique, honest and full of integrity.
• made in america, small carbon footprint.
below> the doni collection / designed by giancarlo piretti for ki / 1181
if you can dream it, doni can express it. create with a fresh palette of energizing brights and sophisticated neutrals. imagine the possibilities with two-tone colors and unlimited custom color possibilities. the collection offers guest, task, tandem and stackable configurations.
rooted in david rockwell’s innovative approach to hospitality environments and public space, and inspired by his award-winning design for theater and entertainment, rockwell unscripted is a comprehensive collection of furniture elements that adapt to the spontaneous choreography of the work day.
“our interest is in getting people to look at their work environments as a stage on which movable furniture can be arranged in endless configurations. you can craft the scene around what it is you’re doing that day,” said rockwell group founder and president david rockwell.
below> lievore altherr molina’s arcel for bernhardt design / 399
glass gradients by scholten & baijings add dimensionality to a space by establishing a dialogue between the simplicity of the patterns with their signature color palette.
below> suri pouf / designed by sezgin aksu and silvia suardi for kolekiyon / 11 – 113a
inspired by headgear from the ottoman empire
below> elemental wall systems / 3form / 10 – 142
time + weather = beauty
inspired by the rustic look—created from clean materials
the perfect combination of sitting and standing – a new style of work posture
it is no secret that changing our posture throughout the day is essential to our well-being in the office. what’s more, adapting a posture that is appropriate for the task at hand helps relieve stress placed upon the body. okamura recommends five postures for increased office productivity and efficiency. among them is the perching posture, a perfect combination of standing and sitting.
speckle is a durable and easy to maintain textile ideal for any environment.
speckle comes in four color ways and in each the warp yarn subtly contrasts with the soft pearlescent silver speckles in the weft direction.
chilewich has experimented laying speckle tiles quarter turned and found that the natural color shift between warp and weft adds a richness and level of interest to this quiet weave. speckle is ideal for spaces in which the floor is a foundation for bolder interior design elements. a sustainable solution of bold and neutral patterns.
below> wilkhahn / 7-3082c
wilkhahn’s dynamic office seating utilizes patented 3d technology to encourage health, creativity, and productivity in the workplace.
by special request of the a&d community, will show for the first time at neocon, a white, through-dyed seat shell and backrest frame.
below> arborite high pressure laminates / 7-1018
recognizing the increasingly blurred aesthetic line between contract and residential design, arborite has curated a selection of residential products with crossover appeal to create commercial stones.
above left > cityscape loft’s modern, wet cement look is ideal for urbanites in search of a low-maintenance, industrial-inspired surface. right> industrial loft evokes the glazed look of oxidized metal, combining light and dark shades with a matte texture for a chic, modern effect.
below> amble / by stephan copeland for lightcorp / 7-8062
why is amble different? amble is a light with no moving joints or articulation – in fact, the only moving part is a gravity-powered “eye.” minimalist design meets elite performance in a battery operated dimmagle led task light. created by renowned lighting designer stephan copeland, amble is highly adjustable yet has no moving joints or articulation. amble’s lean, single-form construction enables excellent adjustability and mobility through the intelligence of its shape.
below> nima / by giancarlo piretti for american seating / 10-148
aimed for the higher education market and various contract environments, nima is an inspiring multipurpose collection of chairs, providing exceptional comfort through a sophisticated minimalist aesthetic.
below> stir kinetic desk m1 / 1067a
the new m1 is a height-adjustable desk driven by software that senses your presence, learns your preferences, enables you to set goals and actively reminds you to change positions throughout the day.
DesignApplause will continue to add to this post as well as social shout it during neocon.
above> interni’s open borders exhibition at universita degli studi di milano
miami and chicago based luminaire offered DesignApplause a glimpse of milan design week 2016 through their eyes. four of those eyes belong to founders nasir and nargis kassamali.
[ day 1 ]
towers by sergei tchoban, sergey kuznetsove and agniya sterligova; and invisible border by mad architects
ron arad and nasir (and nargis) at along the lines of happiness installation by laura ellen bacon and sebastian cox
naoto fukasawa sitting on his papilio chair at the b&b italia showroom
entrance of pallazzo litta
exhibition of vitra’s physix chair by alberto meda
jean marie massaud at porro showroom
moooi space
konstantin grcic signing a special edition of classicon drawing book for nasir
above> embroidery chair | johan lindsten | cappellini | 2016
the four seasons are the characters of embroidery chair series by johan lindsten. expressing the encounter between the embroidery tradition passed down through generations and next-generation industrial technology, these four chairs with ash wood body and backrests with cross-stitch embroidery on tapestry wool depict painterly landscape scenes drawn from the essence of the four seasons. colors change together with seasons from the ash stained walnut shell of autumn to the white ash of spring, from the black stained ash of winter to the red stained ash of summer.
below> orla plus | jasper morrison | cappellini | 2016
orla plus collection by jasper morrison is the tale of the development and evolution of orla project. the asymmetry theme combined with smooth lines is the leitmotif of this collection that consists of sofas in either two- or three-seater models, an armchair and a swivel chair. fixed cover for the base and removable covers for the cushions are available in all fabrics and leathers of the collection. the pillows are removable and have polyurethane foam padding.
below> utrecht chair | gerrit t. rietveld | 1935 // boxblocks | bertjan pot | cassina | 2016
the artist bertjan pot has designed an exclusive bespoke textile in three jacquard versions for the utrecht armchair giving a contemporary twist to this icon by gerrit t. rietveld. the architecture of the armchair is reflected in the innovative workmanship of the boxblocks fabric which is made up of 8 colored threads mixed 2 at a time to create 19 different colors on a template which outlines the shape of the armchair. carried out with an advanced computer controlled jacquard weaving machine. the result is a unique and perfectly balanced geometric pattern in which the combination of triangles is never repeated. a homage to dutch creativity, each unique boxblocks version fits 90 limited edition pieces like a tailor-made dress, for a total of 270 models, which are progressively numbered to guarantee the cassina mark of authenticity. the utrecht armchair was designed in 1935 and has been exclusively produced by cassina since 1988.
“my concepts are never single lined or step by step but they are always a meeting point of different ideas and feelings.
for the boxblocks textile of the utrecht it was important for me to do something today that was not technically possible at the time of the armchair’s creation.
the pattern is inspired by the modernist ‘block-sculptural’ shape of the chair itself. when talking patterns there are generally two types, one is the pattern that respects the product and enhances its shape (think traditional tartan checks and stripes), the other is the pattern that crosses seams and dazzles its actual shape (think zebra stripes and large organic flower prints)… this one does both.”
bertjan pot.
below> lloyd | jean-marie massaud | poltrona frau | 2016
jean-marie massaud designs lloyd, a system of storage units and bookcases with variable geometries. thin vertical wooden rods create light grilles that run from top to bottom on invisible horizontal rails. each grille can be moved as desired to create sequences that are different each time. a fluctuating score of solids and voids, of light and shade. a sensual game that offers a glimpse of the contents, books and objects, without fully revealing them.
the most advanced technology is combined with traditional materials, wood and saddle leather, to form a solid and minimalist structure. the effect is almost intangible, transparent. the horizontal elements on which the grilles slide are made from hpl, a material which even in very thin layers guarantees stability and strength, with a natural oak veneer. the vertical uprights, in mdf covered with cuoio saddle or cuoio saddle extra leather, are placed at regular intervals to give the piece of furniture rhythm and enhance the liberating effect of the grilles.
each individual grille is a painstaking piece of cabinetwork. the solid oak rods are cut in different thicknesses and then individually glued by hand. given the very reduced surfaces of the rods, the lead-colored dye is also applied by hand in several phases.
there is an infinite number of possible compositions. in the wall version the base is closed by mdf panels covered, like the uprights, with cuoio saddle or cuoio saddle extra leather. in the freestanding version, the mobile grilles run along both sides for an even more vibrant and chiaroscuro effect. in all variants the sides of the structure are closed by fixed grilles.
the lloyd can take the form of large bookcases or open storage units of various sizes. widths range from 225 to 280 cm, heights from 46 to 188 cm and its depth is 42.5 cm. the composition can rest on lead-colored solid oak stands or sit directly on the floor on steel feet with matt gunmetal grey finish.
[DesignApplause] Jean-Marie, tell us a little bit about the project you’re working on for Coalesse. [Jean-Marie Massaud] We are working with Coalesse on a liberal amount of products. which are not just products. Today, companies realize that work is being rephrased, today it’s about work and life. You see, the space and timeframe for working has changed, and Coalesse is trying to provide solutions that’s linked with this new way of living and working.
Some of us either have to work or if lucky, choose to work. My life today is to work on vacation and it took 15-years to accomplish this. I have been working this way for two years. I live near Saint Paul De Vence, in the city of La Colle-Sur-Loup. Part of my team is in Paris, part of my team is in Brittany.
[DA] How big is your team? [JM] We have 15 people, not so much, but involved in big projects in architecture and the car industry. And these are few projects, not so many. I live alone with my family and I don’t have any people that are working with me in La Colle-Sur-Loup. And I work with my graphic tablet, receiving and sending drawings. I’m linked everyday, but I live on vacation.
I’ve proposed that my team also work on vacation. A lot of them want to stay in Paris, in Brittany. And they are not students, which was another kind of life scenario. They are efficient professionals, not obliged to be a prisoner of an office tower at work.
And so we tried to develop with Coalesse this idea, because it’s natural for them. It’s can be said, it’s a philosophy in which they believe. And when they came to visit me, I told them my dream is to be able to work and also be able to enjoy simple dalliances. So after I drop off my kids to school, I have a coffee. I’m looking at the sea, looking at the mountains. There is the snow.
During the coffee, I discuss with the waiter – he knows me – “Voila! What are you doing?” “I don’t know.” And: chat, chat, chat, chat. After half an hour, it’s done. And then I have to communicate. So I come back to the Wacom tablet, usually, to sketch. Or, when I have a very good connection with the iPad a video conference is possible.
And once I send the sketch to my office I’m free! And because I’m free I might do some sailing. And in this space my brain, packed full of many things suffers little constraint but just thinking about what’s next. I am always writing notes. While lying on the bed when I’m at the hotel or after I go do a run like I did this morning, I write more notes. And the work of the day is done.
[DA] So you write many many notes. You draw with a tablet, you have an Ipad, do you write digital notes or on paper? [JM] I have – what do you say – a love for notes? My office manager tells that I have too many papers. My system works for me though I’m still waiting for an iPad with a graphic sensitivity.
[DA] There are applications and pressure sensitive styluses for the iPAd. [JM] Not quite, yet. What I would love, let’s say, during a video conference, sketches could be sent, corrections made on the tablet and then sent back. It would eliminate the need to refine the sketch on paper and scan it. I could correct the exact curve, or exact section… I had this same conversation with Jonathan Ives three years ago. There’s a market. My freedom is linked to this product!
[DA] You want to do everything while on that boat! [JM] That would be fantastic!
[DA] Tell us what your doing with Coalesse. [JM] Our first attempt was to put the task into perspective. Coalesse creates classic furniture that’s relevant for the work space or home. I told them the best lounge chair in thw world is the Eames chair from Herman Miller. There’s no other product so smart and competent. If we are to do something – another one great one – maybe it’s not about the architecture, maybe it’s about the integration of your way of living, the sensitivity of the finishes. And so the final customer or the architect specifying the project, makes this product their own because of the link to life, to work. All of this made possible, not with a high-tech solution but with a lounge chair with an ottoman.
The chair is kind of an evolution. It now has a movable work surface in which to place an iPad, to…
[DA] Take notes. Jean-Marie, this chair is designed for you! [JM] Yes yes, quite possibly. There’s a light in the canopy. A hands-free clip-on device holder. We can video conference in this lounge. A further evolution is maybe the need of intimacy, because if I am in a hotel, a creative agency, there is need for quiet space with little visual disturbances so we pull over the canopy.
If we reconsider the space of walking in an office or a dorm, the space has to be thoughtless. It only has to look like your private place, because more and more people want to feel- how do you say- to feel love more than efficiency. (laughing) So we developed these kinds of ideas.
And the ottoman is more than that (removing the cushion), it is storage space.
And the hood is very light. And there’s no need for electrical wire because of bluetooth, a wi-fi area. The beauty of the hood is how minimal and simple, a really elegant small space.
[DA] The acoustics under the hood is really good. Very little outside noise and we are in a very noisy showroom. You know it looks very twenty-second century. [JM] Yes, but at the same time, the space is neither the mechanical expression where you feel it’s an office, and yet it’s the office of the familiar, something very natural.
[DA] Jean-Marie, what did you learn from this project? [JM] Many things, but of interest to me, firstly, I learned to work with American companies. Yes. Working with Coalesse and the collection involving many pieces and several design destinations. No offense here but my experience working with European and an American company, the cultural differences became apparent first hand.
First of all, for me with this experience there were many more people involved on this project. In general, European meetings tend to be smaller, maybe two or three. But this collection, at times maybe 15 people in a meeting and I learned to be more clear in the detail of the message I have to give, because we are doing a lot of meetings. And everybody is very good at method, a very strong method in order to be sure that everybody (15 brains with their own culture and knowledge) shares the same content.
And it was interesting how to fertilize ideas together, with different cultures with the same vision, the same stakes. The vision was simplicity, to create some evolution, and not for the day after tomorrow. To be elegant, but in a sensitive way, not just to be efficient or just to be smart. Just to be elegant. And a merger of all things in today’s world, the work, the play, a way of living. Very cool and I love this feeling of being cool. Really.
[DA] Tell us a little about your philosophy, how materials seem to drive your solutions. The Toyota Me.We is a good example. Do the materials come into play with a project like this?
[JM] Material is just one part of the puzzle we need to accomplish a vision or project. Design adds value in this respect because design is about creative synthesis, and there are a lot of stakes we wish to unite. There is of course, the quality of the service we want to provide. There is usually an economical scenario we need to factor in. So we have to do things which are smart, we can share and to create value.
There is, the technical means and the technical states about lightness, about doing better with less, about the world’s soul which speaks to sustainability. So materials are super important.
For example, the hood on the lounge is made of synthetic felt. It’s made of reclaimed materials, and we see it mostly in a car, the ceiling, the doors. Actually the construction of the canopy, is very much like the ceiling of a car. The synthetic felt is easy to work with and do not forget, our brain is programmed to associate felt with acoustics, noise dampening. The cover on the lounge not only has good acoustics but it persuades your brain too. When you see it, you’ll understand. It will be quiet inside.
[DA] Tell us about the Massaud Collection. [JM] I think the chairs are quite unique. And there are so many office chairs! For me it wasn’t a question of good taste or bad taste, I wanted to provide some sort of affordable solution of – a chair being a chair. The solution has to be elegant, but it’s about doing business. It’s using the same shell, the same little wire frame for all options.
And we do a lot of things with this principle. The collection doesn’t look plug-n-play, but it is. It’s a flexible collection which gives you, the person, many options to choose your condition, choose your identity. And these options both mix and match, there are low solutions and high solutions. The same with the armrest. And far from the very technical office chair.
The low chair is very low and the armrest disappears to make it more – could be like the shoulder bag for a girl. This chair for the female, it’s my favorite.
[DA] Yes, I like the armrest. Very stylish. Very efficient. [JM] Efficient but not too arrogant.
[DA] Can you tell us a little about the Toyota Me.We concept car? [JM] For me, this is an urban car concept which implies what you might expect. First, your eyes tell you it’s not about arrogance or sharpness of the shape- it’s friendly. It’s for the guy walking the street and seeing the car, it catches his eye. It’s for the user who isn’t scared anymore about the scratch or the maintenance of the scalp. Your eyes tell you don’t worry.
[DA] So the anti-crisis car. [JM] Yes! There are dozens of materials or processes that are smart and we have to choose. The car appeals to many because we have many options to choose from. It has an aluminum frame and renewable bamboo floor and also recylable polypropylene panels with not only color options but texture options. After enough scratches and maybe dents simple replace a panel. The material here was a big part of this vision. You have to crystallize this vision in matter. Material is very important.
1/2> lounge with hood
3/4/5> lounge
6> height adjustable, swivel tablet | cord pass through at base for charging devices
7> ottoman storage
8> low-back executive
9/10> mid-back executive
11/12> high-back executive
Jean-Marie Massaud is a French architect, inventor and designer. He was born in Toulouse, France in 1966. Massuad graduated from the École Nationale Supérieur de Création Industrielle – Les Ateliers, Paris in 1990 and began working with Marc Berthier. In 2000, he co-founded the Studio Massaud with Daniel Pouzet and expanded his interests in the fields of architecture. [ massaud ] [ coalesse]
Neocon 2013 in its entirety represented an incremental slightly better statement overall than previous iterations. Nothing breakthrough, though not of no consequence as there were several trends worth mentioning.
[ trends ] 1>Less playful, more formal….but not too formal.Patricia Urquiola‘s couch – conference seating with high backs for semi-privacy. The lines, and surfaces are shifting towards the more organic, while colors remain subdued with lots of white.
2>Fusion of office and home. Some showrooms used the word ‘crossover’ future but I like ‘indie’ as in “independence’ where the worker has a great deal more freedom to choose their working environment. Toan Nguyen‘s Lagunitas Lounge system looks like a living room sofa when in a home environment. Is the contract business model aiming at the residential environment for growth? I think so…
3>More personal space. Ties in with “indie” where at Steelcase there were pod-like rooms which could be customized by each visitor, or private phone and video conference space, chairs with extra high backs and sides, some even enclosed.
mood pod provides personal ambiance control | steelcase | 2013
[ brands ] Coalesse > working with established ‘design’ designers on the way to become the “Moroso” of the contract business. note: more details via interviews with Massaud and Nguyen coming soon.
Designtex > creative repurposing of materials. Loop to Loop is the first (and greenest at this moment) upholstery made from recycling already recycled textile waste. note: more details via interview with ceo Susan Lyons coming soon.
