The Bodleian Library at Oxford, which hails back to the Renaissance, was often filled with scholars wearing gowns of the sort today seen only in graduation ceremonies. The furniture tended to match. But a recent design competition, attracting about a hundred entries, has produced a new chair to outfit the library, combining tradition and practicality. The brief asked for a chair that avoids noises, of course. The winner by studio Barber Osgerby (Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby) in collaboration with Isokon Plus, which will build it, was shaped to make long days comfortable and also to avoid squeaking if a tired or restless scholar leans back on it.
It is part of a renovation of the library and replaces a chair designed in 1935. The chair is three legged, a bit round and monk-like in appearance. “The winning three-legged oak chair drew on extensive local knowledge of the library and its cultural setting,” reports Co.Design. The upright spine is said to play off the spines of books on shelves. [ bodleian library ] [ bodleian competition ]
photo> jamie smith
winning design chosen from a shortlist of three by a panel of judges and readers from the bodleian libraries | photo > jamie smith
the shortlisted entries with their predecessors at the v&a museum until 17 november | photo> ben bisek
the short-list, partnerships—Amanda Levete and Herman Miller, Barber Osgerby and Isokon Plus, and Matthew Hilton and SCP Ltd
about phil patton
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Some of our favorite designers are represented by De La Espada, which is why we were excited to get a little taste of what they’ll be showing during the London Design Festival this September. This year they’ll return to The Tramshed event at designjunction, where they’ll be showing special exhibitions from Autoban, Matthew Hilton and Søren Rose Studio.
“A celebration of authenticity, creativity and innovation, The Tramshed is a carefully curated event with a diverse selection of both established and emerging companies. designjunction, this year in central London’s disused Sorting Office, is a stimulating place for design, culture and entertainment.”
Autoban will exhibition their second of four site specific installations schedule for 2012. Spread over 1,000 square feet in The Sorting Office, environment has an ethereal depth created by multiple layers of sheet material and the passage of light. The spatial organization highlights the interplay between the product, the space and the visitor. New products launching at the event include Cloud Table, an oversized wood dining table inspired by the organic forms of clouds; and Master Chair, an upholstered dining chair with a slender wood frame. Each will be available in a choice of four hardwoods: oak, walnut, chestnut and ash. The new products will be displayed next to classics from the range.”
Matthew Hilton will use the festival to launch Mary’s Chair and Mary’s Side Table, two new pieces of furniture inspired by a trip to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco. Apparently, Hilton was moved by “the contrast of the oppressive weight of the concrete structure and the release of the swooping, expansive space within. Mary’s chair and side table are inspired by this experience. Crafted in solid hardwood, American white oak and American black walnut, the side table with a marble top, the forms are substantial yet delicate, sculptural yet highly functional. Also launching are Misty sofa, a cool and brooding design with an exposed timber frame and a cast iron leg; Misty coffee table in the same materials and design language as the sofa; Pole Light, a functional timber reading lamp with brass detailing; and a new version of the existing Horizon Coffee Table, with larger overall proportions.”
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Søren Rose Studio (top of post) will also release new products from their Park Avenue collection, including P.A. Bed, a solid wood bed with a light expression; P.A. Bookcase, a timeless, expansive storage unit with drawers a seamless part of each shelf; P.A. Rectangular Table, a functional table with lightness and purity of form; P.A. Ottoman Tray, which transforms the P.A. Ottoman into a coffee table; and Church Chair, a stackable timber chair suitable for use as a dining or conference chair.
about perrin drumm
photo> jamie smith
winning design chosen from a shortlist of three by a panel of judges and readers from the bodleian libraries | photo > jamie smith
the shortlisted entries with their predecessors at the v&a museum until 17 november | photo> ben bisek
