(smow) blog compact IMM Cologne Special: HfG Karlsruhe – Masala Kitchen and K.O. Project

In our post from the 2013 HfG Karlsruhe “Sommerloch” exhibition we wrote “Similarly the spiritedly named “Arbeitstitle” by Marlene Deken and the even more spiritedly unnamed object by Anne-Sophie Oberkrome from the K.O. Furniture class still have a lot of development work ahead of them, and may ultimately not work, but both presented in their design approach interesting solutions for quick and easy tool-less shelf construction.”

The K.O. Furniture project was run by Stefan Diez and asked the students to develop furniture with an inherent mobility. The results of the project were presented as part of the HfG Karlsruhe stand at IMM Cologne and both Marlene Deken and Anne-Sophie Oberkrome’s projects were on show: both having undergone more development work and both with new names.

Both more matured one could say.

And from the two we would say Anne-Sophie Oberkrome’s project has matured better.

Now called KKLIP the project is a relatively simple tool-less modular shelving system, it doesn’t do anything especially clever, just what it sets out to do. But does that with a clarity, self-confidence and efficiency that is very hard to argue with.

“Arbeitstitle” by Marlene Deken has evolved into “plot” by Marlene Deken and is a modular system in the sense that it only really contains one module: the connector. The vertical and horizontal elements being supplied by the end user.

While we really, really like the idea behind the project, we’re less impressed with the ropes that are needed to give the object its stability.

For us it makes the project a little too complicated, a little too….. unnecessary. In general the fewer stabilising ropes an object needs the better

But regardless of such considerations it was lovely to see how both projects have developed.

Sharing the exhibition space with the K.O.Furniture project in Cologne was another project led by Stefan Diez namely Masala Kitchen – a project looking at developing specifically Indian solutions for Indian kitchen fixtures and fittings.

The stand out project from Masala Kitchen for us is and was Kitchen Shelf by Pia Matthes, a delightful magnetic shelf approach to kitchen storage that despite its Indian origins is without question something that has global potential.

A few impressions from the HfG Karlsruhe stand at IMM Cologne 2014:

(smow) blog compact IMM Cologne Special: HfG Karlsruhe - Masala Kitchen and K.O. Project

(smow) blog compact IMM Cologne Special: HfG Karlsruhe - Masala Kitchen and K.O. Project

Kitchen Shelf by Pia Matthes. Part of the Masala Kitchen project

(smow) blog compact IMM Cologne Special: HfG Karlsruhe - Masala Kitchen and K.O. Project