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"Net 'n' Nest" concept from Vitra: The future shape of office design

For the creative bosses at Vitra the days of the large unified office space are numbered. Not only are the working conditions in such environments not ideal for productivity, but much more each employee and every visitor has a feeling of surveillance, exploitation and treadmill. A more inspiring and positive atmosphere, however, promise Vitra from their playfully named "Net 'n' Nest" concept. Here the connection between individual work and rest areas and the possibilities of communicative

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Designer | 20.01.2009

The "landed" gentry: Lampert with country 'ouse concept

At the imm in Cologne the German producer "Richard Lampert" once again proved that they can produce more than just the classic, timeless Eiermann Table. With a prototype of “Landed” by Eric Degenhardt the Stuttgart based company almost completed a leap into architecture. Almost. For while in models and sketches one could easily confuse Degenhardt’s creation with a concept building; close up one realizes that it is in fact an exceptional piece of furniture design. “Landed” with its multiple

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Awards | 03.01.2009

Nothing is Impossible: Phillipe Starck wins Good Design Award 2008

Design awards. They’re funny things. Sometimes one has the feeling that behind every tree and round every corner a design award is lurking. And while you can have too much of a good thing, awards ceremonies are in principle positive in that they help present a platform to a lot of designers whose work would otherwise go unnoticed outwith specialist circles One of the oldest and most prestigious design awards is the Good Design Award presented by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of

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Orgatec in Cologne: A review

On our search for the future of office furniture smow spent last week at the Orgatec office furniture trade fair in Cologne. Under the motto „Better Office Greater Success“ 673 companies from 39 countries presented their concepts for the office of the future. If we are honest we have been to better trade fairs, and one noticed the absence of important industry giants such as USM Haller. That said the show was not without it's moments. Among the bravest exhibits was the new

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Awards | 19.11.2008

Designer Open 2008 in Leipzig: A Review

„… a huge compliment for the fresh, and refreshing, yet very professional organization of the DO08” With these words of praise the Swiss design-label Thismade, one of the exhibitors at the Designers’ Open 2008 in Leipzig, summed up the mood among exhibitors and visitors. Now it its fourth year Leipzigs "alternative" design exhibition, attracted circa 150 designers to the, lets say, "unusual" exhibition halls: Abandoned blocks of flats near Leipzig main station. The 2008 Designers Open once

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Small and beautiful: Designer furniture scaled-down

At the Museum der Dinge in Berlin a noteworthy exhibition/installation from Berlin based artist Carolina Kecskemethy is approaching it’s end. Until November the 10th visitors have the opportunity to view “Mobilien. 1000 Möbel auf 80 Quadratmetern” (MOVABLES. 1000 PIECES OF FURNITURE ON 80 SQUAREMETERS). Which is pretty much what it is. Using her, possibly scary : certainly unique, collection of dolls house furniture, Carolina Kecskemethy has created a tribute to the

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