‘100% box’ by bordeaux-based practice FABRE/deMARIEN architectes (julie fabre, matthieu de marien)
is a small, one-room residential dwelling in marseilles, france. converted from a single-level garage,
the 41m2 design consists of a multifunctional box unit that houses the private programs, such as
the bathroom and bedroom.
See the whole project HERE!!
the zartan chair by philippe starck with eugeni quitllet is a new approach to industrial production in a post-plastic era.
at the magis booth on the milan fairgrounds, designboom spotted this from top to toe wholly natural chair, made of a sort of ‘liquid wood’.
the new technology uses wood powder (derived from discarded wood pulp-based lignin) which is mixed with a number of other
natural materials (fibers and wax or fish oil) to create a strong, non-toxic alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
under high-pressure conditions, the composite material behaves like melted plastic, allowing it to be injected through
a nozzle into a mold.
philippe starck, in an interview with designboom elaborates:
‘plastic is non-biodegradable and can contain carcinogens and other toxic substances that can cause cancer.
it is based on petroleum, a non-renewable resource that will soon be harder to come by.
I imagine 5 types of different finishes for what you here just see in a raw version of the ‘zartan’ project: bamboo, flax, hemp, jute,
and rattan. this new technology explores the advantages of using natural materials to understand what will be our daily future.‘
More info here!
italian designer marco dessí‘s new stackable aluminum chair ‘dakar’ is a lesson in thoughtful, lightweight construction
created for skitsch. the backrest and back leg cover are formed from one metal sheet demonstrating the
stability and at the same time flexibility of the material. the backrest still gives way like a spring when one leans back.
Read more here!
Sebastian Marin - Designer 