Yes, we live in a digital world. But sometimes, it can feel like everything you work on these days is made of pixels, plus that can start to get tiring. Then a project comes along that reminds you associated with the power of physical design function, and here’s a great example.
Seven partners from Pentagram’s London and New York Studios – Jody Hudson-Powell, Sascha Lobe, Giorgia Lupi, Jon Marshall, Luke Powell, Yuri Suzuki and Matt Wiley – have teamed up along with Italian graphic designer Astrid Stavro plus Spanish company Huguet to create an unique collection of tiles and objects.
Ranging from ceramic tiles that gently shimmer in the dark to the coffee table with millions of different combinations, all these pieces will be on show as part of this year’s London Design Festival.
Open brief
“I’ve longed to do a bespoke project with Huguet for a long time, ” says Astrid. “Joining Pentagram proved to be the perfect moment, along with Jon Marshall, Sascha Lobe, Yuri Suzuki and myself all joining as new partners the same year. That planted the seed of a collaborative project that took three years to develop due to the particular pandemic. In the meantime, Matt Willey and Giorgia Lupi joined as companions in New York, expanding the roster of contributors across the Atlantic.
“The idea was simple, inch she continues. “Each one of us would create our own project, working closely with Huguet. They were enthusiastic from the particular start and generously embraced the challenge. It was an open short: there has been no limitation or restriction as long as Huguet was capable of manufacturing and developing each concept. ”
Tilescape by Jon Marshall
The underlying concept had been to bridge Mediterranean tradition with international contemporary design, blending various cultures plus practices along with unique points of view.
“During this time, we held regular meetings in order to share our ideas, process and challenges, ” adds Astrid. “As curator and participant, my role was to work closely with Huguet plus each participant on the logistics and challenges of each task at every stage. inches
Handmade plus sustainable
Established in 1933, Huguet has its roots firmly in Mediterranean culture, taking inspiration from its architecture, materials and light. Its hand-crafted pieces represent a new, more sustainable take on luxury, along with each tile slightly different to the next.
At its workshop in Campos in the south of Mallorca, terrazzo plus cement tiles are created within small batches using handmade production methods. Huguet is keeping these skills alive by matching these traditional production strategies with the best contemporary design.
Specialising in graphic, information, industrial and sound style, the designers involved all work in the particular digital realm. That meant the project allowed with regard to a focus on materiality and craft and a new methodology regarding approaching the process associated with design.
The results of the collaboration are playful and surprising, with a good intriguing collection of items that blend thoughtful, modern design with traditional craftsmanship and local, sustainable materials.
Joy plus magic
“The first time I visited Huguet’s HQ was a moment of joy, magic and inspiration, ” recalls Astrid. “Biel Huguet’s understanding of style and his commitment to emphasising tradition along with innovation – through collaborations with developers and architects such as Herzog and de Meuron, David Chipperfield plus Alfredo Haberli – has made him a household name in Mallorca and around the particular world.
“By incorporating technical and aesthetic improvements over the many years, Huguet’s function has achieved an ideal balance of workmanship, sustainability, quality and innovation, managing to shift plus grow with the times. ”
The outcomes of the collaboration go on display for the particular first period at Cromwell Place from Monday 19- Sunday 25 September, as part associated with the Greater london Design Festival’s Brompton Design District. Below, we share details of some of the exhibits.
Universally Le Corbusier simply by Sascha Lobe
Inspired by Le Corbusier’s study associated with modules and his use of colour plus material, Sascha
Lobe developed a flexible 18-unit tile system. The concept is based on typographic elements that can be arranged into a myriad of mosaics or written words. Countless patterns and designs can be created by arrangement, providing complete decorative and creative liberty.
Universally Le Corbusier by Sascha Lobe
The typographic undercurrent pushes people – whether interior creative designers, typophiles, designers, homemakers or decor hobbyists – in order to see floor tiles from both an ornamental and systematic perspective.
The particular patterns, letterforms and phrases from the modular floor tile system can be fully bespoke to the homemaker’s needs. This system can also be easily utilised intended for signage upon buildings each internally plus externally.
The modular font ‘Le Corbusier’ was first introduced as a motion projection on the Corbusier building inside Stuttgart, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Weissenhof Estate from 1927.
24 Preludes by Giorgia Lupi
These tiles are data visualisations of Frederic Chopin’s famous 24 Preludes, which the particular composer wrote while living in Mallorca from 1838-1839. The 24 short parts for the piano were written within each of the twenty-four keys.
Each tile visualises one of the 24 compositions, along with different shapes and colours representing musical characteristics like major or even minor key, tempo, and length. The design fuses the particular maths-based nature of musical notation using the lyrical experience of listening to each piece.
twenty-four Preludes simply by Giorgia Lupi
Steno by Luke Powell
Inspired simply by the geological process associated with stratification, Huguet and Luke experimented with building up coloured layers of the normally unseen tile base substrate and then grinding back parts of the surface in order to reveal the layers underneath.
Five variations from the tiered tiles have been created with either the raised layer (traditional white tile surface) or/and a recessed coating (revealed substrate), each revealing varying amounts of the particular material beneath. Based upon Unicode block elements, the graduating tiles form the simple modular system which can be reconfigured in any number associated with ways.
RE Tiles by Astrid Stavro
Huguet’s work is a reflection of Mediterranean culture, custom and values. The LSO ARE Tiles celebrate the beauty plus heritage of the Mediterranean sea as well as Huguet’s relentless dedication to development and sustainability.
Focusing on creating awareness of durability and climate change, the particular tiles are an ongoing series of experimental ceramic tiles based upon recyclable components commonly found in the Mediterranean.
Steno simply by Luke Powell
RE Tiles by Astrid Stavro
Totem by Yuri Suzuki
Totem by Yuri Suzuki
Totem is a playful exploration of the particular 3D aspect of Huguet’s ceramic tile material and its colour, texture and pattern.
An interrogation of Huguet’s material led to the creation of a series of tactile pieces which may be assembled in many different ways to create cute, doll-like figures. It’s fun to build them and take them apart. And the tactile nature associated with the parts gives all of us a better knowledge of the material plus how it might be used.
This project was a big problem for Huguet but offers resulted in a number of items that demand to be picked up and played with.
Writing desk by He Willey
A cement table with a wooden base creates a pinboard area and a shelf within its bracketed form. The particular vertical face of the particular desk offers a grid of 39 iron circles, allowing the user to ‘pin’ items (postcards, notes, etc. ) using magnets. The iron circles will oxidise and change colour over time.
Writing Desk simply by Matt Willey
Coffee Table by Matt Willey
Espresso Table simply by Matt Willey
Coffee desk by Matt Willey
The cast cement coffee table with a top composed of handmade Huguet tiles. Each of the 16 tiles can be rotated, removed and swapped out to create a nearly infinite number of compositions, making the table an ever-changing installation.
The ability to remove the tiles encourages the owner to collect different sets associated with tiles created by artists in ongoing collaborations with Huguet. This is something that could last the lifetime, stand up to the wear and tear of growing families and multiple moves, and is not stagnant but rather dynamic by its very nature.
