INTRA-Interiors for Designers and Architects articles from May 2004

INTRA-Interiors for Designers and Architects archives from May 2004

Crafts boom.(Crafts)
May 1, 2004... According to a new report from the Crafts Council--Making It in the 21st Century--turnover for the 32,000 people involved in the crafts industry throughout England and Wales has more than doubled in a decade, from [pounds sterling]400 million...

Tsar Bar.(News)
May 1, 2004... If you admire dramatic design statements along with your sushi try the Tsar Bar, a new venue just opened in Bournemouth that claims to be the first vodka sushi bar in the country. With furniture by Inova Furniture Contracts and design by Nina...

The art of being Boss.(Design Showroom)
May 1, 2004... Boss Design's central London contract furniture showroom is the venue for a new, rolling programme of exhibitions that showroom manager, Molly Taylor, sees as "offering much needed hanging space to emerging British talent". The initiative kicks...

Hall reopens.(Refurbishment)
May 1, 2004... After a 10-year, [pounds sterling]70 million redevelopment programme, the Royal Albert Hall is now officially re-opened. Back in 1990, Building Design Partnership was commissioned to complete the first refurbishment of the magnificent building...

Alain de Botton.(Design in the Media)
May 1, 2004... Examining the influence Le Corbusier had--and continues to have--on our lives, that ubiquitous everyman-philosopher, Alain de Botton, trawls the great man's life and works (Independent magazine, April 24). The result? Le Corbusier's...

Rowan Moore.(Design in the Media)
May 1, 2004... When architecture critic Rowan Moore is annoyed, you know it. This time, it's the Thames Gateway Bridge that has enflamed his wrath. Indecision, cost-cutting and obstinacy appear to abound and Moore fears that "(the bridge) is not going to be...

Naomi Cleaver.(Design in the Media)
May 1, 2004... One of Intra's favourites, Naomi Cleaver, waxes lyrical about Juliet balconies and what they offer to the astute developer (The Guardian, May 1). She says "It all sounds delightfully romantic; [who wouldn't want] a well-judged linger that could...

Tom Dyckhoff.(Design in the Media)
May 1, 2004... In an intelligent and castigating article on the Scottish Parliament building debacle, Tom Dyckhoff (The Times, May 4), comes down firmly on the side of Spanish architect Benedetta Tagliabue. Concluding that this "shambles exposes Britain's...

Laurence L-B.(Design in the Media)
May 1, 2004... Finally, who said, "This room is about to board a first-class champagne flight to gorgeousness"? Yes, it has to be Laurence L-B in a fit of decorative-madness during a TV performance (The Guardian April 19). Don't ya just love him?

Blooming marvellous.(Chelsea Flower Show)
May 1, 2004... Nowhere does the great British public come into its own more than at the Chelsea Flower Show each year. A curious mix of tradition, big hats and tetchy gardeners, the show never fails to surprise, and delight. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Show goes on.(Exhibition)
May 1, 2004... Early news from Decorex organisers confirm an expanded event this September, with more features than in previous years, including the announcement of a Russian version of Decorex in Moscow next year. With Decorex now a partner in the London...

You like Fiat cars?(News)
May 1, 2004... You like Fiat cars? You aspire to all things Alessi? Very soon--if all goes to plan--you may well be able to buy a Panda Alessi: a highly distinctive and nippy concept car that is still in the prototype stages. Retaining the original Panda...

Formica means business.(Laminate Design)
May 1, 2004... Formica Limited has been busy. Its new range for 2004--The Collection--includes some stunning renditions of pattern and colour throughout its seven ranges, but look out particularly for the Formica[R] Digital range and the fab new images from...

Made for you.(Crafts)
May 1, 2004... Following our story highlighting the boom in crafts (page 5), visit Made in Clerkenwell next month to experience cutting edge design for your-self. Held by the Clerkenwell Green Association (CGA), the Summer Open Studios weekend allows visitors...

Retail design: Escada.(Feature)
May 1, 2004... Moscow is ultra-hip these days. And nowhere more so than Red Square with its stunning architecture and unique atmosphere. Here, too, is GUM, the famous department store that has gone through several incarnations (understandably not all of them...

No time for rummaging.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... John Lewis is savvy about its target market. When I shop there, I feel that the buyers have already done part of my shopping for me; product selection and display are tailored, giving me just enough to select what I want. This is in contrast to...

Sense of theatre.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... A cliche perhaps, but I like the Selfridges food hall in the Birmingham Bullring. It takes risks and breaks down the traditional barriers of retail catering. The space is cleverly opened up so that front and back of house work as one and create...

Street entertainment.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... The one I like most is Monsoon on Oxford Street, but I'm probably biased at it was designed by James Soane of Project Orange, who used to be a director here at Conran and Partners. It's fun, vibrant and rather entertaining, and is very good for...

Suits you, sir.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... The Ted Baker Endurance store in Covent Garden is one of the best current examples of technology and tradition rolled into one. Shoppers are measured when they come into the store, the information is digitised and they are issued with an...

Up the Brum.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... As someone who lived in Birmingham 15 years ago, I am really impressed by the improvements that have been made there. Now it's a great place to shop--I love Selfridges--and the developments have not yet finished. I visited Xanadu just...

Face to face.(TalkBack)
May 1, 2004... How long did it take the powers-that-be in our banks to finally realise that no, we don't like managing our money via call centres that bombard us with music we don't want to hear--or worse still, political advertising a la USA--and yes, we do...

Retail therapy: high street store Reiss has a reputation for classy, restrained men's (and more recently women's) clothes--now it has a Covent Garden store to match. Helen Parton finds Lever Hopley's design adds style with a feminine touch.(Interior Study)
May 1, 2004... Unlike clothing branded with Lacoste's crocodile, Nike's swoosh or Ralph Lauren's polo player, you probably wouldn't recognise a Reiss item of clothing from a distance--and that's precisely the idea. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Spectrum.
May 1, 2004... May 18-21 Commonwealth Institute London W8 Now in its 12th year, Spectrum has firmly established itself as one of the UK's better known exhibitions for the A & D community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For those who didn't get...

Hot spot.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... Spanish design is hot right now. Not only is the country on the cusp of political, social and cultural evolution but the design fraternity is clearly no longer prepared to put up with coming second or even third in the European mix. It is...

Stua: as one of Spain's leading furniture brands, Stua needed a store to live up to its design standards. Anthea Bain checks it out.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... The clean, linear minimalism of Jon Gasea's interior for Stua, his first furniture design outlet in Bilbao, is as good as it gets. "We wanted to present--for the first time--the Stua furniture collection all together in one shop," explains...

Fair future: visitors to this year's Valencia Furniture Fair can expect the best ever display of Spanish furniture in an improved and expanded setting.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... When it comes to showing the world just what good design is all about, Spain's furniture manufacturers are nothing if not pro-active. Take their annual show in Valencia--the International Furniture Fair of Valencia (FIM)--which must be one of...

SIDI: if you have ever visited a leading furniture trade show, you will be familiar with SIDI, the Spanish design collective. Richard de Melim gets the low-down on one of Europe's most visible design communities.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... Carmen Llopis Hernando rests her chin in her hands and ponders her response. As one of the luminaries behind the inauguration of SIDI, Spain's most famous design collective, she wants to be diplomatic. For when Intra interviewed Spanish...

Ofitec: in a calm and optimistic mood, the Spanish office furniture industry is expecting an upturn. Anthea Bain pays a visit to the leading show.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... When it comes to office design you would think the Italians (and some of the leading British companies) would have it sussed. But you would be wrong. Currently on the up (in a low-key optimistic manner), the Spanish office furniture market...

Vila: with leading Spanish designer Alberto Lievore as a mentor, Ricard Vila was always destined for great things. Anthea Bain finds he has lived up to his promise.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... Talking with Ricard Vila is illuminating. A modest man--with impressive credentials--he is another in Spain's vanguard of young designers. Currently collaborating with manufacturers such as Marset Illuminacion ("I'm working on a fresh concept...

In the UK: Spanish design is making a splash throughout the UK contract interiors market, Dominic Lutyens reports.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... City Hall/Sellex Advanced computer modelling and innovative construction techniques were employed to achieve the geometry of London's City Hall, designed by Foster & Partners. Each of the glazing panels is unique in size and shape and...

Hogar's hues: when it comes to textile design, Spain now opens the international exhibition calendar with Textil Hogar, one of the leading European shows.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... For the latest in Spanish textile designs, look no further than this year's 35th Textil Hogar (the International Fair of Home Textiles and Decoration), held in Valencia each January. With some 450 exhibitors and divided into four design...

Nani Marquina: Nani Marquina's innovative approach to textile design, has proved a hit in Spain and beyond, Anthea Bain reports.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... When it comes to Spanish textile design one name stands out--Nani Marquina. She has made the world of texture, colour and materials her own. Her rug designs are famous, and her views on design and its integration into today's contemporary...

Young blood: four of Spain's leading young lighting designers talk to Anthea Bain about their past, present and future.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... HECTOR SERRANO AGE: 29 Where did you study? I studied industrial design at ESDI Valencia for five years and then completed an MA in product design at the RCA, London. Lighting design philosophy? To create unexpected...

Spanish tiles: a trade show and a competition are ensuring the profile of Spanish tiles.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... The world of Spanish tile design is moving fast. Currently undergoing major domestic growth and investment, Spain is now a true world leader in the manufacture of ceramic tiles, exporting around the globe but primarily to the UK and France....

At a glance.(Spanish Design Supplement)
May 1, 2004... Cover, page 27 Furniture: Dali Lips sofa BD Barcelona +34 93 258 69 09 www.bdbarcelona.com Lamps: Famili Domine-Javier Mariscal Santa & Cole +34 93 701 71 10 www.santacole.com Rug: Nani Marquina +34 932 376...

100% Design stand competition: for the past two years Intra has held a competition to design its stand at September's 100% Design exhibition. Last year's contest was won by Hidden Design's entry (shown below); This year, the competition is sponsored by Spa, whose veneers are to be used in the design.
May 1, 2004... In the past 12 months Spa has expanded and is now a multi-surface company including real wood veneers, laminates and Corian. To celebrate this expansion and to show to the design community just what Spa is now able to accomplish, Spa is pleased...

Ovum office: it's what's on the inside that counts--especially in the case of bank Egg's new offices, unpromisingly housed in an industrial shed outside Derby. David Littlefield reports.(Interior Study)
May 1, 2004... Egg, the internet bank, inhabits a pair of giant industrial warehouses on the edge of Derby. Pride Park, a former railway marshalling yard that has been reinvented as a retail and business district, is full of these things--unprepossessing,...

Milan fair review.
May 1, 2004... While it's true that at the main Milan Furniture Fair, some manufacturers were guilty of producing lacklustre new ranges, looking further afield proved to be the best tactic. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Bar.04.
May 1, 2004... JUNE 8-9 EARLS COURT 2 LONDON Research undertaken at last year's event showed that 32% of visitors cited design as their main reason for attending this popular niche show, and 25% of the visitorship were from an architectural or...

Housey, housey.(Book)
May 1, 2004... Trailer park homes apparently account for a quarter of all housing in America, a fact that is either deeply depressing or heartening evidence of a surprisingly unmaterialistic society. Move Home is an attempt to recast the mobile home in a...

New City Architecture.(Culture)
May 1, 2004... New City Architecture is an exhibition hosted by the Corporation of London and British Land that explores the City of London's finest buildings and public places. It looks at the development of London over the past 20 years, focusing on the...

American beauty.(Book)
May 1, 2004... American architecture, this revised and expanded reprint informs us, has always veered between the extremes of practicality and grandiosity; from the Shaker home to the Chrysler building. That may be, but little sense of the immense scope of...

Fiction.(Culture)
May 1, 2004... Fiction, alchemy, geometry and a politicised rereading of 1970s land art are central to Triple Bluff Canyon, a major sculptural installation at Modern Art Oxford until July 4. Known for his large-scale architectural installations, artist Mike...

Lebanese heaven.(Restaurant Review)
May 1, 2004... Paddington, west London, is not an area one immediately associates with Lebanese food in opulent surroundings, but newly opened Levantine is set to change all that. The sister restaurant to Soho's Levant, owned by Tony Kitous, Levantine has an...

Supermarket sweep.(Drink)
May 1, 2004... I came across a statistic the other day that made me shudder. Apparently, one in every eight pounds spent in the UK goes to Tesco, and one in every four goes into the coffers of the top four supermarkets. The multiple grocers, as they are known...

Metal guru.(Book)
May 1, 2004... The latest in this eminently handy series on materials: this time it's the turn of metals, which are detailed in a manner that manages to be informative, practical and interesting. The metals covered range from established elements such as gold...

Should you find yourself in Weil am Rhein, Germany, later this year, remember that apart from Zaha Hadid's weird and wonderful fire station building, there's also the Vitra Design museum to visit.(Culture)
May 1, 2004... Should you find yourself in Weil am Rhein, Germany, later this year, remember that apart from Zaha Hadid's weird and wonderful fire station building, there's also the Vitra Design museum to visit. From this month on, there's a major exhibition...

Form of design.(Book)
May 1, 2004... This book attempts to debate when architecture is sculpture: it's a fair bet that most architects will approach this from the opposite perspective of when is architecture not sculpture? There's a weighty thesis for the introductory chapter on a...

The Barbican Art Gallery.(Culture)
May 1, 2004... The Barbican Art Gallery has reopened after reworking of the grade II listed building by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, which has restored the original architecture, and added 140sq m of extra gallery space. The gallery re-opens with two...

Panel beaters: for a panel material with a difference, look no further than Fiberstone--a composite of wafer thin stone, toughened with glass. Helen Parton looks at the opportunities it offers.(TechnoFile)
May 1, 2004... For architects and interior designers looking for an aesthetically pleasing, highly resistant material that has a number of internal and external applications, Fiberstone, now fully available in the UK, could be the answer. Manufactured in...

Ycami.(Great Gadgets)
May 1, 2004... Normally known for its furniture designs, Ycami launched its Micropod at this year's Milan Fair. Designed by Robert Trunz, the stylish A/V system includes this 2-way Micropod speaker, available in black, white, silver and blue. The Micropod can...

Tierney Rides.(Great Gadgets)
May 1, 2004... For those who haven't quite made it to the slopes this season, the Tierney Rides T-Board can bring the thrill of the snow to a street near you. The T-Board has one big wheel at both ends for better control. Visit www.born2ski.com or call 08705...

Mustek.(Great Gadgets)
May 1, 2004... The development of affordably priced recordable DVD players continues apace. German manufacturer Mustek has just launched the DVD R100A that records onto DVD+R and DVD+RW discs, but is able to read all formats including MP3-CD and JPEG CD. It...

Acoustic Solutions.(Great Gadgets)
May 1, 2004... The Portal 2 DAB radio from Acoustic Solutions combines up-to-the-minute digital radio technology with some great retro styling. It has both FM radio and DAB and costs [pounds sterling]80. To get your hands on one, call 01327 340601 or see...

MP10-FD MP3.(Great Gadgets)
May 1, 2004... Not that we're suckers for shocking pink, but the MP10-FD MP3 player certainly caught Intra's eye. Available in 128MB or 256MB versions, it should have plenty of room for your favourite tracks, and costs [pounds sterling]40. Call 0131 273 4388,...

Looking forward.(Economy)
May 1, 2004... The manufacturing sector has mixed feelings towards its short-term future, according to the CBI's Quarterly Industrial Trends survey. The survey showed that 38% of the 761 firms questioned said new orders were up over the last three months...

Civic winner.(Award)
May 1, 2004... Not only did Hopkins Architects win a 2004 Civic Trust Award for the Manchester Art Gallery (pictured below) and a special commendation for the Nottingham National College for School Leadership last month, but the awards were hosted in the...

Rolf Benz.(Business)
May 1, 2004... Furniture manufacturer Rolf Benz will be taking to the road over the next few months for its Rolf Benz in The City exhibition. The exhibition of newly launched products from this year's Cologne and Milan fairs can be seen in a variety of...

Fashioning furniture.(Partnership)
May 1, 2004... The worlds of fashion and interiors collide yet again as menswear label guru Nino Cerruti enters into partnership with Italian furniture manufacturer Baleri Italia. The announcement came at this year's Milan Furniture Fair, where Baleri hosted...

Ahrend.(Business Profile)
May 1, 2004... Established 1896 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sector Office furniture and seating Head office Hogarth Business Park, Burlington Lane, Chiswick, London W4 Director (UK) Julian Pollitt Manufacturing facilities Two factories in...

Panaz Fabrics.(Business News in Brief)
May 1, 2004... Lancashire-based Panaz Fabrics has been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise. The award was given in the Innovation category for the firm's work in developing a flame-retardant fabric for use in upholstered furniture. Founded in 1986, the...

www.businesslink.gov.uk.(Business News in Brief)
May 1, 2004... The government has launched a new website aimed specifically at helping small businesses. The site www.businesslink.gov.uk aims to be a one-stop shop for government information and includes a directory of over 500,000 courses, and a database of...

Baumatic.(Business News in Brief)
May 1, 2004... Kitchen appliance manufacturer Baumatic has been included in the Sunday Times Profit Track 100, a list of the UK's fastest growing firms. Baumatic, which has seen its profits grow from [pounds sterling]1.1 million in 2001 to [pounds...

Kent Institute of Art and Design and Surrey Institute of Art and Design.(Business News in Brief)
May 1, 2004... Two of the UK's design schools, Kent Institute of Art and Design and Surrey Institute of Art and Design, are to merge, it was revealed last month. Following their announcement in January this year to collaborate more closely, the two...

Best Image.(Business News in Brief)
May 1, 2004... Preston-based modular flooring manufacturer Best Image has launched the Renewal range of carpet tiles. Composed of dyed nylon and backed in 100% rubber, the tiles are fully biodegradable.

Buying Italian.(Acquisition)
May 1, 2004... Italian furniture manufacturer Poltrona Frau last month bought rival Cappellini, shortly before this year's Milan Furniture Fair. This acquisition comes after Poltrona Frau opened a new store in Washington DC, the third of its kind in the US,...

Nina Campbell.(Business)
May 1, 2004... Nina Campbell has closed its showroom at Bridge Studios, although the firm will continue to run its offices from there. In a statement, the firm declared it wished to "focus on strengthening the decorating department, the fabric and wallpaper...

Floor plans.(Buyout)
May 1, 2004... Flooring specialist Junckers A/S announced that it had been bought by Danish investment firm Axcel last month. Founded in 1930, Junckers operates within the solid hardwood flooring, worktops and surfaces treatment sectors and currently employs...

Sitland.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Panama chair by Sitland Launch: April 2004 Description: task chair with wood back, swivel base Price: on application Contact: Sitland 00 39 0444 637 100 www.sitland.com Enquiry details 300 [ILLUSTRATION...

Push In office system.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Push In office system Launch: April 2004 Design: Ueli Biesenkamp Description: horizontal worktop and vertical containers, allow the creation of new configurations such as angular and L-shaped workstations Price: on application...

Humanscale.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Liberty chair by Humanscale Launch: May 2004 Description: three-weave mesh provides lumbar support Price: on application Contact: Humanscale 020 7566 7990 www.humanscale.co.uk Enquiry details 302 ...

Thonet.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... $1230 table by Thonet Launch: January 2004 Description: internal aluminium frame structure permits large tabletops, available either with tabletop or offset Price: from [pounds sterling]1,435 (190X100cm) Contact: Hemsley...

Driade.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Groove II by Driade Launch: April 2004 Design: Christian Ghion Description: drawer unit on wheels with two pull-out containers. Wood conglomerate structure and white polypropylene drawer fronts Price: [pounds sterling]920 ...

Ares Line.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Xten by Ares Line Launch: May 2004 Design: Pininfarina design school in collaboration with Ares Line Description: maximum comfort from lumbar support used on a net backrest, armrests have own self-contained height adjustment ...

Isku.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Matrix by Isku Launch: May 2004 Design: Tapio Anttila and Juha Latta Description: storage system, height adjustable table and chair Price: on application Contact: Isku 00 358 3 868 11 ...

Skandiform.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Jefferson conference table and Jefferson chair by Skandiform Launch: February 2004 Design: Alexander Lervik Description: table--polished chrome frame, oak or ash veneer; chair--available with disc base or 4-leg base Price:...

Alias.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Frametable by Alias Launch: April 2004 Design: Alberto Meda Description: available with new fixed structure, fitted with a crossbar that joins the legs to guarantee stability Price: from [pounds sterling]1000 Contact:...

Klober.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Orbit task chair by Klober Launch: May 2004 Description: backrest comprised of fibreglass-reinforced plastic frame moulded into an elastic membrane which adapts to any back shape Price: from [pounds sterling]7,269 (with headrest)...

HAG.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... HAG09 chair by HAG Launch: May 2004 Description: unique central spine, supporting movable backrest and headrest Price: [pounds sterling]1,195 Contact: Sven Christiansen 01483 302728 www.sven.co.uk Enquiry...

Frezza.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... TW collection of office systems by Frezza Launch: April 2004 Design: Claudio Bellini and John Bennett Description: subdivided into three worktop solutions--Time, Space and Work--with modules Bobo and Facility Bridge Price:...

Illuma.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... Midi Arc Light by Illuma Launch: April 2004 Description: adjustable downlight suitable for office applications, can be directed downwards or pivoted up to 60 degrees Price: [pounds sterling]69.90 Contact: Illuma 08450...

Luxo.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... X-type 3633/3635 lamp by Luxo Launch: February 2004 Description: suspension system combined with extruded aluminium, suitable for office environments Price: [pounds sterling]71 (approx) Contact: Luxo 00 46 31 74651 00 ...

Offecct.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... K Line by Offecct Launch: February 2004 Design: Khodi Feiz Description: trolley, part of a range of accessories for use in meetings Price: on application Contact: Offecct 00 46 504 415 00 www.offecct.se ...

Steelcase.(Products: Office)
May 1, 2004... LeapWork Lounge and Ottoman by Steelcase Launch: May 2004 Description: task chair and ottoman, an evolution from original Leap seating system Price: [pounds sterling]3,000 (approx) Contact: Steelcase 0870 050 1250 ...