EDIDA 2024: A global affair

EDIDA Designer of the Year

Objects of Common Interest: Based out of New York and Athens, Eleni Petaloti and Leonidas Trampoukis founded their studio in 2016. Their collection, titled Poikilos, featured chairs, tables, vases and lamps crafted from transparent, iridescent resin, exhibited last Milan Design Week. Staged at the Nilufar Depot, the collection became an instant crowd favourite. Delving into their recent affinity towards resin— which has now become their signature, they said “It all started when we met Ovidiu, a craftsman from Long Island who likes to try out new techniques for working with resin. He was the one who shared with us the ‘secret recipes’ for making these opalescent-looking pieces.”

Borne out of the founding duo’s decision to turn their preexisting romantic partnership into a joint venture, Objects of Common Interest adopts an experimental approach that combines art, design and architecture to bring projects across various scales to life. Exemplifying their approach, they said “We designed a series of gel and aluminium stools for the Chronos exhibition at Design Miami with sinuous profiles resembling the rock formations of Greece. We like to experiment with the properties of the materials when it comes to both our furniture and our site-specific installations, like Echoes, the transparent inflatable fountain we created in Milan for the last edition of Alcova, and Lights On, the light sculpture designed for the GAMeC to mark Bergamo and Brescia being nominated as the Italian Capital of Culture 2023.” 

Young Design Talent of the Year

Laurids Gallée: The Austrian designer chose to open his studio in Rotterdam after a brief stint at the Design Academy in Eindhoven. A beaming example of his design philosophy is his collection of furniture, dubbed Tralucide. The collection contains benches, stools and chairs featuring geometric modules devised from resin — resulting in three-dimensional pieces that radiate light, replete with colour and soft shadows. The Empyrean Suspended lamp is another piece with great appeal, imbued with his trademark strong sculptural elements. “Inspired by celestial elements, fire and ancient cosmology, this ceiling light has a warm, majestic presence and experiments with transparency, generating a beam of light—the star of the show—that floats and moves within the structure.”

Previously an anthropology student, the designer combined his interest in human history with his love for design. He intersects traditional techniques like woodworking and textile weaves with innovative, novel materials like resin and LED lighting. His designs are functional yet poetic, distorting perception and heightening emotion.

Interior Designer of the Year

Dimorestudio: Based in Milan, Dimorestudio recently celebrated 20 years in the business with the founding duo Emiliano Salci and Britt Moran at its helm. Their research work ranges from domestic to retail, hotels to hospitality venues and culminates in a sensational display every year as a part of the events programme at Fuorisalone. Incorporating influences from the worlds of fashion, music, film and art, their unmistakable design language is nostalgic and decadent, marked with a plethora of velvets, fine fabrics and stirring ambiences. “We don’t believe in trends; the environments we create reflect our passions and our obsessions, of course, but never in a predictable way,” the duo states.

Their captivating projects embody the allure of the Dimore residences of days gone by, while simultaneously maintaining a contemporary feel. From the overarching layout down to the decor itself, every single detail, big and small, bears the hallmark of their practice. 

Bathroom

MA by Foster + Partners Industrial Design for Falper

A minimalist piece that combines design with architecture, the fixture features two elements— the marble wash basin fitted into a solid wood storage unit, with a slender stainless steel water stem extending outwards. Capable of serving multiple purposes, the versatile stem can support a mirror, keep knick-knacks in place on a tiny tray, or have bathrobes and towels hung over it within arm’s reach. Suitable for various living spaces, the piece pays homage to the Japanese inspiration behind it through its clean, innovative design.

Bedding

Esosoft Bed by Antonio Citterio for Cassina

Designed by the Italian master, the bed’s lightweight base consists of a precise aluminium structure at its core, with its multiple components screwed together. Capable of being dismantled and reused with ease, it incorporates a headboard made from a sound-absorbent, recycled material paired with soft upholstery that smoothly covers the bed’s curved edges. A part of the Esosoft collection comprising a sofa, benches, a footstool and a coffee table, the pieces are characterised by simple, continuous lines. 

Fabrics

Untitled by Formafantasma for Kieffer

The collection features a range of home textiles rich in texture, crafted using natural pigments and materials such as hemp, jute, wool and felt. Doubling down on the brand’s emphasis on sustainability, they elaborate “We are developing a virtuous pathway that will involve several different steps, including using uncommon raw materials, reducing pollutant substances, and introducing new processing methods. We chose the name Untitled because we wanted it to be a practical and somewhat understated collection but one that first and foremost appealed to the senses”. Acquired by the Rubelli Group in 2001, they’d outlined a simple aim for their latest collection under the creative direction of Kieffer— ‘Textile as [an] interface.’ Thus, they seek to enrich spaces occupied by people tangibly through sustainably made fabrics in the domestic realm.

Floor Covering

MSHWY01 by Studio Mary Lennox for JOV

Featuring an abstract reinterpretation of an oyster mushroom as a rug, this project by the Berlin-based firm is inspired by natural and botanical elements. Made using New Zealand wool and Lyocell, a natural fibre that lends the piece a slight sheen, the piece has been crafted with a diverse range of hues ranging from beige to brown, supplemented with fabric varying in thicknesses. Taking on the appearance of a three-dimensional object, the design stands out for its unique material composition abundant in texture and colour alluding to the skilful craftsmanship behind it. It echoes the firm’s specialisations in the domain of flower styling, botanical design and botanical consultancy. 

Furniture

Linea collection by Alessandro Mendini for Porro

Titled Linea, the limited-edition collection by the Italian master consists of two sideboards and a bureau, their surfaces inlaid with colourful cellulose acetate. A range of geometric shapes in primary hues like red, dark blue and light blue illuminated by strokes of black, yellow and white characterise the surface. Conceptualised in 2015 yet never launched prior, the collection pays homage to the Milanese designer at its helm, showcasing their affinity towards purity of form, elaborate workmanship and vibrant colours. 

Kitchen

Column by Inga Sempé for Reform

The natural oak or white ash kitchen by the Scandinavian brand features clean, simple lines, its oversized, vertical handles running the full length of the door. The French designer’s new take on the kitchen echoes her vision — “I decided to incorporate some unexpected detail into what was a simple design project.” Durable, solid yet aesthetically striking, the project exemplifies the brand’s research focus, where they seek to transform the look of surfaces through innovative design.

Lighting

Vis à Vis by Michele Groppi for Davide Groppi

Dubbed Vis à vis, the rechargeable, direct-lighting methacrylate lamp comprises a cylindrical base crowned by a magnetic, transparent lampshade. With a Fresnel lens effect that hides an LED source, the design plays a simple yet fascinating trick upon the eye, producing a luminous glow while concealing the light source. This project came ten years after the creation of the portable, wireless TeTaTeT lamp by the designer previously. Talking about his creation, the designer says “Our aim here was again to reduce things to the bare minimum, focusing solely on the light.” This rendition boasts of a timeless appeal imbued with novel technical specifications. 

Seating

Tortello by Barber & Osgerby for B&B Italia

The London-based duo has created a collection of sofas and armchairs comprising a soft, cosy shell, into which a flexible polyurethane foam seat is inserted. The colourful piece, enclosed in a fabric cover, features a special ‘pinched’ seam that gives it unprecedented structure, making it look tailored. Stemming from a desire to achieve comfort, the sofa is even a part of a circular approach, the materials and assembly techniques used ensuring that the seat can be easily dismantled and recycled, too. The collection offers a new take on upholstered furniture that was all the rage in the 1970s.

Sustainable Achievement

Tane Garden House by Atelier Tsuyoshi Tane Architects for Vitra Campus

The Tane Garden House has been constructed by the Paris-based Japanese architect within the confines of the Vitra Campus, constructed entirely out of stone, wood, rope and straw sourced from the surrounding area. More than just an exhibition space, the facility, imbued with a rural aesthetic, is also accessible to those taking care of the green spaces within the campus. Elucidating further on the process, the architect stated “We firmly believe that this approach is vital to developing the architecture of tomorrow, what we refer to as ‘future archaeology.” 

The architect’s research emphasises sustainability, as he chooses to utilise materials, techniques and traditions of a specific community as his starting point for both small-scale and large projects. He also looks at the memory of a place, “Digging into the past to discover something that’s both new and old at the same time, familiar yet unexpected, just as an archaeologist would do.” The Vitra Campus features various other permanent projects by prominent architects like Renzo Piano, Carsten Höller, and Alvaro Siza.

Tableware

The Candy Collection by Helle Mardahl

The Danish designer’s confectionery-like collection of tableware comprises glasses, plates, cups, cutlery and accessories, cast in rounded designs crafted with candy-like colours. The unique, artistic pieces that make up the collection truly look good enough to eat, inspired by iconic movies such as Alice in Wonderland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Talking about the process, she opines “Working with blown glass is like dancing with an unpredictable partner—a continuous interplay between heat and material, rigidity and malleability.” What inspired her to create this particular collection? “I’ve always dreamed of having my own exclusive and sophisticated pastry shop,” The designer confesses. 

Wall Covering

Carte Blanche by Christopher John Rogers for Farrow & Ball

Designed by an American fashion designer, the contemporary wallpaper collection features a vibrant, bold palette that combines geometric elements with opposing pop nuances and neutral hues. Available in three different versions titled Check, Stripe and Dot— the wallpapers are peppered with graphic symbols that pay homage to the textile works of Bauhaus designer Anni Albers. The wallpapers harbour a strong visual impact, playful in nature. The designer is a famous fashion industry insider, having famously dressed celebrities like Michelle Obama and Rihanna. 

Outdoor

Palinfrasca by Vincent Van Duysen for Molteni&C

This series is a part of the Landmark project— the Italian brand’s first outdoor collection, featuring natural teak sofas and armchairs designed by the Antwerp-based Belgian designer at its helm. The seats feature fine carpentry details, alongside a distinct cosy, rounded, corner-less design strengthened by a robust structure. What sets the collection apart are the wooden strips that culminate in a woven backrest reminiscent of a wicker basket, utilising traditional Mediterranean materials. The collection pays tribute to and reinterprets a 1994 design by Luca Meda.

Now read: Ambiente Frankfurt 2024: The top highlights from the annual furniture and design fair