Castor is Brian Richer (a trained architectural stone carver with a degree in English literature and philosophy) and Kei Ng (a trained architect with a background in set design). They are interested in the middle ground between art and design. Established in 2006, Castor Design has worked on numerous interiors projects, custom lighting and furniture design, public art commissions, and launched a range of products found throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong. Their experience in restaurants and love of food and music inspired them to open Parts & Labour, a space that combines a fine dining room with a punk rock basement venue, followed by its offshoot, P&L Burger.
Materials and their reuse make up an important part of Castor Design’s aesthetic — burnt out bulbs to make lighting, a rusty shipping container to make a sauna. This re-contextualization of materials is a primary design consideration.
CLIENTS & STOCKISTS
CLIENTS Aspen Social Club, New York Beef House, Paris Beats By Dre, LA Campbell Ewald, Detroit Chelsea Hotel, New York Common Good, Toronto Corus Entertainment, Toronto Delux, Toronto dSpace, Chicago Facebook HQ, Menlo Park Fish Restaurant, Philadelphia Functionalab, New York GE (head office), San Diego Generator Hostels, Berlin
Generator Hostels, Copenhagen Google Chelsea Market, New York Happy Bones, New York J.Crew, New York Lane Crawford, Hong Kong Lion Brand Yarn, New York Little Burgundy, Montreal Lululemon, New York Makerbot, New York Nike 21 Mercer, New York Parts & Labour, Toronto P&L Burger, Toronto The Post Republic, Berlin Shaw Media, Toronto SKLZ Athletics, San Diego
Spotify, New York Starbucks, Seattle Supper Club, Toronto Terroni, Los Angeles Terroni, Toronto Uber, San Francisco Vertical Screen, Philadelphia
STOCKISTS
Matter, New York Mjolk, Toronto The Modern Shop, Ottawa Propeller, San Fransisco Scott + Cooner, Austin Scott + Cooner, Dallas Soho House, Berlin Studio Como, Denver twentieth, Los Angeles
10119Design, Berlin The Conran Shop, London Inform, Seattle Inform, Vancouver Klaus Nienkamper, Toronto Lane Crawford, Hong Kong
2Modern, Online Hobo Society, Online Lightology, Online Lumens, Online Y-Lighting, Online
lighting
RECYCLED TUBE LIGHT Designed 2005 – 2007 The Recycled Tube Light is comprised of burnt out fluorescent bulbs that are lit from within by halogen light bulbs. Available lengths include 15in, 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft. There are red and black cord options.
INDUCTION TUBE LIGHT Designed 2014 The Induction Tube Light uses a magnetic field to transfer electrical current from the cube-shaped base to a 6ft fluorescent bulb. The bulb will emit light even when lifted several inches away.
COIL LAMP Designed 2013 The Coil Lamp is a lightweight task lamp that draws power from either of Apple’s first-generation MagSafe adapters. LEDs contained within the lamp’s head emit a warm, directional light, which allows it to be used in either professional or domestic environments.
TANK LIGHT Designed 2009 The Tank Lights are pendant lights made from recycled fire extinguishers. Lights are finished with high-gloss automotive paint, available in a range of colours.
PLATED TANK LIGHT Designed 2013 The Tank Lights are pendant lights made from recycled fire extinguishers. These pendant lights are available in the following finishes: chrome; black chrome; copper; and gold.
REFLECTOR FLOOR LAMP Designed 2014 Taking inspiration from beaver pelt stretching techniques, this light diffuser reflects LEDs off of a piece of stretched foil leather. The base and stem of the light is designed to disappear in order to display the leather reflector.
CONIC SECTION LIGHT Designed 2014 In mathematics, a conic section is a curve obtained at the intersection of a cone with a plane. This pendant is based on that proof. A hyperbola, ellipse, parabola, and circle are produced by cutting a cone at different angles.
VERTICAL TUBE LIGHT Designed 2013 Using recycled T8 fluorescent bulbs as diffusers, the Vertical Tube pendant light emits a soft, warm light. The Vertical Tube may be suspended on its own, or in clusters of three or more.
FRESNEL PENDANT Designed 2013 The Fresnel Pendants get their name from the light-diffusing lens inside of the fixture. The lights feature aluminum, brass, and glass components. A powder-coated aluminum drum is suspended from a brass “TBar,� the cord decoratively knotted around the bar.
DEADSTOCK FLOOR LAMP Designed 2012 The Deadstock Floor Lamp is designed around shades salvaged from a defunct lighting factory. Turned solid oak components support the diffusers and allow full adjustment on three axes.
DEADSTOCK JIB LIGHT Designed 2012 The Deadstock Jib Light is an adjustable cantilevered wallmounted fixture designed around a spherical shade salvaged from defunct lighting factory.
AXIS LIGHT Designed 2012 The Axis Light is made of precisely machined and anodized aluminum. The light source rotates 180 degrees about the main column, which is supported by the two rods that pierce it. These rods slide freely through the column, by this action the angle of the column is adjusted.
INVISIBLE CHANDELIER Designed 2008 The Invisible Chandelier is a collection of burnt out light bulbs that are lit from within. Each Invisible Chandelier is produced as a custom piece.
DROOG LIGHT Designed 2007 The “This Is Not A F***ing Droog Light� Light takes inspiration from guitar pedals. Each light is turned on through pressing a switch like a stomp box. Rubber 12-volt truck lights plug into a power box using guitar jacks. Lights can be placed anywhere using metal pucks and magnets. Mood lighting for rock stars.
furniture
FOREVER BARNBOARD Designed 2014 The Forever Barnboard chair and side table respond to an overused material. The name “Forever Barnyard” refers to the set’s sand-cast aluminum material, as opposed to wood. Forever Barnyard was made in a limited edition of 25 pairs.
CASTOR DESK Designed 2008 A solid-topped desk with a drawer and a variety of different legs cast in aluminum. Leg options range from an ornate hand-carved spindle to a beavergnawed log. All legs are interchangeable.
BIKER STOOL Designed 2013 The Biker Stool is available at both chair and bar heights, in either a black or white powdercoated finish. The geometry of the stool’s seat is based on a motorcycle seat. It is leatherlined and joined to a tubular steel base by means of custom machined brass “bungs.”
TRI-POD TABLE Designed 2013 The Tri-Pod Table’s circular, powder-coated top rests on three oak legs. The legs are held together by means of a handhammered brass ring, eliminating the need for fasteners. The Tri-Pod Table can be completely disassembled for shipping or storage.
DEADSTOCK BMO TABLE Designed 2012 When the First Canadian Place (headquarters of the Bank of Montreal) was built in 1975, it was clad entirely in Carrara marble. The Deadstock BMO Table is made from the 1-3/8 thick marble slabs reclaimed from that building after it was re-clad in glass in 2010.
CASTOR STOOL Designed 2006 The Castor Stool is hand-carved from a single piece of limestone resembling a gnawed tree. This stool is a solid block; ideal for inside or outside.
BLIND STOOL Designed 2007 The Blind Stool is cast in aluminum from a stool found in a duck blind in Northern Ontario. It is a collaboration between Castor and an unknown hunter. The wood grain, screws and rust patina are all intact after casting, and the stool has a leather handle for quick getaways.
CASTOR TABLE Designed 2008 Each leg is cast in aluminum from found objects – from 2×4 with nails to hand-carved baroque legs. The table top can be made with white oak or polished Indiana limestone. Custom sizes available – please call or email for pricing and lead time.
CREDENZA Designed 2006 The Credenza is hand carved from a single piece of limestone with a hand-carved hardwood door.
SAUNA BOX Designed 2005 This traditional wood-burning sauna is built into a shipping container. The Sauna Box is completely self-contained with solar power and a wood-fired stove. The box comes standard with iPod stereo, guitar hook-up, Castor Stool, magnetic truck light, wool toque and bronze antlers. The Sauna Box can be customized to suit the site.
accessories
OIL LAMP Designed 2014 This product is in partnership with Harnisch Lamps, established in 1842. Collaborating with the oldest gas lamp manufacturers in Canada, Castor was able to use Harnisch’s knowledge and production methods while stripping the lamps of all ornamentation to a simple cylindrical shape finished in black chrome
BLACK MIRROR Designed 2014 The mirrors have a black tint finish, giving off a clean reflection with a subtle darkened tone. The black powder-coated spun metal back gives the illusion of hovering off the wall and produces depth to an otherwise flat object.
DOOR WEDGE Designed 2014 This product is made of cast bronze, its shape taken from an existing wood wedge. The product’s weight is substantial – it will hold a door back without needing to slide underneath.
CAST ANTLERS Designed 2006 Hand-cast antlers come in either solid bronze or aluminum, with raw or bronze patina finish. Wall mounting is possible using the bolt holes provided.
TANK BOWLS Designed 2014 This bowl is made from the materials left over from production of the Castor Tank Light, made from reclaimed fire extinguishers. The bottoms are recut, stripped, polished, and painted a matte black finish on the outer side with a reflective black interior.
CANDLE HOLDER Designed 2014 Using a beaver-chewed log found outside of Sudbury, ON as a positive, the Castor Lodge Candle Holder is cast from solid aluminum. A black patina has been applied to the casting in order to accentuate the bark’s texture, as well as the tooth marks.