2 | ON THE COVER
Editor-in-Chief/ Creative Director
Jacqueline Carlisle
Design Production
Samm Jordan
Contributing Fashion Editor Contributing Technology Editor Contributing Design Editor Contributing Architecture and Design Logo Design Site Services
Jacqueline Carlisle
Erich Zainzinger
Alexander Horne
Karyn Linnell Sunny Fong Samm Jordan
ON THE COVER
Hand drawn illustration by Ella Parry www.ellaparry.com
ISSUE 004
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It doesn’t seem possible that this is the fourth issue, and yet here we are just in time for spring. I want to first talk about this issues cover a hand drawn illustration by artist Ella Parry who I think captured the season’s beauty and All I asked of her was to capture her
version of Mother Nature and when I received the illustration I thought it may not work but I was dead wrong, we love this cover. This entire issue tried to celebrate nature in its natural form by reporting on things like the first eco hotel called the Scarlet who has taken eco luxury to new heights in Cornwall. All I know is I can’t wait to visit, possibly the magazine can host something there in the future. We also looked at an ancient form of design called Bio mimicry which is making a comeback. The idea is to fuse
IN THIS
ISSUE
rebirth.
science and design by mimicking nature; it’s pretty fascinating I hope to continue to report on this in future issues. I recently sat down with Jason Phillips furniture designer to talk about why he loves creating eco furniture, sourcing natural materials and giving back to society. He has become a favourite to watch for innovative everyday furniture. I also enjoyed finding a new designer Leah Singh Waldman a Parson’s School of Design graduate who is on our ones to watch list. Getting in touch with half of her roots she is currently in India working on her jewellery line. She found some time to tell us about her work, her vision and why it’s deeply rooted to her heritage. Lastly an Italian company called reLight the makers of illuminating fabrics wraps up our offering for wearable technology in this issue. reLight is still in its early stages but they already have shown a need for this type of fabric in the future. The best of news of all and worth sharing is Think magazine is now mobile and available on iTunes through a publishing apps called Pushforward. It’s available now so go get it. We are scrambling bit to become mobile but we’ll get there.
Fashion leah singh waldman
8
Technology re(inventing) light
12
Design jason phillips designer roots
22
Architecture la vie en rose
40
TEXT: JACQUELINE CARLISLE editor
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leah singh waldman Taking on the task of promoting
discovered in abattoirs in Muslim
an entire country is no easy feat
communities and those that die
but Leah Waldman is determined
from natural causes.
to shine a spotlight on India’s
Leah is in India working on her
historical
community.
jewellery and home accessories line
Parson’s School of Design
that is heavily influenced by Indian
graduate Leah is the founder of
craftsmanship but will be modified
Firoza
in
for the Western market. Inspired
Urdu and Persian) a jewellery
not only by her own culture she
and home accessories brand that
also draws inspiration from hip hop,
aims to promote Indian design
geometric patterns architecture
whilst using local environmental
and Islamic patterns. Choosing to
materials
work with a selected group of Non-
A
artisan
(meaning
and
Turquoise
manufacturing
Currently
techniques. Born to an Indian
Governmental
mother and Jewish father Leah has
percentage of their earnings is used
traveled extensively between India
to improve the infrastructure of
and America searching for new
the villages in which these artisans
ways to unite these two extremely
reside. Although Leah is in the early
different cultures. For her final
stages of her career she has a clear
thesis she returned to India and
mandate which she plans to carry
began to research the bone craft
out to the fullest. Expect to see her
which led her to creating lamps
products in stores very soon.
made of discarded buffalo bones
Organisations
a
12 | TEXT: ERICH ZAINZINGER contributing technology editor
re(inventing) light Light is one of the basic elements most
Our man-made light sources in the form of
life forms need to be able to exist. Flora
light bulbs or tubes look rather technical,
and fauna could not exist without light.
giving off concentrated light around the
Humans do need light as well to be and to
light source and the light is fading in the
stay healthy, physically and mentally.
distance.
Besides our dependance on light for the
To create magical effects with light,
physical life, light plays also a strong
architects, artists and designers have
role in humans emotional world. Light
developed since Thomas Edison has
has a very strong emotional effect on us,
given to the world the first light bulb,
everyone, small or grown up.
ever sophisticated techniques to create emotions and atmospheres with light.
We feel safe wherever there is light. We use different colored light to amplify
Although these techniques have evolved
the emotional power of light, to create
over time certain light effects like bending
an atmosphere of love with red light, a
light, folding light like a sheet, wrapping
relaxing, calming atmosphere with green
light around everyday objects like sofas
or using blue light to chill out.
has been on the wish list of designers for a long time as these properties would give
Artists use lighting effects for their stage
a complete new dimension to the magical
shows to create emotional connections
power of light.
to the audience and their performance. Recent trends even go into the direction of
So it is no wonder that an innovative
light elements integrated in stage outfits,
company, Italian based Grado Zero Espace
clothing that makes use of the emotional
set out to reinvent light with their product
power of light.
reLIGHT.
Light radiates magic, mystic, feeling, emotions.
reLIGHT is based on electro-luminescent
coated with a micro-layered conductive
technology,
phenomenon
polymeric material without the use of
and electrical phenomenon in which a
mercury or other toxic substances as found
material emits light in response to an
in many other light sources. reLIGHT is
electric current passing through it.
cold and safe to touch.
Conventional light bulbs belong to the
The light emitting panel is completely
group of light emitting technology
customizable in shape, dimension and
resulting from heat (incandescence) or the
color and will illuminate even in extreme
newer compact fluorescent lamp using
conditions,
the same heat generation principle.
abrasion, torsion and compression, it is
an
optical
withstanding
flame-resistant. reLIGHT it is made from a glass-fiber fabric
perforation,
Equipped with this technology, architects
These light emitting, soft sheets can be
and designers can add new magical
sewn onto textiles enabling illumination
dimensions to light designs highlighting
for camping gear like the inside of tents,
literally the power of light in the emotional
another area in which this technology can
arena.
shine, taking away the need for camping lights that eat up space and weigh down
But besides the emotional factor of light,
the travel bag.
there is the practical, functional aspect like illuminating clothing for safety reasons
Bending or folding light with this
in outdoor/sports-wear and work-wear.
technology is not science fiction anymore,
Rescue and police uniforms can provide a
reLIGHT can make the impossible possible
high visibility during operation.
by lighting up every corner of our life.
www.gzespace.com
Jason Phil ips How did you get into this business?
hours, I would attend the Huntington
I was exposed to the furniture industry
Academy of Fine Arts. I was awarded an
at a very young age, taking trips overseas
apprenticeship to study under renowned
to Southeast Asia to develop artisan
American Sculptor Joseph Mack through
collections for the company, The Phillips
HAFA in the South of France. I completed
Collection.
remember
my undergrad at The University of
making a connection and a commitment
Michigan in Ann Arbor, where I received
to the places I visited. Seeing how they
a B.F.A. in Industrial Design (Magna
use materials and how local practices
Cum Laude) in 2005. During my time
mixed with good design can create a
at Michigan I was fortunate enough to
burgeoning micro industry. It has been
escape the cold winter one semester on a
a mission of ours to utilize artisan talent
study abroad program in Seville, Spain,
and indigenous, renewable materials to
where I went back to my fine arts roots.
I
distinctly
achieve our high-end, modern collection
Where did you go to school?
What is the difference between Industrial Design and Furniture Design?
I grew up on Long Island, NY where,
Unfortunately, Industrial Design is seen
during my high school years, after school
as the act of designing products.
of furniture and accessories.
Cellphones, airplane trays, water bottles, etc. But the truth is, it is the collective of multiple disciplines and can be more easily defined as the study of threedimensional form for practical use. In that sense, it is very much the same thing as furniture design. I felt it gave me a perspective beyond specifically ‘furniture design’.
We learned as much about
balancing form and considering ergonomics as we did marketing our designs and ourselves as the designer.
Why venture into sustainable design? Why not? I think any rational person, with a good understanding of their options, will choose the righteous path.
Perhaps I have too much faith
in humanity...but at Phillips Collection, we are aware of the materials that are sustainable, the finishes that are water-based, and a whole list of other opportunities to create product that is both beautiful and sustainable. When armed with the right information, the decision and ability to choose green is clear.
What are some of your favourite materials? Mango wood is very fast-growing and prevalent throughout Thailand so we love to work with it. Abaca rope, bamboo, and even sandstone castings. We are also unearthing the colossal roots of longago felled trees to create wonderfully modern and monolithic tables in our Origins Collection.
What does luxury mean to you? Luxury is no longer all about how much you can spend on something. It is something that is not a necessity but a pleasure. Whether it is a $10 Godiva
26 | TEXT: JACQUELINE CARLISLE editor
Chocolate or a $15,000 table carved in
we recently installed some ceramic
Indonesian teak wood, it is something
sculpture from Mexico at QUA Spa at
that you have an emotional connection to
Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. It was rated
that engages your senses. In fashion, it is
the top spa in the world the year it opened
taking a respected brand and marrying it
and we are thrilled to be a part of the
with bespoke tailoring and all the details
ambiance there.
are resolved. That, to me, is true luxury.
If you could create pieces for a luxury spa where would it be? http://www.jasonphillipsdesign.com/ Well it’s funny you should ask that because
designer roots.
As design evolves into something recognized
shared a deep interest in nature’s design.
as a strategic approach to problem solving,
Frank Lloyd Wright described buildings as
as opposed to solely the visible aesthetic of a
organisms, Louis Kahn asked the brick what
finished product, so too does the associated
it wanted to be (as if it were alive) while Mies
vocabulary. Indeed as production of consumer
Van Der Rohe kept avidly upto-date with
products has reduced, partly due to the recent
biology and technology. Biomimicry may not
downturn, references to design in politics has
have been branded nor common knowledge
increased and the service design sector has
then,
been bursting with new consultancy options and ideas (material libraries, environmental guidance and trend analysis). Contrary to the belief that words such as ‘sustainability’ and ‘biomimicry’ have contemporary roots though - they have actually been actively used in theory and practice by inventors, architects and scientists long before the term ’consumer product’ was rendered an established terminology. This digging into the past has reared sustainability as the most visible and referenced term. While the term ‘sustainability’ is used more often, it lacks a defined measurement of value. ‘Biomimicry’, however, equates specifically to ideas that mimic nature. Architects should live as little in cities as a painter. Send them to the hills and let them study there what nature understands.’*1 Through their explorative work in the fields of sustainability and design inspired by nature, the writer John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) and designer Vikter Papanek (1927 - 1999) have enjoyed a recent resurgence. Digging deeper than surface references though, it is surprising to find that some significant architects of the past century
TEXT: ALEXANDER HORNE contributing design editor
| 33
but now, as with the increase of awareness in
fields (biology, engineering) and represents a
design, it is apparent everyday.
trend by designers expanding their knowledge to aid the design process. Taking a step
From
the
awe-inducing
sculptures
of
back from the end product and focusing on
Theo Jansen to international exhibitions -
what happens before; Dutch designer Hella
biomimicry is a significant bone in design.
Jongerius was recently involved in the design
It involves the cross-fertilization of different
of a high-tech textile for Mahram in
with Nike. By no means an isolated case - many
By mimicking this unique pattern, one
other designers are going one step further
company in the US has created the first
than just having an interest in materials and
technology to inhibit bacteria growth through
biomimicry. In Oslo, Bifokal represent a new
pattern alone, and with no extra chemical
wave of architects who sell their services based
retardants required. Sharklet technology
on intelligence as opposed to one architecture
is composed of millions of tiny diamond
product, such as a building. Their projects
arrangements and provides a simple and
range from design of materials to seminars
cost effective solution to this particular issue.
and workshops. It was through the latter that
Biomimicry is undoubtedly an inspiration for
architect John Hølby and Bifokal’s Natasa
ideas in design today. Furthermore, when the
Zednik guided and inspired a group of AHO
result of a biomimicry-led project provides
(Oslo School of Architecture) students with a
solutions to issues such as health, it could
biomimicry focused workshop. ‘Fibrous
be suggested that an effective sustainable
Implications’ was an insightful example
source of ideas has been unearthed. Over
of nature as a force of inspiration in the
time and through evolution, many animals
design process and as an influence on the
have developed natural forms of defence or
skeletal structure of forms. Watching a tree
survival techniques. It would appear natural
I can generate an architectonic from it, the
for us to follow a similar route.
same is true for a rock. But, a column that is constructed like a tree will never work like
http://www.alexanderhorne.co.uk/
one. The tree will be better. *2 Using nature as
http://nouink.blogspot.com/
inspiration for design is one approach to biomimicry; taking a system used by a living thing and artificially replicating it to perform the same function goes beyond this aesthetic layer of inspiration though. From planes to trains to cleaner hospital beds - biomimicry has led to improvements in performance and living conditions. One such condition is the rise in hospital acquired infections. Although
footnotes
there is no hospital in a shark’s daily life,
*1 John Ruskin, ‘Selected Writing’, Oxford
repelling bacteria is what slow moving sharks
World Classics 2009
must do everyday in order to survive. They do
*2 Santiago Calatrava, Spanish architect
so using a pattern on their skin which prevents
(born 1951)
bacteria leaching on and spreading infection.
La Vie En Rose
Relaxation Terrace
Guestroom
As
dawn
lightly
touches
upon
southeastern of
tip
England,
gorgeous
the a
coastline
THE SCARLET HOTEL OFFERS VISITORS A BLISSFUL ESCAPE AND A TASTE OF PERFECTION.
No children are seen yelling
down
the
hall, or racing for an elevator. No loud cell phone rings disrupt
is illuminated, and a unique resort hotel is
the serenity. Peace and natural beauty are left
revealed along the shoreline. While impressive
intact in this harmonious haven known simply
in structure, this graceful building manages to
as The Scarlet.
effortlessly blend with its natural surroundings. The soft sound of crashing waves caresses
To the weary holidayer craving simplicity and
the ears of its dreaming travelers, luring them
tranquility, The Scarlet is the perfect refuge.
awake with whispers of wild ocean air and
Seated regally upon ocean cliffs, each artfully
spectacular sea views. Golden sunlight streams
designed room in this unique hotel faces the
through crystal-clear panes of glass, reflecting
sea, affording a breathtaking visage to each
off quiet pools of water awaiting early risers
and every patron. Quarters are comfortable
longing for a relaxing and refreshing swim.
and relaxing, paying homage to beautiful local
The hotel staff anticipates the unfolding of
craftsmanship and quality modern design.
another glorious day, preparing spa treatment
Every inch of this hotel is both thoughtful and
rooms for the day’s appointments and fresh,
aesthetically pleasing, from the comfort of the
local produce for delicious, gourmet meals.
art-filled library to the soothing silence of the
Library
Spa Treatment Room
TEXT: KARYN LINNELL contributing architecture and design editor
deep relaxation room.
Furnishings
the earth. The building quietly protects
designed to please the eye and perfectly
the surrounding environment, reusing,
support the human frame are found
conserving and maintaining in every way
on sun-kissed balconies near fragrant
possible without causing any noticeable
gardens, soft turf-covered terraces and a
sacrifice to its guests. From the simple
stunning natural pool. Visitors are invited
wisdom of effective insulation to prevent
to take advantage of several nearby
overuse of resources to the contentious
amenities, including surf lessons, kayak
efforts to find new homes for displaced
trips, deep sea fishing and beachside
reptiles during its construction process,
horseback riding, or to enjoy the quiet
The Scarlet chooses to lead by example
of the hotel. Those who wish to remain
in valuing the earth. Water is reused
within the lodging may take advantage
whenever possible, and the safest and
of a massage, facial or other treatment
most efficient fuels sources are always
in the spa, or to renew the body in a
chosen above common methods. The
yoga or movement session. Breathing
Scarlet has been built with the long-term
fresh air and exploring invigorating
in mind and is passionately devoted to
coastlines often whets the appetite. The
ensuring that the beautiful surrounding
Scarlet’s artistic dining room is matched
landscape endures equally as well.
in excellence by the varying gourmet menu, offering the freshest ingredients
There are rare moments in life when
in delicious combinations. Guests will
acting responsibly is synonymous with
find themselves satisfied by everything
pursuing utmost pleasure. The Scarlet
this hotel has to offer.
is a seamless blend of integrity and pure bliss, the perfect location to find
The Scarlet neglects nothing in its efforts
rest, rejuvenation and inspiration. This
to create a lasting impression. While
beautiful hotel in its stunning natural
visitors are free to enjoy themselves fully,
location is a treasure, and one that
careful planning has allowed the hotel to
can and should be experienced and
ensure that no responsibility is neglected,
appreciated over and over again.
especially the responsibility to care for
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