Tuyomyo: Dangerously sleek

Frank Gehry's Tuyomyo project with Emeco for The Hereditary Disease Foundation is a sleek bench that is almost more of a sculpture than seating. Named Tuyomyo (Spanish for “Yours and Mine”), this is the second time Emeco and Gehry have cooperated on a project.

This smooth, sexy and rather risky design is made from 80% recycled, tempered aluminium, accurately polished by hand...as Gehry said, "The form has to be free and light. It must be structural, and at the same time poetic. And a little dangerous."

The Armadillo Chair : a new experience in the interaction between people and laminate

Wilsonart® Laminate is respected for its strength and durability. The unconventional manner of Designer Aodh Odonnell to create intrigue and curiosity in the use of laminate was manifested in The Armadillo chair, celebrating the strength and durability of Wilsonart® Laminate.

An inviting texture is created through laminate shingling over a curvilinear form. Each shingle is in the image of the Wilsonart® sample chip celebrating the laminate. The Armadillo Chair describes the possibilities of a new experience in the interaction between people and laminate to further inspire innovative surfacing techniques for Wilsonart® Laminate.

“The fact is, environmental responsibility is a policy to us, not a one-time project. Manufacturers of materials have a need for design; design that utilizes their material. This truth exists for several reasons. If you manufacture material what is the best way to present it? Showing the patterns of material is one way, but in today’s design world very few are interested in mere pattern; It limits your appeal. Most designers want to be shown new ways to use the material. And it is here that our adventure begins...”

All Wilsonart® Laminate product types have been awarded the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification from the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. The certification ensures that homeowners and design professionals can specify a low-emitting surfacing product.

Surreal and fun lighting design by Ali Siahvoshi

Taking ordinary objects and morphing them into zany but desirable light fixtures is the signature style of designer Ali Siahvoshi. Born and raised in Iran, Ali was forced to abandon his studies when revolution in 1979 led to the closure of the country’s universities. Instead he started working in the sign-making profession, which he says triggered his creativity. The infamous Iran-iraq war eventually saw him moving to England where he completed a BA in Graphic Design at London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, followed by an MA in Industrial Design. In 2004, he jjoined the British European Design Group (BEDG) and through them has exhibited his work on many international shows. While studying, Ali became very interested in working with everyday objects, transforming them into lighting fixtures.

“My products, such as Umbrella and Cutlery are not the expected form of stylishness. Instead, they represent design with a sense of humour, which brings these objects closer to the audience”, he says. “I love giving energy and charm to something very ordinary.”

His products Flying Robert ( a chandelier made from 10 standard-size umbrellas manufactured by Antology Quartett in Germany), Table Lamp (again by Antology Quartett) and Hungry ( a ceiling llight constructed from 115 pieces of cutlery, manufactured by Fabbian, Italy) are three that are manufactured and sold worldwide. All manner of household bric-abrac is made use of.....other projects include Souvenir- a wall mounted light made from crockery, where dinner plates can be grouped to create a light feature of any size. Cascading Hangers is a piece made from dispo-sable wire coat hangers and CCF tube light.

Rewiring is an installation created from 1,000 wire coat hangers and five Edison bulbs, where the hangers actually serve as the wires supplying electricity to the bulbs. Call Me Light sees a chair leg turned into a wall light, while Ali’s installation Funnily features stacked plastic funnels artistically arranged, and Hammered is a ceiling light made from 42 different types of drinking glasses.

Things that used to go vrommm

CoveringsETC, the innovative manufacturer of the ECOverings line of floor, wall and countertop materials, extended their range of 100% recycled and 100% recyclable sustainable materials with Bio-Luminum!

Born from an unexpected, source the aluminum in these unique tiles comes from reclaimed aircraft parts. Until now, aircraft aluminum has been left to the “bone yards” due to the lack of ways to successfully re-purpose it.

The alloys that lend structural strength to aircraft parts make them impossible to recycle by traditional processes. CoveringsETC melts the reclaimed aluminum into blocks which are then cut into slices (much like the process used to cut quarried stone). The previously unusable aluminum waste of un-recyclable aircraft material is thus kept out of the junkyard or airplane graveyard, providing not only a viable product but distinct aesthetic aluminum tiles with an industrial flavor.