The Monthly Edit | May
Our round up of fresh ideas and fabulous finds for the month ahead.
Read: Bertoia, The Metal Worker
Fans of modernism will delight in this new book on the work of Italian-born American designer and artist, Harry Bertoia. Perhaps best known for his furniture designs for Knoll and Ray and Charles Eames — including the famous steel lattice Diamond chair for Knoll — Bertoia’s oeuvre extended to jewellery (he made wedding rings for Ray Eames) and in his latter years, stunning metal sound sculptures, bronze fountains and even altarpieces.
New now from Phaidon, this in-depth volume is the ultimate resource for all things Bertoia, spanning the designer’s early years, when he moved from Italy to Detroit as a 15 year old and studied painting and then jewellery design through to his time at the Cranbrook Academy of Art where he met the Eames duo and Florence Knoll before moving to California.
Bertoia: Metal Worker bookcover
The Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia, manufactured by Knoll
Harry Bertoia photographed by Joe Munroe, 1942
Watch: Abstract: The Art of Design
If you haven’t yet seen this excellent documentary series on contemporary design of all persuasions add it to your must-watch list now. From stage design to graphics, architecture and interiors this Netflix production delves into the lives, philosophies and inspirations of some of the design world’s leading visionaries.
There’s renowned Danish architect Bjarke Ingels who invites us into his studio to tell the story of his “yes is more” approach to design and his rise to star-chitect fame. Interiors doyenne, Ilse Crawford reveals the genesis of her now famous human-centred philosophy of design while German-born, New York based illustratorChristoph Niemannshows how sometimes the simplest ideas can have the greatest cut-through — check out his super cool Sunday Sketches hereand cover designs for the New Yorker magazine here. The standout in the series for us however is the work of London-based stage designer Es Devlin whose creations for the likes of Louis Vuitton and pop stars Beyonce and Lorde are quite literally out of this world.
Abstract: The Art of Design
Christoph Niemann, illustrator
Es Devlin’s stage set for Kanye West
Experience: Casa Perfect New York
Right now in America, interior design is experiencing something of a renaissance. One of the leaders of this new wave of contemporary energy is The Future Perfect. The brainchild of entrepreneur David Alhadeff the idea began as a gallery-meets-retail space filled with of-the-moment furniture and homewares. It’s since evolved to include collaborative pieces with like-minded designers such as lighting maestro Lindsey Adelman and a new conceptual space, Casa Perfect.
Like a modern-day house museum where everything you touch or recline on can be purchased, the first Casa Perfect was launched in LA in 2017 and just last year was moved to Elvis Presely’s former home in the hills of the famous Trousdale Estate.
Featuring unique new and vintage pieces Casa Perfect LA mixes art, furniture and objet into a home-like environment (if you were a Hollywood reality TV star with a bottomless bank account and excellent taste). And now, as of March 2019, New Yorkers can sample the Casa Perfect experience. The East Coast version, like its Californian counterpart, is a reflection of its locale and a rich source of super chic design. It’s appointment only so book well in advance.
Casa Perfect, New York
Casa Perfect, LA
Casa Perfect, NLA