DESIGN STORIES DESIGN TROTTER Interview with Kengo Kuma France, Austria, Portugal, Interview with Anne Démians

DESIGN STORIES Please, have a seat Interview with Kengo Kuma Happy Nancy Interview with Anne Démians DESIGN TROTTER Volcanic icon Time for some Hausmusik Museum pieces Contemporary tempo Virtuous tropics /// TRENDS BY DELABIE 18, rue du Maréchal-Foch — 80130 FRIVILLE — www.delabie.com Publication director: Bertrand Margot; Editorial director: Delphine Bussière; Design: California Agency; Editing: Adélaïde de La Bourdonnaye; Layout: Franck Valayer; Photo credits: DELABIE, Harry Bertoia, Lorraine de Boisanger, Knoll, Alvar Aalto Foundation, Maija Holma, Sonia Laudet, Claudia Lorusso, Rudy Ricciotti...

UNION The boundaries between Ar t, Design and Architecture sometimes seem intangible. But one thing is sure: the three disciplines continually challenge each other, allowing us to evaluate each action we perform with intelligence and good taste. While humankind's impact on our environment has forced humility upon us, design has taken awareness on board. “All art is but imitation of nature,” as Seneca said. Experience, especially in public spaces, must be functional, accessible, smooth and coherent. To inspire us, it must also create rupture, catch us by surprise, sometimes amuse us and, of course,...

NATURE NATURAL DEFERENCE When design goes organic, it reconciles Humankind, Nature and Object. Now it's over to intuition, emotion and experience. Right angles and ruptures make way for soft, enveloping natural curves; tantalizingly tactile. Like at Fallingwater, one enters into a perfect communion with one’s environment. The watchword is symbiosis. 1. Stainless steel ALGUI washbasin and TEMPOMIX 3 time flow mixer, DELABIE 2. Diamond Chair, Harry Bertoia | 3. Vase Savoy, Alvar Aalto | 4. Nostalgia Pivoine hanging light, Sonia Laudet 5. Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park, Eduardo Josué Contreras...

/// DESIGN TROTTER / Aix-en-Provence — France Aix-en-Provence — France / DESIGN TROTTER /// ICON 6MIC AIX-EN-PROVENCE (FRANCE) RUDY RICCIOTTI SHARING GOOD SEISMIC VIBES Not far from Montagne Sainte-Victoire, a strange rock emerged from the earth two years ago in Aix-en-Provence: 6MIC, an extraordinary 5,000m space housing two concert halls for modern music. A massif draped in raw concrete designed by the father of Marseille's MuCEM, the daring Rudy Ricciotti. 6MIC – a place where the public can meet up and discover emerging and recognized artists – leaves no visitor stony-faced. This unique Salle...

TAP TECHNOLOGICAL GEMS CONCEALED WITHIN THIS SLEEK AND ELEGANT ANGLED TAP. BENEATH ITS "HANDS OFF" AIR, BINOPTIC 2 IN FACT HAS A GREAT SENSE OF RESPONSIBILIT Y. These are electronic basin taps that combine innovation, simplicity and a taste for Beauty. In terms of hygiene, it is an open-and-shut case: no manual contact, anti-bacterial proliferation duty flush and an integrated reduced stagnation solenoid valve. Savings-wise, they are true pros: with automatically regulated flow which reduces water consumption by 90%. And finally, their allure is flawless: three finishes to choose from (brushed,...

DANCING SEVENTIES Design can be playful. Fifty years on, it is reopening the 1970’s discotheque. When texture prevails over form and comfort becomes non-conformist, esthetics have fun. We are guests at the 50 wedding anniversary of ochers, bright colors and geometric motifs. A free extravagance which we now appreciate in its serene maturity. 1. Teapot, Paola C. | 2. Brandy table, Numéro 111 | 3. Ligne Roset, Philippe Nigro 4. FINO stainless steel urinal and TEMPOMATIC 4 electronic urinal valve, DELABIE 5. Ball Chair, Eero Aarnio Design

/// WHAT'S HOT / Kortrijk — Belgium Kortrijk — Belgium / WHAT'S HOT /// HAVE A SEAT VAN MARCKE COURTRAI (BELGIUM) WIM VAN HEEKE INTERIOR DESIGNER WIM.TERIOR WONDER WONDERFUL It was in Kortrijk, a UNESCO Cultural City of Design, that the Wonder Creativity Festival took place. Since our physical social lives were wiped out during Covid, the theme for the 2 was meeting up again. “Please have a seat” was the festival mantra. A concept taken at face value – albeit daringly – in the washrooms. supposed to be inspirational and arty, the challenge is huge. Van Marcke, washroom fitter and owner of the...

/// DESIGN TROTTER / Salzbourg — Austria HAUSmusik HAUS FÜR MOZART SALZBOURG (AUSTRIA) WILHELM HOLZBAUER AND HERMANN & VALENTINY Salzbourg — Austria / DESIGN TROTTER /// The theater was constructed within the walls of some former baroque horse stables in 1925. The original inspiration? Nothing less than the prestigious Vienna State Opera. At first an intimate setting, the theater was enlarged in the 1930s, before being totally redesigned by our architects in the year 2000. The auditorium was shortened, widened and lowered, then given two levels of balconies on either side. Here, the architecture...

SHOT WINNING HYGIENE BY LOSING TOUCH! AND JUST AS WELL BECAUSE THIS WAS MADE TO BE TOUCHED WITH EVERY THING BUT THE HANDS. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST: OPINIONS WON'T BE MIXED WITH THIS SEQUENTIAL MECHANICAL MIXER. There's no skimping on hygiene! First, an adapted lever activated with the elbow or wrist. Second, reduced bacterial proliferation thanks to its spout with a smooth internal tube that limits stagnated-water volume. Third, a tall mixer perfect for the addition of an antilegionella point-of-use filter. All with no risk of scalding, thanks to its sequential system. A bonus? Beautiful finishing...

Interview with Kengo Kuma / DESIGN STORIES /// /// DESIGN STORIES / Interview with Kengo Kuma KENGO KUMA Cocoon-structing with Nakabashi, Japon ENVIRONMENT, DECIDEDLY MODERN LINES. SINCE HIS These days, the boundary between artist and architect is becoming blurred. DEBUT, THE MULTIPLE AWARD WINNER, ARCHITECT OF THE JAPANESE NATIONAL STADIUM IN TOKYO FOR THE 2020 OLYMPICS, THE AIX-EN-PROVENCE CONSERVATORY AND THE HARUKI MURAKAMI LIBRARY IN TOKYO, HAS BASED HIS PRACTICES ON NOBLE PRINCIPLES. Albert Kahn Museum, France Your career as an architect has been long-lasting. With the benefit of hindsight,...