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design speak: campaign furniture + prizmic & brill

I’ve never heard of the term campaign furniture until last year when I came to know about the brand Prizmic & Brill. I don’t think we’ve covered that furniture style in any of our history classes (unless I wasn’t paying attention in class and missed the discussion altogether, tsk tsk).

If you’re familiar with the movie Out of Africa (below), starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, the film features typical campaign furniture since the story depicted the African Colonial life during the British Empire.

Campaign furniture refers to those knock-down (whose parts could be disassembled for packing) and foldable furniture pieces designed for travel, especially during the eigteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The term “campaign” refers to military campaigns, even those as early as the time of Julius Caesar, whose traveling armies required furnishings that can be easily folded or dismantled, packed, and carried off on the march.

However, it was only during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries of the Georgian and Victorian periods that campaign furniture became popular and stylish. These periods saw the rise and expansion of the British Empire especially in Africa and India. As high-ranking British officers were sent off to military campaigns, they demanded to have the comfortable lifestyle that they have been accustomed to at home even if they were living “under the canvas” (in a camp). This demand encouraged British furniture makers to produce a kind of furniture fit for this new class of traveler. (info based on Wikipedia)

Campaign furnishings are still being manufactured today as a type of period style furniture. I know that Prizmic & Brill is a brand that specializes in such pieces. But it was only last month, during MyHome’s photo shoot in their store in Greenbelt, when I learned that Prizmic & Brill is a local brand after all. This Pampanga-based furniture manufacturer has been around since 1986. Initially, they were just producing campaign style trunks and accessories. Later on, the brand eventually ventured in the production furniture pieces and interior accessories.

Prizmic & Brill is located at the 3/F of Greenbelt 5 in Makati. Visit their site HERE for more details.

Watch out for MyHome’s July 2010 issue where I’ll be featuring Prizmic & Brill’s pieces for a home-office-under-the-stairs in the Space Starter’s section.

design speak: coraline’s queen anne style

Coraline is a fantasy/horror novel by Green Guide’s favorite author, Neil Gaiman. Last year, it was adapted into a stop-motion film directed by Henry Selick.

I got to watch the movie, but the weird plot, which somehow reminded me of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, left me a bit confused. What I particularly enjoyed, however, was the quirky, sketchy style of the animation. This is courtesy of Jon Klassen, who did the design and illustrations for the sets and the props.

One of the settings is an old Queen Anne style (English Baroque) house, where Coraline and her parents moved into at the beginning of the story. I love how Jon Klassen made the perspectives of the interiors of the house. They were very detailed with characteristic features of the Queen Anne style—dormer and bay windows, decorative casings/mouldings for the walls and ceilings, use of patterned wallpaper, and furniture pieces with cabriole legs and vase splat back for the Queen Anne chair (chair of bottom image below).

 He even had illustrations for the furnishings and accessories of the home:

The colors used are also consistent with the period style: sienna red, hunter green, burnt yellow, and muddy brown.

Jon Klassen has several other fascinating works including this year’s animated winter olymipcs commercial. CLICK HERE to view the rest of his illustrations.

*images via Jon Klassen’s website

design speak: a new outlook for the new year

Happy new year everyone!

When I was thinking for a post to welcome the new year/decade, I remembered the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster that I have been seeing everywhere. I think it’s very appropriate considering the local and global tragedies that we have been through during the 00s. The past 10 years were not that nice, to say the least. In fact, Time Magazine even dubbed it as “The Decade from Hell”. 

I first noticed the poster in Heima in Cubao X.

Initially, I thought it’s just one of the latest statement posters created in line with the graphic trend leaning towards statement products. But when I googled it to find other related pictures, I was brought to a website with the same name, keepcalmandcarryon.com.

Apparently, this is not ”new”. It was one of the propaganda posters commissioned by the British government during World War II.

I guess, after 71 years and long after WWII, the message is still relevant. From the walls of Britain, the poster has made its way to our homes and spaces as a source of daily inspiration.

Again, from all of us here in Design Folder, have a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous 2010! Keep calm and carry on.

design speak: zen design

Zen design has been very popular from the 90s until today. Because of its simple, bare appearance, Zen has been often associated with modernism and minimalism. It is also linked closely to Asian aesthetics. However, Zen is much more than that. In fact, minimalism is only one feature of Zen design.

Zen is based on the principles of Zen Buddhism–rooted in India, developed in China, and flourished in Japan. (I won’t elaborate on its historical background because, I have to admit, I am not an expert on this.) Following the philosophy, Zen design is focused more on spatial composition directed towards creating a meditative atmosphere. For this reason, the design theme is not limited to the use of bamboo, buddha figures, and asian details.

Zen is famous for its clean and minimal appearance. This is based on the belief that gives importance to the essence of emptiness and subdued visual appearance. The concept is equated with the traditional Japanese philosophy stating that “life on earth is merely a phase in man’s total existence”, and that space is a temporary shelter for the body and should not be a showcase for materialism. In relation to its Buddhist roots, the feature of emptiness also allows for meditation, a key practice in Zen.

Another important feature of the design theme is its preference for nature and natural materials, motivated by the animistic principles of of the Japanese religion, Shintoism. It believes that man and nature are one and that spirits reside in all of nature including rocks and trees.

To create a Zen space in your home, here are the main ingredients:

1) Emptiness: A space that is calm and clear. In short, going down to the bare essentials–NO to clutter, unnecessary decor, vibrant color palettes, and dynamic linear elements.

2) Conscious awareness: A sensual space that subtly triggers the senses of sight, touch, smell, hearing, taste.

3) Nature: Even if the space seems empty, it is made alive by the spirit of nature through the use of natural materials for the surfaces and decor and by incorporating a view of the outdoors.

4) Meditation: Apart from the minimalist surroundings, a single focal point in a room is helpful in achieving a meditative space.

design speak: art nouveau

Last week’s design speak (scandinavian design) was fairly easy. But during last saturaday’s meeting, Ms. CFO pitched in a challenging topic for the section–art nouveau! All i could remember about that period style is Antonio Gaudi and his “skeletal” forms, tiffany lamps, and the Whiplash motif (yes, images of the Whiplash Dancers in a variety show made me remember that, haha!). This means I need to do some notebooks-and-handouts digging. Blag.

Art Nouveau (“new art”) was a radical design movement that started in the mid-1880s as a reaction against the plainness of the Arts and Crafts movement. (maybeI’ll do another post on the arts and crafts movement for design speak next time)

But like the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau embraced the idea of avoiding historical allusions in favor of creating new forms through abstraction and stylization. In contrast, Art Nouveau is more feminine being fluid and curvilinear in form, using sinuous lines often referred to as the Whiplash motif. It turns to nature, particularly plants, to find basis for their design and decoration. It also favored the use of machines in creating their designs, which allowed them to use cast iron and come up with complex forms in bigger applications.

Some critics say that the movement was not able to produce a real architectural style, only highly decorated structures. Instead, Art Nouveau flourished in the designs of interiors, fine arts, and the applied arts. Aside from the whiplash curves, Art Nouveau is also noted for adopting oriental motifs.

For architecture and interior design, Antonio Gaudi is one of the more popular names associated with Art Nouveau. His design for the Church of the Sagrada Familia is a noted Art Nouveau piece.

His furniture pieces are also quite interesting, very biomorphic in appearance. I remember my professor pointing out that his designs often resemble the skeletal form.

Of all the designers from this era, I think the most famous name is Louis Comfort Tiffany. Who doesn’t know the tiffany lamp? His workshop, Tiffany Studio, was the one who created and popularized the series of stained glass lamps. They are still popular right now especially for period style  and eclectic interiors. However, art historians recently found out that L.C. Tiffany was not the one who personally designed the Tiffany lamps.

Today, the style is rarely used as the main design theme for an interior because, even before, it has appealed only to a select few. I guess too many swirling lines can make anyone dizzy! The application of the style nowadays is usually limited to the design of grilleworks, furniture, and accessories.

There you go. My Cliff Notes version of Art Nouveau!

design speak: scandinavian design

What is Scandinavian design?

 To many, Scandinavian design is synonymous to popular brands like Ikea 

…and Pergo.

But for the more knowledgeable architects and interior designers, you would hear them associate Scandinavian design with such names as Alvar Aalto

…and Arne Jacobsen, iconic designers whose furniture are still in production and are very much in demand.

In my opinion, Scandinavian design, as we know it today, is more of a school of thought than a stylistic expression. The form and style of designed spaces and products are, I guess, incidental.

It originated from Scandinavia, the European region consisting of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as well as Finland. It started out as a design movement during the Modern Era, around the 1930s to 1970s. Center to the design are the modern concepts of practicality, simplification of form, and affordability. These are based on the belief that good design should be made available to everyone, not only to the wealthy few. That’s why a lot of designers concentrated on creating everyday domestic items—furniture, fabrics, lighting, and ceramic & glass wares (think Ikea).

Come to think of it, these are the same reasons why many people love Ikea products—their designs are straightforward and practical. They use forms and patterns that are unique yet very classic, and most importantly, they are verrry affordable. Like what Scandinavian designers would say, it’s good design for all.

Shopping in ikea is like shopping in SM department store, only with better options! I especially love their lamps and their fabric choices. And also their printed table napkins (which i also use as gift wrappers, hehe).

The features of Scandinavian designs are simple and uncomplicated, with stylized forms and patterns, and practical functionality. There’s also an extensive use of form-pressed/laminated wood, plastics, anodized or enameled aluminum, and pressed steel for the materials. All these contribute in making it possible for the designs to be mass produced at a very low cost, making them accessible to everyone.

As for interior spaces, contemporary Scandinavian design uses a lot of whites in order to maximize the small amount of natural light that they get. Gray-toned pastels are also popular. Interiors are usually characterized as simple, sleek and airy (because of all the whites and pale neutrals), with “blonde” wood floors (white pine, ash, and beech) and, sometime, hints of bright colors to break the light interiors.

If you want a simple, uncluttered look without the cold, sterile appearance of pure modern styles, Scandinavian design is an option.

Want to know more? Check out this site: www.scandinaviandesigncenter.com