Furniture

Architects, it seems, are increasingly interested in transforming a building's use without making permanent changes to the fabric itself. If the BEEBOX we covered in January (a sort of drop-in, self-contained office desk) is exhibit A, then B is an altogether grander intervention. A design team led by Tokyo's Masatomo Kojima has cooked up ROKU Edogawa, a flexible aluminum structure designed to transform any interior space into a cafeteria.  Read More

Upcycling is an often overlooked method of creating something worthwhile and usable from things most people would happily bin. Thankfully a select few designers are taking the practice seriously, and incorporating it into their work. One of the best examples comes from Andreu Carulla, the Spanish designer behind The Stooler, a simple tool which enables almost anything to be turned into a chair.  Read More

Chuck is a flexible shelving unit by Natascha Harra-Frischkorn that can be considered either functional art or artistic furniture, depending on your point of view. The idea behind Chuck is a set of shelves that can be adapted to its owner's changing needs, with the six shelves literally able to be bent and shaped to your whim.  Read More

In cities where ever-growing populations need to be squeezed into the existing urban sprawl, living space is at a premium. This means more and more people are seeking (mainly out of necessity) dual-purpose furniture that saves space by transforming to fulfill different needs at different times. The aptly-named Convertible Sofa from Julia Kononenko is the latest attempt to fill this emerging need.  Read More

Working exclusively indoors obviously has its advantages, but it isn't completely free of annoying issues. During the winter months especially, the lack of sunlight and absence of nature can have a depressing effect. One solution may be to bring the outdoors indoors, which is exactly what Daniel Zeller has tried to achieve with his Terrarium Desk.  Read More

Thanks to the prevalence of powerful laptops and cloud-based infrastructure, dreary office cubicles can increasingly be jettisoned in favor of dynamic spaces which encourage collaboration and innovation. The Pop-Up Office installation by Dubbeldam Architecture and Design is an example of this, delivering an office space concept which seeks to re-invent the workspace for the Post-PC era using reclaimed wooden pallets.  Read More

Researchers have created a prototype armchair designed to take care of the elderly by giving them health and fitness advice ... and even a workout. Developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS) in Germany, the GEWOS (Gesund Wohnen Mit Stil or Healthy Living With Style) armchair looks like an ordinary, comfortable chair. The difference is that it contains sensors built into the seat cushions, backrest and armrest that measure the heartbeat and oxygen saturation of the seated person, along with an integrated rowing machine that can get you exercising on the spot.  Read More

New York, Paris and Milan have fashion weeks, but this year during a cold week in February, Stockholm hosts a design week where you can view the latest offerings from Scandinavian artists, designers and architects. The event showcases the latest design must-haves for the archetypal loft apartment, in addition to some impressive art installations, and proves that there is more to Swedish design than IKEA flat packs.  Read More

If you're working from home, the first thing you need is a good environment in which to operate, whatever the task at hand may be. Lots of space isn't a must, but a solid desk, a comfortable chair, and a distinct lack of clutter are all necessities. Homework, by Slovakian designer Tomas Kral, is an attempt at marrying the need for practicality with the need for calm, cleanliness, and everything being in its right place.  Read More