The Monochrome Collection Brings a New Appeal To Aluminum

Aluminum in its rawest form has a very industrial aesthetic, which is the beauty of the Monochrome line by Chinese designer Ximi Li for his own design-led brand URBANCRAFT. Moved to challenge conventional processes and explore the uncertainty of materials, he showcases the malleability and flexibility of aluminum in the Basics collection for Monochrome, which consists of a bar table, dining table, chairs, and other pieces. The series is extremely straightforward due to the avant-garde application of technique so that you can see exactly where the bends and welding marks are created.

The streamlined designs have a raw yet elegant quality to them due to the sinuous lines that train the eye to follow the silhouettes. The natural form of welding scars are a unique characteristic of the collection, highlighting how and where the aluminum parts come together. Although the series appears primitive, there is precise consistency and intention throughout the design expression. The simplicity of the materiality allows the collection to adapt well to both indoor and outdoor settings.

For more information on Monochrome, visit urbancraftdesign.com.

The Latest From Il Giardino di Corten Makes Their Debut at Maison&Objet

Looking to experience the outdoors in an unexpected way? We’re exploring Italian brand Il Giardino di Corten’s new steel solutions that made their debut at Maison&Objet earlier this month. The brand has introduced many of us to the regenerative abilities of Corten steel, a noble, versatile, and sustainable material. Corten steel transforms with weather conditions, location, and usage, while remaining maintenance-free – even after a long outdoor season. The material is also fully recyclable, giving everyone reason to stop and consider how it might be used in your next project.

La Stanza Che Non C’è (The Room That Isn’t There) is a versatile garden structure with a myriad of possible uses. Transform it into a study, a relaxation room, a sauna, and more. It’s a great space for people of all ages, with the design allowing for the customization of dimensions, finishes, and accessories. Additionally, La Stanza Che Non C’è can be disassembled, is self-supporting, and not anchored. In some cases, this translates to not requiring special authorization for installation.

When configured as a sauna, La Stanza Che Non C’è gives you the benefits of a Finnish retreat in your own backyard, in any season or weather conditions. The basic version is fitted with a front glass wall and door, and can accommodate up to six people. A mid-size model can fit up to eight individuals, and is equipped with a larger changing room that’s separated from the space by a tempered glass door. Choose to integrate a Bluetooth audio system, stove protection, a call button, and infrared protection to further personalize your space. The largest version can become a biosauna, providing lower temperatures – around 50°C – for a more moderate steam bath that’s similar to a Turkish steam room.

An outdoor kitchen and bar are a luxury, and with Convivium you’ll have all the equipment and space of a traditional indoor kitchen available to you. The modular setup made of Corten steel works with the design to accommodate cooking, serving cocktails, and easy cleanup in all weather conditions. Equip yours with an electric, gas, or charcoal grill, and with a wooden cutting board. Large storage compartments allow you to store plates, glasses, and more, while the countertop can be accessorized with spices racks, ice buckets, and cocktail trays.

The Convivium cocktail station basic set is equipped to serve as a bar, and includes a stainless steel sink and retractable tap. The connecting pipes can be hidden in the supporting legs and the top can be overlaid with a teak, beech, or Teflon working top.

A pair of Corten steel and leather outdoor armchairs – Cuordicuoio – are both comfortable and refined in woven and smooth versions. Large wooden armrests provide space for a book, a glass, or a smartphone. Amazingly, the leather has been treated to withstand the elements, allowing the armchairs to placed anywhere you please outdoors.

The e Biscotto Set includes four pieces: a round table and three matching stools. Thin but resistant, the Corten steel tops and legs give added character to the harmonious group. Lightweight in nature, each stool is designed with a cutout that allows for easy repositioning.

Looking once more to the perfectness of the circle, the Thebes Archimedes Set of cylindrical planters appear all but visually suspended in midair. The set includes planters in three different diameters and heights, each supported by thin legs. Able to be used indoors or outdoors, the trio employs a water collection system that keeps potting soil moist.

Finally, Sassopasso uses Corten steel to create a walkable path. Available in four shapes – round, oval, irregular, and heart – as well as custom made, the pieces are easy to transport and don’t require any preparation of the area before installation. The individual plates are so flat that a mower can be driven right over them when doing lawn care, and over time they’ll blend in with nature more and more.

To learn more about Giardino di Corten’s outdoor solutions, visit ilgiardinodicorten.it

The Les Mille et Une Nuits Workplace Collection Turns Matisse 3D

The task of translating a masterful painting into three-dimensional objects is no small feat, as Guillaume Delvigne can likely tell you. Created for Maison Matisse, the French designer reimagined Henri Matisse’s 1950 painting “Les Mille et Une Nuits” into a collection by the same name for today’s workspaces. These are the first office accessories being offered by the brand, and they are functional, versatile, and expressive. Les Mille et Une Nuits, the collection, made its debut in Paris at Maison & Objet, January 18-23, 2023.

“It was really important for me that the results were not rigid, because that would not have been in the spirit of Matisse, and to instead create movement and make the collection dynamic,” says Delvigne.

He borrowed the essence of Matisse’s painting, particularly the original scissor-cut shapes and bold fields of color, to design the office collection. Using blocks of sliced cork, a very sustainable material, stools, trays, shelves, and more, soon took their forms. Veritable 3D objects of the artist’s paper-cuts!

To learn more about the Les Mille et Une Nuits collection, visit maison-matisse.com.

The Oblong Collection Is Minimalist-Maximalist Defined

Istanbul-based design studio SANAYI313’s solid wood Oblong Collection is defined by bulky forms and rounded corners. Stools, consoles, low coffee tables, side tables, and a dining table – all made in Istanbul – take on the studio’s “maximalist expressions in minimalist details” approach. The rich woodworking history of the city was put on display for the collection’s launch, with the high-end furniture photographed at a local dyehouse for an industrial background. This, too, is a nod to Istanbul and one of the city’s best-known monikers: The City of Contrasts.

Fashion industry transplants, SANAYI313 has translated their minimalist-maximalist aesthetic to residential design. Tastemakers with their finger on the pulse of the city, the brand publishes its own yearly style magazine – PAPER – highlighting cultural hotspots and emerging personalities. SANAYI313 also operates a canteen that serves up “nouveau Turkish” fare and a design store adjacent to its studio.

To learn more about the Oblong Collection, visit shop.sanayi313.com. It is available for purchase through LOVE HOUSE and 1stDibs.