L'Oiseau from Vitra

Today is my Mum's birthday and the family all gathered together on the shortest day yesterday to celebrate the grand occasion. Several birthdays ago, we gifted Mum the Eames House bird from Vitra, something that she loves and had admired for years previously. So this year, we gave her the latest version - Vitra's L'Oiseau (french for 'bird') designed in 2011 by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Made from solid maple and sanded smooth, this delightful creature is so lovely to hold and you can't help but admire the simplicity. It looks good wherever it may be placed. Happy birthday Mum!

Photographs via Vitra

The FvF Apartment, Berlin

I have recently stumbled upon this online publication, Freunde von Freunden (FvF) - which is an international interview magazine that features a diverse range of creative people in their homes and working environments. It is a great read and introduces real people from different cultures, cities and artistic industries around the world.
Last year FvF collaborated with Swiss  furniture manufacturer, Vitra to set up The FvF Apartment. This is a similar set up to Studio Ilse's The Apartment in Copenhagen and the VitraHaus + Artek with Studio Ilse in Weil am Rhein - this time, the FvF apartment is located in Berlin and "is a physical expression of the online publication". The vibe is youthful, relaxed, multi-functional and stylish. "The apartment has been designed to be fully adaptable to the diverse and often unexpected scenarios of everyday life, reflecting how a creative, mobile and digitally orientated generation lives." This has also become a venue for events, workshops and presentations. Looks good to me.

Photographs via FvF.

VitraHaus + Artek with Studio Ilse

The living room of fictional characters, Harri and Astrid

Now this is a great collaboration that I am loving! Located in Weil am Rhein, a German town close to the borders of Switzerland and France, is VitraHaus, a building designed by Herzog and de Meuron, which displays the vast and amazing range of products from design company, Vitra.
The display spaces are regularly changed and the latest makeover is a reflection and celebration of Vitra's latest acquisition of Artek. Bring in Ilse Crawford from Studio Ilse into the fold and this is the great result. They have created a loft apartment for a creative fictional couple called Harri, a musician and Astrid, a set designer and their spaces are filled with aspirational pieces from the Artek range, founded by Alvar Aalto and Vitra. What a great way to display the furniture rather than behind glass as art pieces and clearly Harri and Astrid have done very well for themselves to have a stunning loft filled with design classics like this! Ah, one can dream - I'd move in in an instant!

Astrid's work bench

A quiet corner to ponder

 

The joint desk in the studio where Harri and Astrid can work at either end

 

 

The dining room

 

The drinks trolley and the piano are ideal for parties

 

 

Harri's piano and easel

 

 

 

Photographs by Felix Odell via Wallpaper and WeHeart.