ABOUT | The Editions
The Editions is a unique collection of vertical surface compositions designed to function as aesthetic elements within residential office and hospitality spaces. Born out of a creative collaboration with leading designers and architects, each series represents a study of materiality and reinterprets the nature of everyday components of industrial design.
Each of the Limited Edition Series reimagines the physical properties of traditional and industrially produced materials in order to evaluate them strictly on aesthetic grounds. The goal is to develop a new appreciation for functional, everyday raw materials, including steel, terracotta and wool, which before were simply viewed as building blocks of industrial design,
Through a careful and creative approach, works from The Editions Series explore the untapped qualities of materials. Each Edition Series is crafted and manufactured with great care according to the highest standards of Made-In-Italy production. Each series prompts the viewer into a reconsideration of today’s industrial design culture while unlocking the aesthetic potential of common, everyday components.
INDUSTRIAL H
An essential component of civil engineering, the ubiquitous H-beam made from structural steel has been reappropriated from its original function as a basic supportive element into a striking centerpiece, combining a profile in polished metal together with the sides that are left untreated that offer a dull, industrial appearance.
“I wanted to emphasize the impactful shape and primitive beauty of an everyday construction material. It is an important feature when building a home yet it is never considered purely for its aesthetics. The difference between the work of an artist and an industrial designer is that the designer looks to products that can be mass produced, taking into consideration both the manufacturing process and the aesthetics of materials.”
Omi Tahara
GEOMETRY
The Geometry designs disregard the prescribed role of paper as a medium for writing, drawing and painting. Instead of using paper to engage the intellect in a conventional manner, Geometry focuses on the subtle interactions of matter and form.
“By refraining from writing or drawing on the paper, a kind of silence almost prevails. By avoiding these manipulations and instead turning the paper into shapes and compositions, something unexpected comes forth. It is as if the material begins to tell its own story.”
“The apocalyptic All The World’s Futures exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 2015 triggered, or rather, forced me to find a new approach when working with technology, natural resources and aesthetics. My sketches for the Geometry designs were a kind of counteraction to that event – it began a search for something new. Those sketches were actually the beginning of what slowly developed into Design Editions.”
Mikal Harrsen
PHENOMENA COLOURED
Blocks of solid anodized aluminum are CNC-milled at different frequencies to create subtly angled panels that reflect light and color in endless variations depending on the position of the viewer and time of day. The monochromatic color schemes generate a luminous sheen that emphasizes the aesthetic properties of this oft-used industrial design material.
“I explore the potential of aluminum beyond its functional use. My research led me to traditional Japanese folding screens – byōbu – that served as both a furnishing and decorative element. Gold-leaf covered screens would reflect ambient light to enliven interior spaces. I’m interested in creating the same effect but doing it in a more conceptual way, incorporating precise CNC machining that transforms an everyday material of industrial design into an engaging surface.”
Keiji Takeuchi
PHENOMENA BLACK
Blocks of solid anodized aluminum are CNC-milled at different frequencies to create subtly angled panels that reflect light and color in endless variations depending on the position of the viewer and time of day. The monochromatic color schemes generate a luminous sheen that emphasizes the aesthetic properties of this oft-used industrial design material.
“I explore the potential of aluminum beyond its functional use. My research led me to traditional Japanese folding screens – byōbu – that served as both a furnishing and decorative element. Gold-leaf covered screens would reflect ambient light to enliven interior spaces. I’m interested in creating the same effect but doing it in a more conceptual way, incorporating precise CNC machining that transforms an everyday material of industrial design into an engaging surface.”
Keiji Takeuchi
SKYSCRAPER
Through a manual oxidation treatment the natural black iron sheets acquire a somber chromatic pattern. The geometric arrangement of the triangular forms generates a graphic experiment that when mirrored suggests an infinite repetition.
The De Castelli variation is produced in a limited edition of 20 individual pieces; suggested presentation in a diptych composition (2 pieces) or quadriptych composition (4 pieces).
“Essential materials and repetition is often present in my designs. Skyscraper is a geometric interplay that resembles a braided surface reminiscent of collapsing windows and facades on a high-rise building.”
Mikal Harrsen
TERRACOTTA
Made from handcrafted terracotta from storied Italian artisan producer Fornace Curti, a family-run manufacture of cotto lombardo with origins dating back to the 15th century, the elementary shapes reimagine traditional earthenware forms and create a harmonious expression that elegantly balances freedom with restraint.
“I wanted to reaffirm the value of terracotta. Design Editions offers an opportunity to explore the nature of materials in a new context. I selected terracotta for its warmth and the way it beautifully contrasts with the industrially produced aluminum frame.”
Omi Tahara