ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH | designed by Maxim Velcovsky

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH | designed by Maxim VelcovskyWhat a great use of old with new. The Gothic architecture of the church mixed with new classics in design add great visual interest and design. Velcovsky has used the classic Panton chair for Vitra and updated it to fit the aesthetic by turning the mass of chairs as pews. Modifying each chair by adding a small cushion and adding a cut-out of a cross on each chair customize this church.
The continued use of old and new is seen with the use of several oriental rugs to help ground the modern aesthetic of the Panton chairs. The simplicity of this design is what helps make it so bold. The minimalism keeps the grand architecture of the church visible, but complimented by the classic designs. Perhaps the best view of the two styles melding together is depicted in the image below. The minimalism continues to the altar where four simple Eames DSR Eiffel Tower Base chairs sit. Located in the village of Chodovice, Eastern Bohemia this work by Velcovsky is a collaboration with his design studio Qubus. The design is a simple, sophisticated, mix of old and new classics.

Source: qubus.cz

MASTERS CHAIR | by Philippe Starck | for Kartell

MASTERS CHAIR | by Philippe Starck | for Kartell

On the kickoff day of ICFF in New York, it seems fitting to feature this brand new chair by Starck for Kartell. Masters is a chair that pays homage to three classic designs from three of the most iconic designers: Eero Saarinen, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames. Starck says, "We weren't born just today. There were masters before us." Masters combines the lines of Jacobsen's 3107 chair for FritzHansen, the Eames' DSR chair for Herman Miller, and Saarinen's Tulip Armchair for Knoll.

Stark created this chair as part of Kartell's celebration of 60 years of design. Collaborating with Eugeni Quitlet this chair was conceived simply by the linear outline of the three classic designs and combining them not to create a new chair, but another way of looking at these chairs. Masters will be on display at Kartell in their New York showroom this week as they unveil their new designs in the US.
Many might say that this chair is yet another designers failed attempt to create their own designs, which in most cases is true. However, this design only takes the best of these designers and combines them into a single piece, creating a new design, fresh and honoring of the great masters of design. Masters reminds us, in my opinion, of three of the greatest dining chairs designed.

Masters Chair - Image Source: Kartell