#commissions

Works

ZEIT MAGAZIN – FEATHER BALL SET

We have been invited by Zeit Magazin to think about an object, which is made with components of the forest. When thinking about making an object with some connection to the forest, we immediately thought about tools. Maybe it’s something engraved in our Human brain since the Stone Age and, actually, there is no need to avoid it. At the same time, it’s also not so needed to go out and hunt for an animal. So to generate something like a knife could never be part of our plans. Also, when confronted with a task like the one Zeit Magazine gave to us, usually objects like furniture or decoration emerge from designers heads. We aimed to think in another direction and to generate something that could be special, not related with most of DIY projects.

We come up with a “tool for two”. The feather ball set is exactly that: everyone can generate his own and in the end the objects will interact together. It’s fun while building it and it stays fun after.

For these badminton rackets, a thin branch is bent into a semi-circle. The greener it is, the easier it can be bent. Wrap the ends with packing tape, they serve as a handle for the racquet. Then curve a smaller piece of branch into to a sickle and put it with tension in the frame, so that you complete a full circle. Then fix it with tape. For the net you can use narrow strips of sturdy tape that is wrapped around the frame. For the ball you can “waddle” some leafs or small sticks together and add some feathers.

 

CULTURAL DEPARTMENT CITY OF MUNICH – REPLIKA

Replika was a temporary installation of Ayzit Bostan and Gerhardt Kellermann, funded by the Department of Culture Munich. It’s a cooperation between the two artists, the City of Munich and the Bavarian Administration of State Palaces, Gardens and Lakes. 88 Arcades of the famouse Hofgarten Munich have been covered with textile curtains. It was the replication of the Piazza San Marco in Venice into the heart of Munich. Replika was on display from July 20th through October 22nd 2012.

For this art performance, Ayzit Bostan, a fashion designer living in Munich, has worked together with the Munich-based industry designer and photographer Gerhardt Kellermann. REPLIKA has been offered a reward in the framework of a competition of art in the public space „Aspekte der Gestaltung und des Designs im öffentlichen Raum“, that was organised in 2011 by the cultural department.


The installation “REPLIKA“ took up the idea of duplication or deferral of a generally known picture to another place within the city of Munich. The historic tradition of copying Italian architecture in considerable edifices of Munich, as e.g. the Feldherrnhalle as a replica of the Loggia die Lanzi in Florenz is continued in time with “REPLIKA“. The Hofgarten of Munich was presented as replica of the Piazza San Marco in Venice – the two artists reproduced the well-known waving curtains of the arcades of Venice for the Hofgarten of Munich. The 88 arcs within the arcades of the Hofgartenarkaden have been mantled with light curtains. The draperies showed changing movements – thus constantly changed reviews and spatial images have been created.
The textile works “REPLIKA“ plays not only with the aspect of architectural borrowing but also with the creative means of disguising and discovering and, linked to that, with a new spatial perception of one of the best-known public places of Munich. Despite of the seemly simple creative measure, the arcades have been emphasized a new within the architectural concept of the Hofgarten thanks to the installation and have been perceived a new. For the passengers within the arcades, the installation „REPLIKA“ was an open, playful invitation into the Hofgarten, a request to discover this public place and to perceive him again.

SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG MAGAZIN – DIY LIGHTS ABC

Objects always enable different utilizations and functions than the ones they were designed for. A chair was obviously designed to seat on, but depending on specific and momentary needs, it can become something totally different. For instance, it can easily
become a step ladder or even a coat hanger. The user perceives the object characteristics and uses it for the problem he faces.

The photographic diffusers and reflectors are technical objects, tools, created to manipulate the light in a scene, and they come in different sizes. We thought about using them in domestic pro- poses, instead of professional ones, for lamps, instead of projectors, as a functional and graphic elements, rather then technical tools.

In our opinion, there are two types of interesting DIY projects: the ones you build by following instructions, and the ones that inspire you to design your one creations. But really important, in both cases, is the “keep it simple”, with reachable techniques and raw materials.

SZ Magazin DIY Lights ABC are our solutions and we give you instructions to rebuild them. Who knows how interesting it could be if one starts to create the versions d, e, f, and so on.

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WIRTSCHAFTSWOCHE – DEUTSCHE BAHN ADD-ONS

ADDING SIMPLE CONTEMPORARY SOLUTIONS ON DEUTSCHE BAHN TRAINS

On Behalf of the Magazine WitschaftsWoche, three international Design Teams were asked to create new logistics, attractive interiors and contemporary facilities for the railway of the future. By definition, an ADD-ON is an optional module which is expanding an existing hardware, generating new functions. It can be seen as a backpack which is installed over a certain platform and can be removed or replaced at anytime. Adding, but without compromising the basic usage of the platform in question.

ADD-ONS are a simple, fast and economic approach for the upgrade and modernization of existing trains. Only by long periods of operation, trains duch as the Ice Velaro become economical for companies. That’s why new developments and investments in future train models are rare. With the example of the Velaro individual options, called ADD-ONS, are presented in the following project. They allow passangers a modern and attractive train journey without the need of high investment costs and effort on the part of the transportation company.

The newest generation of trains have to forsee changes is society before, and offer solutions for the next decades. But who can estimate how the European Economy and Transportation will change in the next ten to twenty years for modern travelers? When the Velaro was developed, the producer created a modular system. This complex system offers a kind of flexibility. But it’s not serving the travelers, it serves the producer. It’s a technical system, which can be adapted to different railway frameworks. Because of this system, the velaro can react to country specific requirements like rail width, different signal systems or other diverse technical specifications. So the Velaro can be operated in Spain as state-train (RENFE), in Russia as SAPSAN, in Turkey as Velaro TR or in China as CRH3. The user, in our case the traveler, has not that many benefits. He has to sit in a twenty year olf train, is fighting with his smartphone to find a network, is fighting with his neightbor for a electric plug or is searching for a proper and comforable position to have a small nap after a long working day.

Numerous services of the Deutsche Bahn like a smartphone app, revised card machines, bahncard offers, a own Bahn Magazine, Online-Tickets or selected menu offers by famouse cooks, are already in use. We are talking here about services, but there was no change or improvement in the “hardware” so far. Because this is expensive, the trains haven’t be developed to adapt to changes in the interior.

The concept of ADD-ONS consists of individual elements. They are build/added onto trains or their interior. They offer targeted solutions without the need of large investesments and intense developments. The ADD-ONS can react quickly to the rapid development in passenger transport, their problems and requirements. We limited our work to three examples, suggestions resp. ADD-ONS for three observations. From small ones like a head-rest to a capacitive recharger for electronics to a complete waggon. The obeservations are divided into three themes: Resting and Sleeping, Working and Entertainment and Rail travel as an experiance.

 

 

OBSERVATION – resting and sleeping

While traveling by train, there are certain possibilities to occupy yourself. One of the most common is sleeping. Current trains make it quite difficult to find a pleasing position for this “task”. The current blue pillows, with their white “napkin” should suggest a pleasant and clean comfort. But reality is quite different. They are way to flat, stiff and don’t look clean. They could also be just a print on the seat and it wouldn’t make a difference. It’s really hard to find a reason for this object. So the first ADD-ON we suggest is a adjustable neck restm made out of flexible rubber, produced via RIM-molding. It would be easy to clean and the production technique gives the opportunity to insert a simple adjusting mechanism. The neckrest would be mounted on the existing chair and with the adjustable “ears” it provides a certain privacy when collapsed.

OBSERVATION – working and entertainment

If your seat neighbour is not sleeping, he is definately typing and swiping on one of his smartphone, tablet, phablet, kindle or laptop. These devices need to be recharged, the problem: There are way to less power supplies and if you find one, you should be the lucky one not to forget the recharger when you leave the train. Meanwhile more and more devices support induction recharging. Starbucks is working on a integration on wireless induction recharging stations in their coffe tables. Apple introduced with the Apple Watch induction recharging for their next devices. Ikea launched a induction recharging system for home use. There is this tiny little detail in the folding table, we mean this round embossment in the surface. It’s made for plastic cups and Coke tins. While they have served their usage their raison d’être has been replaced by mainly closed PET bottles. Why not changing or updating this detail of the folding table? The ADD-ON would be a capacitive charging unit. A imprinted surface or colored insert would serve as indicator for the charging position. When a device is placed on this position, the recharging process starts.

OBSERVATION – rail travel as an experiance

As soon as you enter a speed-tain like the Velaro, you find yourself in a surreal atmosphere, which seems hermetically sealed. Narrow passaged are transforming the train into a sitting-tube. A air conditioning system provides artificial, clean, fresh air and you rush up silently to 300 km/h through the landscape. The relation or feeling for the journey is lost and a look through the window seems like a boring and abstract movie. If you don’t sleep or look at one of your devices, not that much remains to do. To leave this boredom and surreal world, we suggest our last ADD-ON. A fresh air and panorama compartment could help. Big windows, road noise and a circulating fresh air stream conveys the reference to the outside. The train travel becomes an experiance. Ventilation slots in the bottom of the side wals provide air circulation. Large windows counteract the constricting tunnel effect of the seat compartments. Mirrored doors increase the spatial effect of the compartments. Temporary standing seats are used for a short stay.

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