IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2016 - 10

WORLD VIEW |

A Global Tour of Trends

From HUTONGS in Beijing to
MIDCENTURY furniture in Amsterdam
LONDON,
ENGLAND
Breaking the Mold
Jesmonite-a smooth chameleon material that can
replicate virtually any surface, color, or texture-was
invented in the United Kingdom as a lightweight
alternative to fiberglass. It was initially used for modelmaking by palaeontologists
or replicating ultra-fine
plaster on historic buildings.
For a recent Bloombergsponsored design show
in London, designer
Kim Thomé made
colorful seating by
mixing jesmonite
with leftover powder
from toner cartridges.
Meanwhile, surface
manufacturer Heliot & Co. introduced
highly intricate geometric tiles from the
material. And artist Hilda Hellstrom
used it to create sculptures for the lobby
of London's Ace Hotel.

By | Emily Brooks

BEIJING,
CHINA
Reinventing the Hutong
Beijing is better known for
luxury-branded mega-malls than
niche boutique venues. But the
city's hutongs-narrow lanes
fringed by courtyard houses
in districts such as Gulou and
Xiang´er-are now providing the framework for a more
personalized approach to retail and hospitality.
Hotels, concept stores, and art spaces now blossom behind
the facades, with architects and designers making the most of
the contrast between old and new. Chinese firm Arch Studio
inserted curving glass walls to contrast with ancient beams and
brickwork in a teahouse, whereas design firm Office AIO's
tiny coffee shop covers the traditional high-pitched ceiling of a
hutong house with gleaming white tiles.

MONTVALE,
NEW JERSEY, USA
The Chosen Color
Paint company Benjamin Moore is
betting on a bold color to make a
big splash in 2017. In October, the
company named Shadow-a rich
amethyst-as its 2017 Color of the
Year. The draw, according to creative
director Ellen O'Neill, is the dramatic
statement it makes. "I've been
over neutrals for a long time," O'Neill
told Architectural Digest. "I've seen people tiptoeing back to color
for a few years, but for some reason it feels very right now. ... There's
something about the drama, and I don't know if that's political-the way
we're tuned in every morning for the latest breaking news-but right
now, people are just thriving on drama." Shadow, however, may have
some competition for 2017's top hue, as other paint companies
have released their bids for the next Color of the Year, including:
Byzantine Blue (Glidden), Cloudberry (Olympic), and Poised Taupe
(Sherwin-Williams).

perspective

iida.org/perspective

COPENHAGEN,
DENMARK
Midcentury Reboot
Danish brands are bringing long-lost
seating back into production by
reintroducing some classic designs.
But instead of aiming for the homebuyer crowd, manufacturers are setting their sights on the
corporate world.
For example, at Copenhagen's 2016 North Modern trade
show in August, furniture manufacturer Fredericia featured its
reissued No. 1 sofa (a design from 1955 by Børge Mogensen) in a
mocked-up hotel lobby setting. Other midcentury reboots at the
show included Onecollection's France chair (a Finn Juhl piece
from 1956) and Paustian's Arctander chair (designed by Philip
Arctander in 1944).

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2016