Dwell Oct-11

Comeback Kids As sputtering false starts to this editor’s note prove, honing in on the exactitudes of American design is no easy task. Like most other aspects of our culture, our design runs the gamut. With some 300 million people spread out over 3.79 million square miles, you’re going to run into some differences. For contrast, look at Finland, a nation renowned for its straightforward design sensibility. There, you’ll find a mere five million souls occupying some 130,000 square miles, most of which is left to the reindeer. About a fifth of the population lives in and around Helsinki, the capital, so it’s no wonder they can all agree on using blond birch. But back Stateside, what’s tops in Toledo may not pass muster in Muskogee, and might not even…

I enjoyed the Beach Houses We Love issue (June 2011). However, you need to present more ideas about beach homes built above the ground. Too many are built on the oceanfront and at or near sea level, the result of which can be and often is disaster. The home on our oceanfront property in a rural part of the Big Island of Hawaii will, per building codes and common sense, need to be built off the power grid and well aboveground. Greg Druehl Menlo Park, California On the opening page of In the Modern World in your June 2011 issue you have a great photo of an environmental art piece. My first-grade son has just completed a homework assignment to make a robot out of recycled items. Because of my…

David Robert Elliot David Robert Elliot, a photographer based in Chicago, drove the short distance to Pilsen, Illinois, to shoot the Vintage Bazaar (Design Finder, p. 130). “Traveling is great and I love it, but it’s also nice to be able to work in town and meet people who share the same city,” Elliot says. “My only regret was that I didn’t have any time to grab some vintage stuff of my own.” Brent Humphreys Brent Humphreys, an Austin-based photographer, shot the nearby home of Anne Suttles and Sam Shah (Off the Grid, p. 62). “I had long admired the house from the outside but was absolutely blown away by the craftsmanship and the details inside,” he says. When not shooting, Humphreys is busy restoring his home and documenting the…

Consider it an experiment in truly industrial design. Fifteen designers took on the challenge to produce prototypes using off-the-shelf manufacturing parts sourced entirely from the venerable McMaster-Carr catalog, which has been selling hardware for over a century. A warehouse in the NoHo Design District displayed the “McMaster-pieces,” and the hot spot for emerging talent offered an amalgamation of melted pipe fittings, affixed stickers, riveted leather, screwed nuts and bolts, lit wicks, and more. A. Smolten Mirror by Cmmnwlth commonwealth.nu B. Oil Lamps by Karl Zahn oboiler.com C. Clock by Timothy Liles timothyliles.com D. Tote Bag by Alissia Melka-Teichroew byamt.com E. Chess Set by Bec Brittain becbrittain.com…

A. Déchirer Tile by Patricia Urquiola for Mutina A muted color scheme lets the vaguely pixelated pattern of Patricia Urquiola’s large-form ceramic slabs shine —–figuratively. The bas-relief appears to be pliable, but in reality the rock-hard surface is built tough enough for high-traffic floors or accent walls. mutina.it B. Prototype Lamp by Matt Gagnon Matt Gagnon spent five days as window dressing during Design Week. The designer stood in the front display at the Future Perfect shop in NoHo, treating passersby to a live demonstration as he created his signature Prototype lamps out of materials such as wool yarn, cotton rope, and surgical tubing. mattstudio.com C. Trash Me Lamp by Victor Vetterlein for & Tradition This rough-hewn lamp may look like a brutalist’s best friend, but it’s really more like…

Bow Bins by Cordula Kehrer for Areaware The juxtaposition of natural rattan sustainably harvested in the Philippines against pop-colored plastic bins proves that opposites attract, and cut quite an attractive profile when combined. areaware.com Jupiter Scrap Lights by Graypants The duo behind Graypants studio are often found scouring Seattle’s streets for unblemished cardboard boxes—–the material that provides the structure for their signature fixtures. Laser-cut and fire-resistant, the corrugated orb pendants are upcycled odes to responsible design. graypants.com War Craft Coffee Table Wearing Dazzle by Uhuru Design When painted large on the exterior of a warship, the black-and-white stripes on this low table “dazzle” and confuse the eye of the enemy. Uhuru used teak from the deck of an authentic World War II vessel to create a collection inspired by the…