Helsinki Design Week

To mark 100 years of diplomatic relations between Finland and Spain, the Spanish embassy in Helsinki and its ambassador, Manuel de la Camara, have set up a collaboration project in the form of a « Design Embassy », combining the talents of the Finnish designer Mikko Laakkonen and the Spanish designer Andreu Carulla to furnish part of the embassy’s offices at Villa Himberg, created by Aarne Ervi in 1954.

This project, currently in its first phase, also involves two manufacturers, one from each country. On this occasion, Made by Choice www.madebychoice.com / Instagram: @madebychoice and Mobles 114 www.mobles114.com / Instagram: @mobles114 have been chosen to carry out the project.

   

Mikko Laakkonen set up his own studio in 2003 and specialises mainly in producing everyday objects.  His designs have been exhibited extensively throughout Europe, the United States, China and Japan. He has won numerous international prizes, such as the German Design Award (2017), Turkey Design Award (2016), Good Design Award (2016, 2015 & 2010), Muuuz International Award (2014), Finnish Designer Awards: Furniture Designer of the Year (2014), Red Dot: Best of the Best (2013) and the Young Designer of the Year prize (2009).

www.mikkolaakkonen.com / Instagram: @studiolaakkonen

Andreu Carulla set up his own studio in 2006 in Banyoles, Spain and has worked for clients such as MUJI, IDÉE, Nani Marquina and the Celler de Can Roca. His studio has won several prizes, such as the Red Dot Design Award: Best of the Best (2015), Silver ADI-FAD Delta Award (2016), Nomination for the German Design Award (2018), INTERIORES Young Talent of the Year (2015) and ELLE DECO Best Spanish Designer (2012). His work has been published in various magazines, such as Dezeen, Monocle, Wallpaper and Surface.

www.andreucarulla.com / Instagram: @andreucarulla

The « Design Diplomacy » collection was presented during Helsinki Design Week 2018 and the items created now form part of the Spanish embassy at Villa Himberg in Helsinki.

Mikko and Andreu began the project by researching into the cultures of their respective countries. After pooling their know-how and studying the raw materials typically used in each country, they reached the conclusion that wood, clay and cork had to be the materials for this collection of side tables and stools.

Finland is immersed in the Taiga, a biome that boasts some of the most extensive forests in the world, while Spain has a long tradition of working with terracotta and cork and the province of Girona in particular (where Carulla was born) is famous for its « black clay », fired in kilns using evergreen oak, the tree that also produces cork.

Nikko and Andreu discovered a common ground which led them to design universal creations that make the most of each country’s prime raw materials. The result is a series of two pieces: a stool inspired by the typical wooden water buckets used by the Finns in traditional saunas and a side table with a black clay base and wooden top that fuses perfectly with the material of the base, which in turn forms part of the top.

3 days of design

3 Days of Design is the Denmark’s most important design event, with the participation of more than 60 showrooms all over Copenhagen.  The most important Danish brands, as well as the Swiss and Italian embassies, the Institut Français and the Embassy of Spain display their respective designs.

In this edition, the Spanish Institution of Foreign Trade (ICEX) led the iniciative ‘Spanish in Danish’ , with the participation of nine Spanish firms: Capdell,  Mobles 114LzfAkabaVondom,  IsimarSancal,  Dac rugs i Huguet. The show was commissioned by the founder of Earth Studio Eva Harlou.

This has been a perfect occasion to see what’s new in product design and to know about the latest interior designs. The exhibit has brought journalists, buyers, influencers and of course, design lovers.

Mobles 114 has had the opportunity to show part of its chair catalogues such as TUBE by Eugeni Quitllet, GREEN by Javier Mariscal and FORC wooden coatstand, a creation of  Lagranja design.

On the other hand, with the occasion of TRIA shelving system 40th anniversary, Mobles 114 has presented the free-standing version of this iconic design. The uprights are attached to a cross-shaped structure, allowing the ensemble to be steady with no need to drill the wall and, for example, to be put beside a glass wall, or to become a room divider.

 

Mobles 114 in Belgrade Furniture Fair

From 7th to 12th November, Belgrade hosted 55th edition of Belgrade Furniture Fair. The most important events in the Southeast Europe within furniture design, manufacturing and distribution.

The fair is the meeting point of the furniture manufacturers and distributers, engineers, designers, architects and general publics. Young talented designers had its own space. And as a highlight, Design Talks. Hosting many renowned speakers from the whole world.

Mobles 114 had the opportunity to participate on a discussion during Design Talks at the second day. Emko from Lithuania and Gir from Serbia were the other participants. We  spoke about the starts in the design world and furniture production, but also the tradition and heritage, the environment importance in which they create and manufacture, production process and the ideas moving them, innovations and production enhancement, but also the matters unavoidable in the present world, such as environmental protection, recycling and the local resource use.

The event top point is in the Golden Key award, granted by the International Jury to the most successful exhibitors in 2017.

Golden Key for The Best Outdoor Furniture was awarded to the manufacturer Mobles 114 from Spain for Tube Chair Aluminium, design Eugeni Quitllet.

Mobles 114 in Milano: Fuorisalone

Milano is the capital city of design every April. Salone del Mobile capitalizes all the news about furniture. But further from the fair, you can breathe creativity in every corner. Let’s take a walk in Fuorisalone by Mobles 114.

Surface&Interface at Palazzo Litta

Historic palace was the biggest contrast at the exhibition A matter of perception, organised by Damn Magazine. A social point and network where Linking minds, where you can find Surface&Interface. An exhibit curated by RED AEDE in collaboration with Valresa and the support of ICEX, España  Exportación  e  Inversiones.

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New technology Virtual Melt by Valresa allowed the REDmembers to collaborate with designers, illustrators and visual artists to personalize some of their furniture pieces.

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Bendita Gloria studio created an illusory scenario where technology interacted with TRIA by Mobles 114 placing fictitious coasters which question our perception and help us to be tidier. A beautiful way to place the glasses.

Inspired in Barcelona: IN&OUT

Another wonderful building, Palazzo Isimbardi, was home for the exhibition organised by  ACCIÓ (Generalitat de Catalunya) and BCD Barcelona Centro de Diseño.

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Inspired in Barcelona: In & Out‘ showed Barcelona as an open city, an invitation to live outside and enjoy the creative and cultural Mediterranean flair.

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Intercrea UJI, at Instituto Cervantes

Interaction and creative synergy at this project by Universitat Jaume I and Clausell Studio with design students of « Grado en Ingeniería en Diseño Industrial y Desarrollo de Productos ».

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Michael Alexander, Judit Andreu, Vicent Blai, Carlos Joaquín, Joan Martí, Miguel Oury, Alba Puerta, Borja Sánchez, Paula Usó, Núria Vernís and Francisco Viciano presented Line shelve, Obbo umbrella stand, Octa and Ona bins and Ric charging totem; all of them developed thanks to a collaboration with Mobles 114.

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Salone del Mobile Milano 2017

Last 9th April Salone del Mobile Milano closed its doors after 56th edition. Five days of design and furniture as points of interest, where Mobles 114 actively participated.

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The stand placed at Hall 10, designed by Stefano Colli, has been home to the new collection of Mobles 114, with designs by Álvaro Siza, Miguel Milá and the architect Germán Rodríguez Arias which have been reissued to be presented, alongside other contemporary pieces designed by Javier Mariscal, Massana-Tremoleda and Eugeni Quitllet.

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Products like Fil, a lamp that forgoes ornamentation; MMS table, light, small and stackable; adaptable Tombal, both an umbrella stand and an ashtray, and iconic Catalana, which represents the bond that Pablo Neruda and Germán Rodríguez Arias established during the architect’s exile in Chile. New additions to the collection are Green and Tube stools, and Gracia wood.

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A dynamic walking by Barcelona design, accompanied this time by our friends Santa & Cole for the lighting, and greenery Voltasol by livingthings.

It has been a great pleasure to be surrounded by good friends, clients and fans in Milano. Thanks for your visit!

Mobles 114 at InteriHOTEL

From 23rd to 25th November, CCIB Barcelona hosted the event InteriHOTEL, consolidated after 6 years as the most important marketplace for hotel furniture. Mobles 114 has participated thanks to RED, at the RED Lounge created by interior designer Elia Felices.

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Lounge area is the recreation of a real lounge, where visitors and participants were able to chat, meet and have coffee. For this edition Felices wanted to « stay out of the typical idea of a lobby »: it is a patio with two enormous collages, like a lively street. « A space with a funny style, but without polluting the furniture, which is the main character here », she explains. That way she was able to create a collective image, main aim of RED, with the sets of each company as a global identity.

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Mobles 114 chose products marked by metal and wood, raw materials for the novelties 2016.

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Among the chosen designs, Rambla chairs and tables, by Martín Azúa, and Luco stools can be found; Tube chairs by Eugeni Quitllet; and also Forc coatstand by Lagranja Design.

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Photography: Jara Varela

Tube, a new look by Eugeni Quitllet

The design store MODA, in the center of Paris, and the Intramuros space, at Maison & Objet fair, were the two chosen places/spots where we presented Tube: a new collection of chairs designed by Eugeni Quitllet for Mobles 114.

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It was a double celebration: on Thursday 3th, MODA was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special exhibition at the store, and the guests (professionals, architects, designers, journalists, influencers) were found a complete installation of Tube in the front of the store. On Saturday 5th, took place the official presentation of Tube, presented by Eugeni Quitllet with his usual passion and international knowledge, who captivated all: both the fans like the aesceptics.

The curious look of this tireless « dreamsigner » and a speech that reflects their own experiences, without frills or baroquisms, again amazed everyone.

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Since its launch, Tube has collected good reviews and congratulations from influencers all around the world, and national and international journalists have recognized its originality, functionality and commercial possibilities. As Anatxu Zabalbeascoa, one of the most respected Spanish journalists in the field of design, says: « (Tube) is a fearless seat. Iconic and daily chair, which has served to both (Mobles114) key producer of Catalan design -as the Torres Clavé chair for the Republic pavilion in 1937-  and  the designer -conscious but no slave of technology- step forward. Together. Both in the search of a chair which, apart from good-looking, is a comfortable seat even in the most unfavourable conditions”. (El País, 9th September 2015).