Bright Futures

We're pleased to introduce the 13 designs that were selected for Interior Design's Future Furniture juried exhibition at the 2001 Chicago Design Show.

Staff -- Interior Design, 11/1/2001 12:00:00 AM

Coosh Egg Chair and Ottoman: As an artist and designer, Andrea Valentini has always been intrigued by underutilized materials. Case in point: the foam that informs this sculpturally dynamic chair, which Valentini says is an "object that represents the natural form through industrial material." Andrea Valentini, 28 Selkirk Road, Providence, RI 02905. www.andreavalentini.com.

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Barge: Made of EVA foam, fiberglass, and plywood coated in urethane, this interactive sculpture for lounging was inspired by the modular furniture and environmental furniture-scapes of the '60s and was originally developed by the Rockwell Group—specifically David Rockwell, Jun Aizaki, Kimberly Silvia Hall, and Sam Trimble—for Pod restaurant in Philadelphia. Rockwell Group, 5 Union Square West, New York, NY 10003. www.rockwellgroup.com.

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Modern Tradition: Garth Roberts says he liked the notion of pairing the "warmth of something rococo with a very modern material, like AstroTurf." The rug, which features a variety of textures and pile heights, was prototyped in 2 ft. by 3 ft., 4 ft. by 6 ft., and 8 ft. by 10 ft. Group Inc., 47-25 35th Street, U-409, Long Island City, NY 11101.

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Rolling Office Partition: Made from EMT (electrical metallic tubing) typically used for electrical wiring and deli awnings, this unit provides a solution, according to designer John Hartmann, for offices with a "freelance mind-set" and need for flexibility. The modular armature supports file cabinets and is sheathed in vinyl, which can display graphics reflecting the identity of the company. Freecell comprises Hartmann, Lauren Crahan, and Troy Ostrander. 147 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002. www.frcll.com.

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Squish Sink: Joel Hoag wondered why bathrooms, which are sanctuaries of a sort, are always equipped with fixtures that are so hard and cold. His sink basin, made of silicone, challenges convention by being unexpectedly soft, flexible, warm, and inviting. (Hoag is part of the design collective Elseware.) 65 Hope Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

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J Side Table: Made from heavy-gauge steel with a powder-coat finish, this alternative bedside table was designed by Daniel Heighes Wismer and Gregory Dufner. According to Wismer, the piece is "not based on a volume, but rather a single plane that bends to create all the necessary surfaces." The top can be kept free of clutter, while odds and ends can be stashed beneath. Dufner Heighes, 233 East 5th Street, 9, New York, NY 10003.

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INvisible Chair: Michael C.H. Graves, with input from On Ki Cheng and Jeff Hannoosh, designed this truly refined chair made of a silk-screened, molded plastic seat and a mild carbon steel frame finished with an aluminum powder coat. DesignTOC, 50 White Street, New York, NY 10013. www.designtoc.com.

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Two-Way Table Series: Jennifer Carpenter says Truck Product Architecture avoids the pitfall of either "designing something to death" or creating a product that is "too simple and cold." These tables, assembled by the receiver who can flip-flop the bases at will, are made of Baltic plywood, aluminum, leather, and recycled leather pulp. Truck comprises Carpenter, Kristen Aronsson, Rob Rogers, and Jonathan Marvel. 145 Hudson Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10013. Tables also available at Spacial Etcetera, 199 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

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UM Felt Light Baffle: Making fluorescent lighting appealing is no easy task, but Anthony Caradonna, Anita Cooney, and Evan Douglis of AC/2 Studio proved up to the challenge, with an attractive fixture that not only softens harsh glare, but also absorbs ambient noise. AC/2 Studio, 526 West 26th Street, Suite 705, New York, NY 10001.

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Douchaise: Daniel Harper's unassuming chair is actually home to a carnivalesque collapsible shower. The design grew out of Harper's notions about the ideal bathroom, which he imagined as a place where one is cleansed inside and out and receives great relief. While whimsical in nature ("Kids like it," Harper admits), the product could have practical applications in unconverted loft spaces. (Harper is part of the design collective Elseware.) 65 Hope Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

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Arac Stacking Chair: Designed by Isabelle Moore, this delicate meeting-hall stacking chair was conceived as a draped single-alloy sheet and can be finished in a choice of powder-coated colors. Isabelle Moore, 251 West 26th Street, 5, New York, NY 10001.

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Composite Architecture: This innovative hybrid unit was designed by su11 Architecture + Design to respond to the blurring of boundaries between working and living spaces. Su11 comprises Ferda Kolatan and Erich Schoenenberger. Commissioned by Wilsonart International. su11 Architecture + Design, 368 Broadway, Suite 512, New York, NY 10013. www.su11.com.

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Cross1: This piece developed after Douglas Fanning started to ask "What is surface?" He chose to eliminate the top surface altogether and celebrate the frame instead. DYAD Studio, 14 Verona Street, #3E, Brooklyn, NY 11231.

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