VitraHaus + Artek with Studio Ilse

The living room of fictional characters, Harri and Astrid

Now this is a great collaboration that I am loving! Located in Weil am Rhein, a German town close to the borders of Switzerland and France, is VitraHaus, a building designed by Herzog and de Meuron, which displays the vast and amazing range of products from design company, Vitra.
The display spaces are regularly changed and the latest makeover is a reflection and celebration of Vitra's latest acquisition of Artek. Bring in Ilse Crawford from Studio Ilse into the fold and this is the great result. They have created a loft apartment for a creative fictional couple called Harri, a musician and Astrid, a set designer and their spaces are filled with aspirational pieces from the Artek range, founded by Alvar Aalto and Vitra. What a great way to display the furniture rather than behind glass as art pieces and clearly Harri and Astrid have done very well for themselves to have a stunning loft filled with design classics like this! Ah, one can dream - I'd move in in an instant!

Astrid's work bench

A quiet corner to ponder

 

The joint desk in the studio where Harri and Astrid can work at either end

 

 

The dining room

 

The drinks trolley and the piano are ideal for parties

 

 

Harri's piano and easel

 

 

 

Photographs by Felix Odell via Wallpaper and WeHeart.

Ilse Crawford Speaks

Ilse Crawford is one of my favourite interior designers - and here are two great videos where she talks about two past projects and what she believes makes great interior design.



Crawford makes a great statement about places being more like a home, on a more domestic and 'human' scale - her examples of the office environment and how the spaces could be better utilised for interaction and working comfort is an excellent reference. I agree that it is the human use of the space that informs the practical side of the design.
She talks again about the human quality in the next video - about how the power of interiors can enhance the senses and create an experience.




See the cool Mathias Dahlgren restaurant and food bar here.
Videos via YouTube.

Velvet Curtains

Velvet curtains in High Road House, Chiswick by Ilse Crawford.

Velvet curtains at Two Two Six Hollywood Road, Hong Kong and Kranzbach Hotel, Bavaria - both by Ilse Crawford.

Soho House, Berlin via Remodelista

Last week, I showed my clients some velvet fabric as a possibility for curtains in their home. I found these visuals to demonstrate how great they can look. 

More of Ett Hem Stockholm

I previously posted about Ett Hem Stockholm, a Swedish luxury 12 room hotel, in May last year and I came across these extra images that show more of the interiors - such an array of furnishings, materials and rich details. Designed by Ilse Crawford of Studio Ilse, Swedish architect, Anders Landstrom and hotel owner, Jeanette Mix, Ett Hem Stockholm is about "feeling at home, but ten times better".
Photographs via Architectural Digest Espana.