Productive Spaces – Art and Design from Krefeld / Exhibition 26.03. – 10.09.2023

The exhibition „Productive Spaces“ at Haus Esters is dedicated to the lively design and art scene with a connection to Krefeld.

More than 60 renowned,  local and international designers and visual artists have participated in this exhibition with a total of 54 positions and around 90 exhibits in Haus Lange, Haus Esters and their gardens. The flowing spatial concept of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was taken into account in the conception of the exhibition. The Bauhaus-inspired BAU door handle for the Italian company Olivari and the PLAY side table for Cork Units complement the presentation in these special rooms with their geometric straight lines. Our organically shaped Lunaria luminaires and our Bramble vases connect to the surrounding garden landscape, which is omnipresent through the large modern windows the buildings are known for.

We are delighted to be part of this special opportunity and recommend the recently published publication accompanying the exhibition.

Der Beitrag EXHIBITION – PRODUCTIVE SPACES erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Design Studio Niruk has created baskets for Bolia. The Bramble vase, the Lily candleholder and the Lunaria pendant light are now followed by the Tulip range of baskets.

Nina Ruthe and David Antonin from Design Studio Niruk continue their collaboration with Bolia: consisting of three different designs, the new Tulip range of baskets is made of 100% palm leaves and is woven by hand.

Pure harmony: using traditional weaving techniques, with Tulip, Design Studio Niruk once again prove their passion for craftsmanship and natural materials, and in keeping with Bolia’s standards, Tulip is produced by a certified manufactory. The storage objects made of palm leaves are characterised by a perfect harmony of look and feel, aesthetics and function. Visually simple and homogeneous, the baskets are smooth and of high tactile quality. Their pleasant and soft, slightly curved shape combines with a firm weave and a waterrepellent surface structure.

Sculptural tulip shape: the Tulip range of baskets consists of three different sizes of tulip-shaped baskets, which together or as solitaires make for special interior objects. What they all have in common is that the lower part of the basket is round and bulbous in shape, while the opening has a slight outward curve.

Der Beitrag NATURALNESS IN A SIMPLE FORM. erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„CORCRETE is a special material, both in terms of visual and tactile qualities – and it is also an alternative to conventional materials.“

Nina Ruthe and David Antonin use their curiosity and intuition to develop an exciting materiality in their designs. In this project, they also developed a new material: by combining the contrasting qualities of cork and concrete, the design duo created their own natural-looking material for interior design and architecture. Originating from the attempt to make concrete lighter, over the years, the material development has been perfected and the process patented. A process influenced by many internal as well as external test series, which revealed unimagined potential.

Back in 2016, CORCRETE won the Biennale Interieur Kortrijk Award as well as the Green Product Award and Green Product Traders Award in Stockholm, reaping praise for the successful combination of aesthetics and innovation. Multifaceted in its variety of uses as well as in its visual and tactile qualities, this material is the ideal protagonist for contemporary interiors and individual as well as unusual projects. Following an intensive development phase, the main focus centered on finding the right production partner – a complex and demanding task.

In 2021, the designers came into contact with HARTIS: in addition to a passion for craftsmanship, manual work and innovation, the Belgian family business has a distinctive and long-term track record of projects that involve natural stone, terrazzo and concrete. In HARTIS, Nina and David have found like-minded material enthusiasts. The result: tailor-made solutions including comprehensive advice on project planning and technical implementation for a wide variety of interiors.

„We especially want to reach architects and interior designers with the special aesthetics of the material for the implementation of their projects. Because: CORCRETE is versatile and can be used in interiors as floor and wall covering, as well as for furniture and surfaces. CORCRETE is unique and distinct, just like every project.“

But what makes CORCRETE so special? It seems familiar – but atsecond glance it’s surprising. While the material initially looks like terrazzo, on closer inspection, it reveals a more natural appearance. The first touch of CORCRETE also imparts an unexpected sensation: it feels velvety and warm. The natural material cork unfolds its unmistakable visual and tactile aesthetics in combination with the cool concrete. Also special: the hidden structure of CORCRETE – just like terrazzo. It is only when the cast surface is sanded that the added granules become visible and create the beautiful, vibrant terrazzo effect.Compared to conventional concrete materials, CORCRETE is around 40 percent lighter thanks to the addition of cork granulate from Portuguese cork production; in addition, much less sand, an increasingly scarce resource, is needed in the production process. CORCRETE is produced in white, black and grey. There are no standard dimensions – because every CORCRETE project is unique and is planned and implemented exclusively for and with the client.

An example reference: the VEJA headquarters in New York. The sneakers label also follows sustainable principles in the design of its interior – natural, aesthetic, casual and appealing. Custom-made sideboards and a bench made of CORCRETE complement the interior designed by the Brooklyn-based architecture firm JDY, giving the space a unique look and feel. Find out more about CORCRETE at www.corcrete.de

Der Beitrag MATERIAL INSPIRES OUR SENSES erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Elegant, natural, pure. LUNARIA is not just a luminaire – it is a luminous object. Unique in its free form, it is both sculptural and light. Designed by Nina Ruthe and David Antonin for the Danish manufacturer Bolia, it is a product that perfectly captures the essence of DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK.

In the beginning, there was a rattan cane, a material the studio loves to work with – and which has unique properties in terms of how it can be bent. The special shape of LUNARIA was created from a single piece and, in the course of the design process, developed into a bent metal frame. Covered with a delicate fabric, it creates differently shaped surfaces, gently diffusing the light through space. LUNARIA is a shape-shifter, appearing, depending on the viewing angle, in different forms.

„In the design process, we like to use materials that, first of all, allow us a free approach to finding the form. We do not follow any predefined plan or technical drawing. This playful approach was also the starting point for the design of LUNARIA. Following an initial intuition, the design was refined in terms of form and, considering technical feasibility, perfected down to the last detail.“

LUNARIA is the first luminaire by NIRUK. A special milestone in the portfolio and a positive challenge in terms of implementation. In addition to the designers’ subtle and elegant signature style, LUNARIA is characterised by its materials. For both the design studio and for Bolia, the focus was on durability: the fabric is not only OekoTex certified, but also removable and washable. The fabric and the metal frame come flat-packed to avoid unnecessary packaging waste and to save resources. Choosing the right fabric was the biggest challenge for the two designers: it had to be stretchy, supple and translucent – but not too transparent. When choosing the right materials for their products, the two materials experts use their profound knowledge of the field, which they have accumulated over the years: effect and workmanship – traditional and industrial. Working as a tailor was a new role: a precise pattern was created for the lampshade and the unique expression of LUNARIA with its different surfaces was defined in detail.

The luminaire‘s namesake is the plant of the same name: Lunaria, also known as silver leaf. The iridescent shapes of the seed pod can be found in the luminaire’s unique silhouette. The delicacy and shape of Japanese paper lamps provided additional inspiration for DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK. The Lunaria pendant is available in three different sizes and works beautifully as a single light or as an ensemble.

Der Beitrag LUNARIA erschien zuerst auf niruk.

With the LILY candle holder, NIRUK has created a design that  looks equally at home on elegantly set restaurant tables as in cosy living areas. The polished stainless-steel version emphasises a festive, luxurious ambience, while the brushed version of LILY is a little more subtle. Thanks to the design style, which is both curved and organic, and yet very graphic and clear, the candle holders can be arranged in straight rows or in more playful, freely distributed configurations. 

The initial impulse for the design process of LILY was artistic and intuitive. It was based on simple strips of paper, the ends of which the design duo joined together to form a round opening at the top. The long leaves of the iris, whose upper tip naturally bends downwards due to their weight, served as inspiration. The shape bent from a strip of paper with a round opening was developed by DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK into the idea of a candle holder: the designers gently pressed the resulting loop against a flat surface, thus creating the base. Thin metal sheet was used to evaluate the design’s stability. As a shape-retaining and fire-resistant material, metal also lent itself to the final design. Moving from a dimensionally stable, functional prototype to a balanced design, 3D models were used in the further course of the process. These were particularly helpful to the designers in their evaluation and guided the process from artistically intuitive to a technically accurate and detailed finished product. 

„We looked very closely at the relationships between open and closed surfaces. For LILY‘s balanced appearance, characterised by a special lightness, we coordinated all relevant parameters in interaction. To achieve a natural harmony between material thickness, weight and height – both for a single candle holder and for an ensemble.“ 

Der Beitrag BALANCED ELEGANCE OF LIGHTNESS. erschien zuerst auf niruk.

For the second time DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK’s exhibition „Diving into processes. Materialising ideas.“ was presented to the public. In a small gallery in the heart of Ehrenfeld, one of Cologne’s vibrant districts, visitors could experience the product designs, material studies and the latest prototypes of the designer duo. From inspirations and experiments to real product ideas, the exhibition was filled with a personal touch and visitors were given the opportunity to get an insight into NIRUK’s way of working.

A warm thanks to all visitors, Büro Sabine Voggenreiter, German Design Council and Stadt Köln for their great support!

It was an eventful PASSAGEN DESIGN WEEK KÖLN 2019!

Der Beitrag PASSAGEN 2019 – INTERIOR DESIGN WEEK KÖLN. erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Inspirations. Ideas. Experiments. Three elements of design that are at the focus of the work by Nina Ruthe and David Antonin, showcased at Biennale Interieur at Kortrijk, 18 – 22 October 2018. The design duo develops its own materials, always keen on thinking outside the box. Over the last few years, the designers have thus created surprising objects with a very special appeal: from playful glass objects and minimalist mirrors to sophisticated pieces of furniture – NIRUK’s work not only focuses on the results of clear design, but also on the production process. The playful treatment of reflections, textures and material qualities characterises the designers’ method. For the first time, the duo provides a deeper insight into its approach and, alongside ‘free to edition’ product designs, showcases the creative process in its ‘Material Lab’. It’s almost as if you’re getting a glimpse into their studio located just outside Cologne.

„You are warmly invited to meet us at Biennale Interieur 2018. Come and immerse yourself!
We are looking forward to welcoming you!“

Der Beitrag An Experimental Design Process – NIRUK GOES KORTRIJK erschien zuerst auf niruk.