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.

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.

„Porcelain is a high-quality and durable material. Pure white and with transparent glaze, it has a very purist look. With this classic, white finish, the material itself – the porcelain – becomes the protagonist. But colours and glazes are also an exciting option for this material. We particularly like porcelain because it is so simple and elegant.“Fine. Smooth. Pure. Porcelain possesses a special materiality. High-quality and long-lasting, for centuries it has enjoyed incomparable significance in design and everyday culture and it is the protagonist of the most diverse product applications. Its impact resistance makes it durable; its appearance evokes a clean feeling. Different manufacturing processes – such as casting, extruding, rolling or pressing – provide a wide range of creative options. In recent years, Nina Ruthe and David Antonin from DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK have researched the material, approaching it with a great deal of sensitivity and patience in collaboration with traditional manufacturing partners. Three products were created that will celebrate their premiere this autumn. Varying in form and function, they demonstrate the manifold applications of porcelain.

Clay, quartz, feldspar: these raw materials are ground and mixed with water to produce porcelain. Cast, extruded, pressed:

„Each manufacturing process requires a specific composition of ingredients for the porcelain mass and also individual specifications for further processing. This involves a lot of research, testing and know-how, as well as a good collaboration between the designer and the porcelain manufacturer who implements the design,“ say Nina Ruthe and David Antonin, explaining the challenges in the design process with porcelain. Whilst sharing similar manufacturing processes and the classic white appearance, in terms of application, the resulting products are very varied.

Teapot warmer CALM Soft and flowing. Like a nest, the round organic shape of the CALM teapot warmer catches the candlelight, creating a calm and inviting atmosphere. A particularly friendly companion for the cold season. CALM is produced using a traditional casting technique. The metal holder for the tea light creates a material contrast to the white, pure porcelain and is designed in such a way that teapots of different sizes can be placed on it. The CALM teapot warmer is now included in the product portfolio of the traditional manufacturer KOBER Porzellan. ‘Made in Germany’ from fine porcelain and durable metal. www.enterporcelain.de

Door handle BAU A new symbiosis of materials: porcelain-coated brass. With BAU, a special door handle has been created for the Italian handle manufacturer Olivari. Inspired by Bauhaus architecture and the industrial manufacturing process of extruding porcelain in strands, BAU is characterised by a very graphic design vocabulary. NIRUK has carefully chosen the materials for interior and exterior use: Porcelain does not change its appearance even after decades of use and retains a pleasantly smooth surface. It is also easy to clean and particularly hygienic. While developing a uniquely attractive patina due to oxidation over time, brass is also very durable and stable in quality. Both materials have their fine quality in common. BAU was created as part of the ENTER_PORCELAIN project launched by KOBER Porzellan and Olivari: 10 renowned design studios worked intensively with porcelain in combination with brass. The focus was on an innovative use of these materials in the design process for a door handle – for unconventional design concepts and manufacturing possibilities. All prototypes were presented in a special exhibition during Milan Design Week at Palazzo Litta in 2019. Of all the submitted designs, the BAU range by DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK was selected and will be produced by Olivari. BAU will be exhibited and presented to the public at Supersalone 2021 in Milan. 05.-10. September, Pav. 02, Corsia L18, Quart. Fiera Milano, Rho

FUNNIES Collection Elephant, hippo, owl. For porcelain specialist KOBER, Nina Ruthe and David Antonin revived the legendary FUNNIES. A redesign based on the 1970s originals, these little animals are made of pure white porcelain with black or platinum contrasts and are created from a strand of porcelain. Similar to a certain type of biscuit dough, the porcelain is pressed through a tool and then cut into pieces. A specially made metal tool is available for the production of each little animal – all the tools are originals from the initial production phase and are now in use again. With their interpretation, DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK has given the FUNNIES a contemporary appearance, while retaining their characteristic shapes. KOBER was inspired to produce the animal family again in a new look during the first lockdown in 2020 when much production had ground to a halt. In the 1970s, the FUNNIES marked a milestone – the introduction of in-house produced decorative articles made KOBER economically viable again and allowed the company to grow. In keeping with this history, five decades later, the traditional company is once again focusing on the popular collection as a re-edition featuring NIRUK’s signature style.

„The Funnies were a challenge for us. We had to work with existing shapes and therefore had no possibility of changing the forms. Our mission was to revive the Funnies by designing new, contemporary characters. We think it‘s great that old tools can be used again and we will work on further re-editions for KOBER.“

Der Beitrag „CLAY, QUARTZ, FELDSPAR. FINE. SMOOTH. PURE. PORCELAIN.“ erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„We go through life with open eyes and linger on something we find interesting: whether it‘s a material, a manufacturing process, or a texture that’s pleasant to the touch. It‘s about a perception of aesthetics as we understand it – anything can be relevant.“ 

CORK. Nina Ruthe & David Antonin of Design Studio Niruk focus on a new material, examine its visual and tactile qualities, and create unique forms and products. The result: natural, soft and warm; velvety, exquisite and emotional; graphic, architectural and clear. NIRUK has designed four products for the Portuguese brand Cork Units. A pared-down, yet evocative, design idiom. Characterised by the natural material of cork, the special manufacturing process and a uniquely warm texture. A cork oak must grow for 25 years before its bark can be harvested for the first time: this first cut is called virgin cork. Its rugged surface is different from all subsequent cuts in the life of a cork oak. Cork needs time to regenerate: it can only be harvested every nine years. Afterwards, the bark cuts are stored, dried and sawn into boards, which are then glued and processed into blocks. A material that can tell a story – quietly, but emphatically.

NIRUK also tells a story: about texture, forms and colours, about  the creation of materials and manufacturing processes. After glass and porcelain, the current focus is on  cork. Which shapes and applications suit this material?  The result: four durable and well thought-out designs – sustainability paired with contemporary aesthetics. NIRUK creates products that exude authenticity. Following material studies and intensive research in NIRUK’s own ‘material lab’, the design process set in. The results are the PORTOBELLO wall hooks, the CORKBOARD wall shelf, the BALANÇO swing and the PLAY side table. Made of cork, characterised by clear, graphic design. The products are defined by geometrical shapes, they are pleasing to the touch and the material’s changing natural shades feel familiar.

The PORTOBELLO coat hooks are inspired by nature; the smaller versions can also be used as knobs for closets and chests of drawers. The cork’s tactile qualities are reminiscent of the velvety surface of mushrooms, while the shape of the knobs picks up the rounded form, which, through the graphic cut transforms into a circle on the front surface.

Pared-down architectural forms: The PLAY side table is defined by two differently sized cork blocks; the lightweight material and the staggered arrangement break up the solidity of the composition. A powder-coated shelf made of edged steel provides storage space for magazines and books.

The CORKBOARD SHELF is inspired by driftwood that acquires its soft, rounded form and its texture by contact with water and sand. The irregularities of nature are transformed into a simple and pared-down shape that is repeated in the simplicity of the wall fastening. Lightweight but solid, at the same time, round, geometrical and floating.

For indoors and outdoors: With the BALANÇO swing, the focus is on movement – and on the child that we are at heart. Both the geometrical shape and the size of the hemi-sphere with rounded edges provide safety and comfort.The rope is made of sustainable, recycled PET.

Der Beitrag „YOU BEGIN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MATERIAL.“ (Reuschenberg)  erschien zuerst auf niruk.