MIAMI

MAARTEN BAAS CARPENTERS WORKSHOP GALLERY DESIGN MIAMI by Andy Goldsborough

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Design Miami was sensational this year and every gallery present pulled out all the stops to make their exhibition spaces spectacular and compelling.  There was so much thought put into the spaces themselves and the design innovation and craftsmanship was of an extraordinary level but one designer took top prize in my opinion for creating two functional objects that were so poetic I was speechless.  I’ve admired Maarten Baas‘ work for many years and purchased one of his burnt Argyle Chairs from 2005 for a client from MOSS in Soho in the past, but this year he created two clocks for Carpenters Workshop Gallery, a grandfather (in corten steel) and grandmother (in brass) that truly resonated with me. Expanding on the idea of a grandfather clock, he created his and hers versions with live characters inside the faces of these beautiful towers.  Filming two actors in real time with digital equipment, Bass filmed them carefully writing the numbers by hand with a black marker denoting all 24 hours in the day and wiping away the drawings as the minutes pass by underneath a hazy etched glass face.

Grandfather Clock, 2013, corten steel and digital equipment, h90.5 l 25.5 w16.5 in limited edition of 8 + 4 ap

Grandfather Clock, 2013, corten steel and digital equipment, h90.5 l 25.5 w16.5 in limited edition of 8 + 4 ap

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Detail of grandfather clock in cor-ten steel

Detail of grandfather clock in cor-ten steel

Grandmother Clock, 2013, brass and digital equipment h78.7 l 28.4 w15.4 in limited edition of 8 + 4 ap

Grandmother Clock, 2013, brass and digital equipment h78.7 l 28.4 w15.4 in
limited edition of 8 + 4 ap

Detail of grandmother clock

Detail of grandmother clock

Continuing his exploration of sculpted forms Baas welded a COR-TEN steel grandfather clock and a patinaed brass grandmother clock.  The Roman numerals on the face of the grandfather clock give it a stately presence while the softer numerals and curved shape of the tower give the grandmother clock a more sensual form.  I took many images of both clocks watching carefully as the actor and actress hand drew the numbers and gently erased time and gazed at both pieces almost in a trance.  Until the crowds grew larger and I gave others a chance to discover these fascinating pieces.  Following are my images in sequence of both clocks evolution of time.

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Sometimes form and function come together in very original ways and I think these pieces by Maarten Baas do just that!

Thank you so much to Marie Duffour and Carpenters Workshop for sharing these images with me and The Gilded Owl.

www.maartenbass.com

www.carpentersworkshopgallery.com

www.designmiami.com

www.mosspop.com

LE CORBUSIER CABANON 1952 / CASSINA by Andy Goldsborough

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At Design/Miami this year Cassina rebuilt a replica of Le Corbusier’s Cabanon interior designed in 1952 and I was thrilled to attend a preview of the show. Le Corbusier has always been a constant inspiration in my work and to see this masterpiece recreated with such exacting detail was a revelation! Exclusive rights to Le Corbusiers’ work have been held by Cassina since 1965 and this project truly shows the craftsmanship and innovative design ideas of this master architect. Conceived as a birthday present for his wife, Le Corbusier designed the entire cabin in a cafe and ended up using the space frequently himself. Le Corbusier had always been fascinated by boats and made the cabin in the likeness of a ships interior, sitting above the French Riviera in Cap-Martin overlooking the Bay of Monaco. Even the brightly colored ceiling panels were removable for storage above since the space was designed at the most minimal size to live comfortably. The only function he left out of the cabin was a kitchen since he and his wife dined at the local L’Etoile de Mer restaurant nearby. This remarkable example of micro-architecture truly shows that less is much, much more.

Drawings of the Cabanon

Drawings of the Cabanon

Le Corbusier in the 1952 Cabanon

Le Corbusier in the 1952 Cabanon

The original Cabanon exterior

The original Cabanon exterior

Entry into the cabin with Le Corbusiers’ original painting and coat hooks

Entry into the cabin with Le Corbusiers’ original painting and coat hooks

Bed with pull out storage

Bed with pull out storage

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Cassina has reintroduced the LC 14 01 Tabouret Cabanon stool in chestnut and oak finishes to coincide with the reconstruction. Openings on each side create handles and the unique dovetail joint on each corner is exclusive and highlights the workmanship of the solid wood and exalts its qualities.

Lc 14 01 Tabouret Cabanon

Lc 14 01 Tabouret Cabanon

Lc 14 01 Tabouret Cabanon detail

Lc 14 01 Tabouret Cabanon detail

Le Corbusier’s mark in the cabin entry

Le Corbusier’s mark in the cabin entry

Le Corbusier: The Interior of the Cabanon. The Cassina reconstruction will remain on view in the Miami Showroom: 3800 NE Miami Court, Miami Design District December 6, 2012- January 12, 2013