Paris home of fashion designer Eymele Burgaud

This is the majestic Paris home of fashion designer Eymele Burgaud. It is softly minimalist yet, at the same time, busy with moments of chaos and quirkiness. There are hints of craziness spicing up what is quite a classic foundation, and it's these hints that give us a look into the very unique character of the people that live here.

My favourite by far is the cosy armchair, pictured above, with layers of material, and holes in its arms, giving it a feel of something that has been used lovingly, and has been worn down over time through sheer enjoyment... like a great pair of jeans. And the chair leg jammed into the book, how clever!! How daring to intentionally break what is essentially a white, clean space with an injection of a little madness. Similarly the pillow on the armchair, squeezed by a beautiful leather belt, what detail...

Actually the more I look at these photos, the more I realise how evident it is that Burgaud uses her fashion design expertise to dress her furniture, and her home overall, as she would a mannequin, composing materials together to bring to life a world that is purely to her own style...       

Source - garancedore

Images - garancedore

Related Nest of Pearls post - Depth of Character in the 7th Arrondissement, Paris

Teeny yet super functional city pad of designer Szymon Hanczar

This teeny weeny 13 square metre apartment belongs to Polish designer Szymon Hanczar. While it's not his primary abode, as a lecturer at Wroclaw Academy of Fine Arts & Design he does need to spend a fair bit of time in the city. Not wanting or needing anything that was too big, Hanczar did however want to make sure that it was homey. As a result, he is extremely happy with the outcome because while the apartment is comfortable despite its small size, it also ticks two other key criteria for him, having sufficient storage and being hotel-like, a place he can stay at when in Wroclaw.

Apart from the WOW factor of seeing how people design so smartly for small spaces, this type of design is extremely relevant for how many people need to, or simply choose to live today. Across the globe, in all the wonderful big, busy, bustling cities of the world, people care less and less for space, and more so for location. They want to be in the thick of it all, amongst the buzzing, ever-evolving life in the city streets. They want to step outside their little pad and have quick access to funky cafés, relaxing parks, great museums, and so forth. They have little interest in being cooped up indoors, needing to maintain and clean large homes.

And living small does not mean living dingy or poorly. Hanczar's 13 square metre humble haven is proof of how a small space can be well designed and inviting. He has accommodated for all that is absolutely necessary for him. There is a toilet and small kitchen under the raised bed. There is even room for his bike which adds a modern touch of design against the white wall where it hangs. The furniture and joinery are minimal and above all very functional. The apartment has been kept very light in terms of the colour and texture of the materials used, so that it maximises light reflection and embodies an air of openness.

Source - contemporist.com & dezeen.com

Images - dezeen.com
Photography - Jedrzej Stelmaszek

Related Nest of Pearls post - Could this be the smallest house in the world?

European theatres photographed from the stage, by Klaus Frahm

We never really think about just how much work goes into a large theatrical production, and these behind-the-scene photos reveal a world that we don't usually consider. It is the world behind the stage, the world we don't see as spectator while being entertained.

Hamburg-based photographer Klaus Frahm is the creative eye behind these images, which are part of his series titled The Fourth Wall. Taking photos of European theatres from the stage towards the spectators, he opens up a secret door and let's us peek into the magic of what is behind the scenes. The juxtaposition of the ornate and opulent theatre seating area in contrast to the stage is quite dramatic. The lit-up theatres seem to create an image within an image, framed by the dark, high-ceilinged and dominating warehouse-like back-stage. These massive spaces can be up to three times bigger than the theatre itself, and appear quite cold, with scaffolding, electrical equipment, and props...

Despite a certain coldness and emptiness of the back-stage, I do like the notion of the unveiling of a certain magic, a secret space not usually shared with the viewer. And not only does Frahm's work divulge back-stage secrets, it actually turns the notion of 'stage' on its head. In his photos, the spectators become the centre-stage, while the back-stage is the viewer.

Source - thisiscolossal.com

Images - thisiscolossal.com

Photography - klaus frahm

Related Nest of Pearls post - The softest of beauties, by Peter Gentenaar

Matt Shlian's paper masterpieces will take your breath away...

One of my favourite parts of studying Interior Architecture was making models out of paper and cardboard. Paper is this incredible material that sits there patiently, all plain and white, innocent even, taunting you to grab it and transform it. It is one of few materials that is fairly inexpensive, readily available to all and, most importantly, it let's you express yourself in so many ways; through drawing and painting it, ripping it, through crushing it or delicately folding it. I find that it is as though a character already lives within the paper and simply waits until we release it, bringing to life what the paper was always meant to be.

With that in mind, it may not come as a total surprise that I am very much in awe of the work of Matthew Shlian. He is an amazing paper engineer who's work is rooted in print media, book arts and commercial design. The pictures I've included here range from projects across 2013 and 2014.

What was extremely interesting to discover was the artist's own take on the work that he does, and even more so, his collaboration with science. With a select group of scientists, Matt works on the nanoscale, translating paper structures to micro folds. Their joint investigations extend to visualising cellular division and solar cell development. I mean, WOW! What an inspiring and different angle to perceive paper art from. Matt further explains that Researchers see paper engineering as a metaphor for scientific principals, while he sees their inquiry as basis for artistic inspiration.'

Over and above the collaboration with science, the paper sculptures are simply divine to look at. There is such harmony and peacefulness in their perfect geometry. The fact that the paper sculptures are in one colour, means that you have all the time in the world to lose yourself in the texture of the folds, the search for the repeating pattern, the play of light and shadow. To find out more about the featured projects and discover more of Matt's work, you can visit his website here.

Source - mattshlian.com

Images - mattshlian.com

More on Matt Shlian via his blog - mattshlian.blogspot.com

Related Nest of Pearls post - Paper pearls

Attic redesign in an 1880's duplex, by L. McComber Architects

This cute attic redesign was a 2013 project undertaken by architecture firm L. McComber, based in Montréal, Canada. The project in question, also located in Plateau Mont-Royal, Montréal, existed under what was a 1.5 metre high structure of two sloping roofs. This structure was made with thick layers of tar and gravel, and was part of an old duplex built in 1880.

Replacing this thick, heavy structure with an open-truss roof, gave the space a considerable amount of extra room, lifting the overall ceiling height to an impressive 4 metres. The space, acting as both bedroom and work space, is organised around a series of shelves made of recycled wood. These shelves weave around the space creating a strong visual element amongst what is predominantly a pristinely white interior.

The space is simply magical, it's like an escape for a modern-day princess (or prince). Every line has been given consideration and visually lines up with something else of relevance within the space. This is such a simple but important formula when designing, especially for little spaces. Add too many ingredients that don't line up and you're telling too many individual stories in the same breath. But line them up, as it has been done here, and you create harmony for the eye, harmony for the aesthetic perception that lives in all of us, which instinctively calculates when we're confronted with good design.

To add to its charm, the attic is immaculately organsied. Books and picture frames give the space character, so one doesn't feel austerity in an overwhelmingly white space. Adding to this warmth of character is the parquet. The wood underfoot, along with soft lighting, give the attic both a modern yet homey feel.

Source - lmccomber

Images - lmccomber
Photography - steve montpetit

Related Nest of Pearls post - 29 perfect little square metres