A Joyful Sense at Work photo by AR A Joyful Sense at Work photo by AR - Mit freundlicher Genehmigung von: SaloneMilano

Was: Presse

Wann: 19.04.2016

Last week, Swarovski launched Atelier Swarovski Home, a new luxury home accessories brand during the Salone del Mobile design fair in Milan. The brand showcased its debut collections, created in collaboration with some of the world’s most respected designers, as well as emerging international talents.

The inaugural collection includes centerpieces and home accessories…

Last week, Swarovski launched Atelier Swarovski Home, a new luxury home accessories brand during the Salone del Mobile design fair in Milan. The brand showcased its debut collections, created in collaboration with some of the world’s most respected designers, as well as emerging international talents.

The inaugural collection includes centerpieces and home accessories created from mixed materials such as marble, metals and resins together with crystal, and makes full use of new technologies developed by Swarovski’s experts, including crystal printing, a permanent form of laser-jet print on crystal, and the revolutionary Wave Cut technique, which combines cutting-edge computer technology with mechanical engineering to cut curved forms in crystal. Unique to Swarovski, this has never before been achieved in crystal cutting.

The new collection is a vivid reminder of the infinite creative possibilities of crystal in design, from the unmistakable aesthetic signatures of Daniel Libeskind, whose chess set pieces come in a mix of materials such as Wave Cut crystal, silver, concrete, marble, resin and 5-axis machined anodized aluminum; Ron Arad, who maximizes the pure brilliance of stand-alone crystal; and Aldo Bakker and his minimalist crystal and marble vases, to the captivating new ideas of Kim Thomé and Raw Edges. Atelier Swarovski Home follows the success of the Atelier Swarovski jewelry and accessories line, which launched in 2007, and marks a significant development for the crystal business, signaling its continued evolution as a lifestyle brand.

Working with a select group of designers, many of whom have previously collaborated with Swarovski on architecture and design projects, the home décor product line translates the forward-thinking design DNA and technical expertise of the crystal brand into a collection of luxurious and covetable table top objects and home accessories.

It addresses a global interest and customer demand for design objects within the home. Having strong, established designer relationships - and with crystal as a creative ingredient in and of itself - Swarovski is uniquely positioned to move into the objet d’art and home décor segment.

Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, commented: “Atelier Swarovski Home is an exciting new brand that will offer the ultimate in luxury crystal home décor with an ultra-modern design aesthetic. We are delighted to be collaborating once again with so many incredible creative talents on these beautiful objects for the home. This is a natural evolution for Atelier Swarovski and a great opportunity to showcase the art of crystal cutting in a range of designs and forms.”

The first Atelier Swarovski Home collection is unveiled in an exhibition at Via Cusani 5 in Milan’s Brera design district from April 12 to 17, 2016. The installation, designed by Milanese architects Piuarch, engages the public through a game of reflections. Each design element is in dialogue with the late neo-classic architecture of the Palazzo Cagnola, including the ceiling frescos and the terrazzo floors.

The visitor is invited on a journey through the world of Atelier Swarovski Home via a series of mirror installations and reflective materials which enhance the original beauty of the rooms, while creating a subtle backdrop for the objects.

Atelier Swarovski Home collections will be available online at atelierswarovskihome.com and in selected independent retailers worldwide from autumn 2016, with pricing for the products to range from €250 to €20,000.

SwarovskiSwarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski designs, manufactures and markets high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones and created stones as well as finished products such as jewelry, accessories and lighting. Now run by the fifth generation of family members, Swarovski Crystal Business has a global reach with approximately 2,560 stores in around 170 countries, more than 25,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.33 billion euros in 2014. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2014, the Group generated revenue of about 3.05 billion euros and employed more than 30,000 people. The Swarovski Foundation was set up in 2012 to honor the philanthropic spirit of founder Daniel Swarovski. Its mission is to support creativity and culture, promote wellbeing, and conserve natural resources. www.swarovskigroup.com

Atelier SwarovskiSince its launch in 2007, Atelier Swarovski has collaborated with more than 60 of the world’s leading designers from a range of creative fields including fashion, jewelry, architecture and design, to create luxury jewelry and accessories. Past collaborators include Maison Margiela, Mary Katrantzou, and Fredrikson Stallard. Following the fashion cycle by launching new collections twice a year during London and Paris fashion weeks, Atelier Swarovski creates the ultimate cutting-edge designer fashion accessories whilst demonstrating the infinite creative potential of crystal. Launching in April 2016, Atelier Swarovski Home is a range of functional and decorative luxury design objects for the home, created in collaboration with the world’s leading creative talents.atelierswarovskihome.com

DESIGNER COLLECTIONALDO BAKKER – Crystal VaseA collection of modular vases in marble and crystal Aldo Bakker was born in the Netherlands in 1971, to artist parents. He first trained as a silversmith working to commission, setting up his own studio in 1994. Moving into furniture and product design, he won awards for collections of glass and porcelain tableware. He also teaches at the Design Academy at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. This is his first collaboration with Swarovski.

Aldo Bakker presents a vase in three sizes, constructed in crystal and expressive marble. The base acts as a shallow water pool, and the sides are made of three interconnecting elements in either faceted marble or crystal, creating a fascinating play of light. Although functional, the design is ambiguous and abstract, allowing the user to feel and play with the way one element fits with another.

DANIEL LIBESKIND – Architecture & the CityA chess set inspired by Studio Libeskind buildings Polish-born, American architect Daniel Libeskind came to prominence with his poignant design for the Jewish Museum in Berlin, opened in 2001. In 2003, his practice Studio Libeskind won the competition to rebuild the World Trade Center in New York. Libeskind’s work is informed by music, philosophy and literature, and he speaks widely on the art of architecture. This is his first collaboration with Swarovski.

Daniel Libeskind presents a championship-size chess set, whose pieces celebrate some of Libeskind’s most iconic buildings. With a board showing maps of Milan and New York – the two cities where he lives and works, the set uses materials from the worlds of construction – concrete and marble – as well as luxury: silver from Wiener Silber Manufactur and Swarovski crystal. The two kings, in crystal, are represented by the Freedom Tower in New York.

Queen in crystal, CityLife MilanBishop in silver from Wiener Silber Manufactur, L Tower Toronto Knight in marble, Tor Di Valle Rome Rook in concrete, Century Spire Manila Pawn in Aluminium, The Pyramid Jerusalem

FREDRIKSON STALLARD – GlaciariumA collection of candle holders, vases and bowls Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard began working together in 1995 and are recognized today as leading exponents of avant-garde design. Their previous collaborations with Swarovski range from the vast sculpture ‘Prologue’ – four meters in diameter and inset with 8,000 crystals – to the powerful ‘Armory’ jewelry collection for Atelier Swarovski 2016.

Fredrikson Stallard present a series of centerpieces inspired by the form of raw crystal. Each piece is cast in crystal and then faceting is applied to certain sections, combining precision cutting with the material’s natural structures.

KIM THOMÉ – Plinth & DonutsA collection of candle-holdersNorwegian-born Kim Thomé graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2012 and runs his studio from East London. His work finds a balance between installation and object, and mixes graphic elements and optical play. In 2015, for his first collaboration with Swarovski, Kim unveiled ‘Zotem’ at London’s V&A museum, a sculpture 18 meters high and embedded with more than 600 bespoke crystals, which was later shown in Shanghai.

Kim Thomé’s design for Plinth features a heavy stainless steel base in a variety of heights, on which sits a crystal halo. Donuts is a series of palm-sized candle holders made of crystals, each with a different color effect, bonded together with UV glue. There are four in the series.

RAW EDGES – PrintedA collection of centerpiecesYael Mer and Shay Alkalay were born in Tel Aviv and studied at the Royal College of Art in London under Ron Arad. In 2007 they set up their studio Raw Edges in London, designing furniture, products and installations, with an accent on playfulness and humor. They have attracted commissions for Cappellini, Established & Sons, and Stella McCartney among others. This is their first collaboration with Swarovski.

Raw Edges showcase a new laser-jet crystal printing technique from Swarovski with a series of centerpieces for the home. Layered prints on the interior of the objects produce colorful patterns, distorted and augmented by the crystal faceting. When the crystals sit together, the reflections and layering reveal additional patterns of even greater richness.

RON ARAD – Alphabet & NumbersA collection of crystal digits, letters and square-form bookends Industrial designer, architect and artist Ron Arad has been based in London since the mid-1970s. His work has ranged in scale from bottles to museums, but some of his most innovative creations have been for Swarovski. He was a leading figure in the company’s Crystal Palace initiative. He is a Professor Emeritus of the Royal College of Art, and was elected a Royal Academician in 2013.

In a new font designed for the project, Ron Arad introduces a crystal incarnation of the numbers 0 to 9 and the 26 letters of the alphabet – and follows the rich legacy of Swarovski’s figurines. Precision-cut and standing either 22cm or 13.5cm tall, the characters also translate into unique square-form bookends where each figure has been cut from a crystal mass.

TOMAS ALONSO - PrismA collection of trays, centerpieces and bowlsSpain’s Tomás Alonso studied at the Royal College of Art, and won the Swarovski Designers of the Future Award in 2015. He has run his own design studio in East London since 2007. Alonso’s new work follows the series he showed with Swarovski at Design Miami/Basel in 2015, based on the 47° cutting angle, the point at which light is either refracted or reflected within crystal.

The objects in Tomás Alonso’s series are constructed from crystal and marble prisms, bonded together using Swarovski’s signature UV adhesives and color coatings. As the user moves around the objects the combination of color and precision-cut angles produces fascinating optical illusions and effects.

TORD BOONTJE – Luxe OrbitA collection of objects for home entertainingDutch designer Tord Boontje set up his studio in London in 1996, and has since worked on products that include lighting, textiles, ceramics and furniture. He began collaborating with Swarovski in 2002, and his signature of fluid forms derived from nature can be found on work ranging from the luminescent cherry branch ‘Blossom’, to the ‘Stellar Doma’ pendant light, a celebration of the night sky.

Tord Boontje presents a series that includes lanterns, wine coolers, nut bowls and a caviar set in glass, Corian and crystal. Crystals are scattered over the polished surfaces of ovals and spheres. The series has a futuristic, science-fiction twist, referencing star formations and the colors seen in space photography.

ZAHA HADID – CristaA centerpieceArchitect Zaha Hadid founded her practice in London in 1979, completed her first building in Germany in 1993, and has been cited as one of the most influential thinkers in the world. A lifelong innovator and enthusiast for new technologies, she collaborated with Swarovski from 2007 onwards, on projects ranging from spiralling light installations (Salone del Mobile 2008), to the sculptural jewelry collection ‘Glace’ (Atelier Swarovski 2010).

Zaha Hadid designed an imposing centerpiece in crystal and metal. Taking as its starting point an investigation into the process of crystallization occurring in nature, the design is also notable for its use of Swarovski’s new Wave Cut technology, which launches in 2016.

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Tags: Accessoires, Design, Innenraumgestaltung, Möbel

DATE 12/17 April 2016
OPENING HOURS 9.30 - 18.30 continuato
VENUE Milan Fairgrounds, Rho (Milan)ENTRANCE GATESPorta Est, Porta Sud, Porta Ovest