Category: Designers

Totem by Martín Azúa

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By playing with the static immobility of a totem pole, the oscillating movement of a tumble and the percussion of a mortar, Martín Azúa designed this object “stabile/mobile” (word borrowed from Alexander Calder’s work): Tótem.

 

After working for many years with Azúa, Mobles 114 knew that this designer of Basque origin was the ideal person to design this piece. This renowned author has the astonishing ability to transform the materials he uses into unique objects through which shapes and nature penetrate the spaces that contain them.

 

Tótem was requested to be presented on one of the Tria shelves exhibited at the Salone del Mobile 2019 in Milan. This is a limited edition, made of American walnut tree.

This is not the first time that Azúa has designed a piece of this style. Throughout his career, the designer has created several versions of mortars and totems.

It would be interesting to investigate a little more about the obsession of the author for this type of sculptures and see why there is a continuous return to the work of this kind of objects.

Regarding the creation of Totem, Azúa has designed a collection made up of three different models that have both a decorative and a functional function: they serve as mortars to grind pigments, vegetables, seeds, and more.

 

This is not the first time Martín Azúa has worked for Mobles 114: in recent years, this Barcelona-based designer has worked several times for the brand’s catalogue, designing for example the Luco stool or the Rambla chair.

As a defender of craftsmanship, Azúa is keen to work with different materials, always respecting their characteristics and textures to highlight their origins.

Azúa preserves in his works the naturalness of materials, highlighting its properties, evolution and characteristics. Through his works, the author succeeds in introducing a part of nature into the urban environment in which most of us are immersed.

Azúa’s work is characterized by the incorporation of experimentation into the design process, often by inviting craftsmen or producers, and by demanding social reflection and respect for the craft culture in their works. Because, according to him, “craftsmanship is a quest for quality”, and this is reflected in all the author’s works.

The works of the Basque designer cover several categories: he has designed from different materials such as furniture, lighting, or objects that have a clearly identifiable identity. An own identity, which is reflected in his most functional designs, as well as in the designs of more abstract objects, full of poetry, and characterized with a refined sense of humor.

Since 2007 his project “Basic House” is part of the permanent collection of the MOMA in New York. In addition, he also exhibits several pieces of his collection at the Design Museum of Barcelona and in various public and private collections.

Martín Azúa has been recognized for his work by winning the City of Barcelona 2000 Award, the Delta de Plata 2007 Award, the FAD Architecture/Ephimeros 2008 Award, the Design Plus 2009 Award, the Interiorismo Plus 2009 Award, the AD Best Designer of the Year 2010 Award, the Delta de Plata 2011 Award / and the Best National Trajectory Award from the Interiores 2015 Magazine.

 

 

 

Miguel Milá, Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts 2016

Posted on by adminm114

The Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts is awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Spain to individuals or institutions excelling in artistic or cultural creation or to those that have provided valuable services to promotion of art and culture or to conservation of artistic heritage. This past year 2016, one of the awarded has been industrial designer Miguel Milá i Sagnier.

“Member of the generation of design pioneers of the 50’s, most of his furniture and lamps have become authentic classics.

He started designing his own products due to the shortage of objects and raw material at the time he finished studying. So he began producing by his own company Tramo, with his associates and friends the architects F. Ribas Barangé and E. Pérez Ullibarri.

He was involved in the first meetings to promote design in Barcelona and profesionalize the materia, ending in the creation of ADI-FAD (Industrial Design Association of The Fostering Arts and Design). Today is a reference of Spanish design.”

His designs are the result of painstaking but seemingly simple work which has led to many of his products being recognised as icons of our country’s industrial design. Mobles 114 is glad to be one of the producers of Milá’s designs. Congratulations Miguel!

Mariscal draws Green

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Javier Mariscal artistic works make him one of the most prolific and multidisciplinary authors of these days. Graphic design, interiors, furniture and visual arts have been signed by the artist born in Valencia living in Barcelona, from the 70s.

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Mobles 114 has one of the most recognised and highlighted Mariscal designs: Green chair, an example of sustainability and creativity. Its ECO version is 100% recycled and recyclable (polypropylene from industrial waste), and Colors model is a new, carefully selected range of colours using 100% recyclable materials.

mariscal green

As the designer says, “in spite of its rough appearance it boasts great ergonomics thanks to the polygonal geometry of its seat”. Raised embossing softens the texture by homogenising it, also contrasting with the back of the chair.

mariscal green eco

 

mariscal green colors

And thanks to the rich immagination of Mariscal, we can discover Green is more than a chair. As we can see through the graphic interpretations starring one of the star products of Mobles 114 catalog.

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Thick lines, collages, or directly from the notebook. In good company with famous Garriris, in Barcelona or next to the sea, classic scenarios or contemporary atmospheres with old and new classics. Mariscal draws Green generating a life around.

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Eugeni Quitllet, dreamsigner of emotions

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He follows an instinctive process, “I do not know why or how.” It’s that emotion that keeps him alive and encourages him  to share his achievements with everyone. To let this emotion free, he has landed in the industrial design’s world. Each object is a challenge to accomplish what others have called impossible, otherwise, a word that Quitllet never seems to use. He has been described as refreshing designer, tireless seeker and a lover of technology; although he describes himself as a “disoñador” (“dreamsigner”, designer and dreamer).

After years in Paris in your own studio designing for the best international brands, what has attracted you to come back to Barcelona?

Barcelona is an ideal place to experience and implement concepts and new solutions. It is a city with unique characteristics in the world to live, think and dream.

How was the meeting and the creative and production process with Mobles114?

A crush! We connected right away. We share design values and we have the same concept of an imaginative industry that has always existed in Barcelona.

Is it right to say that you have been specializing in one type of monoblock design? Researching the possibilities of the same material, shapes and textures, giving it a new life?

I have no boundaries or preferences in design. Each object needs a complete specialization to realize the dimension required.

It seems that  there is an intention to surprise the user, but also the industry…

Yes, it’s like a magic trick when at the end we all say, “oooh!”. What sense would have to invent an object if it’s not new!

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Tube chair is your first design for Mobles 114. What can you tell us about this collection of chairs and tables?

It’s an industrial response to a magic trick. The beauty and comfort are the basic elements we can expect from a good design, but if you don’t achieve a new challenge or if you don’t thrill ding it, then it’s not enough. Something very simple but not obvious that gives full sense to the construction of this chair is actually something invisible. It is very industrial until you look at Tube with “curious sensitivity” and discover something hidden that I invite you to discover!

Tube’s forms are soft, but  without hidden their industrial origin, with lines that encourage us talk about movement, life, humanization of the object, even humor…
It’s a chair that doesn’t want to be pretentious and hides its virtues as a part of the intention of the project, simple on the outside, clever on the inside: an animated object!

You say design has to reach another dimension because we’ve covered all the bases. What’s this dimension? And what role does the designer have in this new paradigm?

It’s emotional! something not everyone sees but feels. Besides the function, design must serve to inspire and always questioning ourselves in a positive sense. The designer plays a friend’s role; he should give life and soul to the matter.

What’ your favourite space in your studio or  in your home? And with which object you cannot imagine an ordinary day?

My window to see the world, my desk from where I daydream and a chair to think about all…

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Tube, a new look by Eugeni Quitllet

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The design store MODA, in the center of Paris, and the Intramuros space, at Maison & Objet fair, were the two chosen places/spots where we presented Tube: a new collection of chairs designed by Eugeni Quitllet for Mobles 114.

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It was a double celebration: on Thursday 3th, MODA was celebrating its 10th anniversary with a special exhibition at the store, and the guests (professionals, architects, designers, journalists, influencers) were found a complete installation of Tube in the front of the store. On Saturday 5th, took place the official presentation of Tube, presented by Eugeni Quitllet with his usual passion and international knowledge, who captivated all: both the fans like the aesceptics.

The curious look of this tireless “dreamsigner” and a speech that reflects their own experiences, without frills or baroquisms, again amazed everyone.

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Since its launch, Tube has collected good reviews and congratulations from influencers all around the world, and national and international journalists have recognized its originality, functionality and commercial possibilities. As Anatxu Zabalbeascoa, one of the most respected Spanish journalists in the field of design, says: “(Tube) is a fearless seat. Iconic and daily chair, which has served to both (Mobles114) key producer of Catalan design -as the Torres Clavé chair for the Republic pavilion in 1937-  and  the designer -conscious but no slave of technology- step forward. Together. Both in the search of a chair which, apart from good-looking, is a comfortable seat even in the most unfavourable conditions”. (El País, 9th September 2015).