Month: August 2007

Dutch Design (16): Philips Back to its Core Business: Light

Andrea Ragnetti and Magic Brush
Andrea Ragnetti and Magic Brush
(Photo: Capital Photos / Nils van Houts)

This post was an unattended UFO (Un Finished Object) for a long time.

Not many people realize Philips is one of the few remaining Dutch Multinational Companies. After reorganizing, reorganizing and again reorganizing the company is back to how it started, as a producer of electrical light bulbs.

Via Gizmodo I found the press page of the 2006 Philips Simplicity Event of London where Philips showed the road to future light projects they have in the pipeline.

The picture I choose is that of Andrea Ragnetti showing a wall you can write on with light. Its name Drag & Draw. The entire home becomes a virtual canvas for expression and play for young children, thanks to a magic brush, a magic eraser, a magic wand, and a laser projection bucket.

They forgot to mention that it is an ideal product to get rid of the overhead projectors…and especially the flip overs, the gadgets that hotels tend to overcharge when they rent you a meeting room.

Attache with Chair

Suitcase Trolley with built in Chair

With the congestions and waiting lines at the airports this is a nifty gadget: A suitcase trolley with a chair. The only disadvantage is the same as with a convertible car: Not much space for your luggage….or has the demonstrating lady such a large size of shoes?

Suitcase Trolley with built in Chair 02

Paris: Dinner of the 16 Chefs in Palais de Versailles or Black and White Ball?

Versailles
Palais de Versailles

Dinner?
On September 17 there will be another Epicurean happening: The US $ 30,000.- pp Dinner of the Chefs. A gastronomic experience, bringing together 38 Michelin stars (16 three stars donated chefs) in the Palais de Versaille.

On arrival at the airport in Paris, the sixty guests will be shuttled in their own limousine to their luxury hotel, where they will stay for the night of September 17.

Madame Giscard d’Estaing herself is to host the venue.

Philippe Model will decorate the venue.

A special Chopin recital will be performed in the Pavillon Français by the esteemed pianist Princess Caroline Murat- Haffner and by another young virtuoso Jack Liebeck, from the Purcell School of Music in London.

The dinner will take place in the banquet hall of Le Grand Trianon, Louis XIV’s private rooms, and will count fifteen courses, served by sixteen of the world’s most renowned Chefs. Each will be explaining their own creations, giving a unique insight into the gastronomic processes from source to table.

The net profit of this special event will be donated to the Fondation pour l’Enfance (child Foundation), which aims to combat child abuse.

Or the October 8, 2007 Black and White Ball?

Black and White Ball Fondation-Enfance.jpg

If the dinner is a bit to expensive for you, you can opt for a Euro 1,200.- invitation for the Black & White Ball in the Orangerie of Palais de Versailles, celebrating the 15th International Evening for Children and the 30th anniversary of the same Fondation pour l’Enfance (Child Foundation) and also hosted by madame Giscard d’Estaing.

Fashion for Floors: Limited Edition Golf Ball Carpet

Limited Editions Half Golf Ball Carpet

I came across Limited Edition, a Belgian company specializing in carpets. The (Half) Golf Ball Carpet is the one that drew my attention.

Graphic Concrete: Stencil Your Face in Concrete, rather than Concreting your Hand at the Walk of Fame!

Graphic Concrete 01
Inside use

Graphic Concrete, Ltd is a privately-owned Helsinki based Finnish company. Its Finish name is Graafinen Betoni, Oy.

Its product is based on an invention by architect Samuli Naamanka.

It works as follows:
Apply a retardant to a special film in the pattern of your desire. Put the film on a still wet concrete slab. Let the concrete harden pull the film off and wash away the retarded, i.e. the only partly hardened, parts . The washed surface stands out from the surrounding unwashed concrete surface due to its roughness that also gives it another color.

Graphic Design 04
The film is being pulled off

The film is 3,1 meters wide, which means that it can be used in the production of regular height facade elements without the need for joints. The length of the film is mainly limited by the maximum allowable weight of a roll, so it can be hundreds of meters long if necessary.

The normal depth of the pattern is usually the so-called fine exposure, approximately 1 mm, but shallower or deeper exposures are also possible. The concrete can also be pigmented.

The accuracy of the method makes it possible to copy the bitmap made from a photograph, in which case the minimum diameter and distance between the dots can be as little as 2 mm.

Graphic Concrete 05

A Slab just before application

Graphic Concrete 03

Finished product

Verdict:
I have a slab of concrete of 7 X 12 meters that forms a terrace…..This is a great idea whenever I have to redo the surface….the only problem I foresee is the usual pollution in a city that may affect the picture within a short time….therefor I believe it better for inside than for outside use, but it offers fantastic design opportunities.