sony and barberosgerby: contemplating monolithic designinstallation view of area 1: icon and area 2: insight
this year marked the first occasion in which japanese electronics company sony exhibited at milan design week. together in a partnership with UK based designers barberosgerby (edward barber and jay osgerby) exclusively for this event, they presented ‘contemplating monolithic design’, an exhibition which showcased the latest in sony’s creativity, exploring the extension and integration of electronics within furniture and architectural design.
the seed of the exhibition was sony’s new design concept, monolithic design, which seeks only what is essential, leading us to consider the sense of presence products have within a space. this approach has the possibility of changing the face of future home entertainment in the context of interior design.
visitors entered an anechoic chamber in which they were given a glimpse of the possibilities of how technology and design could potentially shape the living room of the future. the noiseless environment, gave focus to the sound and audio technology on display. all experimental works in progress, the space was divided into 5 areas highlighting each of the archetypes which sony and barberosgeryby developed: icon, insight, intimate, integrate, install.
area 1: icon the essence of monolithic design
installation view of area 1: icon
the first area was meant to capture monolithic design at its purest and most symbolic level. the object is set in a monumental style, into a slab of slate, representing the dynamic presence of a form, which stands silently.
area 2: insight sound and light in a single object
image © designboom
area 2 demonstrated how sound and light could integrate and coexist within interior spaces. owing to the development of sony’s unique speaker drive system, vertical drive-technology and proprietary digital signal processing technology, speakers can now be integrated to LED lighting to maintain a personalized decor. the four objects of ‘insight’ utilize materials such as cultured marble, organic glass and wood which fit seamlessly into numerous home environments, hiding any indications of electronic equipment. the harmony of light and sound emanating from the omni-directional speaker, produced a 360 degree acoustic field, embodying a new archetype.
image © designboom
image © designboom
image © designboom
installation view of area 2: insight image © designboom
area 3: intimate personal visual soundfield
installation view of area 3
the personal visual soundfield of area 3 was an exercise in the essential. a television and near-field speakers were paired together, creating a private sphere of entertainment which offered a soundstage with impressive presence. visitors were immersed in an audio and video content without any disturbance or distraction. a demonstration in near-field sound, combined with special edition furniture, the apparatus becomes the archetype, facilitating the exploration of essential values and presenting new personal audio-visual experience.
general view of the exhibition space
area 4: integrate visual sound furniture
installation view of area 4 image © designboom
integration of technology into the home in a cohesive manner is the underlying theme of the monolithic design concept. area 4 exhibited visual sound furniture. here, the mechanical aspect of the television or audio system is incorporated into this archetype, to create audio without the imposition of a massive technological device. the television stand was made by stereolithography, a 3D printing process providing a pattern and unique structure, achieving acoustic transparency.
area 4: integrate
area 5: install architectural furniture integrated with sound lights
installation view of area 5: install
the final area was ‘install’, where experimental products and furniture populated the abstracted space of a living room. the essential elements of a speaker, lights and television no longer dominate, but their simplicity is immediately apparent.
installation view of area 5: install image © designboom
aerial view of the exhibition space
up close of the sound absorbing walls image © designboom
image © designboom
image © designboom
edward barber & jay osgerby portrait © designboom
phillip rose / sony creative member & kazuo ichikawa / project leader portrait © designboom
exhibition details: exhibition design: universal studio design graphic design: bibliothèque sound design: yasuhiro morinaga visual interaction design: yusuke shigeta
