colombo design: meta by konstantin grcic in miami

t‘meta’ by konstantin grcic for colomboimage © designboom

the concept of a door handle extends far beyond than solely the opening and closing of doors. this fixture is symbolic moving past a boundary line; the door-as-obstacle motif is representative of a limit between two worlds, the handle being the necessary tool to be able to cross into a new plane of being. the colombo design door handles embody two points of significance: one visionary and the other tactile. when the latter interpretation takes precedent over the first, it leaves off to exist setting free its own being which is the hidden ‘esprit’ of all things. the designboom still-life series celebrates both the dynamic quality of the door handle in the foreground in combination with the beauty observed just beyond the piece in what is ultimately a surrealistic visualization of a traveling artifact. the atmosphere is captured so authentically that one can practically touch it.

‘meta’ warming up to the balmy climate of miamiimage © designboom

located in the sunshine state of florida, USA, miami is a tropical, melting pot with a strong latin community. on our trip to the beachside city we captured the essence of konstantin grcic’s ‘meta’ doorhandle for colombo by taking it on a tour of one of the largest urban areas in the USA while in town for design miami/art basel, enjoying the balmy weather the colorful sites and sounds of the warm, hospitable community. the city’s extensive number of art deco buildings in various pastel shades, perfectly complimented the streamlined geometry of ‘meta’, highlighting the sleek glamour of its simple, yet opulent form. 

‘I believe that no object ever exists purely on its own. this way of looking at the world turns even the simplest little thing into part of a hugely complex system. it would be strange to speak of a doorhandle without talking about the door. in turn, the door relates to space – or rather, to two kinds of spaces: inside and outside. every space has its own sound and light. than there are all the things, the objects and furniture, that are part of the space. and of course there are the people who inhabit it. we can never speak about objects without imagining people using them.’ – konstantin grcic 

after a walk along a beach side promenade, ‘meta’ stops off at an art deco bodega for some refreshmentsimage © designboom 

heading out in style, ‘meta’ suits up to match its sleek rideimage © designboom

protecting the world from the fast depletion of resources has become more and more important in a global economy. one point is particularly emphasized in these efforts– the attention paid to manufacturing and production upon the environment. colombo design production processes are the result of a total attention to environmental protection. through the accurate management of these processes, the company has obtained the elite UNI EN ISO 14001 certification ‘certified environmental management system’, ensuring clients that colombo design production is completed with the environmental wellness in mind.

the sea foam green of miami beach architecture reflects off the chrome finish of ‘meta’image © designboom

the company uses a finishing process borrowed from the tools industry, in which physical and mechanic features are produced to guarantee a very high performance, as far as mechanic wear, decay due to environmental and chemical agents, bright sunshine, and drastic/rapid changes in temperature are concerned. the strength of the finish and low rate of surface friction ensure an enduring resistance to scratches from jewelry or keys, for example. the durability of the handle’s finish is especially important in marine areas with high-salinity or regions subject to acid rains.

‘meta’ hanging outside the miami conventionimage © designboom

image © designboom

‘meta’ reflects on a relaxing day under the florida sunimage © designboom

‘meta’ being beach smartimage © designboom

image © designboom

standing tall amongst the swaying palm treesimage © designboom

‘meta’ catching some rays along the beachimage © designboom

konstantin grcic with ‘meta’ doorhandleimage © designboom

image © designboom