nynke koster translates architectural history into playful rubber stools

dutch designer nynke koster has a way of blending fine art and design by creating synthetic casts and molds of architectural fragments, spaces, and bodies, with which people can interact. currently on display at the tokyo metropolitan teien art museum, koster’s ‘fragments of time’ are part of the ‘decoration never dies, anyway’ exhibition.

nynke koster creates synthetic casts and molds of architectural fragments, spaces, and bodies

nynke koster expresses her fascination with the existing world through rubber casting techniques that she then translates into everyday objects. the resulting products are pieces of furniture that reinterpret and rediscover architectural history around the world. the playful rubber stools are shaped with iconic forms from history of ornamentation, including baroque ceilings, corners of art nouveau buildings or a cassette from the neoclassical era.

with them, she adds new meaning to how people interact with architectural icons

‘I examine the ornamentation in architecture through the ages, piece by piece, building for building,’ comments nynke koster. ‘it is space, time and place transformed into soft elements. a place from elsewhere, with ornaments of the past, as a lace for her and now. coexist, but also to give a new identity to the existing world surrounding us. for the first time you can sit on a baroque ceiling or touch a cassette from the neoclassicism.’

the playful stools feature a soft rubber material

the are based on architectural icons

people are now able to sit on ornaments, something no one could do before

a new identity is given to ornaments

top view of the rubber stool

the mold was taken from this neoclassical ceiling

each stool features a different moment in architectural history

touch and interaction are important 

corner where the mold was taken from