vienna design week 2013 passionswege

vienna design week 2013 passionswege
bertille & mathieu for J&L lobmeyr
image © kramar / fischka.com

what happens when international designers collaborate with viennese manufacturers and producers for one project? whether the end result is a product, installation or another form of commentary, the aim of passionswege at vienna design week 2013 is to reduce prejudice and fear of the unknown, and to learn from the the exchange, for both particpants and visitors of the festival. this year’s collaboration includes: bertille & mathieu (FR/CH) + j. & l. lobmeyr, chmara.rosinke (PL/AT) + wäscheflott, hilda hellström (SE) + fessler kamine, sebastian herkner (DE) + zur schwäbischen jungfrau, oscar wanless (GB) + riess kelomat and sebastian zachl (AT) + donauer design lampenschirme.

image © kramar / fischka.com

it will soon be 200 years since master glazer josef lobmeyr opened his first shop in vienna, which, to this day, has remained a major global player in the manufacture of chandeliers and glass. lausanne-based design duo bertille + mathieu have based their project on a seeming analogy — glass and sugar — not only in its regard to transparency, but also the characteristics shown during processing. influenced by the repertoire of forms at lobmeyr, chandelier pendants are reshaped as sugar lollipops, and the lobmeyr parent company in the first district of vienna is transformed into a candyland pop-up shop.

vienna design week 2013 passionswege: bertille & mathieu for J&L lobmeyr
video © designboom

patterns and lollipops
image © designboom

designer mathieu rohrer adds glucose syrup to the heated sugar mix
image © kramar / fischka.com

pouring the molten candy before the lollipops take shape
image © designboom

lausanne-based designers bertille laguet and mathieu rohrer
image © kramar / fischka.com

sebastian herkner for zur schwäbischen jungfrau
image © designboom

the schwäbische jungfrau (the swabian maiden) has been a household word since 1720 for high-quality table and bed linen. originally a market stall on kohlmarkt, the old-establishment now has its headquarters on graben. its specialty is elaborately crafted monograms and embroidery. german designer sebastian herkner has found more contemporary methods of individualizing linen and is presenting this as an installation. instead of needle and cotton, steam is used to stamp the initials on the fabric – which stay embossed until the next wash.

vienna design week 2013 passionswege: sebastian herkner for zur schwäbischen jungfrau
video © designboom

instead of needle and cotton, steam is used to stamp the initials on the fabric
image © designboom

the wood and metal embossing components
image © designboom

image © designboom

‘imprint’ by sebastian herkner for zur schwäbischen jungfrau
image © kramar / fischka.com

designer sebastian herkner with zur schwäbischen jungfrau manager
image © kramar / fischka.com

vienna design week 2013 passionswege: hilda hellström for E. fessler tiled stoves
image © kramar / fischka.com

E. fessler, a family business, has been dealing with stove tiles and tile kilns for more than 200 years. its products can be found in the vienna hofburg and schönbrunn palace. swedish designer hilda hellström has shown an installation as a poetic translation of the significance of the fireplace, which in the age of central heating has changed roles from heating source, to the provider of emotional warmth and a homely atmosphere. her archaic-looking abstract object combines fire, liquid pewter and ceramic; the installation strives to attain the mesmerizing effect of central sources of heat on the human being.