A Magical Villa For VilaSofa's Amsterdam Store

A Magical Villa for VilaSofa


Tjep. was commissioned to create a shop environment for a new furniture brand called VilaSofa in Amsterdam. The result is a large playful warehouse.



VilaSofa is positioned between a conventional furniture shop and IKEA in terms of delivery speed. It offers mid-range prices for a wide public and a 48 hour delivery guarantee for all displayed models. The 48 hour claim became the main theme for the shop. They used the idea of a warehouse as metaphor for speed: a place were goods are stored for the transition from the producer to the very personal environment of your home.





The conceptual solution was surprisingly simple and logic: a combination of warehouse aesthetics and home aesthetics. This resulted for example into materials such as plywood usually used for crates combined with high-end glossy finishes. The symbols used in transportation and packaging have been metamorphosed into decorative elements that form room dividers, arranged to organize the space and routing.



Finally there is a big wall suggesting the idea of a magical villa. Is the customer looking at a giant styrofoam packaging element, or is the construction itself the actual villa? They see cavities for a big chandelier, a diversity of playfully arranged windows, romantic balconies, paintings etc... In this space they placed big 'picnic' tables where clients can take their time to inform about the product, talk to the VilaSofa staff.





Design team:
Frank Tjepkema, Janneke Hooymans, Leonie Janssen, Tina Stieger, Bertrand Gravier, Camille Cortet

Production:
Kloosterboer

VilaSofa's site
Tjep site

Dré Wapenaar's Unusual Tents: Artful Environments Cloaked In Canvas

Dré Wapenaar is a Rotterdam-based artist whose primary medium is tents - environments designed to shape encounters, whether between individuals or for large groups. Dre's portfolio includes a tent for reading newspapers, a birthing tent, "Deathbivouac," the "Pavilion of Loneliness," "Tree Tents" and "4GPP" - a pavilion for the performance of Dutch composer Simeon ten Holt's "Concerto for Four Grand Pianos."


Above: Artist Dre Wapenaar

Most of his tents are art pieces or sculptures and are not sold for commercial use. In the blogosphere, he's best known for his unusual looking tree tents, first created in 1998:



Here's a little background. The first 3 Treetents were produced for Campsite De Hertshoorn in Garderen in 1998. They were built by brothers Gertjan and Dré Wapenaar, as well as the steel frame as the manufacturing of the canvas.




In 2005 they built a new edition of the Treetent or Boomtent (this one can be loaned out and used for shows directly from Studio Dré Wapenaar).

TREETENT 2005 EDITION/ BOOMTENT EDITIE 2005




Only ten were produced of the 2005 edition in the following colors:
- forest-green
- dark-grey
- dark-beige
- bright-white

Engineer: Technisch Buro Cor de Heer


Steel Frame: Constructor Dick van Campenhout, Waalhaven Rotterdam.
Canvas: Ten Cate Technical Fabrics

And I bet you didn't know that he actually has little ones for birds as well! Birdtent orders can be made directly via the studio.



As mentioned at the beginning of this post, he's created a lot more than just the Treetents or BoomTents (as they are called in the Netherlands). Below are a few from his portfolio.

Tent Village, begun in 2001 and revisted in 2007:






A Shower Tent, 1997:



A BBQ Tent, 1997:



A Birthing Tent, 2003:



The Four Grand Piano Pavilion, 2004:




Camp Tent, 2008:




The Recital Pavilion, 2008:




More tents to see at his site.

Studio Dré Wapenaar
Vaandrigstraat 10,
3034 PX Rotterdam
The Netherlands

Product Pick Of The Week: Demarkersvan Lace Fence

Lace Fence designed by the young Dutch firm Demakersvan and produced by IDFence in Bangalore, India, the craftily patterned fencing has sparked interest with art gallery owners, retailers, and architecture firms, not to mention design blogs.



Made from a high-end flexible metal fabric, in addition to being a functional fence its design prevents climbing and can enhance the surroundings.



for more info contact their sales office at info@lacefence.eu
credits: Lace Fence 'product of the month' Architectural record
material: metal fabric, coated steel wire.
photos courtesy of DEMAKERSVAN

Taking Climbing Walls To New Heights: Illoiha Gym

Illoiha gym in Japan has taken the popular craze of wall climbing to new heights (pardon the pun).

Rather than scaling a wall studded with rocks and boulders, they've created an unusual and artistic version by using picture frames, flower pots, and deer antlers.

Looks like a lot of fun and a neat way to burn off calories.
So cool, it almost makes me want to exercise.
I said 'almost'....

Let Me Float This By You: Structures On Water

Okay, so the world is running out of room. Where to put the next wave of luxury hotels and offices? Why not afloat in the middle of our vast oceans?

Seems that the visionaries at Oceanic Creations already has this under development.

Temporarily named The Maya, this floating hotel is being built in Bulgaria and will be towed to Cancun. See the computer renderings below.


Above: The Maya Hotel as envisioned by OCCT

Above: The Maya Hotel at night

The following text is from their site:
"OCCT, Oceanic-Creations Composite Technology, is a State-of-the-Art Construction Technology exclusively developed for the Swedish Royal Navy by the best engineers and scientists available.

The Oceanic-Creations Composite Technology represents a new generation of technological evolution, as well as exciting new ways to apply well-proven construction technologies. Since it was originally developed for military use it has been tested for reliability, strength and safety far beyond what is required in the civilian market.

The products offered by Oceanic-Creations are constructed with a virtually non-ageing, environmentally neutral and inert Composite Material and therefore requires almost negligible maintenance.



Above: Floating Offices; the future as seen by OCCT

OCCT offers a considerable lower LCC (Life Cycle Cost) compared to traditional and old expensive constructions in steel and concrete.

Oceanic-Creations was formed in 1986 with the strive to secure the rights to use the revolutionary composite technology that now forms the base for the company.

Oceanic-Creations AB consists of business concept developers and likes to emphasize the fact that the company is a small size company with astonishing views, competence and integrity.


Above: Chairman of the board of OCCT, Prof. Christer Karlsson

The business profile of Oceanic-Creations reflects the ambition to maintain the efficiency of a small-scale organisation combined with the strength of a competent flexible international organisation, build network and international contacts.

Oceanic-Creations have striking visions and projects with large potentials, projects that lay a stable foundation for a long-term steady growth.

The activities are predominantly in the marine field but not only floating objects. The concepts and the business structures created by Oceanic-Creations are based on either unique knowledge, materials, innovations or a combination of one or more thereof.

Oceanic-Creations composite material is made of inert material and works in harmony with nature and will through Oceanic-Creations products through its technology will help protect people, properties and ecological values."

Wow, seems the future is here. (or maybe not. Since this post, the original Oceanic Creations has filed for bankruptcy).