GET REAL - PART TWO - INVESTMENT PIECES

Following our previous Get Cultured 'Get Real' post on Authentic Design, we thought we might support our claims. It seems that buying authentic classic furniture not only holds its value, but in some cases far surpasses anyone's wildest dreams - check out these pieces found on the auction section of architonic.com



Serge Mouille 3 Branch Floor Light - Current RRP $14,000AUD
Sotherby's Auctions Estimated value: $24.000-32.000USD

Arne Jacobsen Swan Chair - Current RRP $11,300AUD
Sotherby's Auctions Reached Price: $12,000USD



Poul Kjaerhom Pk71 Nest Tables - Current RRP $3204AUD
Wright Auctions Reached Price: $6500USD



PH Table Lamp - Current RRP $2599AUD
Sotherby's Auctions Estimated value: $3000-4000USD



Serge Mouille Table Lamp - Current RRP $4323AUD
Tajan Auctions Reached Price: 14.440EUR

Hans J Wegner CH445 - Current RRP $9091AUD
Sotherby's Auctions Reached Price: $20,400USD


And if those figures still haven't convinved you that furniture proves good return on investment, then perhaps this might help you change your mind...


From Yves Saint Laurent's private collection - therefore a real collectors item, the Dragon Chair by Eileen Gray sold for a record $28 million USD.

ETHICAL LUXURY - PART TWO

Following our 'Ethical Luxury' post back in August, we thought we might give you a little background into the fabulous Mater Accessories Collection...

A favourite of design seekers around the world, Mater (Latin for Mother) founded in 2006 by Henrik Marstrand, is a Copenhagen-based company with a strong vision to create top quality, timeless, beautiful home accessories based on an ethical business strategy and work methods that support people, local craft traditions and the environment.


High Stools in Hotel Distrito Capital Mexico, designed by Paris based architect Joseph Dirand.


Dome Lamp by Todd Bracher won 2008 Wallpaper Magazine Table Lamp of the year.

Mater's commitment to ethical, sustainable and socially responsible production follows the principles of the UN voluntary corporate responsibility initiative – the United Nations' global compact. Currently producing in China, Vietnam and India all factories and workshops will be audited by a third party danish team that has been specially trained.


High stools in production - local craftsmen doing the final polishing.


Shade light - local craftsman applying the special hand hammering technique.

One example of Mater's working method is the creation of the marble/wood collection of candelabras and bowls by American designer Todd Bracher. the entire collection, consisting of marble stone and wood, was developed on site in Jaipur province, India, in close collaboration with a local partner AKFD Studio and local craftsmen. The chosen marble and wood are unique to the region and present the highest quality of materials and production, but by no means are rare or endangered.


Ready marblewood part at local workshop.

Black and White Marble Fruit Bowl.


Black and White Two way candle holders.

Designer Todd Bracher states "Working with mater is a chance for a designer to connect with local artisans to exchange ideas. With globalization the world is losing indigenous crafts, which is why an awareness of preserving such crafts is increasingly important."


This beautiful Mater Collection is available throughout Australia and New Zealand from Corporate Culture.

GET REAL - PART ONE: PRICE TAGS

With so much talk at the moment regarding Authentic Designer Furniture versus Replica Furniture, we thought it best to set the record straight on where Corporate Culture stand on Authentic Design. The term ‘design’ is key in the entire debate. Original design is not driven by price, nor does original design need to be expensive to be considered ‘designer’. Original design is about creative problem solving and innovation. Too often are the masters such as Arne Jacobsen and Le Corbusier’s design philosophies misunderstood? The Series 7 chair was never intended to be a luxury item, it was intended to be an everyday chair for all people. With time these prolific works have become enormously desirable and yes, a leather Egg chair or an LC4 Chaise are not in every one's budget, but why? Is it not a testament to the designers that these pieces have stood the test of time both in style and quality? In many cases vintage pieces from names like Jacobsen, Le Corbusier and Wegner are equally expensive as buying brand-new. The issue is not in the price tag, it would be unrealistic of us to expect everyone to afford many of these items, but we don’t believe the solution lies in replicas. For those who cannot afford these pieces, spend your money on new up and coming talent, support the current generation of designers with dreams of one day being considered one of the greats. We can’t guarantee you they will become one of the greats and quadruple in value, but we can guarantee you the replicas definitely won’t.



Arne Jacobsen designed the Series 7 in 1955.


Series 7 today, by Fritz Hansen


Le Corbusier designed the LC4 in 1928

LC4 Chaise today, by Cassina



Hans J Wegner designed the CH24 'Wishbone Chair' in 1950.


CH24 'Wishbone Chair' today, by Carl Hansen & Sons.


Corporate Culture are proud founding members of the Authentic Design Alliance.

THE DESIGN SEEKER'S COPENHAGEN. SLEEP...EAT...VISIT

SLEEP...

HOTEL SKT. PETRI
Situated in the Krystalgade close to Copenhagen's main shopping boulevard Strøget, the Royal Palace and the hottest nightlife spots, Hotel Skt. Petri is the perfect gateway to explore this hip and vibrant Northern European metropolis. The 268-room hotel is everything which top-notch modern Scandinavian design has to offer: modern urban living comfort, featuring minimalist style and a magnificent to-the-point functionality with sober and strong lines. Danish artist Per Arnoldi has based the color scheme on the tricolor: bright whites contrasting with cool blues and vivid reds adorn the Skt Petri's interiors down to every last kitchen utensil.










EAT...

UMAMI
Designed by UK based Orbit Design Group, Umami offers a truly unique dining experience. Based on the Japanese philosophy of natural, seasonal ingredients, accentuated by the substance and tradition of French cuisine. With an international flavour, Umami offers the very best in modern Japanese cuisine - Copenhagen style.








VISIT...

PAUSTIAN
The Jørn Utzon designed Paustian flagship in Copenhagen is a must-see for all designer furniture lovers. Besides owning an extensive catalogue—one of Denmark’s largest furniture retailers is also the sole importer of household design names that would make any modern design glutton an immediate fan: Ruckstuhl, Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames are but a few of the hidden gems inside the store.







ILLUM DEPARTMENT STORE
The leading department store in Denmark, Illum has everything for the design seeker - from Fashion to Furniture it's all here.










DANSK MOBELKUNST GALLERY
Founded in Copenhagen in 1992 by Ole Høstbo, Dansk Møbelkunst Gallery specialises in 20th Century Scandinavian design. Since it first opened, the gallery has become a leading authority in Danish historical design from 1920–1970, with particular emphasis on rare modernist furniture, lighting and ceramics. The gallery regularly showcases some of Scandinavia’s most important furniture designers and architects in solo exhibitions such as - Arne Jacobsen, Hans Wegner, Poul Henningsen, Poul Kjærholm, Finn Juhl, Frits Henningsen, Børge Mogensen, Ole Wanscher and Kaare Klint.

YOU'RE ATTRACTIVE.

Hiromichi Konno’s philosophy behind the new RIN chair for Fritz Hansen was “to develop a design that attracts people”.

If you ask me it’s:
AdoRINg…
AlluRINg…
InspiRINg…

YOU'RE TERRIBLE MURIEL

How cool would it have been to be in Denmark in the 1950s and 60s (or in 2009 for that matter) and hanging out with Arne Jacobsen, Poul Kjaerholm and Verner Panton?

Whilst they’re all uber cool in their own right, how amazing was Verner Panton (1926–1998).

I love the fact it’s published everywhere that he was known as L'enfant terrible (Terrible child), a French term for a child who is terrifyingly candid, saying embarrassing things to adults.

Known also as the L'enfant terrible of Danish design, Panton was characterised by Poul Henningsen as “stubborn and forever young”.

Never serious, Panton was a true innovator who injected colour and humour into everything to create iconic products like “fun” and “onion”.

Timeliness and inspirational and true to his nature, I would say his creations are still forever young Poul… next subject?

Images. Verpan

LIFE STARTS AT 50?

Built on a thousand years of traditional craftsmanship, Danish design greats like Hans Wegner, Arne Jacobsen, Poul Henningsen and Borge Mogensen took the world by storm in the mid 20th Century. 

Now 50 years on it's time to celebrate. Fritz Hansen has released a limited edition white leather swan and Louis Poulsen introduced the PH50, a special version of the PH5 in 5 amazing colours - HOT!