Conversation Pieces

For years couches have grown bigger and bigger, lower and lower. So much that I asked myself at the last Milan Designweek; who on earth has a living room big enough to house one of these, secondly what exactly are people doing on these daybeds; staring lame at their big flatscreens? possibly. Cynicism aside;  the conversational piece is a new interesting development in couches. Sit-up couches, not so deep, and with stiff backs, sitting 2-3 or sometimes many persons, maybe even a crowd. They stimulate conversation, real, analogue, inter-personal talking and relationships. Which besides from being off-line also is something much more active than what the lay-back lounge couch stimulated.

For Shared spaces #3, Witte de With, Chris Kabel proposed an intervention of a  round circle bench for people to sit-on. Clearly stimulating conversation, bringing people together to chat like they would on a village square. One can seek intimacy by sitting on the inside of the circle, or separation by sitting on the outside of the circle.

 

photography Chris Kabel

This public space installation is the graduation project of Niek van der Heijden. It provokes thoughts about how we organize public space. Most public space sitting is created almost to avoid contact, and who easily starts a conversation with strangers these days? This piece is more like a meeting place it invites people to sit in a circle to have a conversation. There is a symbolic line of conversation that joins all the seats together

Niek van der Heijden, Living Forum, Graduation Galleries, Design Academy 2009

 
For the living-room there is also clear examples of the new active and conversational sitting;

This is the Ruche couch by Inga Sempe for Ligne Roset. Very straight sitting, the padded cover adds a sense of soft cocooning.

Ruche by Inga Sempe for Ligne Roset

This couch by GamFratesi is not sitting more than 2 people, perfect for an intimate conversation. It has round and soft qualities too, that again emphasize the cocoon, or creates a soft, protecte space for the conversation.

Haiku by GamFratesi

Favn litterally means embrace in Danish. How suiting! The outer works forms a hard shell almost as if to protect people from the harsh outside world. The inside is soft and warm, perfect host for an embrace or the perfect place for a deep, intimate conversation.

Shut-off from the outside world!

Favn by Jaime Hayon for Fritz Hansen

e-mail antidote

Over the last period of time I have been receiving mail. Real mail. Snail mail. Real letters from real people. 

I know some people that I would call letter artists, whenever I receive a letter from them, they have clearly spend considerable time writing me something that makes sense, and decorating the letter with illustrations and clippings. Impressive and one of the only reasons I look forward to my birthday every year.

But lately I have also been receiving real letters from people, institutes and companies that want my attention. It's very different from e-mail. It's so much more tangible. First of all, you might find your own name and address in handwriting as well as maybe a real stamp on the envelope! Then there is the un-packing or opening experience, you have to tear or cut through the paper to open the letter. Inside you find carefully curated, tactile paper-sorts, finely handwritten with a real pen, or typed in type-faces originating from a pre-computer era. It causes an emotional reaction; I feel nostalgia of those passed days when messages where passed on with care. When they where sincere and really meant for me. Me only. I'm touched.

Invitation from the Future Laboratory for their Luxury Forum

Catalogue from Fattoria la Villa

This makes me think that this is the opportunity that internet and mail-order companies like Amazon and Yoox could grab. Because there is nothing more un-personal to receive than your book-order from Amazon. There is a huge opportunity for them to connect with their consumers in a highly personal way by just paying a little bit more attention to the way they package and ship their goods. Make it personal, make people feel that they are receiving something from their best friend Amazon, instead of just a big anonymous internet company; Amazon. Then for sure they will remember you.

local, intimate and old-fashioned food

In some newer restaurants and take-aways you can see a turn away from lounge. There is a new atmosphere of intimate eating in living room like atmospheres with retro feel, and a return to good old-fashioned food. No more lying down on cushions, no more finger-food. It is also clear from these newly opened restaurant and take-aways in particular that people want better, more tasty and healthy take-aways. we are either too lazy to cook ourselves, or we have too little time and when we then have to buy take-away we want better, more responsible food.

cést ca, neighbourhood restaurant (Bollenhofsestraat 142, Utrecht)
In this recently opened restaurant in Wittevrouwen, Utrecht we eat as if we where in a living room, almost as if we where visiting somebody in their home. Every night there is a fixed meal of 5 dishes. The chef and the servant take turns working either in the kitchen or in the eating-space. The place is rather unpretentious and informal, with a decor that is somewhat old-fashioned, grand-ma's like wallpaper, plates and cutlery. also the dishes are somewhat granny, good old-fashioned food with a modern twist, always made out of ingredients bought the same morning on the market.

Tante Joke (biltstraat, Utrecht)
The name almost says it all, good old-fashioned food like your aunt would cook. This is a great new take-away concept, no more fat, greasy, unhealthy take-away, this is affordable fresh dishes and real good food. Tante Joke actually turns out to be a man.

 
















Gastmaal en de Tafel (Griftstraat, Utrecht)
also a take-away with good old-fashioned food, but with a more French or Mediterranean take on it. The dishes are really delicious, made with craftmanship and great care and more expensive than at Tante Joke.

Stamppot-to-go (nobelstraat, Utrecht)
stamppot is an old-fashioned Dutch dish is typically made of mashed potatoes, veggies (typically carrots) and smoked sausage. Having said that have to add that it exists in many, many variations, and is of course typically something made at home. Stamppot-to-go is offering this homely meal to take-away in an attempt to offer better, more healthy and nutritious take-away meals for busy urban people. The look-and-feel of this concept is fresh, bright and white, with a strong connection to health. but not really having much connection with the idea of the old-fashioned home-made dish,