HBL Contract: Iota by Sebastian Bergne for izé

Sebastian Bergne is the latest in a long line of prestigious designers to collaborate with architectural hardware manufacturer izé. Today, Bergne and izé will launch the Iota handle to coincide with the launch of izé’s new website. The design features an integrated handle and stem lending it a lightweight apparance. izé’s recent collaborations include Studio Toogood, who worked with the manufacturer earlier this year to produce a series of handles cast from a collection of found objects called Sticks, Stones and Broken Bones.

HBL Retail: Hikari no Tokei by tha ltd.

While out and about in Tokyo, WGSN-homebuildlife's Liza Mackenzie spotted 'Hikari no Tokei', a new clock installation located at the entrance of the Seibu department store in Ikebukuro. Designed by tha ltd., the installation occupies all four sides of a giant pillar, with LED surfaces displaying a constant stream of the time. tha ltd. is a Tokyo based design studio who focus on website design and software development, as well as experimentations in motion-based projects and interior installations. tha ltd. were the brains behind the internationally renowned image bookmarking website FFFFOUND!, now a popular web service for designers and artists from all over the world. See their website for more inspiring digital design work.

HBL Designer Profile: Tomas Kral

Plug! series by Tomas Kral

Young Slovakian designer Tomas Kral has designed a range of furniture and interior objects called Plug!, all of which focus on cork - one of the materials of the moment. Kral aimed to "transform the image of a simple cork bottle stopper", and each piece in the collection has a straight-forward, modern feel. WGSN-homebuildlife particularly likes the side table and fruit bowl, both of which act as a pedestal for their contents.

HBL Retail: Throwing Shapes with Kvadrat

Danish textiles brand Kvadrat have released an innovative film tribute made for them by British photographer Matthew Donaldson, which has been shown exclusively on the fashion, art and culture blog Nowness. Entitled 'Throwing Shapes With Kvadrat', the film successfully breaks away from traditional textile advertising, where fabrics are shown on rolls or on furniture in situ. Instead the film shows a slow motion, aerial ballet of upholstered shapes dancing across the screen. The film is an extension of a still campaign that Donaldson created in collaboration with designers Graphic Thought Facility for the company earlier this year. This initial cut is to be followed by an alternate version, which will be screened in the Kvadrat showrooms. To read about the making of the film at Pinewood studios in the UK visit eye magazine.

HBL Events: Zaagkoffer by Maurice Meewisse at Dutch Design Week

During Dutch Design Week Maurice Meewisse presented Zaagkoffer; a shell-like case for a chainsaw made out of woodchips. To make the case, Maurice used the woodchips that he created when using the saw. He dried them and mixed them with a homemade, biodegradable adhesive based on gelantine and glycerin. This mix of woodchips and adhesive results in a lightweight, waterproof particle board with greater durability and flexibility. It can be made into sheet material as well as a clay-like moulding material, both fully recyclable and biodegradable. The design was nominated for the Doen Materiaalprijs and was showcased along with the winners and other nominated designs last week at the Klokgebouw in Eindhoven.

HBL Tradeshows: Patina Patchwork at High Point Market

Dovetail Furniture

HBL US Editor Jean Lin took a trip down to High Point, North Carolina for this season's High Point Market. The market is where America goes for the country's richest blend of American traditional and contemporary design for the home. The American aesthetic has traditionally revolved around vintage and antiques, whether it be authentic, re-productions or inspired. This season was no different with "Patina Patchwork" emerging as an important trend at the fair.

HBL Events: We Make Carpets at Dutch Design Week 2010

Plastic fork carpet at Dutch Design Week 2010

We Make Carpets is a project that was started by designers Stijn van der Vleuten, Marcia Nolte and visual artist Bob Waardenburg at Dutch Design Week 2009, when they made their first carpet installation . A year on, and the collective have been building a portfolio of visually stunning carpet designs made from a variety of weird and wonderful materials that range from pasta, to coffee, to different types of medical tape. Last week, WGSN went to see their new designs on show at Dutch Design Week. See below the jump for more images or visit thier website for more information.

HBL Events: The Crate Series by Studio Makkink & Bey

Dutch design duo Studio Makkink & Bey have created a series of furniture using discarded packing crates as their starting point. Confirming WGSN's S/S 2011 macrotrend Fair & Square, which advocates pared-down design and an honest use of materials, the collection includes five varieties of crate-based product - BathCrate, VanityCrate, BedCrate, VacuumCleanerCrate and ClockCrate - and will be on show at Spring Projects, London, from next week.

HBL Events: Mini Scooter E at Paris Motor Show

Last week WGSN contributor Lisa White reported from The Paris Motor Show, where she commented on the wide selection of electric cars on show. However, while electric cars are going mainstream, two avant-garde economy carmakers, Mini and Smart, also exhibited new electric scooter concepts. The Mini Scooter E, shown above,was described as ' A new electric vision of the future'.

HBL Events: BCXSY at Established and Sons

 During the Frieze Art Fair in London this month, British manufacturers Established and Sons presented ‘Origin Part 1: Join’; a series of Japanese Hinoki screens designed by Eindhoven based designers BCXSY. The three elegant screens in the Join series are available in a limited edition of 8 pieces. Each screen is made by a skilled craftsman named Mr Tanaka, a master of Japanese Tategu wood joinery. The screens are made from Hinoki Japanese Cypress, which is the most luxurious type of wood used in the craft of Tategu.

You can also read our interview with Boaz Cohen, one half of BCXSY, here.

HBL Retail: Jonas Wagell

Lollipop lamp by Jonas Wagnell for Normann Copenhagen

Earlier this month we featured a designer profile of Jonas Wagell's design studio Hello Industry. The up and coming Swedish designer has also been busy working on a number of collaborations with other manufacturers and has several product launches in the pipeline. Here is a sneak preview of his Lollipop lamp for Normann Copenhagen and the childishly robust Pomperipossa tea set he is working on for Muuto, both will launch in Spring 2011. Those passing through Stockholm may also want to pay a visit to the new David Design store, designed by Wagnell and scheduled to open this Autumn.

HBL City by City: Tobias Rehberger at Setouchi Art Festival, Japan

Photo by antjeverena

German artist Tobias Rehberger has renovated a vacant house on the island of Teshima in Japan to create a restaurant which was opened at the Setouchi Art Festival. In contrast to it's humble facade, the restaurant's interior features striking walls, floors and tables covered in camoflauge patterns from World War I battleships. The restaurant is called  Called “Was du liebst, bring ich auch zum weinen" (What You Love also Makes You Cry).