The Design District
Highlights of Pecha Kucha
I was impressed with Pecha Kucha Night. It was a great forum for young designers to show off their favorite work and have a rapt audience for 6 minutes and 40 seconds. Never having been before, I thought they’d show 20 different projects in their 20 slides. Actually, most the presenters showed highlights from one of their best projects. Some highlights:
Nico Bella was fabulous. She showed her self-portrait photography, all taken in her bathroom mirror with a barrage of different wigs and make-up. Each face tells a different story. Her goal? To “be your own paparazzi,” she says. Here’s my favorite (the eyes tell it all):
I was also interested in Paul McKean’s discussion about pre-fab housing and his arguments for it. Why is there so much resistance to pre-fab, he asks? He argues it’s efficient, precise, embraces the future, can be manufactured at a high volume, creates a system for architect and DIYers alike, plus it has a guaranteed price and schedule. Ok, I buy all that. But in our “greening” of the world, is it really efficient to mass manufacture pre-fab housing and ship it all over the world?
McKean’s presentation reminded me of this new product that I’ve been meaning to blog about, from Design Within Reach: the Kithaus K3. For $44,900, you can have a 9’x13’ pre-fab home complete with decks, canopies and louvers.
What would you do with this? Make it an art studio? A yoga studio? A place to quarantine your mother-in-law? Or would you live and sleep there?
But, back to Pecha Kucha … our friend, Jeremy Schneyer from Janus Home presented on new trends in high-end decorative arts. He speed-talked his way through, so I may have missed a lot of the specifics. The thesis: If you’re looking for what’s shaping the decorative arts market and is the most desirable right now, go for one-of-a-kind, handmade furniture, rather than mass produced pieces. For instance, instead of Eames, go for handmade, free-form, unique pieces from George Nakashima or Karl Springer.
Also note, Jeremy’s moving Janus Home. He’s not sure of the exact location yet, but I’ll keep you posted.
And my final highlight of the evening: Susanna Hohmann’s work with felt. She’s done interiors at the Ace Hotel, among other projects around the country. For a large project she worked with SLV Design on the Drape Wall | Drape House Project Who knew such interesting installations could be used with one of the oldest textiles?
By Ted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 08:05PM PST
Nice of you to talk only about the high lights…but the low lights are just as worthy a discussion. MOST was the least. Eileen Gray was a bore. PSU is in dire straights, obviously.
By Rachel DeSchepper on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 09:18AM PST
I’d have to agree that Eileen Gray was a bit on the boring side, although it was clear Andrew Schilling had done his research. It’s interesting that it was his thesis in 2004; wonder if he had something a bit more interesting to present that he’s done since then.
What was it you disliked so much about MORE?
Overall, it seemed like the night started strong and ended a bit weak.
By cityscope on Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 10:26AM PST
Thank you for posting about Pecha-Kucha. It’s evolving and we appreciate the comments since it will help us tweak it for the better. Part of what makes it fun is the diversity of presentations, and we welcome a broad range of submissions. Go to projectcityscope.org to submit. Thanks for attending, and hopefully we’ll see you at the next one on May 13th!
By Rachel Benjamin on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 03:41PM PST
the Kithaus is my dream of a “home” office. so open, yet with the ability to be removed from “regular” life. would, of course, make a good yoga studio, too… but i love the thought of spending hours there between desk and easy chair, computer and book.
By Rachel DeSchepper on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 05:03PM PST
You’re right; it’d be a great office. Your own private getaway in your own backyard. Perfect.