derrière: a “home away from home” restaurant

derrière restaurant - photo by Andrea Ferrari

The idea is that you don’t eat in a restaurant but in a private apartment. That is of course a public apartment. Something where you can feel as you are in your friend’s house, with all stuffs, objects, books and furnishings.

derrière restaurant - photo by Andrea Ferrari

“Derrière is located in the 3rd district of Paris amongst numerous bars and restaurants of the area. Its name (derriere=behind) originates from its exact location, which right at the back of 404 restaurant and Andy Wahloo cocktail bar in la rue des Gravilliers.

What is very distinguishing about this restaurant is its atmosphere, which again provides its focal point. With the decoration of a French baroque house, Derrière is equipped with numerous ‘little touches’ that make the visitor feel as if they are having a family dinner. Little wooden chairs, messy bookshelves loaded with huge piles of books, an old ‘baignoire’, a bed placed in the middle of the room space, a ping-pong table and lots of other objects that add a little something to making Derriere ‘feel like home’.”

derrière restaurant - photo by Andrea Ferrari

derrière restaurant - photo by Andrea Ferrari

Styling and production by Studio Pepe

(photo Andrea Ferrari, info www.derriere-resto.com and www.yatzer.com)

paris c’est toujour merveilleuse

Paris, un set su Flickr.

first Paris and then London

(Gustav Johansson for EF)

another (romantic) tour in Paris

Next week I’ll be in Paris, with Alessandro and Giacomo and a group of 40 chinese designers… One of the visit that I’ve suggested is The Citizen Hotel on the Canal Saint Martin.

Le Citizen Hotel @ Paris

Le Citizen Hotel @ Paris

The Hotel has twelve rooms and the building has been completely renovated from top to bottom. The accommodations includes top of the line beds, flat screen television, air conditioning, sound buffering and complimentary in-room services of WiFi, filtered water…
The Citizen is the first Parisian hotel to offer an iPad for clients at no cost to use in every room.  The iPad is a “green” aspect of the hotel, because it eliminates the need for paper in creating a welcome guide, noting services available in your room and selecting mini bar menu items.  Billing will also be handled through the iPad.

Le Citizen Hotel @ Paris

Le Citizen Hotel @ Paris

In addition, Le Citizen features the work of some Creative Growth artists, including Dan Miller, Dwight Mackintosh,  Donald Mitchell,  William Scott. Creative Growth Art Center is an art center in Oakland, CA, and serves adult artists with developmental, mental and physical disabilities, providing a stimulating environment for artistic instruction, gallery promotion and personal expression. Artwork fostered in this environment is included in prominent collections and museums worldwide.

(info and photos www.lecitizenhotel.com and flickr.com)

Mama Shelter in Paris

Created by the Trigano family (co-founders of Club Med) and Cyril Aouizerate, Mama Shelter was designed by Philippe Starck.
Best Business Hotel and Best Design Hotel in 2009, Best 100 Hotels in Europe in 2010, Best Business Hotel in both 2009 and 2010… WOW! Next semptember, when I’ll be in Paris again with Alessandro and Giacomo, I’ll I have to try to come and visit MamaShelter!

MamaShelter @ Paris

MamaShelter @ Paris

MamaShelter @ Paris

MamaShelter @ Paris

(info www.mamashelter.com, hotelswelove.com, atcasa.corriere.it)

Hi Matic: hôtellerie nouvelle, pratique et accessible

Matali Crasset has created Hi Matic Hotel in collaboration with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet, where visitors check-in, order food and exchange tips on the city with other guests via the hotel’s online system and a plethora of screens throughout the building. The HI matic hotel allows guests to choose and change music in the public areas, collaborate on an ever-evolving city guide and collect meals from an automatic machine in the restaurant. 42 rooms are spread over five floors, envisioned as cabins where the specially designed furniture systems can change function throughout the day as required.

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

HI matic by Matali Crasset with Patrick Elouarghi and Philippe Chatelet

(Photos and video by Simon Bouisson, info www.hi-matic.net and www.dezeen.com)

Cumulus/DRS Symposium @ Paris

From 17 to 20 of may I went to Paris with Alessandro Biamonti and Giacomo (my doctoral collegue) for the 1st International Symposium for Design Education Researchers, promoted by Cumulus and DRS.

Welcom get-togheter @ Centre de documentation/Lieu du Design Paris

Cumulus is the International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media. It is a non-profit organization consisting of 165 universities and colleges of art, design and media from 43 countries. Cumulus was founded in 1990 and since then has been acting as an umbrella for many purposes and numerous projects for education and research of art, design and media.
The DRS (Design Research Society) is a multi-disciplinary learned society for the design research community worldwide. The DRS was founded in 1966 and facilitates an international design research network in around 40 countries.

During the conference, we participated to the doctoral Poster Session. The aim of this poster session was to building a visual  map (and visual database) of the current design researches (PhD, post-Doctorate, research oriented postgraduate education etc.) in the different design areas developed within schools, universities and institutions related to DRS or members of the Cumulus Association.

Poster Session @ Bourse du Commerce Paris

Poster Session @ Bourse du Commerce Paris

This mapping enabled the design community to understand  the present “panorama” of the youngest  researches in various design fields. A starting point for meshing, entangling or entwining ideas, curiosities, and questionings.

I met again Alain Findeli, the professor that I knew in Brussel (during the Fragile Conference) togheter with my friend Delfina. It was a great pleasure to speak with him!

Alain Findeli @ Cumulus/DRS Symposium Paris