‘architecten de vylder vinck taillieu’, the Ghent architects’ firm never fail to surprise with their specific vision, astounding choice of materials and applications. They have rock-solid belief in their choices and stand four-square behind each decision, even though they might appear experimental in nature to the uninitiated.

This did not escape the notice of the greater architectural community, as witnessed by the invitations from ‘La Biennale di Venezia’ and ‘Design Biennale Interieur’ in Kortrijk, Belgium.

(more…)

12►

Bart Janssens, architect in ‘Architects in Motion’, an architects’ firm in Turnhout (Belgium), was commissioned by the ‘Pelckmans’ Pond & Garden Centre to develop a new branch in the Parklaan, Turnhout. Ten years ago this architect also designed the first branch for this family business in Lommel. A characteristic feature of his designs is a totally different look to a garden centre, in terms of both indoor perception and outward appearance. These are striking buildings, which invite discovery of what is inside, while at the same time being flexibly and universally thought out, such that they can be given a totally different purpose at some point in the future.

(more…)

Venue : Triennale di Milano from 16 until 21st of April 2008.  How to get there ?

(more…)

ABET LAMINATI is pleased to present the “Kasa Digitalia” project to the public at the 2008 International Furniture Fair in Milan (Salone del Mobile – Fuori Salone) . The project was created in collaboration with De Rosso and based on the designs of Karim Rashid. A collection of decorative items in bright and provocative colours that will give shape and meaning to the living spaces of the Kasa. An exceptional event, which represents a new chapter in the enthusiastic adventure of ABET in the area of Italian and international design.
On 16 April 2008, the “Kasa Digitalia” event/project will be opened to the public and to the press at the Triennale di Milano Design Museum. The project is organised by ABET LAMINATI SpA with the special collaboration of De Rosso, a partner specialising in furniture production. A new collection of bright and provocative colours and decorative items will give shape to KASA DIGITALIA: a unique and provocative technological domestic ambience entirely covered with ABET laminates printed using digital technology and fitted out in collaboration with De Rosso. Karim will meet the public and national and foreign press on 17 April at 18.00 at our stand on the ground floor (Galleria dell’Architettura) of the Triennale di Milano Design Museum.

(more…)

Zeroing colours and decor, returning to the essence of the material.
This is the idea by Paola Navone for telling the De Rosso story, the company of Italy’s Veneto region which is the creator of many of the Abet Laminati furnishings: ranging from the creations by Ettore Sottsass to the collections by Memphis and Alchimia; the sculpture-furniture following the projects by internationally famous architects carried out in Digital Print; and the creations in digital laminate created in 2003 by twenty-five young international architects which were presented at the Milan Triennial in the exhibition supervised by Paola Navone.
“Bianco 411″ – the title of the installation – is Abet white.
And this is what represents the essence of the project: a totally white and empty space. On the sides there are projecting consoles like a large extrusion to sit on in order to relish a moment of calm and formal cleanliness.
When every thing has been done, when the most beautiful ‘pages’ of decoration’s story and history have already been written, when we suffer or endure what is “too much” – nothing else is left than to start from the beginning: from white, from silence and from light so as to offer the traveller of design a moment of peace. A traveller bewildered and confused by those so many images of the Milanese week.
The only things present are a thousand Indian spoons, already used and therefore second-hand, collected by Paola Navone during her explorations of the world in search for a design without a name. They hang from the ceiling in their new silver-plating. On the white page of the space they write a message that it’s worth stopping to think about.
They talk about an anonymous design, often more beautiful and more meaningful than the one with a ‘name’ (and years before Bruno Munari had proposed awarding the Compasso d’Oro to the “Unknown Designer”). They talk about selection as the project gesture. It’s of no importance to create something new when there is already so much: sometimes just choosing is enough, remembering to look in places we’ve forgotten, places where it’s possible to find excellence. Places where it’s possible to find magic. (more…)

78th INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW – GENEVA (6th-16th March 2008) : IED Turin (European Institute of Design) presents the sensational sports coupé Chicane,  inspired by the Maserati trademark.
Stand realized in collaboration with ABET LAMINATI.
The colours of the laminates by ABET LAMINATI (Colours 410 Soft and 832 “66″, HR LAQ 421) frame the event organized by The European Institute of Design of Turin, that for the 5th consecutive year takes part in the International Geneva Motor Show (pav. 5 stand 5041). IED Turin presents the world preview of Chicane, a model inspired by the Maserati trademark, the quintessential symbol of formal purity set alongside extremely high performance.
Inspired by the historical Trident label, that combines refinement, craftsmanship and state of the art technological development, in the fostering of a longstanding tradition of excellence for its luxury, prestige and elegance, the concept car (produced as a full scale physical model) has been designed by the students of the V edition of the Master RSP in Transportation Design – work experience a.y. 2006 – 2007.
Thrilling at first sight: this was the primary aim of the young designers set themselves as they worked, with passion and enthusiasm, on a seductive aesthetic, with strong impact, heightened by the plasticity of the volumes. Seen here in full scale, Chicane is a dynamic sculpture, whose harmonic and elegant design conceals power and a sporting attitude. The return to an in depth appraisal of surface materials is achieved by working on the refined purity of the lines, for a 2+2 coupé, with a front V8 engine and back wheel drive, designed for a very particular clientele who can’t relinquish the marriage between refined forms and high performance.
ABET LAMINATI together with Pirelli, Cecomp, Model resine, 0Z Racing is partner of the event.

(more…)

The Italian design classics were presented at IMM Cologne under the title “Do you know the land where lemon trees blossom”.
This retrospective covered the select group of Italian companies and products that have won the prestigious Italian “Compasso d’Oro” design award. Abet Laminati were also awarded a “Compasso d’Oro” in 1987 for having created the “Diafos” collection of translucent Print laminates. In 2001 Abet Laminati were awarded a “Compasso d’Oro alla Carriera” in recognition of the continuously innovative nature of their product range.

Compasso d’Oro 1987 for the creation of the first translucent laminate Diafos by Abet Laminati

(more…)

Against the backdrop of Turin being nominated “World Design Capital 2008”, numerous events, exhibitions, etc. are being organised in Turin and in Piedmont province throughout 2008. One of the events in which Abet Laminati, based in Bra, Piedmont, is involved as a partner, is the “Tra decor e decus” design competition. Professional designers as well as up-and-coming talent created new decors and patterns for decorative laminate. The panel of judges, under the leadership of Alessandro Mendini, nominated “Breaking the code”, a design by Francesca Diotti and Francesco Porro as the winner in the NABA category (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti students). “E la Berta filava…pixel”, a design by Sara Magnone won in the PIEMONTE category (professional designers and up-and-coming talent). The winning designs were created as laminates by Abet Laminati using digital print technology and are currently the focus of attention at the “Tra decor en decus” exhibition at the “Forum Omegna”.  The winning designs were also applied in the form of a laminate to an item of furniture and are likewise being shown together with projects by designers including the following: Patricia Urquiola, Markus Benesch, Ugo La Pietra, Denis Santachiara, Italo Rota.  The exhibition at the Forum Omegna will continue to run up to 29/06/2008.

Digital Print “Breaking the code” design by Francesca Diotti an Francesco Porro

Digital Print “E la Berta filava…pixel” design by Sara Magnone

The GevelTotaal 2008 trade exhibition recorded over 8,000 professional visitors (architects, contractors and others) during the 3-day event that took place in Rotterdam from 23 to 25 January 2008. In addition introducing the new MEG HPL range of façade panels, the emphasis on the Abet BV stand was primarily on the ability to customise MEG HPL façade panels using digital print technology. By way of illustration of this MEG digital print technology, the painting “The Great Wave” by the Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai was incorporated in the wall cladding of the stand by Otto A. Altmann, the designer of the stand. Another focal point for visitors’ attention was the imposing “Palladio” façade section, built with materials including new MEG Concrete decors and drawing its inspiration from Andrea Palladio, the Italian Renaissance architect.  You can request the new MEG brochure here.

MEG Digital Print of “The Great Wave –  Katsushika Hokusai”

(more…)