Presented recently at the Salone del Mobile is a collection of seven household objects, collectively entitled N=N, which represent a collaborative project by the design practices of Nendo and Nichetto. The project was realized through a method inspired by the Japanese culture of poetry writing in which two individuals contribute to the writing of a single poem. One of the designers began with a concept, passed it on to the other designer who added to the idea and returned it.
This unique collaboration resulted in the design of the following items: ‘Shelves in a Comic’, is a set of small shelves mounted on a glass covered stand which resembles a speech bubble seen in a comic book, the personal objects one places on the shelves will amount to what is actually ‘spoken’ . The Wedge of Matter candle holder is an ingenious idea of one size fits all. With an adjustable opening, a candle of any size or shape can be supported by a beautiful solid base in glass coated brass or matte finished marble. The Paper Ice Cream lamp is a delicate object inspired by the pretty transparency of an ice lolly. Supported on slimline lolly stick legs, the shade is created from semi-transparent rice paper. The Trellis Bandaged room divider has a free standing frame, much like an electrical element in the rear window of a vehicle through which lightweight fabric strips are woven. A sofa called Bridges for Islands is a modular piece, inspired by the islands of Venice. A flexible arrangement suitable for most spaces. Fish Skin on the Roof is a carpet composed of strong yet slimline overlapping sections which resemble the scales of a fish. The carpet is intended to provide concealment for the wiring found in most modern homes. Finally, Portable Pot is a lightweight stool made of cork. A handle in a recessed section of the seat allows the object to easily be carried from room to room, its size also make it useful as a side table.
It is really interesting to note that during the joint design and implementation period, each idea was accepted without question, making this project a true representation of the respect that these two designers hold for each other.
