Tag Archives: minimalist

Modular wooden bookshelf is inspired by Ryuichi Sakamoto’s vision

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I’m always on the lookout for new furniture that will help me store and display all the knick knacks that I have lying around my house. Most of the time I choose those that are mostly functional and of course, affordable. But I’d also like to have some pieces that are decorative and can even look like sculptures or art pieces, even if they probably won’t hold a lot of my stuff. This modular wooden bookshelf would be a nice addition to my space, especially as it pays tribute to the late great Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Designer: Kengo Kuma for More Trees

The acclaimed Japanese composer and pianist founded design company More Trees to create products made by local craftsmen using materials found in local forests in Japan. But before he could make the dream a reality, he passed away a year ago in 2023. His long-time friend Kengo Kuma has now taken over the company and is making the dream a reality by unveiling 〇〇□ (Marumarushikaku), a modular wooden shelf made up of different shapes stacked together. It can also looks like an art piece because of its unusual look and concept so you have a decorative shelf as well.

The structure of this piece of furniture is made up of rectangular shelf boards and round pillar boards stacked on top of each other. You can arrange the round parts randomly between the shelves so you can create your own look and design. It may not look that stable at first glance but you can place things like books, plants, bottles, pots, and other knick knacks that you need to display in your living space. The boards have slots where you can place the round parts in so it becomes an actual shelf that can hold and partition your various items.

The rotating plates and multi-leveled shelves made from wooden materials from local forests can add an interesting and minimalist look to your office or living room. The modular wooden shelf will be unveiled on the anniversary of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s passing on March 28 at the Ace Hotel Kyoto. They will be stacked up to eight levels so you can see that it works despite its seemingly “fragile” appearance.

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This charming tiny cylinder can turn anything into a lovely Ikebana vase

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Flower vases are not an uncommon product in interior spaces, but the majority of them are designed for a single style of flower arrangement. This style often involves a handful of flowers surrounded by rich foliage that create an almost bulbous shape, bringing a splash of color to any area. Of course, that isn’t the only way to arrange flowers, but the standard shape and size of vases put a heavier emphasis on the flowers themselves, using leaves as a background and their stems as invisible scaffolding. Sometimes, however, you can have an even more striking presence with just a single flower and a stem with just a few small branches, and this small metal vase provides not only the support but also the flexibility to embrace that minimalist design, using whatever you may have as the base for such an enchanting floral arrangement.

Designer: W DESIGN for Takeda Design Project

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The Japanese Ikebana style of arranging flowers is almost a stark contrast to what most see on vases. Where typical arrangements bundle a bunch of flowers that are mostly in full bloom, Ikebana might sometimes present a bud that slowly opens up over time, much to the viewer’s delight. Just like with many Japanese designs and philosophies, every aspect of the flower comes from a thoughtful decision, including the length of the stem, the cuts made, or the number of pieces used. A regular tall vase that hides those intentional details, however, isn’t cut for such an arrangement, which is where the HANAKUBARI vase comes in.

Named after the Japanese words for “flower” and “twig,” this small metal barrel looks nothing like a vase. Its size can hold just enough water to keep the flower alive, and its short stature means that it will only cover up a few centimeters of the stems, putting the focus on the minimalist arrangement rather than calling attention to itself. Despite its small size, however, it won’t topple over because the center of gravity is maintained by the main body’s 197g weight. There’s also a small 10g adapter that fits inside, allowing the vase to hold thinner stems.

This cute flower vase, however, isn’t meant to stand alone, although it can definitely function that way. Thanks to that diminutive size, you can place the vase on top of or inside anything, turning that thing into an Ikebana vase. You can, for example, put it on a ceramic plate with an oriental design or place it on top of a metal dish to complement the vase’s stainless steel body. You can even place it inside a transparent plastic or glass container to add some visual accent without detracting from the stem’s natural beauty.

Most flower arrangements are made to dazzle and excite, and their large vases are designed to support their weight and even embellish the image. This tiny yet elegant stainless steel vase, in contrast, encourages a more thoughtful, almost meditative, way to make a delightful arrangement, allowing even a singular flower and its stem to enchant the beholder with its natural beauty.

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Minimalist weighing scale design uses one material and just two parts

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Sometimes, when we use small items at home, in the kitchen, or at the office, we don’t really pay attention to what materials are used, as long as they fulfill their function. But now that people are more conscious about where things come from and how they are produced, there are some product designers that have been coming up with great concepts that use minimal materials and are cost-efficient. As to whether they can become actual consumer products is still up for debate though.

Designer: Theodore Simon

It’s still pretty interesting though to look at these designs and concepts and see the possibilities. This minimalist and monomaterial kitchen scale was created as a diploma project at ECAL, a university of art and design in Switzerland. This entire scale was made from just plastic and is composed only of two parts, which will make it easier to produce and can also facilitate an easier recycling process even though it’s made from plastic. The concept for the scale is from ideas from micro-engineering and production.

Normally, scales are made from different materials as well as various parts to achieve its functionality of weighing ingredients and other materials placed on it. But with this concept called Lari, Simon was able to use the elasticity of plastic to just use one material and use just two parts. The first part is a tray where you place the item to be weighed and is linked to the base through two flexible parallel beams. The second part is a flexible indicator that is able to calibrate to zero and moves the tray by sliding in the base.

The look of the scale itself is as minimal as its parts and materials. The two parts are like puzzle pieces that you can connect in order for it to function. The accuracy of the scale though is something that may have to be experimented more on, if somebody is able to grab this concept eventually.

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Minimalist school furniture uses rope for an easy-to-assemble structure

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When it comes to furniture, there are a lot of innovations that have come out, whether you’re talking about materials, design, or even the way it’s assembled. Most of them are elaborate and seemingly expensive, but there are also some that follow the minimalist aesthetic and therefore can be something more affordable for the general market. School furniture is not something that designers pay attention to but this one from a Milan-based designer and design professor focused on a low-cost and easy-to-assemble desk and chair.

Designer: Claudio Larcher

The Paco y paco set of a table and chair for schools uses the barest minimum when it comes to materials. He used sheets of wood cut in the basic shapes needed to assemble into furniture. There’s also some rope, a wooden ball to help with the assembly and to knot the rope, L-brackets for the cross-member, hinges so that the parts can still fold flat, and grommets so the ropes used won’t fringe. The idea for this concept is to have something that’s easy to put up and then disassemble and store somewhere if they’re not needed. The designer says the movement of the ropes and the assembly required is similar to closing a backpack.

When you see the un-assembled desk and chair, it looks like just some pieces of wood with rope attached to it. But once you pull it together and attach what needs to be attached, you get your minimalist desk and chair and they look stable enough to hold a student and their school supplies and books. Since it’s minimalist, it’s just a simple and similar design fro the desk and chair, with no part to lean back on for the latter. But if you’re looking for the basic functionality, then it serves its purpose.

I don’t know how comfortable it would be for the students to sit on their minimalist Paco y paco chair or how much stuff they can fit into the table. But the mechanism and the minimal assembly required is something that can be studied and applied to other furniture, if what you’re looking for is low-cost, efficient, and minimalist.

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This idyllic cabin on a Swedish island perfectly represents minimalist Nordic architecture

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Nestled in the beautiful wooded region of Lilla Kilskäret, an island of the Swedish archipelago near Stockholm is a minimalist Nordic cabin called ‘A House’. Designed by emerging Studio Nāv, the idyllic cabin was designed for a young couple as a cozy summer home to escape to during the warm season.

Designer: Studio Nāv

‘A House’ beautifully captures minimalist Nordic architecture, and its picturesque surroundings help to create a space that is truly calming and peaceful. However, despite its pristine and awe-spiring location, building the home wasn’t simple child’s play. The site and local building regulations were quite challenging, and hence the home needed to occupy a tiny footprint, and perfectly blend in with its surroundings. In a quest to do so, the interiors of the home were made to be open, free-flowing, and extremely flexible.

The interiors are marked by a single open room, encapsulated in shrouds of glass, allowing the home to harmoniously merge with its surrounding landscape, and creating the sensation of being at one with it. This space includes the living area and the bedroom. The home was constructed using a glulam framework, making the process a swift and efficient one, while the generous use of timber in its exterior and interior symbolizes the architect’s attempt to utilize organic materials that complement the home’s surroundings.

The home features three translucent glass sides, which can be opened, allowing the interiors of the home, and the surroundings to unite, creating a beautiful indoor-outdoor connection. However, the architects also wanted to ensure that the residents are provided with a sense of privacy, and do feel safe and comfortable in their cabin. To do so, a massive drapery was included in the home. The drapery is as long as the three glass sides and can cover the facades, adding an element of privacy to the home. A black detachable mesh was also added to the exterior of the home, concealing the home from the water.

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The Bogdan Collection makes use of one solid trunk of linden wood

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Bogdan Series Studiointervallo

There is something about Italian furniture that sets it apart from others. We love that furniture design can be elegant, luxurious, and modern at the same time. That is for most of the contemporary pieces we are being introduced to, like the Bogdan Collection by Studiointervallo.

The studio’s founder, Andrea Ghisoni, designed this series of furniture that includes a bench, a console table, a coffee table, and a side table. You may want the whole collection as every piece can go well with the minimalist aesthetics of your home. Every unit is made of a single carved solid linden wood and boasts a single line of color defining the shape and the perimeter.

Designer: Andrea Ghisoni

Bogdan Furniture Collection

The collection pieces come with cone-shaped legs arranged in circles to support the tabletop. Such arrangement also offers one visual element. Described as a mono-material collection, the Bogdan also features colored milled-edge ribs for a bit of style and accent.

The bench is ready in one size only, while the tables arrive in different sizes. There is also a console table that may be ideal for placing in your foyer or the living room. The tables’ legs are actually two clusters of cones for better support.

Bogdan Bench

Bogdan Console

The Bogdan Collection has a total of five different pieces. It was released in 2021 and can be purchased from SORS. Every piece shows premium craftsmanship and bold shapes while still maintaining clean lines.

We like that the Bogdan furniture pieces were designed with the use of space in mind. The bench and tables’ use of space was taken into consideration. Everything appears clean and simple, which is something minimalists will love.

Bogdan Design Studiointervallo

Bogdan SORS Paris

Designer Andrea Ghisoni is famous for his clean and essential lines combined with bold shapes. The Bogdan bench and tables boast minimalist aesthetics that are very popular these days. There may be a lot of similar furniture collections, but only a few stand out, like the Bogdan. Every piece is handmade, so you know it’s special.

Bogdan SORS Paris

The Bogdan Console

The collection offers functional art that can also work as conversation starters. The pieces serve their utilitarian purposes while working as decors. They’re minimalist but can very well capture the eyes. In addition, they bring a sense of organized and calm feeling as any clutter-free room should offer.

There are several Italian furniture collections we’ve featured butt only a few have made a real impression, especially among the minimalists. We remember the Felipe Pantone x Poltrona Frau Archibald Armchair and the Foresta System. The Bogdan Collection enters the scene with pieces that we know can be timeless.

Bogdan Series Studiointervallo

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Small Transparent Speaker Review

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PROS:


  • Clean and transparent design

  • Excellent audio quality

  • Extensible with new features

  • Designed with sustainability and recycling in mind

CONS:


  • Replacement parts are not readily available

  • Handling requires wearing gloves to avoid smudges

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Small Transparent Speaker's clean and clear design puts its excellent audio quality front and center, and its focus on sustainability and business transparency makes it timeless in more ways than one.

Let’s face it. Unless you’re an audiophile or a connoisseur, audio often takes a backseat in our lives, even when it comes to entertainment. We only become acutely aware of the critical role that sound plays in life when it’s gone or when we meet face-to-face, or ear-to-ear rather, with cringe-worthy soundscapes. Over the past years, especially with the rise of Bluetooth audio products, there has been a renewed emphasis and interest in the art of sound. For Stockholm-based Transparent, however, delivering high-quality audio isn’t enough anymore, even when it comes in a uniquely designed speaker. Its Small Transparent Speaker, generic as the name may sound (no pun intended), is one of the expressions of the company’s vision of a timeless product, both in terms of design and as well as in use.

Aesthetics

Nothing says Scandinavian design than minimalist looks, clean lines, and no extraneous visual elements. The Transparent Speakers embody that aesthetic perfectly, and the Small model in white almost takes that to perfection. Combining a white-coated aluminum frame and a clear tempered glass enclosure, the Small Transparent Speaker is both designed to almost disappear into the background while ironically putting audio front and center.

Also available in a black finish, the see-through speaker can match almost every home design, at least if you want to really put it on display. While it is primarily designed to be placed on a flat surface, it also comes with wall mounts to let you hoist it up in the air, giving the illusion of a floating soundbox. The beauty of the Small Transparent Speaker’s design and smaller size is that it can figuratively and literally fit anywhere, and it wouldn’t look out of place.

Of course, there are parts of the speaker that are completely opaque, but those, too, are tastefully executed with a Scandinavian touch. Aside from the two large 3-inch drivers, the only other noticeable items on its face is the 3.5mm audio input, the volume knob, an old-school flip switch for power, and an LED indicator made to match the appearance of the audio jack. Everything else, such as the cables and ports that drive the speaker, is conveniently hidden from view, accessed through a bottom compartment.

Ergonomics

While many dig the clean, minimalist look most often associated with Scandinavian designs, others will also point out how they sometimes give off a cold and harsh vibe. You probably can’t get colder and harsher than aluminum with sharp edges, and that might be the impressions your hands get when first touching the speaker. Fortunately, you probably won’t be doing that often with your bare hands, even when setting it up for the first time.

While the Small Transparent Speaker’s size makes it more conducive to be carried around wherever its services are needed, the design doesn’t exactly make it convenient to do so. Not only does it lack any handles or carrying mechanism, the glass enclosure pretty much makes it sure that touching the surfaces is a huge no-no, unless you want to spend a lot of time wiping smudges off the glass. As if anticipating that problem, Transparent actually ships its Transparent speakers with white gloves for handling the product.

Using the speaker couldn’t be easier, as we’ll soon see, especially if you’re the type to rely on wireless audio sources most of the time. You do have the traditional 3.5mm input jack on the front, but any other audio source has to go through the Small Transparent Speaker’s bottom. This is something to keep in mind if you regularly add new sources of content or expansion modules, as it will require handling the speaker’s frame every single time.

Performance

Some audio experts and speaker manufacturers might think Transparent has gone insane for choosing glass as its primary surface material. While it’s definitely mesmerizing to watch the speakers vibrate while they are seemingly suspended in the air, there will be concerns about speaker quality being compromised because of the glass. Fortunately, that is definitely not the case, and the Small Transparent Speaker can get very loud without showing any problems from either the speaker or its glass enclosure.

Audio quality is also excellent, although not exactly the faithful studio reproduction that Transparent advertises. Vocals and high tones are clear and crisp, but while the bass is solid and full, it lacks a bit of punch. That’s probably to be expected in a speaker of this size, and its focus on vocals and higher tone ranges seems almost fitting for its design roots.

The Small Transparent Speaker is primarily a wireless audio sink, and it supports quite a number of sources, including Bluetooth, Apple AirPlay, Google Cast, and Amazon Echo. It also has a “True Wireless” feature that lets you pair two Small Transparent Speakers to better fill up the room if needed. For everything else, the 3.5mm jack and USB port beneath the speaker provides expansion options, and Transparent even sells its own Wi-Fi module to create a multi-room audio system with other Transparent speakers.

Sustainability

The Small Transparent Speaker is more than just a design or audio statement. It’s also a lifestyle statement that makes sustainability the very reason for its existence. Although it hasn’t reached a point where it can use recycled materials to build its products, everything else about the speaker is designed for maximum longevity. In fact, the choice of aluminum and glass isn’t just to give it a timeless look but also to give it an almost timeless life.

Transparent’s speakers are designed to be repaired, and the company even provides instructions on how to take apart the speaker if necessary. Granted, you probably won’t be replacing those parts yourself unless you’re an expert, and even then, you’ll probably need access to replacement parts that fit the speaker’s design and specs. The company, unfortunately, doesn’t provide those.

If there is one hitch to Transparent’s sustainability efforts is that it doesn’t make it easy for owners to do the repairs on their own. In a nutshell, repairing or replacing a broken speaker involves contacting the company and sending the item back to them. While it does ensure that parts are properly disposed of and recycled, it might also discourage all but the strongest believers in the company’s mission to provide long-lasting products.

Value

The Small Transparent Speaker currently costs 500 EUR, and you’ll find US retailers like B&H Photo and Video selling it for $550. For a Bluetooth speaker with very basic functionality, that might sound a tad overpriced. For a designer product as beautiful as this, it’s almost worth every cent. Still, it’s quite a hefty investment that might give some people pause.

In the end, however, you are paying for more than just the product and the design. You are also investing in Transparent’s vision for the future of consumer products. More than just something beautiful and functional, the company is pushing for a new model of business where everything is transparent, including the processes involved in making a product.

Verdict

The Small Transparent Speaker might be smaller than the original, but it is also better in its own ways. The more compact design hides all but the essentials, including the components that actually drive the speakers. Despite its diminutive size, it delivers high-quality audio for almost every type of music, although you might forgive it for lacking a bit of oomph on the lower range. Its ability to expand its features makes sure that it will be useful even as new technologies come and go, as long as they work with a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-A port.

The speaker’s value, however, goes beyond its utility and its looks. It may even go beyond its lifetime. Although it’s still a few steps short of its sustainability goals, Transparent is definitely making a bold change in the right direction, making the Small Transparent Speaker a truly one-of-a-kind product that bares its soul for everyone to see, literally and figuratively.

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A tiny cabin inspired by the Japanese concept of forest bathing is designed to immerse guests in nature

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The Woodlands Hideout is a small, nature-inspired cabin in the woods designed as a solo retreat to a larger residence some 200-feet away from the tiny home.

Since winter doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, escaping to a warm cabin in the woods sounds like the move. Disconnecting from the chaos of the modern world doesn’t sound too bad either. From years spent documenting his travels, in addition to remodeling and managing short-term rental homes, architect Rico Castillero took what he learned in these roles to build the first prototype of a small cabin.

Designer: Rico Castillero, Further Society

Inspired by the Japanese concept of forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, Castillero says he’s been “dreaming and scheming” up plans to build what he calls the Woodlands Hideout. Amounting to a small, 190-square-foot cabin, the Woodlands Hideout operates as a solo retreat for guests to sleep under Oregon’s towering pines.

Nestled in a cozy, private neck of the woods, some 200-feet away from Castillero’s main property called Woodlands, the Woodlands Hut is defined by its unique shape and 10’ x 10’ x 20’ custom-built steel frame. In designing the Woodlands Hideout, Castillero looked first to nature to determine the layout and construction scheme.

In fact, the shape of the home was chosen to accommodate the leaves and pine needles that fall from the overhead tree canopies. From there, Castillero had the challenge of configuring the interior to maximize the available living space, especially on the shorter side of the home.

On the shorter end of the home, Castillero found height in passive activities. The toilet, woodstove, and desk each live in their own corner of the home’s shorter end. Taking up a little bit more space, guests will also find the built-in bed on this end of the tiny cabin.

Then, moving to the other end as the roof gradually rises, guests can enjoy a hot shower outfitted in Coosa as well as a fully functional, yet super-compact kitchenette. A woodfire stove functions as a partition between the sleeping space and the cabin’s small dining area. With the layout in place, Castillero clad the interior in oriented strand board (OSB) paneling for a unified, yet organic look.

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This minimalist furniture set can keep your stuff germ-free and charge your phones, too

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Minimalist-looking furniture doesn’t always mean they serve a single purpose only, especially if they can hide their other functions in plain sight.

There are quite a few trends in the past few years that have sent ripples through different industries, changing the ways things are traditionally made or how things usually function. For example, there has been an increase in devices that claim to sanitize your belongings at home with UVC light. The ubiquity of smartphones inside the house has also pushed even the likes of IKEA to adopt new features to accommodate these electronic devices. Another example is this furniture set that, at first glance, is both minimalist and minimal, but actually hide their smart features in an ingenious way.

Designers: Martin Poon and One Object Design Studio

We have gotten used to seeing a lot of minimalist products, especially as furniture or even appliances for the home. There is an undeniable appeal in the cleanliness and purity of these objects, and their simple or singular use also almost has this liberating feeling that frees the mind from having to think twice about what something does. That said, there’s always the possibility of incorporating more features in what looks like a simple design, like what this WITS collection on home furniture demonstrates.

ROLL, for example, looks like a simple fabric-covered stool, though the seam at the top clearly indicates that it can be opened. Rather than being a hidden container, however, it can accommodate a detachable UV light module that can clean larger objects like toys, books, or even bags. It’s something handy to have around the house, especially during these days when people tend to worry alot about indoor sanitation.

FLOAT definitely has a simple cabinet feel to it, one that’s designed to stand by your bed for easy access to your things. However, a portion of its top surface actually acts as a wireless charging area for your phone so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to plug your phone in every night. Pull the top drawer, however, and you’ll be greeted by a soft LED light that could save you a lot of pain at night.

BOX is like a smaller version of ROLL, though clearly not to be sat on. Its body is wrapped in the same soft fabric as the stool, conveying feelings of comfort and warmth for the home. The wooden cover, however, comes off to reveal plenty of room inside for keys, wallets, and even your phone. It is also compatible with the same UV light module to disinfect your things while they lie in wait for their next use.

Last but not least is the LAYER sofa table, admittedly the most complex among these minimalist pieces of furniture. Its wooden top can swivel to any position to maximize or minimize the area the side table occupies, while its foot can stand inside a basket that serves as additional storage. And like its wooden sibling, the FLOAT, the LAYER also has a wireless charging area for your phone while you take your dinner and binge on your favorite show.

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Brionvega Totem rr231 stereo system transforms from minimalist art piece to functional audio machine

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Even audiophiles might not be listening to music all day, so this modern take on a 70s audio system transforms into a piece of minimalist room decor when not in use.

As with almost everything in design, fashion, and culture in general, there has been a revival in interest and sales of vinyl records. Those naturally required the production of equipment that could play that old-school media and even recreated the little flaws that made them sound unique. Many modern turntables, however, are pretty basic and try to also recreate the look of their predecessors a bit too faithfully. One company, however, took inspiration from a design that was already way ahead of its time when it came out decades ago, reviving a stereo system that blends form and function in a truly unique way.

Designer: Mario Bellini (via Brionvega)

When famed Italian designer Mario Bellini created the original Totem rr231 back in 1971, he was already thinking outside the box, literally and figuratively. In contrast to the turntable designs of that period, Bellini included speakers to create a fully integrated and independent audio system. But rather than just create a set of separate pieces, the designer created a single piece that embraced minimalism ahead of current design trends.

In its “dormant” state, the Totem rr231 deceptively looks like a simple white cube with seems that run across its width and down the middle. Those seams, however, give way to two speakers, each with a two-and-a-half-way system, that swing out like the wings of a futuristic machine. Those speakers can actually be separated from the main body and positioned in other parts of the room to fill it with your favorite tunes.

The rest of the box houses the ProJect turntable and a set of buttons and dials that match the minimalist aesthetic of the Totem rr231. Unlike the original, this modern-day version naturally embraces current audio technologies, including Bluetooth connection for streaming from mobile devices. In more ways than one, Brionvega’s recreation blends the past and the present in a deceptively simple design.

Admittedly, the Brionvega Totem rr231 requires a bit more physical work to use, especially if you keep it closed in its box form. Of course, that has the benefit of having a minimalist piece of art in the room at no extra cost, but that user participation in opening the box also creates a sort of “ritual” that makes the act of listening to music more personal and, in a way, more human.

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