casafekra | blog

artworks & puppets come to life

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:25:22 +0000

they are everywhere, on billboards, magazines, plastic cutlery, and even pantyhose packaging. they sign on everything, from bottles to bicycles. their hits are eagerly awaited, admired, criticized, analyzed, and collected by eager fans.

we’re not talking about rock stars; or perhaps we are: design rock stars!!!

they come with the whole package, fan-clubs & fab life. they are pop culture elements: philippe starck and his leather jackets, karim rashid and his pink life, marcel wanders and his wooden necklaces…all are recognizable icons of a powerful marketing machine.

designers are a major marketing tool for their products. people like starck have played a key role in democratizing design, and bringing it closer to consumers. their image is their brand, sometimes even erasing the product they have designed. thanks to them, design is a lifestyle statement, more than a necessity.

those constantly under the spot-lights are a minority. numerous other remarkable designers are sparkling stars in their own way. passionates, curve fanatics, wood or glass lovers, they make what design is. they are the real deal. taking objects and habits out of beaten tracks, they accompany changes, step by step, far from glitzy magazines and mundane parties.

they create the ideas that make everyday life nicer.

archirivolto studio is a good example of those design-passionates. working regularly for european powerhouses like ligne roset, rolf benz, green, calligaris, cinna, pedrali, desalto, and fasem, they spearhead technological and esthetic breakthroughs in the field.

archirivolto founders, claudio dondoli and marco pocci, are originally from colle d’elsa, near siena, in the tuscan countryside, where the “archirivolto” studio has its head office today. dondoli and pocci met in florence at the faculty of architecture. in 1983, having shared not only their studies but also an intense artistic and theatrical experience, they founded their own industrial planning and architecture studio. since 1989 archirivolto has been working exclusively on industrial design.
“there is no beauty without functionality. this is the most innovative synthesis of design”, says pocci.

on a quick visit to lebanon not too long ago, we sat with marco pocci, the epicurean half of the duo, around a “mezzes” table and a good glass of arak for a laid-back chat. here-after some notable excerpts of our conversation…

“true innovation is based on technology and materials. technology’s endeavor is not image creation; to be of genuine quality, a good design must be beautiful, efficient and comfortable. the ideal product is a perfect balance between ergonomics and esthetics, comfort and design. it must be a useful product, one that last in time, remain pertinent, far from pre-established rules. it must create attraction…and of course have an affordable price!”

archirivolto are renowned plastic specialists, consulted mainly in seating solutions. they often get inspired by cultural and historic elements and details, which they reinterpret with contemporary materials. for them, a project essence starts from the deep knowledge of the client and brand codes to achieve the perfect product.

“industrial conception is not just the search for the most innovative materials and processes for the best results to be achieved; it must be nurtured by imagination, beauty, harmony, freedom of expression, and a combination of smart ideas”, adds pocci. “it is like the story of pinocchio: from the dead branch of wood, comes out a beautiful living work of art”.
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what’s for dinner tonight? new experiences of eating-out

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:59:07 +0000

we value our time-out activities. we increasingly eat out, for work or fun. we have less time but want to spend it more pleasantly.

“eating-out” is becoming more than a fashion; it’s now a solid habit, sometimes a necessity, but will always remain a desire, far beyond the need to eat. “eating out” is not about what’s in your plate, it’s everything around it: the visual, sensory, gustative experience to enjoy and share .it’s the friendliness, conviviality and enriching exchanges around and above your plates.

this business is catering to a fast-growing and very competitive sector, reaching higher, and expanding to more people and occasions, beyond culinary experience. to cater to these needs, various concepts are being thought of and experimented, from the most absurd to the wisest. some prosper and expand, and others are more short-lived, sometimes on purpose; the aim is to seduce the consumer into experiencing new sensations and journeys… and ultimately, to lure him into coming back again and again.

ideas abound, be it around a country’s cuisine, a theme, or a product: japanese cuisine, organic products, cigars bars, cupcake lounges, “haute” bakeries, jazz or comedy joints… even fast- foods are joining the party: falafel bars and luxury bites are the latest thing coming out on the scene, sometimes in the most unexpected places, like desserts stands at hairdresser’s places, and pop-up champagne bars to name a few.

concepts are hybrid

classic categories blurred: bars, coffeehouses, pubs, lounges, beach resorts… labels don’t mean anything anymore. brands are mixing offers to cover a large array of customers and time slots: naming is more part of a visual identity than a true definition.

interior design, from space to cutlery, has become an intrinsic part of the game. designers are on a

project board from concept genesis to maximize space. eating places reflect the diversity in our plates: high stools, low poufs, fluffy armchairs, comfy pillows, explosive colors and surprising materials, there is a no limit rule that has allowed new ways to eat, drink, see and be seen. whether eating under the sea, or hanging in the air, or even in pitch-black darkness, our senses are constantly being challenged.

the “open kitchen” trend is going strong:

either installed in gastronomic restaurants mingling with strangers around big common tables, or cozily gathered around a private chef work top, cuisine is all about demonstrating and sharing direct experience nowadays. this free-flow trend was initiated thanks to molecular gastronomy. but it was originally the trademark of small beach snacks or market bistros, and mostly japanese teppanyaki. television has also played a key role in diffusing the idea thanks to contests like “top chef”. architecture, people and food circulations are a bit tricky to organize in these cases, but the ultimate customer experience makes it worth the logistic and staff gymnastics. a spanish café has even installed tribunes facing its cooking bar to enhance the experience.

adapted geeky technologies is another strong trend :

beyond work meetings held in wifi- equipped cafés, some places are completely organized around robotics and social networking: conveyor belts bring you the healthy food you composed and ordered on a screen, integrated installation and seating disposition allow chatting and flirting with neighboring tables. sci-fi-like settings, banquettes, acid color lounges and fluffy poufs are a trademark, and so are the numerous electrical power sockets, and necessary gears to cater to laptops, tablets, and a coffee-addicted crowd.

as for lebanon

his world-renowned and vital touristic sector is witnessing a “golden age “phase revival: the trend has specifically concerned 50-60’s era, with numerous american diner style and burger joints burgeoning all over town. but it concerns also “oriental” golden age, when the region was prosperous both culturally and economically. typical second-hand type furniture, antique chandeliers, flowery patterns, black-and-white historic characters, mismatched cutlery, all is invented to tell a beautiful story every consumer can relate to. it appeals to our childhood memories, grandma’s kitchen and recipes…

paradoxically, old traditional restaurants, with their trademark straw chairs and plasticized cotton tablecloths are still present, but you have to really look for them really deep inside the streets of trendy beirut and its neighborhood. lebanese new gastronomy has swept across, with its set menus and endless reinvented mezzés: out with the “familial” cuisine, the famous tablecloth is now a hip decor element.

small folkloric “ahwehs” with their busy old men playing backgammons are also becoming a rare sighting. some are vigorously standing the test of time, but most disappear to come back in a more “bankable” form: hip oriental bistros, or anonymous sandwich shops, with their plastic chairs and endless football games on tv. the only symbol of our eating-out heritage that remains untouched are the itinerant cart-sellers of kaak, lemonade and other corn”3arnous” you find on our roads and cornice. they still resist “trendification”… but for how long?

images courtesy of : dezeen.com, guixe.com

2012, what color are you?

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:05:56 +0000

casafekra wishes you a great 2012 gleaming with colors and emotions!

with the revival of our blog, here’s a sneak peek into a visual colorful explosion that will spoil your design senses and spirits.

Pantone^® declared ‘tangerine tango’ color of the year. this reddish-orange tone is an ideal symbol of a spirit full of positive vibes this year. all the same, a surge of sensations lies ahead; from fashion to products, and home interiors, there will mainly be 3 color-themes:

heaven and earth

in a chaotic and restless world, in full political and cultural upheaval, it is a search for balance, peace and values that emerge through the murk; we go back to basics, looking for simpler products and concepts, full of meanings, imagination and emotions. we find pleasure in objects that have intrinsic significance and history, especially the hand crafted ones – just like a knitted scarf, or a good warm loaf of bread. we witness a return to soft and natural materials like wood, pottery, knits, natural fibers, zen colors, etc.

neutral and subtle shades will serve as a base for these trends: the emergence of this “passive color” will soothe our constantly boiling spirit and bring peace to our excessively dynamic lives. our homes (our protective cocoons) will demand us to express and pamper ourselves.

we shall see palettes of blue and grey prevailing; from Caribbean and denim hues, to cobalt and turquoise tones, and various greys from anthracite to pale pearl grey… plum, mauve, purple and “aubergine” touches will also highlight theses arrays of colors in our homes and wardrobes.

delicate audacity

ethereal and pure white makes a remarkable comeback. it allows the integration of tonic colors touches – on walls,furniture and accessories – thus shaping the areas by determining sectors and creating zones

it will be enriched by various metallic tints and reflections that will add a “precious” touch, somehow flirting with religious symbolism: bronze, old gold, ambertones, hammered silver, pearl, jewel tones, etc…

express yourselves, surprise yourselves! dare unexpected mixtures and fusions, create unusual combinations of colors, shapes, textures, materials, elements, periods, heights, and lighting… the aim of the game is to sublimate the ordinary, to emphasize an eclectic elegance through a set of surprising contrasts.

industrial sensitivity

this palette adopts a revisited notion of “less is more”: the creation process of an object of quality is as important as the final outcome, and the pride you gain of it. From this economical and ecological perspective, we re-discover in the most insignificant objects and materials surrounding us infinite possibilities, ready to be recycled and reinvented.

rusty colors, concrete greys, machine green, industrial blues, soil textures and camouflage patterns, clay, ash, with wood and denim tones, all contribute to create a seductive masculine esthetic, a reflection of an industrial heritage, typically modern and urban.

do not hesitate to contact us for a second opinion on this matter.

whatever your mood is, casafekra wishes you a year similar to these trends – full of energy and humorous zen.

images courtesy of: pantone.com, benjaminmoore.com, lamaisondannag.blogspot.com, sico.ca

meet casafekra at iSaloni

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:52:53 +0000

for those of you who don’t know what iSaloni is, and how big it can get, this post is for you. and you don’t have to be into design to find out about one of the biggest and most prestigious fairs in the world.

iSaloni (salone internazionale del mobile) is the renown international furniture fair that has been held every year since 1961. iSaloni quickly became the premiere event for designers, architects, and trend-setters. iSaloni represents the production of more than 2,500 of the most dynamic and creative companies on the international market. exhibitors come not just to sell their masterpieces, but to present their vision of the future.

in 2009, all in all, isaloni received a massive 313,385 visitors and 2,723 exhibitors from 151 different countries. the exhibition space was completely sold out, with 491 companies on the waiting list with their applications turned down.

this 2010, meet green* and casafekra at iSaloni in milan from april 14 to 19. (hall 7 stand h15)

*casafekra is the middle east business development partner of green.

the one with the personal secret behind the createseats initiative

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:19:58 +0000

… and this is how it all started. with an episode of “friends”…

assaad (founder of casafekra) was talking to me about an episode of “friends”. i later found out it’s “the one with the dirty girl.”

the one when it was kathy’s birthday, and chandler was able to find her absolutely favorite gift. an early edition of her favorite book as a kid. a very rare find.

the only problem was that kathy was joey’s girlfriend, and there was no way joey could get her a better gift, no matter what! and being a great best-friend, chandler couldn’t allow that to happen.

in his lame effort, joey got her a pen that’s also a clock (the worst gift). and so chandler decided to let joey give her the book, and take all the credit.

kathy later finds out that chandler was behind this. she lets him know that she knows, and gives him the most appreciative, and most sincere look in the world. and all it took was a really special personal gift.

assaad finished by saying:

“i wish i could give that feeling to people. i wish people would get personal gifts that touched on the deepest desires. instead most people get generic passe-par-tout gifts just because it’s required or expected of them. that’s not what gifts are about. gifts should not be limited to special occasions. it’s fine to get gifts on a special occasion if you absolutely love to. but don’t do it because it’s expected of you. and if you feel you want to show someone your appreciation, love, gratitude, whatever… you don’t have to wait for an opportunity. go ahead, create that opportunity. everyday could be a great day to express your deepest emotions to those you care about the most.
that’s a feeling people should experience more often…”

and that’s when the createseats initiative was born.

casafekra has world-class italian design chairs with distinct styles, 6 interchangeable parts, and 22 colors. all of these parts work like “key & lock”. and so every person could get his favorite combination of style, color, texture, and material. every color could have a story, every style could represent a memory, and every possibility could trigger an emotion.

these endless possibilities could create very specific gifts that are as unique as the person getting them.

assaad knew that casafekra could play a part, no matter how small, in making that special feeling a reality for a lot of people. and this is how it comes to be that casafekra brings you createseats.

find out what all the fuss is about by visiting createseats.com, or discover the making of the visual that became the heart of this initiative by visiting blog .:there for design…

_ written by william choukeir. from team .:there for design…

below: william creating the ostrich. later named: lamiss (more on blog .:there for design…)

below: hanane & william in the heart of creation. supported by orange-orange PUNK & white-orange PUNK, with red-orange PUNK watching from the sidelines.

below: the infamous gift. that same lame one, by that same ashamed ostrich! yup lamiss! (more on blog .:there for design…)

un vent nouveau

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:37:03 +0000

elle est designer produit et architecte d’intérieur. après avoir obtenu son diplôme en design a l’académie libanaise des beaux arts (alba) elle poursuit le mastère « dual design » à saint-etienne et débute sa carrière chez les plus grands, les designers zebra company, ou le bureau d’architecture jean nouvel où elle travaille sur le projet du musée du quai branly. de retour au liban, elle devient consultante et signe de nombreux projets, notamment des intérieurs résidentiels et commerciaux, pour de grands bijoutiers entre autres.

il était business manager chez nestlé expatrié dans les pays arabes pendant quinze ans, ce qui ne l’a pas empêché de développer son énorme penchant pour le design et les arts depuis son plus jeune âge. il s’installe ensuite au maroc où elle le rejoint, et c’est là que le couple, parcourant les quatre coins du pays découvrent les méthodes et l’artisanat local et en tombe amoureux. ils ont une idée, qui devient projet, qui devient réalité: créer une maison d’édition d’objets design basée au liban… assaad bou-jawdeh et janine akl rangent tout et rentrent au pays.

casafekra est née. c’est une nouvelle maison d’édition, spécialisée dans le mobilier et les accessoires d’intérieurs. casafekra conçoit, développe, fait produire, et distribue des collections d’objets à destination du monde entier. elle collabore dans ce but avec des équipes de jeunes designers et techniciens pluridisciplinaires, doués et touche-à-tout, pour mettre au point des produits à la fois fonctionnels et poétiques, de qualité irréprochable, aux détails impeccables, et qui vehiculent beaucoup de valeur émotionnelle.

casafekra en parallèle travaille avec, et représente, des maisons et des marques internationales jeunes, énergiques et reconnues, triées sur le volet, en ligne avec sa philosophie et l’image de sa marque pour introduire et distribuer dans la région du moyen-orient des objets inspirants, innovants, futés, destinés au bien-être du consommateur.

un exemple: green, maison italienne introduite par casafekra au liban et la région moyen-orient, a travers la première collection PUNK & SHARK des chaises uniques mises au point par le tandem de designers italiens archirivolto. versatiles, colorées, confortables, légères et solides, empilables, faciles et fun, ces chaises au concept intelligent permettent, en 3 éléments et 5 couleurs seulement, 55 combinaisons différentes, de quoi répondre à toutes les envies et colorer tous les espaces. des quadrupèdes aux courbes envoutantes et à la plastique unique suscitant l’admiration enthousiaste du public et un succès immédiat lors de leur lancement lors de ‘project lebanon 2009’ au biel, et au festival de faqra, dans un stand tout en bois brut, reflétant parfaitement le concept et les couleurs de la collection.
PUNK & SHARK est suivi par la nouvelle collection ‘nord, sud-ovest, est’ inspirée de la silhouette féminine, et reprenant le même concept encore plus loin.

casafekra, un vent nouveau dans la région, qui ne pourra que vous enchanter. casafekra vous invite à découvrir ses collections dans ses locaux à hazmieh, rue de damas, dans l’immeuble de l’orient le jour. pour les plus paresseux, mais quand même curieux, visitez en un click leur site www.casafekra.com

PUNK et SHARK envahissent le Festival de Faqra

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:38:19 +0000

des quadrupèdes aux courbes envoutantes et à la plastique unique ont envahi le Festival de Faqra 2009, suscitant l’admiration enthousiaste du public et un succès immédiat.
Qui sont-ils ?

PUNK et SHARK, les chaises uniques mises au point par le tandem de designers italiens Archirivolto, et introduites au Moyen-Orient par casafekra.

versatiles, colorées, confortables, légères et solides, empilables, faciles et fun, ces chaises au concept intelligent permettent, en 3 éléments et 5 couleurs seulement, 55 combinaisons différentes (avec ou sans accoudoirs). de quoi répondre à toutes les envies et colorer tous les espaces.

en polypropylène et polycarbonate injectés, ces chaises uniques répondent à toutes les normes européennes et ont passé avec brio les tests européens d’endurance et de qualités CATAS, ce qui leur a valu de gagner le “2008 Contract Award”. récompense bien méritée par Green, la maison d’édition dont le souci de perfection est reconnu.

PUNK et SHARK ont séduit leurs nouveaux fans et propriétaires à Faqra, chez la jeune société casafekra dans un stand tout en bois brut, reflétant parfaitement le concept et les couleurs de la collection. exposer leur multiples atouts, dans des thématiques de personnages tous les jours différents , leur a permis de montrer toutes les facettes de leurs personnalités riches et diverses.

casafekra est une nouvelle maison d’édition libanaise, spécialisée dans les accessoires d’intérieurs, et en représente en parallèle, au Liban et au Moyen-Orient, des marques design triées sur le volet, en ligne avec sa philosophie et l’image de sa marque.

casafekra collabore avec des designers exceptionnels, et des maisons et marques reconnues, pour introduire des objets et accessoires inspirants, innovants, futés, destinés au bien-être du consommateur.

shadows are dead… long live shadows!

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:25:27 +0000

In a world where everything is constantly changing, where speed is our new “religion”, how do we perceive the space that surrounds us? How do we navigate in our environment keeping in mind that, genuinely speaking, LIGHT is the ultimate guide?

We, children of the television, video games and PCs, evolve in a shadow-less world. Our eyes are slaves to self-illuminated surfaces that take away from our surroundings any notion of directional light (like the sun), thus sending shadows to retirement.

“Shadows help us comprehend space, recognize dimension and orient ourselves. Shadows give us information in the same way as light does.”

We have managed to kill The Shadow.

There is not light without shadows, no shadows without light: Shadow can represent the vocabulary of minimalist light art. Shadow is not merely darkness, but darkness with form, infiltrated into light.

How do we re-introduce the notion of shadow in our vocabulary? How can we re-design LIGHT in a way to restore shadow’s substance; not as much as the realization of a new quality of shadow, but a reminder of its significance? …

by Cherine Saroufim