HOLO, an experimental design collaboration formed by Australian designers Christopher Thomas and Michael Travalia have launched their third furniture collection at DMY Berlin, the Berlin design festival , May 1st – 5th.

'foundouk' series, courtesy HOLO

The collection is called the ‘foundouk‘ series and is inspired by a design jam session the designers took in  Morocco. It features a comfy leather beanbag called ‘daybed’, the ‘kech’ aluminium screen and room divider , the silver ‘pool’  drinks tray and aluminium ‘lantern’ tables .

The work will continue to grow and mature, adding another layer of personal and shared experience over a period of time. By visiting a different place each year, we can draw inspiration and energy from it, translating aspects with a common dialogue.

HOLO

Daybed by Christopher Thomas, courtesy HOLO

Lantern Table by Michael Travalia, courtesy HOLO

Kech Screen by Christopher Thomas, courtesy HOLO

Pool Tray by Christopher Thomas, courtesy HOLO

+ About HOLO

Project HOLO is a creative one. Focused on the exploration of ideas and the process of generating exciting, diverse objects and furniture. It is a new concept created by Australian expat friends Christopher Thomas and Michael Travalia.

Now living in their respective cities of Bergen and London, the pair sought to connect on an informal basis, to share a common passion for design and travel. The partnership visits a new country on an annual basis, drawing inspiration from it's unique sense of place and the craft of the region.

We hope to reflect on different experiences, creating something new and exciting from each intensive session and share our findings through the resulting work and exhibitions.

+ Designer: Project HOLO

London will host the Olympics once more in 2012 and there are obvious changes that are being made all over the metropolis.  Design duo BarberOsgerby have been given the enormous challenge and honour of designing the torch that will carry the flame from Land’s End in Cornwall all over the UK ending in London ready for the celebrations that launch the Olympics.

Courtesy London 2012 - torch by BarberOsgerby

The design of the torch incorporated the 8000 miles by perforating the gold exterior with 8000 holes, which incidentally also help to cool the torch whilst the bearer carries it for the mile that they individually will do.

Courtesy London 2012 - torch and rings

It had to be below a certain weight so it can be carried by people as young as 12, able to survive a three-metre drop test, and to operate at 4,500 feet, at minus five degrees, and in 70mph gusts of wind.

Barber

© Jay Osgerby & Edward Barber

This was no small challenge but Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby took this challenge on whilst still creating a beautiful, timeless piece of design.

It had to be economical and sustainable. It had to have symbolism as well as being beautiful and strong, to represent the relay in some way. And for us it had to reflect that London and the UK are at the forefront of design and manufacturing.

Osgerby

There may be mixed reaction on this design, but I love its simplicity, in particular the way that it overcomes challenges without compromising on the design… the challenges made the design exactly what it is.

+ Guest post by Daniel Nels, who is a design writer for mydeco.com and based in the UK.

This project serves as an extension of the Bay Trail, part of what will be a 500-mile network of bicycle and walking trails connecting 47 cities throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This section begins at the Alameda Ferry station and continues through an industrial corridor, along the property of the Bay Ship and Yacht Company.

Bay Ship and Yacht Company, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

A plaza was created near the ferry terminal to serve as an entry point for this section of the Bay Trail, oriented at an angle to provide views of the Oakland estuary and the San Francisco Bay. Relics from the shipping industry were collected from the ship yard and have been re-purposed as key elements in the landscape, reflecting the industrial history of the site.

Bay Ship and Yacht Company, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

Bay Ship and Yacht Company - Plaza layout plan, drawing courtesy estudioOCA / Omg

A propeller found on-site was embedded in the concrete, serving as a focal point of the plaza. I-beams were refinished and painted bright red and now function as seating in the center of the plaza, providing views of the bay. An anchor sites at the corner of the plaza, with its attached chain acting as a border at the shoreline. A pair of davits arches over the entrance, serving as a gateway to the new extension of the trail.

Bay Ship and Yacht Company, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

Planting along the trail was kept simple, Phormium spp. along with native grasses, set in linear patterns that reinforce the geometry of the plaza. This low planting allows views of the water to be maintained and is in keeping with the industrial nature of the site.

Bay Ship and Yacht Company - Master layout plan, drawing courtesy estudioOCA / Omg

+ Project credits / data

Project Name: Bay Ship and Yacht Company
Location: Alameda, California, USA
Completion Date: 2008
Services Provided:  Conceptual Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation

Designers: Bryan Cantwell and Matthew Gaber
Design Firms: estudioOCA / Omg
Client:  Bay Ship and Yacht Company
Project Size:  2,500 Sq. Meters
Photographer: Bryan Cantwell

+ All images and drawings courtesy estudioOCA | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

Located on San Francisco Bay, in the East Bay city of Emeryville, the marina provides unprecedented views of the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate bridge, the San Francisco city skyline, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.

Emeryville Marina, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

The marina was originally built on landfill and had compacted several feet over the years, causing flooding of the Bay Trail and an adjacent restaurant.  Working with a team of engineers, the firm developed a solution to raise the grade of the marina by more than one and a half meters without damaging the existing large native trees.

Emeryville Marina, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

The shoreline was raised by stacking large rip-rap, brought in by barge from a quarry across the bay.  Engineered fill allowed the grade to be raised above the 100-year flood line.  A new multi-use trail was designed to provide pedestrian and bicycle access around the marina. At the corner of the marina, an open space was designed to take advantage of the scenic views with stone outcroppings providing a resting place for cyclists and pedestrians, and convenient location for local fishermen.

Emeryville Marina, image courtesy estudioOCA / Omg | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

To allow the grade to be raised around the large existing native trees, crushed stone paving was used around the drip-line of the trees.  The non-compacting nature of the material allowed the trees root system to develop while providing shaded seating areas.  The same stone that was used to build up the shoreline was used to retain the grade and provide seating around the trees.  Native coastal grasses were planted which can survive the dry summers and the harsh winds and salt-spray while requiring little maintenance.

Emeryville Marina - Site plan, drawing courtesy estudioOCA / Omg

+ Project credits / data

Project: Emeryville Marina
Location: Emeryville, California, USA
Completion Date: 2008
Project Size: 12,200 Sq. Meters
Services Provided: Conceptual Design, Design Development, Construction Documentation

Designers: Bryan Cantwell and Matthew Gaber
Design Firms: estudioOCA / Omg
Client:  City of Emeryville

Photographer: Bryan Cantwell

+ All images and drawings courtesy estudioOCA | Photo by Bryan Cantwell

Proposed by estudioOCA, this riverfront redevelopment project provides a range of possibilities and aims to improve urban life and spatial appropriation. There are no grand gestures; areas remain open, often surprising, and spatially generous. The project invites residents to take a walk with children along the river, go fishing, stop under the trees of Lent Square, watch a show at night with the water tower forming the backdrop to the stage, walk under the tall trees on the right bank while looking at the city lights. Take the ferry under the main bridge, relax on one of the wooden decks and enjoy the spectacle of the river.

Central site plan, render courtesy estudioOCA

Lent Bank East, render courtesy estudioOCA

The design was developed within the existing context and does not seek to make unnecessary alterations. For example, the project could be integrated without extensive modifications to the topography. One of the key goals is to make the site legible and thus permit multiple appropriations of the proffered spaces. Long, wide walkways function as a continuation of the city, leading to the adjacent, accessible river banks, always vibrant, with people enjoying the spaces.

Lent Plaza, render courtesy estudioOCA

Judgment Tower, render courtesy estudioOCA

Simplicity of materials: the palette consists of the existing granite paving, new, low-maintenance pavements of stone or concrete (dependent on economic considerations) and wood (ideally from a local source). Simplicity of the topography: the planned spaces have a global nature, being topographically continuous, with the exception of the East garden in Svetozarevska Street. All of the spaces have been designed so as to make them accessible to people with disabilities.

Water Cycle Diagram, drawing courtesy estudioOCA

The project includes a simple pluvial water filtration system, in the form of the planted areas, all of which have been designed to allow for effective and economic purification. The Judgment tower pool is connected to the triangular pool of the ancient fort, which is an ornamental receptacle for storm events.

+ Project credit / data

Drava River 2012 Maribor Slovenia
Project: River Waterfront Competition
Date: 2010
Area: 23 Hectares
Type: Landscape

Project team:
Lead Designers: estudioOCA: Ignacio Ortínez, Bryan Cantwell & Alberto Giourgiutti
Collaborators: Julia Coquelle, Pietro Giannini, Emanuela Miceli, Carlos Principe, Jimi McKay, Nicola Marmugi

+ About estudioOCA

estudioOCA is an international studio founded by Ignacio Ortinez and Bryan Cantwell in 2007, formed from its origin to focus on urbanism and landscape issues on a global scale. The studio's primary offices are located in San Francisco and Barcelona. The studio provides a conceptual rethinking of the public domain, revealing new opportunities for cities and open space.

Website: http://www.estudiooca.com/

+ All images and drawings courtesy estudioOCA