So, travelling to Cologne for the imm Cologne furniture fair was a deeply cold experience… but that was just the weather. It is a really beautiful city and there was just so much going on. (You can read my blog on Indesignlive here)

The whole of the Cologne Design Week is amazing, and the city really comes alive. One of my favourite things at the fair, however, was the [D3] Design Contest.

There were some amazing designs on show from young designers from across the globe. I thought I’d point out my top Creative Collaborations from the contest – the ‘Light Forest’ by Ontwerpduo.

Dutch Designers Nathan Wierink and Tineke Beunders, have created a ceiling lighting system. The modular design can be put together in endless configurations, climbing down walls and stretching across large ceiling spaces.

I asked them what inspired the design:

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“The inspiration comes (as many of our inspirations) from fairytales and in particular the element of plants in them. In a few of these stories plants tend to overgrow things and with the Light Forest it is the same,” explains Nathan.

“The lamp starts growing from a certain point in the room (where the electricity is). And in a few places it grows a flower this then being the light.”

“We meant it to be as flexible as possible, and with this getting the light to where ever you would like it to go.”

The system resembles industrial piping, something normally only exposed in carparks or under buildings, but the lights themselves are refined beauty, flaring out with an exciting bronze underside.

Ontwerpduo work in a really exciting space in Eindhoven called ‘The Yard’ which they share with around 10 other designers. All shipping containers and lots of space, this place has to be any young designer’s collaborative dream.

“The Yard is a strong group with individuals who work in the same building,” says the duo. “They all recognize each others talents and cultures. Talent, knowledge and interests are melting together.”

Perhaps we need more spaces like this in our neck of the woods (Sydney, that is!). Actually, that might be a nice next post – Collabreative Spaces… and the cogs tick over.

Another project by Ontwerpduo; room 407 Seriously cool, check it out.

“Working together means always having 2 opinions that are not always the same,” Nathan says. “It gives us the chance to get good comments in a very early stage because you are in general more open and honest (sometimes even hard) towards each other. And of course we also are both better in certain things and in this way we can compliment each other in our work.”

So if you haven’t already seen Ontwerpduo, then head over to their website to see some more.

Photos: Marly Gommans

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