What happens with an empty suitcase? Option number 1: you’ll throw it somewhere in a dark corner of a room and let it gather some dust. Option number 2: you reinvent it into a multifunctional desirable and stackable design object. That’s exactly what designer Maarten De Ceulaer did for his Design Academy graduation project four years ago. Today he continues ” The Leather Collection” with brand new edition titled “Chest of Suitcases”. Read the rest of this entry »
2
May
2013
May
2013
Suitcase Love
10
Apr
2013
Apr
2013
Maria goes Milano
Design circus to it’s fullest, that’s how you can describe the design week during the Salone Del Mobile. Star designers introduce their new products, of course edited by desirable design brands, and show their profitable smiles for the gathered international press. That’s why the I Love Belgium team is keen on talking about young Belgian design talents represented in the city of design and aperitivo! One of those is Ghent-based Maria Scarpulla who’s work are represented at Venture Lambrate. Read the rest of this entry »
8
Apr
2013
Apr
2013
You’re a DOLL
“Can you hand over my pill box? You’re a doll”. Do these words ring a bell? Grandfathers and grandmothers all over the world use these exact phrases to keep their general health going. We all know these less-then-exiting organizers: cheap-looking, industrial plastic containers who help with the organization, timing and intake of pills. That’s why designer Quentin de Coster reinvented the pill box for an everyday use of medication in a fun and logical way! Read the rest of this entry »
28
Feb
2013
Feb
2013
Grafting Light
Modular systems, we love them! That’s why the I Love Belgium team has to talk about ‘Grafting Light‘. Grafting Light is a project by architecture office C.T.A. This office is lead, since 2009, by Nick Ceulemans and Liesbeth Thewissen, who required their experiences in renowned offices such as David Chipperfield, Zaha Hadid and Wiel Arets. Read the rest of this entry »
20
Feb
2013
Feb
2013
Knitted Psychedelica
Design Platform Limburg was so kind to invite the I Love Belgium design editor to judge a bunch of new creative talent for the Toegepast 18 competition. It was here that we discovered the work of Isabel Tesfazhi. We were immediately captured by her graphic knit and art/design proposals. Organic forms, artisan knit knowledge and a passion for tribal culture make the work of Isabel unmistakable fascinating! Read the rest of this entry »
3
Feb
2013
Feb
2013
Julien Renault’s Inventory
Belgian based French designer Julien Renault is an emotional designer. In a world where’s there’s already too much design made just for the sake of it, he’s part of the new generation redefining both the material and technique of everyday products and furniture. After graduating at the ESAD Design & Art School in Reims and ECAL in Lausanne he moved to Brussels to assist Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz while working simultaneously worked for an antique design dealer. Read the rest of this entry »
17
Jan
2013
Jan
2013
Pattern Fever
Yes! We love it when we receive submissions. Here at the I Love Belgium offices we live for that moment when a young unknown talent decides to send us a mail! And this was also the case with Tim Colmant. This La Cambre student surprised us with his playful prints and original gifs. Read the rest of this entry »
8
Jan
2013
Jan
2013
Them Sculptures
The Christmas and New Year’s Eve period is best know for its bright lights and musical abundance! Yet this winter something with the same elements but with a whole different outcome drew our attention. We’re talking about the work of Them Sculptures. Belgian-Dutch artist duo Tom Dekyvere and Han van der Tol are the masterminds behind light, form and sound projects which they’ve been designing for several European light festivals. Read the rest of this entry »
8
Nov
2012
Nov
2012
Chapel Design
How do you design a chapel interior for an organisation of autonomous schools anno 2012? This hard task was tackled by design duo Tom Callebaut and Cindy Tirry also know as design office tcct. They handled the chapel space as a metaphor for the way the institute works with people: transforming the internal disorder into an infrastructure which gives peace, happiness and reflection. Read the rest of this entry »
24
Oct
2012
Oct
2012
An Interieur state of mind
Belgium is in a design state of mind at this very moment. The design biennial Interieur 2012 in the city of Kortrijk is in full course and will go on till next weekend. The ideals that lay behind the establishment of the Interieur Foundation in 1967 were closely related to the motives and ideals behind the student and worker rebellions of the late sixties in France, then in Europe and the US. Read the rest of this entry »
3
Oct
2012
Oct
2012
Concrete Design
Today the I Love Belgium team puts a focus on the design work of newly found collective The Ministry of Mass. David Braeckman and Sander Michiels aim to provide comments, criticism and reflection on our current practices as a producing and consuming culture. This translates into a limited series of objects, produced independent and local or objects that reflect on the diminishing relation between Man and Nature. Read the rest of this entry »
25
Sep
2012
Sep
2012
Dreamcatcher by Linda Topic
The I Love Belgium team has big love for Brussels based designer Linda Topic. The one-off a kind bed she designed is still one of our best read articles and we wouldn’t mind having her modular floor covering (made with leftovers from wooden floors and carpets) in our living room. Het latest design is a fabric called Dreamcatcher. Read the rest of this entry »
23
Sep
2012
Sep
2012
Atelier Solarshop Forever
We’ve been following Piëtro and Jan-Jan from the beginning with their pop-up concept Atelier Solarshop. Their selection of vintage pieces and young designers always made our heart beat faster. So when we got the message that they blew up the pop-up concept to install a permanent creative platform for creatives and a gallery for young artists and designers, we immediately had butterflies in our stomachs. Read the rest of this entry »
18
Sep
2012
Sep
2012
Brazilian Modern at Ampersandhouse
Ampersand House is a gallery of art and design located in a maison de maître in central Brussels. Owners Kathryn Smith and Ike Udechuku, an Australian-British couple curate the gallery as a constantly evolving living environment mixing vintage, contemporary and prototype work to inspire a dialogue with and between collectors and creatives. The I Love Belgium team discovered this beauty awhile ago. It’s a shame that we didn’t post about it sooner. Read the rest of this entry »
6
Sep
2012
Sep
2012
Beam Tables
Back in 1959, iconic architect Mies van der Rohe spoke in the New York Herald Tribune about restraint in design. This resulted into one of the most famous design/architecture quotes and principles: “Less is more”. When we came across these beam tables of Brussels-based designer Damien Gernay (you may know him under his previous name Dustdeluxe) this quote seemed in place! Read the rest of this entry »
3
Sep
2012
Sep
2012
Weaving Colour
The first Monday in September : summer holidays are officially over and a new social season is ushered in with a crowded agenda! If you have still some blank pages, then Design September Brussels will help you fill the gaps. Out of the 80 events around the city, the I Love Belgium team highlights “Colour./Kleur.“. Read the rest of this entry »
26
Jun
2012
Jun
2012
The New Generation Belgian Furniture Designers – The Graduation Collection
After the graduation shows of the highly qualified Belgian fashion designers to be, one would forget that this small, tiny country also has its very own furniture design education. For the 13th year in a row, the newest generation is presenting their graduation work. Read the rest of this entry »
1
Jun
2012
Jun
2012
Sleep Around The Clock
Yes, sometimes the finest Belgian B&B’s and hotels receive some I Love Belgium love. As we assume you’ll visit Belgium after seeing and reading our blog, we’ll make sure you’re housed in the most welcoming places. So this time we go to Ghent and have a look at the temporary hotel-room, 23 m above the ground and build around the clock tower of Ghent’s main train station. Read the rest of this entry »
29
May
2012
May
2012
Beaufort # 2
We continue with our Beaufort04 series with these playfull benches of Danish artist Jeppe Hein. This time we’re on the dyke of coastal village De Haan where you can find his ‘Modified Social Benches L-U’. Making a bridge between street furniture/design and art, Jeppe’s work speaks to all of us, even if we haven’t asked it to. Read the rest of this entry »
12
May
2012
May
2012
Loop by Quentin de Coster
Here at the I Love Belgium office, we have a weak spot for simple yet relevant design pieces. So when we received an email from Liège-based, young design talent Quention de Coster we were more then happy to share his new suspension lamp titled Loop. Read the rest of this entry »
