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This autumn, the 28th edition of DesignBlok, the largest design and fashion festival in Central Europe, brought together more than 300 designers, studios and brands from the Czech Republic and beyond.
Located in several outstanding venues, the festival’s ambition and celebration of local craftsmanship, honest materials and creativity were on display.
“What makes Czech design particularly rich is that we still produce glass here. We still produce porcelain. You can experiment, and you do not have to search for production in some other countries. You have the tradition, you have the crafts,” says Jana Zielinski, the festival director. OnOffice rounds up some of its favourite finds.
- Rider by Mmcité
The Czech street furniture and urban design brand (read about it in Issue 174) was at the festival’s main hub – the Functionalist Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery Prague.
The company brought Rider – a sleek galvanised steel bicycle stand, which works as a standalone element and as a modular system. Not only is it a practical solution but a visually striking element of street furniture.
2. Molni by Arqsit
Created by multidisciplinary designer Adéla Bačová for Arqsit, a Czech family-owned manufacturer specialising in metal and public-space furniture, this neat, modular seating system would sit well in a waiting room or reception.
The cushions’ pleasingly organic shapes fit snugly into a light metal frame made from bent steel tubing.
This versatile collection includes various types of sofas, lounge chairs and tables, allowing for numerous configurations.
3. Manual Ritual by Profil nábytek
Designed in collaboration with Prague-based architecture and design studio Schwestern, Manual Ritual is a collection of elements that can be manually swapped around to make everything from neat coat hooks to benches and shelves – ideal for office spaces that might shrink or expand over time.
Indeed, Profil Nábytek – a Czech family-owned company that can turn its hand to everything from furniture manufacturing to complete interior fit-outs – has a tag line that reads “the art of being flexible”.
profil-nabytek.cz, schwestern.cz
4. S-Tool by Master & Master
Designed by Paris-based studio Index Office, S-Tool is a seating collection inspired by bicycle handlebars and tube bending (much like the Wassily Chair back in 1925).
The stools are deceptively simple, yet the tubular design would make for a refined addition to commercial interiors.
In addition, Tomáš Král’s Materra table lamp, which is a fine example of traditional slip-cast ceramic craft, has been awarded the festival’s Best Launched Product by a Producer accolade.
5. Light
We would be remiss not to mention the theme of this year’s exhibition – light.
The various installations paid tribute to light, Czech glassmaking and the continuity of a craft passed down the generations, whether Lee Broom’s spectacular Beacon executed by Brokis, the Splash installation by glass specialists Lasvit (see issue 170), or Jílek 1905, whose monumental luminaire played with the archetype of traditional crystal chandeliers but evolved the form for the present day.
brokisglass.cz, asvit.com, jilek1905.cz
