MINIMALISSIMO EDITED
When I discovered light as a central theme in architecture, I realised that it would engage all my life. Light in my work is the most valuable material.
– Elisa Valero Ramos
What's happening?
How many days til spring? I'm struggling a bit with these (what feels like) 4 hour days of sunlight. Even though I work remotely, sometimes I envy the nomad lifestyle. Packing up and hitting a calm corner of the Earth with a suitable climate. I think the best I can hope for is some kind of holiday home somewhere. Although even that feels a far cry from the today's reality. OK, enough complaining. After recently doing a bit of a storage tidy I came across a handful of casebound copies of our first printed magazine, Minimalissimo Nº1. We only made a small number of these (~100) available as part of our Kickstarter campaign back in 2015, but apparently I had a few extras. So if you fancy getting your hands on a copy, let me know.
– Carl
Features
SPACE WITH 8 WALLS
Designed by architecture office FAKT, this dwelling is an extension of the existing structure with flowing rooms, blending outside and inside spaces. The idea of only slim wall panels as the formative element was the starting point of the design. The walls serve as the only structural support, yet act as room-forming elements on the interior.
PRIVATE HOUSE IN SOZOPOL
The three-storey house is located near the Black sea town of Sozopol in Bulgaria and is situated on a plot with panoramic sea view. Designed by Simple Architecture, the project consists of partial reconstruction and complete visual transformation of the existing house. The guiding idea of this project has been to create a light, elegant, and ethereal atmosphere, dominated by the sea view and the constantly changing colours of the surrounding nature.
FLUO BAG (20 YEARS EDITION)
An homage to the simplicity, aesthetics, and function of the common plastic shopping bag used in stores throughout Germany. After 20 years, the label’s first design, the Fluo bag, is reissued in a limited edition. By transferring the shape of a common plastic shopping bag into soft and snug calf leather Sandra Thomsen and Ilke Penzlien created a simple and long lasting bag which became the labels “classic” product.
MTS LIGHTING
The constant innovation of light sources has brought about a diversity of lighting, and Mario Tsai Studio has always seemingly been committed to technological and structural innovation to bring about variation in design. This is evident in Mario's impeccable body of work that includes mass-produced lamps to striking lighting installations. We showcase a handful of favourites, including the Gap Lighting series, the Mazha System 4.0, and the Electricity Lighting series. The latter has an interesting story behind it.
MUDRA CHAIR
The MUDRA shell chair design was born out of conviction over many rounds of development without the constraints of a strict timeline. German chair manufacturer Brunner and Diez Office have a lot in common, including a passion for innovative ways of working with materials, a need for perfection, attention to detail, and an unwillingness to compromise on functionality and iconic design. The result of this strong partnership is a brilliantly versatile and minimalist chair that makes a clear design statement.
SELF REVEALING
Self Revealing is a meditation space, as a hideaway situated in the hustle-and-bustle city of Taipei. Situated on the second floor of a residential building, the space was created by local design company StudioX4 to provide a quiet sanctuary in which urban citizens can practice mindfulness, meditation, and yoga. Although it looks like an ideal dance studio too.
Supply spotlight
minimal design made to own (and made by us):
M–02: DIGITAL
The second edition of Minimalissimo magazine is focused on insights from some of our favourite creative people. We explore areas of minimalism we appreciate the most, including the timeless architectural dwellings by John Pawson, the enticing fashion photography by Paul Jung, and the precise product and furniture design by Oki Sato.
Where next?
Discovery
other things for you to read, explore, and maybe even admire:
the beautiful, brutal world of bonsai: an American undergoes a gruelling apprenticeship to a Japanese master
backyard: designed by Samara, configure your own little house
12ft: bypass any paywall
social media protocols: in the wake of the Twitter fiasco and fragility, what are our options?
This monthly edition of the Minimalissimo newsletter was supported by aprile, the hanging chair
inspired by spring days and designed by Matteo Modica, aprile is a simple suspended chair that oozes elegance—a floating seat, shaped after spring petals, swinging gently. designed and handcrafted in Italy with artisanal love.
whether you're looking for visual inspiration or design insights, you can visit our gallery to discover the very best of minimalism in art and design.
minimalissimo.com