MINIMALISSIMO EDITED
This newsletter is supported by aprile, the hanging chair
White and black, outside and inside, within and beyond, private and public, full and empty, noise and silence, pause and continuity, rhythmic and arrhythmic. Black and white are an attitude to reduction, pushed down to zero. Less is more.
– A G Fronzoni
What's happening?
Minimalism is a principle that spans more than art and design for me. It's also a principle to live by. I do my best to be mindful of my actions, habits, interests, and environments so they reflect (to some extent) simple living. I'm not always successful at it, but it's the effort that's important. My interest in the lifestyle branch of minimalism is the reason why I cofounded Minimalism Life. It's a passive and collaborative project that has been ticking over experimentally since 2016. So far, the project has been challenging, with limited resources, and almost zero budget. But as with most side projects, it's a matter of passion and just getting something out there for the world to discover. Then just keep building, iterating, and improving on what has come before. And so with renewed optimism, motivation, and a dose of fresh ideas, I'm going to invest some time over the coming months to reboot minimalism.com for 2024. The aim will be to make it a useful resource hub for all things minimal with a team of contributors. Make it less about a brand and more about the benefits this guiding principle offers us.
– Carl
Features
SHADES OF SHIRO KURAMATA
Japanese maestro of design and poet of material and form, Shiro Kuramata (1934–1991) transformed the field of design in postwar Japan by elevating everyday objects through touches of surrealism within a rigorous minimalist matrix. His body of work imbued traces of Japanese decorative arts and crafts with modernist simplicity and structural purity that strongly influenced the functionalist dogma "form follows function".
HOUSE WITH TWO WINGS
House with Two Wings nestles at the base of a hill in Southern Spain‘s Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a city in the Cádiz province, and celebrates the terrain on which it stands. Designed by Sol89 Arquitectos for a couple who moved from the North in pursuit of the country's Southern air and sunlight, the crisp white, single-storey, minimalist dwelling aimed to accommodate daily living with work and guest spaces. This requirement led to the split program, creating two wings of the house.
BRAUN WIRELESS CHARGER
Under the design leadership of Oliver Grabes and with the reintroduction of Braun Audio and technology design outside of their grooming product range, the renowned German brand has produced quality objects with a consistent simplicity we have come to love. The minimal wireless charger features magnetic charging technology enabling precise alignment for fast charging. Designed to be compatible with the latest iPhone models with MagSafe technology.
HOUSE F
House F, designed by XStudio, occupies one of the few empty plots in the area. The regulations of the area establish strict conditions that push for a solution that determines the position, size, and proportion of the openings of the main facade. The architects proposed a design that respects the environment, but one that must manifest its own time and place.
FORMS OF BEN SWILDENS
Ben Swildens is a Dutch designer began his career working for his professors, great creative artisans of the time, as well as for private companies. In 1985, he founded Ben Swildens Design Architecture, concentrating on individual residences. While still an architect and designer, he has dedicated himself mainly to sculpture since 2010. We showcase some of Ben's minimalist designs produced over his extensive career.
108 AND 110
A less is more approach elevates this period redesign in the heart of Mallorca. Locally based designer Chiara Ferrari transformed a 1934 leather factory into a mixed-use scheme, comprising residential, office, and cultural spaces. The building's two levels were fully transformed through Ferrari's signature, fresh, clean minimalism, into a flexible live-and-work space, full of bespoke details.
Supply spotlight
minimal product design made to own (and made by us):
M–SELECTION: ARCHITECTURE
Minimalissimo Selection is a visual exploration of built environments within the spectrum of minimalism. This book will take you through an assortment of impeccable projects from outside-in, showcasing many styles, sizes, materials, and details.
Where next?
Discovery
other things for you to read, explore, and maybe even admire:
people and blogs: interviews of bloggers by Manu
timeblocks: a simple little web app to manage your time
ivania carpio: blurring line between art + design
comparing apples and oranges: the thief of joy
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.
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