More Foosball anyone? After introducing the stylish RS#2 to design savvy consumers a few years ago and the first all-female Foosball table Ella late this year, the designer at RS Barcelona were left with a challenge; how do you modify an already successful design to suite everyone else? The answer is the new RS#3.
“Every time we looked at the RS#2 we thought everyone should be able to enjoy a football table like this,” explains table designer Rafael Rodriguez. The whole RS Barcelona team then got involved in this new project: converting the RS#2 into a football table for a wider audience. In the offices they began to shape their formative ideas into drawings. The drawings were then taken to the workshop where they began to work with new thicknesses of metal and different finishes followed by stress tests, hammering, bending and welding. All of the teams’ efforts and labor were rewarded with an all-terrain, lighter, more colorful and more economical foosball table.
The RS#3 makes it easy to play anywhere. The RS#3 is perfect for both interior and exterior, giving both the recluse and the outdoors lover the chance to up their game. The RS#3 shrugs off inclement weather and the passing of time. Not sure which room gives you the best playing chi? At 20 kilos lighter, the RS#3 can be moved from room to room with ease. In addition to its diet, the RS#3 redesign of its lines and structure has made it more manageable to transport. Weighing in at 69 kilos (152 pounds for you imperialists) the RS#3 is the champion of the lightweight division so you can keep the shots coming with all the passion and strength you can get from your wrists.
With all the modifications and the weight loss plan, the RS#3 comes to you with a smaller price tag than its cousin, making it the ideal stocking stuffer. The RS#3 is available and ready to ship for the holidays through A+R in Venice, the Conran Shop and by contacting agents Ford&Ching.
Last week, Ford & Ching and RS Barcelona hosted a Foosball Tournament in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the first-ever female foosball figure, “Ella.” All proceeds from the event went to the Keep A Breast Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer prevention, early detection, and support.
Sixteen teams (many in matching outfits) competed for the coveted title of Foosball Champion, and only one – Team Farm Tactics – went home with bragging rights and prizes provided by RS Barcelona. Despite the intense competition and sore wrists, all guests in attendance had an AMAZING time.
If you missed out, check out photos from the event after the jump!
Team TWIN $I$TAZ, aka Meredith Hewson & Chelsea Miltimore
FordBrady advances to the finals (taken with Richie Soto’s camera)!
Kyle Ng (Farm Tactics), Andrea Ching (Ford & Ching), Willard Ford (Ford & Ching/FordBrady), and John Brady (FordBrady)
Final Round: Farm Tactics (1st place) vs. FordBrady (2nd Place).
Farm Tactics shows off their team uniforms: WWF jackets and Hammer Pants!
How foosball champions are made.
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.
RS Barcelona’s foosball table featuring Ella…
…the world’s first female foosball figure!
Ella shows off her athletic prowess.
It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month; of course the table is pink!
Bend it…like Ella!
Intense concentration (Team Derelicte).
One of the girls of TWIN $I$TAZ shows off her team spirit!
Game on: TWIN $I$TAZ vs. Farm Tactics
Getting warmed up.
Showroom Showdown: FordBrady vs. Derelicte
Good sports: Farm Tactics and Willard Ford (center) have some congratulatory beers.
Make sure to check back with 722 Figueroa and Ford & Ching, as there may be another foosball tournament in the works for October 2012. Will Farm Tactics defend their title? Will 2nd place team, FordBrady, go for the gold? Or will another team rise up from the ranks? Only time will tell…
To commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ford & Ching and RS-Barcelona are proud to host a one-of-a-kind foosball tournament and cocktail reception featuring “Ella,” the world’s first female foosball figure. All proceeds benefit Keep A Breast Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to breast cancer prevention, early detection, and support. Doors open early evening on October 6th as 16 teams compete for a chance to win special prizes provided by RS-Barcelona. An open bar will provide ample lubrication for the athletes and onlookers. The tournament consists of two-person teams drawn from the creative community. No experience necessary and 100 percent of the $100 team registration fee goes to a great cause. For more information, visit Keep A Breast Foundation and RS-Barcelona.
Lighting and furniture designer Brendan Ravenhill’s story is so far removed from convention that it reads somewhat like a novel. It began normally enough on the coasts of Maine where Ravenhill recalls his first creation: a raft. “I grew up always spending time by the water in Maine and in Cote D’Ivoire” recalls Ravenhill , “as far back as I remember I was always working on a craft of some sort.” After building his first boat from a set of plans, Ravenhill instantly realized the inherent power construction drawing. “Recreating a complex and curved hull from a couple of sheets of paper made me realize that I wanted the ability to convey three-dimensional forms to others.” He then went on to receive a Sculpture degree from Oberlin College in 2001 and graduated from the masters program in Industrial Design at RISD in 2009. This is where the story begins to sway.
A few years ago, Ravenhill was coerced by his wife to participate in something she’d created on the site ETSY (an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items as well as art and craft supplies) called Mail Order Pals. “It was basically a pen pal for purchase,” Ravenhill explained to the online publication Sight Unseen. “People could buy you in order to receive a letter or a surprise package in the mail.” After someone “bought” Ravenhill, he went to the hardware store and whipped up an elegantly simple wooden swing-arm lamp overnight.
Upon seeing his creation, the designer’s wife convinced him it was just too nice to send. The pen pal ended up getting a wire sculpture of a penguin, and the couple began living with the lamp. In the months that followed, Ravenhill became obsessed with the design, refining and tweaking it in his head to the point that by the time he was approached to create a piece to show with the American Design Club at a trade fair in New York, he was able to fashion a prototype in a week’s time. The final lamp — composed primarily of porcelain, cast aluminum, a cloth cord, and a bare bulb — packs and ships flat and sells for less than $200 at places like The Future Perfect, cementing the young designer’s status as a rising talent to watch.
In addition to gaining him notoriety within the design community, the Cord Lamp bestowed upon Ravenhill the fundamentals to getting a design into production. “I made the first ones myself in cast plastic with this ridiculous two-part mold that had an incredibly high failure rate,” Ravenhill recalls. “I would wire the whole lamp and pour hot plastic over it. Sometimes the lamps would have air bubbles; sometimes plastic would go into the sockets and you’d have to dig it out with an X-Acto knife.” As the lamp began receiving more orders, Ravenhill eventually realized that this could no longer operate as an one man operation and began sourcing manufacturers who would ultimately save the designer hours and hours of wiring. Within a couple of days, Ravenhill had a caster in downtown Los Angeles, a porcelain guy in South Central, an electrician, and a powder-coater across town. All of Ravenhills subsequent designs now follow the multi-manufacture approach. “I rarely go into a project without three or four factory tours. Like right now, I’m working on a cast-aluminum piece and I’m constantly bringing things in to the guy going, ‘How was this built?’” No matter how many people end up manufacturing any one of Ravenhill’s designs, they must all first go through his meticulous scrutiny to achieve his iconic style.
“Utilitarian objects and buildings, particularly tools, wooden boats, and barns,” explains Ravenhill. “In my designs, I seek to find that beautiful balancing point where manufacturing methods, material properties, and economy are all equally considered.” A prime example of this is Ravenhill’s use of Edison bulbs for his lights. While they may not be as efficient as the smugly popular compact florescent bulbs, Ravenhill favors Edison bulbs for their beauty and unparalleled illumination; the crucial finishing touch to his works. While Ford&Ching will focus on finding dealers and distributors for Ravenhill’s lighting, it isn’t to say he is a one trick pony.
In addition to lighting design, Ravenhill is also a renowned furniture designer with commission works showcasing from coast to coast. Ravenhill has designed furniture for the Los Angeles restaurant Osteria La Buca. “Before I could even think about any formal considerations for the La Buca chair, I had to think about a material. It was for a restaurant that was going to order 80 of them, but they wouldn’t order anything if the chair wasn’t competitive with other restaurant seating.” The venture proved successful as Ravenhill was recently commissioned to create new versions of both the stools above and the La Buca chairs for a new outpost of an Italian restaurant in New York.
Lighting designs by Brendan Ravenhill available for purchase and viewing at The Future Perfect or by contacting agents Ford&Ching.
The Eiffel is truly intercontinental. The stool was inspired by Paris, designed in Tokyo by Shigeki Fujishiro, and manufactured in Barcelona. It will support a full grown man, but has the uncanny ability to make every male insist that it will break under his weight.
Mainlining its inherent whit and whimsy, the Eiffel arrives at your home in a pizza box and cloth bag. It is surprisingly easy to assemble unlike some other DIY furniture you may have purchased in your 20s. What’s best of all is that RS Barcelona gives you choice. Debuted at this year’s ICFF, the Eiffel now sports and indoor or outdoor suitable Chrome, Anodized and Painted White finishes.
Maintaining their beloved stack-ability, the new aluminum models complement the Eiffel’s classic black finish which is made entirely of pulp and recycled paper, making it Euro Trash, in the best kind of way. Still not enough options? Custom finishes are now also available for larger projects. Also the price tag will leave you with a big smile on your face, maybe now you can purchase that foosball table you’ve been eyeing.
“Creativity is not something with its source in the mind; it’s a gut feeling”- RS Barcelona designer, Rafael Rodríguez.
Design Commission Gallery is pledged to raising awareness of contemporary design in Seattle and contributing to the artistic conversation in the local, regional, and digital realms. Dedicated to showcasing top designers from around the world, DCG looks for artists whose projects push the limits of design and creativity and in doing so, give exposure to creators working in all mediums.
It comes as no surprise then that Seattle based Urbancase will be presenting a selection of projects and work that showcases their refined approach to furniture design. Founded by Darin Montgomery in 2002, Urbancase is based on the philosophy of designing objects and spaces that contribute to a simpler, pared back lifestyle focusing on basic aesthetic elements and functionality.
The show begins with an opening reception on September 1st, First Thursday, 4 – 9pm. Click here for more details.
New York based design house Lerival continues the spirit begun by the great modernist architects by bridging the gap between architects and product designers. Fueled by co-founder Dominique Gonfard’s passion for contemporary architecture, Lerival’s line exhibits elements of contemporary architecture’s advanced design sensibility such as versatile modularity, personality-driven forms and high performance in one cohesive package.
Gonfard’s architectural background began at the Parsons School of Design where she earned a Masters of Architecture. During her time at Parsons, Gonfard placed strong focus upon material research and the design-build process which gave her a first-hand understanding of the importance of a comprehensive design, one in which materials, detailing, and end-use are considered throughout the design process.
Gonfard later moved on to become a Project Architect at nARCHITECTS, involved in projects ranging in scale from temporary installations and interior renovations with custom furnishings to city-scale urban planning. While she appreciated the fundamentals of architecture, Gonfard was aware of its possible drawbacks; mainly the cost and duration of projects which greatly limited its audience.
Lerival was founded when Gonfard learnt many contemporary firms were exploring furniture design alongside their architectural projects. This notion of designing from the inside out is a key element to Lerival’s overall philosophy, essentially translating an architectural mindset onto a much smaller scale which in the process allows a much larger clientele a chance to own a piece of design history in the making.
Each Lerival design is developed within a contemporary mindset which evokes urban, elegant, confident, and forward-thinking sensibilities. With sculptural, strong personality forms, innovative materials, and meticulous fabrication, Lerival offers a true market alternative, ushering in a new era of independent, entrepreneurial and multifarious designers who want to elevate the design discourse in the US and beyond.
This weekend all eyes are on the Los Angeles Convention Center as Dwell magazine hosts their annual Dwell on Design exhibition. The Dwell on Design exhibition features the latest modern design ideas from a range of product categories and is a must for any designer of design enthusiast. With over 200 brands showcasing at the event along side more than 160 leading design, sustainability, and culinary thinkers presenting live on stage, there is sure to be something that will inspire everyone.
Make sure to visit the Ford&Ching pavilion (see map below) to see the latest designs from:
Competition will be fierce as the winners of this epic event will receive trophies designed by the folks at RS Barcelona themselves. The tournament will start at 3pm in store, simply pre-register in advance via email (rsvp@conranusa.com), phone (212) 755-9079, or surprise your opponents by signing up to play on game day.
Better practice your skills as you could be battling it out against a pro-foosballer with years of experience or simply a browser who has decided to get in on the action! The risk is yours!
RS Barcelona’s whimsical designs flirt with the boundary between fantasy and function. Their latest design is elegant in its simplicity, while still invoking hands on memories of making paper and maintaining a more international heritage than Brad and Angelina’s broad.
The Eiffel is truly intercontinental. The stool was inspired by Paris, designed in Tokyo by Shigeki Fujishiro, and manufactured in Barcelona. Made entirely of pulp and recycled paper, the Eiffel is literally Euro Trash, in the best kind of way. It will support a full grown man, but watch every male insist that it will break under his weight. It arrives at your home in a pizza box and cloth bag. It is surprisingly easy to assemble unlike some other diy furniture you may have purchased in your 20s. Also the price tag will leave you with a big smile on your face, maybe now you can purchase that foosball table you’ve been eyeing.
“Creativity is not something with its source in the mind; it’s a gut feeling”- RS Barcelona designer, Rafael Rodríguez.
posted by Intern on November 18th, 2010 in Featured Items
Portland, OR based designer Aurelie Tu has teamed up with Ford&Ching in Los Angeles to market and promote CraftedSystems by Aurelie Tu. This exciting new collection of hand-woven vessels, table elements including runners and placemats, and custom-designed wall and floorcoverings is uniquely modern and features warm, textural fabrics and uniquely geometric forms. As well, Aurelie also applies her organic geometric design capabilities to create custom pieces and installations for a variety of residential and commercial projects.
CraftedSystems by Aurelie Tu is a socially conscious celebration of handcraft that puts the act of creation and artisanship into the hands of the needy. Every culture in the world has its own unique tradition of handwork. Throughout the ages, stories and culture have been passed on through generations through the simple medium of craft. In contemporary Western society we have become distant from handwork. Artisanship has faded; technology, convenience and busy lives have all but rendered handwork a thing of the past. Aurelie’s mission is to create a form of modern craft: to reinvigorate handcraft in the context of today’s society, and foster community around the traditions of crafting and creating. Instead of relying on highly skilled artisans, Aurelie partners with homeless women from the YWCA in Portland Oregon to create her products. This special program combines award-winning industrial design with innovative weaving techniques, and the simple notion of collective creation to create modern pieces which compliment lifestyle and environment. The program helps develop real-world skills for women in transition, economically enabling and empowering them, while giving them a collective purpose and creative outlet. The workers are paid a fair wage, work in a collaborative environment, and pass on life-lessons while participating in “healing work.”
“The happiest people in the world are those who work with their hands and see the direct result of their labor.” - anonymous
Aurelie’s designs are inspired by nature’s geometries. Aurelie creates warmth and texture with simple modern products which invite touch and interaction. Her Craftedsystems line is made from the highest quality 100% wool felt, the oldest man-made textile. Furthering her commitment to strengthening community and sustainable production, all products are assembled by hand in Portland Oregon, and production utilizes ecologically conscious methods of manufacture including die-cutting and water-jet-cutting.
Last month Urbancase launched their new line of products at ICFF. The firm, founded in 2002 by Darin Montgomery introduced a four-piece series which includes the One-by-One-Chair, the Ledge, the Mantis lamp, and… The Emergency Cocktail Station.
It’s a clever wall mounted bar with a drop down work surface that comes equipped with the tools to cure most any cocktail emergency. (You supply the medicine). Able to cure most urban cocktail emergencies.
inside of San Francisco welcomes GO BUILD STUDIO to their curated selection of upholstered seating, dining tables and chairs, coffee tables, bed frames, and lighting. On display find the newly redesigned Zebra Series and the brand new Wavelegth Series.
The Zebra Series of case goods features highly graphic Zebrawood (a sustainable veneer product made of plantation-raised Poplar) framed by dark Oak, and sophisticated touches like bronzed pulls, and dovetailed drawers.
Heiloom quality goods.
On the floor at INSIDE MODERN...
The Wavelength Series is a seating group inspired by the motion of waves and the movement of shorebird legs. The basic form is designed to cradle the derriere on a simple repeatable shape. Each piece features tightly upholstered seating with thin padding, and may be ordered in Walnut, Oak, Maple, Espresso, and with or without Ebonized legs and trim.
Splt Wave Bench features built in table.
Superior build and elegant lines on the Wave Bench.
Greg Bergere of GO BUILD STUDIO founded his furniture company in 1998 in San Francisco and the eclectic collection currently celebrates simple and useful design with the varied influences of plain Shakers, mid-century moderns, and high-low cosmopolitans. Bergere learned to build things while working alongside his father, a self-starter, tinkerer, and craftsman who built and fixed everything around the house. Greg never learned of hired help so developed a strong skill-set for building things. He went on to receive degrees in art and architecture and practiced architecture for some years. Ever the “doer,” Bergere eventually quit architecture for furniture making, having tired of what he describes as the “…labyrinthine requirements of getting buildings approved and built in the Bay Area.”
Bergere describes his design process as “…both direct and relaxed, searching for thoughtful and reserved simplicity.” The work shows “…an appreciation for traditional forms and the long history of craft in furniture making informs our contemporary outlook.” General concepts that inform his work: style over fashion, classic forms, geometry, substance and longevity, craft and lineage, contrast and balance, gravity and levity, generosity and spaciousness, transparency and opacity, and openness. Materials chosen are of the highest quality and reflect GO BUILD STUDIO’s commitment to sustainability. Each and every piece is finely crafted in their San Francisco-based workshop.
The bedrock of inside’s iconic collection is from Modernica, the California-based manufacturer responsible for the revival of the George Nelson Bubble Lamp, the classic 1950 Fiberglass Arm Chair, and Case Study daybeds, couches and shelving. They are also an authorized dealer for the Cherner Chair, designed by Norman Cherner in 1958 and still regarded as one of the most dramatic designs utilizing the technology of molding plywood. Their friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff are waiting for you at the showroom on149 Gough Street in fashionable Hayes Valley.
You may see more of Greg’s work here and peruse the current offerings at inside’s site as well. Stay tuned for pictures from their showroom floor…
Laguna Beach locals Daniel Wacholder, Nick Sheridan and Bret Englander started working together at the tender age of 14. You might remember them from their launch at the Kim Sing back in December.
Their first project was a boat build from scratch they used to sail up and down the California coastline. A few years later they restored an RV and traveled cross country in search of new things and ideas. A lifelong partnership was born and years later it sparked a creative partnership spanning furniture, industrial, and environmental design. According to Bret “…the work acknowledges a…conflict exists between art and science.”
They just sent us some new photography on their Era Table which we thought we had to share.
The forecast calls for rain in Los Angeles tonight, March 6th. Perfect timing to unveil the newly arrived samples from RS-Barcelona including the Drops Tables.
their super slick foosball table, have been getting all kinds of attention for their whimsical designs. The crate’s been unloaded and Ford&Ching is representing RS.
You can view samples of their designs and furniture at the KimSing and soon at selected retailers in the U.S.
Last week I visited one of our East Coast designers, Eric Slayton, at his studio in Brooklyn. (Some of you know, I probably had some ulterior motives for being there as well) I got to preview his latest version of the standard console; a series of pieces with a portfolio of time lapse photos showing the “rusting” will accompany each piece. Each piece will be located in different environments from urban to wilderness. Today, we’re at day 17, so these photos were taken on day 12.
Beautiful affect of the patina on solid Corten steel
Amazing contrast between day 1 and 12.
Day 1
View of the side of Eric's studio building
posted by Andrea on February 23rd, 2010 in Featured Items
Downtown Los Angeles based 100xbetter just launched their new line of flat pack furniture. Many of us familiar with flat pack pieces have had the luxury (or discomfort) of putting together an IKEA cabinet most likely. When searching the market for current flat pack options, the guys behind this company thought they could do 100xbetter. Started in 1999 as a design/build studio combining CNC manufacturing technology with high quality materials (unlike IKEA) and a minimalist sensibility.
Check out the photos below of how easy and beautifully all the pieces come together………
Flat packed out of the box....
Base slides into side supports
Seat bottom slides in
Set the bottom down on the ground
Slide in the back panel
Admire your work. You've just put together the frame for the db chair.
Apply your cushion and take a load off!
The db chair and ottoman are part of the db series which includes a loveseat and three-seater. They even make one perfect for kids or your height-challenged friends. Each comes flat packed with a choice of wood finish, cushion style and upholstery.
db chair with leather contoured cushion
db loveseat with fabric button cushion
db 3 seater with fabric button cushions
kids db with fabric button cushion
With a price point that starts at $725, everyone in the family can have one.
posted by Willard on February 11th, 2010 in Featured Items
Laguna Beach design group CERNO just launched their line of plywood furniture at the recent FORD&CHING winter event earlier this month. Hundreds came to see the chair in the Kim Sing Theatre and were very surprised when the chair turned out to be incredibly comfortable despite it’s hard appearance. Design purists rejoiced at the thought: A visually innovative piece of furniture that was not an occasional, but a full fledged member of the living room.
Ladies Love Cerno
The lounger and ottoman are made from solid Baltic Birch plywood that is CNC milled and hand finished. The standard finish is a pre-catalyzed clear lacquer but there are a variety of other finish options. Price is a very reasonable $2,900 for the Lentus and an additional $500 for the ottoman.
Not a Lazy-Boy
The Lentus and the rest of the Cerno line is available now at the FORD&CHING showroom. Look out for our feature on the Cerno design crew in the next few days.
Daniel Wacholder, Nick Sheridan and Bret Englander
posted by Willard on December 24th, 2009 in Featured Items
RS-Life was kind enough to send us their super-deluxe RS#2 Stainless “foosball” table. It was an immediate hit at the F&C website launch event and has since become a regular part of workday stress relief here at the Kim Sing Theatre. RS#2 is a reinterpretation of a Spanish cultural classic. It’s a soccer table that, due to its innovative design and shape, is a spectacle in itself. Rafael Rodriguez, the designer explains, “It was about reinventing an article that was stuck back in shape as well as in certain features and giving to it a modern and attractive appearance to make it a design object.” There is also a painted version for indoor use that shares all of the same features, including rubber-soled levelers, an ashtray and glass-holders for all four players.
RS#2 is available in red, white, black and silver. The layout of the players and choice of team colors is 100% customizable so that, as Rafael Rodríguez says: “we can make with every game the game of our lives.” RS started as a metal workshop 1978 in a small town near Barcelona, Spain. Today, thanks to the efforts and hard work of two generations of the Rodríguez family, that workshop now produces a full line of furniture.
posted by Willard on November 7th, 2009 in Featured Items
Skram Furniture debuts the Wooddrop 14 stool at FORD&CHING this Thursday. These multi-purpose stools represent a dramatic departure for Skram, whose work is defined by uncompromised workmanship. It’s a revolution in its own small way. Quite simply, the stool is cracked. But more importantly, the stool is beautiful.
We just uppacked the natural wood finished one. The literature says it’s Cherry with a clear finish, but I think it’s really a limited-edition one made of Hickory. I never saw the natural finish Wooddrop14 in person before a few days ago and it looks great (see below). I spoke with Jacob Marks at Skram and he said it’s also available in a slightly glossy finish for outdoor use.
In our conversation, Jacob referred to the Wooddrop 14 as an exercise in “deliberate imperfection.” Wood is selected with imperfections that add to the overall appeal and warmth of the product. “With the Wooddrop 14, the check…the flaw becomes an essential part of the design…and the cracks offer a striking contrast to the crisp elemental geometry of the volume.”
Check, please.
The stool is made of solid timber which Skram harvests, mills, dries and fabricates. This process lends itself to a continuity of control which Jacob finds invaluable. “From forest to furniture, we are able to preside over every step.” The timber is salvaged from local sources, so options will vary based on availability. Typically, though, Skram can stock a variety of materials and finishes in sizes ranging from 6-16” in height and up to 32” in diameter.
Perfect imperfection
Andrea Ching, my partner at FORD&CHING is particularly excited about the Wooddrop 14. “It’s great to have an entry-level priced piece by Skram. For new buyers the stool provides a good introduction to Skram and a first step in fully appreciating this heirloom quality line. But it is also a great piece to specify in multiples for all sorts of projects ranging from private homes to large-scale commercial projects. It has so many great uses.”
Use #1: Bear trap
The Wooddrop 14 is available for immediate delivery in American Beech (with “bone” lacquer finish or clear finish), Torched Oak (with clear finish), and Cherry (with clear finish).
Clear satin finish looks beutiful over natural finish.
With all the modifications and the weight loss plan, the RS#3 comes to you with a smaller price tag than its cousin, making it the ideal stocking stuffer. The RS#3 is available and ready to ship for the holidays through A+R in Venice, the Conran Shop and by contacting agents Ford&Ching.
