Nendo’s minimalist homeware hacks connect human and object at Salone del Mobile

Nendo's Salone del Mobile 2018 homeware hacks
Collection of Pinch Air Lids, with liquids, by Nendo for Salone del Mobile 2018
(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Prolific design studio du jour Nendo has added to its ever-plentiful yield at this year’s Salone del Mobile with a tapestry of table-top offerings. Last year, Nendo’s collective imagination ran wild with a futuristic clock installation. Now, at least for this project, the attention is firmly on the practical: kitchen container lids.

Made in collaboration with air conditioning manufacturer, and third-time fair-goer, Daikin, the lids are made from fluoroelastomer – a raw material used in its air conditioning systems. This high-performance rubber, also commonly used in the automotive industry, has outstanding heat, oil and acid resistance and excels in preventing changes in colour and shape over a long period of time – ideal for storing your sauces, condiments and cereals.

The Pick-up lid pinches seasoning without mess

The Pick-up lid pinches seasoning without mess.

(Image credit: Nendo)

Each lid is designed to showcase different possibilities, whether they’re space saving, or mess-preventing. The Pinch lid, for example, conceals a small spoon which appears when pinching its edge, and the Press lid opens like a mouth when pressing down its top, for easy pouring. ‘These lid designs aim to symbolise something between human and an object,’ says the brand, ‘conveying the abstract feeling of air – which in reality we cannot really sense – in a tangible way.’

Alongside its air conditioner-inspired kitchen hacks, the Japanese design stalwart has also turned its hand to tiles for this year’s fair. Ceramic tiles are ordinarily produced using molds, in order to create a smooth uniform shape and finish on the clay. But – no strangers to material provocation – Nendo’s patchwork of spherical and cubed tiles were made using shaped clusters of clay pressed under a solid surface.


Ceramic clusters, before they are pressed by a flat surface into tiles.

Ceramic clusters, before they are pressed by a flat surface into tiles, by Nendo.

(Image credit: Nendo)

Due to the proccess’s unregulated nature, each tile is slightly different, aiming to give a softer, more bespoke feel to your tile tesselation. ‘The clay mixing balance, the moisture level, the pace of pressure and the right shapes and angles were all tested to enable the best possible outcome,’ says Nendo. ‘In the end, it almost felt as if the material itself was the one determining the process and designing the tile shapes for us.’

Ground-breaking, headline-grabbing installation this is not – don’t worry, Milan has these by the beautifully-designed bucket. But we can see these quiet designs (which make up for bells-and-whistles with clarity of vision) becoming household favourites.

Collection of Pinch Air Lids by Nendo for Salone del Mobile 2018

A collection of Pinch lids, that conceal small spoons, which only appear when pinching the lid’s edge.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

A collection of each different Air Lid, by Nendo for Salone del Mobile 2018

A collection of Air Lids.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Three Pull Air Lids, by Nendo, for Salone del Mobile 2018

Pull lid – a lid that is stretched from inside the container, and closes its mouth with tension.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Detail view of Press Tiles, by Nendo for Salone del Mobile

Detail view of Press Tiles.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

View of Press Tiles.


(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Press tiles, demonstration of making, by Nendo

Demonstrating how to make a Press Tile.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Press lid – a lid for a liquid container that opens like a mouth when pressing down its top by Nendo

Press lid – a lid for a liquid container that opens like a mouth when pressing down its top.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Detail view of a Press lid, by Nendo, for Salone del Mobile, 2018

Detail view of Press lid.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

A collection of Push lids by Nendo for Salone del Mobile

A collection of Push lids, that extrudes liquid from the container when being pushed in to.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Press Tiles by Nendo for Salone del Mobile

Press Tiles.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

Press Tiles by Nendo for Salone del Mobile 2018

Press Tiles.

(Image credit: Akihiro Yoshida)

INFORMATION

‘Nendo: forms of movement’ showcases 10 new projects (including the two listed here) at Salone del Mobile, 17-21 April 2018. For more information, visit the Nendo website

ADDRESS

Superstudio Più
ART POINT
Via Tortona, 27 Milan
Italy

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Elly Parsons is the Digital Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees Wallpaper.com and its social platforms. She has been with the brand since 2015 in various roles, spending time as digital writer – specialising in art, technology and contemporary culture – and as deputy digital editor. She was shortlisted for a PPA Award in 2017, has written extensively for many publications, and has contributed to three books. She is a guest lecturer in digital journalism at Goldsmiths University, London, where she also holds a masters degree in creative writing. Now, her main areas of expertise include content strategy, audience engagement, and social media.

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