above photo by Mark Rabiner for The New York Times
Designer Harry Allen loves trucks. His immaculately restored 1964 Willys Jeep was recently featured in the New York Times, but it was his fond memories of playing in the dirt that lead him to the idea of "Pickup". The beauty of any pickup truck is its utilitarian aesthetic - four strong wheels and the capacity to haul cargo and Harry turned that aesthetic into functional art as his latest piece for AREAWARE.
Below is Harry Allen at his Pound Ridge home with his restored Willys and his basset hounds, Ben and Emma: above photo by Mark Rabiner for The New York Times
Harry had function on his mind as he cast a toy pick-up truck and turned it into a catch-all bowl. As with all REALITY products, it is the material transformation that completes the idea. The cool-looking "Pickup" is an objet d'art that can serve as a bowl for keys, coins or even a planter for small succulents.
The Pickup by Harry Allen is now available in chrome ($150) or white ($85). Blue chrome ($180), gold ($150) and orange ($85) are available for pre-order. Made of resin and marble, measuring 5 x 12 x 6 inches. Buy them here.
John Dodelande of Artcurial invited artist Xavier Veilhan to draw a nautical sculpture to be built by the Frauscher shipyard. This unique project marks the first time artist Xavier Veilhan has been invited to design a functional object in sync with his aesthetic beliefs.
above: Veilhan's oversized animal sculptures are faceted and always one color
First off, if you're not familiar with Veilhan's work, he's best known for his sculptural installations and had an impressive show at Versailles in 2009: above: Veilhan's purple horse-drawn carriage at Versailles
Now, back to his RAL 5015 with tons of images, auction info and a video, too.
The name of the boat refers to the actual color. RAL is the standard color system when it comes to painting and coating (the way Pantone is for printing).
above: The artist, Xavier Veilhan, stands in his RAL 5015
The unique design corresponds perfectly to Xavier Veilhan’s approach to movement and means of transport – from the horse to more sophisticated types of craft… such as this motor-boat.
Veilhan's moving sculpture can hold 8 people and functions beautifully with a maximum speed of 40 knots:
The Shark - Stainless steel Shark sculpture (50 cm length) on remote controlled platform.
As an integral part of the RAL 5015 boat, "The Shark" is a small object with a length of 50 cm, made of solid stainless steel that ascends and descends by remote control! A rectangular cover of composite material is provided, which is why you don't see the shark in all the images) and protects the piece from unwanted attention.
Dimension of the Shark : 20 x 49,7 x 21,7 cm Dimensions of the stand : 3,5 x 6 cm made of solid stainless steel, fitted in the bulk. Material : Polished solid stainless steel Surface treatment : The shark is permanently protected from sea salt as the roughness of the metal has been diminished through a special wash, making it non-oxidizing Protective case : In blue composite material (monochrome RAL 5015) ; 60 x 30 x 25 cm Remote control : 2 buttons
The boat was designed on computer:
And thanks to the expertise of the Frauscher shipyard, the work of Veilhan, RAL 5015 is also a powerful boat and at the forefront of marine technology.
A sneak preview of the boat was shown from May 27 to June 14, 2010 at the Hôtel Marcel Dassault, Paris, prior to its auction.
The functional artpiece, made of composite resins and metal was auctioned on July 20th at the Hôtel Hermitage in Monte-Carlo, by Artcurial. The sale results have not yet been disclosed. Estimate for the auction price was $235,000.00 to $260,000.
Specifications of the piece: Frauscher 686 Vessel hull identification number (HIN) : AT FRALOO82D010 Length : 6.90m Width : 2.20m Water-level : 6.40m Visible height above water : 1.25m Draught : 0.65/1.00m Dry weight : 1700kg Tank capacity : 157 litres Maximum speed : 40 knots Cruising speed : 25 knots Engine : MERCRUISER Output 220 HP Cubic capacity : 4.3 l MPI, 220 PS ; Alpha 1 Number of persons : 8 max.
A standard gauge and construction certificate, as required for navigation permit, will be provided to the purchaser.
The hull of the RAL5015 has a 2-year guarantee from the Frauscher shipyard; its engine has a 3-year constructor’s guarantee.
Born in 1963, living and working in Paris, Xavier Veilhan has established itself as one of the major artists of his generation, winning over his exhibitions international recognition. Emerged in the early 90s, Veilhan established the elements of a singular and unique vocabulary. If his work borrows the most varied forms: from sculpture to painting, photography, installation, film or live performance, all these practices converge towards creating a world whose wealth stems from a relationship very strong history and a profound reflection on modernity.
Airstream, the proud manufacturer of the world's finest travel trailers, has combined creative forces with Victorinox Swiss Army to produce the Victorinox 125th Anniversary Special Edition Airstream.
This limited Special Edition 19 foot travel trailer is unlike any other Airstream ever produced, featuring Victorinox-inspired design elements coupled with Airstream's famous quality construction. The result is a stunning and unique travel trailer that represents the pinnacle of both design and functionality.
Like the legendary Swiss Army Knife, the details of the trailer are precise, clean and sure to last a lifetime. From the solid surface countertops, to the cutting-edge cabinets and hardware, to the luxurious custom bedding ensemble with embroidered wool blanket, and much more. And to ensure you're fully equipped, a collection of Victorinox Swiss Army timepieces, kitchen cutlery, Swiss Army Knives and accessories are included to enhance your camping adventures.
Only 125 have been made. And the cost is $59,000.00 USD
front to back: bath: bed: dinette: wall clock: optional rear awning:
The special edition trailer also comes with all these fun Victorinox goodies:
floor plan:
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 4,500 lb. Sleeping capacity 2 to 4 Actual length 19'2" Width exterior 8' Height w/A/C 9'5'' Net Carrying Capacity (NCC) 700lb. Unit Base Weight (UBW) 3,800 lb. Hitch Weight w/o Options or variable weight 580 lbs. Water Heater (gallons) w/Electronic Ignition 6 Gray water (gallons) 21 Black water (gallons) 18 Fresh (gallons) 23 LPG (lb.) 60 A/C (BTU) 13,500 Furnace w/Electric Ignition (BTU) 16,000
about Victorinox: The pioneering spirit of the company founder, Karl Elsener, as well as his love of his native Switzerland, have been the driving inspiration of Victorinox over the last 125 years. Today, that inspiration takes form in a full selection of Swiss Army Knives, professional-grade kitchen cutlery, beautiful, Swiss-made timepieces, fashionable, functional apparel, rugged travel gear and unmistakable fragrances – each embodies the spirit of the legendary Swiss Army Knife.
About Airstream: In 1931, Wallace Merle Byam built a small camping trailer in his back yard in Los Angeles. He received so many requests from neighbors that he soon started a small company to build travel trailers that "cruised down the highway like a stream of air", and Airstream was born. The lightweight, aircraft-inspired design soon caught the imagination of a nation eager to explore the open highways and byways that beckoned.
For nearly 80 years Airstream has represented freedom and adventure, providing the perfect outlet for the wanderlust that still is central to the American spirit.
Other fabulous Caravan and trailer designs worth noting:
