The ergonomic WorkPad from the Jesper Office Collection is uniquely designed to fit in wherever you need it to be. Moving silently up and down in seconds, the WorkPad can function as a mobile freestanding desk, allowing you to make the transition from seated to standing position heights so that you can simply work sitting or standing. With a small footprint, castors for quick mobility and several finishes to choose from, this table is an easy fit in any space. Coordinating Sit-Stand Filing & Storage makes the WorkPad a perfect fit for any home office, student or business setting!

Polyester ratchet straps were designed to tie things down tightly, quickly. They are strong and cheap, and we have recently seen them used in furniture and even houses. Now Studio Lievito of Florence, Italy, uses them in an unusual way to create a desk. Instead of simply holding a box together, like most of the other designs we have shown, they use the straps in tension to pull the tops of the legs together, locking them in place. No screws, no connectors, just tension holds it all together. It doesn’t get any more minimal than this. Not only that, the straps do double duty here, providing a bit of storage and a sense of enclosure.

The designers explain in their submission to Designboom:

The design is an investigation into the simple, industrial qualities of the materials used to achieve a structure without typical joints. To achieve this quality, the table is made from a two-color varnished plywood top, iron milled legs and these are combined by four polyester straps with ratchets. The thing that excites us about these designs is how little there is to them, and how effectively they use simple materials like straps to their best advantage. Less truly is more. Read more …

Each summer for the past twelve years, London’s Serpentine Gallery commissions a different architect to design a pavilion on the adjacent park lands. It serves as an inspirational place to hang out, hear lectures and have a drink. This summer’s has been designed by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei along with the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron.

It is a serene and surprisingly intimate temporary building. A disc shaped pond hovers over the ground. Twelve columns support the roof 1.4 metres above the earth. Underneath is a cork lined “den” with different levels of cork stools. So simple and so affective. Since the artist is forbidden to leave China, the construction has been anything but simple. The artist has been working with his partners Herzog & de Meuron via Skype, with sketches and models held up for cameras and computers to discuss and decide. Apparently he didn’t mind doing it this way; “Using Skype is lovely. I think all projects should be done with Skype. You only have to communicate the spiritual part.”

The disc, filled with water, will be a mirror for the sky, and a haven for birds. The theme is about the idea of memory. The disc sits on 12 columns in recognition of the ruins of the 11 past ones, plus this one. The excavation was supposed to expose the foundations of previous pavilions, however it turned out that there were none. It was sponsored by Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and his family will relocate it after the exhibition closes.

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This beautiful wooden sculpture was created by Henrique Oliveira with recycled wood. The installation was made to represent an actual tree taking over its surroundings and creating its own space. The artists took plywood from streets to create this huge project, and the different wear and aging of the woods creates a drastic and realistic look to the “living tree.”

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North Park is claiming another great place for brews and eats with the addition of Tiger! Tiger! to the neighborhood. Tiger! Tiger! opened back at the end of October but the newer restaurant is still surprising people with its huge list of local brews and delicious menu. The decor is simplistic with reclaimed woods as the stars of the show.

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As if climbing mountains isn’t enough of a thrill for you, try sleeping hanging over the edge in a new design by LEAPfactory architects. Called the “New Refuge Gervasutti”, this modular tube can be airlifted to mountainside locations and installed to hang over cliff edges. The tube does offer a refuge (hence the name) for hikers and mountaineers, with bunk beds, a kitchen and a living space. Each tube is made off site depending on the location where it will be placed, and then brought into the location that is available to those trekking the mountainsides.

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This unique ergonomic chair was designed and is manufactured in San Diego by a company called Natural Seating. The backless design in combination with a rocking base promotes good posture and back health. This concept is new to the world of ergonomic chairs and we are excited to by carrying it at Hold It Contemporary Home.

It is now available starting at $499.

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Dwell on Design often offers attendees a look at some of the newest and greenest products on the market. This year, pieceHomes brought an entire green home. The beautiful house offers sustainable furnishings, eco-friendly construction, energy-efficient appliances, cork flooring and solar panels to harvest the sun’s energy. The house is not large at 550 sq feet but it has everything you need in a home, even a washer and dryer. Check out the photos of the gorgeous green home or the video to get a better idea of the layout. The best part is this home will be auctioned off on EBay on July 5th with all the proceeds benefitting Global Green USA.

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Made from just eight major parts and weighing only 25 pounds, the Diffrient World Chair by famed designer Niels Diffrient, utilizes two frame components, the user’s body weight, and the laws of physics to achieve mechanism-free recline action that automatically adjusts to the needs of each user. The chair’s minimal-part design requires significantly less raw material and fewer manufacturing processes than its competitors. Read more …