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Sunday, 26 February 2006 | Senay
Karim Rashid's Kit 24 House Unveiled at the IDS
Celebrated designer Karim Rashid unveiled his concept space, created specifically for The Interior Design Show. Kit 24 is a house produced with simple, minimal parts and tooling. Rashid's environment is composed of a few repeated parts that assemble a 24-sided house, but it is also a metaphor for time and is based on a 24-hour day.
This 1,800 square foot two-level experimental space explores the domestic environment and its intersection with technology. It is a Kit of few repeated parts to assemble a 24-sided house. But it is also a metaphor for time.
The house is based on the 24-hour day cycle from the living and working space on the ground floor to sleeping quarters on the second level.
"I have always loved the idea of a Kit house," says Rashid. "The concept has been approached by engineers and architects throughout the years. I wanted to show the contemporary approach, a really positive, interesting and artistic space for living inspired by technology. It also provides a venue to show many of my furnishings and objects; although all quite different from each other, they can cohabitate a space to communicate an organic, pleasurable environment."
"This project gave me the opportunity to develop a kit house - a house that can be produced with simple minimal parts and tooling. I have always been interested in this notion of frugal housing, of housing that can be erected simply and quickly, that can be very inexpensive and democratic, and variable or customizable with little cause and great effect."
All the furniture, accessories and even the flooring in Kit 24 has been designed by Karim Rashid.
Toronto-based Prototype Design Lab, led by architect/designer/entrepreneur Antonio Tadrissi, fabricated the concept space. Prototype Design Lab has also recently designed and runs Doku lounge bar in The Cosmopolitan boutique hotel and the Hammam Spa. All of the furniture included in Kit 24 is from designs by Rashid for a variety of international and Canadian manufacturers, including Nienkamper, Frighetto, Bonaldo, Tonelli, Kundalini, Agape at Dekla Label and Umbra. All of the flooring is custom designed as well, including laminate by Folia Industries, and carpeting by Beaulieu Canada/Peerless. The kitchenette is made entirely of Corian, Franke Kindred Canada Limited.
About Karim Rashid
Karim Rashid was born in Cairo and raised in Canada before moving to practice in New York. Rashid is perhaps best known for bringing his democratic design sensibility to a mass audience. He is a leading figure in the fields of product and interior design, fashion, furniture, lighting and art. To date, Rashid has had some 2,000 items put into production, and has designed for a diverse array of clients from Umbra to Prada. Rashid was also an associate Professor of Industrial Design for ten years, and is now a frequent guest lecturer at universities and conferences around the world.
Karim Rashid
http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/3719/
http://www.dexigner.com/database/designer/karim_rashid/
About Prototype Design Lab
Prototype Design Lab is a design, build and research entity. Our goal is to enrich design by controlling all aspects of the design and production process. Prototype is based in a multi-faceted facility, which houses designers and craftsmen who utilize state-of-the-art technology to design and build. For more information, please visit http://www.pdlab.ca/
About The Interior Design Show (IDS)
The Interior Design Show (IDS) is Canada's leading forum for residential design. In addition to the hundreds of manufacturers, retailers and distributors who exhibit their products and services, the Show offers special design features and exhibits, a roster of internationally acclaimed speakers and exclusive sections devoted to specific product categories.
The IDS is visited by both design professionals and consumers. One day is dedicated exclusively to the trade, while two days are open to the general public. In 2005, the show welcomed over 50,000 visitors including 9,500 + trade professionals, and more than 450 members of the media.
The Interior Design Show: http://www.dexigner.com/directory/detail/7258/
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