A Way of Life: Notes on Ballenberg

$33.00

"A Way of Life" is an invitation to rediscover the material world with fresh eyes, inspired by the humble surroundings of Ballenberg. This thought-provoking volume, edited by Vitra's Rolf Fehlbaum, explores the timeless wisdom found in Swiss rural design. Centered around Ballenberg, an open-air museum in the Bernese Oberland, the book captures the insights of designers Jasper Morrison and architects David Saik, Tsuyoshi Tane, and Federica Zanco as they encounter farmhouses dating from the 14th to 19th centuries.

The authors share a fascination with the simplicity, practicality and functional beauty of the world in which rural populations lived. "A Way of Life" compiles their observations and discoveries, revealing how architecture, furnishings and tools were always committed in their design and execution to the needs and necessities of everyday life; genuine solutions were found with the available means. Contemplating this intrinsic relationship between design, form and function, the book serves as an invitation to see the profound in the everyday, the beauty in utility, and the richness in simplicity.

Designed by the Lars Müller design team
8 ½ × 11 ¾ in
208 pages, 188 illustrations
Hardcover

Jasper Morrison is a distinguished English product and furniture designer known for his refined, understated aesthetic. He famously believes that “objects should never shout.” He has received the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire), the second-highest honor in the UK after a knighthood or damehood, awarded for his notable contributions to design. He also holds the RDI (Royal Designer for Industry) title, the highest accolade in the UK for excellence across diverse design disciplines, recognizing his influence and impact on contemporary design.

These carefully chosen and crafted pieces represent a considered mix of the esoteric and the highly pragmatic. Many of these simple things reflect the hand of the artisan or the quiet genius of the inventor. They are useful in ways that are difficult to quantify but, if pressed, we would say they make life a little more efficient and a lot more beautiful.

We would be great together -

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