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The truly modern thinking and design work of the experimental designer Gilbert Rohde 1894 – 1944
Richard Storer-Adam reviews the life and design philosophy of this influential designer who explored and produced his work in the current-day modern materials such as stainless steel, chrome tube and Bakelite.
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Made from Junk – A collation of modern sculptures, furniture and lighting made from recycled materials
Richard Storer-Adam examines the work of six, frequently controversial, artists who use unlikely and discarded materials for the basis of their work.
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An affectionate review of the famous Anna Etoile Alessi designer corkscrew
Richard Storer-Adam looks at the work of the designer Alessandro Mendini, in particular the range of corkscrews which include those remarkable editions that are gold-plated, wearing agate earrings and costing $58,000.
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The profound legacy of the influential architect Eero Saarinen
Richard Storer-Adam Looks at the formative years, inspirations and some of the highlights of Eero Saarinen’s career including the Des Moines Art Center and the famous TWA Terminal.
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The wonder of a canopy – a selection of favourite structures from around the world
Richard Storer-Adam takes us on a visit to four of his favourite canopy structures both contemporary and historic, going back to the famous Parisian metro entrances designed by M. Hector Guimard.
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Wilhelm Wagenfeld, a design legend – a review of the life and work of this influential designer
The life of Wilhelm Wagenfeld Wilhelm Wagenfeld was born in the northern German city of Bremen in 1900, on the 15th April and passed away at the age of 90 on the 28th of May 1990, in Stuttgart Early life As a young boy Wagenfeld studied drawing at the Bremen Boys School before starting his…
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The Peace Bridge 2012, Memorial Drive, Calgary by Spanish architect and Structural Engineer Santiago Calatrava
Richard Storer-Adam critiques the remarkable Peace Bridge, designed by this controversial architect and constructed by Grahame Infrastructure Ltd, which spans the Bow River and has no piers or supports.
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A stroll through the elegant, stainless steel double – helix Helix Bridge, Singapore by Cox Architecture and Architects 61
Richard Storer-Adam guides us through the construction concept and design details of this extraordinary sculptural bridge which was created in mock-up form in its entirety before being built on site.
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The history of the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, United States
Richard Storer-Adam gives a history of this world-famous copper statue and its designers, including Gustave Eiffel (with a footnote on how it would not have gone green if it had been made from PVD colored stainless steel).
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The history of the Gateway Arch, St Louis, also known as the St Louis Arch, designed by Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965
Richard Storer-Adam examines the key aspects and story behind this impressive landmark, the largest stainless steel building in the world, which is built in the form of a flattened catenary arch.
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A review of two sculptures by Joana Vasconcelos, “Pavilion de Thé” in wrought-iron and “Marilyn” compiled of stainless steel saucepans and lids
Richard Storer-Adam gives us an in-depth look at two of the vivid and interpretive works of this modern sculptor working in quotidian metals and materials and how they comment on our lives today, especially those of women.
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A history of the life and work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, his design philosophy and his Barcelona chair designed in 1929
Richard Storer-Adam looks at the work of the man who became known simply as “Mies” with a focus on the iconic Barcelona chair, still made today with only one redesign in the fifties to incorporate the use of stainless steel.
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A review of artist Robert Bruno’s sculptural Steel House, Lubbock, Texas
Richard Storer-Adam reviews the philosophy behind the organic steel sculpture built from weathering steel, nowadays known as corten steel, that has strikingly rusted both outside and inside, and that became a house over a period of 33 years.
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The Chinese Imperial Water Dragon by Kevin Stone, sculptor in polished stainless steel
Richard Storer-Adam looks at the methodology of this Canadian fabricator and welder who became an artist creating gigantic metal sculptures cutting and grinding each of the hundreds of highly reflective components himself.
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Stainless steel interior and exterior cladding
Richard Storer-Adam investigates the use of stainless steel as cladding used decoratively for interiors and exteriors of buildings, including the famous Frank Gehry New York skyscraper, with a focus on its durability, aesthetic qualities and technical performance.
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A review of the work of Naum Gabo, sculptor of the famous and haunting Constructed Head no 2 in galvanised iron sheet
Richard Storer-Adam looks at the work of the Russian sculptor who coined the term Constructivism and created art works in the material that was the pre-runner of Corten steel.
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Marcel Breuer – the architect who shifted the Bauhaus focus away from Arts and Crafts towards the more modern movement of Arts and Technology
Richard Storer-Adam looks at the Hungarian Bauhaus graduate and originator of tubular steel furniture and two of his most famous chairs – the Wassily chair and the Cesca chair.
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The Delorean Motor Company and its only model, the DMC12, simply known as “The Delorean”
Richard Storer-Adam gives an overview, assessing whether this was a success story or a failure, of the doomed car company and iconic product with a shell of glass-fibre and brushed 304 stainless steel with gull-wing doors made famous in the film series “Back to the Future”.
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The amazing Eileen Gray Bibendum Chair
Richard Storer-Adam looks at this now timeless design classic from the 1920’s, its inspirational designer and how the Bibendum chair was the foundation for the Michelin Man cartoon for the French tyre company.
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My favourite modernist steel door handles and their designers including the Tecnoline and Lubetkin models
Richard Storer-Adam curates a timeless selection from Bauhaus designers Walter Gropius, Wilhelm Wagenfield and Max Burchartz.
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The three essential elements of lasting “Feel-Good Design” – Usability, Utility and Desirability
Richard Storer-Adam examines the core characteristics of great design using the examples of the Philippe Starck lemon squeezer, the 1962 Vespa GS 160 scooter and the Apple store, Istanbul Turkey.
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The rise and fall in popularity of the copper alloys, brass and bronze, in art and architecture from 3500 BC to the twentieth century
Richard Storer-Adam looks at these wonder metals, both alloys of copper and tin, that last the ages and how they compare to each other in practical and artistic use.
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Black: A truly luxurious and artistic color for art, furniture and accessories for thousands of years
We look at how this primal color denotes status, high-value black products such as ebony, obsidian and granite and how black is used today for luxury products such as the Piaget Altiplano Skeleton black PVD watch.
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Koons’ Balloon Dog Orange – sculpture created in high-chromium stainless steel
Looking at Jeff Koons striking and unforgettable sculptures based on popular culture and released as part of his “Celebration” series 1993.
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Cloud Gate – a polished stainless steel sculpture inspired by a drop of mercury taking centre stage in the city
Richard-Storer Adam takes us on a visit to marvel at British artist Anish Kapoor’s mesmerising bean- shaped mirrored stainless steel installation in the AT&T Plaza, Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois.
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Gates and balconies by the three famous Austrian Gahrs brothers
Gates and balconies created as works of art and sculptural installations in welded stainless steel and Cor-ten.
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House 77, Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal by dIONISIO Lab, 2010
Looking at the symbolically laser-cut stainless steel cladding which operates as shutters, a decorative building skin and a sculptural element for this contemporary house.
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The Atomium 1958, Brussels , Avenue de l’Atomium, 1020 Bruxelles, Belgium, 102 meters by André Waterkeyn. Engineering consultants Beckers, Joukoff and Daniel, Architects A. and J. Polak
Richard Storer-Adam examines the background of this sculpture, by Belgian engineer, André Waterkeyn, based on the form of an iron crystal magnified 160 billion times.
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Metropol Parasol, part of the redevelopment of Plaza de la Encarnacion, Seville, Spain
We take a visit to this triumphant installation created from glued Kerto-Q LVL timber material arranged to an orthogonal grid and rising to 28 metres in height.
colored, harder, tougher stainless steel