- Interior
“Bye Bye beige! Say hello to punchy palettes, zany patterns, and design that feels happy,” author Claire Bingham writes in her foreword to More is More: Memphis, Maximalism, and New Wave Design. She looks at the history and influence of the postmodern design group Memphis Milano, which currently serves as a very welcome alternative to the popular minimalistic and neutral-toned design styles.
Founded by the famous Italian architect and designer Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano initiated a surprisingly innovative and above all colourful style movement. Inspired by Pop Art and Art Deco, the design group set itself apart from austere functionalism with unusual combinations of shapes, materials and patterns. In this publication, journalist Clare Bingham examines the unique style movement that has been experiencing a – literally – eye-catching revival in recent years.
"Memphis is more than a style. It's an attitude," explains the writer. The unusual aesthetics influenced not only interior and furniture design but also the fashion world and graphic design of the 1980s. Even today's creative world shows characteristics of it. Where else do you think the popular colour 'millenial pink', terrazzo floors and decoration plus all the colourful geometric shapes come from? They are not recent inventions and they originated from a specific mindset.
A unique style movement which is having a – literally – eye-catching revival
In the book you will find iconic designs, original interiors and contemporary projects, houses, hotels and studios all shrouded in flamboyant creativity. Read interviews with original members of the Memphis group Peter Shire and George Sowden and discover how artists and designers around the world enrich their work with an uninhibited imagination.
Buy the book here.
© More is More by Claire Bingham, published by teNeues, € 40, www.teneues.com
Captions & Credits
from top to bottom and from left to right
Header Photo: Page 86: EXPRESS YOURSELF, ATLANTA, USA / Photo © Jessica Antola
Page 137: HAYON STUDIO, VALENCIA, SPAIN /Photo © Courtesy of Hayon Studio/© Klunderbie
Page 106/107: DESIGN BITES, BEIRUT, LEBANON / Photo © Courtesy of David/Nicolas/© Marco Pinarelli
Page 48/49: TECHNICOLOR DREAMHOUSE, NEW YORK, USA / Photo © Courtesy of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design/© Nicole Cohen
Page 136: HAYON STUDIO, VALENCIA, SPAIN / Photo © Courtesy of Hayon Studio/© Klunderbie
Page 56/57: THINK PINK, IBIZA, SPAIN / Photo © Paradiso Ibiza Art Hotel
Page 47: TECHNICOLOR DREAMHOUSE, NEW YORK, USA / Photo © Courtesy of Sasha Bikoff Interior Design/© Nicole Cohen
Page 140: SWEET DROPS / Photo © Courtesy of Schneid Studio/© Noel Richter
Book cover: © More is More by Claire Bingham, published by teNeues, € 40, www.teneues.com