This September The Molteni Group (Molteni&C and Dada) will participate in the London Design Festival (17-25 September 2011) by devoting its Covent Garden Flagship Store to the designer Arik Levy.

“in power 10”: 10 Quake Tables by Arik Levy
10 tables, 10 interpretations, 10 visions playing on the number and its multiples
Cocktail event at the Molteni&C Dada Flagship Store, Wednesday 21st September 2011, 6-9pm – with acompetition to win a table signed by Arik Levy.

This London Design Festival the conceptual collaboration between Molteni&C and Levy “in power 10” will be exhibited at the London Flagship Store. The project takes inspiration from the film produced by designers Charles and Ray Eames in 1968, which focuses on the relative scale of the universe in factors of 10, from minute to infinite. Drawing on inspiration from the film, Molteni&C gave Levy the unique opportunity to choose 10 different methods of interpretation for the Quake Table – one of his first products designed for the Italian manufacturer.

Using the table as a raw material, the project gave Levy rare freedom to experiment, transforming the piece into something else – thereby introducing sculptural qualities and blurring the boundaries between; design and art, function and decoration, clarity and abstraction, simplicity and complexity and heaviness and lightness. These individual dichotomies represent issues faced everyday by designers and manufacturers during the design process towards the development of a new product. There is also a beautiful printed book to accompany the exhibition which depicts the development of each piece.

The installation consists of 10 interpretations of the Quake table:

. cut into 10 pieces . lit by 10 light bulbs . hit by 10,000 nails . painted 10 different colours . branded with a monochrome ‘10’ . weighed down by 10 times its weight . wrapped up in 100 metres of electrical wiring . covered with 100,000 staples . planted with 10 sticks . shot through by 100 arrows

Molteni&C has successfully collaborated with the Israeli, Paris-based product designer since 2008. This Autumn, the Italian furniture manufacturer’s London Flagship Store will also become an Arik Levy residential space – showing off his Tea Time sofa, Tea Time bed, Breva and Tivan chairs and Quake table – all successful residential products.

Tea Time began with a rational reinterpretation of the classic modular sofa (available in leather or fabric, and various sizes) and has now grown to include – the Tea Time coffee table, dining table and bed – all products are characterised by Levy’s distinctive detailing for the range: an original die cast aluminum leg, in polished and black chrome finishes. The elegant rectangular tables have a pleasingly thick top, available in light or dark elm. The bed, refined in its simplicity, stands out for its compact small size, made to meet the need for a comfortable bed that fits all modern interiors. Bang on trend, the removable frame and headrest coverings (leather or fabric) is distinguished with tailored seams and cleverly positioned multipurpose pockets and pouches for books, mobile phones and remote controls thus allowing the user to bring their living and working habits into the bedroom as beds become the additional sofa – for lounging, surfing the internet or watching a film. This product represents a trend that we’ve been seeing slowly progress through the domestic arena. Boundaries between the kitchen and living rooms long ago blurred into a more convivial open-plan space for lounging, eating and entertaining as embodies by Dada’s Set Kitchen by Rodolfo Dordoni. Now it is time for the living room and bedroom to merge.

The popular Breva chair has been joined by a new version, the Tivan - for homeowners who seek an iconic leather seat for the dining area. Making use of sumptuous timbers such as oak or American walnut, and using plastics technology for the body -Tivan’s chic and sinuous lines epitomise Molteni&C’s expertise in traditional craftsmanship, moulding the raw material into a comfortable, statement seat.