photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

Design: ZMIK
Client: Sevensisters, Basel
Location: Art | 40 | Basel / Switzerland
Date of realization: June 2009

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

During Art | 40 | Basel which was held in Switzerland ZMIK Designers were called to transform the cloakroom into an appealing Art Shop.  However, their first difficulty which they were asked to surpass apart from re-designing the interior of the Art Shop was to bring the visitor’s circulation from the main exhibition on the ground floor to the Art Shop which is at a level above the main exhibit.

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

The Art Shop was arranged in a cloakroom which is separated from the main visitor’s circulation by a long and wide staircase.  To catch the attention of the visitors ZMIK created a design which mostly aims to attract the customer’s from the ground level into the temporary design boutique on the upper level.  This design was a rather clever and simplistic approach which is no other than placing hundreds of black self-adhesive arrows which cover the white walls, the floor and the ceiling to draw the attention in a “follow the arrows” like manner.

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

The concept is clever and it surely did attract the visitors, transforming a simple, unalluring cloakroom into a temporary design boutique.  The concept of the arrows was continued throughout the design of the Art Shops interior.  While the black arrows condense towards the center of the shop creating a guide for the visitor, they climax around the exhibited boutique display.

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

While the lamps Batman & Robin which have been designed by the Swiss design trio ZMIK, hover in a dense arrangement above the three display volumes and highlight the colorful products displayed.
 
About the lamps // Batman & Robin is a series of suspension aluminum lamps which have been put into production.  The angular folded shade is made from a single piece of aluminum composite with a translucent core that serves as the hinge. The bulb inside reflects off the inside of the shade bouncing the light around to create a very atmospheric mood. The edges of the shade also give off a glow thanks to the core material. To make differentiation easier, Batman emits a wide light, while Robin produces a narrow cone of light.  Inspiration was drawn from the superheroes of the same names.

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

About Zmik//
Zmik develops concepts, design strategies and the implementation thereof in the context of space and communication.  Their work is focused on the design of identity and individuality as well as the translation of abstract contents into three-dimensional messages.  Zmik explores opportunities at the fringes of various disciplines with the intention to generate precise and individual solutions for complex issues.  The study of our material culture, the transformations and needs is the root of each zmik-project.  Zmik was founded in 2006 by Rolf Indermuhle, Mattias Mohr and Magnus Zwissig.  Developed from the collective – les garcons -, they realized several projects since 2002 in the field of interior design, exhibition design, architecture and product design.  Their clients include the Art Basel, Foundation Beyeler, Regent lighting, and sevensisters Basel. 

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

photo ©  Eik Frenzel

ARTSHOP 09 // Temporary Design shop by ZMIK

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