住的靈活多變 The Modifiable Living

「衣食住行」的先後次序及冀望都根據居住環境有著微妙的差異。著重「住」的北歐，空間尺寸並沒有比我們的大很多，鑑於工作及冬季日照時間短，待家的時間相對十分長。因此，經典的北歐傢俱傳承的是講究簡單耐看、高質耐用的基準，再根據幾何/自然/力學等現代工業理論及技術，配合新鮮的思想及藝術作創新。

近年傢俱的用途漸趨多元不再受限於最初的設計當刻，傢俬的外型及空間設計也走向自然的弧度曲線。初期的沙發構造單純為了讓人們向前觀看電視，外型自然是工整對稱的，休閒單椅、茶几及小凳子則在旁各自發揮；為了增加面對面的交流迎來了長型的chaise lounge、開放式的組合選擇，沙發不再是一件受方形框限的傢俬。

Obviously, priority of the four basic necessities is slightly different among nations based on living conditions. Life in Scandinavia is known for short working hours and day time, which is also the other word of staying home day and night. Thereby, traditional Scandinavian designs are born to be in long-lasting quality, simple and functional form based on solid craftsmanship.

Nevertheless, geometry, mother nature, law of power and many other industrial theories and technologies transit the industry to the new era along with ground breaking ideas and arts. The former era of design for single function has come over to multi-functional designs and organic curves come up increasingly in all sorts of related industries. Furnishings are no longer limited to what it was designed-to-be, but it is more about your own living habit.

The beginning form of Sofa was either created in rectangular or symmetric for watching television shows. People used to sit on sofas facing towards the single direction along with a few more pieces of lounge chair, side table or stool if conversations had to be carried on. Life comes easier when forms are no longer framed in a frame. To freeze the moments for books, conversations and even a nap in an afternoon, modular sofas finally come up with Chaise Lounge, Open corners and many more additions.Photo ©Vitra/ Mariposa Sofa

Mariposa在西班牙文是「蝴蝶」，也意指雙翼的擺動可不動聲色地連續調整，讓人恬靜養神。兩側往外翻開的外型可會聯想起Børge Mogensen的Tremmesofa，那張在1945年設計以皮繩人手調整兩旁角度的木框沙發。

兩側及背面均可以單獨收起或翻開至30度，並將鐵構造的系統內嵌，以咕𠱸包覆好不怕哽到。平排坐看電影、蹺腳面對面對談、冥想拉筋、挑燈夜讀還是閉上雙眼稍歇都可。收起/推開操控自如的Mariposa雖比一般沙發深10 - 20 釐米，的骰同時型態多變的尺寸仍適合小型家居。

來自英國的Edward Barber及Jay Osgerby，1996年在倫敦創立設計所Barber Osgerby，以試驗為中心揉合各式物料、技術及色彩，形成他們獨特的新式美學。他們與許多丹麥芬蘭著名顯赫的設計大師一樣，為培育新一代設計師的世界觀及美感，走訪英國各地的教室、研討會、藝術中心及博物館。多年來為Vitra 設計的作品有：集茶几沙發於一身的Soft Work Sofa and Table、Tip Ton人體工學椅、Pacific Chair辦公椅等。
Photo ©Vitra/ Mariposa Sofa

“Mariposa” means “butterfly” in Spanish, also refers to getting off and resting in the kinetic wingspan panels silently. The “all-around-you” webbed panels allow sitting side by side, spacious face-to-face conversations, stretch to indulge in reading or take a nap with upward opened panels as cushions.

Unlike the manually adjusted leather straps of Børge Mogensen’s Spokeback Sofa from 1945, Mariposa’s built-in mechanism allows panels to be adjusted individually from upright to 30 degrees. The cosy modernity is 10 - 20cm deeper than standard sofas and sized from 2-seater for urban and small interiors.

Designed by Edward Barber & Jay Osgerby in 2014, also Soft Work Sofa & Table, Tip Ton, Pacific Chair for Vitra over the years, to name a few. The investigative studio from London is known for their experimental industrial process of new technologies, materials and colours. The studio goes beyond design from design workshops for the next generations to the world of fine art and large scale illustrations for the country, just like many other long established Scandinavian masters of design and architecture.
Photo ©Artek/ Day Bed 710

比起厚實固定的沙發，Day Bed 710更似窗戶旁休閒閱讀用的一張架空毯子，接納著窗外盈盈注入的光線，散發自身的柔和氣息。有著標準的長版單人床尺寸，而布料則一如既往的可自行選擇；配合可移動的床墊及作靠背的咕𠱸，是一張輕巧卻實淨的沙發床。

來自著名的Aalto L-Leg系列 - 掰成彎曲的實芯樺木及整齊排列的木條，是百看不厭的基礎機能美。跟丹麥普遍的精緻工藝及簡潔風格有著微妙的差異，這種融合自然及創意的親和力，是屬於芬蘭傢俱的單純明淨。

Day Bed 710 是Alvar Aalto 1933年的設計，“Aalto”在芬蘭語有「波浪」的意思；聽說本名非常之長，年輕時為了成為建築師名單的首位而改名為Alvar Aalto，後來更出現在50馬克紙幣上。

這位Artek的創辦人、建築及傢俬設計大師可是整個芬蘭的核心。為了有效利用芬蘭的木材資源，一心鑽研彎曲木材的技術。自然風乾淺黃色的樺木及松木帶著溫和的氣息，牢固的材質經過掰彎、壓模、再磨平的精密加工，量產依然質量極佳，Aalto的傢俬至今依然由他的老朋友A-Factory一手包辦。詳情可見此

Aalto亦是一位對不同文化抱開放接納態度的設計師，靈感主要源自芬蘭本國的自然景色；後來與妻子Aino Aalto去蜜月旅行時，更對文化復興時期的義大利、地中海建築、日本Wabi Sabi等文化產生濃厚興趣。後來L-Leg及木材彎曲的技術成為他的傢俬及著名建築特色之一，文化的融合在圖書館、學校、教堂、居所等芬蘭處處可見。

Photo ©Artek/ Day Bed 710, Wall Shelf 112B

Day Bed 710 is more like a daybed or window side reading area with backrest cushions rather than an ordinary english roll sofa with thick seating and standard fixed backrest. The lightweight structure in standard size of a long single bed invites both sitting and reclining, which allows easy moves along with optional mattress and removable covers in a wide range of textiles choices.

The bent solid birch legs and slatted frame from Aalto’s L-leg family clearly explain the timelessness, strength and functionality of Finnish design. Compared with the minimalistic and refined design from Danish or other Scandianvaian countries, warm design from Finland appears to be more simple and practical in the mixture of nature surrounding and innovation.

Designed in 1933 by Alvar Aalto, the heart of Artek’s range and the acclaimed great master of modern architecture who was once on the 50 dollar Deutsche Mark note. Aalto’s design inspirations ranged from the nature of his native country, the Renaissance architecture from the honeymoon trips to the Mediterranean, thanks to his broad interest in Japanese, Italian, other human scale and cultures.

The name “Aalto” comes from wave and flow in Finnish, which later L-Legs and ripple-like bent wood techniques became the renowned signature of Alvar Aalto’s designs in both architecture and furniture. Making good use of the largest and best resource in Finland, works from Aalto are literally based on high life-long experiments in bending solid birch and pine wood. That’s also why people called Aalto the father of Finnish design standard and tradition in terms of sturdiness, unique wood bending techniques which keep the large scale of productions in high quality and timelessness. 
Photo ©Northern/ Daybe Sofa

「住」的空間靠著光線的變化帶來無盡的新鮮感，下班後回到窗外天色早已漆黑一片，一成不變的室內擺設是熟悉，也是鬱悶。半躺坐在諾大的沙發靜待，四方盒子傳出的微弱聲響，漸調低手機的亮度。時間到，要變換這種寧靜及平穩，動一動手指頭將兩旁皮繩上鈕扣解開，為咕𠱸插上底座，轉個圈變成了休憩補眠的床墊。窗外的暖和橙黃升起，鬧鐘響起，把咕𠱸轉回去，扣上銀色的鈕扣，又是新的一天。

自2016年起與Northern合作佔現代的設計中獨樹一幟的部分，Daybe出自挪威二人設計師Morten & Jonas雙手，還有極幼細的Stilk茶几系列、由威尼斯的玻璃匠人包辦的Say My Name、上牆的Wired層架、Blush及Me檯燈地燈、Over Me天花板燈等。

The magical spell spreads on your fingertips and turns Daybe into a functional bed or practical sofa form in seconds. Daybe drags you into sweet dreams gently at night by simply releasing the strip and sliding the piece onto the floor. When the dawn is near, button up Daybe with a leather strap and lock up the sofa in the ticking time of sunrise before it’s all spilt out. 

Designed by Morten & Jonas in 2018, the Norwegian duo of cutting-edge furniture and lighting designs: Stilk side tables, Say My Name - the mouth blown glass pendant and table lamp, Wired - the wall-mounted shelf, Blush (wall, pendant lamp) and Me floor lamp, Over Me ceiling lamp for Northern since 2016, to name a few. 狹小的「住」，在工時長的香港變成下班後的休息處，為了抽離商場市區的壓迫感，大家不惜假日搭個2 - 3 小時巴士/渡輪到郊外透氣。前年起，自由外出成了奢侈，更枉論是體驗生活的「旅行」。

說到底，不論在家工作還是週末呆坐，空間需要的是一扇透著和藹暖光的窗戶，一張舒適的沙發或一張好睡的床 。即使無法像日本般的雙城市生活，也沒有添置大型榻榻米的空間，但「住」也可以是「旅」；小件精巧的可以添置，但大件的無辦法，一下決定便是數年數十年起跳，有時候改變方向，移動家中的所有物，或許比外出更能調整自身及空間的狀態。

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