The Berlin "Sputnik Memorial" dominates Berlin-Mitte

Between 1965 and 1985 the Soviet Union launched some 57 satellites from their rocket launching base on Berlin’s Alexander Platz; thus, making Berlin the single most important launch site in the Soviet block.

Following the disintegration of first the Berlin Wall and subsequently the Warsaw Pact, satellite launches from Alexander Platz ceased and the area was converted to a nature park for tourists and those who prey on such.

In 1995 Berlin City Council erected an exact replica of a satellite and its carrier rocket on Alexander Platz to commemorate the former launch programme.

The organisers of DMY Berlin have followed Berlin’s rich satellite tradition with their “Satellite” fringe programme.

And under the title “DMY Berlin Sputnik” we will bring you our personal highlights from this years DMY Berlin Satellite programme.

DMY Berlin Sputnik: Fruit Bowl by Adam & Harborth

As you know we don’t do accessories. It’s nothing personal, it’s just how we are.

However, the moment we saw this wonderful fruit bowl by Adam & Harborth we knew we were going to have problems sticking to that rule.

And not insignificant ones at that.

Produced from solid oak and based on the turned block from which wooden toys are traditionally produced, the fruit bowl is not only an attractive method for storing, fruit, nuts and other small edibles; it is also proof that this design lark isn’t as easy as it appears.

We recently saw cabinets full of such blocks at the Dresden Folk Art Museum.

It didn’t occur to us to use the block as fruit bowl.

Which is why we are not designers.

Adam and Harborth are, which is why they can create such apparently effortlessly simple products.

In addition to the fruit bowl customers also get one wooden squirrel.

Fruit Bowl by Adam & Harborth

A clever modern use of traditional technology

just watch out for the squirrels...

The Berlin "Sputnik Memorial" dominates Berlin-Mitte

Between 1965 and 1985 the Soviet Union launched some 57 satellites from their rocket launching base on Berlin’s Alexander Platz; thus, making Berlin the single most important launch site in the Soviet block.

Following the disintegration of first the Berlin Wall and subsequently the Warsaw Pact, satellite launches from Alexander Platz ceased and the area was converted to a nature park for tourists and those who prey on such.

In 1995 Berlin City Council erected an exact replica of a satellite and its carrier rocket on Alexander Platz to commemorate the former launch programme.

The organisers of DMY Berlin have followed Berlin’s rich satellite tradition with their “Satellite” fringe programme.

And under the title “DMY Berlin Sputnik” we will bring you our personal highlights from this years DMY Berlin Satellite programme.

DMY Berlin Sputnik: My Scool by Ulrich Merz

Unwary tourists who take the wrong exit from Berlin Alexander Platz train station and head unwittingly towards Münzstrasse could be forgiven for thinking that they had passed through a worm hole and arrived in the early 1970s.
Studio Ulrich Merz is not in that particular part of Berlin-Mitte, but his wonderful My Scool side table transports us back to a similar period.
But that’s not why we like it.
What we like is the simple, effortlessness elegance of its form and the quality of the construction. Good design genuinely doesn’t have to be complicated. Just good.

We can well imagine a My Scool in our hall as an Old Skool telephone table, or on our balcony supporting a late summer evening G+T.

My Scool by Ulrich Merz

Well constructed, good sized drawer

The Berlin "Sputnik Memorial" dominates Berlin-Mitte

Between 1965 and 1985 the Soviet Union launched some 57 satellites from their rocket launching base on Berlin’s Alexander Platz; thus, making Berlin the single most important launch site in the Soviet block.

Following the disintegration of first the Berlin Wall and subsequently the Warsaw Pact, satellite launches from Alexander Platz ceased and the area was converted to a nature park for tourists and those who prey on such.

In 1995 Berlin City Council erected an exact replica of a satellite and its carrier rocket on Alexander Platz to commemorate the former launch programme.

The organisers of DMY Berlin have followed Berlin’s rich satellite tradition with their “Satellite” fringe programme.

And under the title “DMY Berlin Sputnik” we will bring you our personal highlights from this years DMY Berlin Satellite programme.

DMY Berlin Sputnik: Landluft by Komat

With its dainty legs and airy air Landluft by Komat doesn’t look like the most stable pieces of furniture ever crafted. However, a closer inspection of the quality of both the craftsmanship and solid oak used in the construction reveals the true strength and freshness of the work.
And obviously makers Komat fear that Landluft is so sanguine it could run away; hence the need to chain the Landluft bench to the wall.

Landluft by Komat

Landluft by Komat - tables and benches