Driven by design Off the Wall has a few peculiar fetishes, but we’ve never fantasised about curling up with a loved one in front of the fire on a car mat. Each to their own, though, and if you and your paramour have a particular proclivity for all things fourwheeled, and motor shows make you feel lusty, then it may be worth checking out the new Car Pet rug (right), designed by Halfmann Mennickheim.
Car Pet rugs have been developed in collaboration with a car mat manufacturer and have a more sophisticated, stylised form than traditional bearskin rugs. The simple outline, functional colours and ridged edging communicate their automotive origin and they certainly make a statement stretched out on the living room floor. We’re just not sure what kind of statement. Measuring 160cm x 120cm and made from wool and goat hair, the rugs sell for about ¤240 (HK$2,400) through
www.utensil-shop.de.
Out of his tree When I was a child, I built a treehouse from old packing crates and rusty nails. It looked downright dangerous and liable to infect my friends and me with tetanus but it was a great place to hide my air-rifle and the old
Playboy magazines I found in my father’s wardrobe.
We have the feeling the designer treehouse that’s been erected in HomeSquare (left; 138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin, tel: 2634 0666) won’t be used for such purposes. We’re not sure what it will be used for, but it looks great.
The idea behind the project, by British-born designer Michael Young, is to give Hongkongers a taste of Christmas in Scandinavia, although we doubt many would want to complete the experience, with sub-zero temperatures and fermented herring.
Young, who is based in Hong Kong, has used his Link construction system to create the treehouse, which is known as a hytte, or hut, in Norwegian. It will be surrounded by examples of his work, including the Cityspeed bicycle for Giant (winner of the Eurobike 2008 Gold Award); the Magis dog house; and his Bramah pendant light.
