What’s new in design

We take a look at what’s new in design, from artisanal furniture collections to lamps hailed as modern classics.

Utzon(s) collection by Eco Outdoor

A collaboration between artist Mika Utzon Popov, grandson of Sydney Opera House architect Jørn Utzon, Utzon Popov’s mother Lin Utzon and Eco Outdoor has produced an exceptional furniture collection. The inspiration? A sofa the world-renowned Danish architect created for his family’s home on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Made from sustainable teak, the Utzon(s) collection features eight pieces, including a gallery bench, daybed and dining table, as well as a sofa. The cushioned pieces feature Italian hopsack-weave outdoor fabric in a light sand shade. Utzon Popov and his mother Lin are thrilled with the result. “My father would be very happy to see that his sofa became something else and [part of] a big collection,” says Lin. “I’m very proud of what we’ve made,” says Utzon Popov. “Its final form is so close to the intention of the original piece – it’s really beautiful.”

Migumi collection by Aman and Kengo Kuma

You can now bring the quiet luxury of an Aman resort into your own home with a limited-edition furniture collection produced in collaboration with the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, the acclaimed designer of the Tokyo Olympic Stadium and the upcoming Aman Miami Beach Residences. Called Migumi, the collection is a tribute to nature, a perennial inspiration for Kuma, and features materials such as white oak and Calacatta marble. The designs also showcase Kuma’s boundless innovation when it comes to using his favourite material: wood. The puzzle-like bases of the Migumi chair and table echo that of his buildings, which often feature wooden slats and slabs. The collection is made by expert artisans in Higashikawa, Japan.

Rosso Ancora collection by Acerbis x Gucci

Five icons of Italian design have been given the Gucci treatment in the house’s distinctive Rosso Ancora shade of red, introduced by creative director, Sabato De Sarno. The range includes a sofa and chaise designed by Mario Bellini for Tacchini in 1972, a rug based on a design by Piero Portaluppi, a lamp designed by Gae Aulenti and Piero Castiglioni for FontanaArte in 1980 and the Storet cabinet designed by Nanda Vigo for Acerbis in 1994. Featuring six small drawers and two larger ones, the cabinet is made from lacquered poplar wood and was intended to blur the distinction between art and design with its simple vertical structure and rounded sensual shape. Acerbis, which is based in Bergamo, is one of the most enduring furniture companies in Italy, with more than 150 years of expertise in craftsmanship and woodworking.

Bell portable table lamp by Tom Dixon

Designed in 2012, Tom Dixon’s Bell series of lamps has become a modern design classic. The light’s fusion of bold geometric lines and understated simplicity makes it the perfect complement to any room. The cylindrical shade and base, both treated in a glossy finish, playfully reflect and cast light to its surroundings. Originally produced in a chrome finish – inspired by vintage cars – the light is now available in a range of colours, including a vibrant, polished fluoro orange. Best of all, it now also comes in a portable version, which means it can be used anywhere you want, including outdoors. The 28cm-high rechargeable lamp has a battery life of nine hours, a concealed diffuser and a touch dimmer.