Molo (design company) explained

Molo Design Limited, stylized as molo, is a multidisciplinary design and production studio based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada led by Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen. The studio integrates the practices of architecture, craft, and product design. molo products develop from Forsythe and MacAllen's materials research and studies.

History

molo founders, Forsythe and MacAllen met in 1994 while studying architecture at Dalhousie University.[1] The two formed Forsythe + MacAllen Design Associates, and began a series of small projects. In that time they designed and built three houses for private clients, including the Colorado House, which was awarded the inaugural ar+d Award for Emerging Architecture in 1999.[2]

In 2001, they moved to Vancouver and continued their material investigations while developing submissions for architecture and design competitions. That year, they were awarded the Grand Prize in the Aomori Northern Style Housing Competition, juried by Tadao Ando and Jean Nouvel.[3] [4] Over the course of ten years, the designs would develop from a glass housing complex into the completed Aomori Nebuta House, a museum honouring and celebrating the Aomori Nebuta festival.[5] Forsythe and MacAllen designs would continue to win awards, establishing the pair to pursue commercial scale operation.

In 2003, Molo was founded to produce and sell Forsythe and MacAllen's product designs. The name change reflects a growing team of support staff, and comes from "middle ones, little ones," referring to the shift from architectural design to product design.[6] MacAllen has since stated that the distinction is no longer necessary, as he and Forsythe feel that they are simply different words for design at various scales.

Design intent

molo's design philosophy reflects extensive material research and consideration to continual improvement. Products are intended to create space, whether physical or experiential. The design process and materials used are evidence of a philosophy "that products should not only be sustainable themselves, but they should also aid in more sustainable practices in the spaces around them".[7]

The soft collection, a modular system composed of wall partitions, lighting, seating and table elements, is made with textile or paper. Elements use flexible honeycomb geometry to bend, shift, expand, and collapse for ease of storage.[8] The collection is an evolutionary step in Forsythe and MacAllen's designs for softroom and softshelter, concepts which address issues of temporary housing for the homeless or disaster relief.[9]

Elements of the soft collection have been added to the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.[10] [11] [12] They have also been featured in exhibitions at the Centre of Arts Caja de Burgos, the Museum of Vancouver, the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Gardiner Museum.[13] [14] [15] In 2005, softwall was also honoured with an INDEX: Design to Improve Life award for the Home Category.[16] Soft is protected by a series of international patents and design registrations.

Awards

Notes and References

  1. Dunwoody, Catherine (Vol. 10, No. 4, 2007). "A Look Above The Rest". Nuvo, pp. 62-64.
  2. Web site: Forsythe + MacAllen (molo) . 29 September 2015 . Alumni Dalhousie . 3 October 2016.
  3. Web site: A few of Vancouver's finest city builders . Boddy . Trevor . The Globe and Mail . 19 Jan 2007 . the Globe and Mail . 28 September 2016.
  4. Book: . 30 Years of Emerging Voices: Idea, Form, Resonance . New York . Princeton Architectural Press . 256 . 2015 . 978-1-61689-197-8.
  5. News: Rochon . Lisa . 19 May 2004 . Building forms join household functions . The Globe and Mail . Vancouver .
  6. Web site: Vancouver design firm molo has its big moment . Maggarey . Paige . The Globe and Mail . 7 May 2011 . The Globe and Mail . 28 September 2016.
  7. Book: Proctor, Rebecca . 2015 . The Sustainable Design Book . London . Laurence King Publishing . 158 . 978-1-78067-473-5.
  8. Web site: Soft Cell . Chodikoff . Ian . 1 September 2008 . Canadian Architect . 28 September 2016.
  9. Web site: Paper, Pleated and Clipped for Shelter . Louie . Elaine . New York Times . 3 Aug 2011 . 28 September 2016.
  10. Web site: The Collection, Paper Softwall . Museum of Modern Art . 28 September 2016 . Museum of Modern Art.
  11. Web site: Collections, Molo Design Ltd. . Art Institute of Chicago . 28 September 2016 . Art Institute of Chicago.
  12. Web site: Softseating Stool, 2007 . Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum . 28 September 2016 . Smithsonian Institution.
  13. Web site: delicate erosion: a study in light and ephemeral space . 28 September 2016 . Centre of Arts Caja de Burgos.
  14. Web site: Vancouver Art Gallery, Grand Hotel . Archello . 28 September 2016 . Archello.
  15. Web site: True Nordic . Gardiner Museum . 28 September 2016 . Gardiner Museum.
  16. Book: Chloë Colchester . Textiles Today: A Global Survey of Trends and Traditions . 2007 . Thames & Hudson . 978-0-500-51381-1 . 199 . Stephanie Forsythe and Todd MacAllen studied architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They formed their ... Molo Design was founded in 2003 and their design, Softwall, received the Index Award in 2005. .
  17. Web site: The International Architecture Awards 2011 Archive . Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design . 25 September 2016.
  18. Web site: Celebrating the winners of the 2011 AR+D Awards . Architectural Review . 23 Nov 2011 . Architectural Review . 25 September 2016.
  19. Web site: Molo . Architectural Record . 16 Dec 2010 . Architectural Record . 25 September 2016.
  20. Web site: Inside the 2010 ICFF . Lasky . Julie . New York Times . 19 May 2010 . 28 September 2016.
  21. Web site: MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards (2010) . Arch Daily . 3 Feb 2010 . Arch Daily . 3 Oct 2016.
  22. News: Rochon . Lisa . 19 May 2004 . Building forms join household functions . The Globe and Mail . Vancouver .
  23. Web site: The First Step Housing Competition . NY Arts Magazine . NY Arts Magazine . 3 Oct 2016.
  24. Web site: Lightouch for Forsythe and MacAllen . Canadian Architect . 3 October 2016.
  25. Web site: 2003 Young Architects Forum: Inhabiting Identity . the Architectural League of New York . The Architectural League of New York . 3 Oct 2016.
  26. Web site: Canadians get AR + d high commendations . 27 Jan 2003 . Canadian Architect . 3 October 2016.
  27. Web site: Made in Japan . 1 August 2011 . Canadian Architect . 3 Oct 2016.
  28. Web site: Forsythe + MacAllen (molo) . 29 September 2015 . Alumni Dalhousie . 3 October 2016.

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