Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Oliver Schick designs furniture of simple form constructed with experimental materials and processes. His “walker” chair turns a familiar side chair form into a rocker with the addition of 14 extra legs. His “woodworks” table uses incorporates a subtle wood grain motif on the glass top – created via an engraving to the glass core. Little quirks like these give Schick’s furniture a nice sense of humor. (Via DesignBoom).

View the table after the jump.

A set of 10 stamps celebrating classic British 20th century design has been released by the Royal Mail. Like celebrations are nothing new, the United States Postal Service issued Eames themed stamps last year. What’s exciting is the range of objects – from fashion to aviation – represented. A wonderful cross section of design. (Via Dezeen).

Details of some choice stamps after the jump.

Jessica Helfand’s “Ten Things That Need Redesigning” from Design Observer offers a rather amusing take on some items that could use sprucing up. Favorites include children’s ski jackets (why are they so ugly) and the State of New Jersey. Helfand’s approach might be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the objects suggested are spot on.

Designed in 1951, the Wire Chair from Charles and Ray Eames rose from a challenge to provide well priced, lightweight and durable furniture. Bent wire proved their structural answer, and the form was born. Herman Miller produced the chairs consistently until 1967 and then reintroduced them in 2001. The firm still offers them, with both a leather cushion and as a simple wire only affair. (Via Private).

The cushioned version of the Eames Wire Chair can be viewed after the jump.

Growing up, a baseball glove chair was the ultimate dream. In retrospect, the desire for a comfortable brown leather arm chair would have been more appropriate, and simply a little more refined. Peter Traag’s Sponge Chair (designed in 2004) does an odd job of combining the two feelings – refinement and exuberance. His work drapes an over-sized upholstery over a polyurethane foam injection, creating folds that are influenced by a sea sponge. In the brown leather above this works a charm. With the silver model after the jump, the jury is still out. You can get both versions of the Sponge chair from MOSS.

Growing up as a competitive swimmer, I entered my fair share of long in the tooth pools and aquatic centers. Something like Les Bains des Docks by Jean Nouvel would have certainly shaved seconds off my time. Nouvel’s design for an aquatic center is part of the Port 2000 development in Le Havre, France. The center itself consists of a staggering 12 pools and all the other stuff you’d want for a fun day in the water. Dezeen has a write up from Nouvel himself on the space.

More images of Nouvel’s creation after the jump.

I love a (good) museum expansion project. Over the past few years, Renzo Piano envisioned my absolute favorite, the expansion at the Morgan Library, and begun work on an expansion to the Art Institute of Chicago. The new building creates space for the contemporary art collection, temporary exhibitions and all important educational facilities. May is proposed for the opening.

Choose images from Wallpaper*’s coverage after the jump.

Inmod takes the ID model and applies it to an Eames style fiberglass chair. The options are pretty limited – you get a few colors, three types of leg and a few different finishes for those legs – but, in the end, you can call it your own. Will this revolutionize the way furniture is sold? Probably not, given that when you upholster a chair, you are pretty much customizing it. Fun idea nonetheless. (Via SixDifferentWays).

No matter who you are, you’ve interacted with some form of Palladian architecture. A grand retrospective of Andrea Palladio opens at the Royal Academy of Art at months end, and to start the “hype” the Guardian has a fabulous little slide show. Andrea Palladio: His Life and Legacy gets the blood flowing. Spend a few minutes getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with a legend.

A few favorites from the slide show follow.

Designed by the Bouroullec brothers, Rownan and Erwan, the “Playns” system is a new set of office furniture for Vitra. Connected is the “Softshell Chair” (above). More on the system from the folks at DesignBoom -

ronan & erwan bouroullec have developed ‘playns’ a new office system for vitra. using the idea of open communicative spaces the design can be grouped in islands of different sizes and is equipped with a central power supply channel that feeds each workstation. construction of desks are supported by four inwardly angled legs. ‘playns’ allows users to tailor their workspace and also consist of storage areas.

Check out the designs for “Playns” after the jump.