David Shaw Nicholls

Last updated

David Shaw Nicholls (born 1959) is a Scottish architect and designer based in New York City, Italy and Glasgow. He became internationally known by his minimalist ASFLEXI settee, conceived while in school.

Contents

Life

Nicholls was born in 1959 in Bellshill, Scotland. Initially he went to Glasgow School of Art to study Fine Art, then attended Edinburgh College of Art, the University of Edinburgh and completed his master at Domus Academy in Milan, under the Course direction of Ettore Sottsass Jr.

Nicholls has exhibited at the inaugural City Art Centre (Edinburgh), British Design Craftsmen, the Edinburgh International Festival (1980), Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Modern Movement, Fine Arts Society, curated by Roger Billcliffe (1981), [1] the 3rd Venice Biennale of Architecture (1985), [2] collaborating with Ettore Sottsass and Marco Zanini. He launched both his BEAST Furniture and Modern Rug Company at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, ICFF New York, (from 1990).

Furniture, interiors and architecture

ASFLEXI two-seater ASFLEXI -2 seater 1982.jpg
ASFLEXI two-seater

While in school in Scotland, Nicholls gained recognition for his two-seater welded tubular steel and stainless steel wire chair at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1980, Design reg. No.995257, his first prototypal piece, was acknowledged as “uncluttered and straightforward”, “a clean starting point and an attempt to reduce the object to its original state”. Alongside British Designer Craftsmen, John Makepeace and Martin Grierson, the collection was shown at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1980, in The Fine Arts Society in Glasgow, showing “Charles Rennie Mackintosh and The Modern Movement” in 1980, at the “Light” exhibition in “High-Tech”, Milan in 1983, alongside Gaetano Pesce, James Irvine, Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Ron Arad, “Shiro” and “other young guns”. The Asflexi prototypes were also editorialized extensively throughout the world during this period. (Domus, [3] [4] [5] Modo, [6] Abitare, Interni, Mobilla)

In the early 1980s he worked briefly for Sottsass Associati [7] after completing his master's thesis with Sottsass at the Domus Academy from 1984 to 1985. Whilst in Milan, Nicholls also collaborated with Prospero Rasulo of Studio Alchimia and Nanda Vigo to design and re-define the interior of Bar Montmartre, Brera Milan in 1985.

In 1985 he moved to New York and launched his “BEAST” furniture line. Over 25 prototypes were produced to exact craftsmanship, comprising: Angus, Arianne, Arno and the Aston credenza. At its source, in the workshop this period also inspired a portfolio of freehand sketches in charcoal and silver wash. The studio also was active in product design and the “Hi-Tech” re-design of Tribeca lofts, where Nicholls resided (1986 – 2001).

Nicholls Modern Carpets

[8]

Havana Pureloom carpet HAVANA PURELOOM Carpet.jpg
Havana Pureloom carpet

After setting up his own design firm in New York City, Nicholls created textile designs. The company has over 200 registered designs.[ citation needed ] Nicholls’ rugs and floor textiles have been published in Architectural Digest , The New York Times Magazine , Elle Decor, Interior Design and Vogue . [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Earth Years

Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Nicholls developed Tsunami Mitigation architecture for the dispersion of wave energy and advantaged positioning of low-lying structures, for survival.

In April 2015, an earthquake struck in Nepal and killed over 8,000 people. Nicholls, from a family of Scottish engineers, executed an anti-seismic re-build of the Carpet factory in Kathmandu.

In 2017, Nicholls noted the “break-down” of “North Sea Oil and Gas” assets and set up Arkhabitat Limited as a company to re-work structures that anchor and float with the global tidal rise. The Geodesic Dome (Buckminster Fuller) provided fodder for research in the design of a protective, transparent shell with the ramp architecture housed safely within.

Printmaking

In Glasgow, Nicholls started a printmaking project, which focused upon the process of metal plate etching. The subject matter initiated with his portfolio of original drawings produced throughout his life, particularly “The intense Drawing Years 2011- 2017 [14] his travels across the world, the USA, Europe and Asia. The first edition is a depiction of Camelback Mountain, [15] Phoenix, Arizona. At the Glasgow Print Studio, [16] Museum standards are adhered to from start to finish, the first edition with an image size of 13.85” H x 59.5” L (35.2 x 152 cms.), marks it as one of the largest copper plate etchings ever produced by hand process.[ citation needed ]

Other works

Nicholls has designed and proposed an Environmental Research Center and Tourist complex anchored by a tall tower on the banks of the Tay Firth near Dundee, Scotland and anchored by the V&A Museum. “The Spire” incorporates semi enclosed viewing platforms and global communications antenna. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ettore Sottsass</span> Italian architect (1917–2007)

Ettore Sottsass was a 20th-century Italian architect, noted for also designing furniture, jewellery, glass, lighting, home and office wares, as well as numerous buildings and interiors — often defined by bold colours.

Alessandro Mendini was an Italian designer and architect. He played an important part in the development of Italian, Postmodern, and Radical design. He also worked, aside from his artistic career, for Casabella, Modo and Domus magazines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gio Ponti</span> Italian architect

Giovanni "Gio" Ponti was an Italian architect, industrial designer, furniture designer, artist, teacher, writer and publisher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelly Wearstler</span> American designer (born 1967)

Kelly Wearstler is an American designer. She founded her own design firm Kelly Wearstler Interior Design in the mid-1990s, serving mainly the hotel industry, and now designs across high-end residential, commercial, retail and hospitality spaces. Her designs for the Viceroy hotel chain in the early 2000s have been noted for their influence on the design industry. She has designed properties for clients such as Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz and Stacey Snider, and served as a judge on all episodes of Bravo's Top Design reality contest in 2007 and 2008.

Shiro Kuramata is one of Japan's most important designers of the 20th century.

Domus is an architecture and design magazine founded in 1928 by architect Gio Ponti and Barnabite father Giovanni Semeria. Published by Editoriale Domus, the magazine is issued 11 times a year on a monthly basis and has its headquarters in Rozzano, Milan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matteo Thun</span> Italian architect and designer

Matteo Thun is an Italian architect and designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Irvine (designer)</span> British Designer (1958–2013)

James Irvine was a British industrial designer who created furniture and product designs for many well known companies and brands such as Artemide, B&B Italia, Cappellini, Foscarini, Ikea, Magis, Muji, Thonet, and WMF. He once described the product designer's job as “the work of an unknown hero.”

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian design</span> Forms of design in Italy

Italian design refers to all forms of design in Italy, including interior design, urban design, fashion design, and architectural design. Italy is recognized as a worldwide trendsetter and leader in design. The architect Luigi Caccia Dominioni claimed, "Quite simply, we are the best. We have more imagination, more culture, and are better mediators between the past and the future". Italy today still exerts a vast influence on urban design, industrial design, interior design, and fashion design worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">STUDIODADA</span>

STUDIODADA was an Italian architectural and design office which started in 1977 during Italy's radical period. It completed interior design and architecture projects in Italy and abroad. It ceased to operate in 1988.

Jane Dillon, née Mary Jane Young is a British designer, educator and artist. She made significant contributions to furniture and Architectural lighting design across America and Europe. One of the few female international designers of her generation, Dillon's work encompassed contract and domestic furniture, lighting, textiles and glassware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis Group</span> Italian design collective

The Memphis Group, also known as Memphis Milano, was an Italian design and architecture group founded by Ettore Sottsass. It was active from 1980 to 1987. The group designed postmodern furniture, lighting, fabrics, carpets, ceramics, glass and metal objects.

Aldo Cibic is an Italian designer.

Barbara Radice is an Italian design critic, writer, and editor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Massimo Iosa Ghini</span>

Massimo Iosa Ghini is an Italian architect, designer, and professor. He is recognized for his contribution to the Bolidist Movement and his involvement with the Memphis Group, alongside architects such as Ettore Sottsass and Michael Graves. Iosa Ghini is acclaimed for his streamlined and organic designs, demonstrating his visionary ability to blend disciplines, forms, and dimensions, transcending boundaries between art, design, and architecture. With a prolific career spanning the globe, he has created numerous architectural projects and a substantial collection of furniture that reflects his futuristic design style. In 1990, he founded the Iosa Ghini Associati (Associates) Firm, which currently operates in Milan, Bologna, Moscow, and Miami.

Johanna Grawunder is an American architect, artist, and designer known for her work in lighting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Job Smeets</span>

Job Smeets is a Belgian contemporary conceptual and sculptural artist and designer and founder of Studio Job based in Antwerp, Belgium. Known for producing "high-end works toying with politically loaded signifiers", he combines traditional and modern techniques to produce art and design objects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pieter De Bruyne</span>

Pieter De Bruyne was a Flemish artist, designer and interior architect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carla De Benedetti</span> Italian photographer and photojournalist

Carla De Benedetti was an Italian photographer and photojournalist whose professional interests focused on architecture and interiors. In addition for decades De Benedetti did photographic and documentary research on the cultures of Africa.

Martine Bedin is a French architect and designer. She was a member of the Memphis Group.

References

  1. Byars, Mel (2004). The Museum of Modern Art Design Encyclopedia.
  2. "Ponte Del Accademia, with Ettore Sottsass". Venice Biennale of Architecture. Italy. 1985.
  3. "News – Asflexi Two-seater". Domus Magazine. 624. Italy: 56. November 1982.
  4. "Arredo Urbano". Domus Magazine. 655. Italy: 60. November 1984.
  5. Mendini, Allessandro (November 1984). "Letter to the Young Designer". Domus Magazine. 650. Italy: 59.
  6. "BEAST Aria Table". Modo. 124. Italy: 30. 1990.
  7. Sottsass Associati. Italy: Rizzoli. 1985.
  8. Vilades, Pilar (28 May 2000). "Tea and Geometry - Architect Philip Johnson modernist house for Blanchette Rockafellar Town House, New York City". New York Times Magazine.
  9. "Architectural Digest". Architectural Digest. February 1998: 130C. February 1998.
  10. WARD, TIMOTHY JACK (8 September 1994). "CURRENTS; Add Rugs to the Three R's". The New York Times Magazine: 3.
  11. Asflexi (June 1982). "This England". Interior Design. UK: 35.
  12. "Bar Montmartre". Casa Vogue. 173. Italy: 172–174. 1986.
  13. "David Shaw Nicholls - Profile". Casa Vogue. Italy. 1983.
  14. NICHOLLS, DAVID SHAW (May 2019). "David Shaw Nicholls [BIO]" . Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  15. "Camelback Mountain". May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  16. "CAMELBACK VIDEO at the GPS". May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  17. "Dundee Tower". May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.