Traveling Design

Slim Beijing

by Studio Spalvieri del Ciotto for Colombo Design © designboom

The concept of a handle extends far beyond its purpose of solely opening and closing doors. this fixture is a symbol of moving past a boundary line – the door – as – obstacle motif is representative of a limit between two worlds, the handle being the necessary tool to traverse into a new plane of being. The colombo design door handles embody two points of significance: one visionary and the other tactile. when the latter interpretation takes precedent over the first, it exists as its own being, which is the hidden ‘esprit’ of all things. The designboom still-life series celebrates both the dynamic quality of the door handle in the foreground in combination with the beauty observed just beyond the piece in what is ultimately a surrealistic visualization of a traveling artifact. The atmosphere is captured so authentically that one can practically touch it.

From the bustling metropolis to imperial palaces, we’ve captured the essence of the door handle ‘slim’ by studio spalvieri / del ciotto for colombo on our recent trip to beijing. By removing the handle from its traditional setting indoors and placing it in front of both architectural and historical landmarks, like OMA’s CCTV headquarters and the 600-year-old forbidden city, it creates the possibility of a new relationship to the static object. Saturated in antiquity and culture, beijing demonstrates a tremendous range of landscapes and urban environments, all of which reflect as vibrant colors, ornate patterns, and ancient motifs onto the shining surface of the handle. The city’s dynamic sensibility, pushing the boundaries of modernity but rooted in tradition, is highlighted on ‘slim’s’ epic tour of beijing.