the potential of hybrid everyday items by gaulle + de la bigne
turning device and knife forming a mixer
photo © samy rio
all images courtesy of basile de gaulle and romée de la bigne

 

 

 

la gambiarra‘ is a project based on developing countries, incarceration, and more generally, situations where a lack of resources can prove to be both a handicap and a catalyst for ingenuity. within the work, basile de gaulle and romée da la bigne challenge our frenetic productivism, by confronting the objects that surround us, their mono-functional use, and their accepted obsolescence. at a time when design becomes ubiquitous within our living spaces, and the demand for high-tech devices increases, these two creatives ask: ‘should we permit instruction manuals to control our lifestyles?’

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
a different way to create a boiler
photo © samy rio

 

 

 

as a result, basile and romée present a year of research, experimentations, writings, and ‘open’ items that adopt our manners in all their singularity. this conquest means to expose the potential of artefacts in an improvisational, playful, and honest way. each of the added objects – including qualities of heat and spinning for example – becomes an entity its own once it has been detached from an iron, a griddle, a hair dryer or a toaster. tackling a new concept of ecology no longer limited to being green or recycled, the collection wishes to openly discuss the consistency and materialism that design creates, and how it resonates with our own little habits. the series is to be exhibited in the museum of decorative arts and design of bordeaux.

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
heating water with an odd kettle
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
a fan, blade, warming device creating a heater
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
blades and plates full of cold water creating air-conditioner
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
making a hot plate
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
the new toaster
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
a handle and wire tie forming a fixed bialetti
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
books bag
photo © samy rio

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
lid with a plate
photo © clément lepenven

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
cooking a chicken
photo © clément lepenven

basile de gaulle romee de la bigne la gambiarra improvisation
using the attachment as a hair dryer
photo © clément lepenven

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.