dutch designer nynke koster has a way of blending fine art and design by creating synthetic casts and molds of architectural fragments, spaces, and bodies, with which people can interact. currently on display at the tokyo metropolitan teien art museum, koster’s ‘fragments of time’ are part of the ‘decoration never dies, anyway’ exhibition.

nynke koster elements of time designboom
nynke koster creates synthetic casts and molds of architectural fragments, spaces, and bodies

 

 

nynke koster expresses her fascination with the existing world through rubber casting techniques that she then translates into everyday objects. the resulting products are pieces of furniture that reinterpret and rediscover architectural history around the world. the playful rubber stools are shaped with iconic forms from history of ornamentation, including baroque ceilings, corners of art nouveau buildings or a cassette from the neoclassical era.

nynke koster elements of time designboom
with them, she adds new meaning to how people interact with architectural icons

 

 

‘I examine the ornamentation in architecture through the ages, piece by piece, building for building,’ comments nynke koster. ‘it is space, time and place transformed into soft elements. a place from elsewhere, with ornaments of the past, as a lace for her and now. coexist, but also to give a new identity to the existing world surrounding us. for the first time you can sit on a baroque ceiling or touch a cassette from the neoclassicism.’

nynke koster elements of time designboom
the playful stools feature a soft rubber material

nynke koster elements of time designboom
the are based on architectural icons

nynke koster elements of time designboom
people are now able to sit on ornaments, something no one could do before

nynke koster elements of time designboom
a new identity is given to ornaments

nynke koster elements of time designboom
top view of the rubber stool

nynke koster elements of time designboom
the mold was taken from this neoclassical ceiling

nynke koster elements of time designboom
each stool features a different moment in architectural history

nynke koster elements of time designboom
touch and interaction are important 

nynke koster elements of time designboom
corner where the mold was taken from