colombo design: zelda by jean marie massaud in stockholm

icy ‘zelda’, door handle by jean-marie massaud for colombo image © designboom

a door handle may be used for more than solely the opening and closing of doors. the handle is symbolic of plunging into a new frontier; the door standing as the limit between two universes. 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 leaves off to exist setting free 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.

the object is set soundly in the foreground of the icy landscape in stockholm images © designboom

the ‘zelda’ door handle by jean-marie massaud for colombo speaks to two manifestations of the concept of space; both inside and outside, here or there. every space has a unique interaction with natural light. the polished lever is able to beautifully reflect the light found in any space. the images included in this colombo design series were taken by designboom on our recent trip to the stockholm furniture fair, in february of 2012.

it looks as if designboom has not only traveled to a nordic country, but back in time as well image © designboom

getting a handle on stockholm image © designboom

these images have one thing in common: the stick! image @ designboom

the doorhandle is not photoshoped into the screen, but rather, captured in stockholm’s icy surroundings with the assistance of a pole. true to conceptual photographic still-life practice, we have removed the stick from several of the images in post-production, further combining the real ‘zelda’ handle into the true landscape. the reflections and light are authentic and instantaneous — produced by the environment in the moment the image was captured.

refractions of the setting stockholm sunlight dances off the silver handle image @ designboom

catching some sun image © designboom

designboom envisioned ‘zelda’, the door handle designed by jean-marie massaud in the icy atmosphere of stockholm — we photographed the polished chrome version. image © designboom

green manufacturing and treatment protection guaranteed 30 years image © designboom

protecting the world from the fast depletion of resources has become more and more important in a global economy. one point is particularly emphasized in these efforts– the attention paid to manufacturing and production upon the environment. colombo design production processes are the result of a total attention to environmental protection. through the accurate management of these processes, the company has obtained the elite UNI EN ISO 14001 certification ‘certified environmental management system’, ensuring clients that colombo design production is completed with the environmental wellness in mind. 

the company uses a finishing process borrowed from the tools industry, in which physical and mechanic features are produced to guarantee a very high performance, as far as mechanic wear, decay due to environmental and chemical agents, bright sunshine, and drastic/rapid changes in temperature are concerned. the strength of the finish and low rate of surface friction ensure an enduring resistance to scratches from jewelry or keys, for example. the durability of the handle’s finish is especially important in marine areas with high-salinity or regions subject to acid rains. in stockholm designboom has captured ‘zelda’ outside, emphasizing the effortless combination of the natural world and this sturdy chrome handle. the juxtaposition of the tool with the nordic landscape is an authentic result– there tangible quality to the images, as if one could reach out to turn the handle and open a door to the icy exterior environment.