Contemporary Traditionalism - Elena Colombo

Added : 26 Nov 2011 | Visits : 669 | Average votes : %

Extending their reach beyond the realm of visual architecture, into the ambience of the contiguous landscape and ultimately into denizen fascination, Elena Colombo’s contemporary creations speak volumes about the amalgamation of design with natural elements.

Inspired by the basic elements of the universe, Elena Colombo, a New York-based architectural designer and sculptor, design and fabrication firm, Colombo Construction Corp, specialises in site-specific, large-scale installations. After graduating in fine arts and art history from the Trinity College, Hartford; and concentration in architecture, sculpture and etching, she continued her education in arts at the Museum School, Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to opening her own company, Elena also worked extensively in television commercials and print campaigns, where she mastered the art of storyboard production, animation, special effects rigging and art direction.

Regretting the decline in the position of the basic elements of the universe in the community, and driven by the passion of restoring them as focal points of convergence of primal human needs, Elena Colombo attempts to integrate these elements into regular human experiences. She strongly believes that these elements, namely earth, fire, water, and wind, possess the power to serve all human needs in terms of beauty, experience and community, and hence, essentially form the crux of any interactive space in one way or another.

“Fire Features”

Blazing reflections of own inspirations, Elena Colombo’s simple and elegant creations are abstract compositions of contemporary traditionalism, a unique blend of the ancient and the modern. Her creations flaunt the inherent sincerity of a variety of materials, be it the patina of steel, the ethnicity of copper, the raw simplicity of stone, the brutalism of concrete or the arid beauty of bone, with diverse shapes and personas.

Clearly influenced by nature, fire bowls are artistic in their aesthetics which makes them suitable for both interior as well as exterior decoration.

The first of her series of fire features; these are typically four to six feet in diameter, fitted with a connection for propane or natural gas, and a manual pilot ignition system for safe and controlled ignition.

Exploring a variety of forms and myriad materials, these fire-features range from independent stand-alone installations to elaborately detailed indoor fire-places.

Bedouin Bedroom

Designed to solve the purpose of a spare-room, a tent, an inflatable bed, and a raft, the Bedouin Bedroom comes with a dock for an I-pod, electrical outlets, a mini-projection screen that doubles as a clothes rack, LED lights, a fan, a Mylar mirror, and a pair of bedside tables all packed into a compact carry-on.

Light-weight yet durable, its structure ensures simple assembly and strength while providing longevity, low-maintenance, and complete versatility.

The product is developed as separate interior and exterior versions with conductive micro-fibres that can alter the opacity of the walls with electricity, the latter being capable of even withstanding water and heavy winds.

Mirror Chain

A chain of repetitive double-sided elliptical mirrors, this installation creates the illusion of a series of windows opening from one landscape into another.

The mirrors are mounted in line on steel rods, ball bearings and submerged concrete pilings. Rotating with the wind movement, they can also be engineered to generate wind energy.

Puddle Farm

Described by its creator as a “large scale exterior ornament”, the 30-feet diameter composition of bowls is anchored to the sand in the presence of a nearby ocean, as an exterior landscaping attempt.

When the tide comes in, the bowls get filled with water and when the tide goes out the puddles remain, some of them being large enough to accommodate two people. In the absence of a nearby ocean, it can even be modified to function as a fountain.

What inspires the mind more than mere presentation is conversation, an initiative that centres an experience and creates memories. Bringing the warmth of the ancient customs back to life, Colombo’s philosophies and products depict modern inclination while remaining rooted to traditions, propagating such nostalgic enthusiasm.

The poignant essence thus imparted is that though innovation and excitement are obvious goals in product design, a foundation of utility and purpose remain triumphantly central. The fact remains that like other design-oriented disciplines, product design too is essentially required to contribute to the comfort of its end-users, physically and even more so, psychologically. The journey then does not end merely with simplifying practicality, but extends further to convey a reflective impact.