Live from Milan: American brand Artecnica has launched WirePod, a multi-point electrical “power pod” designed by Dutch designer Joris Laarman.
Made of thermoplastic rubber and with four plug outlets, the 3.8 metre long products is the first in a series of Artecnica products called Wiremore, which will make electrical cables more, rather than less, visible.
Here’s some info from Artecnica:
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WirePod
Designed by Joris Laarman
Artecnica Inc.
WirePod
Designed by Joris Laarman
“The trend towards making objects wireless detracts from the designer’s responsibility” –Joris Laarman
Joris Laarman’s WirePod is a flexible gray power pod that begins with a three-prong plug and branches out into four curled arms, each with a single three-prong socket. Its arms and body roll and unfurl as needed to adjust for your functional living space.
WirePod is the first piece in Artecnica’s WiremoreTM collection, a series of electrical products that challenge conventions by transforming power cords and wires from concealed, passive objects into visible, active elements that aesthetically and functionally energize living and working spaces.
In this vein, WirePod’s tendrils possess a structural flexibility that makes the piece more useful, while visually integrating the shape and form of electric wire into the overall design environment, freeing wires once hidden from view.
Joris Laarman’s design ethos centers on turning familiar, everyday things into idiosyncratic objects that explore functionality—its motivations, and its subsequent incarnations.
His body of work references history, human psychology, biology, and conventional values, investigating and challenging different facets of the world in which we live.
To execute his design vision, Laarman uses a variety of visual styles ranging from embellished to austere, possessing a seemingly limitless arsenal of inspiration that consistently places him on the cutting edge of contemporary design.
Born in 1979, Laarman is currently based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He has worked with Flos, Swarovski, and Droog Design.
©2008 Artecnica Inc.
Multi-outlet power pod
Four grounded outlets with incorporated extension cord and surge suppressor
Thermoplastic rubber
UL, PSE, and CE listed for indoor use
12.5 ft / 3.8 m power cord
18.9 in x 28.9 in x 1.9 in / 48.0 cm x 73.4 cm x 1.8 cm (rolled up)
12.5 ft
3.8 m
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Posted by Marcus Fairs
April 16th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Form over function? Check.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:08 am
its really fun!
April 16th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Looks great. Very much better than the generic tangly cords..
April 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Where could I find a matching radiator?
April 16th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
i get it, but to comment…
is four outlets enough these days? why not six? or 8? we have computers, HDs, monitors, cell phones, moden, router, speakers, printer, tablet, etc etc etc.
make it more modular so additional “arms” can be attached to one main body, w/o having to buy an additional large unit.
also, could the arms be more svelte?
just kicking some ideas around, as i like this concept, but it’s current form isn’t hitting the mark for me.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
esthetic = 9/10
practicality = 0.1/10
beauty = 5/10
April 16th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Just as attractive as Starck’s Juicy Salif and probably just as easy to use LOL
That doesn’t mean I don’t like it, I really dig it!
April 16th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Interesting idea, but I definitely don’t agree with his intent:
“The trend towards making objects wireless detracts from the designer’s responsibility” –Joris Laarman
Ummm, no it doesn’t?
April 16th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
where do i get one!??! brilliant/
April 17th, 2008 at 1:53 am
From what I gather, it’s the first piece from the collection so there should be add ons with more plugs and stuff.
April 17th, 2008 at 3:55 am
OMG- really exceptional movement.
Joris is one of the only designers who isn’t afraid of decorative ideas.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
It’ll look super nice right up until you plug anything into it.
April 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
amazing work! love it when it coils /uncoil
April 18th, 2008 at 10:46 am
How about a link to purchase one.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Pfft…Joris what have you done. Your heatwave-radiator was the perfect mix between looks and functionality. The Rococco-curves added more surface area tot the radiator wich is an excellent idea. And to make the whole product complete it was MODULAR…wow curved and modular, wasn’t easy but you pulled it off. Therefore the heatwave was a instant classic and I use it many times to explain to people what is good design…
And now I see this
The curves add no functionality to the product. On the contrary.
Its not modular…wich is a missed opportunity..Power-outlets without modularity C’mon.
What happened?…Sold your soul? Gave the assignment to some intern?
To bussy going to matinees and other posh-parties?
Please come back to the real world…I miss you
April 18th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Come On -this is Ikea nonsense…!
April 22nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Thomas couldn’t have be more precise! This time my applause goes to Thomas, not Joris
April 30th, 2008 at 7:29 am
i saw your piece at the zona tortona show in the artecnica space in milan and wow! i thought it was the absolute best thing there. finally, a replacement for the ugly strip. why didn’t anyone think of it sooner, and i love the branches, just like the heater.
when will it be available, i am going to put it all over my house and give it to all my friends for christmas. can’t wait to see your next design joris. keep it up.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
that’s beautiful! but once I plug in all the shit I have, it will be ugly
September 16th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
where can one purchase a wirepod on line?
thanks
Donna
October 12th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Looks ok but i can see me tripping over it, unless i run the thing round the back of a cabinet where a traditional extension cord would work better.
January 8th, 2009 at 12:43 am
I love this, but not for anything you would want to keep plugged in. This is for occasional use. There’s probably an increasing need for that. Friend comes to your house to visit, wants to charge their cell phone. Stuff like that. It would be great on a conference table, where once in a while a group of people want to sit down and plug in laptops. Or at an airport or coffee shop where people want to plug in their devices.
The wrought iron look is cool, but I’d also like to see a creeping vine design.