Dezeen Magazine

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

London Design Festival 2013: German designer Samuel Treindl has made a clock, lamp and other products from shapes cut out of existing furniture (+ slideshow).

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

Samuel Treindl from Münster in Germany used what he called a "parasite strategy" to create new products from existing furniture items and intends for the final pieces to reflect the manufacturing process.

In the collection - called Parasite Production - Treindl created a clock from material cut from a peach cabinet and a desk lamp from shapes cut out of an Ikea PS cabinet.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

More recently the designer cut a range of components such as a hooks and hinges from a brass book shelf.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

His process means that the original cabinets can still be used. "In order to work in a more economic way, I superimpose different objects on a single metal sheet," said Treindl. "So the same material would be used twice."

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

All of the objects have been produced in Germany as limited editions. Triendl's work will be exhibited at London's Mint Shop during London Design Festival next month.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

Parasite Production was first shown as a prototype at the SaloneSatellite showcase for young designers at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan in April, that also featured squishy lamps made out of rubber by Thomas Schnur.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

See more furniture »
See more product design »

Photographs are by the designer.

Here's a full project description from Treindl:


Parasite Production

This work is based on a parasitic strategy. The cabinets and other products are produced simultaneously. The results therefore reflect the manufacturing process and history of the production.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

As a producer and designer I have to pay attention to the manufacturing of a product, but also to offcuts and loss of material.

In order to work in a more economic way, I superimpose different objects on a single metal sheet. So the same material would be double used. And the question is, where is here the rest? According to which other objects are currently produced, the obtained ornaments as well as the thickness of the material of the shelf can differ.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

Example: If an industrial company produces spoons and forks, I will make a spoon shelf. If lamps are produced, I make a lamp cabinet. That way, I don't want to design furniture, but I create a process which uses industrial production for generating and designing objects.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl
Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl

Material: brass steel, aluminum, powder-coated, laser cutting method.  The IKEA PS cabinet/lamp was hand-cut.