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Marcel Wanders: Behind the Ceiling

A book review and look at the renown designer

by matt sung | June 15, 2009

Gestalten brings out another must-have coffee table book with Marcel Wanders: Behind The Ceiling, edited by Robert Klanten, Shonquis Moreno and Adeline Mollard.

Marcel Wanders is a master of creating lush, regal environments. His work is known for its meticulous attention to detail down to the very last element (even the bathroom sink). To categorize him into one or even several design genres is simply impossible, so we've broken it down into 17 of the many different sides of Marcel Wanders:

(click image to view larger)

1) Knotted Chair, c. 1996

2) Crochet light, personal editions

3) Wanders & Puma, “I Hate Camping” collection

4) New Antiques line, side table

5) Patchwork Plates c.2003

6) Couples pillows for B&B Italia, c. 2005

7) From De Bijenkorf, Christmas Collection

8) Rainbow necklace, personal editions

9) Amsterdam Creative Capital and “A Tale of Children and Bathwater,” a fable by Marcel Wanders

10) The wattcher

11) From De Bijenkorf, Christmas Collection

12) Kika sculpture to help raise money for Kika Organization

13) Private Residence, Amsterdam

14) Kameha Grand Bonn, Bonn, Germany

15) JVC Building, Mexico

16) Thor Restaurant, the Hotel on Rivington, NY

17) From De Bijenkorf, Christmas Collection

The work of the Dutch design star is explored in this beautiful monograph. Behind The Ceiling is more than just a visual catalogue of Wanders' vast range. The text is elegant and concise, exploring the concepts behind the designer's work while expressing his complex design philosophies (in his own words). In short, Marcel Wanders: Behind The Ceiling is the perfect coffee table book that's guaranteed to spark an intellectual conversation on design.

Typefaces:
T-Star by Michael Mischler
Foundry: Gestalten

Title BP by Immanuel Rey
Rosette BP by Ian Party
Foundry: BP

Cover and Layout Design:
Adeline Mollard for Gestalten

In Gestalten's words: Marcel Wanders is the highly anticipated first monograph on one of the most influential, prolific and celebrated international designers today. Wanders’ designs are characteristically buoyant and imbued with his signature irony and quirky dry wit that evoke imagination; nevertheless all of the featured examples of furniture, lighting, interiors, textiles, tableware, decorative porcelain and ceramic vases as well as his personal art editions are unpretentiously urbane. This book showcases his body of work and stellar career through stunning photography, sketches, copious texts and quotes from the designer himself, offering a first-hand account of Wanders’ irresistible universe.