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Things To Live a Lifetime With

Pinch

「假如Pinch是一個人,她不會是一個超級模特兒,她安靜、自信、優雅,有一種毫不費勁的時髦感。」Oona笑說。她和丈夫Russell是家具品牌Pinch的創立人,說到Pinch的風格時,就如形容她本人。他們相信人與身邊的物質存在一種情感連結,Pinch的設計反映了他們想要怎樣的生活。身處在空間裡不會顯得很強勢或搶眼,予人低調、安靜的優雅才是組成家最重要的元素。「她是眼睛和耳朵,我是一雙手。」Russell說。他們彼此依靠著彼此,一起創作出讓人感到安心,漂亮又實用,並可以長伴一輩子的家具。

“If PINCH was a person, she wouldn’t be a supermodel. Instead, she would be quiet, confident, elegant, and unpretentiously stylish,” Oona says jokingly. Oona and her husband, Russell, are the co-founders of the furniture brand PINCH. It feels like she is describing herself when explaining the style of PINCH. The two of them believe in the emotional connection between humans and objects in the surroundings, so the design of PINCH is to actualize the kind of connection and the style of life in their minds. The space they create does not carry an overly strong personality since they love to be surrounded by a subtle vibe that is both quiet and elegant. “She is the eyes and the ears, and I am a pair of hands,” says Russell. The two of them, believing in one another, work together to create practical and long-lasting furniture pieces that exude a comforting aesthetics. 

OB: OBSCURA
R: Russell PINCH
O: Oona Bannon

OB:你們最近忙些什麼?

R:我們剛離開倫敦,正準備倫敦設計節,將推出幾款新的設計,所以十分忙碌呢。

OB:今次在連卡佛展出的系列有什麼特別?

R:我們與連卡佛合作超過十年,從前只有一些小家具,今季展出了最完整的系列,包括有睡床、沙發和櫥櫃等,讓人能夠感受到我們的設計風格。

OB:Pinch的設計很簡約,沒有多餘的裝飾,卻很有質感。

R:是的。我們的產品強調線條、輪廓和物料。我們會探索新的物料,例如名叫Nim的矮桌子,採用新型的樹脂複合物料Jesmonite,由石膏、水泥和水性樹脂混合而成,堅硬而有質感,一層一層地由人手製作、上色,像雕塑一般的桌子。

OB: What are you working on recently?

R: We just came back from London. We are preparing a few new designs for the London Design Festival, so we’re pretty busy.

OB: What are the highlights of the series that you’re showcasing in Lane Crawford?

R: Our collaboration with Lane Crawford began over ten years ago. In the beginning, there were only a few pieces of small space furniture. But for this season, we are launching a full collection that includes a bed, a sofa, a dresser, and other items. The series can well present our style.

OB: The design of PINCH is very minimal. Your furniture looks very substantial without excessive ornament.

R: Indeed. Our focus is on the outline, construction, and material of our products. Therefore we are keen on exploring new materials. For instance, our Nim sculptural table is finished with cast jesmonite, which is a composite of plaster, cement, and waterborne resin. It has a very substantial texture. This hand-finished and hand colored layer give a nice finishing to the sculpture-like coffee table.

OB:看起來手工如藝術品一般精細,粗糙和漸變色的桌身像是大自然裡看到的石壁。

R:我們會使用不同的物料來製作日常家具,很多時候,設計時會知道怎樣製作;但也有先有了想法,然後尋找工匠替我們實現出來的時候。與工匠反覆討論、試做模型等過程也是創意的一部分,成品往往帶來驚喜。

OB: The delicate craftsmanship is what can be noticed in artwork, while the roughness and uneven color gradient create an illusion that this table is carved out of a cliff in nature.

R: We apply different types of material in making ordinary furniture. We usually conjure up an idea that we know how to execute. But sometimes we would bring our ideas to the craftsmen and seek their advice. Having a discussion with them and building a prototype are also part of the creative process, which can always give us delightful surprises. 

OB:哪一款設計是你最喜歡的?

O:家裡總少不了一盞燈,我們設計的Anders light靈感來自時裝雜誌裡,模特兒穿上層層摺疊的裙子。燈罩採用了香蕉纖維,由工匠人手縫出褶襉的狀態,像雕塑一般迷人。燈泡透過燈罩照射出溫柔的光線,為空間帶來浪漫的氣氛。

OB: Which one is your favorite design?

O: A lamp is necessary for every household. The Anders light we design was inspired by a photo we saw in a fashion magazine where a model is wearing a draped dress. The shade is made from banana fiber and draped around the central light fixing. Its appearance has the charm of a sculpture. Light can seep through the shade and diffuse into a gentle and romantic glow.

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OB:你們是怎樣分工合作?

R:「Oona是品牌總監,她有遠見、抱負,而且十分細心。可能是夫妻的關係吧,她有時候會用一些瘋狂的字,或是把話說到一半,說這樣很好,但又不好。(O:這樣很糟吧!)大概只有我能明白她的意思,把她的想法實現出來。(笑)」

O:「我不是一個設計師,但我會以使用者的角度去給意見。只有二人一起才能激發起創意。」

OB: How do you split your responsibility?

R: Oona is the director of our brand. She has a great vision and ambition, she is also a detail-minded person. Perhaps it’s because we are a couple, she sometimes talks to me using some crazy words, or leaves her sentence half-finished and not giving an affirmative answer whether she likes it or not. 

O: That sounds terrible.

R: I guess I am the only person who could understand what she means and have her ideas executed.

O: I am not a designer, but I can give feedback from a user’s perspective. Creativity can be sparked only when the two of us work together.

OB:家對你來說是什麼?

O:「家是個很私人的地方,對我們來說是和我們的孩子一起的地方,也是一個令人感到舒適的地方。我們的工作很忙碌,所以家讓我們感到安心,像一個避難所。我相信圍繞在身邊的一切反映著生活過得是否很好。」

R:「有趣的是,我們身處的環境不是很漂亮,但我們相信圍繞著我們的物品都很重要,會影響著我們的心情、感覺。會不會讓你有所啟發?會否讓你感到愉快?這些都是環境影響人的力量。我們的設計就是為別人帶來正面的影響。」

OB: What does home mean to you?

O: Home is a very private space. To us, it is where we stay with our kid, it is also the place where we can be at ease. We both have a busy life, staying home makes us feel comfortable. It is like a shelter. I believe your surroundings can reflect the quality of your life.

R: The interesting thing is, our place is not particularly beautiful, but we believe the importance of things that we use. They can affect our mood and emotion. Can they inspire you? Can they spark joy? This is how people can be affected by the environment. Our design aims at bringing users a positive influence.

OB:你們說過坐下來就是停下來,片刻的放鬆和思考,所以椅子很重要。除此以外,什麼是家裡必備的東西?

R:「是很大的廚房吧,擁有齊備的廚具。我們喜歡下廚。」

O:「噢,你喜歡下廚,我喜歡吃東西(笑)。對我來說,家最重要是一張很大的餐桌,孩子能在桌子的一邊做功課,我們在另一邊進食,或是工作。另外,還有很舒適的沙發,我們能坐在一起談天、看電視,這是能把大家聚在一起的地方。

OB: You once said that sitting down is the moment for you to temporarily stop, relax, and think, so chairs are very important. Apart from chairs, what else is essential to a household?

R: A big kitchen with all the utensils I need. We enjoy cooking a lot.

O: Well, you enjoy cooking and I enjoy eating. To me, a big dining table is a must. Our kid can work on one side of the table, where we eat or work on the other side of it. I also need a very comfortable sofa where we can sit together to talk or watch TV. This is the place where a family can gather together.

Lane Crawford  Pacific Place Home Store, Hong Kong   2118 2288

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